The Influential Personal Brand Podcast (Rory & AJ Vaden)

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!

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.

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! 

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.

Some of our episodes are so foundational and important that they can apply to all of our listeners, no matter what niche of online business and personal brand building you occupy. Today's conversation about legal protection with the amazing Heather Pearce Campbell is one of these! Heather is a powerhouse attorney, legal coach, mother, and a whole lot more, and in this chat, we get to cover some of the most pressing issues that entrepreneurs need to be aware of. We talk about copyrights and trademarks, different types of agreements and contracts, and everything in between. As Heather points out, this is such a vital part of a business but is often neglected, which happens for a variety of reasons. So if you want to put your concerns to rest, or just brush up on where you should be focusing your energy, join us to hear Heather simplify the often complex legal side of your business. 

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! 

After our incredible conversation with therapist and entrepreneur, Michelle Chalfant, we wanted to take a closer look at imposter syndrome and how it affects our lives. To start, we define what imposter syndrome is, how you can find out if you have it, where it comes from, and how it disrupts our lives. Then, we tackle some solutions for overcoming limiting beliefs including slowing down and taking control of your emotional health, adopting positive affirmations, and moving through life with desire and intention. If you feel like you are living as a fraud, then please tune in, this one is for you!  

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! 

Most people are unaware of the three key components of a world-class presentation, so here they are now: Content, charisma, and circumstance. You always start with content because, without content, you have nothing (no jokes!). Charisma is all about how you deliver your presentation; being a great storyteller is key! And lastly, it’s easy to forget just how important the environment is to the overall quality of presentations. Your circumstance is one-third of delivering a world-class presentation, so always consider the five W’s and one H when outlining your presentation.

Step into the riveting world of storytelling and its profound impact on your brand's message in this special episode recap. Explore the significance of transforming your brand's story into an inspirational narrative that cultivates emotional connections, sets you apart from competitors, fosters trust, captivates your audience, and aligns seamlessly with customer values. In this episode, we highlight the main takeaways from our conversation with Damon West and unpack how to tell a good story and get your message across to audiences based on insights from our conversation with him. We delve into the profound choice of viewing the world through fear or faith, uncovering the transformative power of maintaining a positive mindset even in the face of adversity, why consistency plays a pivotal role in cultivating and sustaining a positive outlook on life, and much more. Join us as we unlock the key to leaving a lasting impact through your unique narrative and empowering others through your message of authenticity, resilience, and unwavering faith. Tune in now! 

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!

Are you looking to conquer the chaos of growing your small business, without going crazy? Then look no further because this episode is for you! Joining Rory on the Influential Personal Brand podcast is his dear friend, Clate Mask. His product, company, and life mission have radically changed both Rory and AJ’s lives and their business. Clate is the CEO and Co-Founder of Keap, the world’s leading business automation software. In this conversation, Rory shares the key role Keap has played in the success of their businesses and dives into the concepts behind Clate’s new book, Conquer the Chaos: How to Grow a Successful Small Business Without Going Crazy. Clate unpacks the personal and professional aspects included in the six keys and delves into the dark side of entrepreneurship with a story about how he almost left Keap. To hear more about finding your rhythm, and what the three transformative habits for future success are according to Clate, don’t miss out. Press play now!

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! 

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.

As the clock winds down for another year, now is the perfect time to think about what you hope to achieve in 2025. But are the goals we set for ourselves big enough and perhaps more importantly, are they the right goals? Today we pose these questions to the eight-time bestselling author, international speaker, and world-renowned expert in positive psychology, Caroline Adams Miller. Caroline’s work is focused on setting big goals for yourself and finding the grit and determination to achieve them, and she begins today’s conversation by sharing details of her latest book, Big Goals – a manual that reveals the science behind the power of Dr. Edwin A. Locke's Goal Setting Theory. Caroline defines “big goals” and how they differ from others before explaining how setting big goals can change a person for the better. We discuss the modern trend of trying to eliminate all stress from our lives and how that has bred a timid generation, helpful tips and tools from the world of applied positive psychology, how learning goals and performance goals manifest in real life, and the roles of happiness and accountability in achieving everything you set out to do. We end with the reminder that hard work often leads to satisfaction and that through healthy competition, we are able to develop resilience, determination, and grit.

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.

