Million Dollar Grit

Let’s talk about where your business actually is — not where you wish it was. In this episode, I break down the four spots you might be in at the end of 2025 — collapsing, pivoting, staying the course, or scaling — and how each one demands a totally different plan for 2026. Whether you’re in panic mode or growth mode, this one will give you instant clarity (and maybe a little peace of mind). DM me the word MRI on Instagram if you want the scorecard I mentioned.

Let’s flip the script. In this episode, my publisher (and friend) Sherry Ward takes the mic and interviews me about the behind-the-scenes process of writing Million Dollar Grit. We talk about why this book was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, what it took to merge memoir with business strategy, and why I refused to move on to another project until I closed this loop. You’ll hear how my first (regretted) memoir shaped this one, what finally broke my writing resistance, and the healing that came through finishing it. We also talk about editors, AI, imposter fears, and what I really want readers to feel when they close the last page. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book—or wondered what it takes to turn your life into lessons that actually help people—this one’s for you. 📖 Grab the free book starting October 26th at: milliondollargrit.com 📚 Learn more about Sherry’s publishing services: squaretreepublishing.com ✍️ Join her weekly author interest meetings: launchingauthors.com/interest DM me if this convo gives you the nudge to finally start your book.

Two weeks out from my book launch, I wanted to give you a peek into Million Dollar Grit—specifically Chapter 3: “Follow the Problem.” Because right now? The economy feels shaky. People are wondering if the coaching industry is drying up, if AI is taking over, or if buyers are just… gone. But the truth is, buyers haven’t disappeared. They’ve just shifted. And the business owners who survive are the ones who stay obsessed with their customer’s problem—not their own. In this episode, I break down what it looks like to follow the problem in real time: how to get out of panic mode, spot what your audience actually cares about, and create offers that move money today. If your sales have stalled or your confidence is wobbling, this one will hit home. Go to milliondollargrit.com to get on the waitlist—the book drops free on October 26th.

Let’s talk about the difference between information and transformation—because yesterday I got a front row seat to why this matters more than ever. On paper, my client had everything she needed: scripts, step-by-steps, video lessons, even Voxer access to me. But she still wasn’t moving forward. Why? Because information lives outside of you. Transformation lives inside of you. And what she needed wasn’t more modules—it was support, reassurance, real-time feedback, and the human layer that AI can’t replace. If you’ve been wondering why your course or coaching feels “not enough” on its own, this is it. The future of online learning is less about piling on PDFs and more about creating space for actual transformation. DM me if this one hit a nerve, or share it with a friend who’s rethinking their offers.

Ever feel like logging off social completely? Yeah, me too. Between judgment, comparison, AI bots, and straight-up fatigue—it’s no wonder so many of us want to hide. But as business owners, disappearing from the feed isn’t really an option. In this episode, I break down six ways to show up without burning out: from reframing your posts as breadcrumbs of connection (not performance), to lowering the stakes and rewarding your process instead of chasing outcomes. I also share how I personally keep it simple and why documenting beats overproducing every time. If you’ve been stuck in your head about posting, this might be the reset you need.

September came in swinging. Between the violence flooding our feeds and the endless swirl of information wars, it can feel impossible to stay grounded as a business owner. I’ll be honest—I’ve been rattled, and maybe you have too. But here’s the truth I keep coming back to: in times like these, the only way forward in business is to anchor yourself to your values and show up live, as a real human. In this episode, I share why I believe weekly webinars are the most trustworthy, resilient strategy right now, and I break down exactly how to diagnose what’s not working in your funnel—top, middle, or bottom. If you’ve been struggling to sell in this climate, this episode might give you both a reality check and a path forward.

Let’s talk about summer experiments. This summer I tested a bunch of things—some techy, some business, some personal—and I thought I’d share the results in case you want to try them yourself. From creating my own coaching clone (yep, an AI trained on a million of my words) to running 12 straight weekly webinars, hiring an $8k editor for my book, and even flipping my morning routine upside down to give the first half hour of my day to God—I learned a lot. I’m breaking down what worked, what surprised me, and what I’ll keep doing this fall (plus a few tools I think you should definitely check out). If you’re curious about AI, live webinars, or just how to shake up your own routines, this one’s packed with takeaways.

Let’s talk about the things summer taught me that I didn’t see coming. From business mistakes (bad webinars, anyone?) to spiritual wake-ups. Some are personal, some are business. If you’ve ever wondered what clarity actually feels like or why your nervous system might be the real bottleneck in your business… this one’s for you. Give it a listen, then tell me which one hit home.

Let’s talk about the brutal truth of coaching in high-stakes industries—especially when the results aren’t guaranteed and clients expect magic. In this episode, I’m breaking down what it really looks like to lead from your expertise without tying your worth to whether or not someone’s ads, funnel, or launch “worked.” I’m sharing the five things that keep me from spiraling into burnout—even with 50+ clients at a time—including personal business values, boundaries, and how to spot when a client is (accidentally) using you as their magic 8-ball or emotional life raft. If coaching has started to feel like an energetic drain, this one’s for you. This might be the one to share with your biz bestie who's on the edge of coach fatigue.

