Investors spend 90 seconds on your pitch deck. Most founders waste the first 30. So how do you grab their attention fast? And what separates the startups that raise millions from the ones investors dismiss in the first 30 seconds?

In this episode of Insight Out, I sit down with Carl Fudge, founder of Presentation Mode, to break down the anatomy of pitch decks that raise capital. Carl combines psychology, strategy, and design, drawing from experience at McKinsey, IDEO, and venture-backed startups to help founders cut through investor noise.

Carl explains why most founders misunderstand storytelling. A pitch is not a fairy tale. It’s an argument. Investors are reviewing hundreds of opportunities and funding only a few, so founders must present a compelling case backed by both narrative and evidence.

We explore why the first three slides can determine whether an investor keeps reading, why traction should never be buried deep in the deck, and how frameworks like Insight–Tension–Action transform scattered information into a persuasive story.

Carl also discusses the role of visual design in storytelling, the credibility signals investors look for, and how domain expertise strengthens a founder’s narrative.

From Spotify’s origin story to Apple’s iconic marketing philosophy, Carl shares vivid examples of what makes ideas stick.

If you’re raising capital or trying to communicate a bold idea, this conversation will change how you think about pitching your vision.

In this episode, we discuss:

• [00:00] Introduction to Carl Fudge

• [02:07] Story as argument, not fairy tale

• [08:37] The lightbulb moment: becoming "the pitch deck guy"

• [11:15] The Friday night email that changed everything

• [18:37] Why the first three slides decide your fate

• [22:05] Different types of hooks and how to choose the right one

• [24:47] The personal story hook (and the promotion that wasn't)

• [28:01] The insight/fact hook (and playing to FOMO)

• [31:13] The shift hook (AI and security)

• [39:30] Threading emotion without becoming fluffy

• [40:48] Why facts alone fail (the telephone game)

• [45:28] The three-step process for crafting story

• [49:02] Spotify case study

• [53:24] The Tesla/PayPal mafia effect

• [57:30] The role of design in storytelling

• [01:02:00] Presentation Mode: what they do and how to work with them

• [01:04:16] Closing remarks

Notable Quotes

• [02:18] “Out of every 100 pitch decks an investor sees, maybe one or two get funded.” – Carl

• [18:56] “ An investor's kind of only looking at a deck for about 90 seconds. So you just don't have that much time.” – Carl

• [19:03] “ What absolutely must be true is that you have found a way to capture their attention In that first 30 seconds.” – Carl

• [19:26] “ I don't think you can necessarily win a pitch in the first three slides, but I think you can sure as hell lose one.” – Carl

• [38:30] “ You don't have to agree with the conclusion. But as a founder, your job is to lay out your point of view unequivocally to to leave no room for doubt” – Carl

• [57:55] “ Design doesn't matter as much as story. However, I would also say that design is highly fundamental to elevating stories” – Carl

Resources and Links

Carl Fudge

• Website: https://www.presentationmode.co/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-fudge-storytelling

Billy Samoa Saleebey

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

• Website: ⁠https://www.insightoutshow.com/
  

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to build a global company that loses money for 23 of its first 25 years and still impacts tens of millions of lives?

In this episode of Insight Out, I sit down with Kurt Avery, founder of Sawyer Products, to explore the 40-year journey from a French snake bite kit to a global leader in water filtration and insect repellent. Sawyer has changed tens of millions of lives while giving away over 90% of its profits to communities worldwide.

Kurt shares how persistence, product discipline, and listening to real customer problems created what many call an “overnight success.” He recalls a missionary in Uganda discovering that children aren’t named until age three because so many don’t survive, an insight that shaped Sawyer’s approach.

We dive into his marketing philosophy, early educator targeting, influencer strategies before they were mainstream, and his refusal to build “me too” products. He also explains frameworks like the decision matrix and creative destruction that guide pricing and long-term strategy.