Scaling your business starts with hiring the right people at the right time. In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face—when and who to hire first. We break down the essential hires that will help you free up time, scale your business, and build a thriving personal brand. Hear why you should hire for your personal life initially and a first-hire suggestion that may surprise you. Learn about the value of outsourcing household chores, the role of an assistant, when you should consider hiring marketing support, and what makes marketing a "tactical" skill set. Find out about the pros and cons of contractors, hear advice for hiring an accountant, discover the importance of delegating client work, uncover the secret to scaling your business successfully, and delve into the fundamental departments every business needs. Join us to unpack the skills you need to build a high-performing team and take the next step in growing your business. Tune in now!

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! 

We’ve learned so much in our 15-year adventure in publishing and realized that maybe we’re more than just authors; maybe we have a bigger role to play. So today, AJ sits down with Rory to reveal exciting new publishing developments at Brand Builders Group, the current state of the publishing industry, and a comprehensive five-step guide on what it takes to become a bestselling author. After a high-level overview of the 5 steps necessary to becoming a bestselling author, we closely examine the pros and cons of each publishing channel: traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing. Then, we discuss Mission Driven Press and why we decided to launch our hybrid publishing imprint, how to approach marketing and sales for a successful book launch, why PR alone will not help you reach your sales targets, and why being a bestseller is only one of many markers that gives a book and its author credibility. To end, we implore you to visit the Mission Driven Press website to see how we can help bring your life-changing vision to life because books do change lives!

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! 

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.

In the previous episode, we spoke to author and speaker, David Baker, about the steps to positioning yourself as an expert in your field. Using the insights gained from our conversation with David, in this recap episode, we unpack the steps to building your consulting practice by leveraging your expertise. We delve into the concept of expertise, how to avoid being a generalist, and why you should narrow your focus. We uncover what it means to be a true expert in your field and why this distinction can be a game-changer for your career. Gain insights into how being an expert increases your value, the main difference between a generalist and an expert, why it is okay to say no, and much more. To discover how to redefine your path and transform from generalist to expert, tune in now! 

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. 

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. 

It is very easy to tell ourselves that we are not good enough, that we are not worthy, and that we don’t deserve to have it all. And in business, self-doubt sticks out like a sore thumb and can deter would-be business partners from working with you. To help us rediscover our worth and to show us that we are indeed valuable, is therapist and entrepreneur, Michelle Chalfant. In our conversation, we get a sense of Michelle’s professional background and how she became ingrained in multiple industries. Michelle explains what The Adult Chair podcast is all about, why she launched her coaching certification program, and what her timeline of success looks like. We also discuss the need for hard work, dedication, and persistence, what you can do to navigate low seasons, and how to foster self-worth and beat imposter syndrome. As we explore the recent explosion of the coaching industry, we encourage you to invest in yourself by taking part in Michelle’s free Self-Worth Bundle course! We end this informative conversation with examples of how to find your why, how to always put your best foot forward, how to outsource correctly, and Michelle’s five tenets for how to be an emotionally healthy adult. Enjoy!  

There have been a lot of changes in the law and as a business owner, you need to stay up to date with them so that you can make the necessary changes to your business and stay compliant! Today we are discussing the new non-compete rule and what the changes will mean for your business. From non-solicitations to protection of business owners’ confidential information, to updating your agreements, this episode tells you everything you need to know about non-competes becoming a thing of the past. Be sure to tune in now and remember to contact your attorney for advice! 

If you are in a season of figuring out how to build an engaged community around your personal brand and your business, this is a custom-designed episode for you! It’s also been created for those looking to create more engagement for their online and offline community. If you’re someone who wants to create live offline experiences, this is for you too. Lindsey Schwartz is an author, investor and master community builder, and the Founder of Powerhouse Women, where she is fiercely committed to supporting other women. Tune in today to hear Lindsey’s story, from the humble beginnings of her community-focused business to her powerful definition of faith, and her plans for the future. She shares three crucial elements to facilitating a truly engaged community with practical examples of how to get started, offers an insider’s perspective on the task of running big events, and much more. Thanks for tuning in! 

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.

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.

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.  

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!

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.

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! 

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! 

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.

No matter where you are in your personal brand journey, there are always key questions that you should be asking yourself, like “What should I be working on right now?” and “Where should I be investing my time and resources?” There is perhaps no one better suited to tackle these questions than today's guest, Elizabeth Stephens, who just so happens to be a part of the Brand Builders Group’s founding team, and currently serves as the Vice President of Customer Service! In today’s conversation, you’ll learn about the best ways to navigate your personal brand path, key pain points you need to understand, and the four core customer journeys we’ve identified for our clients. We also unpack the biggest lessons we’ve learned from working closely with hundreds of individuals, before providing guidance for listeners to help them determine the trajectory they should be on. No matter where you are on your journey, today’s conversation has something for everyone. Tune in for key insights and universally applicable lessons on building your personal brand with ease and passion!

