PUPPIES, PODCASTS, AND PROFITS: THE JONATHAN GARCES STORY

It’s a place of serene beauty and vibrant community life. As you step into this charming town, you are greeted by the warmth of the sun and the welcoming smiles of the locals. The lush greenery and the tranquil lakes create a picturesque setting, perfect for those seeking a peaceful retreat.

For nature enthusiasts, it’s a paradise of outdoor activities. From kayaking and fishing on the crystal-clear waters to exploring the scenic nature trails, there are endless opportunities to connect with the natural world.

The town's rich cultural heritage is reflected in its various festivals and events, where you can immerse yourself in the lively music, delicious food, and colorful traditions. Whether it's the music festival or the local farmers' market, there is always something exciting to experience… if you’re retired.

That’s what Jonathan Garces realized when he visited what might have become his new hometown. His parents had moved to Land O’ Lakes, Florida from Miami. Joining them as he moved out of New York City post-pandemic was an option. But could he do it?

Gone, the days of catching one of the planet’s best slices of pizza under a train bridge. For a dollar. Some look to Arizona Iced Tea as an economic barometer. But anyone from New York or New Jersey knows, the true measure is what the pizza guy under the bridge is charging.

Gone, the days of everything a city that never sleeps has to offer. Jonathan’s apartment overlooked Times Square. The fast pace, the endless dining and entertainment options, the crowds - all gone. 

Jonathan knew he had to figure something else out. He’s got decades before LOL becomes a serious option worth considering.

So he went home for a week to think. Home home. Medellin, Colombia. 

Except that week became a year and a half… so far.

One adorable puppy, one mountain view, and one whole new business later, Jonathan’s created a happy life in the land of eternal spring. Oh, and now he’s making entrepreneurs potentially rich and eventually famous. Maybe you’re next, in fact.

In this week’s edition of Entrepreneurs Gone Wild, you’ll hear Jonathan’s story. And some of youse (sorry, my Jersey snuck out) are going to want to connect with him immediately when you hear what he’s doing. 

Also, if you kinda love the idea of spending more time outdoors because of all the good stuff it does for you… BUT, like most gym members on February 16th, your good intentions are a fuzzy memory, well, we’ve got something good for you, too.

But first…

Newsletters are HOT. Even hotter when they make money! Don’t know if you’ve been thinking about starting one for your business. If you have, why not learn from the master? Check out Greg’s offer to help right here.

Now, where were we?

Oh yes. Jonathan Garces is making entrepreneurs all famous and stuff, from his beautiful flat in the shadow of the Andes.

But that’s jumping ahead in his story. Let’s rewind a bit.

The entrepreneurial bug first bit Jonathan when he was a kid. He was the 14-year-old selling candy out of his backpack storefront. He sold pizza, too. Until he discovered Alibaba as a 16-year-old. What could possibly go wrong?

Remember those candy apple red headphones from back in the day? You could buy them at any self-respecting gas station’s convenience store. 

He paid $110 for 100 units, sold them for $5 apiece. Within a week, he was sold out. He was also hooked. He’d do whatever it took to have the freedom to make money doing whatever he wanted to do.

Then, like most entrepreneurs, he took a job. His was doing business development in Miami.

But he was freelancing on the side with a buddy. They built websites and did other typical freelancer stuff. They built their own blog that got 180,000 monthly visitors. It was going well as a side hustle. Until things went sideways at his job and everyone but him got laid off. 

Some of you have seen that movie. It’s not fun. But that kind of decimation does make you think. Lights a fire under you. Makes you think. When the road comes to an abrupt stop, all other directions are worth considering.

Jonathan decided to quit that job and take his side hustle on the road. To Germany. 

Not that he saw much of it at first. He was working 12-13 hours a day most every day just to get things really moving. He had a tiny bit of savings, but it was his elbow grease that built him and his partner a runway.

The business flourished. Jonathan moved to New York and started living his dream there. That dream got a little weird during the pandemic. It made sense to not renew his lease and just move in with his parents.

NO FLORIDA MAN HERE

When he saw his Florida future, and realized it was full of Farkle, he headed to Medellin. He’d visit his roots and enjoy Colombia for a week to weigh his options.

That was 18 months ago. A year ago, he went out on his own, and all-in on a new business. The business that can make you famous, then rich.

He was as surprised as anyone when he launched this business. Jonathan’s good at a lot of things. He’s got winning track records in sales, ecomm, and blogging. Sales? Eh. Recruiting? Meh. 

What he landed on was completely out of left field. Podcasting. But not just behind the mic. Behind the people behind the mic. Jonathan helps his clients get on great podcasts where they can grow their audience and ultimately, make sales.

How’d he get started? He wrote up an email campaign and had his first two clients within a week. Four months later, when we spoke, he had 20 clients to serve. They’re in all kinds of niches, from mental health to personal wellness coaching, executive coaches to NFL players.

Jonathan’s clients know there’s huge potential in podcasting. But not just on podcasts of their own. Getting on someone else’s podcast can be WAY more powerful - especially if they put you in front of a huge audience that’s well-matched for your offer. 

(Kinda like when I was on Stacey Lauren’s Do The Thing podcast talking about Idyllwild Woods Retreat Center. And if you kinda want to be on podcasts but also kinda get sweaty even thinking about it, be sure to check out the Find Your Voice Challenge here - Stacey’s helped hundreds of people get going with podcasting… without fainting)

Of course, not every podcast is a fit for every podcast guest. Sometimes we try to punch above our weight. Jonathan not only helps his clients get on podcasts; he also helps them beef up their online presence so they become the kind of guest big podcasters want to feature.