From Haiti to rural Africa and now toward eliminating malaria in children, this conversation redefines what business success can mean.

Feeling like quitting because results aren’t coming fast enough? Kurt’s story will inspire you. Tune in to learn how to build something that lasts and leaves a legacy beyond profit.

In this episode, we discuss:

• [00:00] Introduction

• [02:26] Introduction to Kurt Avery

• [05:26] Water filtration breakthroughs and growth

• [08:10] Disaster response & 40M served

• [15:03] Early marketing lessons

• [17:39] Customer-centric product development

• [20:01] Key milestones and the internet’s role

• [23:19] The lens for deciding categories

• [25:25] Best ways to educate early adopters

• [31:36] Kurt’s pricing philosophy

• [35:36] Outside-the-box thinking vs. business school

• [42:44] Sawyer’s philanthropic model and foundation

• [44:16] What business owners get wrong about philanthropy

• [50:21] Kurt on his legacy

• [56:24] Where to support Sawyer

• [57:41] Kurt on advice for his younger self

Notable Quotes

• [04:46] “We lost money 23 of the first 25 years till we became an overnight success.” – Kurt

• [07:28] “Your hair is 170 microns. So we are that much. We're one 10th or 17 miles. We're like 170 times smaller than your hair is our largest hole.” – Kurt

• [07:50] “Nothing biological can get through there to make you sick. They're all bigger than that.” – Kurt

• [09:32] “We had one in Uganda. Missionary goes in, they, he finds out that the first week you don't name your kids till they're three years old. Why is that? Because we lose so many of 'em.” – Kurt

• [10:03] “I think we're at 40 million people now have gotten clean water from our filters with it.” – Kurt

• [10:11] “We can give somebody 10 years of water for as low as a one-time investment of 30 cents.” – Kurt

• [29:21] “You spend your money on the casual fringe is lucky, hardcore, you don't need to spend money on them, but then you develop your products from them.” – Kurt

• [30:25] “Any buyer's probably got four or five people looking for a piece of the action on everything he buys.” – Kurt

• [43:01] “Our whole philosophy is we'd rather give the money away than the federal government. So we try to minimize our profit.” – Kurt

• [50:33] “As long as I get to heaven and God says, well done. The good and faithful service.” – Kurt

Kurt Avery

• Website: https://www.sawyer.com/

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sawyer-products/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sawyer-Products

• Book: Sawyer Think: How a Small Company Disrupts Markets and Changes the World

Billy Samoa Saleebey

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

• Website: ⁠https://www.insightoutshow.com/
  

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that toxic work environments are draining the global economy by a staggering $9 trillion every year? That’s the price tag of showing up to work and checking out emotionally.

My guest today, Phil Johnson, founder of the Master of Business Leadership Academy, joins me to explore why emotional intelligence (EQ) is more critical than ever, not just for us, but for the next generation. Phil explains why our kids will suffer more than we do if we fail to evolve in this area.

We dive into why presence matters in the workplace, why organizations spend so much on presence, and yet so many of us struggle to truly be present. Phil makes a compelling case that leaders with high emotional intelligence cannot be measured the same way as those with high intellectual intelligence, and he discusses the implications of artificial intelligence in this mix.

We also explore the hidden cost of giving away our energy, how it creates an energy deficit, and why replacing that energy without taking it from others is essential. Phil shows why inspirational leaders tend to be more emotionally intelligent and how everyone benefits when we lower our walls, while raising them hurts everyone around us.

Through real-life stories of leadership and transformation, Phil underscores that developing emotional intelligence is essential for personal growth, professional success, and societal evolution. Let’s dive in!

