Podcast Summary
Choosing an unconventional path at NYU: Following your own path without a clear career goal can lead to unexpected success and the creation of a media empire
Breaking the status quo and following your own path can lead to unexpected success. Claudia Ashray, also known as the "Girl with No Job," went against the typical blueprint of following a traditional career path during her time at NYU. Despite the steep costs, she chose to attend the university without a clear career goal in mind. During her college years, she built an online presence and eventually turned it into a media empire. Her determination and creativity led her to amass a large following on social media, write a New York Times bestselling book, and host a successful podcast. Her story serves as a reminder that taking risks and being open to new opportunities can lead to great rewards.
Starting a blog during internship and unexpected success: Following passions and taking risks can lead to unexpected success, even without traditional college experiences. Learn about finances and taxes early on for monetizing social media.
Sometimes taking an unconventional path can lead to unexpected success. The speaker shared her experience of starting a blog during her internship and getting let go, which led her to rename it and eventually gain a large following on social media. She acknowledged the value of her education at NYU, but also the sacrifices made and the lack of traditional college experiences. She emphasized the importance of learning about finances and taxes early on in monetizing social media, and shared her first sponsorship deal worth $1,000. Overall, her story highlights the potential rewards of following one's passions and taking risks, even if the path isn't traditional.
Learning Financial Management and Building a Brand in Non-Traditional Fields: Surround yourself with experts, learn necessary skills early, prioritize authenticity and consistency, and seek out knowledge in non-traditional areas.
Building a successful brand and managing finances, especially in non-traditional fields, can be challenging. The speaker shares her personal experience of not being adequately prepared for taxes when she started making significant income. She emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with experts and learning the necessary skills early on. Additionally, the speaker discusses the importance of authenticity and consistency in building a loyal community. She shares that her intention was always to make people happy, rather than specifically aiming for a large following. The lessons of life, such as managing finances and building a community, are not always taught in traditional curriculums, making it essential to seek out knowledge and expertise.
Creating joy and positivity through content: Leverage humor and personal experiences to build a following. Use Patreon for paid content and great customer service. Prioritize audience needs and deliver quality content to succeed.
Creating and sharing content with the intention of bringing joy and positivity to others, even in challenging times, can be a successful business model. Claudia, who lost her father at a young age and uses her sense of humor and family to stay positive, has built a following through her daily podcast and organically responded to listener demand by creating a membership model on Patreon. With great customer service and no tech issues, Patreon has been the best platform for hosting paid content and providing additional content to subscribers. The goal is to be a "bright light" in people's lives, offering a respite from the harsh realities of the world. By prioritizing what the audience wants and consistently delivering quality content, success can be achieved while making a positive impact.
A safe and loyal community for monetizing content on Patreon: Patreon's tiered subscription model allows creators to offer exclusive content and incentives, fostering deeper connections with their audience and generating additional revenue streams.
Patreon has been a game-changer for content creators like Claudia and Ben, providing a safe and loyal community for monetizing personal and themed content. The platform's tiered subscription model allows creators to offer exclusive content and incentives, fostering a deeper connection with their audience and generating additional revenue streams. While other platforms like OnlyFans have gained popularity, they come with a stigma that deters some creators from joining. Claudia's experience shows that building a business from scratch can be time-consuming and expensive, making it worthwhile to consider established platforms like Patreon for their ease of use and benefits. The integration of Claudia and Ben's personal brands, including their dog and Instagram accounts, into their content strategy further enhances their connection with their audience and broadens their reach.
Neglecting personal relationships while building a personal brand: Focusing too much on growing a personal brand can lead to neglecting personal relationships. However, finding opportunities to engage with new audiences can lead to successful business ventures.
Building a personal brand can be all-consuming, and it's essential to maintain a healthy balance in personal relationships. The speaker started her blog and Instagram around the same time she began dating her partner. Her obsession with growing her following led her to spend countless hours scrolling through her followers, neglecting her relationship. This behavior led to frustration from her partner, who felt ignored. However, she saw an opportunity to engage with a male audience and started a new account, "boy with no job," which eventually became a successful business venture for them as a family. The speaker's content creation is mostly a solo effort, with some help from a few team members. Her most lucrative revenue source is corporate sponsorships, but she finds the most rewarding aspect of her business to be engaging with her audience and creating content that resonates with them.
Importance of diversifying revenue streams for influencers: Influencers should focus on building a dedicated fan base and generating revenue through various sources like subscription programs, ticket sales, and book sales to ensure financial stability and longevity in the industry.
