234 | Mastering the Hub: Innovative Business Strategies with Trevor Blake

Episode Description: In this episode of Blue Sky Consulting, Cat continues her insightful conversation with Trevor Blake, a visionary serial entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author. Trevor shares the innovative strategies behind his success, particularly his unique "hub model" for building companies without traditional employees. Tune in to discover how Trevor has managed to create and sell multiple companies with a combined value nearing a billion dollars, all while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling personal life. Key Takeaways: Introduction to Trevor Blake: Trevor Blake is a successful entrepreneur who has founded and sold three companies since 2003, with a combined value close to a billion dollars. He is known for his unique business model that does not involve traditional employees. The Hub Model: Trevor's "hub model" involves outsourcing all company functions to professional vendors rather than hiring full-time employees. This approach stemmed from necessity, as Trevor didn't have the funds to hire employees when he started his first company. Benefits of the Hub Model: Allows flexibility and cost savings, especially in the early stages of a company. Vendors work on a fee-for-service basis, motivated by profit-sharing arrangements and a sense of ownership in the company’s success. Eliminates the need for extensive supervision and internal meetings, enabling a focus on core business goals. Real-World Application: Trevor provides examples from his own experience, including a story about successfully running a company while being out of the country for three weeks. Highlights the balance this model offers, allowing Trevor to spend significant time on personal activities while his businesses continue to thrive. Maintaining Relationships and Trust: Trevor emphasizes the importance of trust and peer-to-peer relationships with vendors. He shares the success of long-term partnerships, such as his finance team in Texas, whom he has never met in person but maintains a strong working relationship with. Challenges and Solutions: Addresses concerns about vendor reliability and turnover, noting that the hub model’s structure and profit-sharing incentives foster loyalty and long-term collaboration. Discusses the ease of replacing vendors compared to employees, as contracts are more flexible. Work-Life Balance: Trevor contrasts his approach with more traditional, high-stress entrepreneurial paths, advocating for a lifestyle that combines business success with personal fulfillment. Shares his daily routine, which includes spending several hours walking and enjoying nature. Listener Questions: Kat and Trevor discuss the sustainability of the hub model and its application across various business functions. Trevor addresses potential pitfalls and how he mitigates them, providing insights into maintaining vendor relationships and ensuring consistent performance. Personal Vendor Experience Trevor shares a personal story about a long-term vendor relationship. Despite a strong personal bond, Trevor had to part ways with the vendor due to professional reasons, highlighting the different dynamics in vendor relationships. Employee Relationships and Company Dynamics Trevor explains the difficulty of ending employee relationships and contrasts it with the maturity and flexibility of vendor relationships. He discusses his approach to business growth and his preference for exiting companies once they've reached a certain level. Trevor's Personal Development Programs Trevor introduces his transformational personal development programs, emphasizing the need for self-transformation to achieve life goals. He talks about the "transformation experience" which helps individuals rediscover their potential and power. Transformation Experience Details The transformation experience is described as a journey back to one's true self, using principles of quantum physics. Trevor shares the success and impact of his programs, with thousands of people experiencing positive change. Start, Survive, Thrive Course Trevor introduces his course based on his book "Secrets to a Successful Start-Up," which provides a step-by-step guide to creating and sustaining a successful business. The course is aimed at helping individuals survive long enough in business to eventually hit a home run. Target Audience for Courses Trevor discusses the demographics of his course participants, including those looking for self-confidence and those who sacrificed their dreams for their families. He emphasizes the program's ability to help individuals adapt to new technological landscapes and regain confidence. Transforming Artists Trevor explains how his courses also support artists in finding sustainable income models, such as licensing and NFTs. He talks about the challenges artists face and how his programs provide practical solutions for success. Trevor's Screenwriting Journey Trevor shares his journey as a screenwriter, from his early days writing plays to winning awards for his screenplays. He discusses the transition from selling his screenplays to creating his own media company to produce films. Final Thoughts and Takeaways Trevor emphasizes the importance of having fun and making a positive difference in people's lives. He encourages listeners to embrace their creativity and pursue their passions with confidence. Key Takeaways: The complexities of managing employees versus vendors and the benefits of the hub model. The necessity of personal transformation for achieving professional success. The value of storytelling in business and personal development. Practical advice for artists and entrepreneurs on building sustainable income streams. Connect with Trevor G. Blake: Additional Resources: Books by Trevor G. Blake: "Three Simple Steps" "Secrets to a Successful Start-Up" Closing Remarks: Trevor leaves listeners with his mantra: "Make a positive difference in someone's life, have fun doing it, and share all the rewards that come naturally as a result." Conclusion: The episode wraps up with Trevor’s vision of a balanced, successful life, achieved through innovative business practices and a commitment to personal well-being. Encourages listeners to consider the hub model for their ventures, highlighting its potential for creating a profitable and balanced business. Trevor discusses the challenges of employee management, including tribunals and extra training. He compares this with the simplicity of ending vendor contracts and finding new vendors as needed. About Our Guest Today: Using a unique business structure based on a model of alliances, Trevor G. Blake has founded, managed and sold three companies since 2003 for a combined value of over $300 million. He is currently founder and CEO of three more companies in varied industries which he runs simultaneously. His unique business approach is based on a higher profitability, non-employee model, which also frees him to enjoy his other interests as a writer, coach, and animal welfare activist. Success with a balanced life is Trevor’s mantra and described in his free course The Practical Magic of the 5-hour workday which is available at www.trevorgblake.com. Trevor is also a New York Times best-selling author of Three Simple Steps, A Map to Success in Business and Life (2012) and Secrets to a Successful Startup, A Recession Proof Guide to Starting, Surviving, and Thriving in Your Own Venture. (2020) Trevor has been featured in: Business Insider, CNN, Forbes, PBS (Between the Lines), KOMO news, Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, Investors Business Daily, The Guardian, Inc. and is a regular radio and TV guest on both business and metaphysics shows. Trevor’s mission is to empower people just like you to transform yourself from the inside out, experience more confidence, deeper joy and greater prosperity in every area of your life. He has also created two unique experiential courses in which he coaches in real-time for personal growth and business success which can be found at www.trevorgblake.com. He has graciously given Art of Consulting podcast listeners a generous scholarship on any of his transformational programs. And I can personally attest that this is probably one of the most valuable investments that you can make to the greatest asset you have: Yourself. $500 discount code for Art of Consulting podcast listeners. Use code AOC at www.trevorgblake.com/begin     Where to find our guest: https://www.trevorgblake.com/ https://www.facebook.com/trevorgblaketgb https://www.facebook.com/TrevorGBlake https://www.facebook.com/groups/successwithbalance https://www.instagram.com/trevorgblaketgb/ https://twitter.com/@TrevorGBlake https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorgblake/