I was really pumped to do this interview, and it turns out I was right to be excited.

Danielle is a fireball of passion, inspiration, and White Hot Truth. She’s not just pleasant, but present…which is something that’s very rare these days.

In this interview, we talked about goals, dreams, passion, spiritual poetry, building an empire, and most importantly, her upcoming multimedia journey into being an entrepreneur on fire, called The Firestarter Sessions.

I’m not yet an affiliate for this one, but I’m going to be buying it soon for myself so that I can share my experience with you. In the meantime, check out this interview (in 3 parts, 25:00 in total) and then go order the Firestarter Sessions. I’ve read quite a bit of it and it’s so good that I’m taking it slow. All meat, no filler.

Click Here to Order the Firestarter Sessions

Game Changer Interview: (Firestarter) Danielle LaPorte is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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I want it now.

I don’t want to have to work for it, but I still want it.

I deserve it.

It’s my turn.

I’ve suffered enough.

This is the type of thinking that scars entrepreneurs and keeps people from achieving their dreams.

They aren’t willing to work for it…they see others becoming successful, and instead of analyzing that process in order to see how they can repeat it (hence the book, Beyond Blogging), they ignore the years of hard work that successful people might have put in and instead focus on the end result.

Jealousy and bitterness replaces hope and optimism, and all too often, it happens very quickly.

My Failure

I once owned a real estate business that I built from the ground up. I was making nearly 5 figures per month on my own, without a single employee, and most of my day consisted not of hard work, but of sales presentations and phone calls.

It was great…in fact it was so great that I got greedy and lazy…and guess what? It fell apart more quickly than the US Hockey team in overtime.

For years I was paralyzed by fear…fear of failing again…fear of rejection…fear of losing it all once more.

So I tried to learn what it takes to be happy just paying the bills…working a job that I hated. I consciously let go of my dreams so that I could learn how to do this…I was going to accept just existing…what a tragedy!

But then something happened…I was laid off a week before Christmas without so much as a thank you or a going away gift. That was one of the lowest points of my life. Here I was….trying to do things the “right way,” by “being realistic” and not dreaming too much…and then realizing it was nothing more than a big lie. I was a replaceable cog in a shitty machine.

So I found myself in the US Army…following the path of my grandfather and trying to reforge a new sense of self worth. I found a renewed sense of discipline during my time in the Army. I learned what it’s like to really be in the suck…I learned how lucky we are to have the opportunities we have. To be able to walk away from a job at any time and create a real life for ourselves….through nothing more than some hard work and a bit of chance.

Reclaiming Your Destiny

And that’s when I started pouring my energy into something that I believed in.

That’s when I started running, and writing, and believing again…

That’s when I spent 8 months in Afghanistan building a business in my spare time while my friends played XBOX.

That’s when I let go of my fear and put everything on the line once again.

Why Live at All?

I realized that a life without passion and a sense of purpose is one that isn’t worth living. I realized that I still had time to pick up my dreams, dust them off, and make a run at it.

You know what happened? Things started falling into place once more, and the only difference between now and then was that I tried…I refused to give up.

You know how Gary V says all the time that he’s going to own the NY Jets? I have no doubt that he will.

Why? Because he believes, within the very fiber of his being, that he’s going to.

And that’s how I feel about my own success; it’s just a matter of time.

The Winning Difference

That’s the difference right there. That’s why some people fail and some people succeed. That’s why people don’t stop until they’ve made it, while others quit before they get to the end of the rainbow.

Belief…

Yes, there’s hard work involved, but if you don’t believe in yourself, then who will?

If you don’t believe in your dreams, then who’s going to make them happen for you?

No one.

Yes You Can

Why then do I see so many people looking for excuses instead of answers?

Why do I see people that aren’t willing to put in the effort…the time…the investment…in order to be successful?

Here’s what I think: Because they don’t believe they’ll make it.

But you can.

When Opportunity Knocks

My mission in life has been to teach people how to be successful, so that I can not only build Kings and Queens, but so that I can help to build an unstoppable force capable of changing the world.

It’s time we take back our lives and start living again…that’s why I’m so passionate about this stuff, and that’s why Mike CJ and I created the Beyond Blogging Project.

That’s why we’ve decided to invest 6 months of our time, energy, and focus into creating a system that bloggers can use to take their business to the next level. I don’t make my money blogging…I make it by creating businesses. That’s what we want to teach there…we want to teach you how to pick up your dreams, dust them off, and put them back on the pedestal.

We want to create Kings and Queens…and I have no doubt that we are going to.