In this episode, we discuss:

• [02:08] Billy’s first conversation  with Phil: key lessons & his methodology

• [03:51] Who Phil Johnson is

• [04:17] What leaders truly need to hear

• [07:05] Root cause of workplace chaos & why thriving at work is low

• [10:49] Habits & tools to protect energy

• [12:20] Real-world examples of energy loss

• [16:40] Developing emotional intelligence

• [18:16] Who to learn from for EQ

• [27:13] Responding vs reacting

• [32:24] Phil’s transformative aha moments

• [39:08] 20,000 years of change in 100 years

• [48:50] Organizations treat symptoms, not root causes

• [52:19] Phil’s advice on developing EI to lead & achieve goals

Notable Quotes

• [06:27] “ Emotional intelligence is 400% more valuable in achieving success in intellectual intelligence.” - Phil

• [07:53] “ Toxic work environments are costing the global economy over $9 trillion a year, and it's increasing.”- Phil

• [08:43] “ We're only actually conscious about 3 to 5% of the time. The rest of the time we're relying on our, on our habits that we've developed.” - Phil

• [11:30] “ How we feel about ourself is based on how somebody else feels about us, we're unconsciously giving away our energy to them to determine how you, how we should feel about ourselves.”-  Phil

• [23:37] " Everybody benefits when we lower our walls and everybody is affected negatively when we raise our walls.” - Phil

• [25:27] “  When we're not present, our ego-based fears take over.”- Phil

• [44:57] “ We can no longer continue like the slowly boiling frog to pretend that somebody's gonna come and save us.”- Phil

Resources and Links

Phil Johnson

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipjpjohnson/

• Master of Business Leadership Academy: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfc3tV87p03JMDOXqDu8tQ

Billy Samoa Saleebey

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

• Website: ⁠https://www.insightoutshow.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Insight Out, we sit down with Julie Colombino, the founder of Deme, a fair-trade fashion brand that creates living-wage jobs in Haiti. Julie shares her remarkable journey from providing immediate disaster relief after the 2010 earthquake to creating sustainable economic opportunities for the Haitian community.

Julie recounts the pivotal moment when a Haitian woman told her, "I don’t want water; I need a job," and how it transformed Julie’s vision for long-term development. We also dive into the challenges of building a fair-trade business with limited resources and discuss how giving people the dignity of work can lead to lasting change. From her humble beginnings with tire sandals to expanding into high-end handbags, Julie’s story is a powerful reminder of the difference one person can make when they listen and build with a community, not just for them.

In this episode, we discuss:

• [00:02:08] Julie’s first trip to Haiti

• [00:05:20] The life-changing conversation with a Haitian woman

• [00:07:10] Shifting focus from relief to long-term development

• [00:10:30] The evolution of Deme from sandals to handbags

• [00:14:15] Leadership lessons learned from the Haitian community

• [00:17:40] Overcoming the challenges of starting a business with limited resources

• [00:22:00] How Deme creates opportunity instead of dependency

• [00:26:50] The importance of cultural understanding in business

• [00:30:15] Julie’s advice for aspiring social entrepreneurs

Notable Quotes

• [00:05:28] "I don’t want water; I need a job." – Julie

• [00:11:13] “Economic freedom is the chance to make decisions about your life.” – Julie

• [00:21:46] "A job restores dignity and freedom, it's not just about the paycheck." – Julie

• [00:27:09] "When you create jobs, you're creating hope." – Julie

Resources and Links Julie Colombino

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliecolombino/

• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/juliecolombino/

• Website: https://deuxmains.com/

• Book: https://deuxmains.com/products/from-loss-to-legacy-how-a-fashion-business-rose-from-haiti-s-rubble

Billy Samoa Saleebey

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

• Website: ⁠https://www.insightoutshow.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes creators like Philip DeFranco so irresistible to audiences? Why do millions keep coming back to his content day after day? And what is he doing right  that most creators completely miss?

In this episode of Insight Out, I sit down with Cat Shanu to break down exactly what draws viewers in and keeps them coming back. Using Philip DeFranco as a case study, we explore the habits, strategies, and small choices that build trust, boost engagement, and create a real sense of community.