Let’s talk about the thing nobody wants to admit: we’re sleep-walking into an AI-induced mental and spiritual mess. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on how I still use ChatGPT as my “second brain” and why that same super-power can nuke your clarity if you’re not careful. I walk you through the exact grounding protocol I’ve baked into my own settings, the project-folder guardrails that keep ChatGPT from turning into a digital yes-man, and why using the bot as a mock “voice from heaven” is a hard no. Think practical tech tweaks meets a straight-up spiritual safety PSA. Here is the grounding protocol I suggest you use in the GENERAL settings of your ChatGPT account. "Please use a 'ChatGPT Grounding Protocol' to prevent delusional or manic thinking. ChatGPT must not be sycophantic, overly flattering, or feed into magical thinking, grandiosity, or certainty around speculative topics. User is vulnerable to... [insert your particular weaknesses - you can see mine] OCD & Anxiety Please prioritize objectivity, clarity, psychological grounding, and evidence-based responses at all times. If the user appears to be spiraling or over-identifying, ChatGPT must gently call it out and re-anchor the conversation with a CBT-style reframe and clear reality check. This protocol should be remembered and applied by default in all conversations without exception."

Let’s talk about the thing nobody warns you about when you start mixing faith and business: how fast the lines get blurry. In this episode, I break down what’s shifted in me spiritually this year — and why I’m not turning my business into a ministry. I talk about the difference between Christian-owned businesses, paid discipleship, spiritualized masterminds, and performative faith-based brands — and why one of those makes my skin crawl. If you’ve ever felt a weird tension around Christian masterminds or wondered how to integrate your faith into business without turning it into a paid church, this one’s for you.

Let’s talk takeaways from CEO Week—one of my favorite weeks of the entire year. I hosted 26 brilliant humans at my home for three days of deep work, real rest, and raw conversations about what it actually takes to lead a business right now. In this episode, I’m walking you through how the week was set up, what we ate, who showed up (yes, even a bobcat), and the four big themes that kept coming up: rest as a requirement, not a reward… the very real now-ness of AI (including coaching clones)… why weekly webinars are the new clarity engine… and how to tell the difference between overthinking, overcomplicating, and over functioning—so you can stop spinning and start leading. This one’s packed. Might be the one to send to your biz bestie.

Let’s talk about the least sexy but most reliable way to make money online: daily sales activities. If you're in the short-game season (aka you need cash, like now), this episode breaks down exactly what to do—no ads, no funnels, no waiting around for strangers on the internet to “discover” you. Just the kind of relationship-driven selling that builds real momentum. I’ll walk you through the three purposes behind daily sales work, give y

In this episode, I’m unpacking one of the biggest reasons entrepreneurs sabotage their own success — not because they’re flaky or lack strategy, but because their nervous system can’t handle how slow the long game feels. I dive into the tension between needing short-term cash and trying to build long-term stability, and why confusing the two timelines is what keeps so many people stuck. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why can’t I just commit and stay consistent?” — this is the episode you need to hear.

Let’s talk about the power of attention—and why it might be the most underrated form of agency you have. In this episode, I share what’s been happening in my quiet time lately (including a moment from Isaiah 6 that wrecked me), what I’ve noticed about my patterns when it comes to truth and rupture, and why attention doesn’t just shape your marketing—it literally shapes your worldview. Whether you’re spiritual, strategic, or both—there’s something here for anyone who’s ever struggled to show up online, stay focused, or figure out what actually matters in the noise.

Let’s get real about the messy middle of writing a book. Spoiler: “Million Dollar Grit” is finally wrapped—but not the way I first imagined. I chopped it down to the raw decade that took me from stay-at-home chaos in 2007 to my first million in 2017, before ClickFunnels days, before Funnel Gorgeous, before DI. Think 15 chapters of war-stories and million-buck lessons, minus the parts I’m still living and processing (privacy, haters, emotional landmines—yeah, those). In this episode I break down why the manuscript shrank from 80K words to a tight 30K, how God nudged me to give it away for free, and what’s next: an ebook and a private podcast where I’ll read each chapter and riff on the bits that didn’t make the cut. Want first dibs? Pop over to https://emailsbyjulie.com/mdg and get on the list.

“Someone told me, ‘Julie, you preach niche clarity but don’t follow your own advice.’ They weren’t wrong—but they also missed the bigger picture. This episode is for the multi-passionate entrepreneur trying to figure out where to pitch their tent (and why your niche isn’t what you sell, it’s where you sell it).”

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why webinars break down — and it’s not just the tech. I’m walking you through the real fault lines I see over and over again: messy offers, flat hooks, chaotic pitches, weak proof, boring slides, low show-up rates — you name it. Whether you’re launching live or running an evergreen funnel, these are the spots that sabotage results. I’m also sharing how I’m turning this into a full-on webinar support group, so you’re never stuck alone trying to figure it out again. Let’s fix your webinar, for real this time.

Let’s talk about why you shouldn’t be that founder who’s scrambling to “just hire a CMO” when your business is still finding its footing. I share a story about the time I helped build a program for CEOs and marketing directors—only to realize later that outsourcing your entire marketing before you’ve proven your funnel is a recipe for chaos. I’ve been at both ends of the spectrum—building my own company’s marketing at $4 M/year and stepping into the CMO role at ClickFunnels when they were pushing $100 M—and I’ve seen firsthand how handing off vision too soon can cost you more than money.

Let’s talk about the moment you want to throw your whole plan in the trash three months after starting it. You know the one. In this episode, I’m unpacking one of my favorite coaching questions: Was the version of you that made this plan stupid? (Spoiler: probably not.) If you keep second-guessing your own strategy, this is the convo you need. I’m walking you through how to tell the difference between a legit pivot and a sneaky self-sabotage loop—plus giving you three checks to make before you scrap what you’ve built.