Author of No BS Strategy, Alex M H Smith, rejoined me on Ditching Hourly to help define a very important word that few business people understand correctly.

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Welcome
• (00:11) - Guest Introduction: Alex Smith
• (01:30) - Understanding Business Strategy
• (02:02) - The Misunderstood Concept of Value
• (04:15) - Creating Value in Business
• (07:55) - Innovating Beyond Traditional Value
• (13:01) - Practical Examples and Market Research
• (18:14) - Unique Value Proposition
• (29:23) - Understanding Differentiation in Business
• (29:56) - The Importance of Unique Positioning
• (30:36) - Consulting Strategies and Unique Differences
• (31:32) - Examples of Effective Differentiation
• (33:23) - The Role of Specialization in Strategy
• (38:30) - Embracing Weaknesses for Strategic Advantage
• (40:53) - Balancing Specialization and Market Reach
• (41:51) - The Pitfalls of Over-Niching
• (48:28) - Rooting in Recognizable Categories
• (53:20) - Conclusion and Resources

• Alex's free resources » https://basicarts.org/welcome/
• Alex's book » https://basicarts.org/book/
• Alex's mailing list » https://basicarts.org/articles/
• Alex's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-m-h-smith/

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Professor-in-residence at StoryBrand and host of the new podcast Badass Softie, Dr. J.J. Peterson, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss how to strike a balance between authority and empathy.

And be sure to stick around to the end to hear J.J.'s take on AI's impact on professional services and how to avoid creating ‘louder garbage’ :-)

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:17) - JJ Peterson's Current Ventures
• (01:11) - The Concept of 'Badass Softie'
• (03:26) - StoryBrand Framework Explained
• (06:20) - Empathy and Authority in Leadership
• (08:42) - Balancing Empathy and Authority in Coaching
• (12:38) - Personal Experiences and Coaching Styles
• (16:05) - Communicating Empathy and Authority Effectively
• (24:44) - Engaging Your Audience with Empathy and Authority
• (28:06) - Controlling the Narrative in Marketing
• (29:07) - Embracing Your Authentic Self as a Guide
• (31:41) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• (40:52) - The Importance of Niching Down
• (47:35) - Leveraging AI in Professional Services
• (51:39) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• J.J.'s website » https://www.drjjpeterson.com/
• J.J.'s podcast » https://www.badasssoftie.com/

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Solo data advisor Shachar Meir (ex-Meta, ex-PayPal) joined me on Ditching hourly to share the details of his transition from being a manager in massive corporate environments to becoming a successful solo consultant.

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (01:05) - Shachar's Professional Background
• (03:47) - Transition to Solo Entrepreneurship
• (13:51) - First Steps as a Solopreneur
• (15:59) - Landing the First Project
• (20:25) - Facing the Challenges of Solopreneurship
• (25:11) - Navigating the Steep Learning Curve
• (26:17) - The Importance of Networking and Mentorship
• (29:52) - Leveraging LinkedIn for Business Growth
• (33:25) - The Art of Content Creation
• (43:18) - Financial Stability and Client Acquisition
• (51:47) - Final Thoughts and Advice

• LinkedIn Profile » https://www.linkedin.com/in/shacharmeir/
• YouTube Channel » https://www.youtube.com/@shacharmeir

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Big Idea archaeologist Pranav Kale joined me on Ditching Hourly for a reverse interview about my journey to the center of the solar system.

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:39) - Pranav's Evolution and Current Focus
• (03:01) - Jonathan's Epiphany on Hourly Billing
• (06:26) - The Trust Fracture in Hourly Billing
• (07:45) - Jonathan's Problem-Solving Journey
• (16:59) - The Move to Rhode Island and Finding the Solution
• (22:38) - Implementing Value-Based Pricing
• (26:30) - Content Creation and Teaching Others
• (30:35) - Understanding Business Personality Types
• (31:08) - The Journey to Writing a Book
• (31:56) - Transitioning to Advisory Roles
• (32:37) - The Impact of the iPhone Announcement
• (33:37) - Responsive Web Design and Consulting
• (35:46) - Facing Criticism and Adjusting Messaging
• (39:50) - Finding the Central Theme
• (53:06) - The Importance of Differentiation
• (59:53) - Concluding Thoughts and Advice

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Laravel expert Joel Clermont joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he and his co-founder run their successful dev subscription business. 