We talk about why consistency only works when paired with authenticity, how asking better questions sparks more engagement, and why creators should stop talking at audiences and start talking with them. Cat also shares insights on vulnerability, admitting bias, and making content feel human even when perfection is tempting.

If you’re a creator, podcaster, or entrepreneur looking to grow your audience without burning out or selling out, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can use right away.

In this episode, we discuss:

• [01:28] Why Philip DeFranco?

• [01:45] Cat’s loyalty to DeFranco’s content

• [01:57] DeFranco’s consistency and relatability

• [03:15] DeFranco’s unique engagement style

• [03:49] Cat on first discovering DeFranco

• [03:56] The power of updates and storytelling

• [04:41] Engagement techniques: direct questions

• [06:26] Making engagement easy

• [08:14] The importance of a strong hook

• [08:37] Avoiding clickbait, maximizing watch time

• [11:38] Authenticity and admitting bias

• [13:28] Vulnerability and relatability in content

• [16:02] What podcasters can learn from Philip DeFranco

• [18:49] Community building and signature phrases

• [19:45] Teasing the next episode, Chris Do

• [20:19] Episode wrap-up and call to action

Notable Quotes

• [01:58] “One of the things you can rely on Philip for is to be consistent.”- Cat

• [02:33] “Consistency means nothing if your content isn’t good.” - Cat

• [02:51] “I don't watch the news; I only get my news from YouTube, and it's from Philip DeFranco.”- Cat

• [06:37] “Make it as easy as possible to get what you want.” - Cat

• [10:44] “You don't get those few seconds back. And if you squander them or don't use them effectively, you're setting (10:50) yourself up for failure.”-  Billy

• [11:40] “You got to hook people. The hook is crucial.” - Billy

• [18:52] "I'm going to end with Philip's phrase, 'You beautiful bastards,' which is what he calls his community.” - Cat

• [19:04] “At the end of the day, we want our audience to feel like a community. And part of that is going to be making them feel like they’re part of a group.”- Cat

Resources and Links

Cat Shanu

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-shanu

• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefemmeguide/

Billy Samoa Saleebey

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

• Website: ⁠https://www.insightoutshow.com/

Mentioned

• Philip DeFranco's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/sxephil (Go witness the tactics in action)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brendan Kane⁠ is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the most influential minds of our time. He is the author of 1 Million Followers and Hook Point. He has helped the largest brands and celebrities in the world reverse engineer how to make content go viral.

In this episode, Brendan joins me to talk about what it takes to make content go viral. Brendan discusses how the world of content creation has changed in the last 20 years and how this change has impacted the way that we communicate. He also talks about how the algorithms that control the reach and distribution of our content are only concerned with retention, and how this impacts the way we should be creating content. Brendan provides examples of how this principle has played out in the success of some of his clients, including Ryan Serhant and Graham Stefan.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

•  What is the biggest mistake content creators are making that prevents them from rising above the noise?
• What are the best content creators doing to keep the attention then we'll talk about getting attention.

In This Episode:

[00:02:38] - Biggest mistakes content creators are making.

[00:07:52] - Example of how niche videos can go viral.

[00:11:49] - What do the best content creators do to keep attention?

[00:12:39] - Tension and release.

[00:15:13] - Physics and virality.

[00:17:25] - Research is so vital.

[00:17:54] - Understanding why things go viral.

[00:22:14] - Gold - level content commonalities.

[00:24:13] - Pacing and sound effects.

[00:25:07] - Effects on the viewer.

[00:28:58] - Creating content that matches your message.

[00:34:43] - Peaking curiosity and yourself.

[00:37:45] - What we got wrong about the algorithm.

[00:41:52] - Biggest social media lessons.

[00:44:07] - The importance of research.

