The Influential Personal Brand Podcast

Minal Mehta Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 24, 2023

Today’s episode is for all the coaches out there! Tune in for a series of quick and practical tips on how anyone can elevate their offerings as a coach. In this brief, but informative episode, AJ shares her top takeaways from her conversation with Minal Mehta, CEO and Co-founder of AllTakes, an online platform built specifically for coaches. You’ll hear AJ break down the value of niching down as a coach and how to run an exceptional coaching business, before illustrating the top three ways that technology can elevate the coaching experience. For a series of powerful insights on coaching, technology, and more, be sure to tune in today!

How Coaches Can Use Technology to Scale with Minal Mehta Mar 21, 2023

There’s a big difference between the skills required to be an exceptional coach and the expertise you need to create a thriving business. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the technology side of building a coaching business, then this episode is for you! We sat down with Minal Mehta, CEO and Co-founder of AllTakes, to talk about her journey from employee to coach to entrepreneur, and how she became aware of the demand for an online tool that could serve the needs of coaches. AllTakes is a groundbreaking platform that is not only built specifically with coaches in mind but is also designed by an incredible individual who has spent many years working as an accomplished coach herself! Tuning in, you’ll hear Minal share her insights on the current rise in coaching, what she has learned from her coaching career, and why she wanted to create a product that would streamline the technological components of being a coach. We also unpack what it takes to become an exceptional coach in a niche market before discussing how AllTakes is providing unique solutions for coaches who want to build meaningful connections and community. So if you’re a coach looking to streamline your process — or if you’re debating whether it’s finally time to share what you’ve learned with the people who need your expertise most — then you’ll definitely want to tune in for this one!

Amanda Moriuchi Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 17, 2023

Building and nurturing a community is an essential part of building a brand. In this episode, we recap our recent interview with AppIt Ventures CEO, Amanda Moriuchi, and share our most significant takeaways. Our conversation with Amanda was centered around how we can use technology (apps, specifically) to deepen relationships with and within our communities. This recap lists the benefits of having your own app, rather than relying solely on social media, as well as the three things you need to consider as you strategize community-building tactics. Tune in to discover the value of owning and consolidating engagement, and what it takes to create a deeper sense of community!

How To Know When You Are Ready For An App with Amanda Moriuchi Mar 14, 2023

Having an app allows for a more intimate engagement with your customers, but how do you know whether you’re ready to take that step? Joining us today to break down the process of building, launching, growing, and monetizing an app is the CEO of Appit Ventures, Amanda Moriuchi. In this episode, Amanda shares insights into the growing mobile app trends, the sense of community tech facilitates, and the role of apps in creating intimate bonds amongst customers. We discuss the main revenue streams of applications, when it makes sense to monetize them, and how to calculate the price point for paid apps. Tune in to find out how to determine whether you need an app, and what it will take to create and maintain one while providing value to your community.

Henry Yoshida Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 10, 2023

Much of what we do here at Brand Builders Group and on this podcast is geared toward helping you grow your income, but there is more to being a successful business owner than just that! Today we are reflecting on our recent chat with Henry Yoshida and sharing 15 powerful tax-saving strategies. Our conversation with Henry was packed with amazing insight and useful tactics, and taxes only made up a portion of what he covered, so make sure to go back and listen to that episode if you have not already. These are all legitimate, legal, and ethical tax strategies that you can implement today if you want to save, and the crazy thing is that so many of these are not widely known about! It is important to remember that these strategies are applicable to the US, as tax laws differ across the world, but there is also a good possibility that if you live elsewhere, there may be a comparable rule that you could adhere to in order to save. So without further ado, let's get into the 15 ways you and your business can start saving today!

Alternative Investment Vehicles for Entrepreneurs with Henry Yoshida Mar 07, 2023

Today we are very excited to bring you a finance and investment focussed episode of the show, as we welcome the CEO and Co-Founder of Rocket Dollar, Henry Yoshida! Rocket Dollar is a fintech platform aimed at helping investors prepare smartly for retirement by offering private alternative investment options. Henry has been a CFP since he was 22, and spent 10 years at Merrill Lynch before the segue into building his own companies. He is also a licensed realtor, so he knows a thing or two about the important subject of investing in real estate! In our chat today, Henry shares some amazing wisdom and insight that will help any listener improve their understanding of self-directed IRAs, pension plans, and real estate purchases. He also unpacks why he chose to pursue building a fintech company, and how this work compares to his previous position as an active advisor. Tune in to hear it all!

Ben Rigsby Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 03, 2023

A healthy relationship between marketing and sales is crucial. But how often does your sales and marketing team truly communicate, collaborate, brainstorm, or provide feedback? And how can you ensure they’re working together in the sales enablement process without getting siloed off from one another? Today on the show, AJ answers these questions and more as she reflects on her conversation with Ben Rigsby on sales enablement and how to run a seamless marketing-to-sales pipeline. Tuning in, you’ll hear AJ break down the most effective lead nurturing strategies (both online and offline), the importance of converting your social media followers into customers, and how to grow your email list by creating high-value offers. She also shares her tips for effective communication with customers and unpacks what it means to create lifetime value. To learn why the relationship between sales and marketing is like a marriage, how to put excellent sales enablement processes in place, and much more, be sure to tune in today!

Business Automation: What You Need To Know so You Know What To Automate, With Ben Rigsby Feb 28, 2023

If you’re an entrepreneur or business owner, then you are no doubt aware of the challenges of running a seamless marketing-to-sales pipeline. But what do you do when your lead generation processes aren't resulting in sales, and your customer retention rates are continually dropping, no matter what you try? Joining us today to answer all these questions, and more, is Ben Rigsby, Co-founder and President of SnapShot Interactive, and President of ECOS. Throughout his career, Ben has helped countless clients create frictionless digital processes that elevate the client experience, and in today’s episode, he shares his expertise with us! Tuning in you’ll hear Ben provide a detailed breakdown of how to fix lead generation, speed up the sales process, and provide lifetime value for clients. He delves into the important relationship between marketing and sales, how to identify sales-qualified leads (SQL), and what you can do to foster synergy between your marketing and sales processes. We also discuss the power of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools like HubSpot, how to use them, the importance of innovation, and much more. If you want to create a digital infrastructure for a thriving sales and marketing process, but aren’t sure where to start, then today’s episode is for you!

Annie F Downs Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 24, 2023

As an entrepreneur, on a mission-driven trajectory, only you can make the decision that you will not be stopped. You can’t accept someone else’s rejection as permanent and only you can decide that you are going to make it! We’re back with another special recap edition of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, where Rory does a debrief, recap, and summary of the most recent interview with Annie F Downs and provides listeners with three big takeaways. Annie dropped some very insightful nuggets in our interview including how to monetise podcasting, getting help before you can actually afford it, and the importance of having the resolve to not quit along your journey. Tune in now to hear more from Rory in this recap episode.

How to Build a Bestselling Brand in the Christian Market with Annie F Downs Feb 21, 2023

If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while now, you’ll know that your hosts from the Vaden Villa are hard-core, Bible-thumping, Jesus freaks, and one of the questions we’ve been wanting to answer is how you build a bestselling brand in the Christian market. Our guest today is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker that speaks all over the country doing sermons and Christian conferences, along with some business gigs every year. She is a teaching pastor at our church and also the host of an amazing podcast called That Sounds Fun. Annie also founded and co-owns a podcast network called the That Sounds Fun Network. In our conversation with Annie today we hear from her about the journey of her company, Downs Books Inc., and how she worked her way up from the beginning of her career by recognizing the doors that were opened for her and the opportunities that arose. She describes her transition from speaking to young teen girls to speaking to women and provides insight into how she utilized events that she was paid to do, in order to create opportunities that would allow her to do what she wanted to do. We then dive into how you can build your business in a Christian market before she breaks down the different types of things you can do as paid events and how to make money from your podcasts. For all this, and much more, don’t miss out on today’s episode. Tune in now!

Nadine Hanafi Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 17, 2023

Here at the Influential Brand Podcast, we believe that a personal brand is a formalization of what you want to be known for and who you want to be known by. It is not your visual identity. In this episode, we unpack why people incorrectly confuse their visual identities with their personal brands and get hung up on fonts and colors. We reflect on a past episode with Nadine Hanafi from Digital Brand Kit and break down some of the key tips we learned from her about how to create your visual identity and where to place your focus in the process. Tune in for key tips to consider when creating your visual identity while keeping your eye on the bigger picture of building your personal brand.

Create Your Visual Identity in 30 Days with Nadine Hanafi Feb 14, 2023

Most people assume that having an expensive-looking brand costs a lot of money. As you’ll discover in today’s episode, that isn’t necessarily the case! Since 2013, Nadine Hanafi has helped everyone from Fortune 100 C-suite executives to bestselling authors to startup entrepreneurs share their brand message through inspired visual storytelling. After founding the award-winning design firm, We Are Visual and crafting eye-catching visuals for some of the most viral TED Talks on the internet, Nadine is now funneling all of her talent and expertise into her latest passion project: Digital Brand Kit. As the world’s first turnkey branding system for personal brands, Digital Brand Kit offers you all the strategic design assets you need to create a beautiful, cohesive, and affordable brand identity that looks and feels like you. Today, you’ll learn how Nadine can help you create your visual identity in just 30 days or less, some of the biggest mistakes that people make when embarking on this process (and how to avoid them,) as well as tips for hiring a designer and so much more. If you’re struggling with crafting your brand’s visual identity, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Bari Baumgardner Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 10, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns caused unprecedented disruptions in industries across the world. One of the first sectors to feel the impact was live events. Overnight, companies were being forced to either postpone their events indefinitely or cancel them altogether. In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Bari Baumgardner, Founder and Chief Strategist at SAGE Event Management, a company that managed to rapidly pivot to virtual live events shortly after the onset of the pandemic. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory recap his top takeaways from their conversation, including a breakdown of the four non-negotiable rules that Bari follows for virtual events, why it’s so effective at emulating the dynamics of an in-person event, and why Bari swears by her three-day event formula. For a brief recap and summary of this hugely informative conversation, make sure you tune in today!

Running Profitable Virtual Events With Bari Baumgardner Feb 07, 2023

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the world of live events was decimated, and global lockdowns left the industry scrambling to adapt. At the time SAGE event management was one of the first companies to pivot and offer virtual live events at a large scale. And, after rapidly organizing a massive virtual event for one of their top clients (the legendary Tony Robbins) it quickly led to them becoming a front-runner in the virtual industry. SAGE has also been one of Brand Builders Group's most trusted partners and has helped countless clients produce high-ticket offers and grow their platforms through virtual events. Joining us today to give a breakdown of their business, and how they adapted during the height of lockdown, is the wonderful Bari Baumgardner, Founder and Chief Strategist at SAGE event management. Bari unpacks how SAGE helps its clients, what sets them apart from other event production companies, and why they lead with strategy first. You’ll hear a breakdown of the differences between virtual and live events, the technology they developed to facilitate these events, and how their model allows you to cater to both logical and emotional buyers. She also shares her advice on how to get started with virtual events using nothing more than a TV, a computer, and a Zoom account. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, so if you’re interested in learning more about how to host live virtual events for high-ticket offers, then make sure you tune in today!

Lori Harder Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 03, 2023

We kicked off our conversation with Lori Harder with a simple and powerful reminder: no matter where you are in life, you have a choice! During this episode, we share the highlights of our conversation with the incredibly inspiring guest. You’ll hear an overview of the wisdom Lori shares with us, including taking stock environment and making the necessary changes, tweaking your approach to failure, and remembering that the fundamentals never get old. Listening in, you’ll also get a glimpse of what Lori shared about her journey from having an unknown podcast, to growing into a household name. Find out what is key to moving from an information-based product, to a physical product, and get a taste of the do’s and don’ts behind Lori’s success. You can’t afford to miss this episode!

5 Simple Things You Can Do To Better Build Your Personal Brand With Lori Harder Jan 31, 2023

How do you make a successful transition from one career, industry, or company to another? Today’s guest is the true epitome of someone who has taken their reputation and all of their success and accomplishments, and turned it into so many different things during the course of their career! Lori Harder has built three seven-figure businesses and recently founded a new product line. She’s the best-selling author of A Tribe Called Bliss and the host of the must-listen Earn Your Happy Podcast, which has over 46 million downloads. She’s also a three-time world champion in the fitness industry, a cover model, and more! Lori has truly seen the ups and downs, and she is here to share hard-earned wisdom from her journey that you can learn from and implement today. If you are a person experiencing any sort of transition, this episode is for you.

Micheal Burt Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 27, 2023

The art of motivation can be tricky. And what drives us can change over time as we grow and our priorities shift. In today’s episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Micheal Burt, founder and leading authority on the Prey Drive principle, Supercoach, and author of the new book Flip the Switch: Activate Your Drive to Achieve a Freakish Level of Success. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory reflect on his conversation with Burt and how the source of his motivational drive has evolved throughout his life and career. He examines the role that family and faith have played in his evolution, and how he has come to be motivated by a sense of service. Rory also takes the time to unpack the misconceptions many of us have about happiness and how living a life of service can provide you with perpetual meaning. There is nothing quite as powerful as helping others. We hope you’ll join us for this powerful rumination on motivation, meaning, and the immense joy of helping others!

Activating Your Prey Drive with Micheal Burt Jan 24, 2023

One of the key factors in whether or not you achieve success is your level of motivational drive. But what makes that drive so powerful in some people while others struggle to access it? Our guest today, Micheal Burt, is an expert in the art of motivation and has spent the better part of his career cultivating his unique approach to what he describes as competitive intelligence. His new book Flip the Switch: Activate Your Drive to Achieve a Freakish Level of Success is a comprehensive guide to finding your motivation and unlocking your inner potential. We talk with Micheal about how he got his start coaching basketball and what it taught him about fostering motivation within a team. He goes on to share the story of how he transitioned into becoming a speaker and coach while developing his trademark Prey Drive philosophy. Next, Micheal offers a fascinating breakdown of his Prey Drive philosophy and how anyone can access it by harnessing innate human emotions. He also explains how it can help any of us overcome complacency, one of the biggest obstacles to motivation. When it comes to the art of cultivating motivation, there are few people as knowledgeable as Micheal. If you want to flip the switch and achieve your most aspirational goals in 2023, then make sure you tune in to this episode filled with top-level insights from one of the best in the business!

Bob Wheatley Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 20, 2023

If you have the desire to write a book or have written a book, there’s a good chance that you are hoping to share a message that will help people. And while the first step to writing a successful book is creating a quality product, that is just one component of reaching your intended audience. If you want to reach the people who will benefit most from your message, then you need to have a plan in place. Today on the show, AJ revisits her conversation with Bob Wheatley and unpacks the three key things that you need to consider if you want to write a book. Whether you’re an aspiring author or are about to publish your first book, today’s episode is bound to give you fresh insight into the key elements that will determine the success of your book. Make sure you tune in to hear it all!

Tips for the First-Time Author with Bob Wheatley Jan 17, 2023

Writing your first book is a huge undertaking, and getting the right support on your journey can be the deciding factor in whether you achieve your goal, or not. Our guest today, Bob Wheatley, knows this better than anyone and after two and a half years of hard work and dedication is set to release his first book Our Hearts' Desire: How Our Stories Reveal the Thing We Want Most. In our conversation with Bob, we discuss how he first realized that he wanted to write a book and the key lesson he learned from the process. He provides a detailed breakdown of the publishing routes that aspiring authors can choose to pursue, the financial implications, and why he chose to use the hybrid publishing model. He goes on to explain how having a mentor helped him, and why he is so grateful to have learned from the mistakes of others. He also expands on how the skills he learned as a professional athlete helped him pitch up every day, and how to embrace the fact that your first draft won’t be very good. Writing a book takes a tremendous amount of commitment, and while it requires many hours of working in solitude, the only way you’ll deliver the best product possible is by enlisting the help of trusted friends, family, and mentors. If you feel like you have a message in you that you need to share with the world but don’t know where to begin, then this episode is here to give you the tools you need to start your journey!

3 Strategies that Helped Me Stop Drinking (Part 2) Jan 13, 2023

Welcome to the second half of Rory’s conversation on how he stopped drinking, and why he decided to make such a big change. In our previous episode, Rory broke down the seven reasons why he decided to quit alcohol and gave an overview of the strategies that helped him break old habits and take on new ones. During part two you’ll hear Rory go into detail on how to rewrite your programming and replace your choices, and why this applies to anyone looking to make a change or create better habits. He breaks down how to implement these strategies and how each of them helped him successfully quit drinking. If you enjoyed part one and want to gain a deeper understanding of how to go about forming new habits, then make sure you tune in for part two!

3 Strategies that Helped Me Stop Drinking (Part 1) Jan 10, 2023

Today’s episode is a deviation from our regular format and gets a little bit more personal. Traditionally, we interview exceptional individuals from any number of fields to discuss not just personal branding, but also their journey to success and the challenges they faced along the way. In today’s special episode, however, we hear from our very own Rory Vaden about how he strengthened his personal character and transformed his habits when he decided to give up alcohol. This is the first in a two-part series where Rory shares the strategies he used to break his habit of drinking and how he formed new habits that were in service of the life he wanted to live. Rory takes the time to unpack why he doesn’t believe everyone needs to give up alcohol to make this type of change, and why he felt it was the right choice for him. He also explains why you need a strong personal character to build a strong personal brand, and why your influence will never grow wider than your character runs deep. If you’re interested in making a change in your life but are feeling intimidated by the immensity of the challenge, then stick around for Rory’s story of personal growth and transformation!

Megan Roudebush Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 06, 2023

In today’s special recap episode, AJ revisits her illuminating conversation with Megan Roudebush, Founder of Keepwith, on the power of networking and being authentic. Tuning in, you’ll hear AJ’s top takeaways from her conversation with Megan, like the importance of implementing a networking strategy and how to determine who you want to have in your sphere. She also reflects on the ways you can network outside of your business and how to make the perfect introduction. For a quick overview of our conversation with Megan on how to be a better networker, make sure you tune in today!

Be A Better Networker with Megan Roudebush Jan 03, 2023

If you consider yourself to be someone who struggles with networking, then this episode is for you! Whether you’re an introvert who feels overwhelmed by big business conferences, or an extrovert who needs clarity on who they want to meet, there is a networking solution for you. Our guest today, Megan Roudebush, is the Founder of Keepwith, a new platform that facilitates authentic networking and solves the networking issues you didn’t even know you had. We talk with Megan about how she first saw a need for a platform like Keepwith, how they spent years developing it, and some of the incredible features it offers users. Megan shares her extensive knowledge about networking, from how to network in different spaces to understanding the responsibility of making introductions. She also unpacks the importance of having a networking strategy, how to identify who you want to meet, and why she encourages everyone to become a superconnector. Today’s conversation is a welcome reminder of the power of relationships and why networking does not need to be nearly as intimidating as we make it out to be. Be sure to tune in to hear all of Megan’s incredible insights on how to build meaningful relationships and how you can become a more authentic networker!

Todd Herman Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 30, 2022

Rory’s conversation with Todd Herman was one of the most profound interviews that has been done on this show because it provided insights into a topic that most people know very little about: trademarks. It may come as a surprise to you, but if you are ever planning on selling your coaching business, be prepared to answer questions relating to the trademarks that you own. If you don’t have any, start registering some. And if you do have them, don’t hold back on protecting them! Todd’s interview is going to have a transformative impact on Brand Builders Group, and if you’re serious about scaling, don’t delay listening because it could do the same for your business.

How to Scale a Coaching Company and License Your IP with Todd Herman Dec 27, 2022

“How many trademarks do you own?” If you’re planning on selling your coaching business, expect this to be one of the first questions you are asked by potential buyers. During this episode, our guest, Todd Herman, shares the stories of how he successfully founded, scaled, and sold three different coaching companies. Todd has been in the coaching game since before most people even knew what coaching was, and because of his experience, his passion for the industry, and his desire to continuously improve, he has made a name for himself all around the world! Todd explains the value of trademarks to your personal brand (and why he doesn’t ever hold back when it comes to protecting his own), why traction trumps content in the coaching world, and why you shouldn’t let your ego control your business decisions. Tune in for an interview that is unlike any other we’ve ever had on this show!

Nick Loper Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 23, 2022

Building a side hustle takes plenty of planning, innovation, and motivation. And the same is doubly true for making your side hustle your main hustle. In today’s episode, AJ revisits her conversation with Nick Loper, Founder of Side Hustle Nation, and shares her top three takeaways from their conversation. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ reflect on Nick’s most insightful advice, like how to use your podcast as an income stream, even if you don’t have sponsorships or advertising, as well as the many ways podcasts can support your business. For a concise and informative recap of AJ’s fascinating conversation with Nick Loper, make sure you tune in today!

Building Your Side Hustle With Nick Loper Dec 20, 2022

You may have noticed a substantial increase in ‘side hustles’ over the past few years. And as this trend has increased, so has the desire for many people to make their side hustle their main hustle. In today’s episode, we sit down with Nick Loper, Founder of Side Hustle Nation, to talk about the concept of a side hustle, how to build one, and what it takes to make your side hustle your main hustle. We kick things off by delving into Nick’s past side hustles and how he founded Side Hustle Nation. Learn about his early adoption of opportunities in the e-commerce sector and how he applied the lessons he learned to subsequent side hustles. We also discuss the role that SaaS (Software as a Service) can play in your side hustle, how to make money with affiliate marketing, and what you can do to monetize a small, but mighty, podcast. To hear all of Nick’s practical tips and insights on how to make your side hustle your main hustle, and achieve the financial freedom you deserve, make sure you tune in today!

Eric Solomon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 16, 2022

If you’re a mission-driven messenger, then you undoubtedly want to spend your time helping people and impacting lives, not mired in technical details about websites, video editing, or marketing strategies. But once you reframe marketing as a form of artistry necessary for sharing your message, you will be able to gain a new level of appreciation for the skill it takes to market your brand, even if you have a team who does it all for you. In today’s special recap episode, Rory reflects on the role of marketing before revisiting his conversation with Eric Solomon, a video producer, editor, and storyteller who helps personal brands grow with powerful, authentic video content. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share how his opinions of marketing have changed over the years as well as his top takeaways from his conversation with Eric. For a comprehensive summary of this important conversation, make sure you tune in today!

4 Keys to Creating Persuasive Promotional Videos With Eric Solomon Dec 13, 2022

Making promotional videos for your personal brand can feel intimidating and striking the right tone can be tricky. But if you have a good team behind you, you can create seamless video content that authentically demonstrates who you are, and what you do, without it ever feeling like a sales pitch. That is the message of today’s guest Eric Solomon, a video producer, editor, and storyteller who helps personal brands grow with powerful, authentic videos. In our conversation, Eric breaks down four key ways that individuals can create persuasive promotional videos, along with his personal philosophies on how to ensure that your content is always authentic. Tuning in you’ll hear us unpack the power of interviews, the work Eric has done for Brand Builders Group, and why he prefers to film without a script. Eric also breaks down the types of video content he deems essential for anyone with a personal brand and how to go about producing them. To learn more about Eric’s approach and how you can create authentic and persuasive promotional videos, make sure you tune in today!

Matt Mayberry Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 09, 2022

In today’s special recap episode, AJ revisits her powerful conversation with keynote speaker, consultant, and author Matt Mayberry. Tuning in, listeners will hear AJ share her top three takeaways from their conversation as well as her unique thoughts and insights on the topics they talked about. One of the biggest lessons from their conversation is the concept of company culture and why it can be defined as behavior at scale. But how does this apply to the individual? There are countless resources on how to create company culture, but where are the resources that teach people how to create their reputation, especially when it comes to their personal brand? If you want to find out the answer to these and other questions, while also learning more about how you can intentionally create your reputation and personal brand, then make sure you tune in today!

How To Convert Your Speaking Business Into Lifelong Clients with Matt Mayberry Dec 06, 2022

We have all had to face and overcome some type of hardship in our lives, whether big or small, but it can often be difficult or painful to talk about. And yet, finding the courage to be open, vulnerable, and honest, is one of the only ways to truly build trust and is a key part of any meaningful relationship. When it comes to building a personal brand, it can be tempting to focus solely on your successes. But it’s your struggles that truly make you relatable and can really build a sense of connection with your audience. No one knows this better than our guest today, Matt Mayberry, who overcame immense personal struggles to build the brand he has today, and found the strength to share the most despairing details of his story in order to best serve his audience. Tuning in you’ll hear Matt break down how he made the pivot from his NFL career to public speaking and consulting, as well as details of how he found the courage to share the darkest parts of his story. He explains what he has learned about the art of storytelling, like what to include or emphasize based on the message he wants to impart. We also delve into the extensive research Matt does on his audience for each event, the topics he covers as a speaker, and how he helps companies make lasting improvements to the culture of their organization. Our conversation today covered a range of topics. Not only is Matt hugely inspiring, but he is also deeply knowledgeable about how to transform organizational leadership and culture. You won’t want to miss this profoundly informative episode on speaking, consulting, and storytelling!

Clay Harbor Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 02, 2022

Many of us have found ourselves needing to pivot in our careers. And after the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for flexibility and adaptability has become more necessary than ever. In today’s episode, AJ revisits her conversation with former NFL Player Clay Harbor on how to pivot and shift your identity to ensure longevity and success in your career. In addition to sharing her top takeaways from their conversation, AJ also reflects on key lessons like how comparison can hold you back, why comparing yourself does nothing but hurt you, and what you can do to break the cycle of comparison. For special insight into how Brand Builders Group got started and why you should let go of comparison, make sure you tune in today!

Reinventing Yourself For The Next Big Thing with Former NFL Player Clay Harbor Nov 29, 2022

If you’ve ever found yourself at a pivotal point in your career where you needed to reinvent yourself or shift your identity, then today’s episode is for you! Our guest today is an incredible individual who has consistently used discipline, routine, and hard work to achieve great things. Many of our listeners will already be familiar with Clay Harbor from the nine years he spent playing for the NFL, his memorable appearances on The Bachelorette, or his health and fitness brand; which includes an impressive social media presence that boasts more than 240 thousand followers on Instagram alone. After a series of injuries left Clay unable to continue his football career, he decided to ask himself what else he was passionate about and what he wanted to be known for going forward. In our conversation, Clay shares what this transitional time was like for him, how he hoped to use his appearance on The Bachelorette as a stepping stone to a larger goal, and how a disciplined routine has been integral to his success in life and business. We also discuss how Clay and his brother transcended their challenging circumstances, why Clay is passionate about dedicating his life to helping others, and how Brand Builders Group helped Clay further establish his personal brand. Tune in today for a fascinating conversation with a truly inspirational and humble individual on how to find success and build your brand, one small step at a time!

Amberly Lago Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 25, 2022

One of the key components to building your personal brand is understanding your audience, and one of the best ways to get to know your audience is by really listening to them. No one knows this better than Amberly Lago, an incredible speaker, podcast host, and best-selling author, who has formed profound relationships with her followers on social media. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ’s top takeaways from her conversations with Amberly like how to be an effective communicator, what it means to curate your audience, and how you can get to know them better. She also reflects on Amberly’s love of people and her gift for treating her audience like family, as well as how Amberly’s desire for meaningful connections has shaped her personal brand. For an insightful recap of this wonderful conversation with a phenomenal human being, make sure you tune in today!

Build Your Brand by Building Your Audience With Amberly Lago Nov 22, 2022

Building a personal brand can feel overwhelming. There are so many examples of how you can go about it and a seemingly endless list of things that you could choose to focus on. Today’s guest has done an incredible job of cutting through the noise and building her brand by staying true to who she is, listening to her audience, and trusting her gut. Amberly Lago is a TED speaker, fitness addict, and host of the True Grit and Grace Podcast. She is also the bestselling author of True Grit and Grace: Turning Tragedy into Triumph, a book that chronicles how a devastating motorcycle accident shattered her right leg and permanently altered the course of her fitness career. In it, she is deeply vulnerable and shares how she overcame her darkest moments of despair by learning to love herself again and finding meaning in what happened to her by helping others. Tuning in you’ll hear Amberly talk about her journey from being a fitness coach with virtually zero technical expertise to purchasing a laptop in her forties and building an impressive social media following in the run-up to her book launch. Learn how Amberly created her personal brand from a place of authenticity and why she was so passionate about forming real, lasting relationships through social media. We also delve into the self-doubt that tends to plague us when we evaluate the worth of our personal stories, and how Amberly found belief in the power of her story when she recognized the impact it could have on the lives of others. Amberly is not only a truly inspiring individual, but she is also deeply compassionate and her love of people is infectious. Join us today for a profound conversation on overcoming pain, finding your authenticity, and the power of connection!

Ian Koniak Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 18, 2022

Ian Koniak is a powerful example of how our philosophy works in practice! As someone who came in as a high-flyer from the world of sales, and made the leap into coaching and entrepreneurship using his unique set of skills and expertise, we are so proud to call Ian part of our tribe! We believe so strongly in what we teach, and this is something that Ian's story underlines boldly. In this recap of our recent chat with Ian, listeners will get to hear the top three takeaways from the conversation on how to sell more high-dollar offers, and feel great while doing it! We all hate the idea of feeling sleazy and slimy, and this can be so easily avoided by putting the needs and goals of your clients first. If you know what you are offering and the value of your services, you are able to find people who truly fit with you and can benefit from what you are selling. Listen in to hear about why 'no' is better than 'maybe', boosting referrals through over-delivering, and why helping others succeed is what we are all about at Brand Builders Group!

How to be Comfortable Selling High Dollar Offers with Ian Koniak Nov 15, 2022

Our guest today is one of the best salespeople we know! Ian Koniak has proven himself at all levels of the world of sales, having worked at Ricoh and Salesforce, and now as a full-time sales coach. Ian's message is something that we can really get behind, and in this episode, we get to dig down into his sales philosophy, and how you can start selling more today! Our guest talks about going from belief to energy to engagement, escaping neediness, and the all-important piece of closing deals. Listeners can expect to come away from today's chat with a huge dose of sales medicine, and a refresher on lead generation, how to increase referrals, and much more! Make sure to stay tuned to hear Ian unpack his P.R.E.D.I.C.T. selling framework, which makes any sales call so much easier. Listen in to hear it all!

Erin Hatzikostas Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 11, 2022

Authenticity may seem like an intangible concept, but in reality, there are methods you can use to strategically implement it in the workplace and get incredible results. Today on the show AJ revisits her conversation with Erin Hatzikostas, where they discuss authentic leadership and how it can transform our work environments. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ’s top four takeaways from their conversation, including Erin’s definition of authenticity, and how data from her research study demonstrates the parallel between authentic cultures and talent retention. We also discuss the difference between authenticity and transparency, and why you can never be too authentic, but you can be too transparent. Make sure you tune in for a recap of this essential interview about authenticity, both in life and in the workplace!

Authenticity As Your New Competitive Advantage With Erin Hatzikostas Nov 08, 2022

Authenticity is all about exposing who you are when people least expect it. That insight comes from today’s guest Erin Hatzikostas, bestselling author of You Do You(ish): Unleash Your Authentic Superpowers to Get the Career You Deserve, podcast co-host of ‘b Cause Work Doesn’t Have to Suck’, and all-round authenticity aficionado. Erin is also a keynote speaker, coach, consultant, and leader of a recent national research study on the impact of authenticity in the workplace. In today’s episode, you’ll hear all about how Erin went from being a corporate CEO to, what she calls, a professional pot-stirrer. She shares the story of how she stumbled on authentic leadership in her role as CEO and how the experience led her down the path of entrepreneurship and data-driven research. You’ll learn why authenticity isn’t just whimsical fluff, but something you can strategically implement to achieve exceptional results, and how these claims are backed up by Erin's recent national study, The Impact of Authenticity in the Workplace. We discuss how authenticity in the workplace is proven to help retain talent, negotiate with business partners, build trust, and ultimately, achieve incredible results. We also unpack how authenticity can help address imposter syndrome, how to let go of societal misconceptions around success and sacrifice, and overcome our addiction to the grind. Today’s conversation is full of profound insights, expert advice, and a huge dose of authenticity. Tune in to learn how you can start implementing these lessons in your life and achieve results you never expected!

Chris Ducker Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 04, 2022

For many of us niching down may seem unintuitive, but it’s actually the most effective way to reach your audience and build your personal brand. In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Chris Ducker, Founder and CEO at Youpreneur®, where they discuss the tremendous value of niching down. Rory shares his top takeaways from their conversation: including how to optimize based on your resources, why you don’t need millions of followers, and the many benefits of niching down. For an insightful summary of our recent episode with Chris Ducker, make sure you tune in today!

First Steps to Launching Your Expert Business With Chris Ducker Nov 01, 2022

Some people might say that you should never promote your competitors or others in your field. But if you live with an abundance mindset then there’s no reason why you can’t lift up those around you. That is why we’re delighted to be joined by Chris Ducker, a fellow expert in personal branding who is helping entrepreneurs build profitable, future-proof businesses. In our conversation, Chris shares key lessons he’s learned over the course of his career, including the value of niching down and why it’s so much more effective at generating revenue than trying to serve everyone. Chris provides examples of how to niche down based on whom you want to serve and breaks down why it’s the most practical approach for finding your audience. We also discuss The Elevated Entrepreneur Experience that Chris is leading and how you can get involved. For an engrossing episode on personal branding, entrepreneurship, and finding your first client, make sure you tune in today!

