28 October 2010 ~ 26 Comments

Inside Two Successful Membership Sites – FA020

Audio Interviews

This episode gives you an inside look into how Izzy and his wife, Noell, started and operate their successful membership websites.

You’ll learn about some of their mistakes, how Izzy was able to quit his full time, stress-filled corporate job and how they view growing online businesses.

They have made some very Foolish choices to protect their lifestyle so they didn’t turn their passions into J.O.B.s.

There is a ton of laughing in this show.  If you hate fun, don’t listen.

Otherwise, enjoy this inside look.

You can also right-click here to save the audio file.

  • Barry Vaughn

    I think this is one of the best shows yet because it paints the complete picture of what it can look like for a family to engage in this kind of business adventure. My wife Georgia and I are already very foolish in some ways as we have 5 children, 3 through adoption – we basically started over again about 4 years ago. This show gives us a vision of how we can change our lifestyle in a realistic way. We’re in a very similar spot as I’m the sole bread winner working for a large corporation but desperately wanting to get out for various reasons. Thanks so much!

  • http://www.thefreebieguy.net Leslie, The Freebie Guy

    Ok, so I vote that we get rid of those two guys (Izzy and Tim) and stick with Noell, LOL. J/k. Guys, this episode ROCKED! I would agree that this was the best one to date. On a serious note, I DO think you should include her in these episodes more often. It gives it a nice twist.

    You have just changed my goals. No longer do I want to balance my job with my online business. My goal is to quit my job. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE what I do, but it takes too much time. The type of freedom you guys are demonstrating is AWESOME!

    My foolish adventure has just been rewritten! (Mark my words)

  • http://twitter.com/TristanHigbee Tristan Higbee

    Great show, guys! I’ve listened to all of the podcasts, though this is my first comment. I’ve been in the Internet business mindset for a while now, recently graduated college, and am working full time on my projects. I haven’t been able to fully support myself yet, but I’m a professional bootstrapper (even for a college student!) and have enough saved up for a few more months. It’s exciting, but I’m not too worried about my future. Best case scenario? It works out and I’ll be able to do what I love and make money from it. Middle-of-the-road case scenario? I run out of money and have to get a job for a little while before I am able to fully support myself. Absolute worst case scenario? I get a job and hate my life like the rest of America.

    There’s not a whole lot to lose, but there’s so much to gain!

  • Patriciawydler

    Wonderful, wonderful episode! What I most love about your shows (that I do not miss for anything in the world) is the enjoyment and inspiration it generates!

    You do not know it but now you will: You have become my foolish adventure mentors (Noel included).

  • http://mshanhun.blogspot.com Melissa

    Oh I just had to share – I made my first affiliate sale… so i must be in business according to Tim’s definition! Yep tiny baby steps but I just wanted to tell some people who might just care!

  • http://FoolishAdventure.com Tim Conley

    That’s fantastic! You’ve turned pro. Keep it up and keep us informed of your progress.

  • http://www.tortagialla.com Linda Tieu

    Lovely to hear the stories behind the businesses :) Noell and Izzy, you guys both ROCK and provide so much inspiration. Not just about building your businesses specifically, but achieving the lifestyle you want, having that control over what you do so you can be happy. Nobody should be toiling away miserably…seems like such a crazy way to live.

    I really liked the part about not making your passion into the work stuff we don’t like. I think sometimes we don’t even realize it…as we try to make it work and build up a business. Then there’s people all around you that tell you to do it this way or that, so it can be successful. It can be so confusing and contradicting… but ultimately there is no set formula for success. I think we all have to follow our own intuition as well – never know until you try! Although it can be so nerve-wracking when you have bills and such waiting to be paid, to go out on a limb and take such a big risk.

  • Frank Petrie

    Here’s a nightmare industrial video story for you. In the 80′s, I spent a day taping the then head of Subaru USA creating a video to layoff over 10,000 employees via tape!

  • http://FoolishAdventure.com Tim Conley

    When we interviewed Marc from TheWoodWhisperer.com, I thought he should replace us. Now we’ve got Noell who could take over. Maybe Izzy and I should start to worry.