While corporate sponsorships can provide substantial income for influencers, particularly on platforms like Instagram, it's important to diversify revenue streams due to the unpredictability and potential loss of these deals. The influencer market is becoming increasingly saturated, and brands are now prioritizing engagement and authenticity over sheer follower count. As a result, building a dedicated fan base and generating revenue through sources like subscription programs, ticket sales, and book sales can be more rewarding in the long run. The interviewee shared their personal experience of relying solely on corporate sponsorships leading to financial instability during a scandal, emphasizing the importance of having multiple revenue streams. The influencer market is a "wild wild west" with many influencers and brands vying for attention, and the longevity of deals is becoming shorter as brands become more savvy in their partnerships. Additionally, the success of a book, such as the interviewee's "Girl With No Job," can provide a stable and personally fulfilling source of income.
Making the New York Times Bestseller List: More Than Just Strong Sales: Focus on presales and extensive promotion for months leading up to release to increase chances of making the New York Times Bestseller List. Sales are significant but editorial considerations also play a role.
Becoming a New York Times bestseller involves more than just strong sales during the first week. While sales are a significant factor, the list is technically an editorial article, meaning it's based on the New York Times' opinion. To increase chances of making the list, authors should focus on presales and extensive promotion for several months leading up to the release. The number of copies sold required to make the list is around 68,000, but for digital influencers, the number might be higher due to the New York Times' preference for established authors. The promotion strategy can include various methods, such as signings, Zoom events, contests, and giveaways. Despite the focus on sales, it's essential to remember that the New York Times is a prestigious publication, and they may not always be eager to include influencers on the list.
Personal stories and scandals in an evergreen book: Speaker's book stands out with personal experiences, addresses past mistakes, and maintains success despite controversies. Love for TikTok and recognition of new influencers.
The speaker's book differentiates itself from the daily content by being an evergreen, personal story filled with unbelievable experiences. The speaker used the book as an opportunity to share their perspective on controversies and address their past mistakes. The book's success is evident in its high number of reviews on Amazon, despite some negative feedback related to past scandals. From a personal perspective, the speaker finds it challenging to deal with constant reminders of their past mistakes, but professionally, scandals are a rite of passage for influencers. The speaker expresses their love for TikTok and acknowledges the rise of a new generation of influencers on the platform.
Social media and podcasts: Time-consuming yet valuable: Social media can be time-consuming but offers value through culture and trends. Podcasts provide a business opportunity for creators through niche networks and established followings.
Social media platforms like TikTok can consume significant amounts of time, with some users spending up to 2 hours a day, equating to nearly 20% of their waking hours. However, the addictive nature of these platforms can also provide value, such as staying informed about popular culture and trends, and even serving as a business opportunity for content creators. Another takeaway is the potential of starting a small, niche podcast network, leveraging an existing audience and personal connections to promote shows and build a legitimate back-end infrastructure. The Toast Podcast Network, for example, has a strong following and promotes its shows through various platforms, making it an attractive option for creators compared to larger networks.
Starting a podcast with minimal resources: You can start a podcast with just a cell phone and free platforms, emphasizing the low-cost nature of content creation and opening opportunities for individuals to optimize their time and resources
Starting a podcast or any content creation business comes with low barriers to entry due to the accessibility of free or low-cost tools. As shared in the discussion, successful podcasts like Lauren Elizabeth can be started with just a cell phone and free platforms like Zoom and SoundCloud. The speaker's personal experience of starting "The Morning Toast" without initial network support and using a USB microphone from Amazon also emphasizes the low-cost nature of podcasting. This opens up opportunities for individuals to start their own businesses and optimize their time and resources, even without significant capital. The inspiring story of Joan Rivers, who rose to success despite numerous setbacks, further highlights the importance of resilience and work ethic in achieving professional and financial growth.
Embracing adversity and expressing individuality: Stay true to oneself and overcome obstacles through determination and resilience, while also prioritizing family and self-care.
Comedian Claudia O'Doherty's inspiring story showcases the power of embracing adversity and expressing individuality. Despite the challenges and nerve-wracking experiences in her career, she never apologized for her controversial actions but thrived on them. Her unwavering determination and resilience, even in the face of criticism and rejection, serve as a reminder that one can overcome obstacles and succeed by staying true to oneself. Additionally, Claudia emphasized the importance of family and self-care in maintaining mental strength and balance, even amidst a demanding career. While comedy may not be for everyone, her work ethic and dedication to her craft are commendable.
Respecting Personal Boundaries and Prioritizing Personal Happiness: Respect individual boundaries in relationships and prioritize personal happiness within reason, while being mindful of financial responsibilities.
Everyone has different boundaries when it comes to sharing personal information, and respecting those boundaries is important in maintaining relationships. This was discussed in the context of families and close friends. Additionally, people have unique experiences and passions that they are willing to invest significant resources into, even if others may not understand or approve. The speaker shared her love for clubbing and the memories and experiences she's gained from it, despite the financial cost. It's important to prioritize personal happiness and experiences within reason, while also being mindful of financial responsibilities.