Quote: ‘’One of the fundamental principles that have really changed in content and communication at scale is what we call the generalist approach of how do we make people care about our subject matter, our expertise if they know nothing about us, or maybe they had no interest in what we were talking about before. That is the key to virality. Because the truth is, we are the product of the algorithm. These platforms are not producing premium content to keep people on the platform’’

Resources & Links

Brendan Kane

Social Media:

• ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjkane/⁠
• ⁠https://www.instagram.com/brendankane/⁠
• ⁠https://www.facebook.com/BrendanJamesKane⁠

Website: ⁠https://brendanjkane.com/⁠

Check out Brendan’s books: ⁠https://links.hookpoint.com/⁠

Billy Samoa 

• https://billysamoa.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/BillySamoaSaleebey/
• https://twitter.com/BillySamoa
• https://www.instagram.com/billybelieve/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjQ9RSxYqDS4_VxBHNyQJw
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/
• https://billysamoa.com/podcast-archive/
• https://billysamoa.com/video-carousel/
• ⁠https://billysamoa.com/blog-with-sidebar/⁠

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=23010497 )

This is an encore episode and was originally published on October 14, 2022

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disruption is everywhere. AI, careers, leadership, nothing stays the same. My guest today, Patrick Leddin, a leadership expert, former Army captain, and Vanderbilt professor, encountered that reality in a powerful way while sitting in a classroom listening to James Patterson share a deeply personal story. After losing his fiancée to cancer, Patterson transformed profound loss into a platform for impact. That moment reshaped Patrick’s thinking and eventually led to their collaboration on Disrupt Everything. In this episode, Patrick joins me to show why disruption isn’t a threat, but an opportunity. He breaks down how people respond when certainty disappears. He shares how that single classroom experience sparked years of research into what he calls “positive disruptors,” individuals who do not collapse under change, but channel it to create meaningful progress.

We analyze how disruption reveals personal agency, why resistance is a natural response, and what separates those who get stuck from those who move forward with intention. Patrick also opens up about co-authoring Disrupt Everything and Win, leaving a prestigious academic role, and building a movement centered on purpose-driven leadership.

Whether you’re navigating a career shift, organizational upheaval, or personal uncertainty, this episode will challenge how you think about disruption and show you how to use it instead of fearing it.

In this episode, we discuss:

[01:06] Disruption and why most people resist it

[01:39] Meet Patrick Leddin

[02:59] Patrick’s disruption journey

[04:43] How James Patterson’s guest lecture changed everything

[07:03] Co-authoring a book with James Patterson

[09:51] Purpose vs. mission vs. vision

[11:23] What Patrick learned from Patterson

[18:39] The outlining lesson

[21:20] Defining disruption

[23:33] Why disruption is fertile ground

[24:51] First step when disruption hits

[26:16] Stories of positive disruptors: Josie Natori & Tom D’Eri

[30:15] Disruption, agency, and organizational mindset

[32:16] The 27 positive disruptor moves

[35:45] Most impactful disruptor moves

[42:41] Framework for positive disruption

[44:48] Redefining extraordinary and the power of focus

[47:22] Summing Up Disruption

Notable Quotes

[01:12] “ Most people think about disruption in a way that they resist. It doesn't feel like an opportunity. They actually feel like they're losing control.” - Billy

[03:17] “ Sometimes the low spots in life disruptions can have some pretty negative ramifications, but even when they're negative, there's often a high point that comes after it.” - Patrick

[09:05] “ Crisis is not the time to start making introductions.” - Doug Parker (quoted by Patrick)

[25:27] “Sometimes saying no is the most disruptive thing you can do.” - Patrick

[47:20] “Disruption doesn’t destroy things, it’s fertile ground for something new and better.” – Patrick[48:27] “You’re wired to disrupt, you have a big brain, experiences that build resilience, and resources no generation has had before.” – Patrick

⁠Resources and Links

Patrick Leddin

• Website: https://www.patrickleddin.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrickleddin

• Book: Disrupt Everything and Win (co-authored with James Patterson)

Billy Samoa Saleebey

• LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/billysamoa

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

• Website: ⁠https://www.insightoutshow.com/
  

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re in the creative space, you already know this tension: the pressure to create never really shuts off. Content still needs to go out, even when your ideas dry up. So what happens when your mind stalls? How do you get unstuck without forcing it or burning out and still create ideas your audience actually cares about when life is full and inspiration feels miles away?