  • http://FoolishAdventure.com Tim Conley

    You’re in a relatively good position to do your own thing. You may want to consider moving to some place cheaper like Thailand. Get a great adventure and save money on monthly expenses while building your online business. Good luck and keep us informed.

  • http://twitter.com/TristanHigbee Tristan Higbee

    Thailand is definitely an option that I’ve thought about over and over. The thing is, my expenses are already less than a thousand dollars a month, and getting to Thailand would cost another thousand. We’ll see, and thanks for the reply!

  • Laura-Jane

    Love Noelle’s laugh! Another great episode guys. Keep ‘em coming.

  • Laura-Jane

    Ugh! Lol

  • Rob

    I’ve been listening to your guys stuff now for a month or so and I’m FINALLY starting to like it. I started around episode 13 and I hated what you two were doing. I hated your personalities. I hated everything about the show except the content. Especially hearing Izzy laugh, that was really driving me crazy. But then.. I guess I got to get to know you and started liking you two better. Now, I’m 100% in. It’s a great show. It took a while to convert me but you have, great work guys.

    I think your core audience is more than a bunch of Noobs. We want to hear some more in depth stuff, case studies, etc. Real world stuff. I think that’s why EP 20 is such a big hit. It was by far my favorite.

    So, I would like to toss my hat in the ring for your real world case study. It’s an online software company, subscription based. Very small but a great product. And it’s time to get Foolish with it. Let’s take it to the next level guys! Shoot me an email robertnpatterson@gmail.com

  • Rob

    I’m also sporting a Blue Yeti Mic if you want to do a podcast with me! I’ve got a great personality.

  • http://FoolishAdventure.com Tim Conley

    There is a small group of American expats there who are active online business owners both in Bangkok and on the coast. Check out SeanOgle.com. He recently returned from living in Thailand and his site has links to others who are still there.

  • Chris

    Hey Rob, not sure but you may be coming on a little strong their buddy, even I’m a little nervous.

  • http://www.interactivedata.be/ Didier Daglinckx

    Or be happy because YOU are doing it, not them …

    Even if they are (also) great !

  • http://twitter.com/16x9cinema Carl Olson

    Excellent episode. Izzy struck a nerve with me when he mentions not wanting to be a hired gun (i.e shooting a wedding, corporate video, etc.). People often ask me for samples of my work in corporate video and to tell the truth I don’t want to show it because it’s – um – awful. That is the big disadvantage of being a gun for hire – you are not in control and often what you are shooting is not in line with your artistic vision.

  • http://mshanhun.blogspot.com Melissa

    My income is into double digits now! :) Still only 1 sale, the rest is coming from ads, but progressing slowly. I am even writing a sales page now :)

  • acousticbliss

    Good episode,

    I have a question regarding one of your statements. You said that at one point your site crashed every Monday- and that your servers had to be increase?? I thought that was all “covered”- and the responsibility of your hosting company?? Can you explain? Thanks!

  • Steph H.

    Wow, and I love Izzy’s laugh. In fact, it always makes my laugh, or at least smile. Izzy, you have a great laugh! :)

  • http://creationcassel.com/store Cassel

    This is great. I listened to previous podcasts and i do have a question about memberships: where do i get the information on how to set that up? I do create tutorials for Paintshop Pro and digital scrapbooking. I had a free but closed yahoo group with tutorials, assignments and mentoring, but after a lot of energy put into that, i felt that i should at least get the “students” to pay something so they would at least appreciate what they get. So again, where do i get information for concretely setting up a reccuring membership format?

  • http://www.izzyvideo.com IzzyVideo

    Good news for you, Cassel!

    We’ve received this question several times, and Tim and I are creating a product that will show exactly how to set up and run a membership site.

    It’s going to be based on what I’ve learned over the past few years with our sites. Look for it to launch in early February.

    (It’s a big project, and we’ve already started working on it.)

  • Cassel

    Good news, but i am soooooo curious and anxious. Any lead i could check before February? ;)

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