When I introduce myself and talk about my story and my path to success, I usually say something like, “I’m nothing special.” Believe me, this is not humblebragging or a not-so-subtle plan to be bombarded with positive affirmations!
What I mean by this is that I was not included in some clandestine society where I was given the secret code to be successful as an entrepreneur.
In fact, secret societies aside, the reason I’ve built a seven-figure business in the last eight years or so is because I realized early on that if I wanted to be successful I had to figure out what I was good at, which In my case it was being able to see how others could structure their businesses more effectively and strategically.
Once I had this clear, I wanted to find a way to sell one to many instead of one to one, which meant I wouldn’t be chained to my desk until stupid hours every night.
In my first year as a business coach I earned around £220,000. Pretty good, right? That was more than five times what I earned a year in my normal job. But I realised I was working an average of 80 hours a week to earn this amount of money.
Lisa Johnson (pictured), 46, went from being £35,000 in debt to earning £16million in just six years.
So I still wasn’t spending enough time with my twins, who are now 12 years old. I had left a 9 to 5 job to work from 6 to 10 in the morning. This was not the autonomous life I had imagined.
A year later, he was earning more than £1 million a year and working an average of 30 hours a month.
This was because I realized that I was teaching my 121 clients the same things every time.
He had developed steps, stages and strategies to simplify his path from stressed and time-starved people to productivity professionals.
So I did the sensible thing: I wrote it down, I packaged it, and it now underpins my teachings in all my groups and programs, but particularly in my flagship product One To Many®.
Therefore, I am in a good position to offer advice when you hear the following sentence. (Which I hear a lot by the way.)
‘I have a lot of knowledge, but I don’t know what to do with it’
Okay, so the first step is to realize that you can use the knowledge you have in your head, no matter what it is.
Think back to a time when a cell phone meant an extra-long curly cord on the landline and doing homework meant going to the library.
Lisa is a global business strategist who runs That Strategy Co, helping ambitious people create passive and semi-passive income streams.
Lisa is a global business strategist who runs That Strategy Co, helping ambitious people create passive and semi-passive income streams.
We are talking about BTI. (Before the Internet!) It was the introduction of the easily accessible world that the Internet offers that got the ball rolling. People began to realize that they could learn from other people, so they began to think.
“Why can’t I do it? That guy is getting thousands of clicks showing us how to replace the dryer filter, why can’t I share my knowledge?”
Millions of people around the world realized that the people they were watching were actually just a couple of steps away from them and their knowledge.
We all know different things. Think about what you know. Think about your current job, your previous job, your hobbies, your interests.
I’ve worked with hula hoopers, dog walkers, personal trainers, accountants, and everything in between!
The only thing they had in common was that they knew things. And if you know things, you can sell that knowledge.
Lisa believes that everyone has a unique skill that, if sold correctly, could make them a lot of money.
Now, before the world was reduced to a small box in your hands or on your desk, sharing that knowledge would have been a huge challenge. You would have returned to a town hall once a week, or a newsletter, or an advertisement in the local newspaper.
But thanks to the Internet, anyone can share their knowledge and grow their business from the comfort of their home.
So here are my best tips on how to make money with the knowledge you have in your head:
1. Don’t make the mistake that many make of thinking ‘I can’t do that because it’s been done before’
Think about how many barbershops and hair salons there are on a typical high street. They all offer the same service, but they all manage to make a living. This is because they bring their own brand, their own specialties, their own personalities. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that if something hasn’t been done before, it’s probably not a good idea!
2. Once you realize and appreciate what you know, the next question is how to sell it.
There are many different methods – programs, courses, memberships and workshops – so it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the options to see which works best for you.
Programs are where you teach your knowledge live online for a specific period of time.
Courses are typically a more passive version of a program that often uses videos or workbooks; Memberships are simply online communities. It’s less about learning, more about hanging out with like-minded people.
3. Take the time to grow your audience
If no one knows you exist, you won’t be selling anything, no matter how extensive your knowledge is. Doing the legwork from the beginning is absolutely imperative to turning your knowledge into a profitable and sustainable business.
I’ve said many times that the only success I’ve had at night is sleeping more than six hours, and this 100% applies if you really want to monetize your knowledge.
Lisa, Sunday Times bestselling author of Make Money Online, is also a mother of twins (pictured).
4. Don’t assume that knowledge has to come from your work history
Very often it is a hobby or hobby that is the basis of a business that people will want to know about.
Think about what really lights your fire, because what is definitely true is that you are much more likely to succeed if you do something you are passionate about.
5. When you’re starting out, don’t think that everything you do always has to be super professional.
I’ve sold courses simply by filming 20-minute tutorials on my iPhone. When you feel inspired, do it. People will like you (and therefore trust you) much more if you are relatable.
Don’t give yourself the excuse of needing a ton of professional equipment and software to sell your knowledge. Dont do it. Remember: advance on perfection.
Lisa Johnson is a global business strategist who runs That Strategy Co, helping ambitious people create passive and semi-passive income streams.