Successful people usually have a mix of traits that are easy to spot and others that are not as evident but are just as important. What are those hidden traits of success? Welcome to the recap edition of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast as we debrief, recap, and summarize our insightful interview with Carey Nieuwhof to unpack the character traits of successful people. Hear why achieving success in your current circumstances paves the way for even more success, the crucial role that trust, collaboration, and building relationships play, and the power of not giving up on your dreams. Discover what you need to commit to, why existential aspects should not dictate your achievements, enduring short-term pain to acquire long-term success, and much more. To uncover the price of admission for ultimate success, tune in now! 

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. 

After our recent conversation with the author of the wonderful nine-book series The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls, Mike Thomas, and in line with our own Bestseller Lunch Plan at Brand Builders Group, we have laid out a four-step process that serves as a great longtail sales strategy. We begin with the importance of adequate market testing before exploring word of mouth, having a complete product, relying on a tunnel-vision marketing strategy, and the power of giving your product away to those in your target market. To end, we discuss the universal human condition of being willing to do more when our actions are incentivized.

On this special episode of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, listeners have the privilege of meeting Randy Gale, Rory’s elder brother, whose pivotal role in Rory's upbringing has greatly shaped his character. Randy, a military veteran with service in two wars with the United States Navy, has instilled invaluable qualities such as discipline, perseverance, and resilience in Rory. Amongst other accomplishments, Randy is a dedicated volunteer coach for competitive women’s high school softball teams in Colorado. The impetus for this episode stems from Randy’s recent remarkable physical transformation, catalyzed by a profound reality check that led him to pursue amateur bodybuilding. Join the conversation as we explore Randy's journey towards improving his health, his insights on perseverance, and the challenges of bodybuilding. We also delve into shared childhood experiences as Randy reflects on the hardships they faced and offers wisdom on true life transformation. Don't miss out on this engaging episode, start listening now!

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. 

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! 

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.

Writing is a unique medium in that it requires one-way communication to feel like a two-way conversation, and without any context pertaining to the reader who is, essentially, a stranger. So, for your written words to resonate with someone you’ve never met, you need to have a certain something that separates you from the rest, and that is why today, with the help of Bill Blankschaen, we will be exploring everything that it takes to become a great writer. Bill is an accomplished best-selling author and is also the Founder and Chief Story Architect of StoryBuilders – a creative group of story architects and story artisans who empower individuals and organizations to tell stories that make the world a better place. After explaining his entry into writing, how he started working with Jon Maxwell’s team, and how being mission-driven allowed him to grow, Bill walks us through the timing of writing a book, when to publish it, and how to choose the best publishing route. Our guest then shares his thoughts on what it takes to be a great writer, how to write your first words, the role of technology and AI in modern writing, and why “collaborative writing” is a more accurate term to use than ghostwriting. To end, we learn about how StoryBuilders brings dreams to fruition, and how you can connect with Bill to elevate your storytelling to the next level.  

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! 

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! 

Resilience, grit, perseverance; why do some people have it, and others don’t? What’s the difference? Consider this a debrief, recap, and summary of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast episode with Bianca Olthoff! Tune in to hear 30 questions to help you find your ‘why’ and create success in your life. This episode is built on three key ideas; what purpose you feel called to in your life, what material things you want to have and what goals you want to achieve, and what kind of person you need to become to make your dreams into a reality. If you are clear on those three questions, you will develop more resilience, grit, and determination. Listening in, you’re sure to be challenged and motivated to pave a new way forward rooted in the clarity of your ‘why.’ Thanks for listening! 

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! 

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! 

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!  

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.

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!

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! 

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! 

Can small enhancements to your customer journey make a memorable impact? Will Guidara, restaurateur, speaker, founder of creative hospitality agency Thank You, host of The Welcome Conference, and bestselling author of Unreasonable Hospitality, believes that any business can take ordinary transactions and turn them into extraordinary experiences. In our most recent interview with Will, we took a deep dive into the valuable service and leadership lessons he’s learned throughout his restaurant career. Today, we expand on that insightful conversation and share five keys to using customer experience as a competitive advantage. From making people feel seen, heard, and welcome to taking a one-size-fits-one approach, this episode is full of practical advice that will make you reconsider the role that hospitality plays in your business and help you transform your approach to customer experience. Tune in today! 

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!

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! 

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.