Denise Villa Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 28, 2022

Thanks for tuning into this recap episode of the fantastic conversation we had recently with Denise Villa! This was such an insightful chat, and if you haven't already listened to that, you know what to do! Denise got so real with us about the ins and outs of life as an entrepreneur and shared a lot of important things that we think aspiring entrepreneurs need to know. Join us today as AJ recounts some of the things she found most impactful, talking about family businesses, the positives and negatives of working with a spouse, and what entrepreneurship really demands of us. For AJ, seeing Rory in his element has always been something to be grateful for, and makes all the other hurdles and difficulties worth it. AJ also teases out Denise's messages about the highs and lows of owning a business, and some of the parts of our work that might not be so glamorous. To finish off this recap, AJ reflects on the parts of her identity that reach beyond her work, and how becoming a parent gave her a new perspective on herself and her energy. Be sure to tune in to catch it all!

Life Lessons of an Entrepreneur With Denise Villa Oct 25, 2022

Taking the leap into entrepreneurship can seem incredibly daunting, especially when you already have an established career. As a result, it can often take a life-altering event to prompt you to reassess your trajectory and make a pivotal change. That was the case for today’s guest Denise Villa, Ph.D., and co-author of Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business―and What to Do About It. After structuring her entire career around teaching, a series of life events prompted Denise to reevaluate what she wanted to do with her life. In our conversation, we talk with Denise about how she made the shift to entrepreneurship and what it’s been like embarking on this journey with her husband and business partner, Jason Dorsey. We delve into the complexity of entering into business with your spouse, why trust is essential in any relationship, and how their different skills and traits complement one another. Denise also expands on their company called The Center for Generational Kinetics, why they are passionate about separating generational myth from truth, and what it was like co-authoring Zconomy with her husband. Today’s episode is full of refreshing insights on entrepreneurship, partnerships, and how to uncover what you truly want. Make sure you tune in for this joyful conversation filled with tons of relatable stories and useful advice!

Alan Stein, Jr. Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 21, 2022

In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his fascinating conversation with Alan Stein, Jr., who spent 15 years working as a high performance and mental training coach for NBA superstars and athletes, before transitioning into the realm of leadership and speaking. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share his top takeaways from their conversation, including the importance of mastering the basics and why, as a high performer, you can exhibit both confidence and humility. Rory also reflects on why it’s important to recognize that there is a big difference between being the world's greatest player and being the world's greatest coach, and how this knowledge can transform your mindset. For premium insights from our conversation with Alan Stein, Jr. and how they can help you build a personal brand, make sure you tune in today!

High-Performance Secrets of NBA Superstars With Alan Stein, Jr. Oct 18, 2022

It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to speak with someone who has spent years working closely alongside the likes of Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Our guest today, Alan Stein, Jr. has done exactly that. For 15 years he worked as a high performance and mental training coach for NBA superstars and athletes to help them achieve and maintain incredible levels of performance. Since then he has transitioned into the world of leadership and speaking, where he helps to improve and elevate individual and organizational performance. He is also the co-author of Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best as well as his latest book Sustain Your Game: High Performance Keys to Manage Stress, Avoid Stagnation, and Beat Burnout. In our conversation, Alan shares the insights he gained from working with ultra-high-level athletes such as why the best never tire of the basics, why repetition isn’t punishment, and why being process-driven is far more useful than chasing external results and validation. We also delve into how these lessons apply to life, leadership, and business, what it means to coach above your weight class, and why you can offer invaluable insight and support to your clients regardless of their level of expertise. Today’s episode is jam-packed with useful insights and high performance secrets. Join us for all this and much more!

Nora Sudduth Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 14, 2022

One of the best ways to elevate your content is to view it from the perspective of your client. It’s an opportunity to gain fresh insight into what they need and how you can deliver on it. In today’s recap episode AJ revisits her conversation with Nora Sudduth, Co-Founder and CRO of Hello Audio, a podcast hosting platform with a range of features that make it easier than ever to connect with your audience. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ share her top takeaways; like why more information does not necessarily mean more value, and how to identify the currency your audience is trading in - whether it’s time, money, or both. She reflects on Nora’s key advice on how to increase your content engagement, from making your product entertaining and accessible and increasing the ease of use, to identifying the needs of your clients and delivering on them. AJ’s interview with Nora is packed with hidden gems, so be sure to tune in for a recap of this important conversation!

4 Ways To Increase Your Content Engagement with Nora Sudduth Oct 11, 2022

How often have you purchased a course with every intention of completing it, but never found the time to actually do it? If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because this issue is incredibly common. According to comprehensive data and surveys, most courses are never completed; leaving behind countless hours of unused footage and missed educational opportunities. Armed with this information and a passion for student success, our guest today, Nora Sudduth founded Hello Audio, a podcast hosting platform with a range of features that make it easier than ever to connect with your audience. In our conversation, Nora shares her obsession with customer success and delves into how she abandoned her corporate career to pursue a more entrepreneurial path. She explains why Hello Audio started out as Podcast Your Course, and how its features allow for private podcasts. We discuss the many benefits of private podcasts and unpack why audio is an excellent method for relaying coursework in a medium that students have time for. Nora also shares her top advice for increasing content engagement from reducing ‘time to value’ and using your ‘existing reach’, to creating concise copy and content, and providing a solution to your customers’ primary problems. Today’s episode is filled with valuable advice and key insights from an inspiring individual. Make sure you tune in for an informative conversation on the power of podcasting, how to generate engagement, and more!

Selena Soo Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 07, 2022

Our conversation with publicity expert Selena Soo was filled with insights; not only in what she had to say but how she said it. In this special recap edition of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we share our main takeaways from Selena’s professionalism as an interviewee to her most astute publicity tips. Selena schooled us on the true value of mainstream media and when it’s actually a suitable pursuit, as well as how to get on TV when it is, indeed, the appropriate media outlet for your product. Join us as we debrief after our inspiring conversation with Selena, covering everything from finding riches in the niches and finding a new way to think about your online audience, to identifying and running with your lead magnet.

How to Get Publicity with Selena Soo Oct 04, 2022

Many personal brands aim to make it onto national television, but could it be that you’re missing a few crucial steps along the way? Is national television truly the most profitable pursuit for your brand? Joining us today to talk all things publicity is publicity expert and lead magnet, Selena Soo. Selena’s reputation precedes her and in this episode she talks us through her Publicity Pyramid framework. She fills us in on the pros and cons of magazine features and television interviews, and explains which questions you should be asking yourself rather than “How do I get on TV?”. When pitching for TV is appropriate, however, you’ll need to know how, as TV interviews differ greatly from podcast interviews. Selena shares some helpful pitching advice and explains why it’s important to aim local first. She touches on the difference between niche and mainstream expert topics, and which is best to focus on from a publicity perspective, before delving into the value of prestige media and how to repurpose your features and appearances. This episode is packed full of hot tips and tools for doing your own publicity without hiring a publicist. Tune in to find out how to source the most suitable media outlets for your brand, as well as the story ideas they’re looking for!

Mori Taheripour Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 30, 2022

Our recent chat with Mori Taheripour was absolutely overflowing with insight and inspiring ways to improve your negotiation game. We also spoke a lot about the world of publishing and some of the lessons that Mori learned that might help you if you are wanting to share your message with the world by writing a book! So to hear all of that, and get a deep dive into the amazing content of the book and her story, be sure to go back and listen to that episode if you have not already. In this recap AJ gives her top three takeaways from the chat, highlighting the themes of mindset and perception, collaboration over confrontation, and getting clear on what you want. This was an amazing chat with so much value for all of our listeners, and Mori's passion for helping others definitely lefts its mark on us. Tune in to hear all about it!

Be A Better Negotiator with Mori Taheripour Sep 27, 2022

Deep down, we probably all want to be better negotiators, and feel more confident as we enter into discussions we care about, whether for our career or personal life. Today we are very lucky to have an amazing conversation with a negotiation expert, Mori Taheripour, and this is an episode that we promise you are not going to want to miss. Mori is the author of the inspiring book, Bring Yourself, in which she lays out her philosophy and approach to self-worth, honest storytelling, and communicating in ways that safeguard against dissatisfaction. Mori has worked in a variety of roles and sectors, and we get to hear about a few of the important stepping stones of her long and winding path to where she is today! Mori explains how she was influenced by the time she spent working in public health, how she became a teacher at The Wharton School, and how this led to her publishing her book. We also talk about developing a more fearless attitude, what makes a truly great negotiator, how to make negotiation less difficult (and even enjoyable!), and much more!

Grant Baldwin Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 23, 2022

If you’ve ever been curious about how Brand Builders Group helps their clients build their speaking careers, then today’s episode is for you! In today’s episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Grant Baldwin, founder of The Speaking Lab, a company that enables aspiring speakers to consistently get booked (and paid!), by utilizing their SPEAK Framework™. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory break down the key curriculums they use here at Brand Builders Group to teach their clients how to excel, not just in the art of crafting a speech, but also in the business side of speaking. Discover the highlights from our eight-part miniseries called How To Get The Gig and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to integrate speaking into your business model. Rory also gives a detailed overview of the seven different ways that you can get paid for speaking engagements, especially if you’re starting out. From charging a straightforward speaking fee to gathering testimonials, or capturing video footage for your demo tape, each method offers an excellent way to get paid as a speaker! Tune in to learn how Brand Builders Group is helping mission-driven messengers grow their business, generate wealth, and impact more people!

5 Steps to Getting Paid Speaking Gigs with Grant Baldwin Sep 20, 2022

For most up-and-coming speakers their primary concern is going onstage and giving an excellent performance. And while being a great speaker is essential for success, it shouldn’t cause you to neglect the other elements that make up your business. That is why today’s guest, Grant Baldwin, started The Speaking Lab; a company that empowers up-and-coming speakers by providing them with the resources, knowledge, and insights they need to succeed. The Speaking Lab enables aspiring speakers to consistently get booked (and paid!) by utilizing their SPEAK Framework™, also known as the business side of speaking. Tuning in you’ll hear Grant give a comprehensive breakdown of the SPEAK framework and how to implement it. From uncovering the specific problem you want to solve and choosing the industry that you should focus on, to preparing your talk and establishing yourself as an expert, to learning the best methods for acquiring paid speaking gigs and knowing how and when to scale. We also discuss the role that your online presence plays in your success, how to calculate your speaking fee, and when it’s okay to do free speaking gigs. Grant has a wealth of knowledge, and today’s conversation has something for everyone, whether you want to make speaking your side hustle or build your entire business around it. Make sure you tune in for clear and practical tips that will set you on the path to making speaking a consistent and profitable part of your business!

Travis Blakely and Teun van der Lugt Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 16, 2022

From the outside, it may look like someone achieved success overnight, but the truth is that in almost every instance there are months, years, and decades of invisible hard work behind that success. In today’s recap episode, AJ revisits her conversation with Travis Blakely and Teun van der Lugt (Tony) of Inner Light Media. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ’s top three takeaways from their interview, like why Plan B should always be to make Plan A work, how to create authenticity in your videos, and why you should be focusing your efforts on one message and one platform. For a quick summary of this inspiring conversation, make sure you tune in today!

Creating Videos That Go Viral with Travis Blakely and Teun van der Lugt Sep 13, 2022

Creating video content can be intimidating, but when you focus on topics you’re interested in, your passion will reflect in the quality of your work and attract an audience who shares your interests. Today on the show we get together with Travis Blakely, a Social Media Strategist, and Founder and Owner of Inner Light Media; and Teun van der Lugt, also known as Tony, a Video Creator and Strategist, and Founder of Golden Era Media. In our conversation, Tony and Travis break down the many facets that will help you create meaningful content; from choosing your topic to refining your script, to being relaxed, engaging, and (most importantly) yourself, in front of the camera. Tuning in you’ll gain valuable insight into how to create the best videos for your purposes as well as practical tips on how to elevate your content so that it resonates with your viewers. You’ll also learn why YouTube is an excellent long-term social media investment (even if it takes a while to grow), as well as the benefits of focusing your energy on one platform, before expanding to other channels. Tony and Travis are both dedicated to making a positive difference in the world and it’s reflected in the high-quality, meaningful content that they create. To learn more about creating exceptional content that also has the potential to go viral, be sure to tune in today!

Kindra Hall’s Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 09, 2022

We recently had Kindra Hall on the podcast to share some wisdom about the path to becoming a paid professional speaker, and if you caught that episode, you know it was a goodie! Today we are recapping some of the most impactful points and reflections from that chat, and underlining the wisdom that Kindra was so generous with! Kindra is a great example of someone who is reaping the rewards of putting in the hard work, and it was clear in her story and our conversation how much can be achieved by setting a goal and following through. One of today's main takeaways was the benefit of zeroing in on speaking at associations when starting out, and we explore five reasons that should inspire you to prioritize this. We also get into the art of storytelling and, as an expert storyteller, Kindra unpacked the impact that the stories we tell ourselves has on our journey toward our goals. So if you want to hear all this and more, and get a running start towards earning the speaking fees of your dreams, tune in today!

The Fastest Way to Become a Paid Professional Speaker With Kindra Hall Sep 06, 2022

If you’re an aspiring speaker, today’s episode is for you! Kindra Hall is an author, storyteller, and keynote speaker who grew her career and became one of the biggest female speakers on the global stage in a record amount of time. Storytelling has played a pivotal role in Kindra’s life and career and her latest book, Choose Your Story, Change Your Life: Silence Your Inner Critic and Rewrite Your Life from the Inside Out, is a testament to the power of stories and the transformative role they can play in our lives. In this conversation, Kindra shares how she got started by sending out one hundred emails a week for six weeks to prospective organizations, the events that accepted her, and how this allowed her to test her message and gain exposure. Tuning in, you’ll hear Kindra unpack the role that storytelling has played in her career, how she collects and chooses stories, and how to craft engaging narratives. She also shares her limiting beliefs, how she overcame them, and how we can rewrite our own stories to be more empowering. Today’s installment is filled with powerful insights and actionable tips on how to become a more engaging storyteller and grow your speaking career. Be sure to tune in for all this and much more!

Vinney Chopra Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 02, 2022

In today’s special recap episode, we revisit our conversation with Vinney Chopra, an incredible individual with an infectious positivity who has dramatically scaled his real estate investments over the past seven years. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ share her top three takeaways from her conversation, as well as her reflections on why they are so significant. Discover why teaching is just choice learning, the power of syndication through pooling your resources, what to expect from the three metaphorical tsunamis that are currently taking place in the US, and how to invest accordingly. For all this and much more, make sure you tune in today!

How to Grow a Personal Brand and Build a Real Estate Empire with Vinney Chopra Aug 30, 2022

Our guest today, Vinney Chopra, has had a fascinating career, from studying engineering to decades of work as a prolific fundraiser to building a real estate empire in his sixties. When Vinney first came to the US he only had seven dollars in his bank account. Since then he has acquired over $650 million in assets, an achievement that is nothing short of incredible! Tuning in you’ll learn about Vinney’s entrepreneurial journey, how he learned to be an exceptional salesperson, and what it has taught him about resilience and building wealth. Learn about Vinney’s real estate career later in life as we break down why syndication is such a powerful tool, how to leverage your email list, and how Vinney managed to raise over $4 million while on vacation. We also discuss Vinney’s personal brand, his passion for teaching, and his goal to impart his knowledge and create 1 million millionaires. Vinney's positive attitude is both infectious and inspiring. Tune in to learn more about his incredible career, how to scale through investing, and much more!

Evan Carmichael Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 26, 2022

Whenever you make a sale, it is essential that you first educate your customer and earn their trust. One of the best ways to earn that trust is by sharing your expertise for free, thereby demonstrating your integrity and your worth. Today on the show Rory revisits his conversation with Evan Carmichael of Brandlytics on how to dominate on YouTube and why you should give away your expertise for free. Tuning in, you’ll hear Rory share his top three takeaways, including how to make data-driven decisions for your online content, and why YouTube videos should be longer than you think. For more on why YouTube is considered education at scale, and how you can use it to grow your brand on multiple platforms, make sure you check out this recap!

How to Dominate on YouTube With Evan Carmichael Aug 23, 2022

One of the key things that sets YouTube apart from other social media platforms is that it's primarily used as an education platform which makes it the ideal home for long-form content. Today on the show we talk with Evan Carmichael, an incredible speaker and author who has built a following of over three million YouTube subscribers, about how to make compelling content and dominate on YouTube. Tuning in you’ll learn what attracts users to educational content, what you should be sharing in your videos, and how to use YouTube’s native analytics to improve and repurpose your content. Evan also unpacks the audience retention curve, how you can use it to become a better speaker, and why quality of thought is more important than production quality. Tune in for a great conversation full of practical tips, and profound insights on how to take your YouTube content to the next level!

Matt White Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 19, 2022

The great resignation has put more pressure than ever on leaders to find and retain great talent. In today’s recap episode, AJ revisits her conversation with Matt White, Executive Advisor at Culture Index, a company that uses unique psychometric assessments to help businesses hire and retain the right talent for the right job. Tuning in, you’ll hear AJ share her top three takeaways from their conversation, as well as her own thoughts and insights. Learn about the Culture Index Assessment, why the great resignation should be called the great re-evaluation, and how visionary leadership can help you retain great talent. Make sure you tune in for a brief and insightful recap of this incredible conversation!

What You Need To Know To Hire The Right Talent with Matt White Aug 16, 2022

The great resignation is one of the most interesting phenomena to come about as a result of the COVD-19 pandemic. Many people are realizing that they aren’t well suited to their jobs and that it’s time to find something that matches their passion, talent, and skill sets. Today on the show, we talk with Matt White, Executive Advisor at Culture Index, a company that uses its unique psychometric assessment to help businesses hire the right talent and put them in a position where they can perform at their very best. Tuning in, you’ll learn more about the Culture Index Assessment, what it does (and does not) measure, and how it equips companies to find the best fit for their roles. We discuss how the Culture Index Assessment differs from other popular personality tests, like the Enneagram, and how they structure their profiles. Matt also sheds light on the importance of defining what you need from a role, how to communicate your vision, and the characteristics that make for a great leader. Today’s episode is full of incredible takeaways for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to match their passion with their job, so make sure you tune in to hear it all!

Morgan Cron Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 12, 2022

All of us have an internal narrative about our lives, but we can never know the full picture of why we are the way we are. And yet, the stories we tell ourselves about our past are incredibly powerful and have the ability to determine our identity as well as our future — a stirring example of why it is so important to discard confining beliefs that no longer serve you. This important insight comes from Rory’s recent interview with Ian Morgan Cron, a leading expert on the Enneagram and its many applications. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share his top takeaways from that interview, including why your biggest strength is also your biggest weakness, what it means to have a false origin story, and why what is true to us is what we tell ourselves most often. If you’re interested in the Enneagram or the psychology of influence, then join us for an insightful recap on our meeting with Ian Morgan Cron!

Understanding Enneagram With Ian Morgan Cron Aug 09, 2022

Whether you’ve never heard of Enneagrams before, or you’re a die-hard fan, today’s episode is for you! We talk with Enneagram Teacher, Author, Speaker, Psychotherapist, and Consultant, Ian Morgan Cron, about the Enneagram and why it’s such a powerful personality tool. In our conversation, Ian gives an overview of how the Enneagram works, the nine personality types it is made up of, and how it differs from other personality tools. He explains why he’s a fan of any tool that helps its users gain self-knowledge, why information can only lead to growth if you are empowered with the tools for transformation, and how you can rewrite your story. We also

discuss his book The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self, as well as his podcast Typology, a podcast that explores the mystery of the human personality and how we can use the Enneagram typing system as a tool to become our most authentic selves. Today’s conversation offers key insights into the invisible forces that govern our lives, how we can rewrite our stories, and why self-knowledge is integral to a happy life. We hope you’ll join us for this life-changing conversation!

Lethia Owens Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 05, 2022

Approaching your personal brand with a servant leadership mindset is tremendously powerful. In today’s special recap episode, AJ revisits her conversation with Lethia Owens, a servant leader who is building an incredible legacy for her children and grandchildren. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ’s top three takeaways, along with her own thoughts and insights. Learn about the concept of being a game-changer, what it means to have a servant mindset, and how to be a legacy creator. For all this and more, make sure you tune in today!

Turning Your Expertise Into a Certification Program with Lethia Owens Aug 02, 2022

Many people are hesitant to pursue building a personal brand because of the misguided notion that it’s a selfish endeavor. In reality building, a successful personal brand is much more closely aligned with having a servant mindset and asking yourself how you can help others. No one knows this better than today’s incredible guest, Lethia Owens. Lethia serves as an expert Market and Personal Branding Speaker and Strategist. She is also a tech CEO and author of the book Your Brand Influence: The Art and Science of Building an Influential Personal Brand. Tuning in you’ll learn about Lethia’s work as a speaker and strategist, how she persevered through adverse circumstances to get where she is today, and why her superpower is being true to herself, no matter what. We delve into what it means to be a game-changer, how to find your lane as a speaker, and how Lethia is building a legacy for her grandchildren. You’ll also learn about her program Certify Your Brilliance, how it empowers clients to certify their skills, and its ability to open up new revenue streams. It was such an honor having Lethia on the show, and we’re sure you’ll find this conversation as eye-opening and inspiring as we did!

Dean Graziosi Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 29, 2022

When you have an exceptional service but are afraid to market it, you are actually depriving your potential clients of the help they need. No one knows this better than Dean Graziosi, an expert information marketer, author, investor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Mastermind.com alongside legendary Tony Robbins. Tuning in you’ll Rory share his top three takeaways from their conversation, including why the person with the broadest reach is not necessarily the best at what they do but is undoubtedly the best at marketing. We also discuss how to overcome your sales reluctance by being so passionate about your product that you feel guilty if you don’t make people aware of it and the conviction Rory feels when it comes to the services they offer at Brand Builders Group. To learn more about our eye-opening conversation with Dean Graziosi and how to take advantage of his free training with Tony Robbins, make sure you tune in today!

Overcoming Sales Reluctance With Dean Graziosi Jul 26, 2022

Many of our clients here at Brand Builders Group are what we call Mission Driven Messengers. They have dedicated their lives to making an impact, and are committed to helping people by serving their followers and clients to the best of their abilities. Yet time and again we see them struggle to reconcile their humility with the sales element of their personal brand. Our guest today is no stranger to this predicament and is a firm believer that sales and marketing have formed the backbone of some of the most important movements in history. Dean Graziosi is a giant in his field and has excelled as an author, investor, entrepreneur, & trainer. In 2019 he partnered with Tony Robbins to create Mastermind.com, a platform that allows you to thrive in the virtual economy by empowering you to share your knowledge using unmatched success strategies along with their worldwide directory. Tuning in you’ll hear Dean break down the partnership between purpose and marketing, how to approach paid advertising, and why you are doing your potential clients a huge disservice when you don’t market yourself well. We also cover the concept of a value ladder, how to cater to a range of client needs, and how you can get in on Tony Robbins’ and Dean’s exclusive free training offer. It was such an honor having Dean on the show, and we’re sure you’ll find our conversation as thought-provoking and inspiring as we did. Make sure you tune in for tons of great insights and learn why you need to love what you do so much that you feel bad if people don't use it!

Kathryn Gordon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 22, 2022

It takes a lot of courage to make yourself vulnerable, but what exactly does that mean, and how does one do it? According to Kathryn Gordon, the practical answer is: to share what you are feeling. This may sound like simple advice, but it can be tough to follow. After all, when you share your innermost thoughts, you run the risk of being ridiculed, rejected, or even causing harm. And in no relationship is vulnerability more important than in your marriage. Today on the show, Rory revisits his conversation with Kathryn to talk about vulnerability, intimacy, and why acknowledging the hardship someone is facing is so important. When it comes to this podcast we may focus a lot on personal branding strategies, but we are also deeply aware of the monumental role those personal relationships play in all our lives. Tune in for a humbling recap on marriage, communication, and what it means to be a supportive spouse.

Methods for a Better Marriage with Kathryn Gordon Jul 19, 2022

Despite our focus on personal brands and business here on this podcast, we know that relationships, family, and marriages are a huge part of a healthy life, and deserve just as much attention as anything else. On the show today, to share some of her wisdom about building and maintaining healthier bonds with a spouse, is the amazing Kathryn Gordon! Kathryn is a good friend of ours and is truly inspiring as a person and personal brand. She is a mother, businesswoman, movie producer, best-selling author, and host of the Kathryn For Real Podcast! She published the inspiring and informative book Relationship Grit together with her husband Jon, and we hear all about her journey, the process of bringing her lessons to the world, and what her experiences through the last few years have given her. Kathryn talks about when to look outside for help, how husbands can approach supporting their wives through tough times, and the types of communication pitfalls that so many of us fall into. So to hear it all from this powerful woman, make sure to catch the show!

Stephanie Szostak Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 15, 2022

You may think that giving presentations is reserved for a select set of career choices, such as keynote speakers or press secretaries. But in fact, there are a wide range of scenarios that require us to call upon our presentation skills. Whether you’re giving a speech at a wedding, or you need to lead training at work, you’ll need to draw on your public speaking skills to share information and keep your audience engaged. Today on the show, AJ reflects on her conversation with Stephanie Szostak, a model and actress who you may recognize from her memorable roles in film and television. Tuning in, you’ll hear AJ recount her top takeaways from their conversation, including her presentation tips and why it’s never too late to find your calling. We loved having Stephanie on the show and we can’t wait to share her wonderful insights with you. Make sure you tune in for a quick and informative recap on how to overcome your fear of public speaking and bring your best self to any presentation!

Keys to Powerful Presentations from My Favorite Hollywood Actress with Stephanie Szostak Jul 12, 2022

Your career does not define you and there are countless facets to your life that make you who you are. Our guest today is an incredible, multi-talented individual, who is dedicated to helping people find their truth. Stephanie Szostak is an accomplished Hollywood actress, activist, creator, and so much more. She is the founder of Our Boobs Stories, a project that gives women the opportunity to share their feelings about their breasts, including milestones like puberty, reconstructive surgery, and cancer. Tuning in you’ll hear Stephanie’s unconventional entry into the world of acting and modeling, what initially drew her to the craft, and the steps she took to pursue her interest in performance. She also shares her tips as an actress on how to give powerful, emotionally connected, presentations, and how to bring authenticity to your content. Stephanie didn’t always want to be an actress, but by following her inner voice she was able to uncover the truth of what she was most passionate about and achieve alignment between the many facets of her life. Tune in to learn about the steps you can take to uncover your purpose, how to elevate your presentations, and much more!

Vanessa Edwards Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 08, 2022

Almost all of us can benefit from reading people better, especially their body language. In today’s episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Vanessa Edwards, a celebrated author, keynote speaker, and an expert in the science of people who has helped thousands of individuals learn crucial interpersonal skills and become charismatic speakers. Rory shares his top takeaways from the conversation including how to build a following by being aggressively helpful and how to use SEO to optimize your book sales long term. You’ll also learn about a game-changing technique that Brand Builders Group teaches their students and how you can incorporate it into your personal branding strategy. Join us for an illuminating recap along with exclusive insights into the Brand Builders Group curriculum!

How to Read People With Vanessa Van Edwards Jul 05, 2022

Being an entrepreneur and launching a new business is a daunting task and having a brilliant idea is only the beginning. Your soft skills and leadership qualities play a huge role in the future success of your business, especially since you need to build meaningful connections and a robust network if you want your business to grow and thrive. Here today to help us make sense of this essential topic is Vanessa Van Edwards. She is a celebrated author, keynote speaker, and recovering awkward person, who has helped thousands of individuals learn crucial interpersonal skills and become charismatic speakers. In our conversation, we delve into her new book Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication, why she wrote it, and the years of scientific research behind its ideas. Vanessa breaks down the four key ways that we broadcast our cues and explains why charisma is the perfect combination of warmth and competence. We also discuss how understanding these cues can help you interact with people, why it’s important, and how you can utilize your charisma to better represent your product and yourself, both in your content and in person. Make sure you tune in to gain crucial insight into what charisma truly means, in life and business!

Mollie Marcoux Samaan Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 01, 2022

In today's episode, AJ revisits her conversation with Mollie Marcoux Samaan, Commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She shares her top three takeaways from their conversation and reflects on some of Mollie’s most prescient insights into personal branding and how it is changing the way that people engage with sports. AJ highlights Mollie’s insight that we all form part of a team, whether it’s with our family, our friends, or at work, and why every role is important. She also discusses the LPGA’s shift in making sure the stories of the players are known, and why Mollie is intent on focusing on the present. To learn more about our wonderful conversation with Mollie, and more, make sure you tune in today!

How Personal Branding Is Changing the Sports Game With Mollie Marcoux Samaan Jun 28, 2022

Sometimes building a personal brand is easier to do when you’re doing it for a cause that’s bigger than yourself. Our guest today, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, Commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), is on a mission to do just that. She is a fierce admirer of the women who form a part of her organization and firmly believes that more people should know about their stories as well as their incredible accomplishments. In our conversation, we discuss Mollie’s storied career in sports, how she came to work for the LPGA, and how she hopes to contribute to the organization. We delve into the changing role of personal branding in sports, and how an individual’s brand can elevate their organization. Mollie breaks down some of the changes she’d like to see in the golfing world, including equal pay for women, and broader access to a sport that can be prohibitively expensive for many people. We also talk about the importance of being a team player, no matter the size of your role, and how we form a part of many teams in our lifetime, whether it’s at work or at home. To learn more about personal branding in sports, and much more, make sure you tune in today!

Ray Higdon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 24, 2022

In today's special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Ray Higdon, where they discussed sales, personal branding, network marketing, and leadership. Tuning in, you’ll hear Rory’s top three takeaways from their conversation, as well as his unique reflections and insights. Rory unpacks the importance of being duplicatable, not just with network marketing, but also with your personal brand. He also explains why standard approaches scale and custom approaches fail, why sales is short-term and marketing is long-term, and how to learn to do both. For a quick and insightful recap of this highly informative conversation, along with key insights, make sure you tune in today!

Personal Brand Strategies for Network Marketing and Direct Sales with Ray Higdon Jun 21, 2022

When it comes to network marketing, there’s no single tried and true method that you need to follow. Whether you’re leveraging social media or doing cold calls, each strategy has its merits. Today on the show we talk with Ray Higdon, founder of Rank Makers, an elite network of marketing entrepreneurs, about network marketing, personal branding, and sales. In our conversation, we discuss the nature of network marketing, why it’s so empowering, and how Ray created Rank Makers. Learn about the role that personal branding plays in network marketing, how to leverage social media, and why consistency is key. We unpack the role that network marketing plays in many influencers' residual income, why it's so common, and why they work so well together. Ray also shares his tips for anyone starting as a network marketer on how to immediately drive revenue for their business and succeed. To learn more about network marketing, entrepreneurship, and personal branding, make sure you tune in today!

Lindsay Czarniak Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 17, 2022

Do you ever look at someone on TV, whether they’re a presenter or a news anchor, and wonder how they got there? In today’s recap episode AJ revisits her interview with Emmy and Gracie award-winning broadcaster, Lindsay Czarniak, and shares her top three takeaways from their conversation. AJ reflects on the importance of building sincere, caring relationships, what to do if you’re shy in front of the camera, and why relatability is key to finding your core audience. Tune in for a quick recap of this wonderful conversation with Lindsay Czarniak!

Breaking Through the Noise with ESPN Reporter and Emmy Award Winner Lindsay Czarniak Jun 14, 2022

You never know how your current job could be preparing you for your next opportunity, which is why it’s so important to learn everything you can from your present position. Today on the show we get together with Lindsay Czarniak, an Emmy and Gracie Award-Winning Broadcaster, to talk about her career, breaking through the noise, and what she’s learned from competing in such a male-dominated field. Tuning in you’ll hear about the pivotal moments and relationships that shaped Lindsay’s career, why there’s no such thing as an overnight success, and her thoughts on why there are moments in her career that make much more sense looking back than they did when she was in the thick of it. Lindsay also shares how taking a risk led her to achieve her big break, how she learned to trust her gut, and why it’s so important to have a student’s heart. It was such a delight having Lindsay on the show, not only is she an accomplished broadcaster with a multitude of talents, but she is also an incredibly humble and down-to-earth person. For a ton of profound insights, valuable advice, and a peek behind the scenes of Lindsay’s life, make sure you tune in today!

Recap of How to Double Your Business In 12 Months Jun 10, 2022

For many entrepreneurs, one of the biggest challenges is getting their message out there. Not only is it difficult to stand out in a competitive market, but you also need the self-confidence and conviction to do so. Today on the show, Rory shares a recap of his conversation with Brand Builders Group CEO, AJ Vaden, where they discussed Brand Builders Group’s new free training on How to Double Your Business in 12 Months, and how to overcome some of the most common misconceptions in entrepreneurship. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share his top three takeaways from their conversation. He breaks down the key distinctions between pride and self-confidence, why conviction in your service will transform your business, and why you shouldn't be afraid to give away value to earn trust. Rory also reflects on misconceptions around social media and why you're much more likely to find your next customer in your real-life community than on TikTok. Tune in for a recap of this refreshing conversation on what it means to be a service leader, how to grow your business, and much more!

How to Double Your Business In 12 Months Jun 07, 2022

Being an expert at anything requires time and practice. Yet, as entrepreneurs and solopreneurs, we so often try to fill every role ourselves, leaving virtually no time to spend doing the things we are actually good at! In today’s episode, we turn the mic on our very own AJ Vaden, CEO of Brand Builders Group, to discover how she got to where she is today and the important lessons she has learned along the way. Something you may not know about AJ is that she is an exceptional producer who has raised millions in revenue for multiple companies. Tuning in, you’ll hear AJ share what her experience as a producer has taught her and why she is so passionate about helping speakers, leaders, consultants, and entrepreneurs reach their goals and build their personal brands. We discuss the incredible growth rate the consulting and coaching industry is currently experiencing and delve into the importance of identifying your niche and clearly communicating what you offer to clients. You’ll also learn about the exciting free webinar we’re offering on How to Double Your Business In 12 Months, and discover who it’s for, what you can expect, and why you shouldn’t miss out! Finally, AJ leaves us with key insights into our misconceptions around social media and why you don't need clients from around the world; you simply need clients in your own community. Make sure you tune in today for a very special episode on how you can grow your personal brand with AJ Vaden!

