I joined Michael Hyatt’s Platform University a few months after starting blogging. It’s been transformational. Since Platform U just opened for the next “semester” I thought I would share how you can make the most of it.
1. Go to class … you paid for it.
Platform University has top-notch instructors and actionable content. But the best instructors in the world can’t compensate for a lazy student. You’ve got to consume the material and take action.
As for price, Platform University is $30 a month, or just $360 per year. Other online courses price into the thousands, and they’re often one-and-done products. Platform U a small financial investment. I spend $5 per DAY at Starbucks, so I can’t complain about the price.
New content releases monthly. That may not seem like much, but it gives you enough time to actually implement what you learn. I built a few email auto-responders after Derek Halpern’s lecture. Doing so (while working a full-time job) took about a month.
2. Get extra help.
There’s a live call each month for Platform U members. I’ve had my call answered live by Michael about six times, and asked him personal questions geared to my situation. I’m not sure I could afford to buy his time on a phone call, so this is a pretty good option!
On one call, I actually won a free copy of Michael’s Get Published! course, a comprehensive walkthrough on how to get your book proposal written and a book published. The course alone is worth several hundred dollars, and I’ve used the knowledge within it to provide additional consulting for clients. Total win.
Hint: connect on the monthly Q&A sessions via phone, rather than by Twitter or email. The Platform team always takes a few live calls, and it seems the queue is much shorter compared to Tweets or email.
3. Look for friends and partners, not clients.
People join Platform U to grow their platform, not yours. But if you help them, you’ll stand out and may even strike up unforeseen friendships and partnerships. It’s just like school … make a few friends and help each other out.
Some quick, but different, examples:
- I first came across a coach named Keith Webb within the forums, then met him at the 2013 Platform Conference. Keith eventually recruited me to give his audience a series of paid marketing seminars. That is income that stemmed from someone I met through Platform U.
- I heard of a guy named Jared Easley through Platform University, then happened to see him at the 2013 Platform Conference. We connected offline (via phone) and since that time, I wrote the foreword to his Amazon #1 best-selling book Podcasting Good to Great and spoke at his conference, Podcast Movement. He has become a dear friend, and given me opportunities I otherwise would not have received. It started with Platform U.
- I met Dave Shrein in the forums (we have not met in person). By connecting there and then on our respective blogs, Dave and I continued to connect, and he is slated to be a guest on my podcast. It all started within Platform U.
Take the conversation outside of class by commenting on other people’s blogs and sharing their content. I’ve even had a few hourly consulting calls (paid) from people within Platform U. Amazing things can happen.
4. Show some school spirit.
In July 2013, Michael and his brand faced a tough situation when the National Speaker’s Association announced a rebrand using the “Platform” name. I wrote a blog post showing some “school spirit.” It was the least I could do to speak out for someone who has impacted my business and life.
The by-product is that the post garnered 14,000+ views and grew my email list by 200+ people in one morning. You never know what can happen when you show a bit of school spirit.
5. Avoid the ivory tower.
Have you ever met a professional student? That person that seems like he or she is always in school and never gets an actual job?
This is the biggest trap I’ve seen other platform builders or would-be entrepreneurs fall into. They sign up for tons of resources, take in great content … then chase some new guru, sign up for those resources to take in more great content, ad nauseum. Meanwhile, they never take action and work on their own platform.
Platform U gives you more than enough content to make real progress. I’ve taken courses by other big names out there. Platform U is the one steady, consistent coaching presence in my business.
If you’re serious about building your platform, enroll in Platform U and do what I’ve outlined above. It will garner you priceless results. Visit Platform University for the details. If you have questions, leave a comment below.
Bonus Download:
I attended the 2013 Platform Conference in Dallas, TX. If you’d like my notes from the conference, just click here to download them for free. They’ll be instantly emailed to you.
Note, they aren’t comprehensive, but there are enough nuggets in there to inform and inspire you.
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