Jun 13, 2025

Jim Palmer Went From 'Revenue-Free' To The High Seas

Wes Schaeffer

Focus on Lifestyle To Know How to Grow

Sales Tips you'll learn in The Sales Podcast...

Docked in Rhode Island
Author of Seven Books
Sold his home with his wife and bought a boat last December and moved onto the boat April 15th and spent two weeks preparing and headed north to see his daughter and grandkids
His next event, Dream Biz Academy, is in September
In November cruising to Florida for the winter
His son sold everything and drove to California and felt liberated
There's a new definition of success: Freedom > Stuff
The process of acquiring "stuff" just seems to happen
Now they had to re-train their brains
Without so much room they don't buy so much
Time freedom and living life on your own terms is so important
He's now a full time cruiser
He is feeling himself unwinding
16 years in business and the first 8-10 were tough
His goal was to only work with clients Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
You have to define the lifestyle you want
Lived in his house for 29 years and raised four kids
Their community grew and got busier and they looked for a change
Activity does not equal Progress
"The 3 AM holy crap moment"
- It's because you're not doing something you know you should be doing
- It's not because you're missing the latest Wordpress plugin
- It's time to "man up"
You know what you need to do
Rock bottom is not such a bad place if you don't stay there
Jim was out of work for nearly 18 months, had cancer
His first year in business was "revenue-free"
If slow to no-growth is no longer an option...
He got hit with a hard question in a high-level mastermind that turned his business around
Your fear is holding you back
- Perfectionism
- His first book took 18 months, now he writes them in 5-8 weeks
You'll be judged based on the content and the value you provide
You can purchase speed
- Hire a mentor
- Join a mastermind with an experienced leader
Research your coaches with the modifier "scam"
As he started doing live events he started sharing additional stories about his struggles and deeper information
How to do events
- His events are small on purpose (50 people) so he can go deep and pull back the curtain
- No pitching by speakers, they sit in the audience
- It's intimate and everyone shares
- Does it about every eight months
- About half are repeat
He'll be 59 in early June but doesn't plan to retire
How to coach
- Two are 12 month commitments
- One is 18 months (VIP) where he and his team do all of the heavy lifting (Done for and with you)
- No guarantees but the foundation will be set
He was so concerned about his clients early on but he told them "I'm not your babysitter and will not chase you to schedule our calls"
You have to apply and he digs deep before he takes you on
Never be the cheapest
You need to be on all social media platforms but you have to focus on your key platforms and let your team manage the rest
- He avoids politics
- He gives tips and shares some personal info
- Keep your opinions to yourself
Don't worry about the Likes. You're being seen.
Fix your brand. You'll be paid more for who you are than what you do.