Natasha Stoneking Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 03, 2022

One of the best things you can do to build a successful personal brand is to be authentic. In today's episode, AJ shares her top three takeaways from her conversation with Natasha Stoneking about how she organically built and monetized her personal brand. Hear why consistency is key to long-term success and building relationships, and how Natasha has done this with her brand. AJ also unpacks the value of email lists, how to continue to build them, and why it’s so important to create fun and excitement on your platform. Tune in today for a quick and insightful recap of our wonderful conversation with Natasha!

Turning Your Lifestyle Into a Business With Natasha Stoneking May 31, 2022

Building your online following is one thing, but finding ways to monetize it is an entirely different challenge. On the show today we get together with Natasha Stoneking, who has built an incredible online following and managed to monetize her personal brand in unique and brilliant ways. Natasha first started her blog over 10 years ago when she was working as a corporate marketing manager and needed a creative outlet. Since then, it has evolved organically, accompanying the changes in her life from wedding design, to fashion, to motherhood. During that time, she also amassed a huge following by being authentic and building trust. Not only does she have over 160,000 followers on Instagram, but she also has a robust email list that is always growing. Tuning in you’ll hear Natasha describe how she organically grew her following by building trust and rapport, how she chooses what to focus on for her platforms, and her top tips on how to monetize your personal brand. We delve into why email lists are effective, the importance of adding value, and how to make signing up simple and easy. Natasha also gives a breakdown on partnering with brands, like how to reach out to them and why she isn’t afraid to hear the word ‘no’. We loved having Natasha on the show, and we’re sure you’ll find her insights as joyful and informative as we did. To learn more about how to build and monetize your personal brand, and much more, make sure you tune in today!

Ed Mylett Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 27, 2022

The story you tell yourself about your life has the power to shape your mindset and determine your future. In today’s recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Ed Mylett where they talk about his new book, The Power of One More, and shares his top three takeaways from their conversation. Learn about the message of the book, why mindset is integral to success, and why everyone should be a student of personal development. For key insights, and a brief summary of this inspiring conversation, make sure you tune in today!

The Power of One More with Ed Mylett May 24, 2022

Finding the balance between humility and confidence isn’t always easy, but it’s a worthwhile pursuit that will change your outlook and what you believe is possible. Our guest today consistently strives to find this balance in all aspects of his life, whether he’s deferring to social media experts or stepping into his giftedness as an entrepreneur. Ed Mylett is a Peak Performance Expert, Global Keynote Speaker, and Best Selling Author of #MAXOUT Your Life along with his new book The Power of One More. In our conversation, we discuss Ed’s entrepreneurship journey, how he grew his social media channel to over 3 million followers on a minimal team, and how he came to write his latest book. We delve into the role God has played in Ed’s life, how to embody all the elements of your identity in any circumstance, and why it’s possible to embrace both science and faith simultaneously. Ed also shares how his relationship with his father shaped him, the immense influence he had on Ed’s life, and the part he plays in Ed’s new book. Ed is an incredible individual and continually demonstrates that humility and confidence is the key to a happy life. Tune in today as we unpack the concept of ‘one more’, how to implement it, and much more!

Cary Jack Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 20, 2022

In today’s special recap episode, AJ revisits her conversation with Cary Jack, Founder of The Happy Hustle and CaryJack.com. Tuning in you’ll hear AJ’s top three takeaways from their conversation. She reflects on why you only need one set of life-changing content to build your business and how Cary did such a fantastic job of clarifying his message and reaching his audience through multiple mediums. Learn how you can create evergreen content and why doing small things consistently is the key to success. For all this and much more, make sure you tune in today!

Building an Empire with Life-Changing Content with Cary Jack May 17, 2022

Our guest today is a true multi-hyphenate. Cary Jack is a lifestyle entrepreneur, author, podcast host, professional actor, model, martial artist, eco-warrior, and so much more! He is the Founder of The Happy Hustle and CaryJack.com, and helps burnt out entrepreneurs find balance through The Happy Hustle podcast, his new book The Ten Alignments of a Happy Hustler, as well as his Montana Mastermind Epic Camping adventure. In today’s episode, AJ sits down with Cary to discuss how he first decided to create his personal brand and how Brand Builders Group helped him clarify his vision, his message, and who he was called to serve. Cary shares how he determined which formats would work best for him and his audience, and how his podcast, book and outdoor entrepreneur program work together to serve his greater following. You’ll also hear a breakdown of the 10 alignments in Cary’s book and how they can teach you to become a more balanced entrepreneur and human being. Cary leads a truly extraordinary life and is a living example of what it means to pursue balance every day. Tune in to learn how he balances it all, how you can achieve that same focus in your life, and much more!

Lisa Bilyeu Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 13, 2022

It’s not every day that you get a chance to access the mind of someone who has sold a company for a billion dollars. Yes, a billion dollars! Speaking with Lisa Bilyeu, the founder of Quest Nutrition, was awe inspiring, and made us think differently about many elements of the brand-building process. In this recap episode, Rory shares three of his top takeaways from the episode: giving a product away for free is one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to help elevate your brand in the early stages, making your core idea palatable the key to effective marketing, and aiming to evoke emotion through your content is far more impactful than aiming for more views or subscribers!

How to Build your Business with Radical Confidence with Lisa Bilyeu May 10, 2022

Lisa Bilyeu is Co-founder of the billion-dollar company, Quest Nutrition, and Co-founder and President of Impact Theory, as well as an author and the host of Women of Impact, a show featuring women who have overcome incredible hardship to achieve massive success. In her new book, Radical Confidence, Lisa shares the story of how she unpaused her life to cofound a company that went from zero to a billion dollars in just five years and become a leader in the world of personal development. Transforming herself with a growth mindset, Lisa learned to face her insecurities and inadequacies, embrace new challenges, solve her own problems, and become the hero of her own life by life-hacking her way to feeling confident and, in today’s episode, she shares some practical advice to help you do the same! Tuning in, you’ll discover some of the tools and techniques that Lisa uses to show up confidently every day and she shares a little secret with us: you don’t actually need confidence to get started! To learn more about overcoming self-doubt, turning your kryptonite into your superpower, and asking yourself the hard questions, make sure not to miss this insightful conversation with Lisa Bilyeu!

Gabby Bernstein Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 06, 2022

One of the things we do at Brand Builder’s Group is help our clients write, launch, and sell books. In today’s special recap episode, we revisit our conversation with Gabby Bernstein, a New York Times bestselling author, motivational speaker, and marketing master, to talk about her spiritual outlook on life and how it has helped her embrace the sacred responsibility of marketing your message. Tuning in, you'll hear Rory share his top three takeaways from their conversation, from what it means to be vulnerable in your writing and the responsibility you have to share your calling, to why clarity and sticking to your core message is essential. You’ll also learn about Gabby’s upcoming masterclass, what it entails, and how you can be a part of it. For a quick recap of this inspiring conversation, tune in today!

The Spiritual Truths About Marketing Bestselling Books with Gabby Bernstein May 03, 2022

Our guest today, Gabby Bernstein, is a New York Times bestselling author, motivational speaker, and spirit junkie! She was recently described by Oprah as the ‘New thought leader for the next generation’, and just released her new book Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace. Tuning in you’ll learn about how Gabby has managed her writing career, her desire to be a spiritual leader from an early age, and how her spiritual journey has shaped her as writing. We discuss some of the biggest challenges that accompany writing a new book, including landing a publishing deal, writing the book itself, and why so many writers have a mental block when it comes to self-promotion. Learn how Gabby addresses these issues in her upcoming live masterclass, in collaboration with Brand Builders Group, and how you can be a part of it! Gabby also shares an overview of how she approaches her book launches, what she’s learned about exceptional marketing, and how she has managed to successfully publish nine books in eleven years. Tune in for an inspirational and heartwarming conversation on how to overcome your limiting beliefs and share your message with the world!

Amy Porterfield Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 29, 2022

Amy Porterfield is a master of creating excellent online courses that sell. Her Digital Course Academy has taught over 40,000 clients how to create, market, and sell exceptional online content. In today’s special recap episode, Rory shares his top three takeaways from their conversation. Hear Amy’s fantastic insights on how you can determine the optimal length for any course, and why customers are paying for results, not the amount of time they spend on it. Rory reflects on Amy’s advice on how to earn the right to sell by sharing free high-quality marketing vehicles that offer true value, and why it’s better to perfect one, or a few products, rather than having dozens of mediocre ones. For a quick recap of this wonderful conversation with the queen of online courses, make sure you tune in today!

How to Make Money Selling Online Courses with Amy Porterfield Apr 26, 2022

Getting started with building an online course can feel overwhelming. You need to choose your topic, create excellent content, before finding an audience who will buy it. While it's easy to get discouraged along the way and become convinced that the market is simply too saturated, it’s worth persevering. Today’s incredible guest will give you the guidance you need to perfect your content and find your audience! Amy Porterfield is an expert in creating thriving online courses that sell, and has helped thousands of students share their knowledge through exceptional content. Her Digital Course Academy has taught over 40,000 students how to build, market, and sell their courses. Amy also hosts one of the world’s top-rated marketing podcasts called Marketing Made Easy. In our conversation, we talk about how Amy started creating online courses, what she’s learned over the years, and how digital courses have evolved over the past decade. She explains how the pandemic has affected the world of online courses, and why she loves being more involved with her students. You’ll also hear Amy’s tips on how to create a fantastic course on a tight budget, what it means to have a ten percent edge, and why you need to perfect your content and relaunch your course multiple times before moving on to the next one. We loved having Amy on the show and we’re sure you’ll find the conversation as informative and inspiring as we did. Tune in to hear it all!

Jill Flodstrom Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 22, 2022

Whether you’ve created it consciously or not, as a small business owner you already have a personal brand. In today’s episode, you’ll get a short recap of AJ’s conversation with Jill Flodstrom, a Small Business Strategist, Speaker, and Serial Entrepreneur. Jill has built five different booming businesses in three separate industries and is passionate about sharing what she’s learned throughout her career with other small business owners. Tune in to hear AJ reflect on some of Jill’s most incisive advice, from how to simplify your business and create more time, to why you should hire before you’re ready, and learn how you can revolutionize your small business!

Building Your Personal Brand as a Small Business Owner Apr 19, 2022

If you’re a small business owner who is unsure about whether they should be concentrating on building a personal brand, then this episode is for you! Our guest today, Jillian Flodstrom, is a Small Business Strategist, Speaker, and serial entrepreneur who has built five different booming businesses in three separate industries. Her latest venture is called Scale Your Small Business and is the result of all the lessons she’s learned throughout her career. In our conversation, we discuss the chaos and overwhelm that many small business owners experience, how to revolutionize your operations, and some of the first steps you can take to get organized and thrive. Tuning in you’ll hear Jill share practical tips on how to get your business to where it needs to be, from how to reach Inbox Zero, to finding the management software that’s right for your business. Learn why consciously building your brand as a small business owner is essential, and how people may perceive you if you’ve done it without intention up until this point. Jill also describes why she is a firm believer in hiring before you’re ready and how it drives business owners to take their business to the next level. Jill’s business was born out of a desire to help other small business owners get organized and thrive because when entrepreneurs consciously support and help one another, the results are life-changing. To learn more about being a small business owner and building a personal brand, make sure you tune in today!

Chris Norton Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 15, 2022

In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Chris Norton, the subject of the new documentary, 7 Yards: The Chris Norton Story, which can now be found on Netflix. Chris’s life was changed forever when he suffered a severe spinal cord injury while playing college football. Since then he has gone on to have a thriving speaking career, along with a beautiful family of six kids that he adopted with his wife Emily. Tuning in, you’ll hear Rory share his top takeaways from the conversation. He reflects on the importance of being grateful for what you have, the significance of focusing on what you can do, rather than what you can’t, and why excellence is not an accident, but a decision. To learn more about Rory’s thoughts on his conversation with Chris, make sure you tune in today!

Turning Your Struggles into Your Story with Chris Norton Apr 12, 2022

When Chris Norton went out to play his sixth game of college football, he had no idea the life-changing effect that game would have on his life. On the field that day he contracted a spinal cord injury that would alter the course of his life and leave him with a three percent chance of ever walking again, or doing any other type of small movement, like scratching his face. In our conversation, Chris shares what a dark and difficult time this was in his life and how he was motivated by his determination to overcome the odds and walk again. What he didn’t know at the time was that years later he would walk across the stage at graduation and that a video of that moment would go viral around the world. Since then, his story has been published and has also been recorded in the documentary, 7 Yards: The Chris Norton Story, which can now be found on Netflix. Chris describes what he has learned in the years since his injury and how you can still live a meaningful life, even if you’re bound to a wheelchair. He talks about the incredible relationships he has formed during his life, and how he and his wife Emily have come to adopt six kids and foster nineteen. We also spend some time talking about Chris’s first public speaking opportunity and how he realized that it was possible to pursue speaking as a career. He shares what speaking has meant for him and his family, how he’s honed his craft through study and coaching, and what he’s done to sustain his speaking career long-term. Today’s episode is deeply inspiring and a testament to appreciating and fully embracing the life you have! Tune in to hear more of Chris's story and what it means to live a meaningful life.

Tiffany Taylor and Leon Chen Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 08, 2022

In today’s recap episode AJ revisits her conversation with Tiffany Taylor and Leon Chen, the founders of Tiff’s Treats. Tuning in, you’ll hear AJ share her top three takeaways from their conversation and why she found them so valuable. For her first takeaway AJ reflects on the value of having someone in your company who is dedicated to looking out for the reputation of you and your company’s brand, and why saying ‘no’ is sometimes necessary to stop your brand from becoming diluted. She also explores some of the ways we can open ourselves up to opportunities, why you don’t need that much to get started, and how we can learn a tremendous amount from simply getting to know our customers and why they use our brands. To hear more about what AJ learned from Tiffany and Leon, make sure you tune in today!

How to Share a Marriage and a Business With Tiffany Taylor & Leon Chen Apr 05, 2022

Starting a business is a huge undertaking, especially if you want to take it from a side hustle to a smashing success. Our guests today are all too aware of the sacrifices you need to make to build and grow a business but were much more naive when they first began their business 23 years ago. Today on the show, we talk with the wonderful Tiffany Taylor and Leon Chen about their company, Tiff’s Treats, how it all started, and what it's been like being a married couple in business together. Learn the surprising story of how they started their business as a result of Tiffany standing Leon up for a date, and how they grew their cookie delivery service over the past two decades. Tuning in you’ll learn how they built their brand, how it was inspired by their customers, and why having a brand protector within your company is so important. We also discuss their new book It's Not Just Cookies: Stories and Recipes from the Tiff’s Treats Kitchen. Tiffany and Leon share what the writing and publishing process has been like, what they’d want to put in the next book, and why this book is for anyone interested in business. It was such a treat having Tiffany and Leon on the show, and we really appreciate their honesty on what it’s like to be a husband and wife in business together. Make sure you tune in to learn more about their new book, what it takes to start a business, and much more!

Jesse Terranova Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 01, 2022

Often the guests featured on this podcast are figures who are already recognized and highly esteemed in their field. In this special recap episode, Rory revisits a conversation with a Brand Builders Group client who is in the earlier stages of building a personal brand. Tuning in, you’ll learn about Jesse Terranova and his business along with some of Rory’s key takeaways from that conversation. Rory reflects on what it’s like to be in the initial stages of building a personal brand, from identifying your uniqueness to learning how to serve your audience in the most meaningful possible way, to how to grow and scale your business. Learn about some of the biggest stumbling blocks clients are currently facing, why your next customer is unlikely to come from social media, and why finding alignment in your business is the key to long-term success. For all this and more, make sure you tune in today!

Finding an Aligned Business Model with Jesse Terranova Mar 29, 2022

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, levels of isolation and loneliness were already at alarmingly high rates. Since the onset of the pandemic, those numbers have risen ever higher and broken new records. But once you identify a problem, you can begin to solve it. Our guest today, Jesse Terranova, is no stranger to loneliness and has made it his mission to have a positive impact on this issue, one connection at a time. In our conversation, we talk about how Jesse first discovered Brand Builders Group and why it entered his life at the perfect time. We hear how traveling the world has shaped Jesse’s outlook, the lessons you learn when you exit your comfort zone, and the challenge of implementing those lessons when you return home. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory’s advice for the challenges that Jesse is currently facing, from how to scale his business to the best way to grow his reach. We also unpack how giving customers an unparalleled experience can help you gain referrals, and why your next connection won’t come from social media, but from an existing client’s cellphone. To learn about finding an aligned business model, tune in to this very special conversation with a Brand Builders Group client who is doing the work and making it happen!

How To Grow a Million Dollar Membership Site With YouTube with Jonny May Mar 25, 2022

For anyone out there building a digital business, growing an audience, scaling courses, and creating content, we have a treat for you today! Joining us on the show is our friend, and the man behind Piano with Jonny, Jonny May! We have a fascinating chat with Jonny and get into his amazing membership site, incredible YouTube channel, and how he built these from the ground up. His piano course platform has over 10k active monthly members, and his YouTube videos have amassed more than 70 million views, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers. In our chat with Jonny, we get into the importance of building a relationship with an audience, how to leverage YouTube clout for your membership site, and why repackaging ideas is a powerful way to connect with the right audience. He also speaks about leading with your best content, and why giving before you start asking is the best way forward. So to hear it all from someone who has built a business and brand that was beyond his wildest dreams when he started out, listen up!

How to Build a Digital Media Empire with Nathan Chan Mar 22, 2022

Today we are so happy to invite Nathan Chan, CEO of Foundr, to talk about how he turned his online magazine into a digital media empire. We hear about how Nathan decided to start Foundr as a side-hustle after finishing his marketing degree that he worked on when he wasn’t at his real job. He talks about how he chose to go full-time when he realized that staying at his job was actually losing him money. Our conversation takes a deep dive into the strategy Nathan used to grow the magazine into a media and online education company, and he talks about the models he uses for revenue generation and customer acquisition. Here Nathan speaks about his omnichannel marketing approach, the difference between customer acquisition and profit-generating products, and why he is using a subscription model to build Foundr into the world’s premium learning platform for entrepreneurship. Our discussion also touches on personal brand building and Nathan talks about why he has always focused on building Foundr first, but how his own brand has grown very successfully along with his company. Tune in today!

How to Protect Your Business and Leverage Awards To Scale, from Microsoft Partner of the Year, Denis O’Shea Mar 18, 2022

The rise of remote work has changed businesses in many ways. One of the most notable consequences has been its effect on the way employees behave and work. Not only is the line between work and home life becoming increasingly blurred, but the distinction between our work and personal devices has also become less clear than ever. While it may seem simpler and cheaper to allow your employees to work on their own devices, the truth is that the laxness around regulated devices and passwords is creating a huge security risk at a time when the threat of cybercrime attacks, like hacking and ransomware, has never been higher. Here to help us tackle this important topic is Denis O’Shea, Founder of Mobile Mentor, a company that provides its clients with invisible securities that aren’t disruptive to their employees’ workflow. In our conversation, Denis describes the challenge that companies currently face in attempting to create a robust security system, while also ensuring a seamless employee experience, and what can be done about it. We also discuss their surprise win of the prestigious Microsoft Partner of the Year award, how it was all thanks to several innovative shifts they’d instituted over the past two years, and what they’re doing to make sure they win again next year. To learn more about security in 2022 and how to leverage the power of an award to scale effectively, make sure you tune in today!

3 Steps to Making Money From Social Media with Vanessa Lau Mar 15, 2022

The best time to start building an online presence will always be in the past, and therefore, out of reach. The next best time, however, is now! Our guest today, Vanessa Lau, is an amazing example of how you can rapidly grow your business, and your brand, through social media, even if you’re late to the game. After reaching an unbearable point of exhaustion and dissatisfaction in her corporate career, Vanessa finally took the plunge into entrepreneurship. In 2018 she started her YouTube channel and today has over 500 000 followers, not to mention the thousands of subscribers she has also gained on her other platforms, like Instagram and TikTok. In our conversation with Vanessa, we discuss her transition into entrepreneurship and the elements that made her success possible. Vanessa explains how her honesty attracted followers and how she unknowingly created a community out of the simple desire to build her network. Tuning in you’ll learn how Vanessa inadvertently found her niche as a business specialist who helps content creators, coaches, and corporate escapees build their businesses, by addressing the pain points that resonated with her community. We also discuss the course business model, how to scale it, and how Vanessa created her flagship course. To learn more about Vanessa’s rapid growth and why it’s never too late, or too early, to get on a new social media platform, make sure you tune in today!

What You Need to Know About How CSX is Changing with Brittany Hodak Mar 11, 2022

The only reason a business exists is because of its customers, so every decision it makes should be in service of them. Today on the show we are blessed to be joined by customer success guru Brittany Hodak to hear everything you need to know about how to get CSX right in 2022. Brittany is an award-winning entrepreneur and keynote speaker who teaches sales and marketing leaders to multiply customers by creating superfans. She has spoken to organizations like American Express and the UN, published more than 350 articles for outlets including Forbes, and has also worked with names like Disney, Amazon, Walmart, and Dolly Parton. In our conversation with Brittany, she talks about how to structure your organization so that your customer feels cared for at every touchpoint. We hear about the need to include the CCO in every conversation, how to do away with siloing customer care into one department, and how to empower employees to care for customers in a way that feels right to them. We also talk about how Brittany became obsessed with customer care, how she transferred approaches to building fan loyalty used by entertainers like Taylor Swift into the brand space, and a whole lot more. Be sure to tune in today!

How to Execute a Book Launch with Chandler Bolt Mar 08, 2022

Publishing has changed a lot in the last few years. With the advent of self-publishing, writers no longer have to go the traditional route. However, this has led to self-publishing becoming more competitive, making it extremely important to know how to launch your self-published book in a way that differentiates you. Chandler Bolt is the Founder of Self-Publishing School and he joins us today to share some of the secrets from his new book Published: The Proven Path From Blank Page To 10,000 Copies Sold. Central to Chandler’s thesis is the need to think of a book launch as a year-long project rather than a one-week sprint. To this end, he has designed a ‘launch triangle’, a three-part framework that you can use to skyrocket your launch. We explore this framework with Chandler and he explains how to set up and manage its individual pieces: the launch team, reviews, and promotions. In our conversation, Chandler also explains how to use reviews and structure your book’s content as well as its Amazon order page to boost its discoverability. If you want to be a self-published author, this episode will be extremely relevant to you, so be sure to tune in today.

How To Set Your Coaching Prices with Mary Sobon Mar 04, 2022

One of the biggest things that Brand Builders Group clients, especially performance and business coaches, seem to struggle with, is how to set their rates. Whether you gravitate towards charging an hourly rate or putting yourself on retainer, each has its unique benefits and downsides. And determining how to price your services can be a singularly challenging process, especially when you need to demonstrate your value to the client, while also factoring in all the hidden costs that are inherent to being an entrepreneur, in contrast to having a corporate salary with benefits. Our guest today, Mary Sobon, is no stranger to these challenges and has spent the past 13 years learning everything there is to know about pricing and finding the right client fit. Mary is a consultant with an extensive executive corporate background, and for the past decade has struck out on her own as a successful consultant with a range of fantastic clients, including our very own AJ Vaden! In their conversation, AJ and Mary discuss how Mary made the transition from working in the corporate realm to being independent, how she learned about the type of client she wanted to serve, and why everyone should consider rewarding clients who are a dream to work with. We also delve into how referrals have helped Mary keep her costs down, the function of adding free services to your invoices, and why you should never publish your rates! To learn more about the art of determining the best rates for yourself, your business, and your clients, make sure you tune in today!

Defying the Odds With Dr. John Demartini Mar 01, 2022

We can’t always know the lasting impacts that our actions may have on the people we encounter, but sometimes we can see the impacts that someone else’s actions have had on our own lives. For Dr. John Demartini, finding someone who believed in him changed the trajectory of his life. Today on the show, Rory sits down with Dr. Demartini, a human behavior expert, author, and celebrated public speaker, to talk about the unfolding of his career and how he came to be the esteemed figure he is today. In our conversation, Dr. Demartini starts off by recounting his early years and describes the immense difficulties he had to overcome. He shares how speech and learning impediments affected him at school, and how the low expectations of his doctors damaged his self-esteem. He explains how a chance encounter with Paul Bragg changed his perception of himself and inspired him to alter the course of his life forever by motivating him in his efforts to overcome his learning difficulties. Tuning in, you'll hear how Dr. Demartini built his speaking career, starting as a young man in college, and how sticking to his core competencies has been instrumental to his success. To learn more about Dr. Demartini’s life and what he’s learned from his career, tune in today!

Scaling an 8 Figure Coaching Business with Casey Clark Feb 25, 2022

As an entrepreneur or a solopreneur, there is only so much you can do yourself. And while it may be tempting to hire contractors, especially when you’re starting out and wanting to keep your costs low, it’s important to bear in mind the significant benefits that come from opting into an employee-based model. This week on the show, AJ sits down with Casey Clark, CEO of Cultivate Advisors, to talk about how he built and scaled his 8 figure coaching business from the ground up, in an astoundingly brief period. They discuss Casey’s phenomenally successful history in franchising and how those lessons led him to establish Cultivate Advisors, a consulting company that coaches small businesses on how to grow and scale effectively. Hear about the actions that helped place them in the prestigious top 800 of the Fastest Growing Companies on the Inc 5000 list, like prioritizing the quality of their output and utilizing LinkedIn to find exceptional talent. Casey also delves into the importance of building a robust referral model, how they help their clients create sustainable lead generation, and why the two go hand in hand. Today’s episode is full of keenly observed insights from someone with a wealth of knowledge and experience, so if you’re looking to take your small business to the next level, make sure you tune in today!

From NFL Player to Entrepreneur and Influencer with Chris Gronkowski Feb 22, 2022

A struggle many pro athletes face is that once their careers end, it’s difficult to find an equally lucrative and glamorous profession. It is possible to parlay one’s fame into a business idea or career as an influencer, but only during a short window period in which one’s cards have to be played right. As a former NFL player turned entrepreneur and the Founder of Ice Shaker (as seen on Shark Tank), Chris Gronkowski did exactly this, and he joins us today to tell the story. When Chris got released from The Chargers after injuring himself, he dived straight into his wife’s business, and after a year they were making more money than he did in the NFL. Chris wanted to get back into sports and fitness though, and that is when he came up with Ice Shaker, the idea that would become his signature premium-quality, vacuum-insulated protein shaker. We hear how Chris leveraged all his resources to develop his product before getting the opportunity to present it on Shark Tank. Chris talks about the boom in sales his business experienced after being selected by the committee, going from $80 000 to making over three million in the next 12 months. We take a deep dive into Chris’s marketing strategies today as well, hearing him talk about how to get high rankings on Amazon, the value of engaging with one’s audience, and what he did on TikTok to generate more site visits from one video than he got from the first live airing of his Shark Tank episode.

How to Build and Scale Your Speaking Business with Molly Fletcher Feb 21, 2022

Building a brand as a full-time speaker might seem difficult, but that does not make it impossible. You have to start somewhere, be fueled by a genuine passion to change lives, be willing to do it for free at first, and be willing to keep refining your craft. Today we are thrilled to invite Molly Fletcher onto the show to speak about how she transitioned from being a sports agent to a world-class professional speaker using a mixture of passion, persistence, a growth mindset, and a willingness to serve. Molly talks about how her desire to help young aspiring sports agents led to her writing her first book. This led to a second book and a few speaking gigs until one day an audience member encouraged her to take speaking seriously as a potential career. We hear about the steps Molly took after that to promote herself online and how she approached every keynote delivery with a desire to overdeliver. In our conversation with Molly, we talk about how her passion for customer service results in happy clients across the board, which then translates into referrals that land her more and more opportunities to speak. She also speaks to the idea that it is the job of the speaker to build confidence in potential clients because when they invite somebody onto their stage, they are essentially placing their trust in a stranger. Molly is not just a brilliant speaker but a kindhearted person who finds as much pleasure in the success of others as her own, so tune in and prepare for a masterclass in personal branding as well as compassion.

Community Building in the Real World and the Metaverse with Tristan Ahumada Feb 15, 2022

With the dramatic rise of remote work in response to the COVID pandemic, the world has seen major developments in the space of online services, from reliable platforms for remote meetings, to new toolkits for running a remote business. We are also in the midst of a new phase of development for virtual worlds, like Meta’s Horizon and its concomitant tool, Oculus. While all these changes may seem overwhelming, it’s important to stay abreast of how this online space is developing, especially if you want to grow and maintain your online presence with the changing internet. Here to help us make sense of these exciting new opportunities is Tristan Ahumada, a highly esteemed real estate agent and CEO Of Lab Coat Agents, a company that specializes in helping their clients build and grow their community. We talked with Tristan about his work, how he advises his clients, and why you should build your community around a topic you’re passionate about. Our conversation also covers the emerging world of metaverses, why it’s the future of the internet, and how to establish your presence while it’s still in these early stages. If you’re interested in learning about the different metaverses and how to get involved, make sure you tune in today!

Trends in Personal Branding National Research Study by Brand Builders Group - Recap Feb 11, 2022

In this episode, we recap a very special conversation between co-founders Rory Vaden and AJ Vaden. Rory reflects on his interview with his wife and business partner AJ, about a ground-breaking new study conducted by Brand Builders Group, on the role of Personal Branding in Marketing. Not only does the episode announce the completion of an incredible new national study, but it also describes the new format for the Influential Personal Brand podcast! From now on Rory and AJ will be doubling their weekly output by each conducting their own interviews and recap, all in one episode! Now you’ll be able to listen to an interview conducted by either AJ or Rory, followed immediately by a special recap episode filled with their thoughts, insights, and biggest takeaways. Tuning in you'll hear Rory share his biggest takeaways from his interview with AJ, like how best to define personal branding, as well as some of the most surprising find-ings from their study. Make sure you tune in to learn how Americans perceive personal brand-ing, the biggest factors in building trust with your audience, and much more!

Trends in Personal Branding National Research Study by Brand Builders Group Feb 08, 2022

When Brand Builders Group first launched three and a half years ago, we firmly believed that personal branding would be the future of marketing. Since then we have had this belief repeatedly affirmed through our own experiences, along with those of our clients. Yet, with so much rapid change happening, we noticed a surprising amount of misconceptions around the term personal branding. Not just from the general public, but also from amongst our clients, and even within our teams. It was our passion for this topic, and our dedication to basing our practices on unbiased and robust data, that led us to conduct a new Personal Branding National Research Study, along with the help of an experienced and impartial third-party firm. This study illustrates the role of personal branding on a national scale. Over the past year, our teams have been hard at work conducting surveys across the United States and gathering data on American perceptions and attitudes towards personal branding. The results simultaneously illuminated important factors we’d overlooked in the past, while also being hugely affirming of what we do here at Brand Builders Group. Tuning in you’ll learn about the study’s most impactful findings and their implications, from the number one most effective way to earn trust with your audience, to which professions benefit the most from having a personal brand. We also share exciting news about how we’ll be changing our podcast format, and why you can expect to hear much more from our incredible CEO, AJ Vaden, in the future! Tune in for this important conversation on the power of personal branding in the US and what that means for you and your business!

Tori Gordon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 04, 2022

In today’s recap episode, we revisit our conversation with Tori Gordon, a highly successful coach, accomplished podcast host, and TikTok phenomenon. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share his top three takeaways from their interview, as well as his insights and reflections on what they talked about. Rory breaks down some of the practical tips that have helped make Tori so popular on TikTok, including optimizing SEO and understanding how to leverage the algorithms for different platforms. Rory also reflects on his own reservations when it comes to using social media and the piece of advice from Tori that changed his whole perspective. To hear more about how you can shift your attitude to social media and have a positive impact, tune in today!

Tips for Growing on TikTok with Tori Gordon Feb 01, 2022

While many of us might still view TikTok as an app for sharing dance and music videos, it has evolved into so much more than that. Over the past two years, the app has diversified exponentially and become a place for all kinds of content from educational videos, to coaching content, to inspirational storytelling. This week on the show we get together with the inimitable Tori Gordon, to talk about her journey and how she went from having a successful career in sales to having over 800 000 followers on TikTok, and becoming a Brand Builders Group client! In our conversation we discuss what she loves about the app, why her first foray into it was a leap of faith, and how raw and authentic videos are what define the TikTok online culture. Tuning in you’ll learn all about Tori’s tips for being successful on TikTok, like how to monetize your following, why you shouldn’t overproduce your videos, and how to capitalize on TikTok’s algorithm. Join us today for a fascinating and inspiring conversation on the power of authenticity and the future of connection and community!

Peter Sheahan Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 28, 2022

Our conversation with Peter Sheahan was filled with a wealth of incredible insights. Not only is he an expert in getting people to pay attention in a competitive and seemingly over-saturated media landscape, but he also has immense knowledge of how finding your uniqueness can help you make better decisions, gain clarity of purpose, and build a personal brand. In today’s episode, Rory reflects on his interview with Peter and how his lessons have informed Brand Builders Group, from the concept of Sheahan’s wall to advice on how to play to your strengths. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory’s top three takeaways from their conversation, as well as lessons on how Brand Builders Group helps their clients elevate their personal brand and take them to the next level. Learn how you can find clarity by asking the right questions, and why you're the most powerfully positioned individual to serve the person you once were! For all this and much more, make sure you tune in today!