After all these years, email is still the king for monetizing an audience. Most people with an email list the size of ours have millions of social media followers! Why is that? It’s all about where you place your focus. Today’s conversation is an overview of three of our favorite email marketing tips, and how we implement them at Brand Builders Group. Taking inspiration from a recent conversation with Nathan Barry, we share practical how-to’s on getting the most out of broadcast, long-term nurture sequences, and RSS email. Tune in today to learn more! 

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!

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!

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!

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!

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! 

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.

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! 

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! 

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.

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.

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! 

Even if you aren’t an entrepreneur, this episode is for you, because it’s all about cultivating an ownership mindset in every aspect of your life. Join us as we walk you through the five things you need for a rock-solid entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll also learn how to build as you grow, how to put sales first, why serving your community should be prioritized over growth, and why you should never settle for anything less than hiring the very best!  

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. 

A key principle we teach at Brand Builder’s Group is the idea that the depth of your impact is far more important than the width of your reach because, ultimately, new customers are the most expensive and returning customers are the most profitable! Today on the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we delve into six tips to help you scale the profits of your personal brand. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the Fractal Math Concept, why new customers are the most expensive kind, and how our community can serve you and your personal brand for life. We even break down key questions we always ask ourselves to increase monetization by providing better services to our customers. This episode is jam-packed with pearls of wisdom that will help you scale your personal brand to new heights, so be sure to press play now! 

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.

Struggling with clarity in your business? Feeling stuck in transition or unsure how to pivot your brand or purpose? In this powerful and heartfelt episode of the Influential Personal Brand podcast, AJ Vaden sits down with Jamal Miller—founder of Miller Media Group and a purpose-driven entrepreneur who went from food stamps to leading a $3M launch in just 30 days.

Together, they unpack the raw, behind-the-scenes journey of what it really looks like to chase purpose over profit, build a thriving brand with your spouse, and navigate the highs and lows of success—all while staying aligned with your calling. Jamal shares his personal transformation from youth pastor to 7-figure business owner, the spiritual breakthroughs that changed his life, and the mindset shifts that helped him scale without losing his soul.

If you're in a season of transition, feeling overwhelmed, or searching for a breakthrough, this episode is for you. You’ll also learn the secret behind his "Circle of Purpose" framework and the business philosophy that led him to build brands that make both impact and income.

Don’t miss:

• How Jamal and his wife built a personal brand from a viral love story

• The danger of chasing money over meaning

• Why every entrepreneur needs to constantly redefine success

• The power of sowing into purpose—even when you have nothing

• Jamal’s top advice for getting unstuck and growing faster

This episode is packed with purpose, strategy, and truth—and will leave you inspired to take bold, aligned action.

Ready to turn your mess into your message and build a brand that actually makes a difference? Start by booking your Free Brand Call with Brand Builders Group today!

👉 Learn more HERE

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! 

Could the most important purchase we ever make ultimately be freedom? If you're curious to explore this idea further, then this episode is tailored for you! Today, Rory is joined by a true authority on all things money. In addition to his background as a CPA, he's also a globally recognized thought leader, having shared the stage with Fortune 500 companies and spoken at some of the world's largest public events. Mel Abraham brings a profound understanding of both online and offline business, coupled with extensive knowledge of financial matters. We're delighted to have him on the show! Tune in to discover Mel's journey into the world of finance, his strategies for gaining financial control, and why he advocates for harmony over balance. We also delve into essential questions for those building a personal brand, the importance of focusing on the solutions you create, and Mel's insights on retirement planning for entrepreneurs. Join us as we explore why every dollar should have a job description. Thanks for tuning in!  

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! 

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.

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! 

Are you working just to retire? Are we saving all of our money just so that we can no longer be useful one day? In this special recap episode of our discussion with Caleb Guilliams, we are discussing what it means to redefine work in the long term. Tuning in, you’ll hear what the definition of retirement is, why you can decide to be excellent at any job you do, where the concept of retirement came from, and more! We even discuss the importance of finding a way to be in service to others for the rest of your life, even after you retire from your ‘job’. So to hear all this and be inspired to be of service until you are no longer physically able to be, press play now!

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! 

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! 

“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! 

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.

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.

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! 

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! 

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.  

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! 

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! 