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Introduction
• (00:16) - Joel's Background and Business Model Transition
• (01:54) - Launching the Dev Subscription Model
• (04:47) - Marketing and Initial Success
• (07:44) - Client Profiles and Demand
• (11:19) - Managing Client Expectations and Scope
• (18:58) - Onboarding and Project Management
• (21:21) - Handling Messy Projects and Infrastructure
• (25:06) - Client Capacity and Longevity
• (26:47) - Exploring Client Sizes and Ideal Fits
• (28:39) - Balancing Workload and Client Expectations
• (32:06) - Ensuring Client Satisfaction
• (34:47) - Managing Work and Time Effectively
• (43:11) - Challenges and Downsides of Subscription Model
• (47:54) - Marketing Strategies for Developers
• (52:52) - Conclusion and Resources

• Joel’s website » https://nocompromises.io/
• Joel’s books » https://masteringlaravel.io/books
• Joel’s courses » https://masteringlaravel.io/courses
• Joel’s community » https://masteringlaravel.io/community

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Digital marketing strategist Eleanor Mayrhofer joined me on Ditching Hourly to describe exactly how she productized her web design services.

Links:

• Eleanor's website » https://www.eleanormayrhofer.com/ditching
• Eleanor's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanormayrhofer/

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:14) - Eleanor's Background and Business Model
• (00:52) - Straight to Non-Hourly
• (02:01) - Starting a Solo Business During COVID
• (02:44) - Initial Market Approach and Challenges
• (03:48) - Developing a Productized Service
• (04:25) - Current Business Model: Website in a Week
• (05:31) - Client Interaction and Project Scope
• (09:40) - Copywriting and Strategy Sessions
• (16:31) - Handling Project Scope and Client Expectations
• (21:24) - Marketing and Client Acquisition
• (23:20) - Client Commissions and Referrals
• (23:40) - Subscription Maintenance Services
• (24:53) - Positioning and Target Audience
• (25:53) - Overcoming Launch Procrastination
• (27:11) - Client Collaboration and Revisions
• (28:55) - Technical Setup and DNS Challenges
• (31:25) - Post-Launch Support and Testimonials
• (33:13) - Pros and Cons of Productized Services
• (36:55) - Sales Process and Lead Time
• (38:55) - Long-Term Plans and Project Juggling
• (41:01) - Avoiding Boredom with Productized Services
• (42:20) - Conclusion and Contact Information

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Founder of The Upside, Erin Halper, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share her pro tips on creating and sustaining a premium online community.

Erin's Links:

• Erin's community » https://betheupside.com/
• Erin's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhalper/

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:19) - Erin Halper's Background and The Upside Community
• (03:19) - Challenges and Evolution of The Upside
• (07:24) - Starting and Running a Community
• (09:18) - Best Practices for Community Management
• (24:08) - Pricing Strategies for Independent Consultants
• (30:19) - Navigating Agency Subcontracting
• (30:52) - Building and Scaling Your Business
• (31:42) - Lifestyle and Impact in Consulting
• (33:00) - Celebrating Wins and Community Support
• (34:26) - Visibility and Positioning
• (36:03) - Pricing Strategies and Market Shifts
• (37:47) - Maintaining Boundaries in Community
• (40:30) - Application Process and Membership Cap
• (43:40) - Quarterly Open House Strategy
• (47:18) - Onboarding and Member Matching
• (55:26) - Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Communications consultant Lynn Safranek joined me on Ditching Hourly to learn how to apply value pricing to an industry where the consultant can't control the outcome.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:11) - Understanding Upstream Contributions
• (00:23) - Lynn's Background and Expertise
• (01:05) - The Value Pricing Dilemma
• (01:21) - Client Communication Challenges
• (02:45) - Media Engagement Strategies
• (05:01) - Defining Client Needs and Goals
• (08:08) - Crafting Effective Messaging
• (14:32) - Measuring Success and Impact
• (20:42) - Leveraging Media Coverage for Nonprofits
• (21:26) - Budget Autonomy of Communications Directors
• (22:41) - Crafting Compelling Stories for Donations
• (24:33) - Exploring Budget Scenarios for Media Hits
• (26:03) - Creative Strategies for Media Attention
• (26:58) - Evaluating the Impact of Media Hits
• (29:21) - Developing a Comprehensive Media Strategy
• (31:35) - Reverse Engineering Media Success
• (38:40) - Thinking Beyond Traditional Roles
• (42:35) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Lynn on LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnsafranek/

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Brand strategist and founder of SwayRise Creative, Diane Whiddon, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about how adding a discrete - and legitimately useful - AI-based productized service to her branding business tapped into a longstanding demand in her client base.

