Brand You Personal Branding

466: The Secrets and Stories I've Kept Hidden for a Decade - Til Eugene Choi Got Me Talking

When my friend Eugene Choi dropped by my place last week, we had one of the rawest conversations I’ve ever had about my business. For the first time, I opened up about the wins I’ve kept quiet, the mistakes that nearly sunk me, and the moments—and people—that altered my path forever. This is the unfiltered backstory I’ve never fully shared, until now. Tune in and, you’ll hear: 1:56 - Why my mastermind is (apparently) an anomaly 6:56 - How my mastermind helped me go full-time 15:09 - Surviving divorce and a big business blunder 19:08 - Ray Edwards' belief 26:11 - Donald Miller's kindness 31:09 - Todd Herman, Mary Valloni, so many others 42:37 - The providence of God 45:45 - My master plan for an IP empire 51:53 - Ann Ahn, an early hero 58:38 - Join me for You Are the Brand AI Summit Episode Resources: You Are the Brand AI Summit » Eugene Choi on Instagram » Connect with Me: Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook

465 - Starting Over After Losing the Life You Imagined (I'm Back)

As solopreneurs, so much of what we build is deeply personal. Our businesses are often born from the gaps in our own stories. In this solo episode, I reflect on the recent death of my father and the quiet grief that followed for the connection we never fully had. It made me confront how much of my business drive was rooted in fear and pain. This isn’t a business episode in the traditional sense, but it’s a human one. If you’ve ever built something to feel safe, seen, or in control, I think you’ll find something here. In this episode, I talk about: How grief can show up as ambition, productivity, or perfectionism Why many founders build strong brands from unresolved pain The hidden costs of being self-reliant for too long What it looks like to love someone through action, not nostalgia How to keep creating when the story doesn’t end neatly CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook

464 - How I Reconciled My Relationship with My Father, My Past, My Pain

Watch this talk on YouTube » Entrepreneurs and high achievers like to talk a lot about how to rewrite their life story, especially in the context of their external accomplishments. I've found that growth more happens in the unseen moments - the times of pain, heartache, and the decisions we face that require courage, forgiveness, and presence. When I got the call that my dad was dying, I knew I had to share this story—our story. This is a talk I gave at Growth Now Summit Live, and with special permission from host Justin Schenck, I’m sharing it here. It’s about reconciliation, grief, identity, and the raw, often ugly road to healing. Whether or not you’re navigating loss or family conflict, I hope this message invites you to reconnect—with yourself or someone else—before it’s too late. CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook

A personal update...

There's been a lot going on lately, so I thought I'd pop in and give you an update. Sorry I've been missing my podcasts...

463 - Persuasion for One-Person Brands - Lessons from Fortune 500 Insider Ellin Sidell

If you’re a solopreneur, you already wear every hat: marketing, sales, content, client delivery. But there’s one skill that ties it all together –– persuasion. In this episode, I sit down with Ellin Sidell, Fortune 500 leader-turned-author of The Influence Advantage. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why persuasion is a skill you can master—even if you're introverted or uncomfortable with sales How Ellen got her boss to complete her overdue review using nothing but humor and a fake invoice (true story) What solopreneurs can learn from Costco’s grassroots mentorship program and how to replicate it in your brand The difference between mentorship and sponsorship—and why both matter for your growth Why self-leadership is your greatest competitive edge in today’s content-heavy world Get Ellin's book, The Influence Advantage » Connect with Ellin: ellinsidell.com LinkedIn  YouTube