How to Get People to Pay Attention With Peter Sheahan Jan 25, 2022

In today’s crowded social media landscape, it can be more difficult than ever to stand out from the crowd, and no one knows that better than our guest this week, Peter Sheahan. Peter is a renowned public speaker and the best-selling author of several books including Making It Happen: Turning Good Ideas Into Great Results, and Generation Y: Thriving and Surviving with Generation Y at Work. Peter is an incredibly accomplished individual, having built not one, but two multimillion-dollar companies, all by the time he was thirty. He also has extensive experience as a public speaker, having spoken more than 2500 times in over 40 countries around the globe. In our conversation with Peter, we discuss the concept of the attention barrier, how to break it, and why getting people to pay attention is the primary obstacle for most businesses struggling to get off the ground. He unpacks the key concept of his book, Making It Happen and explains why it’s so beneficial to be tight and targeted in what you do. Peter also elaborates on aligned and misaligned ideas, how to make yours fall into place to ensure a thriving business model and why authenticity is key to uncovering your value offering. Tune in to learn more about how to ask the right questions, make better decisions and break through the attention barrier!

Hilary Billings and Marshall Seese Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 22, 2022

In today’s show, we recap our brilliant episode with Hilary Billings and Marshall Seese, talking about how the team got Hilary’s TikTok account to the 400k followers mark in 40 days! What Hilary and Marshall’s story taught us was that no longer is it enough to merely be talented as an entertainer. A major market indicator of your success comes from the audience you build on social media. We also learned the value of structuring content around what is trending and that the Discover tab on TikTok is a great place to find popular hashtags. Finally, Marshall and Hilary showed us that as a creator, you should gauge your performance on the systems for content creation you have set up, and not on the performance of individual pieces of content themselves!

Tia Graham Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 21, 2022

Often as leaders, we’re told that being emotional is not beneficial. Tia Graham’s new book Be a Happy Leader disputes that claim and shows how our emotions play a key role in exemplary leadership. In today’s episode, AJ revisits her conversation with Tia where they discuss the contents of her book, the science of happiness, and why being in touch with our emotions is crucial to being an exceptional leader. AJ shares her top three takeaways from their discussion as well as some special insights that Tia shared in their post-interview conversation. For an incisive recap, plus some bonus content, make sure you tune in today!

How to Know if Writing A Book is For You with Tia Graham Jan 18, 2022

People make the decision to grow their personal brand for a myriad of reasons, whether it’s for personal exposure or to grow their existing business. When Tia Graham first approached Brand Builders Group to grow her personal brand she had already built a thriving business, Arrive at Happy, and wanted to take it to the next level. Not only is Tia a successful business owner, but she is also a keynote speaker and author of the new book Be a Happy Leader: Stop Feeling Overwhelmed, Thrive Personally, and Achieve Killer Business Results. Today on the show we get together with this amazing client to discuss her new book, why it’s been such a huge undertaking, and the importance of constructing an exceptional business plan for putting your manuscript out into the world. Tuning in you’ll hear what Tia has learned from growing her personal brand, how it has helped her business, and why building relationships have been integral to her career. We also discuss the value of authenticity, how to maximize your platform, and why reach and credibility have been two of the biggest motivating factors for Tia’s book. Make sure you tune in for this insightful conversation on building a personal brand, growing your business, and what it takes to write a book!

Alison Lumbatis' Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 14, 2022

We had such an amazing conversation with Alison Lumbatis, that was absolutely jam-packed with knowledge bombs and great insights. Today we recap the top four highlights from that chat, and believe us when we say that it was hard to narrow it down to just four! Alison got into how she built her million-dollar membership site, sharing a lot of inspiring information, and a few reminders of the lessons that we teach here at Brand Builders. We always feel so lucky to have our amazing friends and clients on the podcast, and when they are as special as Alison, we know we are doing something right! So tune into this recap to hear all about creating the program you need, capturing leads and building a list, community growth, and the central tenet of personal development. We know these tips can help get you to the next level, so do not miss out!

Building Million Dollar Membership Sites with Alison Lumbatis Jan 11, 2022

Today on the show we are very happy to welcome an amazing entrepreneur and friend! Alison Lumbatis runs a successful fashion blog that receives loads of traffic and houses a great membership program with over a hundred thousand paying members! On top of all of that, Alison recently released her book, The Ultimate Book of Outfit Formulas, which shot to the top of Amazon's bestsellers list. In our conversation, we hear from Alison about what enabled all of this incredible success, and the continued journey of personal development that is central to all entrepreneurs. Alison comments on how fulfilling and enjoyable this process of learning has been, some of the simple steps she has applied to ensure successful launches, and the different frameworks and models that have come to suit her particular business. Alison is such a great example of someone carving out the personal brand of her dreams, and looking at her story truly shows how this is possible for anyone with drive and passion. So, join us today to hear it all!

Dr. Margie Warrell Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 07, 2022

Today we recap our interview with the world-renowned advisor on leadership and human potential, Dr. Margie Warrell. Our first big takeaway comes from Dr. Warrell’s words, “we tend to fail more from fear and timidity than we do from overdaring.” It is important to treat life as an experiment and not let perfectionism stop us from taking the risks that lead to success! Much of Dr. Warrell’s success has come from her willingness to demonstrate her skills for free as a way of convincing people that she is worth paying for, and we explore the value of this approach as our second takeaway. Finally, we speak about the importance of rising above the inner voice inside us all that tells us we are not good enough. It is only by winning against this voice that we can step up to the plate and do the impossible!

Beating Your Inner Critic with Dr. Margie Warrell Jan 04, 2022

Most of us are pretty familiar with our inner critic but are less aware of the consequences that can occur as a result of listening to it too often and too consistently. Our guest today has built her career around helping people recognize and overcome their overly cautious inner voice to live a life where they are empowered to take risks and reach their full potential. Dr. Margie Warrell is a five-time bestselling author, a Forbes columnist, and a world-renowned advisor on leadership and human potential. She works with companies like NASA, Google, Deloitte, and Berkshire Hathaway and has lectured at Columbia and Georgetown University. She is also a highly successful speaker and consultant and has spent 25 years researching fear and bravery to support people by boosting their courage, elevating their performance, and accelerating growth. In our conversation with Margie, we hear about her early experiences with self-doubt, how she overcame them, and why so many of us don’t realize the high cost of being overly cautious and refusing to take risks. To learn more about fear, bravery, and why we should all be living outside of our comfort zone, tune in today!

400k TikTok Followers in 40 Days with Hilary Billings and Marshall Seese Jr. Dec 28, 2021

Hilary Billings and Marshall Seese Jr. are viral video creators who have amassed a total of 800 million views between them. Recently, Hilary went from zero to 400,000 followers on TikTok in just 40 days! She now has an audience of more than 870,000 and has collected over 19 million likes. In today’s episode, she talks about her meteoric rise and how a glitch on Facebook led her to open an account on TikTok in the first place. Her and Marshall also share some great tips and tricks for content creators that are new to TikTok and debunk some misconceptions regarding intellectual property. We also discuss the benefits of repurposing content across platforms, the importance of utilizing the tools at your disposal, and why it’s crucial to take an experimental approach, plus a whole lot more. Hilary and Marshall have so much insight and practical advice to share, so make sure not to miss this episode!

Michelle Poler Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 24, 2021

In the last episode, we were joined by the amazing and inspiring Michelle Poler to talk about her incredible journey and speaking career. Michelle's big focus is on overcoming fear, a subject that she has helped many people with through her talks and her book. We are huge fans of Michelle and hearing her talk about her path to success can give us all hope. There were so many lessons packed into the episode about overcoming fears, how to go about leveling up your career, and the rapid transformations that are possible. She talked about the systems and processes that enable the kind of trajectory many of us hope for. In today's recap, we go over some of the biggest takeaways from our guest, including how to use learning as a means to confront fears, how to make better decisions, and why video marketing can make all the difference. Tune in to hear all about it!

How to Build a Legendary Speaking Career in 5 Years with Michele Poler Dec 21, 2021

When Michelle first set out to do her video project 100 Days Without Fear on YouTube as a part of her Master’s degree, she had no idea that it would lead to a speaking career. Fast forward five years and she has built a beloved reputation and spoken on some of the most prestigious stages in the country. She has been invited to speak at exceptional companies like Netflix, Facebook, and Google, and recently published her first book Hello, Fears. In our conversation with Michelle, we unpack the project that started it all, and how seeing its impact on other people’s lives gave her the confidence, and perseverance to overcome her feelings of imposter syndrome and speak on the TEDx stage in Houston. Hear how she leveraged her brand identity to launch her speaking career, and learn why she always asks herself whether her choices keep her in her comfort zone or challenge her to grow. We loved having Michelle on our show and can’t wait to see what she does next! Tune in today to hear how you can face your fears and change your life!

Jim Doyle Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 17, 2021

Last time out, we hosted our friend Jim Doyle and had a fascinating chat about the essentials of selling. Like it or not, as an entrepreneur and business owner, you have to get your sales skills up to scratch, and the wisdom that Jim offered us is a great place to start that journey. We loved this powerful conversation, and in today's recap episode we will be going over the top three takeaways from the episode. We have said before that in some ways we have quite a specific and unusual sales philosophy here at Brand Builders. This is because we like to differentiate ourselves from the ocean of sales 'gurus' out there. We believe in getting the basics right; knowing your customer and what they really want, how to serve these needs, and sticking to what is most important. That's why Jim's approach is so in line with our visions! Tune in to hear all about the subtle shifts in mindset that can move the needle, some common marketing mistakes that are made by brands, and why centering your customer instead of yourself is the only way to really build a loyal audience!

Selling With A Servant Heart with Jim Doyle Dec 14, 2021

This week on the Influential Personal Brand Podcast we get together with Jim Doyle, author of the new book Selling With A Servant Heart. So often as sellers we are taught to chase numbers and not give up until we make the sale. But what if you could flip that concept by focusing on the needs of the client while also reaching your sales targets? In Jim’s new book he outlines the philosophies which helped him build a multi-million dollar enterprise that has helped train thousands of salespeople to sell with a Servant Heart. Tuning in you’ll hear how to employ acute listening and why it will help you have deeper business conversations with customers. You'll also get to hear why those who start in training often make the best salespeople, as well as some of the key lessons Jim learned from interviewing some prominent figures in sales. Make sure you tune in to learn more about the awesome power of listening, and why prioritizing your customers’ needs always pays off!

Sam Richter Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 10, 2021

In our most recent episode, we hosted Sam Richter to share some amazing and potentially life-altering information! We had a big conversation about Boolean logic and how simple modifications to your search terms can bring back incredibly useful information that you may have thought was inaccessible. Sam talked all about his customized interfaces for search tools, how these work across different platforms, and what they have enabled him and his audience to accomplish. As a sign of just how seriously we take this tool, we are purchasing it for our entire community, and today we get to go over some of the biggest takeaways from that conversation, and the application of Sam's methods. We go over some of the use cases for the interface, and reflect on how powerful these ideas are, considering how under-the-radar they are. So to hear all about this nerdy and super-technical conversation that could just move the needle for you and your brand, listen in!

Sales Intelligence and Advanced Online Research Strategies Dec 07, 2021

Most of us are aware of the incredible power and scope of the behemoth tech company Google. While they may have initially started with the aim of building a sophisticated search engine, today they are primarily focused on advertising, which impacts the type of search results most readily available to their users. This means that users are often left wading through non-specific search results in a desperate attempt to track down what’s relevant to them. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Our guest today, Sam Richter, has spent plenty of time and energy constructing an elegant solution to these challenges, saving businesses hundreds of hours otherwise spent on fruitless research. In addition to being one of the world’s top-rated keynote speakers, he's also a bestselling author and a leading authority on Sales Intelligence, a concept that he deftly unpacks today! Tuning in you’ll learn about the extent of the invisible web, easy tips for applying Boolean logic, and how “thinking like the author” can get you the results you need quickly and efficiently. Today’s episode is packed with great insights along with easily accessible and actionable steps for increasing your reach and building your network. Tune in to hear it all!

Dorie Clark Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 03, 2021

In this week’s special recap edition, we revisit our conversation with Dorie Clark, a consultant and sought-after keynote speaker who teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School. Dorie is also a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Reinventing You, Entrepreneurial You, and Stand Out, along with her most recent title, The Long Game: How to be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World. Rory shares his top three takeaways from their interview and reflects on how Dorie’s lessons can help listeners weather difficult periods in their life and business. Tune in for key insights into conquering adversity and what envy can teach you about what you want!

How to Play the Long Game with Dorie Clark Nov 30, 2021

Today’s guest has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and recognized as the number one Communication Coach in the world by the Marshall Gold-smith Leading Global Coaches Awards. Dorie Clark is a consultant and sought after keynote speaker who teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School, as well as the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Reinventing You, Entrepreneurial You, Stand Out, and her most recently released title, The Long Game: How to be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World. In this episode, Dorie shares her insight and expertise with listeners about how to play the long game. We dive into how long the long game actually takes, practical applications for long-term thinking in your daily life, and how to stay motivated along the way, and Dorie leaves us with some poignant advice: there are no “wrong goals.” You can pivot at any time! Tune in today to learn more from remarkable storyteller and global entrepreneurial inspiration, Dorie Clark!

David Glickman Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 26, 2021

In this week’s special recap edition, we revisit our conversation with David Glickman, a phenomenal public speaker and a master of crafting incisive humor. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share his top three takeaways from their interview as he takes a moment to consider the art of humor. Discover why anyone can learn how to delight their audience with funny observations and misdirection and why that’s so empowering. You’ll also learn about the five C’s of observation and gain insight into why they’re such effective tools for winning over your audience. Tune in today for a comprehensive recap on how to master the skills for humor in public speaking and much more!

Create Funnier Presentations with David Glickman Nov 23, 2021

Humor is a wonderful part of being human, but it doesn’t need to be limited to comedy specials or social occasions, it can also be an excellent tool for elevating your speeches and for connecting with your audience members. No one knows this better than David Glickman, who has helped countless people write funnier speeches. David is a Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Corporate Entertainer, Humor Speechwriter, and author who first started out in show business. During his earlier career, he worked with big names like Steve Martin and Ellen DeGeneres, and also owned a chain of comedy clubs earning him years of experience and insight into the art and science of humor. Tuning in, you’ll hear why David believes that anyone can learn how to be an expert at humor and some of the most useful tools that you can use to inject comedy into your presentations. Discover the rule of three, how to spot an opportunity for a callback, as well as the difference between evergreen humor and customized humor, and how to use each accordingly. We also make a note of what type of humor to stay away from and how to use observation, audience frustrations, and pop culture references to connect with your audience. Be sure you tune in for a wealth of applicable tips, priceless insights, and much more!

Jeff Goins Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 19, 2021

This week we revisit our eye-opening conversation with Jeff Goins on how to find your big idea and create your unique take on it. Rory and AJ share their top three takeaways from their conversation with Jeff Goins, the best-selling author of five books including Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age and The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do. Tuning in, you’ll hear Rory and AJ discuss some of Jeff’s most incisive insights, including the twenty percent rule and why you need to sell the idea of a book, rather than the book itself. Tune in today for this quick and insightful recap!

How to Find Your Big Idea With Jeff Goins Nov 16, 2021

Thanks to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, putting a book out into the world is easier than ever. But just because something is easy to do, doesn’t necessarily mean you should do it. This week on The Influential Personal Brand Podcast we are joined by one of our favorite long-time part-ners Jeff Goins. Jeff is the best-selling author of five books including Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age and The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do. Jeff has spent over 15 years in the marketing and publishing space, and in that time has developed a masterful intuition for what works and what doesn’t, especially when it comes to choosing which ideas to pursue and how to implement them. Tuning in you’ll hear Jeff explain why good ideas don’t necessarily result in good books, how to find the perfect balance between the familiar and the absurd, and why you can only sub-vert expectations once you’ve fulfilled them. Our conversation with Jeff is filled with remarkable insights that will give you a renewed appreciation for the art of storytelling and the Olympian ef-fort involved with writing a great book. Make sure you tune in to hear it all!

Brendan Kane Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 12, 2021

In this week’s special recap edition, we revisit our conversation with Brendan Kane, author of Hook Point: How to Stand Out in a 3-Second World and One Million Followers: How I Built a Massive Social Following in 30 Days. Rory and AJ share their top three takeaways from their conversation with Brendan, including several simple actionable steps on how to drastically increase your following. Tune in to hear the best of the best from this content-rich interview with Brendan Kane!

How to get 1 million followers Nov 09, 2021

Growing a following on social media requires a multi-pronged approach, and it’s not always easy to tell what actions will yield the best results. Here to help us make sense of the current social media landscape and gain valuable insight into how to navigate and master it, is Brendan Kane, author of One Million Followers: How I Built a Massive Social Following in 30 Days. Brendan describes himself as an outside-the-box thinker who empowers brands to scale, expand and accelerate their businesses and influence. In our conversation with Brendan we discuss his approach to branding and delve into the key tenets of his new book Hook Point: How to Stand Out in a 3-Second World. Tuning in, you’ll hear Brendan describe the importance of a varied distribution model as well as a breakdown of how to institute a robust process that will elevate your presence on social media. We discuss the biggest obstacles that brands face when they get stuck, no matter the size of the company, and how to use research as a tool for transforming your approach. You’ll also learn about the relationship between attention, algorithms, and how to engineer virality. You won’t want to miss this information-packed episode from a leader in the field. Make sure you tune in to hear it all!

Secret of Growing a Social Media Following Nov 05, 2021

In this week’s special recap edition, we revisit our conversation with Jasmine Star, who has built a highly influential personal brand and is known for her amazing, practical, fun, and inspiring content. The instinct to be liked is a natural human desire, but often we end up playing down parts of our personality to adapt to what we think other people want us to be. Not Jasmine Star. As Rory and AJ share their top three takeaways they reflect on Jasmine’s lessons on being your authentic self, why lukewarm followers aren't powerful, and why she’d much rather have people fall in love with who she truly is, rather than a carbon copy of what she thinks people want her to be. To hear more insights from this inspiring conversation, tune in today!

The Message of Permission with Jasmine Star Nov 02, 2021

We are so happy to bring you today's conversation, with one of the best people to follow on social media, right now! Jasmine Star is known for her amazing, practical, fun, and inspiring content, and her journey serves as such a powerful lesson in how to build an influential personal brand and become a mission-driven messenger! We get to hear from Jasmine about the important points on her path, how she made the big decision to drop out of law school, buy a camera, and follow her passion. We also get into the details of her latest project, Social Curator, how it can help you, and why Jasmine is so excited about this avenue. As we often say, we love when good people win, and our guest's story is a shining example of that happening! To hear all about the permission of imperfection, why repelling is as important as attracting, and the three things that all strong entrepreneurs do, listen in with us!

Mark Victor Hansen and Crystal Dwyer Hansen: Highlights from the Interview Oct 29, 2021

As children, there is often a much greater sense of freedom around asking questions. But as we age, and learn to navigate the world, we adapt and often lose touch with ourselves and what we truly want. In this recap episode, we hear from AJ about her top three takeaways from their interview with Mark Victor Hansen and Crystal Dwyer Hansen. She reflects on the concept of being an uncorrected asker, the surprising role that quantum physics has to play in your expectations and outcomes, and what it means to ask yourself life-giving questions. Tune in today for special insights into our full interview with these two thought leaders!

Using Quantum Physics to Build Your Brain and Your Brand Oct 26, 2021

What if the one thing that stood between yourself and achieving your destiny was being willing to ask for help? This week we get together with power couple, Mark Victor Hansen and Crystal Dwyer Hansen to talk about their new book Ask!: The Bridge from Your Dreams to Your Destiny to learn how neuroscience, quantum physics, and the art of asking can help you reach your fullest potential. In our conversation with Crystal and Mark, we discuss the seven roadblocks that stop us from accessing our higher selves and how we can address and eventually overcome them. Listening in you’ll hear Crystal lend her expertise and incredible insight into the psychology of asking and why we’re so resistant to it. We delve into some of the concepts of the book and unpack the three channels of asking, namely ask yourself, ask others, and ask God, and why each step is integral to the process. Discover the necessity of self-knowledge and why so many of us are letting past experiences shape our expectations and as a result, our future. We also discuss the importance of curiosity and hear Mark and Crystal’s advice for mission-driven messengers and entrepreneurs looking to access their higher calling in life. You won’t want to miss this life-changing conversation, so make sure to tune in today!

Naren Aryal Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 22, 2021

In today’s special recap edition, Rory revisits his conversation with Naren Aryal on hybrid publishing and how it can help to optimize your Amazon books sales. Tuning in you’ll hear why Naren and his company Amplify Books, has become one of Brand Builders Group’s favorite partners, and the tremendous amount of work that goes into creating, publishing, and marketing any book. Rory also shares his top three takeaways and unpacks why books that make the bestseller lists are not necessarily the ones that are the best written, but whose authors have established the largest audiences. Tune in for lots of technical tips and insights into what it takes to become an Amazon bestseller!

Optimizing Your Amazon Book Sales With Naren Aryal Oct 19, 2021

Many authors find themselves struggling to choose between traditional publishing and self-publishing, whether to embrace the support system that comes with traditional publishing or the independence and ownership inherent to self-publishing. For them, hybrid publishing might be the happy middle ground they’ve been hoping for! In this episode, we get together with CEO, lawyer, and speaker, Naren Aryal to discuss hybrid publishing and what he has learned from over ten years in the industry. Naren is the CEO of two thriving hybrid publishing companies, Amplify Publishing and Mascot Books, and has helped countless authors publish and market their books. Listening in, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how hybrid publishing works. While this method requires an investment from the author, it supports them throughout the process and allows the author considerably more control as well as the bulk of the royalties. Naren gives a detailed account of the distribution process and how hybrid and traditional publishing can leverage their connections to access broader methods of distribution. Next, we delve into effective strategies for optimizing book sales on Amazon and how Amplify Publishing is able to help its authors sell successfully on Amazon. Naren also shares his insights on marketing through content, and why your book should be the culmination of a larger content strategy. Join us today for this fascinating look at the world of publishing, marketing, Amazon, and more!

Craig Valentine Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 15, 2021

In today's recap episode, we look back on the amazing conversation we had with Craig Valentine, with Rory and AJ both revealing their top three takeaways. Craig is a master of the story and how to use stories to really engage an audience, and it was hard to narrow our list down, but we managed! Craig talked about why it is not enough to just 'get ready' and that, as a brand builder and storyteller, you need to 'stay ready' for whatever opportunity may come knocking. He also emphasized the need for conflict in any story you are trying to sell. We highlight the points Craig made about character dialogue and using repeatable statements before touching on the idea of our dreams not being for sale and why you should sell a result than a product. To hear all the details on all of these great takeaways, tune in today!

Masterful Storytelling with Craig Valentine Oct 12, 2021

In 1999 our guest, Craig Valentine, became the World Champion of Public Speaking and subsequently learned a lesson that he has carried with him throughout his career: that he could no longer ‘get ready to speak’ he had to ‘stay ready to speak’. Craig has built his career on his exceptional acumen as a public speaker, his presentation skills, and his prolific coaching. He runs a prodigious coaching certification program called World Class Speaking, in addition to the Speak and Prosper Academy, and is the author of The Nuts and Bolts of Public Speaking. In our conversation with Craig, we dive straight into his passion for public speaking and how he discovered that ‘staying in your lane’ is not necessarily the best advice. Listening in you’ll glean key insights into the art of storytelling and why it is integral to effective public speaking. Learn why conflict is the most important part of storytelling and how escalating conflict can elevate a good story into a great one. We also delve into the intricacies of dialogue, why it’s important, and how it offers rich opportunities for humor and connection with your audience. Later, Craig breaks down how he combines storytelling and messaging to reach his audience, and why his approach to storytelling varies depending on the situation. Tune in today for an engrossing and highly informative episode as we see phenomenal storytelling in action!

Marley Jaxx Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 08, 2021

In today’s special recap edition, Rory revisits his conversation with Marley Jaxx on the world of video content and how to take your online presence to the next level. With the majority of us having a camera readily available on our smartphones, creating video content has become more accessible than ever before. Tuning in you’ll hear about how to take advantage of the power of video content and why YouTube is uniquely suited to marketing, thanks to its search engine optimization and sophisticated algorithm. Rory shares his top three takeaways from his conversation with Marley and elaborates on both her technical and psychological advice for putting yourself out there. Make sure you tune in to this essential episode on the power of video content and the future of marketing your personal brand!

Video Content System with Marley Jaxx Oct 05, 2021

Creating video content can be intimidating. You need to decide which camera you’re going to use, what you should be talking about, and even after you’ve filmed your footage you’re still faced with figuring out your editing process. In today’s episode, we are joined by Marley Jaxx, to help us better understand the world of video content and answer our many questions about how to start a digital video journey and take our video content to the next level. Marley is an entrepreneur and acceleration coach who boasts over 1.8 Million views on YouTube. She has shared the stage as a public speaker with the likes of Tony Robbins, Russell Brunson, and Frank Kern. In our conversation with Marley, we dive straight in with our most pressing questions on starting a YouTube channel and how to optimize your content. Listening in, you'll hear why the best camera is the one you already have, why search engines are an excellent resource for finding topics, and why it’s so useful to hire someone for the editing process. Marley expands on key concepts like ‘curiosity hooks’ and how to use them to optimize viewer engagement. She also shares some of her key tips, like when to employ a call to action in your videos, how to get the most out of the editing process, and how to gain leads from your content. We loved having Marley on the show and can’t wait to see what she does next. Join us today for this essential conversation on taking your video content to the next level!

Celinne Da Costa Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 01, 2021

In this special recap episode, we reflect on our interview with Celinne Da Costa, a story architect who has worked with countless leaders and entrepreneurs over her eventful career. We discuss how her disarming wisdom and insight offer a fresh appreciation for the internal work necessary to live a happy and successful life. Listening in, you'll hear Rory and AJ share their top three takeaways from the interview and how it applies to Brand Builders Group and their services. Learn how identifying your uniqueness is integral to your personal brand and why so many people struggle to see how accomplished they are. For all this and much more, tune in today!

Moving Past Limiting Beliefs Sep 28, 2021

Imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs about yourself can affect a wide array of people, even successful leaders and entrepreneurs, yet so often we don’t recognize the internal work that needs to be done and end up chasing external goals instead. Our guest today, Celinne Da Costa has seen this time and again in her work as a story architect working with countless leaders and entrepreneurs. As a brand story expert and self-actualization coach, she helps visionary entrepreneurs not only tell but become the greatest story they ever told. In our conversation with Celinne, we discuss how she helps individuals identify and overcome unconscious beliefs about themselves in order to connect with the story of their true selves. She breaks down the four-step process that she uses with clients to unlock, embody, design, and amplify their true stories. We also discuss how limiting beliefs can cause you to undermine your own success and why conditioning is at the heart of why so many of us are cut off from our true purpose. Join us today for all this and much more!

Mike Michalowicz Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 24, 2021

In the world of digital marketing and social media, capturing and maintaining the attention of potential customers can seem like an impossible task. In this special recap episode, we revisit our conversation with Mike Michalowicz, a master in the art of gaining instant attention in marketing. Rory and AJ identify their biggest takeaways from their conversation with Mike and elaborate on how they see the lessons reflected in their own business. Listening in, you’ll hear us discuss what small businesses can learn from one another, why marketing is essentially neuroscience, and how pattern interruption is crucial for effective marketing. We also give a shout-out to some of our favorite marketing campaigns and discuss how to take your marketing to the next level. Make sure you tune in today for this quick and informative recap episode!

Gaining Instant Attention with Mike Michalowicz Sep 21, 2021

In today’s episode, we are joined by one of the world’s foremost thinkers on entrepreneurship, Mike Michalowicz. Mike is a best-selling author of renowned titles like Fix This Next, Clockwork, and Profit First. He also worked as a small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and as a makeover specialist on MSNBC. Mike has considerable experience in the world of business, having established, built, and sold two successful companies by the time he was 35 years old. He is also an international speaker and has traveled across the globe to speak at conferences and events for entrepreneurs. In our conversation with Mike, we discuss his new book Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored! and delve into why he saw a need for this content. Mike breaks down some of the key concepts and strategies from his new book as well as some of the most common mistakes small businesses make when it comes to marketing. We hear from Mike about why small businesses need to reframe how they view marketing as well as the crucial psychological insights that inform his methodology. We loved having Mike on the show and we’re sure you will find the conversation every bit as fascinating as we did! For all this and much more, tune in today!

Darren LaCroix Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 17, 2021

Having a thorough understanding of humor is valuable in almost any situation, whether you want to create some brevity during a presentation, or cheer up your best friend. In this special recap edition, we revisit Rory’s interview with Darren LaCroix on public speaking and the power of humor! Rory and AJ share their top three takeaways and expand on how they’ve applied these lessons in their own lives. Listening in you’ll hear key insights about how to naturally weave humor into any public speaking occasion and why it’s important to connect with your audience on an emotional level. We also discuss the immense amount of work that goes into refining a good joke and how you can draw on the absurdities of everyday life to create your very own brand of humor! For all this and much more, tune in today!

How To Be Funnier with Darren LaCroix Sep 14, 2021

Many of us believe that, for the most part, being funny is an innate skill that cannot be learned, but today's episode might just change your mind. Darren LaCroix is a legend in the world of public speaking and is especially well-known for his deft implementation of humor. In today’s episode, we get together with Darren for a jam-packed conversation on humor, comedy, and the tremendous amount of work and dedication it takes to become proficient in the art of stand-up. We hear from Darren about how he first got into public speaking, why initially he was so intimidated by being humorous on stage, and how he learned that anyone can acquire the skills needed to be funny. Tuning in you’ll hear Darren break down the differences between humor and comedy and why it’s important to discern when to use which. Learn why the first step to comedy is training yourself to identify opportunities for humor, as well as how to hone your delivery skills. Later, Darren explains why it’s important to understand tried-and-tested comedy formulas and how to implement them successfully as well as why identifying what’s top of mind for an audience is crucial. We had a fantastic time talking with Darren and unpacking his knowledge and expertise. For all this and much more, tune in today!

John David Mann Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 10, 2021

This week we revisit Rory’s conversation with John David Mann about how to be a better writer. Rory and AJ share their top three takeaways and how being a better writer and storyteller is integral to speaking and your personal brand. Tuning in you’ll hear plenty of tips on how to improve your writing and storytelling, from why your core concept is the hero of your story to how humor can be revealed organically through stories and characters. AJ explains why writer’s block should really be thought of as memory block, and how to use your life experience to inform your writing. We also discuss some technical tips and how best to build suspense. Tune in today to hear it all!

How To Be a Better Writer Sep 07, 2021

Have you ever wondered whether you might have what it takes to write a novel? In today's episode, we’re very excited to get together with award-winning author John David Mann to discuss his new thriller Steel Fear and gain valuable insights from his immense writing wisdom. Tuning in you’ll hear John discuss some of his previous works including his partnership with Bob Burg in writing the hugely popular Go-Giver books. John unpacks his writing process and discusses some of the unique challenges of writing his first thriller, like constructing nuanced characters and figuring out the plot. We hear from John about how he balances structure and flow in his writing and how his previous experience running a sales organization has informed his approach to writing characters. In closing, John emphasizes the importance of empathy and why it’s crucial for storytelling as well as character creation. Join us today for a fascinating look at the writing process, practical tips, and much more!

Shep Hyken’s Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 03, 2021

In today’s episode, we revisit our conversation with Shep Hyken, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author who is also featured in the Professional Speaking Hall of Fame. Shep has achieved considerable success over several decades across multiple industries as an author, public speaker, and customer service expert. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share his top three takeaways from their conversation and dig into some of Shep’s most prescient insights, from how to successfully market yourself in a b2b environment to gaining thousands of followers. Rory shares how he’s seen Shep’s advice in action in the lives of his clients and why consistency is crucial to the success of your brand and reputation. For a concise breakdown of these valuable lessons and more, tune in today!

How to Start a Keynote Speaking Career Aug 31, 2021

When you see the phrase ‘New York Times Bestselling Author’ or ‘Hall of Fame Speaker’, it can be difficult to comprehend the years of work and energy that went into achieving those titles. In today’s episode, our guest Shep Hyken gives a candid breakdown of how he achieved success across multiple industries as an author, public speaker, and customer service expert over several decades. Shep is both a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author and is featured in the Professional Speaking Hall of Fame. Tuning in you’ll hear key insights from this industry expert on how he first entered the world of business, including how he identified and pursued clients. Hear how Shep discovered his passion for customer service as a young adult and how the National Speaking Association dramatically increased his proficiency as a public speaker as well as his advice for anyone looking to improve their customer service. Join us today for a fascinating conversation on how to create resilience and flexibility in your business and thrive in your field, no matter the circumstances!

Hanson Cheng Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 27, 2021

How to Hire Great Contractors Aug 24, 2021

Deciding who to hire for a project can be daunting and arduous. Often, you will need to sift through dozens of profiles, and even then, there’s no guarantee that you will find a good fit for your project or your budget. Our guest today is an expert in his field and possesses a wealth of knowledge when it comes to hiring internationally. Hanson Cheng is a rapid skill acquisition expert, speaker, and multi-million dollar earner who helps CEOs optimize their time to ensure more freedom and flexibility, allowing them to spend more time on their vision and increase their earning power. In our conversation with Hanson, we discuss his tips for finding competent individuals on LinkedIn and how he approaches hiring individuals in non-western countries. We delve into artificial intelligence and how Hanson utilizes translation software when hiring people who aren’t first language English speakers. Tuning in you’ll hear about changes happening on the frontiers of machine learning and how that will affect content creation and plagiarism. Later Hanson shares why building relationships in your working life is so important and how a Reddit post landed him an interview with Entrepreneur Magazine. Join us for a fascinating conversation on what it means to hire internationally and how artificial intelligence will affect automation.

