Creative Entrepreneur: A Podcast For Business Growth, Strategy and Monetization

The $7 Million Business Card with Chandler Bolt

CHECK OUT SELFPUBLISHING.COM at www.selfpublishing.com
Are you an entrepreneur who has said, "I should really write a book someday"? Today’s guest explains why "someday" needs to be now.

Chandler Bolt, founder and CEO of Self-Publishing.com, joins the show to demystify the publishing process. A C-level English student and college dropout with ADHD, Chandler proved that you don't need a PhD or Hemingway-level prose to author a bestseller. He shares his "Idea Finder" framework and reveals how his own book generated $7 million in business revenue in just one year.

If you want to move from being a "parrot" in your business to an authority in your industry, this episode is your blueprint.

Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs

1. Author = Authority

The root word of authority is author. Writing the book on your subject allows you to own your category, land TEDx talks, and secure PR. It’s the ultimate psychological trigger for credibility in the eyes of your customers.

2. The "4 Ps" of a Bestseller

To ensure your book grows your business, it must align with these four pillars:


Person: Who specifically are you helping?


Pain: What is the burning problem they know they have?


Promise: What is the specific transformation the book offers?


Price: Is this aligned with your back-end business offerings?

3. The Idea Finder: What Should You Write About?

Stuck on a topic? Ask yourself:


What expertise do you have years of experience in?


What is the "gap" between what you know and what a beginner knows?


The Best Question: What are the "broken record" conversations you have every day? Write the book to answer those questions once and for all.

4. Avoiding the "Vanity Press" Scam

Chandler warns against publishers that charge you to publish but keep your Royalties and Intellectual Property (IP).


Red Flag: If you are paying a company thousands of dollars AND they are keeping a percentage of your sales or owning your copyright, run.


The Self-Publishing Model: You pay for the service/coaching, but you keep 100% of the rights and 100% of the royalties.

5. Leveraged Impact

A book allows you to scale your impact from 1-to-1 to 1-to-many. Chandler explains that every book typically impacts three groups:


The Readers: (1,000+) People who learn from your expertise.


Friends & Family: (200+) People inspired by your discipline to finish a hard task.


The "One": The individual whose life is fundamentally altered because you shared your story.

Resources Mentioned


Free Audiobook: Get a copy of Chandler’s book, Published, at PublishedBook.com/audio


Strategy Call: Book a consultation with the team to map out your book at Self-Publishing.com/apply


YouTube: Search "Self-Publishing.com" for tutorials on AI tools for authors and fiction writing.

Connect with Chandler Bolt


Website: Self-Publishing.com


Social Media: Follow @ChandlerBolt and @SelfPublishingCom for daily tips on writing and scaling.


️ The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast

What is the Creative Entrepreneur Podcast about? It is a top-ranked business podcast (situated in the top 1% globally) dedicated to helping entrepreneurs move from "messy ideas" to authority-led brands. The show focuses on business growth, monetization, and the "3 P's": Podcasting, Publishing, and Public Speaking.

How often are new episodes released? New episodes are typically released weekly. The show features high-level interviews with industry giants—ranging from venture capitalists like John Cerasani to media experts like Ramon Ray—alongside tactical "Billion Dollar Boardroom" segments where the hosts debate business strategy.

Who should listen to this show? The podcast is designed for "creative entrepreneurs"—writers, speakers, coaches, and business owners who want to leverage media and storytelling to scale their revenue and impact without losing their creative integrity.

Cre8tive Con

What is Cre8tive Con? Cre8tive Con is an annual high-energy business conference held in Chicago. It is described as the "ultimate profit center," blending world-class education with explosive networking. It aims to bridge the gap between creative passion and strategic implementation.

When and where is the next Cre8tive Con? * Dates: February 20–22, 2026


Location: InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile


Theme: Innovation, authentic storytelling, and brand authority.

Who are some of the past and future speakers? The conference attracts massive names in the business world, including:


Jim Kwik (Brain Coach and NYT Bestselling Author)


David Meltzer (Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute)


James Orsini (President of Startups for VaynerX)


John Lee (Digital Media and AI Expert)

What makes Cre8tive Con different from other business seminars? Unlike traditional "pitch-heavy" seminars, Cre8tive Con focuses on "Human ROI." In 2026, it partnered with WHEN Stories to produce TEDx-style live stage experiences, emphasizing vulnerability and authentic connection as the primary drivers of business authority.

‍ Meet the Hosts: Julie & Dominick

Who is Julie Lokun, JD? is a media strategist and founder of The Mediacasters.  Julie is a strategist with a background in law. She is known for her ability to "anoint and point"—teasing through complex information to help entrepreneurs find the root of their story. She is a mom of four boys and a bestselling author of the Hustle Smart series.

