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In Episode 48 of the Defining Success Podcast, TJ Hale, host of the Shark Tank Podcast shares how he got the idea for starting his podcast and why he decided to name his show the Shark Tank Podcast.  Learn how you can tap into an existing audience to build a larger audience faster in this episode.

TJ Hale is host of the Shark Tank Podcast.  The Shark Tank Podcast is a place where you can come and listen to entrepreneurs tell the whole scoop.  Details regarding their business, what really happened on the show, failures, setbacks, big wins, and in some cases what its like partnering with a multi-millionaire/billionaire investor.

TJ Hale was a commercial real estate broker and did some really big deals in the real estate business and when the economy changed he changed he knew he needed to change directions.  He then moved into the tech arena and as he was working in the tech business, a good friend of his was experimenting with some online marketing.  His friend continued to come up with ideas, but they never lasted very long and TJ kept making fun of him for his many failed ventures and his friend challenged him, asking him to give it a try.  They then decided to hold each other accountable.

TJ began by doing research and learned that he thought he was best suited for podcasting. He then Googled how to do a podcast and decided to start the Shark Tank Podcast with its built-in audience and became very successful early on.  By learning how to tap into an existing audience, TJ set himself up for success.

The Shark Tank Podcast was chosen by TJ because he knew that any online venture would take time before he could be seen as an expert . . . unless he could tap into an existing audience.  He knew that by tapping into the audience of the Shark Tank he could be successful from the beginning.

TJ has learned a lot since he started his podcast.  One of the things he’s been most amazed by is the willingness of people to provide information and to be helpful.  One story he recalls comes from Cliff Ravenscraft who discusses about a podcast he started around the T.V. Show Lost.  The first season he invited some friends over to watch the show and the next season he had to rent out a hotel ballroom in order to meet the demand for a viewing party.  TJ likes talking to people and there is something about podcasting that he had a large enough impact that people were willing to buy a plane ticket to fly out to attend his viewing parties.

One thing TJ would change about his progress so far would be getting involved in Facebook.  Early on he was very anti-Facebook, but he quickly learned that it was a great tool to connect with his listeners.  TJ didn’t start on Facebook until a month ago and he’s glad he did because it changed his whole universe.

If you’re a beginning business person you need to talk to experts.  Social media makes it so easy to connect with people.

TJ came from a family that was very skeptical and many people who are using social media are using it in a very sales promotional way which is not how social media should be used, but it turns many people off.  When done the right way, social media can have tremendous benefits to any business.

The Shark Tank Podcast started it during Season 4 and this is the first season that he’s been able to interview people as soon as they’ve come off their show.  He’s able to ask a lot of great questions to entrepreneurs about their experiences on the show.

The podcast features Shark Tank entrepreneurs and many people who are successful in the Shark Tank of life.  The key to success is to continue striving right at the time of success.  We focus on many of the negatives and the whole goal is to make us people of significance and not of success.

One of the coolest things that has come about because of the Shark Tank Podcast is that there are now numerous projects starting up to help small business owners.  They are now trying to do community level Shark Tank events called the Guppy Tank and they’re doing all sorts of similar shows with many local people involved in the show.  The compounding effect on small business is incredible.

There is a lot of great info to help people start a podcast because there are a lot of unknowns.  If you plan on starting a podcast, you need a good microphone, but the rest you can do very inexpensively.

Engaging Discussion Questions:

• What existing audiences are available that you could tap into for your business?
• What Facebook pages do you think are done extremely well?
• What’s the best power connection you’ve made through social media?

Links to Great Stuff:

• The Shark Tank Podcast – TJ Hale is the host of the Shark Tank Podcast. Shark Tank is the best reality show on T.V. & a great way for entrepreneurs to get valuable insight from extremely successful sharks.  TJ helps take the Shark Tank experience to take the next level on the Shark Tank Podcast.
• Cliff Ravenscraft – My goal is to help you create valuable and engaging podcasts that are so compelling that people will want to engage with you and your brand. Allow me to help you save hours, weeks, months or even years of research. Having the correct equipment and using it in the right way determines not only the quality of your podcasts, but how well your podcast converts listeners into subscribers and creates an engaged community.

Success Quotes:

• “Success is that I’m the one who determines my own level of control in my life and I don’t surrender that to anyone else.”
• “The nice thing about a podcast is that people do trust you.”
• “If you’re thinking about doing something, just go out and do it.  The worst that can happen is you screw up. Big deal.”
• “If you want to be someone who is not just successful but also significant you’re going to put the time in offering value before you get anything in return.”
• “You’re best thinking got you to where you are today.”
• “People have great ideas all day long.  It’s the one they choose to execute and how they choose to execute them that determines their success.”
• “So many people are using social media the wrong way it gave me a bad taste in my mouth.  It’s been incredibly valuable using it the right way.”
• “I didn’t start on Facebook until a month ago . . . it’s changed my whole universe.”
• “You’re offering it for free . . . you’re not selling it.  You become someone they trust and like to associate with.”
• “You’re someone they’re willing to put in their ears while they’re blasting their pecs at the gym.”
• “If you’re going to start an online venture, it’s going to take you a while to become established as an expert if you don’t already have that customer base built-in.”
• “In the Google Age you can teach yourself to do just about anything.”