Kevin Kruse Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 20, 2021

In today’s special recap episode, Rory and AJ revisit their conversation with entrepreneur and bestselling author, Kevin Kruse. They share their top three takeaways from their conversation and expand on the significance of Kevin’s unique insights into the world of entrepreneurship, business, and tech. Listening in, you'll learn about the three primary business valuations, how a service-based business is valued differently from a subscription-based business, and why building a business you want to sell is no different from building a business you want to keep. We also interrogate the ubiquity of apps and discuss how to efficiently design your app for the highest chance of success. Our conversation with Kevin is a must-listen for any entrepreneur looking to take their business to the next level. For all this and much more, tune in today!

How To Get a $10 Million Business Valuation Aug 17, 2021

Our guest today is an accomplished figure, not only in the world of personal brands but also in entrepreneurial one. Kevin Kruse is a New York Times best-selling author of nine books and has built several businesses throughout his career. As an entrepreneur and executive, Kevin has a distinguished line of companies to his name, including being the Co-Founder of Connexa which was acquired by IBM. Today he is the Founder and CEO of LEADx, a fascinating AI-powered platform geared to helping companies scale leadership behaviors and employee engagement. In our conversation with Kevin, we ask him to share his entrepreneurial wisdom on how to leverage your personal brand in the current marketplace. He explains why those with a personal brand need to consider whether they want to hire employees or be a solo practitioner and why having employees adds considerable value to your company. Later we discuss why subscription-based models are valued at a higher rate than service-based models and how to leverage that for your personal brand. We delve into the earning potential of building an app for your personal brand as well as the real-world steps and challenges involved in getting an app off the ground. Join us today for a fascinating conversation on personal brands, entrepreneurship, app development, and much more!

Scott McKain Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 13, 2021

In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Scott McKain, one of the world’s leading thinkers on what it means to be distinct. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory share his top three takeaways from their conversation and elaborate on why being distinct as a brand is reliant on your unique perspective. Rory reflects on the fact that no one is loyal to ‘generic’ and discusses why it’s necessary to do tough internal work in order to identify and refine the core ideas that inform your personal brand and business. Hear how Brand Builders Group is constructed to help entrepreneurs do meaningful internal work and why making a decision is the toughest part of taking action. For all this and much more, tune in today!

Creating Distinction in Your Personal Brand Aug 10, 2021

In today’s episode, we speak with the leading expert on the concept of distinction in personal branding and business. Scott McKain is the author of ICONIC: How Organizations and Leaders Attain, Sustain, and Regain the Highest Level of Distinction which has been named as one of the Top 10 Business Books of the Year, he is a keynote speaker at events for top organizations and has the rare honor of being feature in both the Speakers Hall of Fame and the Sales and Marketing Hall of Fame. In our conversation with Scott, we dive straight into the concept of distinction and why it’s so important for your personal brand. We hear Scott’s breakdown of the four cornerstones of distinction: clarity, creativity, communication, and the customer experience focus. Scott places a particular emphasis on the concept of clarity and why it is in many ways the most difficult step since it involves identifying what makes you distinct and excluding potential business opportunities that do not fall within what makes your personal brand unique. Scott offers his advice and tips for finding your distinction and explains why we should all find out why people recommend us. Join us today for an edifying discussion on the concept of distinction and how to define it for your personal brand!

Juliet Funt Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 06, 2021

In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Juliet Funt, author of the new book A Minute to Think, and shares his top three takeaways from the interview. Rory breaks down key concepts from Juliet’s book, such as why we all need more oxygen in our lives and why having whitespace on our calendars is essential. He reflects on the elegance of her writing and how the phrase "interlacing moments of thoughtfulness throughout your day" is such a profound lesson. Hear why it’s important to ask yourself direct questions like “Where am I doing high quantity, low-value work” and “Am I comfortable being quiet?”. Join us today as we discuss some of the incredible work Juliet has been doing, as well as how to listen to your own wisdom, and much more!

Fueling Your Own Creativity, Innovation, and Productivity With Juliet Funt Aug 03, 2021

The rise in remote work as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic has left many of us living our lives in a whirlwind of zoom meetings, endless email chains, and urgent work tasks. Our guest today is a firm believer in the transformative power of integrating small moments of thoughtfulness throughout the day, and has the science to prove it. Juliet Funt is a renowned speaker, author, and CEO of White Space at Work, a training and consulting firm that helps organizations reexamine the norms of business to reclaim their creativity, productivity, and engagement. We talk with Juliet about the key concepts in her new book A Minute to Think and discuss why so many of us are prioritizing low-value quantity work over slow, deep work. Tuning in you’ll hear Juliet explain how our brains benefit from interlaced moments of quiet as well as why many of us may be addicted to busyness as a distraction from our own thoughts. Join us today for an essential conversation on productivity, creativity, and meaningful work!

Chester Elton Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 30, 2021

In today’s episode, we revisit our conversation with Chester Elton, a best-selling author, and co-founder of FindMojo, a global assessment company. Tuning in you’ll hear Rory and AJ discuss their top three takeaways from Rory’s interview with Chester and how they’ve seen those lessons reflected in their own lives and careers. The power of proprietary data is indisputable, especially as a means to gain dominance in your field. AJ discusses why accurately interpreting your data is an essential skill and how to share it with your audience in a way that is relevant to them. Rory delves into Chester’s lessons on creating an audience for your book and why it is ultimately up to the author to market and sell their publication. We had a great time catching up with Chester and hearing his many tips and insights. For all our highlights from the interview and more, tune in today!

How to Dominate Your Niche Jul 27, 2021

In today’s episode, we are joined by Chester Elton, the co-founder of FindMojo, a global assessment company. Chester has had tremendous success, along with his business partner, Adrian Gostick, in being a dominant presence in their area of expertise, namely workplace culture. They realized early on that data was essential to giving credibility to their research and obtained a sizable portion of proprietary data of over one million working adults. Together, they have written multiple bestsellers, from The Carrot Principle and Leading with Gratitude to their most recent title, Anxiety at Work. In our conversation with Chester, we delve into how they go about conducting research, why they hire outside help to assist in putting together their assessments, and why he believes that Anxiety at Work is their most important book to date. We hear from Chester about the importance of a competent team, why it’s ultimately up to the author to sell their books, and why it’s essential to leverage your personal brand to do so successfully. For all this and more, tune in today!

Ken Coleman Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 23, 2021

In today’s recap episode Rory and AJ get together to discuss their conversation with Ken Coleman, a master interviewer and host of The Ken Coleman Show. Rory and AJ each share their top three takeaways from the interview and what they learned from talking with Ken. Rory notes Ken’s insight into the importance of being attentive, not only to what your guest is saying but how they are saying it. He reflects on how he was also able to sharpen that skill while working in sales and how it has benefited him as a transferable skill during interviews. AJ discusses the power you gain from not being intimidated by your guests and why experience and preparation are key, much more so than whether you have a close relationship with the person you’re interviewing. Tuning in you’ll hear a summary of Ken’s expert tips for interview preparation, how to be entertaining as an interviewer, and much more!

How To Be an Amazing Show Host with Ken Coleman Jul 20, 2021

Any good show host knows that, to conduct a great interview, your number one priority needs to be the guest and the audience, not yourself. On today’s episode of the Influential Personal Brand podcast, we get together with consummate interviewer, Ken Coleman, host of The Ken Coleman Show, to talk about the interviews he’s conducted with highly accomplished individuals like George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice, as well as the skills and lessons he’s learned from taking almost 5,000 live calls live on air. In this conversation, we discuss his show’s philosophy that every individual has a unique purpose in how they contribute to society and the profound impact this belief has had on his work. We hear from Ken about how he gets to the heart of his callers’ problems in the short span of six minutes while still being entertaining and engaging to his audience, why he is not intimidated by the accomplished figures he has interviewed, and why intense preparation leads to reflexive performance. He also explains some of the key questions interviewers need to ask themselves while preparing and why thorough research is so important. Join us today for an informative episode full of wisdom and practical tips on the art of interviewing!

Stephen Scoggins Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 16, 2021

On today’s recap episode Rory and AJ get together to discuss Rory’s conversation with Stephen Scoggins about how he became a certified strategist, his personal brand journey, and the subject of visual identity when building a personal brand. Rory and AJ each share their top three takeaways from the interview and what they learned from talking with Stephen. We delve into why one of the biggest challenges of building a personal brand is whether you feel worthy of having a voice and the value in doing what you can with what you have at a given moment in time. AJ shares her admiration for Stephen’s ability to be resourceful and still produce high-quality services and how he has been able to help people and have an impact. For all this and more, join us today as we revisit our conversation with Stephen Scoggins!

How To Accelerate Your Personal Brand Through Strong Visual Identity Jul 13, 2021

In today’s episode, we get together with our good friend Stephen Scoggins. Stephen is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, best-selling author, and business and life-mastery thought leader. We talk with Stephen about how he was able to overcome adversity early in his life to build a highly successful business empire comprising of different pursuits like real estate and building a personal brand. In our conversation, Stephen shares why he was resistant to building a personal brand for so long and how the advice of a friend helped him decide to pursue it. Tuning in you’ll hear how Stephen was able to gain over 100 000 followers in just twelve months and what some of his biggest challenges were during his journey to building his personal brand. We break down the concept of the content diamond and why it’s so useful in helping you optimally use your time to establish a cohesive online presence. Later we discuss one of the biggest problems that new public speakers face and how Stephen and the Brand Builders Group are helping public speakers and others build their personal brand by offering accessible, high-quality video and photography content production. Stephen emphasizes the importance of investing in your dreams and why your visual identity is so important to your personal branding. Join us today for an energizing discussion on how to take the most important steps for your personal brand, and so much more!

Claire Díaz-Ortiz: Highlights from the Interview Jul 09, 2021

In today’s episode, we revisit our conversation with longtime Silicon Valley influencer Claire Díaz-Ortiz. Rory and AJ share their top three takeaways from the interview and discuss how they see the lessons reflected in their own lives and business. Tuning in you’ll hear about how it’s an entrepreneur's responsibility to share their idea with the world and how ultimately you have the ability to be your own media company thanks to the power of social media. We discuss what it means to reframe PR as ‘moment making’ and why it’s so much more engaging than sending out a press release. Finally, we reflect on the increased necessity for an online presence and how best to optimize that by understanding your messaging and how that needs to manifest on different platforms. Claire is an expert in her field and we loved talking with her. For all our highlights from the interview and more, tune in today!

How Entrepreneurs Should Use Their Personal Brand to Launch their Startup Jul 06, 2021

For public speakers, establishing a personal brand is essential, but what about entrepreneurs and the owners of new companies and startups? When it comes to the two spheres of social media marketing and tech startups, and how they overlap, there is no one better to talk to than Claire Díaz-Ortiz. Claire established herself in tech during her time at Twitter, where she was hired to lead corporate social innovation. She is the author of several books with titles ranging from Social Media Success for Every Brand: The Five StoryBrand Pillars That Turn Posts Into Profits to One Minute Mentoring: How to find and work with a mentor - and why you’ll benefit from being one. She is also a speaker, advisor, and angel investor in early-stage startups. Tuning in, you’ll hear us discuss how the world of personal branding has changed over the past 20 years and how best to leverage the power of social media to engage with your followers. We unpack the increasing pressure to have an online presence, regardless of your line of work, and why building a personal brand and engaging with your followers adds immense value to any business. Later, Claire discusses her enthusiasm for mentoring and explains why early-stage investments are ideal opportunities for mentorship. Claire has a wealth of knowledge and we loved having her on the show. Join us today for an inspiring discussion on how to leverage the power of social media and finding which platform is right for you!

Tom Rath Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 02, 2021

On today’s recap episode Rory and AJ get together to discuss Rory’s conversation with Tom Rath, bestselling author of books like StrengthFinders 2.0 and It’s Not About You. Rory and AJ each share their top three takeaways from the interview and what they learned about creating a work of nonfiction that will sell and have an impact. Tuning in you’ll hear about the importance of giving your readers something to do and why it’s important to give advice that is backed up by data and research, not just opinions. We delve into what makes an idea more shareable and why you should always consider how to incorporate human connectivity into your topic for maximum impact. For all this and more, join us today as we revisit our conversation with Tom Rath!

How to Sell 10 Million Books Jun 29, 2021

What are the factors that determine whether a nonfiction business book will be a bestseller? In today’s episode, we get together with a highly knowledgeable and accomplished figure in the world of publishing to find the answers to this question. Tom Rath is the author of several bestselling books, including StrengthsFinder 2.0, which happens to be one of the bestselling nonfiction books on Amazon. He has sold over 10 million copies of his various books over the years and is a senior scientist and advisor to Gallup, where he previously spent 13 years leading the organization’s work on employee engagement, strengths, and wellbeing. Tuning in, listeners will hear what Tom has learned from his years in publishing and what characteristics have helped make his books so successful. Find out why giving your readers something tangible to do can be a good predictor for the success of a book and why it’s good to base your book on one or a few central ideas. We hear from Tom about his primary goals when tackling a new writing project and how COVID-19 affected the release of his book, It’s Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life. As we wrap up, Tom shares what has kept him humble and grounded, despite his success in business and publishing. For all this and more, join us today!

Pete Wilson Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 25, 2021

On today’s special recap episode, Rory and AJ get together to discuss their interview with their former pastor, Pete Wilson. We hear from AJ about why she is so passionate about the concept of reinvention and why she believes that we are all in a constant state of reinvention in some area of our lives. She shares how a behind-the-scenes conversation with Pete gave her an insight into how he sees himself and his accomplishments, versus how other people see him, and how we can all benefit from seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. Rory unpacks the beauty of a blank slate and why we are never truly starting over since we all have a past set of skills that we can realign to serve our current purpose. For all this and more, tune in today!

4 Keys to Reinventing Your Career and Your Personal Brand Jun 22, 2021

In today's episode, AJ and Rory get together with their former pastor Pete Wilson to discuss the topic of reinvention, especially when one considers the amount of upheaval that has been caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. Pete is the best-selling author of Plan B: What to Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would, which he wrote after undergoing his own reinvention several years ago when he drastically altered his life by leaving his successful career in ministry. In 2019 he established Good Vibes Management, an organization that, among other things, pairs up high profile individuals with ethical corporate brands, giving new purpose to their celebrity platforms. He also hosts a podcast, Good Talk with his wife, where they inspire people to be healthier, happier, and more purpose-driven versions of themselves. In our conversation, Pete shares what he learned from his reinvention and how interviewing others informed his viewpoint. He discusses the important role that gratitude and humility have to play when adjusting your mindset for reinvention and why you must reevaluate your definition of success. Join us today for an eye-opening discussion on the challenges and potential that lies in reinvention and much more!

Kim Scott Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 18, 2021

In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor and most recently Just Work. Rory reflects on their conversation and how its lessons extend far beyond applications to one’s personal brand. Rory shares his top three takeaways from their conversation, the most fundamental of which is the idea that discrimination exists on a continuum, with Kim categorizing its different forms in the workplace as bias, prejudice, and bullying. Rory also reflects on his desire to receive criticism with more humility and less defensiveness and how to apply the important lesson that it’s one’s impact that matters, not one’s intention. For all this and more, tune in today for an informative and thought-provoking recap!

How to Develop Stronger Social Justice Sensitivity With Kim Scott Jun 15, 2021

Most of us aspire to behave in a manner that is ethical, fair, and just, but our efforts are often undermined by unconscious biases, and without outside interventions, we may never take the necessary steps to change these unintended habits. In today’s episode we sit down with Kim Scott to talk about her new book Just Work: Get Sh*t Done, Fast & Fair. Some listeners may recognize her as the New York Times bestselling author of Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. Kim has spent many years working as a high-profile CEO coach, doing in-depth work at Dropbox, Qualtrics, and Twitter to name a few. She was also involved with AdSense at Google, is a member of the faculty at Apple University, and has worked directly for Sheryl Sandberg. In our conversation with Kim, we talk about what she learned from writing Radical Candor and how she applied those lessons to her latest book Just Work. Kim breaks down the three revelations she experienced after getting feedback from a colleague, the most striking of which was that Radical Candor did not address how much more difficult it is to apply its lessons if you are a woman and especially if you are a woman of color. She explains why she felt it urgent and necessary to delineate the distinctions between bias, prejudice, and bullying in Just Work, and how she recommends using ‘bias interrupters’ to facilitate a more just and equitable workplace. Later we discuss how influencers can become more aware of their biases when using social media and how to respond reasonably to criticism and feedback by taking the time to step away and calm down when our fight or flight response gets triggered. We had a fascinating conversation with Kim and we’re sure that you will find it every bit as informative and stimulating as we did! Tune in today for all this and more!

Mark Divine: Highlights from the Interview Jun 11, 2021

On today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his interview with Mark Divine, a Navy SEALs commander, and New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Rory shares his top three takeaways from speaking with Mark about his lessons on cultivating an Unbeatable Mind. Rory dives right into box breathing, a method that Mark uses with his operatives before going into battle as a way to center themselves and calm their nervous systems. Rory reflects on the fact that this can be applied to many situations, including giving a presentation or media interview. Other takeaways include the phrase, "No plan survives contact with the enemy,” and how to incorporate that attitude into your mindset, as well as how to have a productive relationship with your thoughts. Join us today for this reflective recap on how to cultivate an Unbeatable Mind!

How Personal Brands can Create an Unbeatable Mind Jun 08, 2021

No plan survives contact with the enemy, which is why you need to be ready for anything. In today’s episode of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we speak with Mark Divine. Mark is an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in an astonishingly diverse range of areas. He holds an MBA from NYU, is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, while also having a long and established career as a Navy SEALs commander. He is also a high-profile public speaker and was recently part of a Tony Robbins event. In addition, Mark has an enduring relationship with martial arts, meditation, mindfulness, and ancient yoga practices, which are integral to his leadership style and having what he calls an Unbeatable Mind. In our conversation, Mark almost immediately dives into the intricacies of his zen training and how he has utilized it over the years to train and lead his Navy SEALs teams to incredible effect. He repeatedly emphasizes the importance of an inner meditative practice for leaders in a world that is facing ever-increasing environmental damage due to self-serving human interests and how one can go about fostering a mindfulness practice. Listeners will hear Mark share his insights on the conflict of flow and why the ego isn’t something to be feared, as well as how to apply these lessons as a leader. Join us today for deep dive into mindful leadership, the nature of fear, and how it all comes together. You won’t want to miss this!

Todd Henry: Highlights from the Interview Jun 04, 2021

We had such an amazing conversation with Todd Henry in our last episode, and today we will be looking at the biggest takeaways from it! Todd's work is all about accessing creativity and using our energy and strengths to make an impact. Todd talked about how creativity is more about problem-solving than anything else, and this can be applied to so many different areas of our lives. Wherever you look, in your personal, professional, and family life, there are problems to solve, and creativity can be applied to these situations! The next big takeaway from Todd was how he defines art: for Todd, art's central component is its expression of value. This means that no matter what you are creating if you are expressing your values through it, you can consider it your art! We believe that starting a business or brand is nothing other than an expression of values and the realization of your internal value system into the external world. Todd's point on where to start with building a personal brand and service is such a great piece of advice; he believes that our greatest strengths are most often the things that seem most obvious and negligible to us. So think about what seems almost too simple and straightforward to you and consider how it might just be your gift to the world! The last takeaway we wanted to underline was Todd's beautiful point about pursuing mastery of a craft instead of chasing stardom. This is a message we wholeheartedly believe in and can be the key to success, longevity, and lasting impact!

Accessing Your Creativity Jun 01, 2021

The ocean of creative work is not limited to processes that create art. Creativity is in so much of what we do as humans, and as our guest for today's show, Todd Henry explains, creativity is essentially problem-solving. Todd is the host of the Accidental Creative Podcast, which has over 10 million downloads! He is a leading thinker on the topics of creativity, leadership, passion, and bringing out your everyday brilliance. He has written five books, with the most recent being The Motivation Code, and we get to hear a bit about some of the ideas that his amazing books contain. We also get to see why Todd sees himself as an arms dealer for the creative revolution, and his particular set of gifts for helping people access deeper parts of their creativity. In our conversation, we cover demystifying the journey of success, why we are the worst judges of our own work, and how leaders can foster more successfully creative spaces for their teams. So for all this and a whole lot more from Rory and Todd, be sure to join in today!

Tom Ziglar: Highlights from the Interview May 28, 2021

On today's special recap episode, Rory and AJ get together to discuss his interview with Tom Ziglar, son of the legendary Zig Ziglar. Rory and AJ each share their top three takeaways from the interview and unpack the nuances of each point. AJ reflects on an old Zig Ziglar quote that Tom brought up, namely “If you pursue a standard of living you will likely never have a better quality of life, but if you pursue a better quality of life the standard of living will always go up”. They discuss how the words still ring true today and how it has made them evaluate their motivations. Both AJ and Rory were moved by Tom’s wise insight that his skills are very different from those of his father and how that acceptance was able to allow him to embrace his own unique skills and strengths. Join us for a meditative recap on lessons from Tom Ziglar on what gives life meaning, how to be true to yourself, and much more!

Lessons in Personal Branding from the Ziglar Family May 25, 2021

“You can have everything in life if you help enough other people get what they want,” these are the famous words of Zig Ziglar that the Ziglar Inc brand continues to live by. In today’s episode, we get together with Tom Ziglar, CEO of Ziglar Inc, Author, Speaker, and proud son of Zig. His most recent book is titled Choose to Win: Transform Your Life, One Simple Choice at a Time. In our conversation, Tom speaks about the challenges he faced in continuing the family brand and legacy. Tom explains how once he changed his mindset and stopped trying to emulate his father, he was able to fully tap into his skills and understand how best to serve the company and its clients. Later in our conversation, Tom addresses the pandemic, the changing nature of work, and why employees should expect more from their company leadership. Tom introduces the concept of asynchronous vulnerability to illustrate how to nurture the human spirit in a digital environment. Join us for an honest conversation about understanding yourself, helping others, and prioritizing a high quality of life while achieving your work goals!

Allison Fallon: Highlights from the Interview May 21, 2021

On today’s special recap episode, Rory and AJ revisit their interview with Allison Fallon, author of The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life. Rory and AJ each share their top three takeaways and share what they found most valuable from their conversation. They each emphatically agree on the notion that great writing comes from great thinking, which forms a key point in Allison’s book, and they note that the biggest obstacle to great writing is writer's block. AJ remarks on Allison’s advice to get past your writer’s block by prioritizing the reader and asking yourself how you can provide value to them and Rory shares his enthusiasm for Allison’s assertion that, if you have a valuable idea, it means you have a responsibility to share it and put it out into the world. Join us for an informative recap with lots of special comments and insights!

How to Write a Good Book with Allison Fallon May 18, 2021

What transformation do you want the reader to undergo after reading your book and how do you achieve that? Sometimes, the surest way to overcome mental obstacles is to take a new approach and ask different questions. Today’s guest is an expert in helping writers process their self-doubt and put their ideas into motion. Allison Fallon has a distinguished reputation for writing and ghostwriting and has helped countless clients become published authors. She is the author of over 12 books, including her latest release, The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life. In today’s episode, she shares the most common mental roadblocks that new authors encounter and her practical advice for how to overcome them. Hear Allison’s thoughts on why getting on the New York Times bestseller list shouldn’t necessarily be a priority and why self-doubt puts you in very good company. She also explains the difference between content-driven and story-driven books and the middle ground that exists in between. Tune in for more key insights and a fascinating discussion on the writing process and the world of publishing!

Eric Siu Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 14, 2021

In today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Eric Siu, where they discussed methods for leveling up your paid acquisitions strategy. Rory dives straight into how to create scalable growth for your personal brand by sharing his top three takeaways from his conversation with Eric, and he breaks down the different types of advertising traffic and why they are important, namely paid traffic, unpaid traffic, and get-paid traffic. He notes that paid traffic’s unique attribute is predictability and expands on this by breaking down how to utilize this quality and why a new iOS update will drastically change what type of paid advertising gets results. Listening in, you will hear all about the implications of this update, how to adapt to the future landscape of digital advertising, and why influencer marketing could be particularly useful. You won’t want to miss this! Tune in today for all the highlights from Rory’s conversation with Eric, plus his personal insights!

Leveling Up Your Paid Acquisition Strategy with Eric Siu May 11, 2021

Internet marketing is the science of efficiently reaching audiences online, an essential skill set not just for SaaS companies but personal brand builders too. Today we are joined by internet marketing guru, podcast host, and recent author of Leveling Up, Eric Siu, to talk about his audience-building strategies and gamified approach to life and business. We hear about the dual method of influencer marketing and paid ads Eric is using to promote his book. He talks about why he has chosen to write a book about the game of life rather than his extensive marketing knowledge. For Eric, writing about his relationship with gaming is his way of appealing to an already extensive community. He explains how the notion of community fits into Naval Ravikant’s four forms of leverage and is one of the most powerful forces a brand builder can utilize. Tune in for countless golden nuggets and marketing secrets from Eric today!

Natasha Takahashi Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 07, 2021

It’s easy to feel resistance to setting up chatbots for your brand, but is it all that different from a pre-recorded video or online course? On today’s special recap episode, Rory revisits his conversation with Natasha Takahashi on utilizing chatbots to generate ROI for your Business. Rory shares his top three takeaways from their discussion and how it’s been a learning process for him. Hear Rory’s thoughts on what to look out for when setting up a chatbot service and why it’s important to be closely involved with the writing process when it comes to engineering the chatbot’s script. Rory tackles questions like how to monetize social media and when to integrate chatbots with marketing automation. Join us today for all this and more!

Chatbots, Marketing and Direct messaging at Scale with Natasha Takahashi May 04, 2021

On today’s episode of The Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we get technical! We speak with Natasha Takahashi from The School of Bots about the amazing potential of chatbots and what they are already doing for marketing campaigns across industries. In our conversation, Natasha explains exactly how chatbots work by automating direct messaging at scale for exponential impact. Listeners can expect to hear about the best platforms to utilize for making chatbots a part of your business and why it’s far more effective to implement once you are an established business. Natasha explains how chatbots are a combination of artificial intelligence, conversational design, and decision trees. We also speak about the ethical and emotional concerns around chatbots, especially when it comes to personal branding and how to address those concerns safely. Learn how the evolution of chatbots increased with Facebook messenger and why it’s still the ideal place to start for testing chatbots. For all this and more, join us today!

Bob Burg Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 30, 2021

In today’s episode of The Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we revisit a recent conversation we had with Bob Burg. Hear about our top three takeaways, as well as why we love Bob Burg’s philosophy of being a Go-Giver and why it’s a concept that works! We expand on how speaking for free, while still monetizing your time was essential to the careers of countless esteemed personal speakers including Tony Robbins and Bryan Tracy, in addition to Bob Burg. Hear a frank rundown of what we think is broken about the world of sales today, and why the Brand Builders Group takes a novel approach that prioritizes serving the client to ensure lasting success and an enduring reputation. Listeners can expect special insights into the ethos of the Brand Builders Group as well as an introduction to their new training program on pressure-free persuasion. For all this and more, join us today!

Secrets to Selling the Go Giver Way with Bob Burg Apr 27, 2021

“Great salesmanship is never about the salesperson. Great salesmanship is about the people whose lives are made better because you’ve been a part of it.” This profound message comes from renowned speaker, author, and today’s guest, Bob Burg. He joins us to discuss how you can get more profits and referrals by embracing the ‘Go-Giver’ mentality. We devote the early part of this episode to unpacking Go-Giving and exactly how consistently providing value leads to financial profitability. After exploring why Go-Giving perfectly aligns with the free market, Bob shares his journey in developing this business strategy. Later, he touches on why his Go-Giver books are written as parables and how he promoted his book through speaking engagements. We wrap up our conversation by looking at the importance of learning from the experts who came before you. As Bob explains, the Go-Giver approach is both the most meaningful and the most profitable way of conducting business. Tune in to hear all about it.

Jennifer Cohen Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 23, 2021

In today’s special recap episode of The Influential Personal Brand Podcast, your host, Rory Vaden shares his biggest takeaways and thoughts from his recent interview with Jennifer Cohen. Hear how Jennifer achieved viral success with her TED Talk and why she advocates for trusting the process and being patient. Rory unpacks lessons from the interview and explains why it’s important to market your product based on the result rather than the content. Tune in for a quick recap and plenty of thought-provoking insights!

How to Create a Viral TedTalk with Jennifer Cohen Apr 20, 2021

In today’s episode of The Influential Personal Brand Podcast, Jennifer Cohen returns to talk about the runaway success of her TedTalk entitled ‘The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life’. Jennifer is an entrepreneur, fitness authority and best-selling author of Strong Is the New Skinny and also hosts a podcast called ‘Habits and Hustle’. In our conversation today we talk about Jennifer’s experience on the TED Talk stage and how she got there. Hear anecdotes of everything that went wrong during her talk and how that may have contributed to the viral success of her video. Jennifer also unpacks the process during which Rory and his company helped distill her ideas into the impactful TED Talk that resulted from their work together. Listeners will also hear how the success of her TED Talk has affected her business and why giving actionable advice is so powerful. For all this and more, join us today!

Jon Acuff Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 16, 2021

The key distinction between overthinking and preparation is that preparation leads to action and overthinking leads to more thinking. In today’s recap episode, we reflect on our top takeaways from our conversation with Jon Acuff, a brilliant speaker and bestselling author whose recent research has resulted in extensive knowledge on how what we think affects what we do. We devoted much of our conversation to successful self-talk for personal brands. Today, we further unpack the nature of negative self-talk and why our brains believe the thoughts we repeatedly feed it, even if they aren’t true. Later, we discuss why what you believe about yourself affects how clients see you and how that affects your career. We also elaborate on how our brains are like computers and why it’s important to consciously choose your thoughts to reprogram them. Join us today as we take deep dive into the impact of thoughts and how to change your habits for the better!

Successful Self-Talk for Personal Brands with Jon Acuff Apr 13, 2021

In this episode, we get together with Jon Acuff, New York Times Bestselling Author of seven books. Jon is an incredible speaker and speaks for big companies such as Fedex, Nissan, and Chick-fil-A. His last book was a number one Wall Street Journal bestseller called Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done. During our conversation, Jon shares all about the research he has been doing lately for his new book, Soundtracks — finding the solution to overthinking and specifically some of the mindsets issues that need to be resolved to really build and grow and become an influential personal brand. We also dive into some of the biggest evolutions that Jon has undergone in his mindsets to rewrite the negative soundtracks that were holding him back. Stay tuned to today’s episode as we unpack Jon’s top strategies for building a successful personal brand!

Honorée Corder Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 09, 2021

In today’s special recap episode of The Influential Personal Brand Podcast, your host, Rory Vaden shares a debrief and summary of his most recent interview with Honorée Corder. You’ll hear some of the key lessons to be learned from that episode, namely the fact that launching a book is not just launching a book, it’s launching a business. There are so many aspects to it, and a book outline is not just a “how to” for writing a book, but a business proposal too! Listen in as Rory shares three quick takeaways from the Honorée Corder episode as it relates to book launches. Enjoy!

How to Produce and Promote Your Self Published Book with Honorée Corder Apr 06, 2021

Writing and getting books published, distributed, and marketed properly is one of the biggest pain points that many listeners have. Over the years, your host, Rory Vaden has had the opportunity to interface with a number of people with superpowers in the writing and publishing space and, in this episode, he introduces you to one of them. Today’s guest is Honorée Corder, strategic book coach, publishing specialist, and co-creator of The Miracle Morning book series with Hal Elrod. She specifically caters to those who wish to self-publish and maintain ownership and rights of their work, and has written over 50 books herself. Tuning in, you’ll hear her advice for getting past that first blank page, the importance of being accessible to your readers, and some strategies to use when you are launching your book, as well as the value of learning from the experience of an established author. Honorée believes that the best tool you'll ever have for your business or personal brand is a book with your name on the cover, so make sure to tune in today to learn more!

David Horsager Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 02, 2021

What are you focused on that is truly unique? And what can you do so deeply in your subject matter that no one else can compete with you? Today we recap our interview with David Horsager, a thought leader who is so cemented in his niche that his brand is synonymous with his specialty: building trust in businesses. Our first takeaway relates to how you can create brand clout and credibility by being research-driven. We then dive into how David uses gratitude to differentiate himself. After talking about the benefits of providing unique perspectives and of being the first in your space, we unpack David’s advice on getting speaking engagements. Later, we discuss how you can use your existing content to generate different revenue streams. As David has shown, it pays to be trustworthy. Tune in for our recap where we show you the how and the why of being a trusted leader.

Building a Trusted Personal Brand with David Horsager Mar 30, 2021

Most of us are trying to solve the wrong problem. As David Horsager explains in today’s episode, trust is at the root of every business challenge. David should know. As the foremost expert on trust and CEO of the Trust Edge Leadership Institute, he’s helped companies increase their revenue by improving their reputation. We open our conversation with David by exploring how he went from humble beginnings to becoming a world-renowned thought leader. He shares how he discovered his niche and why most issues in business relate to a lack of trust. After discussing why data-driven research is the backbone of trustworthy leadership, we look at the many benefits of being a reputable leader. David then chats about what he does to differentiate his brand before unpacking his business model. Later, we talk about his book and the bonuses that David is offering to the Influential Personal Brand Podcast community. This episode shows that without trust, people and businesses fail. Tune in to hear what you can do to build your trustworthiness.