Who is Dominick Domasky? Dominick is the CEO of Media Champs Publishing and the founder of Motivation Champs. He is a seasoned publisher and storyteller who believes every business owner is "one story away from a breakthrough." Dom focuses on helping entrepreneurs move past the survival phase and into a space of tangible legacy and impact.

How long have they been working together? Julie and Dominick have been partners for over four years. They describe their collaboration as a balance of "Yes-Man" creative energy (Julie) and "No-Man" pragmatic strategy (Dom), a dynamic they frequently discuss on the podcast to help others navigate their own business partnerships.

What are their core business philosophies? They advocate for the 3 P's:


Podcasting: Building trust through voice and consistency.


Publishing: Creating a "business card" that lasts (books).


Public Speaking: Establishing authority on physical and virtual stages.

How can I get involved?


Listen: Find the Creative Entrepreneur Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeartRadio.


Attend: Register for Cre8tive Con at www.cre8tivecon.com.

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LEARN THE SECRET TO BUILDING AN UNSTOPPABLE BUSINESS LIKE JULIE AND DOM-

Check out- www.keap.com/cre8tive
Stop Juggling, Start Growing: The Keap "Automation Advantage"

Let’s be real: as a creative entrepreneur, you didn’t start your business to spend six hours a day stuck in your inbox or chasing down leads that went cold three days ago. As Julie and Dom discussed, the "Fortune is in the Follow-up," but you can’t build a community if you’re buried under a mountain of manual tasks.

That’s why you need to head over to keap.com/cre8tive.

Why Julie and Dom Trust Keap:


Automation on Autopilot: While you’re on stage or networking at events like Cre8tive Con, Keap is working in the background—capturing leads, sending personalized messages, and ensuring no potential client slips through the cracks.


The "Seven-Day" Rule: Julie mentioned that excitement dies after a week. Keap’s sales and marketing automation platform ensures your follow-ups happen instantly, so you strike while the iron is hot—not at 1:00 AM when you're exhausted.


Scalable Sanity: From CRM and email marketing to payments and landing pages, Keap consolidates your tools so you can focus on the "Horizontal and Vertical" relationships that actually grow your brand.

Don't let your "impossible dreams" get sidelined by administrative busywork. Put your business growth on autopilot so you can spend more time in the room and less time behind the laptop.

Visit www.keap.com/cre8tive today and start turning your leads into lifelong community members.

Building Unstoppable Communities: Cre8tive Con 2026 Recap & The "Human-First" Business Growth Hack

Episode Summary: Are you tired of the "Instagrammable era" of business where connections feel like transactions? In this high-energy wrap-up of Cre8tive Con 2026 in Chicago, hosts Julie and Dominick Damas discuss why building a "ride or die" community is the ultimate growth hack for 2026. Featuring insights from keynote legends like Jim Kwik, David Meltzer, and John Lee, this episode breaks down the "Reset"—moving away from behind the laptop and into rooms where six-figure manifestations happen over cocktails and conversations.

Whether you are building a digital tribe or hosting live events, learn how to put your audience first, provide radical value without a "find's fee," and create an ecosystem where everyone rises together.

️ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:


The "Anti-Star" Strategy: Why the most successful communities (like Taylor Swift’s or Cre8tive Con’s) aren’t actually about the leader—they’re about the shared mission.


Vertical vs. Horizontal Community: How to bridge the gap between the "stage" and the "audience" to create a family dynamic.


The Follow-Up Fortune: Why your connections die within seven days if you don't take action (and how to use Keap to automate it).


Lessons from Sports: Why the Indiana University and Pittsburgh Steelers fanbases are the ultimate blueprints for generational business loyalty.


Live Event Do’s & Don’ts: The "Jules Rules" for networking—from breath mints to avoiding the "predatory pitch."

Featured Cre8tive Con 2026 Speakers Mentioned:


Jim Kwik: Brain health and high-speed learning.


John Lee: Visionary business scaling.


David Meltzer: Abundance, flow, and the "Power of 64."


James Orsini & Bobby Lane & Andrea Sullivan: The Vayner/Vyve community model. And Factotum.


Jason Duncan, Richard Dolan, & Justin Guarini and Kim Walsh Phillips: Insights on building brand authority.

️ Resources & Sponsors:


Keap: Stop losing leads in the "follow-up gap." Put your business growth on autopilot and turn leads into lifelong customers.


SELF PUBLISHING.COM:  We love SelfPublishing.com because it empowers entrepreneurs to turn their "brain bombs" and community insights into authoritative books, providing the exact roadmap needed to scale your personal brand from a speaker on a stage to a published industry leader.