It Starts Friday

We start the Beyond Blogging Project on Friday, with or without you. We’re not looking to force anyone in or use powerful marketing techniques to trick you into joining. We think the project speaks for itself.

A team of experts…backed by a team of mentors…working closely with 50 bloggers in order to build powerful lifestyle businesses. It’s going to be awesome.

The good news is that we’ve still got a few slots left, and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about today.

If you’ve got any inkling at all that you have what it takes to quit your job and start living once more, then I think we have something for you.

If you have the desire to make a living doing what you love, then we’ve got something for you.

If you’re willing to walk the talk, then we’ve got something for you.

As it stands, you’ve got two options…

Continue to try and learn everything on your own…the hard way, or cut years off your learning curve by joining a community of experts and mentors…supported by 49 other people.

If you’d like to learn more, simply download this small PDF, read the details, and submit your application. Or, if you have questions, join us at 2PM EST for our free webinar.

It’s time we bring back our passion with belief…wouldn’t you say?

I believe Henry David Thoreau said it best when he said:

“The mass of men lead quiet lives of desperation.”

He couldn’t be closer to the truth.

The “B” Word is Missing – Let’s Bring it Back is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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This is normally when I do a Saturday Project Update, but today marks the start of some changes in my life and changes in my blog.

Unfortunately, I’m not ready to tell you about them yet, so instead I’m going to give you a peek of where my mind is at. The only thing I can tell you now, is that I’m building something…

If you didn’t know…I’m in the military, and I’ve only got 6 months left before I become a full-time entrepreneur.

Well, even though I love serving my country, I’m not much of a rules and regulations type of guy. In fact, I usually do the opposite of what someone tells me to just because they told me not to do it.

The Purpose of Rules

One of the things about the military that most people don’t know about is that there are a lot of weird rules. One of them is that if you schedule and miss an appointment with a doc, then you can’t miss it. If you do, it’s a no-show.

Kind of typical I guess, but funny because this “no-show” is supposed to be a big deal, but no one really cares. Stuff comes up and sometimes you just can’t make it.

Well, today I had an appointment and I had to cancel it. I called in advance, but the lady on the other end of the line was adamant that I’d go down as a no-show.

I said that’s OK, but she had to say it 3 more times just to make sure that I knew I was a no-show. I said again, “that’s fine, let’s just re-schedule,” so we did.

End of story…

But I couldn’t let it go. It ate at me until I couldn’t help but to write about it because it reminded me of the millions of people bound by rules that don’t make sense.

Almost everyone I know is afraid of rules. “You can’t do that!” they say, but when I ask why they say they don’t know…”those are the rules.”

It is pathetic…I’m sorry, but it’s true.

Rules are an excuse for failure.

Granted, some rules are important, but for the most part, we live in a world of rules that don’t make sense.

“You can’t quit your job” is a rule.

“You can’t say that” is a rule.

“Go to school and get good grades” is a rule.

“You need good health insurance” is a rule.

You get the point…

Rules are a set of boundaries made to keep people in a position to conform and to stop asking questions. Rules are used as a method of social legislation.

But you don’t need rules. You are different. You have more important things to do and you can’t afford to let people get in the way.

They want you to follow the rules so they don’t feel bad for following them. If you break the rules then they have to find another way to rationalize their misery.

You are Unique

But that’s not your problem. You have a duty to the world, and that duty is to take the road less traveled…to go the other way and leave a trail.

Leaders don’t follow rules because they make them. Make your own rules and follow your own path…it’s yours, and I’m counting on you to find it so that you can show me how you did.

You’ll Get a No-Show is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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2009 was a strange year for me. On one hand, it was tough, stressful, and depressing. On the other hand, it was one of the best years of my life.

How can such a dichotomy exist? Well, for me, 2009 started in Kabul Afghanistan, while my wife and 2 awesome kids (Gabriel and Annica) were trying to find ways to celebrate even though their father was absent.

Being deployed is different…it’s great because it give people like me a chance to fulfill their duty and obligation, but being away from home is something you don’t really get used to.

We also dealt with the death of a handful of close friends and family members, and I spent a majority of my free time working on a 2nd business, instead of hanging out with those that were still with us.

But…the rest of the year, even when I was in Afghanistan, was fabulous.

Personally, I overcame a lot of issues and setbacks, I achieved my goal of becoming a triathlete, and I started my 30′s off with a bang.

My business has never been better, I just launched a book that got plastered all over the web, and I befriended dozens of awesome people that I wouldn’t have met were it not for this awesome business of social media and blogging that many of us find ourselves in.