Can he predict how many sales you’ll make by being on any particular podcast? Don’t be silly. Even if he landed you a spot on Tim Ferriss’ show, there’s no guarantee. You gotta bring your own fire.

With 20 clients to serve, it’s easy to imagine Jonathan’s schedule being pretty hectic. And it would be, if he hadn’t been super intentional about how he spends his time.

He’s a morning person. He confesses that the first thing he does in the morning is check his email and messages. (I challenged him - and YOU - to just sit and look at his beautiful view while drinking some delicious coffee instead. Just for a few minutes. Everything on your phone can wait!)

Jonathan’s sweet baby pup has an important job. Little buddy’s got to nudge Jonathan periodically throughout the day to take a break, take a walk, take a breather. Otherwise, it’s way too easy to put 12 hours in and never come up for air. You know.

He’s not doing this business alone. He’s built an international team to support him in marketing, sales, and fulfillment. Jonathan’s gotten good at hiring in the Philippines.

One guy helps him reply to inquiries quickly. Another helps Jonathan with reaching out to podcasters. When he comes across a podcast that features guests like Jonathan’s clients, this guy reaches out and says something like, “I noticed you had Jonathan on your podcast last week. I’ve got another client, Evan, who can talk about X, Y, and Z. Would you like to have him on?” That guy does this all day, every day on LinkedIn and via email.

Jonathan has already learned to prioritize his health and wellbeing. We all know how easy it is to just work. “Exercise? Who’s got time? Spending time outdoors? Seriously? Have you seen my to-do list?” 

When December 2023 rolled around, Jonathan had a shock when he stepped on the scale and realized his weight had gotten out of control. That’s when it hit him. He didn’t have to go on his fitness journey solo. “People who are a hundred times more successful than me have a routine. They set aside time for the gym.”

He got his blood work done. He hired a nutritionist and a personal trainer. Now he starts most days with a workout, getting the hardest thing on his to-do list done first thing in the morning - his workout. It’s his version of a cold plunge (or simply turning your shower to freezing cold for the last 30 seconds - it’s awful, but it reminds you that you can do hard things.) 

WHERE’S JONATHAN HEADED?

Jonathan enjoys a daily walk - whether it’s up the mountain or down the street to the local mall. It’s the same as in New York in many ways. You can’t beat the people watching opps in a big city. 

You also can’t beat the way moving your feet also moves your mind. That’s how he came up with the idea to build Get On a Pod. To those who know him, the idea probably looked like it came out of left field. But that’s what happens when inspiration hits sometimes. The brain uses the “downtime” of kinetic meditation to connect dots and create new pathways.

Long-term, Jonathan is building his business so that he can step back from it. He’d like to get into ecomm, and this can help build that. Or, maybe he’ll use this to build a real estate portfolio or develop a cool SaaS tool.

Probably, since you’re reading this! It helps if you’ve got a great story (and if you do, maybe I should tell it here? Reply and hit me up!).

Guesting on podcasts gets you in front of people who may never have found out about you otherwise. It makes great content you can share, too. Best of all, when you guest often, you get really good (and comfortable) telling your story and making your voice heard.

Start a chat with Jonathan here. And when he helps make you rich and famous, don’t forget to schedule that outdoor time to keep your brain happily lubricated so the good ideas just flow.

A STROLL, NOT A SPRINT: BUILDING OUTDOOR LOVE ONE STEP AT A TIME

Hey, you, yes, you—the entrepreneur who’s practically morphed into your office chair. It's time to talk about your relationship with the Great Outdoors. 

Think it's all or nothing? 

Four-hour hikes or bust? 

Jonathan Garces is here to call BS on that. Starting small is where it's at. "Let's just go for a walk, a tiny little walk," he says. Because, let's face it, going zero to hero with outdoor time is like trying to bench press a small car on your first day at the gym. Spoiler alert: It won't end well.

Imagine this…

You're eyeing the wilderness (or, you know, that patch of grass by the parking lot) like it's some sort of extreme endurance test. That's the first mistake. Jonathan's wisdom? You gotta ease into it. This is the dude who realized that diving headfirst into a gym routine only works when you're actually, well, into it. Otherwise, it's a one-way ticket to Soreville, population: you, regretting life choices.

Here's the kicker…

Your buddies might push you to conquer Everest in a day, but Jonathan's onto something with the slow and steady approach. Think of it as having a personal trainer for your outdoor life. They wouldn’t hurl you into the deep end without floaties, right? So, why do that to yourself with nature?

This ain't about becoming the next Bear Grylls overnight. It's about making peace with the fact that a 10-minute walk where you actually stop to sniff the roses (or, like, admire that weirdly shaped cloud) is a win. Gradually, those 10 minutes might turn into 20, then maybe even a full hour where you're genuinely enjoying the birdsong, the rustle of leaves, and the inexplicable joy of finding a new bug friend.

Entrepreneurs, listen up…

This is metaphorical gold for your grind. Start small in business, sure, but apply that mantra to getting outside, too. Today, a walk to the mailbox. Tomorrow, who knows? Maybe you'll actually find yourself wanting to climb that hill just to see the view from the top.

Building a habit of outdoor love is like nurturing a startup. 

It needs time, patience, and the occasional reality check. So, take a leaf out of Jonathan's book. Start with those tiny walks. And remember, it's a stroll, not a sprint. Before you know it, you'll be wondering how you ever lived without your daily dose of vitamin N(ature).

Until next time…

xoxo

Sue