John Lee Dumas Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 26, 2021

To find success, you don’t always have to be the best in your niche. Sometimes all it takes is being the first in your niche. In this recap episode, we reflect on our top takeaways from our conversation with podcast grandmaster John Lee Dumas, someone who has built his brand by having the first-mover advantage. After chatting about the advantages of being the first person in your niche, we highlight John’s lesson that consistently creating and putting yourself out there will lead to excellence. Or in his words, “focusing on quantity will guarantee quality.” Later, we discuss how John’s direct, honest, and personal marketing approach so effortlessly wins over his audiences. Join us to hear us unpack more of John’s recipe for success.

Launching a Powerful Podcast with John Lee Dumas Mar 23, 2021

Discovering your one big idea and then making it a reality is the key to unlocking financial freedom and fulfillment. Today we speak with John Lee Dumas, the creator and host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, a podcast that’s enjoyed over 100 million downloads. In our conversation with John, we explore what he did to find uncommon success while also unpacking his best lessons from interviewing over 3,000 of the world’s top entrepreneurs. Early in this episode, John talks about the most important elements to building a thriving brand. After chatting about how he discovered his niche, he dives into why being the first in your niche is such an advantage. We then discuss when and why you should focus on quantity over quality and why excellence is often achieved from consistent work. Later, we talk about John’s book and how it provides 17 core principles that are the foundations for entrepreneurial success. As John explains, there’s a common path that anyone can follow to achieve their dreams. Tune in and learn how you can take your first step.

Victoria Labalme Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 19, 2021

Take creative risks. Often it’s the only way to differentiate yourself and build a memorable brand. This simple message is a top takeaway from our interview with eminent speaker and business expert Victoria Labalme. Today we share our chief learnings from our conversation with her. After chatting about her book, Risk Forward, we unpack what it means to take creative risks. Reflecting on how artfulness entrepreneurship is, we explore why you need to balance having business processes and structure with a creative approach to your brand. Later, we look at why uncertainty is a good thing and how feeling comfortable at unclear points is key to innovating your brand. Join us to hear more about the profound impact of taking creative risks.

How to Unlock Your Hidden Genius with Victoria Labalme Mar 16, 2021

What can only you do? And how can you do it in your own way? Answering these questions is the key to building a brand that stands out from the crowd. Today we welcome presentation strategist Victoria Labalme onto the show to help listeners discover the value that only their brand can provide. We also speak with Victoria about how her book, Risk Forward, can help you find success when the future seems uncertain. Early in our conversation, we chat with Victoria about how critical creative risks are to forming strong brands. She then shares her insights on how you can find your unique value proposition, and how you can then refine your proposition before taking large risks. After talking about the emotional side of dealing with risk, we discuss how the biggest business leaders are pulled toward creative risk-taking. While reflecting on the power of listening to our intuitions, Victoria unpacks how listeners can move forward at times when their path seems unclear. As Victoria explains, “the extraordinary lie at the edge of not knowing.” Join us to hear more about the incredible benefits of taking a risk forward.

Neil Patel Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 12, 2021

The golden path to effective SEO doesn’t require any technical expertise. Instead, it requires that you consistently publish content that relates to your market. This critical insight comes from our interview with the Godfather of SEO and marketing thought leader, Neil Patel. Today we recap more of our top takeaways from that conversation. For our next highlight, we talk about how you can use content to drive your business growth, adding tips on how you can best do this. Reflecting the view that SEO is a long-term strategy, we then unpack Neil’s advice to start your SEO project by going after niche terms within broad topical areas. After exploring why this is such an effective strategy, we look at how you can use heat maps to create highly optimized web pages. Throughout this episode, we also share SEO best practices to draw in traffic and build your website authority and subscriber list. Tune in to hear the next step of your SEO journey.

SEO Secrets for Personal Brands with Neil Patel Mar 09, 2021

Building an SEO strategy may seem like a daunting task. But in reality, the most effective SEO is built on strong foundations and consistent work that requires little to no technical skill. Today we welcome SEO and marketing king Neil Patel onto the show to talk about the core SEO fundamentals that personal brands need to cover. Neil’s first lesson highlights that SEO is a long-game that requires you to consistently post content. After chatting about the hit and miss nature of content, we dive into the role that keyword research plays in your SEO strategy. Neil then opens up his keyword playbook, sharing insights into the kinds of keywords that you should target. Linked to this, we discuss how tools like Ubersuggest can help you find keywords to target, along with how Schema markup can help you create a faster-loading website. Later, we look at how you can optimize your website for a near-perfect web experience. Throughout our conversation, Neil offers clear and actionable advice that will up your SEO game. Join us to begin your journey to SEO mastery.

Luvvie Ajayi Jones Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 05, 2021

The deepest satisfaction in life can only come from serving others. And to do that you need to be bold enough to be your authentic self. This idea is one of the top takeaways from our episode with Luvvie Ajayi Jones, viral TED Talk speaker and author of Professional Troublemaker. In this episode, we recap our phenomenal interview with her, with our first highlight touching on how courage is contagious. As Luvvie explains, you can strengthen your audience by being a source of emotional fortitude. We then dive into what it means to be a purpose-driven personal brand and why being authentic is linked to serving your community. Later, we explore the value of yourself and others, and permission to be yourself. Fortune favors the bold. Tune in for more on living fearlessly.

Fear Fighting and Being Bold with Luvvie Ajayi Jones Mar 02, 2021

This is the second time we’re welcoming charismatic New York Times best-selling author and speaker Luvvie Ajayi Jones onto the show. Today we speak with Luvvie about the key message of her new book; that to truly, meaningfully change our lives, we have to become professional troublemakers. Early in our conversation, we discuss the importance that boldness can have when building your personal brand. Luvvie then shares how she developed her boldness. As she explains, being a person of impact means that you’ll both repel and attract people no matter what your intentions are. We explore why being judged shouldn’t be seen as a worst-case scenario, with Luvvie adding insight into how she uses her boldness to empower people. We ask Luvvie about her courage to post online about her beliefs. In her answer, she highlights the strict criteria that inform each of her posts and the role of thinking about a topic before posting. Later, she reflects on the responsibility that comes with being a public figure, how she overcomes her fear of success, why she wrote her book for the person she once was, and why the risk of offending people shouldn’t prevent you from doing your work. Luvvie’s mission is to give people permission to be themselves. Tune in to learn about the benefits of conquering fear, being yourself, and living audaciously.

Jamie Kern Lima Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 26, 2021

Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean that your inspired idea won’t work. Jamie Kern Lima’s life is proof that you can build a successful business from your unique idea. Today we recap our conversation with Jamie and share our top takeaways from her story. We open by discussing why you shouldn’t look to your competitors for insights into your value proposition. We then dive into the power of listening to your gut. Using Jamie’s example, she was told that no one would buy products from someone who looked like her. She’s since sold her company for $1.2 billion. Later, we dive into the vital role that authenticity plays when building your brand before looking into why inauthenticity guarantees failure. We wrap up our overview by unpacking the importance of tying your passion to hard work. Tune in as we highlight the key lessons from our discussion with the incredible Jamie Kern Lima.

How Billionaire Entrepreneurs Learn to Believe In Themselves with Jamie Kern Lima Feb 23, 2021

No one believed in Jamie Kern Lima’s vision. At the end of one meeting, an investor even told her that no one would buy cosmetics from someone who looked like she did. In 2016, and after building one of the biggest cosmetics brands in America, Jamie sold it to L'Oréal for $1.2 billion. Today we’re joined by Jamie to talk about how she overcame the limiting beliefs of an entire industry to achieve her wildest dreams. We open our conversation by discussing how Jamie founded It Cosmetics, a journey captured in her new book, Believe It. A key theme in this episode, Jamie shares her mission to create a cosmetics company that represents all women and not just the airbrushed models that are typically used to market products. Jamie then highlights how this mission motivated her to keep fighting for her company, despite a lack of interest from investors. Later, she reveals how she got her big break before unpacking the value of authenticity and following your intuition. We wrap up our discussion by chatting about Jamie’s book and the giveaways she’s releasing alongside it. Jamie’s story is an inspiring example of how you can challenge the status quo while building a strong brand that serves your community. Tune in to discover why staying authentic and believing in your vision can put you on the path to success.

Robert Glazer Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 19, 2021

From crafting newsletters to creating a perfect Instagram caption, it’s nearly impossible to build a personal brand without having mastery over the written word. Today we recap our insightful episode with Robert Glazer which explored how he uses writing to build his personal brand. Early in the episode, we chat about how writing can boost your Google rankings and trustworthiness while also generating free traffic. After sharing how writing articles and books can lead to speaking engagements, we unpack one of Robert’s top lessons: your content should aim to deliver the most value to your audience. We then reflect on why it’s a dead end to create a self-centered brand instead of aiming to provide value. Following this, we highlight how writing strengthens your brand in the long-term. For our final takeaway, we discuss why sensationalism isn’t click-bait before diving into Robert’s tips on writing compelling and attention-grabbing articles. Tune in to hear more on how you can use writing to take your brand to the next level.

Using Written Articles to Grow Your Personal Brand with Robert Glazer Feb 16, 2021

Writing articles is an effective means of establishing yourself as a thought leader while adding long-term value to your brand. Today we speak with Acceleration Partners CEO Robert Glazer about how he built his personal brand through writing. We open our conversation by exploring how he kick-started his brand by writing his famed Friday Forward newsletter, a newsletter that now reaches hundreds of thousands of people. We then dive into his approach to content, touching on his goal to add value and why writing is a long-term strategy that rewards consistency and patience. He then shares what he did to get published by big names like Forbes and Inc. After talking about his biggest writing mistake, Robert unpacks how you can syndicate your articles and use editors to streamline your workflow. Later, we hear his insights on using data to guide your process and how you can leverage your articles to write a book. We wrap up our discussion by hearing Robert’s take on why there’s nothing wrong with writing a sensational title. Tune in to hear more you can grow your personal brand by writing articles.

Phil M Jones Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 12, 2021

Sales is a vital part of business that most brands get wrong. Today we share our top takeaways from our enlightening conversation with sales expert Phil M Jones, touching on what you need to know to sell more and with greater confidence. For our first highlight, we unpack why indecision is the enemy of sales. We then dive into why selling is about helping people find a solution to their problems. While exploring this concept, we talk about the differences between ethical and unethical sales, as well as why sales are about being a good listener and not a smooth talker. Later, we discuss the mindset shift that will make you a better salesperson while also fostering long-term success. We wrap up the conversation by sharing Phil’s insights on selling yourself as a speaker and thought leader. As Phil explains, selling is about figuring out how you can make your customer’s life better. Tune in for more as we recap our greatest sales lessons from Phil M Jones.

Exactly What to Say To Sell High Dollar Offers with Phil M Jones Feb 09, 2021

As you build your personal brand, it can feel uncomfortable to push your products. But you don’t have to be the stereotypical slimy salesperson. Today we speak with global sales expert Phil M Jones about what you can do to become a persuasive and ethical salesperson that lands high dollar offers. Early in the episode, Phil discusses his approach to sales and why selling is about providing solutions to your customers. After highlighting the importance of listening to your clients, Phil offers insight into being a sales professional. As he explains, a key step is to shift your perspectives on success. He then unpacks how the best salespeople aim to achieve different levels of success and that sales isn’t about winning or losing. Later, we talk about why sales is a teachable skill. Following this, we ask Phil about how he sells himself as a keynote speaker. His answers focus on the marketing tools that you can use to grow your brand. Phil’s sales methods ensure that both you and your clients will feel good about each sale. Tune in to learn what to land valuable sales with confidence.

Eric Dahan Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 05, 2021

By tapping into the appeal of word-of-mouth selling, influencer marketing has exploded onto the advertising scene. Today we recap our highlights from our interview with influencer marketing expert Eric Dahan, unpacking the key lessons that will help you land lucrative brand deals. Early in the episode, we explore how the emerging influencer marketing industry follows tried and tested formulas that companies use to get their brands in front of viewers. After talking about the impact that micro-influencers can have, we discuss the importance of patiently growing your audience instead of faking your follower count. We then dive into how you need to consider the laws of supply and demand when monetizing your brand. We touch on the pros and cons of niching down, how valuable your market is to companies, how data can help you approach brands, and why you should weigh up the strengths of competing influencers. Later, we look at why forging trust and delivering results is so crucial to building your brand partnerships. Influencer marketing is dominating social media advertising. Tune in for insights on signing big brand deals.

How to Get Bigger Brand Deals with Eric Dahan Feb 02, 2021

Most big brands have developed a strategy to harness the power of influencer marketing. Today we speak with Open Influence CEO Eric Dahan about what you can do to land massive brand deals. After introducing Eric’s work we dive into his role in sourcing influencers. Key insights include the importance of audience metrics like impression rates when attracting brands. We then ask Eric about how high influencer follower counts should be. His answer highlights the fact that advertisers care more about your impressions, click-through rates, and how you can drive their product than they do about your follower count. We also touch on Eric’s process when reaching out to influencers, what content deals look like, and breakdowns on how influencers are paid. Later, we explore top mistakes that limit influencer success before Eric discusses the collaborative nature of influencer-advertiser relationships. Big brands need influencers to get their message in front of audiences. Tune in to hear how you can get in on the action.

Liz Bohannon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 29, 2021

Sseko Designs CEO Liz Forkin Bohannon knows the marketing secret that’s used by billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos; your personal brand is a tool to drive the profits of your business. Today we recap our incredible conversation with Liz, touching on this insight among many others. We open by reflecting on Liz’s journey in becoming an entrepreneur as a way to help people. After talking about why many of the world’s problems can be solved through job creation, we dive into how Liz has leveraged her personal brand to promote her company. As she explains, personal brands are given access to relationships, events, and resources that companies don’t get. Later, we explore Liz’s concept of pluck, the idea that beginners have advantages over established experts. We wrap up our discussion by highlighting the importance of overcoming your limiting beliefs. Tune in for more of our top takeaways from our interview with Liz Bohannon.

How Entrepreneurs Can Use Their Personal Brand to Grow Their Business with Liz Bohannon Jan 26, 2021

As a strong personal brand, you’re offered opportunities to engage with multiple audiences that your company has little to no access to. Today we speak with Liz Forkin Bohannon, CEO, and Founder of ethical fashion brand Sseko Designs, an entrepreneur who has used her personal brand to grow her business. Early in the episode, Liz shares her mission to scale her company and transition from being central to Sseko’s operations to serving as the face of her company. A key theme in this episode, Liz discusses how business can change the world, along with how her company empowers women in east Africa. We then dive into specifics, with Liz providing an overview of Sseko’s business strategy and how they use direct sales and network marketing to drive revenue. After exploring what you can do to grow your company through your personal brand, Liz talks about the virtues of “beginner’s pluck.” As insightful as our conversation is inspiring, tune in to hear how Liz built a mega-successful company by leveraging her personal brand.

Maggie Thurmon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 22, 2021

With the right message and a well-honed delivery, you have the power to create a media network that attracts six-figure brand deals. Today we recap our episode with Maggie Thurmon, a college freshman who has built a TikTok empire. For our first takeaway, we reflect on how you can use social media to earn revenue, with host Rory Vaden chatting about four top ways to monetize your content. We then highlight how Maggie found success through the huge amount of effort that she puts into her videos — each minute of video took three hours to craft. Later, we touch on Maggie’s mature response to social media hate and how some viewers forget that online personalities are real people. Tune in for more insights on how you can make money from platforms like TikTok.

How To Get Millions of Followers on TikTok with Maggie Thurmon Jan 19, 2021

While we usually interview the most successful of the old guard, today we speak with young mover and shaker Maggie Thurmon about how she gained three million TikTok followers and over 100 million likes in only one year. We open our conversation by exploring Maggie’s start on TikTok and the early content goals she set for her channel. From concept creation to making the post, Maggie unpacks her process and provides insight into TikTok’s technical details. After highlighting the massive amount of work that can go into a 60-second video, we discuss how Maggie connects with her audience through sincerity, capturing her relationship with her family, and by her focus on only posting positive content. We then touch on her approach to her product before diving into how she monetizes TikTok. She shares specifics on aligning with sponsoring brands and the earning potential of being a TikTok influencer. Later, she opens up about dealing with trolls and why experiencing hateful feedback is a part of being an online personality. Maggie has built a TikTok empire. Tune in to hear more about how she did it.

Cameron Herold Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 15, 2021

Few business experts can boast such a high reputation among C-suite executives as Cameron Herold. Today we recap our previous episode with Cameron, unpacking insights that show why his reputation is so well earned. We open by exploring Cameron’s ‘ones and threes’ concept — the idea that your revenue is a marker of how evolved your business is. As host Rory Vaden explains, you need next-level thinking and operating principles to move from 100,000 to 300,000 dollars in revenue. Overcoming new challenges is then needed to hit 1 million before you need to revamp your business to hit 3 million dollars. We then discuss why the best books are based not on good ideas but on meeting your client’s needs. Linked to this, we dive into Cameron’s strategy of finding an underserved audience and carving out your niche serving them. We wrap up our conversation by touching on the differences between uniqueness and differentiation and how they impact your brand. Tune in for more as we highlight our top lessons from Cameron Herold.

Four Lessons Personal Brands Need to Know to Go to Eight Figures with Cameron Herold Jan 12, 2021

When building a company, you need to decide what type of equity is more important to you — having equity in the company or getting brand equity by having that company associated with your name. Today we speak with author and business growth expert Cameron Herold who built many successful companies before focusing on his personal brand. The Founder of the COO Alliance, Cameron joins us to share his secrets on turning a personal brand into an eight-figure business. After talking about his career highlights, we dive into the importance of attaching your name to your company so that your hard work goes recognized. From taking on speaking arrangements to appearing in press interviews, Cameron gives listeners his tips on becoming the face of your company. We discuss his journey in creating the COO Alliance, what his revenue funnel looks like, and where the true value of coaching lies. Cameron then opens up his playbook and reveals the four lessons that brands need to know to scale their business. Near the end of the episode, Cameron gives listeners advice on what fees to charge and we wrap up a rich conversation by reflecting on the future of personal branding. Few business leaders have helped grow as many companies and executives as Cameron Herold. Tune in to hear some of his top insights.

Chandler Bolt Recap: Highlights From the Interview Jan 08, 2021

Your book has the power to change lives and bolster your brand. It’s also the best business card that you’ll ever need. Today we recap our conversation with Bolt Chandler, CEO of Self-Publishing School and publishing expert, highlighting our top takeaways on what writing a book can do for your business. We open by exploring how you can use your book to build your business before discussing how you can use your book to engage people on a more profound level. After looking at when you should consider authoring a work, we dive into the importance of ensuring that self-published books don’t look self-published. We then touch on top factors to consider before publishing including self-publishing versus traditional publishing, how you’re going to market your book, and how you can make it onto prestigious best-seller lists. For more insights into the world of publishing, be sure to tune in today!

Secrets of Self-Publishing Your Way to Becoming a Bestselling Author with Chandler Bolt Jan 05, 2021

As Chandler Bolt explains in this episode, publishing a book is like getting the keys to Narnia — it opens a magical land of opportunity for your brand. As the CEO of Self-Publishing School and with six bestselling books, we’ve brought Chandler onto the show to share the secrets of self-publishing, along with the incredible brand benefits of publishing a book. We open our conversation by comparing self-publishing with traditional publishing, with Chandler commenting on why self-publishing is the better option for most people. From a breakdown of costs to details on cover design, we dive into the specifics of self-publishing and what you can do to make a slick-looking product. After unpacking the services that his company offers, Chandler provides insights into packaging, printing, and shipping your work. We then focus on how your book can function as the world’s best business card, getting your foot in the door of podcast appearances and speaking events. Near the end of the episode, we touch on how you can get your book onto best-selling lists and earn persistent sales. Tune in for more on becoming a best-selling author.

Lisa Woodruff Recap: Highlights From the Interview Jan 01, 2021

As famed businessman Charlie "Tremendous" Jones was a fan of saying, “five years from now, you’ll be the same as you are today except for the books you read and the people you meet.” In this episode, we share our top highlights from Lisa Woodruff, whose approach to personal development has grown her company into a seven-figure business. Our first takeaway from Lisa is profoundly simple — that your mind is your greatest lifelong asset. We discuss the importance of investing in your mind and the ways that Lisa has developed herself. Linked to this, we then dive into Lisa’s journey with Brand Builders Group and how it gave her tactical and actional steps to scale her business. For our final takeaway, we focus on Lisa’s patience when building her brand. As she explains, growth takes hard work and time. You need both to achieve incredible results. Tune in for more insights into our inspiring conversation with Lisa Woodruff.

How to Serve a 7-Figure Niche with Lisa Woodruff Dec 29, 2020

Building a seven-figure brand requires long-term commitment and consistent hard work. While there’s no shortcut, investing in your education is a surefire way of growing your greatest asset — yourself. Today we speak with Organize 365 Founder and CEO Lisa Woodruff about how she serves her niche and how she found success by playing the long game. We open the episode by talking to Lisa about her experience nurturing her brand with Brand Builders Group and why being a teacher has helped her win at business. After discussing the enormous value of investing in yourself, we unpack Lisa’s path to success. She provides insights into how her business evolved and what she did to carve out her niche in the organization industry. We touch on how Lisa established herself as a thought leader and how creating a body of content bolstered her brand. We then dive into the specifics, with Lisa sharing details about her revenue numbers, staff and customer size, service offerings, and how her customer journeys impact her messaging. Reflecting on her target market, Lisa chats about the power of positive affirmation and acknowledging the emotional components of time management. As Lisa explains, building a brand and finding the best way to serve your niche is like running a marathon. Tune in to hear the strategies that Lisa used to win hers.

Sean Cannell Recap: Highlights From the Interview Dec 25, 2020

The power that YouTube has to grow your brand and spread your message is stronger than ever. Today we recap our top takeaways from our interview with Sean Cannell, YouTube King and the guy to go to if you want to know how to win at video. After discussing how YouTube has become increasingly relevant, we highlight Sean’s advice that for your channel to succeed, “you need to become a master at holding attention.” We share our simple secrets to becoming a more engaging presenter before focusing on the importance of editing down when creating video content. For our last takeaway, we dive into why you should enjoy your obscurity while you have it. As Sean explains, this is the time to build a solid foundation and prepare yourself for popularity. Tune in to hear a summary of Sean Cannell’s most impactful learnings.

How to Win at YouTube with Sean Cannell Dec 22, 2020

When you create YouTube content, you are only one viral video away from changing your whole life. Today we speak with best-selling author and video expert Sean Cannell about how you can grow your brand on YouTube. We open our conversation by exploring the YouTube landscape and how, unlike other platforms, it acts as a content library and not as a feed. Sean shares why now is the best time to start a YouTube channel before explaining how you can overcome your early challenges like slow growth and having little viewer feedback. Sean then opens up his playbook, diving into the best practices that lead to YouTube success. You’ll hear practical advice on creating punchier videos and insights into how best to approach your content. We also discuss the top ways to get high YouTube rankings, why you should focus on quality over quantity, and why you should never upload a video that your subscribers didn’t ask for. YouTube has become a dominant way for people to build their brands. Tune in for an inside scoop on winning at YouTube from a creator whose videos have earned over 100 million views.

Clint Salter Recap: Highlights From the Interview Dec 18, 2020

“I don’t want to limit my opportunity by serving a small audience.” This is a common sentiment felt by many personal brands. But as our interview with Dance Studio Owners Association CEO Clint Salter proves, you increase your opportunity by serving a smaller community in a deeper way. Today we share our top highlights from our conversation with Clint and pinpoint the lessons that will help you grow your brand. We reflect how personal brands have a different path of success than traditional brands that rely on mass appeal. We then dive into why niching down is a powerful method of making your fortune. After sharing tips on carving out your niche, we discuss the value of treating new projects as experiments. For our final takeaway, we unpack how knowing your audience puts you in the best position to serve them. Tune in for more insights into how you can find success by serving your community.

How to Get Rich in a Niche with Clint Salter Dec 15, 2020

Too many personal brands fail to find success because they’re inconsistent with their message and the audience they target. Clint Salter, CEO of the Dance Studio Owners Association, is the perfect model of how you can build a huge revenue-generating company and own your niche — all by committing to your message and audience. We open our conversation with Clint by exploring his business and career highlights. As he unpacks his journey, Clint highlights the importance of experimentation and being willing to devote yourself to a project. After sharing specifics on his services, pricing, and subscription model, Clint talks us through what he did to build his audience. Apart from his process, Clint talks about how he creates value for his audience by understanding their challenges and why you should first master one distribution platform before moving onto another one. Near the end of the episode, Clint emphasizes the role of commitment, hyper-focus, and clarity in establishing yourself in your niche. Tune in for more of Clint’s top insights into getting rich in your niche.

John Jantsch: Highlights from the Interview Dec 11, 2020

In today’s episode, we highlight our top takeaways from our previous conversation with, “the world’s most practical small business marketing speaker and expert” — John Jantsch, AKA The Duct-Tape Marketer. We open by exploring John’s thoughts on researching and testing your ideas long before they appear in your book. After talking about how you can use your audience to test your content, we discuss John’s strategy of finding your audience by partnering with brands that serve your community. Reflecting a theme that has consistently appeared in many of our recent episodes, we then focus on the importance of building your email list and how you can do this through your content. Considering that strong SEO is eternally relevant to your online presence, we unpack John’s insights into structured data and SEO best practices. We wrap up the episode by looking into how data can give you a competitive edge and why having a process to gather and interpret data is necessary to grow your brand. Tune in for more of our key moments from our incredible discussion with John Jantsch.

How to Get Your Product Found with John Jantsch Dec 08, 2020

The most elegant marketing plan will always be restricted by real-world limitations. But when it comes to getting results, it doesn’t have to look pretty. It just has to work. Today we speak with Duct Tape Marketing Founder and world-famous practical marketer John Jantsch about what you can do to get your product in the hands of customers. Early in our conversation, John shares his ever-relevant marketing approach before exploring how he created the Duct Tape Marketing brand. We then ask him for tactical advice on landing early customers. His answers highlight the value of involving potential customers in your product building process and starting your marketing as soon as possible. With so many platforms available, John discusses the best ways to find an audience. After emphasizing the importance of your email list, John unpacks everything that small businesses need to know about SEO. We wrap up by touching on the history of duct tape. Throughout our discussion, John shows how so-called complex marketing concepts are easy to understand and directly lead to a higher business profile. Tune in for more insights on getting your product found.

Dr. Josh Axe Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 04, 2020

Dr. Josh Axe perfectly embodies our strategic approach to building a personal brand. For Josh, this approach has been incredibly lucrative — he’s converted his personal brand into a 9-figure business. Today we reflect on our previous episode with Josh, highlighting our top takeaways from the conversation. For our first takeaway, we discuss the importance of forming your brand around one core message that you’re passionate about. While chatting about how Josh’s business evolved from a newsletter, we talk about why you should start creating your brand as soon as you can. After sharing the power of consistently adding value and having a desire to serve, we touch on why reaching only one audience member can still significantly impact your success. Near the end of the episode, we dive into why you should build a strong website and why having a data dashboard allows you to better market your products. A master of following the formula, tune in to hear more takeaways from our fascinating and informative conversation with Dr. Josh Axe.

Following the Formula with Dr. Josh Axe Dec 01, 2020

There is no guarded ninja hack to propel your brand forward. Instead, success is achieved by working hard and following tried and tested marketing formulas. Just ask natural health expert Dr. Josh Axe — he followed these formulas to build his nine-figure personal brand, along with the number one natural health website in the world. Today we speak with Josh about creating businesses and the power of following the formula. Early in our conversation, Josh talks about his motivations behind forming his natural health company. We reflect on the value of aligning your passion and what you’re good at with your business service before touching on how you can structure your company based on what your competitors offer. We discuss how you can solve your problems by reaching into your network and then explore some of Josh’s earliest business mistakes. A key theme in this episode, Josh shares details about how being coachable and focusing on winning formulas has led to his success. Near the end of the episode, we dive into why both a steady and accurate data stream and earning trust is crucial to scaling your brand. An inspiring story that proves how dedication and education lead to success, tune in to hear more about building your brand and business from Dr. Josh Axe.

How to Write Books from the Heart with Lysa Terkeurst Nov 24, 2020

Being vulnerable and talking to the individual and not the crowd is a powerful way to write books that relate to your readers. This key insight comes from today’s conversation with New York Times best-selling author and immensely popular Christian voice Lysa TerKeurst. After chatting about how Lysa first met hosts Rory and AJ Vaden, she opens up about her journey of discovering her husband’s infidelity and ultimately forgiving him. This remarkable story forms the basis of her latest book, Forgiving What You Can't Forget. Following this, we discuss the value of being vulnerable and how it can help you get your message across to readers. While exploring the differences between privacy and secrecy, Lysa talks about not letting crisis define you. She then shares her top tips on building a message that can inspire hope without alienating readers. Reflecting on Lysa’s writing process, we touch on the huge place that forgiveness and confession have in scripture and how Lysa aims to live her life in a state of “pre-forgiveness.” Lysa wraps up our discussion by giving listeners some final advice on how you should position your book for readers before highlighting the need to provide solutions to your reader’s problems. Tune in for more wisdom from Lysa TerKeurst, an author whose sound strategies have led to her selling more than six million copies of her books.

Michael Michalowicz Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 20, 2020

Personal brands are a lot like golfers — they lie about their score. Today we recap the key takeaways from our conversation with successful entrepreneur and business fixer Mike Michalowicz, who highlights that your high score, whether it’s your revenue or follower count, is nowhere near as important as your profit. As we open this episode, host Rory Vaden reflects on the fallacy of top-line thinking, emphasizing Mike’s point that your profit margin indicates how healthy your business is. On the topic of building healthy businesses, we explore the difference between income and equity value before diving into why companies with high equity aren’t dependent on their founders. Our final takeaway, we focus on the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs face and how you can develop systems to both identify and then solve your business problems. A profound episode for anyone interested in scaling their business, tune in for more of our top insights from our discussion with Mike Michalowicz.

Profit First with Mike Michalowicz Nov 17, 2020

Many seemingly successful influencers brag about their huge follower numbers and the high fees they charge for speaking events. What they don’t tell you about is how little of this translates to profit. Today we speak with best-selling author, entrepreneur, and business fixer, Mike Michalowicz, about putting your profits first and creating a sustainable business. We open our conversation with Mike by exploring his writing process and what he does to write books that are relevant one hundred years from now. Linking to how you can develop your brand as a thought leader, Mike talks about why your book needs to provide extraordinary value. Anything less might damage your credibility. We then discuss tips on how you can protect the financial health of your business by focusing on generating profit. Mike explains why reducing a company’s dependency on its owners leads to long-term viability. We touch on how you can structure your business to resell pieces of it, how it’s become easier to measure brand value and the importance of transitioning your personal brand persona into your company’s icon. Tune in for more insights into what you can do to increase your profitability and develop business sustainability.

Chris Ducker Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 13, 2020

While it seems glamorous to have a personal brand, the most successful brands have earned their appeal through consistent hard work. That’s one of the main takeaways from our informative conversation with Chris Ducker. In this episode, we recap Chris’s many insights, including how you can highlight your unique value by focusing on being someone’s favorite resource within your niche. Another key lesson, we dive into why Chris never discounts his products, with host Rory Vaden discussing how discounts cut into your profits. After sharing brilliant alternatives to offering discounts, we look at how Chris built his company through commitment and hard work. As Rory explains, if you follow these same steps, then success will follow. Tune in for more of our top takeaways as we unpack our talk with Chris Ducker.

Nailing Your Online Subscription Model with Chris Ducker Nov 10, 2020

Author and serial entrepreneur, Chris Ducker has built an income stream by following a simple formula — show up every week and create content that answers a question or solves a problem. This insight comes from today’s conversation with Chris, in which he candidly explains the steps he’s taken to create his successful subscription service, Youpreneur Academy. Early in our discussion, we talk about his subscriber numbers, retention rates, and what he does to manage his website. From video training to blog posts, we chat about what his members get out of his service and why he no longer needs to upload huge amounts of content per month. After touching on why he charges dollars for subscriptions, we dive into a key part of his offering — the community aspect. As Chris explains, entrepreneurs need to speak to and learn from their peers. In his case, this includes mega-successful business people who have only started to build their personal brands. We then discuss his tiered subscription model, why email is the king of his marketing funnel, and why you should aim to get users onto your website and away from social media platforms. Tune in for more on what you can do to nail your online subscription model.

Rebecca Louise Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 06, 2020

When Rebecca Louise answered a casting call to appear in a YouTube video, she never knew that it would set her on the path to owning a fitness empire, complete with an app and YouTube channel. Today we recap our key takeaways from our conversation with Rebecca, whose story highlights that starting something is often more important than knowing the direction that you’re headed. An early takeaway, we discuss how YouTube has become a driving force behind business success. After touching on how YouTube rewards creators who deliver content that their audience wants to see, we dive into the power of having a ‘can do’ mindset. We then explore how Rebecca’s direct sales and personal brand feed into each other before chatting about Rebecca’s road to success. We wrap up the episode by talking about Rebecca’s content and how it reflects the lesson that people pay for organization and application. Tune in to hear more of our chief learnings from Rebecca Louise, a master of both direct sales and personal branding.