Setting aside funds for taxes: Successful freelancers and business owners should allocate half of their income for taxes and hire a good accountant for tax strategy and navigation.
Effective financial planning and management, especially for freelancers or business owners, requires setting aside a significant portion of income for taxes. Claudia, a successful businesswoman and podcast host, shared her personal strategy of putting half of every dollar earned into a separate account for taxes. She emphasized the importance of having a good accountant to navigate the complexities of tax law and strategy. Another key takeaway was Claudia's love for the smaller, less crowded day club, Wet Republic, in Las Vegas, providing a unique contrast to the typical big and bustling day clubs in the city. Additionally, Claudia's book, "Girl With No Job," is available for purchase in various formats and offers further financial insights.
Girl with no job monetizes podcast through Patreon: The girl with no job uses Patreon as a membership platform to monetize her podcast, charging a monthly subscription for exclusive content.
The girl with no job, whose high-energy podcast has a 98% female following, uses Patreon as a membership platform to monetize her content. Patreon functions similarly to OnlyFans but is more commonly associated with artists, entertainers, podcasters, and bloggers. Creators charge a monthly subscription for exclusive content, and Patreon handles the operations. The girl with no job might charge her "toasters" $10-$12 a month for additional episodes and potential one-on-one contact. The podcasting world can be self-made, with daily shows requiring significant effort, as demonstrated by successful shows like Trading Secrets aspiring to emulate.
Monetizing Content through Patreon and OnlyFans: Tax Implications and Financial Management: Consider tax obligations when monetizing content through Patreon and OnlyFans. Educate yourself on financial management to avoid pitfalls. Offer incentives to boost sales and potentially reach bestseller status.
Creating and monetizing content through platforms like Patreon and OnlyFans can be lucrative marketing strategies for various audiences. However, it's essential to consider the potential tax implications and educate oneself on financial management. The example of Mike Sorrentino from Jersey Shore highlights the importance of being aware of tax obligations and the potential pitfalls of not doing so. Another strategy to increase sales and potentially reach New York Times bestseller status is offering incentives, such as discounts or exclusive content, for purchasing the product. The upcoming book releases in April, focusing on career restarting and finances, will provide valuable insights for those looking to succeed in their careers and manage their money effectively.
Sharing influencer life with significant other: Sharing influencer life with a partner brings benefits like understanding and engagement, but requires managing privacy concerns and potential scandals.
Having a significant other involved in one's influencer career can bring benefits such as ease of understanding and the ability to create engagement through overlapping followers. However, the constant worry about potential scandals and privacy invasions can consume a significant amount of mental energy and be exhausting. The speaker, who has experienced this firsthand, emphasizes the importance of authentic interactions and the frustration of dealing with sneaky photos or videos. Overall, the influencer life comes with both positive opportunities and challenging negatives.
The Guest's Surprising WTF Moments: From questioning the accuracy of Jersey Shore's $1,000,000 per episode budget to learning life hacks on TikTok and debunking the meaning of a 40% chance of rain, the guest shared some intriguing and unexpected stories.
The podcast guest shared some surprising and intriguing moments during the episode, which she referred to as her "WTF moments." One of these moments was the alleged $1,000,000 per episode budget for Jersey Shore, which she questioned for its accuracy. Another was her extensive use of TikTok, spending 24 hours on the app each week, and learning various life hacks from it. A third WTF moment was the misconception about the meaning of a 40% chance of rain in weather forecasts. Additionally, the guest's energy and love for nightclubs were described as electric and magnetic, and she invited the podcast hosts to join her for a big night out. The episode also highlighted the guest's journey from NYU to building a community and eventually making significant money, which took her four years. Overall, the episode provided insights into the guest's experiences and offered valuable information, making it an episode worth listening to.
The importance of continuous learning and community support in trading: Join a supportive community of traders for exclusive content and personalized guidance, investing less than 30 cents a day in your trading education and growth.
Learning from this episode of Trading Secrets is the value of continuous learning and community support in the world of trading. The hosts emphasized the importance of staying informed and engaged in the trading industry, and offered a networking group as a resource for exclusive content and personalized guidance. The group, which costs less than 30 cents a day, is an investment in your trading education and growth. By joining, you'll gain access to a supportive community of traders, as well as one-on-one time with the hosts, David and [Name]. Remember, trading is a lifelong journey, and having the right resources and connections can make all the difference. So, if you're serious about trading, don't miss out on this opportunity. Tune in next week for another informative episode of Trading Secrets.
