Blog Archives

My first time felt uncomfortable

23/2/2019

Just because something feels uncomfortable the first time you do it should you stop?

We run an event at the PopUp Business School which is called walk like the president/first lady. The basic message of the exercise is to change your body language to change the way you feel. So we ask people to adopt confident body language and then walk round the room and meet other people. The exercise creates some real energy in the room and gets people going!

Alan looking uncomfortable

Despite the buzz, energy and obvious impact there is always someone who comes to me after the exercise and says "that was great but it didn't feel natural"

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Coaching start-ups

21/2/2019

In 2017 with ChooseFI Podcast I ran a contest to find someone with a cool business idea to coach and support for a year. The plan was to coach one individual to create a resource of how to start a business that would help many more people like you.

Alan coaching people in Thamesmead how to start-up

The year has passed, the results are in and you can find out what happened to Tallis and her new business! The purpose of doing this was to create a set of calls that you could listen to and work on your business at the same time.

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How to make money on a blog

13/2/2019

I launched my blog in November 2018 and I made my first profit! On the 3rd of February 2019 this blog made £0.29!

Alright it is not quite boats, champagne and endless BBQ food yet but it is a start.

The view from my laptop as I write my blogs....

This has inspired me to write this article about how I did it and give you 10 ways to make money by writing a blog or creating content.

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The FI Business School

11/2/2019

Can a business school be financially independent? Financial independence means having enough wealth to live off without working. So your assets generate more income that you need to live.

Could this be applied to a Business School?

Alan Donegan presenting at Henley Business School

Alan teaching a PopUp Business School at Henley Business School in the UK

Imagine a business school that is able to give all its education away for FREE, FOREVER! Is it a dream? Is it possible? Could a truly FI business school exist?

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Movies, Hollywood and script writing

10/2/2019

Who would leave a successful business as it was exploding with success and travel half way around the world to try something they have never tried before in one of the most competitive industries in the world?

Is it crazy? When I tell people their faces tell me it is crazy!

Alan and Katie in LA in 2016 with their friend Char! Wonder woman peering into the middle distance behind us!

I am going to Los Angeles in March and April this year. I am off to Hollywood to write a movie and work to sell the script to the studios afterwards.

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Following your dreams

9/2/2019

What are your dreams? Have they changed over the years? What have you always dreamed of doing?

Since an early age I have been inspired by the amazing TV shows of the 80s, the movies of the 90s and the last golden decade of the superhero movie.

Alan on Batman's bike on a green screen in LA in 2016

I have loved watching these movies and it has left me with a dream of being involved, writing or creating something. If you've got a dream shouldn't you pursue it? Why don't more people follow their dreams?

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What is financial independence?

8/2/2019

Updated: 26/05/2020
Financial independence (FI) is when your investments bring in more income than you need to live on. This means that you have decoupled your time from your finances. You can spend your time doing anything you want without having to worry if money is going to come in or not.

Alan Donegan wondering what to do with his FI time!

What would you do with the time you buy back with Financial Independence?

Income from passive sources is greater than expenditure; equals financial independence. Sounds simple? There are some nuances!

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Guide to getting a PopUp shop or space

6/2/2019

Article not finished

UK High Streets "have twice as many shops as needed" according to a recent report *

As I walk round my home town of Basingstoke, Hampshire there are empty shops on every corner and space waiting to be utilised!

Alan Donegan outside an empty retail unit

Alan standing outside empty shops in Festival Place, Basingstoke, Hampshire

So why is it so hard to get an empty space to be able to use for your PopUp shop, or PopUp space? Why won't landlord let you in and let you use the space. Surely it is better off being used rather than left empty?

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What do I do with my savings? Invest? How?

4/2/2019

Buy small liabilities and instead invest in assets was the end of my last blog post. This sounds great but how the hell do you actually do that? How do you buy an asset? Are you asking me to go out and buy an investment property now? I don't have the cash!

You have saved up some money and you are wondering what to do with it. Where do you start? My plan for this article is to break down some different types of investment and then lay out Katie and my strategy so you can see what we do. This is NOT investment advice rather it is an article exploring options and sharing our approach.

Alan shocked at how low Vanguard's fees are for an index fund!

This article was first published 4th February 2019. Updated 8th September 2020 and then again on 1st June 2021

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How do you know? Is it possible?

2/2/2019

How do you know if your business idea is going to work? How do you know if something is possible or not? How do you know how much you should charge a customer for your product? How do you know if they will agree to pay it?

Alan Donegan presenting at the Slough PopUp Business School 2019

I have been running the PopUp Business School for the last 2 weeks in Slough and inspired by the questions that I have been asked I wanted to write this post for you about possibility.

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Standing up to the rules...….

2/2/2019

There are the rebels that break the rules, there are those that follow the rules and there are those of us that stand up to the rules when we think things aren't right! But who made up the rules, and should you follow them?

It's all made up, all of it is made up!

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SEO - Google rankings part 2

2/2/2019

Mission: Get to the top of the Google Organic Rankings for the term "Alan Donegan"
Purpose: demystify Search Engine Optimisation, test theories and give you practical steps to follow that will help with your website

Alan Donegan googling himself! SEO Test

Have we moved up the rankings? Last month we were at position 45 in the search engine! Where are we this month?

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My first time felt uncomfortable

Coaching start-ups

How to make money on a blog

The FI Business School

Movies, Hollywood and script writing

Following your dreams

What is financial independence?

Guide to getting a PopUp shop or space

Article not finished

What do I do with my savings? Invest? How?

How do you know? Is it possible?

Standing up to the rules...….

SEO - Google rankings part 2

Alan donegan

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