At Brand Builders Group, we firmly believe that the best form of marketing is through a changed life. Today, AJ stands testament to this truth as her life’s transformation through the Fast40 weight loss training program for women prompted the presence of today’s guest, the program’s creator, Dr. Cody Golman—who holds the unique position of empowering women aged 35 to 55 who struggle with stubborn weight loss. He begins our conversation by walking us through his professional history and how he ended up where he is today before explaining why he’s confident enough to give his hormone-reset weight loss program a 100% guarantee. We unpack the design and working mechanics of Fast40, how to start making healthier food choices, the hidden threats that lurk in our foods, and the importance of discipline and consistency in living healthier lives. We also lift back the veil that the medical community has put over our eyes to expose how big medicine deliberately misleads us, how Dr. Cody honed in on his niche audience, the relationship between health and spirituality, and the undeniable importance of accountability. We end with the reasons for Dr. Cody’s short-session treatment protocol and an invitation to visit Dr. Cody’s website and sign up for free for The 3 Secrets To Permanent Weight Loss live Masterclass!    

After our conversation with Dan Martell, in which he laid out his plan for buying back your time, we wanted to double down on this concept and underline some of the most important steps that you can take as an entrepreneur to escape the traps of busyness and overwhelm. Following on from the themes in our chat with Dan, Rory shares some of the complementary ideas from his second book, Procrastinate on Purpose, and how they relate to Dan's message. The power of time multiplication can make a world of difference to business owners and their success, and by tuning today you will hear about the three biggest concepts for moving the needle in the right direction. As always, mindset is a key component, and in order to behave like a multiplier, we need to think like one! So if you want to learn about escaping urgency, building systems, time arbitrage, hiring smartly, and the 10-80-10 rule, make sure to listen in with us! 

Are you interested in the idea of creating miracles in your life? Join us as we make it practical on today’s recap episode and talk about three ways to set yourself up for a miracle! The interview with Tim Storey was incredible and he posed an inspiring question. He said, “What can you do to make your situation different, better, and more magical?” Today, your host, Rory Vaden, dives into a discussion on three ways to position yourself for a miracle including being willing to ask for one, taking actionable (working) steps toward your miracle, and exposing yourself to miracles. Make sure you tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights into how you can set yourself up for a miracle, even if you don’t believe in the supernatural, God, the Bible, or other Christian things. Thanks for listening! 

On our show today is Scott Jeffrey Miller, a twenty-five-year FranklinCovey associate, serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of thought leadership. He is the host of On Leadership With Scott Miller, the world’s largest weekly leadership podcast, and CSuite Conversations with Scott Miller. Scott is also the co-founding partner at Gray+Miller, a speaking, literary, and talent agency. As you join the conversation, you’ll hear from Scott about what led to his recruitment by Franklin Covey, his account of the transition of the company from being privately held to becoming publicly traded, and how the business model changed as a result of the acquisition. We also discuss the influence of a foundation built on successful books, Dr. Covey's humility, and his stepping out of the way, and Scott highlights pivotal marketing strategies and the mantra at Franklin Covey. To delve deeper into Scott's insights on the viability of embracing and integrating personal and corporate brands, and more on how to build a $300 million training company, make sure to listen in now.  

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! 

Bianca Olthoff believes that grit is not something we’re born with but rather that it’s something everyone can build. She is a best-selling author, lead pastor, and speaker promoting perseverance to audiences across the country. She joins us today to share her story of unlikely success, having overcome massive challenges to find purpose and passion in all her current roles. Bianca offers her definition of grit before providing listeners with a path toward becoming more resilient, based on her three easy-to-remember P’s! Bianca and Rory offer biblical examples of building tenacity and reaping the rewards based on the life of Paul. We also touch on the incredible power of pausing and taking a pulse check to ensure that you are truly following your calling. Join us today for an amazingly rich and informative conversation with this inspiring guest! 

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! 

You might think that, in 2024, the most effective way to grow your business is through your online presence. But you’d be wrong. The truth is that the majority of businesses today still thrive, not through Google searches or social media, but through the undeniable impact of trusted referrals and recommendations. And referrals hinge, more than anything, on the power of relationships. Our conversation today is a near-perfect example of this lesson in action. We are joined by Barb Betts, a sought-after keynote speaker, entrepreneur, educator, and CEO of The RECollective. We were so impressed with the referral training she did with our strategy team here at Brand Builders Group, that we had to have her on the show to share her expertise with all of you! Tuning in, you’ll hear Barb unpack the fundamentals of building your referral-based business, her advice to anyone starting without a client list, and a breakdown of her step-by-step guide to building, nurturing, and maintaining relationships. Discover the power of authentic connections, the importance of learning how to ask for help, and much more. For an eye-opening conversation on the art of building relationships, from a guest who is a living embodiment of what she teaches, be sure to tune in today!