FAQ: Building a Business Community in 2026

How do I start a community if I’m an introvert? Find a "connector" friend. As Julie suggests, find one person you relate to who is naturally social and let them help you navigate the room. Also, remember that observing is a superpower—it allows you to build deeper, more thoughtful relationships than someone just "working the room."

What is the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when building a community? Making it all about them. If you are the only star, you don't have a community; you have a fan club. True communities are built on shared interests and shared values where the members provide as much value to each other as the leader does.

How do you monetize a community without feeling "salesy"? Focus on value first. As Dominick points out, when you provide real tools and inspiration without an immediate "find's fee" or transaction, you build trust. Monetization happens naturally through high-level offerings (like events or masterminds) once the community sees you are invested in their success.

Is digital community building better than live events? Both have pros and cons. Live events like Cre8tive Con create "lightning in a bottle" energy that can't be replicated on a screen. However, digital communities allow for consistent, global touchpoints. The most "aggressive growth hack" is a hybrid of both.

A special thank you to our team who made Cre8tive Con 2026 successful- Chris Cushing, Teri Bales, Phil Hill, Debbie Griffiths, Najami Lezama, Beth Drost, Cindy Winkler, Sam Hibler, The Team at The InterContinental Hotel Chicago, Kinasthetics Audio and Visual, David Scott Photography and Videography, Paul Lee Photography and Videography, Edin Ramovic Photography, Ramon Ray Master of Ceremonies ----and so many more. This was a community effort and a labor of love. With Gratitude, Julie and Dom

Notable Quotes:

"A community has to be bigger than you. If you make yourself the only star, the community will fail." — Dominick Domasky

"The fortune is in the follow-up. You have one week before the excitement dies down—make the move." — Julie Lokun

Next Step: Want to see the "Brain Bombs" for yourself? www.cre8tivecon.com and get the first alert when early-bird tickets for Cre8tive Con 2027 go live!

Don't forget to Rate, Review, & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

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Do You Know Your Audience? The NFL and Olympics Sure Do (Not the Smartest Guys in the Room - Episode Swap)

In this conversation, the hosts Tom and Dom discuss various topics including the Olympics, audience engagement, and the NFL's strategies for connecting with viewers. They emphasize the importance of knowing one's audience, gathering feedback, and adapting content to meet audience needs. The discussion also touches on the significance of events like Cre8tive Con in fostering community among entrepreneurs.

key takeaways

The Olympics provide a unique opportunity to engage with diverse audiences.

Understanding your audience is crucial for effective communication.

Feedback from your audience can guide content creation.

The NFL has successfully adapted its strategies to meet changing audience demographics.

CreativeCon serves as a platform for entrepreneurs to connect and share ideas.

Engaging storytelling is key to capturing audience interest.

Different audiences have different preferences and expectations.

Listening to your audience can lead to better content and engagement.

The importance of adapting to audience changes over time.

Creating separate channels for different audience segments can enhance communication.

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Check it out now at www.keap.com/cre8tive

Stop Surviving, Start Thriving with Keap! Are you tired of tracking leads in notes apps and screenshots? Stop letting potential sales slip through the cracks. Whether you are "creatively chaotic" or a structured pro, Keap helps you follow up instantly, capture leads, and put your growth on autopilot.

In this high-octane episode, "The Branding Brain" Kim Walsh Phillips and American Idol superstar turned business coach Justin Guarini join Julie and Dom to discuss how entrepreneurs can turn their personality into profit. They dive deep into the "It Factor," the power of saying "no," and why your story is your most valuable asset. Whether you’re a plumber or a CEO, this episode is a masterclass in shifting from a "commodity" to a "movement."

Key Takeaways

1. Can the "It Factor" Be Learned?

Contrary to popular belief, you aren’t just born with the "X Factor."


The Definition: It is simply the ability to elicit a specific feeling in your audience.


The Strategy: Shift the conversation from your identity to the customer's transformation. When you solve a problem they are experiencing right now, you become magnetic.


The Example: Roger Wakefield, a plumber who built a 750k+ subscriber YouTube channel and sold his business by becoming the ultimate authority in his niche.

2. The Power of "No" (The "No Ninjas")

Kim and Justin explain that scaling to $100M requires saying no to almost everything that doesn't align with your impossible goal.


The Test: Once you set a massive goal, the universe (or God) will test you with "good" opportunities that are distractions from the "great" goal.


The Sacrifice: Justin shares why he turned down a dream Broadway role to stay focused on the Elite Speakers Network.


The Metric: Set a large goal with a short timeline (6 months). A year is too long to create urgency.

