How to monetise your mindset

(00:01) Ange Dove:
Okay, welcome to You’re the Boss Podcast Show. Today I have with me Bart Merrell. He’s an entrepreneur, author, and Monetize Your Mindset presenter. He helped bring the first commercial bungee jump to Japan—he’s not sure if he’s proud of that or not!

He’s been a serial entrepreneur since before he could legally drive—mainly because he crashed his parents’ car at eight. So today, we’re going to hear how you can monetize your ideas and business. Bart, welcome to the show.

(00:54) Bart Merrell:
Thanks for having me.

(00:56) Ange Dove:
Let’s start with a bit more about what you do.

(01:05) Bart Merrell:
I help people identify their ideal side hustle and create financial security by monetizing what they already know and do.

Interestingly, this wasn’t my original plan. I wanted to join the FBI and chase serial killers. I grew up in a small town in southern New Mexico and was advised that accounting was the easiest way in.

So I studied accounting… and quickly realized I didn’t like it—and I wasn’t good at it.

(02:27)
While taking time off, I had corrective eye surgery—before LASIK—and it worked perfectly. But when I later applied to the FBI, I found out that surgery disqualified me.

So now I had a degree I didn’t enjoy… and no dream job.

(03:26)
A friend then asked jokingly, “Do you want to go to Japan?”
I said, “Yes.” And that’s where everything started.

People say I got lucky—but I define luck differently. Like Seneca said, “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” I’d add: you also need to take action.

(05:05) Ange Dove:
Tell me about the bungee experience.

(05:05) Bart Merrell:
I became a bungee jump master in Japan. On our busiest day, we helped 783 people jump.

One day, bored at the top of the tower, I had a “brilliant” idea—jump holding the cord with my hands.

I eventually did it. When I let go, the cord snapped back with a loud BANG, and I hit the airbag with a SLAP. Everyone thought someone had died.

(08:20)
The lesson?
To be an entrepreneur, you need to take risks—not stupid risks, but educated ones.

(10:37) Ange Dove:
What would you say to someone afraid to leave a corporate job?

(10:37) Bart Merrell:
Start with a side hustle if you can. If not, get a mentor. The hardest step is the first one—but confidence builds as you go.

(13:19) Ange Dove:
What about people who don’t know what business to start?

(13:19) Bart Merrell:
Ask yourself three questions:

1. What do you like to do?

2. What do you need to do?

3. What are you already doing?

Write everything down—don’t filter. Then evaluate what you can monetize quickly and what you enjoy most.

(19:38)
People often overlook “what you need to do.” If you’re already doing it, why not monetize it?

For example, I had my leg amputated in 2024. It was terrifying—but I asked myself: How can I monetize this?

Now, I help others going through amputations as a consultant.

(24:58) Ange Dove:
That’s powerful—you turned a need into an opportunity.

(26:07) Bart Merrell:
Exactly. People also think, “I don’t know enough.” But someone always knows less than you.

As a friend says: To a first grader, a third grader is an expert.

(28:17)
Let me give examples:

• What I like: Music → I became a DJ at 15 and made $600–$700 a night.

• What I need: I needed to lose weight → became an affiliate and monetized the process.

• What I already do: Bought a house → rented rooms → others paid my mortgage.
  
  

(35:25)
Another example: my Uber driver picked up passengers during her commute—making an extra $60–$70/day doing what she already did.

(38:00)
There’s never been a better time to start a business. With AI, information is accessible instantly, and barriers to entry are lower than ever.

(40:57)
But don’t build yourself a job. Build something that gives you freedom.

(42:35)
If you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. I’ll stay up until 2 AM working on AI because I enjoy it.

(43:29) Ange Dove:
Such great insights. Where can people connect with you?

(43:45) Bart Merrell:
You can get my free 1K Blind Spot Assessment at:
👉 youridealsidehustle.com

I’m also active on Facebook—feel free to connect.

(44:39) Ange Dove:
Thank you so much for joining us today.