Using Your Personal Brand to Grow Your Existing Business with Rebecca Louise Nov 03, 2020

Turning your content into a hefty and steady income stream is an eternal challenge, especially when you’re competing with ‘free.’ Today we speak with author and fitness coach Rebecca Louise about how she blended her personal and network marketing brands to make money through her fitness app. After chatting about her start on YouTube and how she first discovered the power of network marketing, we discuss the process of building your YouTube channel from zero followers. A key insight, Rebecca talks about how she first developed her brand by offering free content on YouTube before creating her subscription model. We then dive into her philosophy on what she gives away, and what she doesn’t, while highlighting the importance of consistency, and offering ‘community as a service.’ Rebecca provides listeners with tips on using YouTube’s algorithm to your advantage before we explore what she’s done to balance her personal and network marketing brands. Near the end of the episode, we ask Rebecca about It Takes Grit, her new book, and how she’s bringing valuable lessons about mindset to her audience. Tune in and hear more on the links between personal branding and network marketing — and how you can sell your content by merging the two.

Dan Thurmon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 30, 2020

When we’re thrust into uncertain times, your mindset is often the deciding factor on whether your business survives or fails. Today we recap our inspiring conversation with Dan Thurmon, a mindset champion and keynote speaker whose source of income was taken away by the pandemic. We reflect on the devastating effect that uncertainty can have in our lives before reflecting on our first key takeaway from Dan — that having a disciplined mind can help you embrace change. After all, as Dan explained, you’ve been adapting your whole life. Following this, we discuss the power that comes from leaning into change and up-leveling your business. The perfect example, Dan has used technical innovations to bring his live speaking practice to the virtual world. Our final takeaway, we dive into Dan’s mindset to serve. A fantastic content pathway, we talk about how Dan prioritizes serving his audience and striving to make an impact in their lives over making money. We then chat about why this is such a successful model and that when you take action and consistently add value, the money will naturally follow. Tune in to hear how your mindset can help you develop the confidence and ability to weather any storm.

Dynamic Speaking and Scaling Joy with Dan Thurmon Oct 27, 2020

We always face a level of uncertainty. But the more we improve ourselves, the more certain the future becomes. Today we talk with phenomenal keynote speaker, Dan Thurmon, who has given keynote addresses for some of the world’s biggest companies. A driving theme in this episode, we dive into what Dan has done to improve his business as he transitions from event speaking to giving talks in the virtual world. Before getting into that, we chat about Dan’s mega-success creating TikTok videos with his daughter. Although Dan has connected with a new audience and has found clients through his TikTok videos, he shares how his videos are made to give joy on a huge scale. After chatting about the value of giving back to your community, Dan walks us through his studio — follow the link below to our YouTube channel to see the tour. As a famously dynamic speaker, Dan explains how his studio set up allows him to maintain his out-of-the-box style. He then provides specifics on how he uses different backdrops, performative set pieces, and camera angles to structure his talks and make them more compelling. Near the end of the episode, Dan opens up about uncertainty and how we can overcome difficult times through self-improvement and adaptability. Tune in and hear more of Dan’s insights on scaling joy, being a dynamic speaker, and dealing with uncertainty.

Vanessa Van Edwards Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 23, 2020

While many see public speaking as an art, Vanessa Van Edwards has reduced it to a science that can be taught. Today we recap key insights from our conversation with her on what you can do to be a more effective speaker. Our first takeaway, we talk about how hand gestures can build trust with your audience and how your body can be used to convey your message. After touching on Vanessa’s data-driven process, we discuss what she did to make her Ted Talk go viral. We review her actionable steps before focusing on an important lesson — that how you use the stage can either diminish or empower your presentation. We then chat about the benefits of standing and delivering your message versus intentionally moving across the stage. Our last takeaway centers on why you should get your content on YouTube, a recurring theme among our latest episodes. Tune in to hear how you can level up your speaking game, along with specifics on what YouTube can do for your brand.

Top Secrets to Effective Speaking with Vanessa Van Edwards Oct 20, 2020

From Simon Sinek to Sir Ken Robinson, the most charismatic speakers have used the same secrets to captivate audiences and create viral videos. Today, we speak with behavioral investigator and incredible speaker, Vanessa Van Edwards, about what you can do to become a more effective speaker. After introducing Vanessa, we dive into her work analyzing TED Talks, and what factors separate the most and least successful speakers. She highlights the importance of non-verbal communication, including gestures, and how you can use the stage to structure your content.

Hal Elrod Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 16, 2020

From how you define success to the limits that you set yourself, it’s liberating to know that you have a huge amount of control over your branding journey. As we recap our episode featuring Hal Elrod, this key theme appears throughout our conversation — that you’re in the driver’s seat. Our first takeaway centers on how Hal is the poster-child for successful self-publishing, a path that is not recommended by conventional wisdom, which stresses the importance of traditional publishing. Following this, we discuss Hal’s insights into how you’re in charge of your internal-world, along with what making an impact means to you. We then reflect on Hal’s journey and how he survived a horrific accident, helping him to develop his positive and grateful outlook. While tracking the business steps he took, we highlight how Hal’s consistent hard work eventually led to skyrocketing book sales. Near the end of the episode, we explore the strategy of building a community around your message, and how your community can end up being your greatest salesforce. Tune in to hear more of our top takeaways from our incredible discussion with Hal.

The Miracle Morning With Hal Elrod Oct 13, 2020

A simple approach, creating the perfect morning routine will help you tackle the rest of the day as your best self. Starting every morning like that has a ripple effect with life-changing results. Today, we speak with the creator of the Miracle Morning, best-selling author and keynote speaker, Hal Elrod. But Hal wasn’t always a morning person. Early in the episode, he talks about the events in his life that transformed him, including how he experienced a horrific accident at 20 years old.

Stacy Tuschl Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 09, 2020

There’s no secret to crafting an effective marketing strategy — the best marketers build their brands and drive sales by combining offline and online practices. This is one of the key takeaways from our conversation with Stacy Tuschl, creator of the Foot Traffic Formula. This recap episode, we highlight many of Stacy’s other insights, including how mastering as many marketing strategies as you can will help you expand your impact. Following this, we talk about the importance of never comparing your marketing journey to others. It’s about slow and consistent progress as you bulk up your skill set. We then dive into specifics on where Stacy gets all of her traffic from, why you should hone your service offerings and marketing funnel, and how you can get paid to be put in front of someone else’s audience.

The Foot Traffic Formula with Stacy Tuschl Oct 06, 2020

Growing a local brick and mortar business comes with a unique set of challenges, especially as the pandemic is causing a shift into online spaces. Entrepreneurs need a proven method to help them carve their niche into the marketplace. Enter the Foot Traffic Formula, the genius marketing strategy developed by business expert and best-selling author Stacy Tuschl, today’s guest. Stacy starts the conversation by talking about how she started her dance business from a backyard before developing it into a brick and mortar service. We dive into the advantages of brick and mortar, including your deeper connection with customers.

Jason Dorsey Recap:: Highlights from the Interview Oct 02, 2020

Today we present you with the highlights and key learnings from our incredible episode with leading generational researcher, author, and speaker Jason Dorsey. We open by talking about how Jason built his success on research and how the more data he collected, the more in demand he became. As Jason has differentiated his business through researching Millennials and Generation Z, host Rory emphasizes that while new generational trends emerge, that research is a timeless expertise.

Why Research is Your Competitive Advantage with Jason Dorsey Sep 29, 2020

Without the right research, no one knows how to sell across the generation line. Instead, many companies rely on myths, like that Generation Z doesn’t like to communicate — they do, they just prefer to text. Today we speak with Jason Dorsey, a leading generational researcher and speaker, about why the research will give you a competitive advantage. He also shares his insights into Generation Z, a group that is already upsetting the marketplace. We open the conversation by chatting about his background and the work that his research firm does in providing top companies with data-driven analysis.

Kevin Harrington & Mark Timm Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 25, 2020

Your personal brand is a business. And if you don’t run it like a business, then it will never succeed as one. That’s one of our first key takeaways from our previous episode with wildly successful entrepreneurs Kevin Harrington and Mark Timm. Today, AJ and Rory Vaden discuss the powerful insights that arose in that incredible conversation. Our second takeaway highlights the value of mentors in unlocking your potential. Following this, we chat about having the humility to learn from mentors who are younger than you and the challenge of finding the right mentor. Reflecting on the Zig Ziglar quote that, “You don’t drown from falling into the water. You drown from staying there,” we explore the importance of having a mentor who has experienced failure before. As AJ explains, they’ll know how to help you when you deal with your failings. Near the end of this episode, we dive into Mark’s idea that you should treat your family as if it were your most important business. According to this idea, it needs systems and clever planning to run it properly. For our final insight, we talk about the impact of collaboration and how it gives you access to greater audiences — a secret behind both Mark and Kevin’s success. Tune in and hear more from our conversation with Mark and Kevin, two business and branding masters.

From Mentors to Millions with Kevin Harrington and Mark Timm Sep 22, 2020

While you may be a brilliant entrepreneur, everyone can benefit from having a mentor whose experience can unlock greater success. Today we speak with serial entrepreneurs Kevin Harrington and Mark Timm whose new book, Mentors to Millions, shows the power behind finding the right mentor. Reflecting this episode’s theme of impactful mentorship, Mark and Kevin chat about having both been mentored by legendary salesman Zig Ziglar. Despite having passed on, their connection caused Kevin and Mark to meet and form a strong partnership. We then talk about how mentors have enriched their lives before diving into what you should look for in a mentor. As their shared mentor, Zig Ziglar once said, “No one drowns from falling into the water. They drown from staying in the water.” Following this point, Kevin and Mark emphasize the value of being mentored by someone who has experienced failure and has learned from it.

Paula Faris Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 18, 2020

It was so amazing to introduce our audience to Paula Faris in our last episode! What an amazing and inspiring person from the top-tier of her profession, and as you probably heard, she did not disappoint! We had a personal and practical conversation, with Paula sharing actionable methods that you can apply to your business today! There were three main gems that Rory highlights in this recap, messages that really emphasize what we are all about here at the Influential Personal Brand Podcast! Paula talked about the importance of being relaxed, a conversational and relatable energy on camera or in your audio recordings is what will keep an audience coming back to you. By embodying the desire to serve, you are able to sidestep the self-conscious feelings that get in the way so often!

Get Your Foot in the Door and Kick it Down with Paula Faris Sep 15, 2020

The skills necessary for television broadcasting and those needed in the online influencer and podcasting space have a great deal of overlap. With that in mind, we have invited the wonderful and inspiring Paula Faris onto the show today to share her wealth of experience and wisdom from a life hosting and broadcasting! Paula talks to us about taking initiative, making opportunities out of nothing, and the big moments in her career that led to progress. We also spend time on the subject of presentation with Paula sharing her thoughts on getting comfortable on camera, and how important research and homework are for professional hosting.

Dan Miller Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 11, 2020

It’s easy to succumb to shiny object syndrome, especially when that trendy new thing promises to triple your revenue stream. In this recap episode, we share our top takeaways from our conversation with Dan Miller, whose mega-successful business model is based on consistency and not chasing quick cash injections. Host AJ shares our first highlight about creating products and content around the problems that your audience approaches you with. Reflecting on a key theme, we talk about how Dan resists the temptation to dive into every new thing and instead focus on building a consistent audience. We then discuss Dan’s business model and how his coaching formed the foundation for his content. Following this, we unpack why Dan doesn’t expect to make income from his books and how he sees his books as pillar content that he builds ancillary income streams around.

One Core Message with Dan Miller Sep 08, 2020

It’s a revelatory moment — finding that one core message to build your business around. Today we speak with Dan Miller, a New York Times bestselling entrepreneur and the author of 48 Days to the Work You Love. A personal branding pioneer, Dan shares how he created his wildly successful business around his 48-Day concept. A concept that he developed while offering career coaching at Sunday church. We then talk about Dan’s business model that ranges from offering one-on-one coaching and affiliate commissions to hosting events at his farm. Diving deeper into his subscription-based online community, Dan discusses what his community looks like, the services that he provides them, and how it provides a linear income while requiring very little of his time.

Juliet Funt's Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 04, 2020

Welcome to another special recap episode, where we’ll do a debrief, recap, and summary of our most recent interview with Juliet Funt. In our previous episode with Juliet, we discussed the battle against reactive busyness through something called white space. Juliet is the CEO of WhiteSpace at Work and an expert in white space, which helps organizations retrieve their talented teams from beneath piles of crushing to-dos and relentless task assaults. In today’s episode, we share our cliff notes from that interview, from making sure to work white space into every day to living the dream and setting up a flexible, virtual business and living on the road. We also share our main takeaways, which include writing a book at any stage of your career and the multiple ways in which we can be successful, as well as growing into your personal brand and doing things at your own pace. Tune in today to find out more!

The Battle Against Reactive Busyness with Juliet Funt Sep 01, 2020

As leaders, we often find ourselves in the trap of reactive busyness. Our time is under attack, from meetings, emails, and ever-present smartphones. But, if we want to get perspective and assess and enhance our business decisions, we need to take time to reflect. Time to daydream. Time to rest and recuperate. Juliet Funt is the CEO of WhiteSpace at Work, a very successful company that works with a lot of the Fortune 500, including some of the world’s top brands, such as Nike, P&G, Wells Fargo, Hershey’s and Hyatt. Juliet is an expert in something called white space, which helps organizations retrieve their talented teams from beneath piles of crushing to-dos and relentless task assaults. She has managed to build her business while living abroad with her family, living the dream of following her passion, creating an empire, and traveling the world at the same time.

Jim Cumbee Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 28, 2020

Welcome back to another recap episode! In our previous interview with Jim Cumbee, experienced business intermediary and President of Tennessee Valley Group, we spoke to him about making your business irresistible to buyers. He shared with us how a business is quantitatively valued using a metric called EBITDA, how you can increase your company’s value, and why strong businesses don’t always sell. In this recap, we go over our favorite takeaways from that interview, including building a business that operates without you, the dichotomy between selling a great business and wanting to keep it, recurring revenue, and applying these thought processes to purchasing rather than selling, as well as just having fun and making some money along the way, and the value of having an extensive contact base. Tune in today!

Seven Principles To Make Your Company Irresistible with Jim Cumbee Aug 25, 2020

No two businesses are alike and with so many unique elements adding to a company’s success, business appraisal is more art than science. In today’s episode, we talk about making your business irresistible to buyers with Jim Cumbee, a foremost expert on the subject and author of Home Run, A Pro's Guide To Selling Your Business. After introducing Jim, he discusses how a business is quantitatively valued using a metric called EBITDA. While EBITDA provides a good start, Jim emphasizes that smart buyers closely scrutinize the qualitative aspects of a business.

Amanda Tress Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 21, 2020

In a previous episode, we spoke to Amanda Tress about how she turned her personal brand into an eight-figure business using a brilliant micro-influencer strategy. Today we recap our key takeaways from our conversation with Amanda, starting with how you can be super successful and still run your business off of Google Sheets. Amanda’s business shows us the importance of focusing on what counts and not needing to have every aspect of your business figured out. On the topic of focusing on what’s important, we talk about how Amanda’s story is a reminder that anything is possible as long as you provide people with something that they need. For our third takeaway, we dive into the concept of micro-influencers.

Using Micro-Influencers to Earn $65 Million in Two Years with Amanda Tress Aug 18, 2020

Word of mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool in the business. Today we speak with Amanda Tress, founder of FASTer Way to Fat Loss, whose micro-influencer and word-of-mouth campaign has grown her business at an astounding— it’s made $65 million in two years. We open the conversation by talking about how Amanda started her program as a side-hustle with only 11 clients. She explains her business model and why not everyone can get certified as a FASTer Way to Fat Loss coach. A key takeaway, Amanda shares how she turned her customer force into her sales force by using her clients as affiliates and influencers.

Michael Hyatt Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 14, 2020

Few entrepreneurs have had as storied a career as Michael Hyatt, a former CEO and acclaimed author who boasts one of the biggest personal brands on Earth. In this episode, we focus on the key takeaways from our interview with Michael. Our first lesson is an important one — that nothing is more important than your email list. Seen as old-school, we talk about how your email list lets you own your virtual landscape so that you don’t need to rely on a mysterious algorithm that can change in the future. Another point in favor of prioritizing your email, we share how Michael’s revenue is tied to his email list. A profound learning in this difficult time, we then discuss how vision shouldn’t change through chaos but that strategy should. Reflecting on this idea, we share how Brand Builder’s Group pivoted their strategy during the pandemic.

The Vision Driven Leader with Michael Hyatt Aug 11, 2020

Every business needs a vision to guide it to greatness. And the great thing about having a vision? It doesn’t change in the middle of huge events like a pandemic. We speak about how you can develop your vision with Michael Hyatt whose new book, Vision Driven Leader, is an in-depth guide on the subject. Boasting the rare pedigree of having both led large companies as a CEO and having built businesses as an entrepreneur, we begin our conversation with a dive into how Michael grew his brand into a huge business. We’re talking a million unique website visits a month — that’s how huge his business is.

Josh Linkner Recap: Highlights from the Interview Aug 07, 2020

Josh Linkner is one of the busiest speakers in the world and a foremost thought leader on innovation, and today we recap the biggest takeaways from our recent interview with him. For Josh, being a professional speaker requires mastering three separate crafts: Thought leadership, marketing, and performance. Today we break down what Josh means by this and also discuss his three-part elevator pitch, the value of finding a fresh perspective on your chosen speaking niche, and the implication of the fact that there are four billion dollars of speaking fees booked each year in North America! Make sure you don’t miss this one!

The Three Components of Becoming a Highly Booked Speaker and Thought Leader with Josh Linkner Aug 04, 2020

Today’s guest is Josh Linkner and he is about to teach us how to book a hundred keynotes a year in the next 20 minutes! Josh is the world’s foremost expert on innovation both from an academic and an experiential standpoint. He is a five-time tech entrepreneur with a combined exit value of over $200 million, and he has won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award twice. On the thought leadership side, Josh speaks over 100 engagements every year, is the New York Times bestselling author of three books, and writes for publications like Inc and Forbes. For Josh, succeeding in the speaking industry comes down to three things, being a thought leader, a businessperson, and a great performer. Becoming a thought leader requires not just having expert knowledge, but a fresh and unique perspective on your topic of choice too.

AJ Yager and Meaghan Connell - Praxis Metrics Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 30, 2020

Welcome to another recap episode. Today we dive into the key points from our discussion with data wizards AJ Yoger and Meagan Connell. Many brands make decisions based on emotion or what other people are doing. Our first take away is that information is the new competitive advantage, especially as basing your decisions on data is what separates real entrepreneurs from the rest. We then focus on the importance of getting your tracking right as the first key step in building your data strategy. From tracking, we talk about knowing your predictable levers and learning which areas you can zone in on to get the results that you want.

Using Data to Make More Money with AJ Yager and Meaghan Connell Jul 28, 2020

In the world of marketing, information is power. And having access to the right data empowers your business, giving you an edge over the competition. We’re joined today by Meaghan Connell and AJ Yager, the cofounders of Praxis Metrics, one of the fastest-growing data dashboard companies in the world. Their team of data scientists and engineers provide companies with insights, tracking, and reporting to chart a path to greater success. We open the conversation by talking about what a data dashboard can do for you. AJ and Meagan explain the benefits from a marketing and sales perspective, showing how data tracks how users enter your marketing funnel and engage with your brand. AJ and Meaghan also explore how data can be applied to all sections of your business to reduce human error and effort, freeing up team members and allowing them to focus on their skill set.

David Avrin Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 23, 2020

We are so excited that our listeners got to meet one of Rory’s early mentors and good friends David Avrin, so prepare yourself for a lot of bro-love going around! But that is not to say that there were no major takeaways; there are heaps of things to learn from this interview! In this recap episode, Rory and AJ each highlight three things that stood out to them from the conversation about speaking as a job and a business. Because although what you see on stage might seem glamorous, there is a great deal of work that goes on behind the scenes. Another important point is that your message really is not about you or even your passion but about how your expertise in an area will somehow solve a problem your audience has. If you are thinking about getting into speaking or want to get better at it, be sure to tune in for this episode and the interview with David!

Building A Sustainable Speaking Business with David Avrin Jul 21, 2020

Thinking about quitting your day job to become a professional speaker? Hang on a minute. What you have to understand is that the speaking part is not the business—landing the gig is. There is far more to it than being passionate, getting on stage, and inspiring others with your story. Our guest today, David Avrin, has a systematic process for acquiring keynotes and growing a keynote business. He is one of the most in-demand customer experience and marketing speakers in the world and has authored several books, including It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who Knows You!, Visibility Marketing, and Why Customers Leave (and How to Win Them Back). One of the biggest mistakes you can make is focusing too much on yourself and too little on the audience you are trying to reach. While you need to have your story together, your emphasis should be on solving a problem they have and showing them how your unique experience fits into their solution.

Dave Hollis Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 16, 2020

Sometimes, a different approach is not only possible but also necessary when it comes to building your own personal brand. This was the key takeaway from our powerful interview with Dave Hollis, former President of Worldwide Theatrical Distribution at the Walt Disney Company. After releasing some of the biggest movies in history, Dave realized that he had built many brands, which gave him unique insights into building his own one. We unpack some of those insights in this episode, in which AJ and Rory discuss secret shoppers, vulnerability, brand deposits and withdrawals, and criticism as the price of entry for building a personal brand. For more highlights from the Dave Hollis interview, tune in today!

Embracing Vulnerability as Your Superpower Dave Hollis Jul 14, 2020

What if you’d worked hard so hard to create a brand with all the right optics and suddenly, it all came crashing down? Dave Hollis, today’s guest, experienced this when his wife Rachel wrote her renowned book, Girl, Wash Your Face. Rather than having the devastating effects he feared, Dave instead witnessed more authentic connections than he’d ever seen. This seismic moment showed Dave that a different brand-building approach was not only possible but also necessary. As former President of Worldwide Theatrical Distribution at the Walt Disney Company, releasing some of the biggest movies in history, Dave had built brands, which gave him unique insight into personal brand-building.

Nick Onken Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 09, 2020

In today’s special episode, we reflect on our powerful interview with photographer extraordinaire, Nick Onken. Not only was he a great guest, but he also drove home important points that we sometimes overlook in our brand-building endeavors. Some of our main takeaways from the interview include the role that photography plays in connecting with people online, how elevated realism makes your pictures jump out, and the importance of having cohesive pictures and captions. Along with this, we consider other important points from the conversation, such as the malleability of your online identity and the power you have to create and re-create your digital self, why being human and vulnerable fosters connection, and strategically planning your photographs’ emotions. Be sure to tune in today!

Using Elevated Realism to Build the Visual Identity of Your Brand with Nick Onken Jul 07, 2020

The visual identity of your brand is especially important in conveying your message, and photography plays a vital part in creating those visuals. Nick Onken is a world-renowned photographer, host of the NION Radio Podcast, and a creative entrepreneur devoted to inspiring the world to activate their creativity. His focus is around elevated realism, and in today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how the elevated realism that Nick creates relates to the visual identity of your brand. Nick shares his motives for conceptualizing, building, and directing creative shoots for his clients, and why a constant flow of energy is important to him while photographing his subjects. We discuss the importance of props, wardrobe, and location and how Nick creates visually stunning and authentic images from what could otherwise be cheesy ideas.

John Ruhlin Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jul 02, 2020

You don’t need millions of followers to create millions of dollars. Instead, you can develop deep connections with a few clients. That’s one of the key insights from our previous episode featuring John Ruhlin, an expert in client gifting. Today, AJ and Rory share their top three takeaways from the valuable conversation with John. We talk about our number one takeaway, the ‘love bomb’, which involves dropping a massive amount of love and attention on a select group of people. AJ and Rory experienced this first-hand when John threw a unique party at their home — and they’re still talking about it years later. After highlighting the impact of providing extraordinary experiences for a few, instead of ordinary experiences for many, we talk about how investing in people is a long-term marketing strategy.

Unlock Loyalty and Strengthen Your Network with John Ruhlin the Guru of Giftology Jun 30, 2020

Relationships are the bedrock for most businesses. John Ruhlin, today’s guest, is a speaker, author, and master of giftology, a marketing strategy that solidifies your relationships and builds stronger networks. There are few better pitches for the power of giving gifts than John’s own journey. From Ohio farm boy to becoming the top performer for one of the world’s most recognized brands — John’s success has been propelled by the power of radical generosity. We discuss the ins-and-outs of giftology as a strategy that increases customer loyalty and referrals. John explains why the essence of gift-giving is about honoring relationships and why gifting should never be transactional.

Kristen Giese Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 25, 2020

Our recent interview with Kristin Giese did not fail to deliver several ah-ha takeaways that we are highlighting in this episode. Our conversation with her was all about getting booked on television, and, as you will hear from Kristin, you need to up the entertainment value rather than concerning yourself too much with the information. Because television is primarily about entertaining viewers with embellished stories and drama! That is not to say that you should be anyone other than yourself, however. Kristin talks about tapping into your “heightened authenticity” to strike the balance between being true to yourself while still giving the audience the fanfare they want. We also talk about what Kristin said about social media, viewing everybody as a meaningful connection, and doing your research before making a pitch.

What It Takes to Make It On Television with Kristin Giese Jun 23, 2020

Today’s show is a rare occurrence because we’re introducing you to someone who is neither a client nor someone from the industry that we know personally. Her name is Kristin Giese, and she cold pitched us to be on the podcast. We hear from at least four people every week who want to come on the show and we turn down most of them, but in this instance, a couple of factors played a role in us inviting Kristin on. She has outstanding results and her message is of direct relevance to our audience. She is a talent manager and executive producer who has worked with Miss USA, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Real Housewives, and has sold TV shows to NBC, TLC, Bravo, and has made 79 bookings on The Oprah Winfrey Show. You get the picture. In this episode, Kristin gives listeners a glimpse into the world of television, focusing on what it takes to make it and have longevity in this medium.

Angie Lee Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 22, 2020

One of the most important points that jumped out from our recent conversation with Angie Lee was that it took her two and a half to three years to even get started and see traction in her business. If you are not willing to dedicate yourself to the mission of building your brand for at least five years, don’t bother getting started at all, because this is a long game. And we don’t mean this to be a discouraging fact but something that motivates you to keep going when it is tough.

Going Pro with Digital Marketing with Angie Lee Jun 16, 2020

Our guest on the show today says she was not cut-out for college. She hated every minute of it until she eventually dropped out and pursued her dream of merging her love for health and wellness with her then-new interest in digital marketing. Today, Angie Lee knows that this was the only path for her since she always knew she was a businesswoman rather than a dietician—which is what she studied for. Her podcast has millions of downloads and she has one of the best personal development events for female entrepreneurs called Pays to Be Brave. In this episode, she talks to listeners about hard work and consistency because there is no overnight success.

Chris Harder Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 11, 2020

For anyone who is into direct sales or is interested in exploring this option, the episode we had with Chris Harder is a must-listen. We speak to him about the benefits of this business model, and he shares how he and his wife have maintained direct sales as part of the income stream through the years, despite the many other sources of income they have. Chris talks about the difference between a personal brand and a media brand and how this distinction will help you to understand what you want to achieve with your podcast for example. We all tend to think that having many followers on social media is the key to success, but as you’ll hear from Chris, you don’t need a million followers to make a million bucks—sometimes you just need a thousand of the right followers.

Getting Your Slice of the Personal Brand Pie with Chris Harder Jun 09, 2020

Chris Harder, our guest on the show today, is generous and humble, and still invests loads of time into his personal development despite his entrepreneurial success. Rory met Chris at a high-level mastermind, programs that the latter not only teaches but also participates in and learns from as a self-proclaimed “self-development junkie”. This is someone who has built a monster personal brand from the ground up and has done it right. His podcast is called For the Love of Money which is his biggest platform, and he has over a quarter of a million followers on Instagram.

Anton Gunn Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jun 08, 2020

Welcome to another special recap edition of the podcast. Today on the show we are diving into our interview with Anton Gunn, a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Anton has a master’s degree in social work from the University of South Carolina and is one of the most authoritative voices on socially conscious leadership. He is also the bestselling author of The Presidential Principles and an international speaker and consultant. During our interview, Anton shared some really useful and profound ideas that helped us personally process all that is going on through the lens of a strong leader, a black man, and a personal brand.

Bonus Episode: Responding Versus Reacting to Injustice with Anton Gunn Jun 03, 2020

Today we introduce our listeners to a good friend and client of ours who we look up to and whose work we respect deeply. He is Anton Gunn, a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Anton is one of the most authoritative voices on socially conscious leadership, with a master’s degree in social work from the University of South Carolina. He is the bestselling author of The Presidential Principles and an international speaker and consultant who has worked with, among others, organizations such as Microsoft, Sodexo, and Boeing. In this special episode, we get his perspective on the right way to think about and approach the racial injustice crisis that has flared up in the US in recent weeks.

Sazan and Stevie Hendrix Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 29, 2020

Do you ever think you’re too old to join Tik Tok? If we learned anything from our conversation with Sazan and Stevie Hendrix, it’s that you’re never too old to create fun and relatable content and that just being present is half the battle. Today, we bring you another special recap edition of the show, where AJ and Rory debrief and summarize Rory’s recent interview with legendary influencers, Sazan and Stevie Hendrix. We spend the first few minutes of the episode just riffing about how cool and funny Sazan and Stevie are, but we get into our constructive takeaways eventually, we promise! For more on how the Hendrixes show up early, use SEO and hashtags to help viewers find them, recycle popular content, create a consistent presence, and evolve with their audience, make sure not to miss this recap episode. It’s full of useful information from one of the most popular couples on social media. Tune in today!

Truly Connecting with and Growing Your Social Media Audience with Sazan and Stevie Hendrix May 26, 2020

We all have social media accounts, but do we know how to utilize them effectively to leverage our audience and grow our brand? Today’s guests have a few ideas about how to truly connect with your audience, grow your following, and create relatable content. If you’re already one of their millions of followers, you already know that Sazan and Stevie Hendrix are the coolest couples in social media. Together, they have built a loyal following on Instagram, YouTube, and even Tik Tok.

Mike Johnson Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 21, 2020

Welcome to this special reality TV recap edition of the show where AJ and Rory chat about their recent interview with Mike Johnson! One of the biggest takeaways for today is the idea of being yourself, and you’ll hear about how Mike’s authenticity on camera can teach brand builders so many lessons. Other big talking points from today's recap are how one platform can be used to catapult you into others, the connection between reach, results and reputation in the brand-building formula, and a whole bunch more! Tune in for some amazing pointers about the parallels between performing on TV and building a personal brand!

Putting the ‘Real’ Back into Reality TV with Mike Johnson May 19, 2020

Today's show is all about reality TV and the role that being vulnerable and authentic plays in building a personal brand, and who better to talk to about this than Mike Johnson? If you haven’t heard of Mike yet, he is the man all of America has fallen in love with since his appearance on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise! What many people don't know about Mike is that he is actually an Air Force vet, but after he auditioned for The Bachelorette on a whim, he has since fallen into the personal brand-building game and is crushing it! We chat to Mike about the surprising pivot he made from the military into being a financial advisor, and what then gave him the idea to try out reality TV before becoming a celebrity and total heartthrob.

Rick Steele Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 15, 2020

When it comes to learning about paid ads using Google, it makes sense to listen to the man who spent 94 million dollars on it – Rick Steele! Our interview with him pretty much amounts to a course in digital marketing that somebody could charge for and today we recap its most valuable gems. The biggest takeaways are three key concepts that need to be understood to get digital marketing right: intent-based searches, retargeting, and optimizing your website using heat mapping. Rory prophesizes that these strategies will be as important to brand builders as they are to product vendors very shortly – indeed they're already being used – so tune in and get in on the gold rush before its too late!

Getting to Grips with the Fundamentals of SEO with Rick Steele May 12, 2020

Understanding SEO concepts like paid traffic acquisition and intent-based searches is easier than one might imagine, and if put to use properly, these digital marketing strategies can yield millions of dollars. Today’s guest is Rick Steele, and he joins us on the show to speak about how his use of SEO strategies has enabled him to build multiple billion-dollar businesses. Rick is not just an incredibly masterful businessman though, he is also a celebrated philanthropist and ambassador of effective altruism who is organizing a movement of high net-worth business leaders, to bring them together to solve immediate humanitarian and environmental concerns. He is a bestselling author, has been featured on the Inc 500 list twice, was named Humanitarian of the Year by Harvard Business School, is listed amongst FastCompany’s most innovative companies, and has been featured in Washington Post, Forbes, Entrepreneur, ESPN, Huffington Post, and Fox News. Amazingly, Rick is also a 13-time IRONMAN who has recently just completed seven marathons in seven consecutive days on seven continents! In our conversation with Rick, he talks about his early adoption of online, direct to consumer sales, and takes us through the entire process of finding a product to tweaking the way you market and sell it on your website.

John O'Leary Recap: Highlights from the Interview May 07, 2020

Our conversation with John O’Leary couldn’t have happened at a more appropriate time. His philosophy of humility, love, and gratitude which we speak about in today’s recap contains many lessons to apply in business but also in a personal capacity during this time where the world has reached a sudden halt. We talk about John’s experiences with people that helped him and how he pays this forward by treating everybody with kindness, no matter their position in society, and how this fits into his immensely positive worldview but has also played a central role in his success. Tune in for some much-needed inspiration and make sure you catch the full length too.

