Randy Kirk has had a diverse career, starting with an undergraduate psychology degree and a UCLA law degree, though he never practiced law. He opened a bicycle retail store during law school to make ends meet.
Over the years, he ventured into manufacturing, wholesaling, retail, and eventually ad agencies. He became the world’s largest manufacturer of bicycle squeeze bottles. After selling his business, Kirk became a consultant, advising over 300 businesses.
In addition to consulting, he’s written eight business books, with his most recent, “Making Money Out of Thin Air,” focused on using financial reports to boost profitability. Recently, he became a YouTuber and influencer.
Mastermind Group
Three years ago, Randy Kirk started a mastermind group, which quickly expanded to multiple groups. He also created a business referral group called E Team, a business-to-business network.
Realizing his services targeted small business owners, he launched *Small Business Daily*, a daily YouTube program, and *FreeBusinessHelpNow.com*, a comprehensive website for small business advice.
Both platforms promote his books, consulting services, masterminds, and referral group, streamlining his marketing efforts for a unified audience. These ventures were launched this week.
The “Giveaway” Economy
Randy emphasizes the success of the “giveaway economy,” where valuable, actionable content is provided for free to attract viewers. For 25 years, this approach has led some consumers to choose free resources, while others hire professionals to handle tasks for them.
His YouTube channel and website, *FreeBusinessHelpNow.com*, follow this model by offering detailed business advice, with the expectation that a portion of viewers will reach out for services.
The content will continue to expand, providing even more valuable resources to small business owners, with potential clients encouraged to contact him or other vendors.
YouTube Channel
He explains that his YouTube channel and website serve multiple purposes: promoting his books and other ventures, while also offering free business advice. He believes a small percentage of viewers will eventually reach out for professional help.
The channel’s first 16 days featured solo content, but starting on day 17, he began interviewing industry experts. These interviews create reciprocal relationships, where both parties benefit from exposure and deeper collaboration.
Already, this outreach is turning into new business opportunities, showing the effectiveness of his content strategy in building connections and generating leads.
Interview Topics
Randy plans to interview experts from various fields, focusing on those who provide services to small businesses, especially in the internet and marketing sectors. His first guest is a former protege in SEO and Google My Business.
He aims to highlight service providers who can offer valuable insights to small business owners. The daily YouTube show has its pressures, including the need for 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time to monetize through ads.
He also plans to incorporate affiliate marketing, earning commissions through referral links. He sees affiliate marketing as a significant opportunity.
COVID Effects on MasterMind Group
Randy Kirk’s mastermind group business faced significant challenges due to the impact of COVID-19. However, his Amazon business in the bicycle industry experienced remarkable growth, with sales increasing by 1400% starting in April, helping offset the losses in his mastermind groups.
The transition from face-to-face meetings to Zoom was difficult, but over time, they honed their approach. The group now holds engaging online meetings where members leave feeling excited about the value they’ve gained, something that wasn’t happening initially.
Additionally, they’ve implemented LinkedIn automated strategies to reach out to potential members, conducting around 25 interviews each week, which can be overwhelming, especially as some people don’t show up or fail to follow through after expressing interest.
Currently, they have two solid mastermind groups with 8 to 10 members each, and a third group is in the works. Randy is hopeful about returning to in-person meetings, as they were easier to build initially. His mastermind groups are modeled after Vistage, the largest mastermind network in the U.S., which typically costs $1,800 per month.
In contrast, Randy’s groups charge only $200 a month, offering a more affordable option. While the price difference is significant, Randy understands why Vistage charges more due to the high cost of acquisition for members.
Despite the challenges, Randy finds that the best part of running these groups is that he leaves every meeting feeling like he has learned something valuable, even though he’s the one facilitating it.
His philosophy is that teaching others leads to deeper learning, and those who come with the mindset of contributing to others typically gain the most from the experience.
Video Marketing Power
He stresses the importance of giving valuable content to ultimately generate revenue, using videos and blogs as prime examples. He shares the success of a client who owns a bike shop, noting that his videos discussing bike parts like tires and derailleur sets attract more views than ads from lawyers about divorce, for instance.
As a result, customers travel from far away to buy bikes from him, passing other shops on the way. Randy points out that these videos showcase his client’s expertise, professionalism, and friendly personality, all of which build trust and drive business.
He further explains how trust plays a crucial role in business. In traditional print ads, you don’t get body language or personality, but in radio, you can at least hear enthusiasm in the voice.
Video, however, provides the closest experience to a one-on-one interaction, offering body language, energy, and passion that make the person feel more real and relatable. Randy believes that businesses not using video content are falling behind, as video is the future of marketing.
It’s a tool that not only helps with customer engagement but also creates an easier path to develop relationships and trust.
Summary
Revenue Plan & Business Goals
- Kirk stresses the importance of having a clear revenue plan and goals for any business.
- While financial success is important to him, it’s not the primary motivator—his financial security is supported by a pension and a working spouse.
- His focus is more on the reward of seeing his work have an impact, whether that be through his books, YouTube channel, or website.
Personal Fulfillment & Impact
- He finds satisfaction in knowing his work resonates with his audience.
- His most famous book, *When Friday Isn’t Payday*, has sold around 35,000 copies, with many readers sharing how much the book has impacted them personally.
- He receives heartfelt feedback from readers and listeners, which he considers more valuable than monetary success.
Mentorship Style
- While he doesn’t see himself as a traditional mentor, he prefers mentoring through his mastermind groups.
- He believes in creating a group environment where members can hold each other accountable and share insights.
- Direct one-on-one mentorship isn’t in his nature, as he enjoys execution over coaching. However, he offers offsite conversations for mentoring in addition to mastermind group interactions.