Diane's Links

• SwayRise Creative » https://swayrisecreative.com/
• Content Creator Lab » https://aicontentcreatorlab.com

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:34) - Diane's Background and Career Journey
• (01:44) - Discovering Value Pricing and Meeting Jonathan
• (03:44) - The Impactful Discovery Call
• (07:18) - Focusing and Scaling the Business
• (15:08) - Incorporating AI into Business
• (19:16) - AI Photo Shoots and Branding
• (33:33) - Ethical Considerations and Client Expectations
• (34:57) - Technical Aspects of AI Image Creation
• (37:02) - Using Image References and Editing Tools
• (37:56) - Cost and Effort of Traditional Photo Shoots
• (39:15) - AI Photo Shoots vs Traditional Photo Shoots
• (41:36) - The Demand for AI in Business
• (42:54) - Challenges and Opportunities with AI
• (47:33) - The Importance of Adapting to AI
• (51:53) - Leveraging AI for Business Success
• (54:13) - The Future of AI in Various Industries
• (01:10:30) - Final Thoughts and Resources

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Author, speaker, and human-first AI strategist, Alastair McDermott, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about his new book and how experts can use AI to enhance productivity, decision-making, and learning.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:46) - Alistair's Background and Journey
• (03:02) - The New Book: Use AI, Stay Human
• (04:15) - AI as a Tool for Experts
• (06:55) - Practical Applications of AI
• (10:00) - Technical Deep Dive: AI in Writing
• (16:58) - Organizing and Managing AI Outputs
• (23:40) - Ideal Reader and Learning AI
• (24:51) - Choosing Your AI Setup: DIY vs. Subscription
• (25:20) - The Importance of AI Expertise
• (27:16) - AI's Role in Business and Personal Productivity
• (28:25) - Challenges and Limitations of AI
• (30:59) - Effective Prompting Techniques
• (32:20) - Using AI for Coaching and Workshops
• (35:35) - Advanced AI Usage Tips
• (40:46) - Practical AI Tools and Resources
• (45:28) - Final Thoughts and Resources

In this episode of Ditching Hourly, Jonathan Stark interviews Alastair McDermott about his new book, 'Use AI Stay Human: A Survival Guide for Experts in the Age of AI.' They discuss Alastair's transition from a techie background to running his consulting business, Recognized Authority, and eventually rebranding to Human Spark.AI. The conversation dives into how AI can be used to enhance productivity, decision-making, and learning for subject matter experts. Alastair shares practical tips on setting up effective AI workflows, structuring prompts, and the importance of human judgment in leveraging AI for business purposes.

Alastair's Links

• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Use-I-Stay-Human-Indispensable-ebook/dp/B0FDQSKZRF
• Website: https://humanspark.ai/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alastairmcdermott/

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Author of Leaving The Casino, Jessica Lackey, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the importance of understanding different business models, pricing strategies, and the concept of the 'zone of enoughness' in building a sustainable business.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:09) - Jessica Lackey's Background and Career Journey
• (01:05) - Introduction to Jessica's Book
• (03:13) - The Casino Metaphor in Business
• (04:28) - Frameworks and Types of Expertise-Based Businesses
• (08:55) - Pricing Models and Strategies
• (19:22) - The Zone of Enoughness
• (30:46) - Transitioning Business Models
• (31:21) - Financial Planning and Expectations
• (32:30) - Balancing Flexibility and Income
• (34:28) - Optimizing Delivery for Efficiency
• (40:41) - Marketing Strategies for Delivery Businesses
• (42:48) - The Importance of Direct Outreach
• (51:03) - Building Authority Through Writing
• (54:29) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Jessica Lackey is the founder of Deeper Foundations, a consulting and training firm that helps expertise-based business owners grow and scale sustainable companies rooted in stronger business foundations. She brings a unique blend of corporate expertise and soulful business building, drawing on an MBA from Harvard Business School, a coaching certification from iPEC, and experience at McKinsey & Company and Nike, Inc. Jessica has supported over 200 entrepreneurs through her programs, blending systems thinking, operational rigor, and deep values alignment. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband.

Jessica's Links:

• Website: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lackey/
• Book: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/casino
• Predictable Revenue Roadmap: https://predictablerevenueroadmap.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicalackey_consulting/

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!