Gratitude with John O'Leary May 05, 2020

We learn our biggest lessons during our hardest times and it is important to remember and be grateful for this as we embrace our trials by fire. Today on the show we discuss gratitude, humility, and life lessons with John O’Leary who went from getting third-degree burns on 80% of his body after a gas tank explosion accident at age nine to becoming one of the busiest professional speakers in the world. John is the best selling author of On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, and has spoken to millions of people in over 2000 events across 50 states. John attempts to ‘live in yes,’ and he tells the story of how this attitude led him from his first few years of unpaid speaking gigs to arriving where he is today. Failure has a huge place in learning life’s lessons, and John tells a beautiful story about his grandfather which acts as a reminder that we should not only not forget, but actively practice gratitude for the things we learn in our toughest moments.

D'Arcry Benincosa Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 30, 2020

If you’ve ever been curious about video courses, our full-length interview with D’Arcy Benincosa which today’s episode acts as a recap of, is an absolute must. In today’s debrief, we focus on the different strategies D’Arcy uses to promote, price, and create her online courses. We touch on what determines a course’s value, using bonuses effectively, and how funnels can actually be really simple. Other big takeaways are how to prep an audience before launch, the value of doing webinars live, and building trust before launching a paid product. Tune in for this and a special bonus topic too, and catch the full-length to hear D’Arcy’s great advice coupled with her amazingly charismatic and bubbly self!

Everything You Need to Know to Make Brilliant Online Courses with D’Arcy Benincosa Apr 28, 2020

If you have a skill that you can teach, making online courses is an amazing way to add value to people’s lives as well as bring in significant revenue. In today’s show, we discuss the nuts and bolts of creating online courses with D’Arcy Benincosa, a hugely successful online course creator and one of the most sought after luxury destination wedding photographers in the world. We kick things off hearing about how D’Arcy forged a second career path out for herself so successfully. Her creative skills drew people to her work, but it was her gift for storytelling that made them want to learn from her. The law of reciprocity is huge in marketing and one of the big takeaways from today is how well the strategy of adding massive value to your audiences without charging them a cent works.

Mike Dillard Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 23, 2020

Mike Dillard went from being an introverted direct sales worker to earning millions of dollars a year using smart marketing tactics and today we recap a few from our recent interview with him. He invented magnetic sponsoring which basically digitized marketing but more interestingly he convinced an initially disinterested audience that they needed his product. Key takeaways include Mike’s use of copywriting to create this market for his product, how he disrupted the field of marketing by taking it digital, and a potentially less tapped AdSpend strategy too. Make sure you catch this one and hear all about how Mike took his uniqueness and applied it with amazing success to his winning businesses.

Putting A Stake Through The Sacred Cows of Your Industry with Mike Dillard Apr 21, 2020

No matter what niche you are operating in, the value of zagging when others zig can’t be overstated. Just be ready to make a few enemies amongst all the dollars you’re making along the way though! We got a chance to speak about this and many other valuable concepts regarding building a personal brand and business with our amazing guest for today, Mike Dillard. Mike has grown and exited several successful companies, has over five million downloads on his podcast, and his followers and book sales count in the hundreds of thousands. Mike’s main focus at present is helping entrepreneurs succeed, and he really teaches what he lives. In our conversation with Mike, he shares a wealth of expertise on topics ranging from the nitty-gritty of copywriting and digital marketing to high-level concepts of investing and managing a business.

Connie Podesta Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 16, 2020

Getting up on stage and mastering your delivery is so important, but how do you know that what you said actually sunk in? This is one of the many key questions Connie Podesta posed during our interview with her and today we sit down to do a debrief of the best parts. We talk about how Connie has no grand backstory but rather sells herself by focusing on her will to transform the audience. Another major takeaway is the fact that she uses no slides, opting rather to give the impression of spontaneity which she uses to engage more directly. This is so admirable because it means she trusts and owns her expertise enough to manage any unexpected situations that may crop up as a result!

Deeper Audience Engagement through Unscripted Keynotes with Connie Podesta Apr 14, 2020

Many of the best speakers use slides or a personal success story as tools to help them leave a lasting impression on audiences. However, there is a certain type of intimate chemistry enabled by a level playing field and a sense of spontaneity that this method fails to accomplish. Connie Podesta, our guest for today, falls into a more niched group of speakers, one that prefers to ditch the crutches and approach their keynotes as full-blown conversations. Connie is perhaps the queen of this method, and as a Hall of Fame speaker who has written seven books and worked with clients like Microsoft and Harley Davidson, her lengthy career stands as testimony to its effectiveness. In our conversation with Connie, we get into the nuts and bolts of the method of planned spontaneity she practices, where it came from, and how she teaches it to her students.

Jack Siney Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 09, 2020

Amidst the stress and strain that COVID-19 has placed on businesses across the globe, we must remember that some companies are in fact, booming! With every challenge comes opportunity, and we have to learn to adjust our skillsets and services where necessary if we are to survive! One such way is tapping into resources that you may have not ordinarily considered, like selling your business to the government perhaps. When it comes to recession-proofing your business, this is certainly not the go-to consideration for most people. But what if we told you that maybe it should be?

A Special Edition on Selling to the Government with Jack Siney, GovSpend Apr 07, 2020

While many businesses are suffering hugely at the moment, we can also think of this as a time that is begging for people to innovate, a time during which huge success can be found. Our guest for today, Jack Siney, joins us to talk about innovation in crisis, and he shares some unique content on the matter because he occupies an unusual corner of the market. Jack is the nation’s leading expert on selling to the government, having completed over 1.5 billion dollars in government sales through GovSpend, a company he co-founded. GovSpend is a database that displays comprehensive lists of government purchase orders so that businesses whose products the Feds might be interested in can find relevant agencies and assess their competition. In our conversation with Jack, he gives listeners an idea of just how big the demand in the government is for a wide-ranging set of products, especially in the current climate.

John DiJulius Recap: Highlights from the Interview Apr 06, 2020

In today’s special recap edition of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we are diving into a debrief and summary of the biggest takeaways from our interview with John DiJulius. John is a successful entrepreneur and authority on world-class customer service. When John is not running the daily operations of both his businesses, he is also a keynote speaker, international customer experience consultant, and best selling author of four books. Our number one takeaway from John’s episode is to practice what you preach. We are not teaching people ideas that we’ve learned, but rather principles that we’ve practiced. The second lesson is to make price irrelevant, and finally, learning how to operate under one message through multiple modalities. Stay tuned as we dive into these three concepts and how it applies to your business and brand building journey.

Dominating the Customer Service Vertical with John DiJulius Mar 31, 2020

All businesses place some degree of value on customer service, but the few that take it to the next level create something very special in their clients: emotional equity. In their customers’ eyes, these businesses are so good that the price they charge becomes irrelevant. Today’s guest is John DiJulius, AKA the guy who dominates the customer service vertical, and he joins us to talk about how his consistent devotion to this one thing made him so successful. John has written all the main books about customer service, runs coaching masterminds on the topic, and provides his services to some of the best companies in the world as a consultant too. John tells the story of how he and his wife aimed to focus strongly on customer service with their fledgling company, John Robert’s spa, and how this led to him getting asked to speak at events about his model thereafter.

Elizabeth Rider Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 27, 2020

Today’s episode acts as a recap of our powerful and technical conversation with Elizabeth Rider about social media’s underrated cousin: blogging. We discuss all the ways blogs generate traffic in far more effective ways than social media. While the prospect of having many social media followers can be alluring, hardly any of them see your posts and the platform algorithms are always against you. Blog posts, on the other hand, have incredible lasting power. We also speak about lead capture and SEO optimization strategies such as naming your blog post something that would get typed into Google.

Blogging: the Gift that Keeps Giving with Elizabeth Rider Mar 24, 2020

You can think of the yields generated through social media versus blogging in golfing terms, you drive for show but putt for dough. People tend to get hung up on the glamour of Instagram likes and followers, but the truth is that a blog post wins hands down when it comes to generating continuous and sustainable traffic. We were blessed to speak about this and other related ideas on today’s episode with OG health blogger Elizabeth Rider! Elizabeth is a health and business expert and coach, and recent author of The Health Habit. Blogging has taken her to the point where she owns a seven-figure business, has over 100 000 people on her email list, and gets 700 000 to a million views each month on her blog!

Bill Cates Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 19, 2020

If you’re still doing the same thing that was done in the 80s or 90s, how can you expect to have any influence? Having a loyal audience is definitely contingent on the provision of a service that they find useful, a service that is relevant. This is one of the major takeaways from our most recent interview with Bill Cates, which we will be recapping in today’s show. We also highlight how neuroscience can be put to work in marketing, the value of clarity over intelligence, remembering not to try and serve everybody, and a whole lot more!

Finding Your Right-Fit Client with Bill Cates Mar 17, 2020

Having a personal brand and message is exciting but there’s a big difference between that and being followed by an actual audience, let alone making money out of one! In fact, getting new clients is one of the main challenges to building your brand and it was an honor having Bill Cates on the show to share his wisdom in this regard. Bill is a Hall of Fame speaker and author of six books, the most recent of which is called Radical Relevance. This new book of his is all about sharpening your marketing message, cutting through the noise, and winning more ideal clients.

Susie Moore Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 12, 2020

The media needs you as much as you need them! This is one of the biggest takeaways we had from our most recent interview with Susie Moore which this episode acts as a recap of. Susie’s advice was so actionable and empowering, and today we talk about myths she debunked such as how editors only want to interface with publicists. We cover the practical advice that Susie gave for writing a good pitch, doing research, pegging content onto current events, and how to get the most publicity out of an article you wrote. Susie makes this business seem easy, which it will be if you follow her advice, so tune in today!

Mindset Shifts that Up Your Media Game with Susie Moore Mar 10, 2020

Your journey to building a personal brand might not be as difficult and long as you have built it up to be. Switching from fearful to confident is sometimes as simple as a few mindset shifts, and there are facts out there to help orchestrate this transition. Today’s guest is Susie Moore and as a media expert, she joins us on the show to drop a few bombs that will get you well on your way to interfacing with editors and turning content into dollars. Susie has featured on over 300 different media outlets including The Today Show and Oprah, and as a life coach and advice columnist, she has all the tricks you’ll need to develop the confidence to step out and claim your power.

Donald Miller Recap: Highlights from the Interview Mar 05, 2020

It is never too late to pivot as long as you keep your new message simple and singular, and repeat it till the cows come home! This is one of the major takeaways from our most recent interview with Donald Miller, of which this episode acts as a recap. Donald went from being a famous author of Christian memoirs to starting a hugely successful business brand coaching company, transitioning almost overnight between the two.

Orchestrating a Career Pivot by Owning the New You with Donald Miller Mar 03, 2020

There’s a lot of value in helping people more clearly explain what they do. This is because it enables them to find the other people out there who truly need to hear what they have to say. Clarifying people’s message is Donald Miller’s life’s mission and it was an absolute honor to have him on the show. Donald is the CEO of Story Brand and the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books including Blue Like Jazz, and he also recently wrote a number one Wall Street Journal bestseller called Building a Story Brand. Interestingly, Donald made a complete career pivot from writing Christian memoirs to guidebooks in the non-fiction brand-building space.

Julie Solomon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 27, 2020

Julie Solomon is somebody who is truly living her gift, and the knowledge she shared in our recent interview was priceless. So today as always we sit down to do one of our special recaps, this time of the biggest takeaways from our interview with Julie. We talk about her in-depth brand deal know-how, which preaches the value of staying confident, how to land your first gig on national TV, the high engagement levels of micro-influencers, and the importance of continuously reaching out.

Expert Tips for Marketing, PR, and Personal Branding with Julie Solomon Feb 25, 2020

There are many different paths to building an audience, but leveraging other influencers by managing their publicity is a great approach for those who are just starting out. In this episode, we sit down once again with the wonderful Julie Solomon to hear about her journey from being a publicist to a marketing coach who now enjoys her own massive audience too. Julie is a seven-figure entrepreneur and host of the wildly successful Influencer Podcast which has accrued millions of downloads from listeners across the globe. She is an expert in marketing, PR, and personal branding, and has worked with stars like Lenny Kravitz, Dave Ramsey, and Amy Porterfield.

Alberto Sardinas Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 20, 2020

If you can practice patience and persistence mixed with hard work you stand the best chance of building your audience and beating most of your competitors too, no matter what part of the world you come from. This episode serves as a recap of our most recent interview with Alberto Sardiñas, who is the host of the hugely popular Spanish radio show Intimo

The Prepared, Consistent, and Persistent Host with Alberto Sardiñas Feb 18, 2020

Hosting a radio show and building an audience can be a grueling process and it helps to have a few tricks under your sleeve. The value of good preparation, consistency, and having a big dose of self-esteem can go a very long way. This is especially true if you want to transition into new markets – like our guest today. We were fortunate to be joined on the show by Alberto Sardiñas who gets into his own journey with hosting radio shows and podcasts and building his US following too. Alberto is the host of the wildly successful Spanish story-based radio show Intimo in which Alberto gives personal advice to listeners who call in. He has 2.8 million Facebook fans! In this episode Alberto gets into his journey to becoming such a successful host in Spain, talking about his college days and initial desire to use whichever studios he could just to experience what it is like to be on the mic.

Ed Tate Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 13, 2020

In this recap edition of the show, Rory gives his biggest takeaways from his most recent interview with Ed Tate. Rory and Ed have been friends for a long time and the pair were grateful to get a chance to sit down and formally talk business after so many years. One of the most hard-hitting points Ed made was about the possibility of generating business in any economy by using the simple method of reaching out. Rory also gets into the importance of what Ed calls ‘never putting up a zero,’ by which he means doing at least one thing to push your business forward each day. In the final leg of this episode, Rory spends some time talking about how necessary it is to invest in a dream in order to realize it, because if you don’t invest in your dream, how can you expect somebody else to? Catch you on the other side!

Get Started with Ed Tate Feb 11, 2020

When it comes to learning the mechanics of world-class speaking, who might we look up to as role models? It is not the highest-paid speakers, celebrities, or politicians, but rather the World Championship of Public Speaking winners who truly set the benchmark. They are the masters who have turned this craft into a science. Today’s guest is Ed Tate, himself a World Championship winner, and one of Rory’s early idols. Ed is a Certified Speaking Professional and has been a corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and executive coach for people who want to make winning high stakes presentations for over 20 years. He joins us on the show today to share his perspectives about what building a reputation and staying on top of your game truly means.

Luvvie Ajayi Recap: Highlights from the Interview Feb 06, 2020

This episode serves as a recap and debrief of our most recent interview with Luvvie Ajayi. One of the biggest takeaways from our time with Luvvie was her boldness and the fact that she is not scared of being herself. She shouldn’t be taken as mean or nasty though because the actual source of her gestures as a writer and social commentator is an unflinching devotion to being real. Her genuineness, persistence, and resolve to follow her internal voice are some of the things that her success can be attributed to. During this episode we deconstruct her process, talking about the value of consistency, how fear and confidence relate to authenticity, the use of an avatar strategy for refining your message, and a whole lot more.

Following Your Life’s Calling in the Face of Persistent Fear with Luvvie Ajayi Feb 04, 2020

Today’s guest is Luvvie Ajayi, a New York Times bestselling author and speaker who uses her voice to inspire and critique. She recently published the hugely successful I’m Judging You, runs a life and business school called The Do-Better Academy, and the TED Talk she did has over four million views! Luvvie straddles the line between comedy and activism, readily critiquing pop culture and advocating for minority rights. In this episode, Luvvie gets into the central role that writing, persistence, and authenticity have played in getting her where she is today. When Luvvie's original plan to be a doctor fell by the wayside, she simply followed her heart and did whatever she felt like next, never letting fear get in the way. Her experience of regret after shying away from fearful things was more damaging to her than doing the things themselves, and today she speaks about how this tendency helped her fall into one success after another. We also hear her thoughts on her new book, which advocates for people to learn how to judge each other about things that matter and how that could create a more just society. It all comes down to listening to that dream which is always in front of us, and the knowledge Luvvie shares today about how to do that would be valuable to anybody looking for a push.

Andy Andrews Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 30, 2020

It’s time for a debrief of our most recent interview with Andy Andrews, the man responsible for bestselling classics such as The Noticer and The Traveler’s Gift. Andy has appeared on national television over 200 times and is the type of personality who doesn’t just regurgitate the same act but has rather continued to deliver unique and timeless works throughout his lengthy career. Today we drive home the theme of noticing Andy spoke of a lot – how it seems to penetrate much of his approach to work and outlook on life too. You will discover some essential skills any writer or speaker should have, such as the necessity of first being a student, and cultivating the ability to make connections between things that other people don't.

The Professional Noticer with Andy Andrews Jan 28, 2020

Every public personality has a unique skill or trait that they leverage to build their audience. Some are one-trick ponies though and tend to have career arcs that begin to dip as they bring out new acts that are just repackaged versions of old ones. Andy Andrews is a personality of a different order though, and we are so grateful to have him on the show today to share the steps he has taken to stay relevant over the entire span of his career.

Brett Kissel Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 23, 2020

It is with great pleasure that we bring you another one of our special recap episodes, this time of our amazing interview with rising country music superstar, Brett Kissel. It was a huge honor to have Brett on the show and our interview was even more meaningful because he was the first guest we have ever had that comes from the music space. Some of our big takeaways from our conversation with Brett are his skill at combining the business with the creative side of being an artist, his general knack for sales, and his ability to leverage himself as an asset in order to strike deals.

The Marriage of Music and Business with Brett Kissel Jan 21, 2020

It is an honor to introduce you today to one of our friends, Brett Kissel, who was recently named male artist of the year by the Canadian Country Music Association. He is a rising international superstar who also won an award from the Worldwide Radio Summit in Hollywood and was named International Artist of the Year — an accolade he shares with A-listers like Adele and Ed Sheehan. He has won two Juno Awards, 12 CCMAs, he has got an honor from Canada’s Walk of Fame, as well as many other prestigious awards. In today’s episode, you will hear how Brett built his music career from the age of seven and how a strong work ethic has brought him to his present-day success.

Christy Wright Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 16, 2020

Often times we seem to get the same perspectives over and over again on what it means to build a personal brand. But this is the complete opposite experience we had when talking to our special guest, Christy Wright. Christy is the author of Business Boutique, host of the Business Boutique Podcast, and is part of the Ramsey Solutions team, which she joined in 2009. In today’s episode, we recap some of our biggest takeaways from the conversation with Christy, including her unique approach to building a personal brand by leveraging the benefits of working with a much larger entity.

A Posture of Gratitude with Christy Wright Jan 14, 2020

We are incredibly fortunate to have longtime friend and legendary speaker Christy Wright as our guest for today’s episode. Christy is author of Business Boutique, host of the wildly popular Business Boutique podcast, and a Ramsay personality to top it all off! Christy joined Ramsey Solutions in 2009, has spoken to tens of thousands of people across the country at their events, and has used that as leverage to built her own personal brand thereafter in very short order. She has carved out a personalized niche in the space as well, using her reach to equip women with the knowledge and steps they need to successfully grow a business.

Jordan Harbinger Recap: Highlights from the Interview Jan 09, 2020

Welcome back to another one of our famous three and three recap shows! This time we are digging into our most recent interview with two-time iTunes top 50 podcast host, Jordan Harbinger. We are doing it a little differently today because both Rory and AJ’s points draw from distinct aspects of the same three themes. The first key takeaway is around Jordan’s fiduciary attitude to his audience, highlighting his pointed character, legal background, and reminder that a host should focus on interview quality rather than rubbing shoulders with guests.

You Are Your Audiences Fiduciary with Jordan Harbinger new Jan 07, 2020

We are extremely lucky to have two-time iTunes top 50 podcast host Jordan Harbinger on the show today. Jordan is a former Wall Street lawyer and an expert on social dynamics. His podcast, The Jordan Harbinger Show, receives a whopping five million downloads each month! He joins us today to share a wealth of knowledge about just what it takes to build a monster podcast like his. One of Jordan’s central strategies is that he considers himself a fiduciary to his audience. He explains that many people think of their guests as the ones to be buttered up due to a desire to leverage their social standing.

Nick Santonastasso Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 26, 2019

In today’s episode, we recap our interview with a special guest, Nick Santonastasso. Nick was born with Hanhart syndrome, the 12th case ever diagnosed, and today is only one of four people on the planet who have it. He has used his remarkable story and turned it into an incredible personal brand as a Vine star, Instagram bodybuilding personality, keynote speaker, musician, and more!

The Most Important Relationship With Nick Santonastasso Dec 24, 2019

Today’s amazing and inspirational guest is Nick Santonastasso. Nick is a Vine star, Instagram bodybuilding personality, keynote speaker, musician, and the list goes on. He’s an amazing human with an incredible message and has turned these qualities into a remarkable personal brand too. What’s more, is that Nick has achieved all of this despite coming into this world less two legs and an arm. He was born with Hanhart syndrome, the 12th case ever diagnosed, and today is only one of four people on the planet who have it.

Michael Stelzner Recap: Highlights of the Interview Dec 19, 2019

Today, on this special recap episode, we reflect on the interview with Michael Stelzner. As a good friend of Rory and an industry giant, we were so honored to have him on the show with us. We discuss our top takeaways from the conversation. Michael not only highlighted that organic reach is dead but pointed out that YouTube is greatly under-utilized as a social media platform.

Expanding Your Brand Beyond Your Wildest Dreams with Michael Stelzner Dec 17, 2019

What’s the largest audience you have envisioned your personal brand reaching? One million? 10 million? Why not try 100 million? If you think this is not within the realm of possibility, our guest today, Michael Stelzner has achieved this and is well on his way to even more. As a dear friend and advisor to Rory, Michael is an industry giant and a godfather of the influencer, social media, and digital marketing space. Whether you realize it or not, he has impacted you in some way. Today, Michael shares some extraordinary insights that he has gained through his tremendous experience.

Lewis Howes Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 12, 2019

This is a recap of a special episode for us because Lewis Howes is not just a business partner and client, but also a dear friend. The show kicks off with a behind the scenes story of the huge leg-up Lewis gave us in a time of need. Some of the strategies Lewis shared during the full-length weren’t common at all, and you'll hear about ideas like using photography to capture your brand's 'feeling' and the value of having a ‘big moment’ each year.

Capturing a State With Lewis Howes Dec 10, 2019

Today on the show we are thrilled to have Lewis Howes who isa New York Times bestselling author and host to one of the world's top 100 podcasts! Lewis has been featured on Ellen, Good Morning America, and The Today Show, all just ten years after he was broke living on his sister’s couch. Today Lewis talks about the six things that are key to building a personal brand, and how they are all related to capturing energy, state, or feeling which one’s audience then internalizes. He talks about the centrality of photography in his brand, letting us in on the intense preparation that goes into the images he uses.

Dennis Rodman Recap: Highlights from the Interview Dec 05, 2019

Welcome to today’s special recap, where Rory and AJ unpack their major takeaways from the interview with the iconic Dennis Rodman! It seems crazy to think that the height of his basketball career was over 20 years ago, yet he still remains as relevant as ever. This is a testament to the fact that he realizes building a personal brand means continually reinventing yourself. The constant moving with the tide that he advocates for was one of the key points Rory picked up from the interview. Another takeaway was the importance of being an expert in your chosen craft and segueing that into growing your personal brand. Dennis Rodman was a colorful character off the court, but his number one priority was being at the top of his game, which is how he earned the name, ‘The Rebound King.’

Building a Brand That Lasts with Dennis Rodman Dec 03, 2019

When you think about the most iconic basketball players ever, our guest today, Dennis Rodman makes the list every time. Not only was he an athlete extraordinaire, a five-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA All-Star, rebound league leader four different times, and an NBA Hall of Famer, he is also a New York Times best-selling author and one of the most colorful personalities the NBA has ever seen.

You Are Your Audience’s Fiduciary with Jordan Harbinger Dec 03, 2019

We are extremely lucky to have two-time iTunes top 50 podcast host Jordan Harbinger on the show today. Jordan is a former Wall Street lawyer and an expert on social dynamics. His podcast, The Jordan Harbinger Show, receives a whopping five million downloads each month! He joins us today to share a wealth of knowledge about just what it takes to build a monster podcast like his. One of Jordan’s central strategies is that he considers himself a fiduciary to his audience. He explains that many people think of their guests as the ones to be buttered up due to a desire to leverage their social standing. Jordan explains why this is wrong and hosts should instead consider themselves duty-bound to their listeners.

Michael Hyatt Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 28, 2019

Welcome to this special recap episode, where AJ and Rory share their biggest takeaways from the recent interview with Michael Hyatt. In addition to being the previous CEO of multi-million dollar publishing firm, Thomas Nelson, Michael is a repeated bestselling author and now owns his own Inc. 5000 company. What makes Michael so special is that his career gives him the ability to provide hard-earned perspectives from both within and outside of the publishing world.

Understanding the Seasons of Business Models and Personal Brands with Michael Hyatt Nov 26, 2019

In this episode of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we are honored to welcome on Michael Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson, New York Times bestselling author, and a true leader in the personal branding space.

Kevin Harrington Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 21, 2019

On today’s recap episode, we break down the core lessons and extract the golden nuggets from our interview with the original “shark,” Kevin Harrington. Kevin is a true American legend in the world of business, investing, marketing and sales. He is the original “shark” on the hit TV show Shark Tank, the creator of the infomercial, pioneer of the As Seen on TV brand, and co-founding board member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization. Have your mind blown this episode with the story of how a fishing lure infomercial went from making zero sales to becoming a $500,000 million product under the expert eye of Kevin Harrington.

How to Produce a Winning Infomercial with Kevin Harrington Nov 19, 2019

Today on the show, we welcome a true American legend in the world of business, investing, marketing, and sales. Kevin Harrington is the original “shark” on the hit TV show Shark Tank, the creator of the infomercial, pioneer of the As Seen on TV brand, and co-founding board member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization. Today on the show, Kevin shares with us some of the key lessons he has learned over the decades about marketing to the masses – particularly when it comes to getting people to pull out their credit cards and actually buy something!

Jon Acuff Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 14, 2019

On this special recap edition of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we give you our biggest highlights from the recent interview with Jon Acuff. Jon is a New York Times bestselling author who has helped some of the biggest brands in the world tell their story.

Managing the Beast that is Social Media and Making it Work for You with Jon Acuff Nov 12, 2019

Today on the show we welcome Jon Acuff, one of the original influencers of our generation. Jon is a New York Times bestselling author and someone who has built a very large organic social following over many years. Inside this episode, we hear all about Jon’s philosophies and how he approaches social media, managing his reputation, and building a strong personal brand.

Jay Papasan Recap: Highlights from the Interview Nov 07, 2019

Welcome to this special recap edition in which we will be breaking down, summarizing and giving you the highlights of our awesome interview with Jay Papasan. Jay is an executive at Keller Williams Realty Inc., co-owner of KellerINK, Keller Capital, and Papasan Properties Group, and is also the bestselling author of titles such as The One Thing and The Millionaire Real Estate Agent. The main ideas which we took away from Jay were the brilliant strategies he provided for zeroing in on the content for your next bestseller.

Creating Your Signature Content and Body of Work with Jay Papasan Nov 05, 2019

Today on the Influential Person Brand Podcast we welcome Jay Papasan, who is a bestselling author, an executive at Keller Williams Realty Inc., and a co-owner of KellerINK, Keller Capital, and Papasan Properties Group. Building a personal brand does not necessarily equal publishing books. But most of the world’s highest-paid and most significant influencers at some point will become successful authors. In today’s interview, we have the chance to learn from Jay, who has written multiple books and has an incredibly unique perspective on the topic.

Sally Hogshead Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 31, 2019

In today’s episode, AJ and Rory get together to do a debrief of the most salient points that Sally Hogshead made in her epic recent interview. Sally primarily spoke about the value of positioning and differentiating oneself, while sharing strategies and examples from her personal experience that show how this can be done. Rory and AJ were particularly struck by this idea that uniqueness is something that everybody already possesses.

Different is Better Than Better with Sally Hogshead Oct 29, 2019

Today we welcome true thought leader Sally Hogshead on to the show, where she drops all types of knowledge bombs! In our opinion, Sally is one of the smartest people in the world. She is a New York Times bestselling author and Hall of Fame speaker who has done campaigns for giants such as Mini, Nike, and Coca-Cola. She is also the genius creator of the Fascination Advantage Assessment, which is a personality test that teaches you how to find the special thing that separates you from everybody else in the game. Sally tells us how she blew up after years below the radar.

Les Brown and Dr. Ona Brown Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 24, 2019

On today’s show, we dive in to recap the life-changing conversation we had with Les Brown and his daughter Dr. Ona Brown in our previous episode. There were three major themes to take away from our interview with them that we will elaborate on today: ‘possibility’, ‘heart’, and ‘comparison’! For ‘possibility’, what Les said about how we either form the word ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in our hearts before the age of 5 was particularly poignant. We literally have the power to reach our dreams and become masters of our own destinies, and therefore the value of having an outlook based on ‘yes’ can’t be overemphasized enough.

Change the World by Finding Your Voice with Les Brown and Dr. Ona Brown Oct 22, 2019

Today on the show we welcome two legends who use their voices to change lives every day, Les Brown and his daughter Dr. Ona Brown. Les has been voted one of the top 5 motivational speakers on the planet by Toastmasters International, and also holds both CPAE Hall of Fame and Golden Gavel awards. Dr. Ona Brown is a world-renowned international speaker herself, as well as an expert in personal and professional transformation.

Chalene Johnson Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 17, 2019

This episode serves as a recap of the ground which renowned influencer Chalene Johnson covered in her recent conversation with AJ. If you want to learn how to be unique, visible and disruptive as an influencer, you should definitely tune into that episode.

Influencer Hacks From a Seasoned Pro with Chalene Johnson Oct 15, 2019

Today we welcome Chalene Johnson onto the show, where she schools us on some strategies and her journey to major success as an influencer. After much trial and error, Chalene has learned that reputation is really a mixture of integrity and visibility, and our conversation flows around how to build these. She makes the point that influencers should not try to replicate others.

Jon Gordon Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 10, 2019

This episode serves as a recap of the wonderful recent conversation we had with bestselling author, Jon Gordon. If you haven't yet listened to that full interview, do yourself a favor and go do that! In this recap, AJ and Rory each highlight three points that stood out to them from Jon's words. We cover getting yourself out there and promoting your work comprehensively, how to get booked for speaking gigs and why to possibly write a book before you have a deal!

Becoming a Bestselling Author and Successful Speaker with Jon Gordon Oct 08, 2019

In this great episode, we are so lucky to welcome our friend, author, speaker and all-round massively inspiring individual, Jon Gordon! He is here to share with us his own pragmatic and magical way of thinking about sharing your truth with the world. He talks about getting a major deal with a publisher without so much as a book proposal, gives some tips towards building a career in public speaking and how he has amassed the following that he now has on social media.

Jay Bear Recap: Highlights from the Interview Oct 03, 2019

On this special edition of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we are diving into a debrief, recap, and summary of our most recent interview with Jay Bear. Jay is a seventh-generation entrepreneur and author of six New York Times best-selling books. He is one of the most forward-thinking people in the world of personal branding is and also the founder of Convince and Convert Consulting, a digital marketing advisory firm that helps some of the most iconic brands such in the world to gain and keep more customers.

What it Takes to Build a Personal Brand with Jay Baer Oct 01, 2019

On today’s episode, we are joined by friend and digital marketing pioneer, Jay Baer to talk about the reality of building a personal brand. Jay is a seventh-generation entrepreneur and also the author of six New York Times best-selling books. He is also the founder of Convince and Convert Consulting, a digital marketing advisory from that helps some of the most iconic brands such as the United Nations, Hilton, and Nike, gain and keep more customers.

Gretchen Rubin Recap: Highlights from the Interview Sep 26, 2019

This episode is all about giving you the best of our recent interview with the awesome Gretchen Rubin who has multiple New York Times bestselling titles! If you’ve ever wondered how authors manage to hit that enviable list, this episode will give you the most important thoughts from our talk, including the main considerations such as the timing of your launch, building your email list and why preselling is a must.

Becoming a Number One New York Times Bestselling Author with Gretchen Rubin Sep 24, 2019

On today's show, we are so happy to welcome bestselling author, world-renowned speaker and all-round inspiring human, Gretchen Rubin! Gretchen has sold more than 3 million books and had her work translated into 30 different languages. Despite having multilayered success in different fields, it is writing that really helped her breakthrough as a household name. She has so much wisdom and experience around writing, approaches to media coverage, collaboration and beyond and it is such a treat to be able to share all of this with you!

Trent Shelton Recap: Best of the Interview! Sep 19, 2019

On this recap episode, we bring you all the highlights from our great conversation with former football player, Trent Shelton, who has gone from pro athlete to building an amazing personal brand with almost 11 million followers on Facebook! What stood out from our conversation with him is his authenticity and some of his best practices include his absolute consistency in showing up for his audience and his daily personal engagement with his community.

How to Get 11 Million Facebook Fans, with Trent Shelton Sep 17, 2019

Today we are so happy to welcome a wonderful guest, none other than Trent Shelton! A former professional football player, Trent's life had a major pivot a few years ago and since then he has managed to build an amazing personal brand with almost 11 million followers on Facebook! Trent is here to talk about his journey and offer some great frameworks for making the most of your own path.

Welcome to the Influential Personal Brand Podcast Sep 11, 2019

Welcome to the very first episode of the Personal Brand podcast with your lead host, Rory Vaden, co-founder of Brand Builders Group, Hall of Fame speaker, and New York Times bestselling author of Take the Stairs. At Brand Builders Group we help individuals build and monetize their personal brands. Some of our clients include Lewis Howes, Kevin Harrington, Julie Solomon, Brett Kissel, and more!

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