Mentoring Through Content
- By creating videos and content for his YouTube channel and website, Kirk is effectively mentoring many individuals without formal one-on-one relationships.
- His videos serve as a broader form of mentorship, helping people who seek guidance but prefer learning through accessible, actionable content.
Mastermind Groups
- Kirk’s mastermind groups are a key component of his mentoring strategy. They provide members with structured opportunities for business development and personal growth.
- He offers mentorship as part of these groups but prefers the group dynamic over individual coaching.
He acknowledges the importance of sharing expertise and inspiring others through content creation. He also enjoys offering his insights through platforms like YouTube, even if his direct financial rewards aren’t the primary objective.
Above is Randy Kirk’s original image and 2014 interview.
Randy Kirk opened his first business at the age of 7. His great grandmother had been supplying him with Christmas card and all occasion card samples to sell for 50¢ a box with half going to her. It was clear to him that he could do better by buying direct and also offering personalized cards.
From that moment on, there was never much doubt that Kirk would be an entrepreneur. Degrees in psychology and law from UCLA provided the credentials to open doors. While still in law school, Kirk was traveling the Western Region for an importer setting up territories and calling on potential buyers in 22 industries.
Too restless and filled with ideas to work for someone else, he struck out on his own at 27 and has not been employed since. After selling a medium sized manufacturing business in 2007, Kirk is enjoying working from home as a marketing consultant and writing his ninth and tenth books, due for publication in early 2014.
One of the most difficult problems facing Kirk these days is the restraints of consulting. While he is able to use the creative juices to make product recommendations, adapt packaging, open up new distribution channels, and find ways to communicate his client’s products and services, hardly a week goes by that some new idea distracts him from the immediate tasks in front of him.
What do you do?
While the title on my business card in marketing consultant, there is no way that anyone really understands what that really means. A better title would be part-time VP of marketing for very small businesses who can’t afford a full-time version.
Many (most? Almost all?) small businesses with less than 25 employees have nobody on staff that really understands how to market the business or the products and services offered by that business. The owners are commonly skilled at their craft, but not that gifted at spreading the word about the offerings at their business.
After owning 30 businesses in 50 different market segments, selling to mom-and-pops and the largest retailers in the world on virtually every continent, I ended up with a background in almost every type of marketing, from print to trade shows, product design to distribution channels, and from websites to email blasts.
As a result, whether my client is a manufacturer, lawyer, doctor, bike shop, bakery, or chimney sweep (all of which have been clients), I can draw on a vast repertoise of experience to help them attract business, improve delivery, and increase profits.
How long have you been doing it?
While I have been offering advice through books, articles, and speaking for over 35 years, the consulting business has been open for six years.
What inspired you to do this kind of work?
After writing and speaking about how to run a small business, I thought it would be fun to actually prove that my writing would work in practice.
How do you earn money? Feel free to be as detailed as you want.
I charge a flat fee per month (usually under $1000) for a basic set of services. Some services, such as website development, are extra.
Who is your target client/customer?
I have two verticals, lawyers and bikes shops. Other than that, I’m happy to help anyone from any field. My greatest actual experience is with manufacturing/importing.
What does a typical day look like?
Doing just what I’m doing now. Typing into a laptop. Research, analysis, creating content.
Do you have employees, contractors, or outsourced help? Tell us a bit about your company structure, however big or small.
I only use contracted help. Most is for content creation such as video editing, website development, and online listings.
Is there a trend in your industry that particularly excites you right now?
Google changes the game 6 times a year making me indispensible to any small business who wants to stay highly ranked.
Tell our community about one of the biggest business challenges you’ve faced and how you overcame it?
In 1993, my manufacturing business was hit with a major product problem that was costing us huge sums of money and lost reputation. I had never used an engineer. I put out an ad, then used the exact manufacturing problem I was facing as the test question for all applicants. I hired the one with the best solution. He fixed it, and the problem never came back.
Could you share a funny story or something quirky about your work?
I never wanted to have a boss again. That’s why I ran my own companies. Now, in my favorite company ever, I have 21 bosses.
What motivates you – being your own boss, making a lot of money, helping others, or some other reason?
It has always been about filling needs. I just see needs, and ideas come. Then I really enjoy helping others to success. That’s why I write and speak.
What frustrates you? How do you deal with it?
Bosses that don’t listen to what they pay me to tell them. Sometimes I fire them.
What makes you laugh?
25 year-old progressives who think they know more about what is good for me than I do, but who have no interest in the advice of years of education and experience that folks like me can provide them.
How do you maintain your/your employees’ morale when things are not going so great?
An over-the-top optimism. I earned an optimist of the decade award when I was a part of the Optimist International Organization.
Entrepreneurs tend to work a lot of hours on their ideas. How do you keep yourself balanced?
No time to think about being balanced. I raised 4 kids, active in church, write books, date my wife, take tons of vacations. Just prioritize the important things, I guess.
When you need guidance, where do you find it? Who do go to? Feel free to name more than one source.
Quality Christian friends. I am a member of Fellowship of Companies for Christ International. Also books, primarily with a Christian world view. Tons of online material, including webinars.
What was your greatest success in this business?
I was hired by a 99 year old company that had been in the same family for all those years. They were on the verge of extinction due to a big business mistake they had made. 5 years later their sales are higher than ever and the owner has money in the bank.
What do you hope others say behind your back?
Randy is a solid Christian man.
Are you willing to be a mentor to others who might want to reach out to you for guidance? If yes, how would you like to be contacted?
I do a small amount of mentoring. Through my email is fine.