3. Controlling the Narrative

Justin emphasizes only taking advice from people you would be willing to trade places with.


Storytelling: No one has your eyes, your ears, or your tongue. Your unique perspective is what prevents you from being a commodity.


Overcoming Fear: Stage fright is a natural human response. Focus on the service you are providing rather than the judgment of the audience.

4. Moving from Referrals to Predictability

Kim highlights that while referrals are great, you can't control them. To grow, you need a predictable client flow.


Data is King: Track your progress daily. If you want to make $100k a month, you need to know exactly what your daily input and output look like.


GPS Mindset: Don't base your future destination on your past mistakes. A GPS doesn't judge you for getting lost; it just tells you how to get to the next stop.

Guest Resources


Free Masterclass: Learn how to generate unlimited leads on LinkedIn for free. Visit LIMachine.com/masterclass.


Connect with Kim: Powerful Professionals


Connect with Justin: Elite Speakers Network

Meet Your Hosts & The Movement

Julie Lokun, JD: The "Legal Eagle" & Facilitator of Dreams

As the founder of Cre8tive Con and head maven of Crown & Compass, Julie is a strategist who knows how to "anoint and point." With a background in law and a heart for creative growth, she helps entrepreneurs navigate the complex path from a "messy idea" to a 7-figure brand. Julie doesn't just talk about visibility—she creates the stages where it happens.

Dominick Domasky: The Storytelling Strategist

The founder of Motivation Champs and a seasoned publisher, Dominick is the man who turns passion into a tangible legacy. He believes that every business owner is one story away from a breakthrough. Dom’s mission is to help you move past the "surviving" phase of entrepreneurship and into a space of authority, influence, and impact.

Join the Inner Circle: Cre8tive Con Community

The podcast is just the beginning. If you’re ready to move from a listener to a "doer, mover, and shaker," you belong in our private Facebook group.

This isn't just another group for networking; it’s a high-energy hub where Julie, Dom, and our global network of experts provide:


Ongoing Support: Get answers to your burning business questions in real-time.


Networking that Counts: Connect with like-minded creators who are scaling their brands through podcasting, publishing, and public speaking.


Behind-the-Scenes Access: Be the first to know about upcoming events, live workshops, and exclusive guest opportunities.

"Success accelerates when founders surround themselves with visionaries who are committed to growth and accountability."

Come find your tribe. Your story deserves the stage, and we’re here to help you build it.

Join the movement here: www.facebook.com/cre8tivecon

CHECK OUT CRE8TIVE CON- www.cre8tivecon.com

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Episode Overview: Part 2

In the conclusion of this deep-dive, Jim Kwik and Julie Lokun tackle the "Elephant in the Room": a traditional education system designed for a world that no longer exists. Jim shares personal stories from his childhood "broken brain" and how those struggles shaped his mission to help entrepreneurs—and their children—become irreplaceably human.

Whether you are a parent wondering how to guide your kids through the AI revolution or an entrepreneur feeling the weight of "digital dementia," this episode provides the tactical habits needed to protect your greatest asset: your focus.

Key Highlights from Part 2


The Future of Education: Jim and Julie discuss the "college debate." Is a four-year degree still the best ROI, or is self-directed meta-learning the new gold standard?


Digital Discipline for Families: How to teach children to use technology as a compass rather than a cage. Jim shares his "screen balance" philosophy for raising curious, rather than passive, consumers.


The Introvert’s Edge: Jim opens up about his journey as a self-described introvert and how he learned to lead, speak, and teach on global stages without sacrificing his energy.


Rewiring for Resilience: A deeper look at the "L.I.E.s" (Limited Ideas Entertained) specifically related to age and intelligence.


Sustaining Momentum: Why most entrepreneurs burn out and how to use the "Small Simple Steps" (S3) method to maintain long-term impact.

The "Limitless" Morning Routine

In this episode, Jim references the specific habits he uses to "prime" his brain every morning.


Hydration: Resetting neurochemistry after sleep.


Brain Dumping: Journaling to move tasks from working memory to paper, reducing anxiety.


Movement: Using physical activity to spark "Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor" (BDNF).

Memorable Part 2 Quotes

"AI can out-think us, but it can’t out-imagine us. Your imagination is where true human intelligence lives." — Jim Kwik

"We are taught a lie that our intelligence is fixed like our shoe size. It’s actually more like a muscle—the more you challenge it, the stronger it gets." — Jim Kwik

Special Offer for Listeners

Meet Jim Kwik LIVE! Jim will be a keynote speaker at Cre8tive Con 2026 in Chicago (February 20th–22nd).


Register at: Cre8tiveCon.com


Discount Code: Use KWIK50 to save $50 on your ticket.

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