Now, it occured to me shortly before today, that while 2009 might have been great for me, it was rough for many others. Others had it better than I did.
So instead of writing to just one portion of that group, I wanted to write to both, so here we go…

If 2009 Was Not Your Year

You aren’t alone. Millions of people suffered in 2009, whether financially, emotionally, physically, or spiritually.

The fact that you’re here, trying to learn to improve, shows you’re on the path to recovery…and I salute that.

Your challenge in 2010 is to not get down, not get depressed, and to not quit. Instead, you need to rise up and meet your fears head on. Take on the doubters, skeptics, and critics, and as Chris Guillebeau posted today…say “watch me.”

More than that though, 2010 needs to be the year that you decide what you want with your life…I mean really spend some time thinking about it and decide…and start taking steps towards making it happen.

Don’t let anyone tell you it cannot be done, and don’t worry about failure. There’s nothing that can’t be undone. Just step up and go for it; what do you have to lose?

Find a Mentor

Find someone that’s doing what you want to be doing, or paving the road you want to travel, and introduce yourself to them. Study them, watch them, and try to get to know them. At first, they might ignore you, but if you prove that you aren’t there just to take, but are willing to work your way up, then eventually they can’t help but to give in.

Develop Skills

Being an entrepreneur means you either have to develop the skills necessary to compete, or you have to pay someone to develop them for you. One path requires time, while the other requires money. Determine how much of each you are willing to invest in your business and get started.

Take Action

Plans are useless without action. Action is useless without plans. Start with a basic 5 year plan, create a series of actions steps, and get started. Don’t worry about being perfect, just get started.

If 2009 wasn’t your year, make sure that it’s the last one of it’s kind. It’s a new year, and a new decade…make sure it counts.

If 2009 Was Your Year

If you rocked it in 2009, then I have just a few things to ask of you:

1. Don’t forget the little guy.

I’m amazed by how many people shit on the little guy once they make the big time. They seem to forget that they were once little too, and if it weren’t for someone boosting them up, they probably wouldn’t have made it either.

Find someone that needs your help and give them a boost. If they become successful, then find another. We were all little guys once, and we need to encourage and develop our brothers-in-arms, not discourage them.

2. Keep rocking

You set the bar high…you set an example for how things can be done…keep doing it. Don’t sit on your bum and take a break. Instead, keep pushing the bar higher…keep breaking through barriers and blazing new trails. We’re depending on you.

3. Celebrate

Don’t forget to enjoy life when you get to the top…or anywhere that closely resembles it. Take time to hang out so I can buy you a beer next time we meet. Work is good, but it’s all for naught if we don’t take some time to kick back and appreciate it.

My Turn

Lastly, I want to spend a minute, or 60, thanking and acknowledgning people that helped make my 2009 a great one…the list is long, so please bear with me.

Professional

1. Chris Brogan – You set the example in more ways than one. Authentic, helpful, and inspirational. Somehow, you find time for everyone. One of these days I’ll find a way to pay you back.

2. Chris Guillebeau – I typed your name so many times this year that I finally figured out how to spell it without looking. You showed me how to do it right, and you were always there to lend a hand. Thanks for kicking the world’s ass on a daily basis.

3. David Risley – Dude, you are easily one of the most approachable and laid back guys I’ve met. You show us how it’s done, and always keep it real. I’m looking forward to hanging out in Tampa.

4. Mike CJ – Who would have thought we’d end up here? Thanks for putting up with my workaholic-ness and keeping me grounded. We’ve made something pretty cool together, haven’t we?

5. Rich Lazzara – Truly underrated, but you don’t complain. You know where you’re at, where you’re going, and where you want to be. Thanks for the Heineken, I owe you one (or several) next time we meet. One of these days, I promise, you’ll be making me a yacht.

6. Lara Kulpa – You deserve much more attention than you get, but you’ll get it soon. Keep being awesome and seriously…thanks for everything you’ve done for me.

7. Karl Staib – Thanks for reminding us all to be thankful for what we have, and to stop always looking ahead.

8. Michael Martine – We just missed each other at bwe, but I still feel like I know you the same. I’m looking forward to your 2010…keep rocking man.

9. Ed Dale – We haven’t met, but your 30DC was a huge help to me early on in my career. You’re one of the good guys.

10. Frank Kern – People love to hate you, and hate to love you, but you are a true marketing traiblazer. Keep teaching people that it’s OK to make money and live well.

11. Jeff Walker – PLF is amazing, ’nuff said.

12. Brian Clark – The man behind the curtain…your 3rd Tribe teachings are going to be huge for people like me that want to sell without being sleazy.

13. Sonia Simone – Thanks for putting up with my repeated emails and for giving me a chance to shine on Copyblogger. Your writing is awesome, and it’s an honor.

14. Drew Bennett (Ben Spark) – Love your attitude man…you give so much more than you take. Keep up the good fight.

15. Lisa Morosky – I’m going to need you sooner than later…thanks for all of your support.

16. Dave Navarro – All this time you’ve been hiding out in my state without telling me. Love the way you do business, as I told CB…I hide behind you when the marketing flak gets too rough.

17. Dean, Jana, Kimb – Thanks for all of yoru awesome design work this year.

18. Gary V – Thanks for teaching us how to #crushit.

19. Shama Kabani – You keep changing names so much I can’t keep up, but your help has been amazing.

20. All of you probloggers that I only recently met, but look forward to working with again: Darren, ChrisG, and others. Thanks for being awesome.

To everyone else that I just met, but have already begun to love hanging out with: Jordan, Srinivas, Oleg, Tim Jones (The Real One), Gordie, Robert, Beau, Antti, Kevin, Ittybiz, Derek, Sarge, and ayone else I’m forgetting…THANK YOU.

Personal

1. My wife and kids, for understanding why I’m always on the computer…and for being there when I made it home safe.

2. My entire family, for always believing in me.

3. Anne Moss Rogers, for being there from the start.

4. Steve and the BT crew, for helping me reach my goals this year.

5. McHenry, Sackett, Debo, and Big Willi Style, for hanging in there for a long 8 months.

6. Ginger, for helping me get ready for the suck at REV3 (get your minds out of the gutter).

7. All you fast assholes at Augusta an in the NCTS, for keeping me going.

8. Who am I missing? There has to be someone that I’m missing, that will point it out nicely, and I’ll feel like an ass…but I tried. I’m running out of daylight here!

To 2009, for being awesome, and for 2010 for laying down so soon. It’s on baby.

-Nathan

Image Credit

Ringing in the New Year – A Different Kind of Post is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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Susan Baker, also know as The Escape Hatcher, is absolutely awesome. Not only does she teach people how to escape jobs that they hate in order to create a lifestyle business, but she’s also a model for internet entrepreneurship.

In this interview, we tackle:

• how to escape a job you hate
• how to create a lifestyle business
• how to find the right job so that you have time to build a business
• how to get paid to do what you love
• how to drive traffic with social media and social networks
• podcasting
• kicking ass at life

Grab a coffee, a pen, and some paper – this one runs about 30 minutes.

Game Changer Interview – The Escape Hatcher is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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In today’s Saturday Game Changer Interview, I’m excited to bring you a great interview I had with Karl from @workhappynow.

I’ve known Karl for quite some time, but this was really the first time I had a chance to pick his brain at length and I’ve got to say, he’s right on the money.

We talked about everything from being happy at work, to finding new work, to becoming an entrepreneur and blogger.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can be happy at work, or just happy in general, check him out at workhappynow.com and follow him on Twitter while you’re at it.

The interview runs around 30 minutes, so grab a coffee, beer, or a smoke and enjoy

Game Changer Interview – Karl Staib of Work Happy Now is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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It’s not very often that I allow another product to occupy space on my blog, but in this case, I just had to make an exception. These videos, created by Chris Willow of Killer Sales Video, are amazing. The picture and sound are both superb (warning, turn down your speakers) and they are the type of video that are perfect for product launches and marketing efforts. Seriously, these videos are cool.

Click play to see how you can get your hands on one.

As for my product updates, you might have noticed that I recently re-launched Making It Social, which is a social media blog for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Thanks to a few timely guest posts at Twitip and Copyblogger, the traffic and RSS numbers have quadrupled overnight.

Mike and I are also nearly finished with our Beyond Blogging book, and we can’t wait to fill you in on the launch details. Check out Beyond Blogging to learn more.

Lastly, I’ll be opening up a consulting page on my blog here to help people learn how to create a lifestyle business full of passion and bad ass-ness. Stay tuned

As for what’s in the pipe down the road, I have a handful of hush-hush partnerships in the works and I’m also completing a variety of new guides for you, such as:

1. How to Launch a Product with JV Partners
2. How to Launch and Grow a Blog from Scratch
3. The Webrepreneur’s Guide to Social Media Domination

I can’t wait to get cracking on some new things this winter, and now that I’ve planned my exit strategy from military life into civilian life, things are going to continue to improve. Did I say “Stay Tuned” yet?

Saturday Game Changers – Awesome Launch Videos is a post from: Nathan Hangen

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