In this episode, I sit down with Cat Shanu to tackle those questions and help you break free from creative ruts. We dig into what really causes creative blocks, how perfectionism quietly kills momentum, and what to do when inspiration feels out of reach. Cat shares her own pause from creating, and I open up about staying consistent as a CEO, father, and host, even during low-energy seasons.

Whether you’re a content creator, an entrepreneur, or simply trying to build more consistent habits, this episode will help you reconnect with your creative rhythm and move forward with intention.

In this episode, we discuss:

• [00:00:00] Why creators struggle to make content

• [00:01:21] The natural ebb and flow of creativity and why forcing it backfires

• [00:02:33] Finding inspiration by immersing yourself in what moves you

• [00:04:09] Cat’s four-month creative pause and how she reignited her spark

• [00:04:17] Building LinkedIn systems—batching, scheduling, and staying consistent

• [00:06:22] Turning a Beastie Boys Reddit post into content gold

• [00:07:10] How music and ChatGPT fuel momentum when ideas stall

• [00:08:17] Treating each post like a temporary tattoo

• [00:12:52] Using audience engagement to break creative blocks

• [00:13:31] Why creating for one person beats creating for everyone

• [00:14:51] Telling real stories instead of chasing perfection

• [00:19:45] Using simple prompts to generate endless ideas

• [00:22:05] Cat and Billy’s peak creative workflows

• [00:26:12] Matching tasks to energy for better output

• [00:29:29] Creating consistently while leading, parenting, and podcasting

• [00:33:33] Building your catalog of inspiration and learning from top creators

• [00:38:15] Why breaks sharpen creativity and awareness

• [00:45:26] Letting go of perfection and taking small steps forward

Notable Quotes

• [00:42:21] “When stuck, don't generate, retrieve, go get that information from somewhere else.” - Billy

• [00:12:52] “Treat your post like a temporary tattoo. It's not a permanent tattoo, it's a temporary tattoo. Therefore it doesn't matter.” - Billy

• [00:16:08] “When you think of your community, not as your followers, but as a friend. You can definitely leverage them to just guide you.” - Cat

• [00:24:14] “It's easier to think of creative ideas than when you focus on the whole big picture.” - Cat

• [00:32:54] “Most people will cancel an appointment they make for themselves, but they'll always attend appointment they have with somebody else.” - Billy

• [00:49:56] “The only true, perfect thing I can think of is God. And we put this idea in our head that we need to show up as perfection.” - Cat

Cat Shanu

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-shanu

• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefemmeguide/

Billy Samoa Saleebey

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

• Website: ⁠https://www.insightoutshow.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you feeling stuck in life, like a pumpkin in a jar? You’re not alone. Many people suffer from a “mistaken identity”, not realizing their true potential or the power of their own dreams. This week on Insight Out, Doug Dane is here to show us how to use the Mistaken Identity Model to get self-discovery, freedom, and success. He's been able to beat the odds and find success in his own life, despite the trauma of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse he experienced as a child. He will share how to break free from limiting beliefs to discover his true self and how he transformed his life, breaking free from the oppressive jar of his past and inspiring others to do the same. Through the stories of Gandhi, mentors, and books like Think and Grow Rich, Doug was inspired to take control of his life and find who he truly was. He faced his fears and story and through this, discovered his purpose. This journey taught him that everyone has a special gift and that one can change their story and the world.

Meet ⁠Doug Dane⁠, Doug is the author of ⁠Mistaken Identity⁠, a mentor for leadership, business, and mindset. Doug has spent over 25 years coaching people to improve their results and feel better about themselves so they can stop hiding and start living. He's on a mission to show people how to let go of their past so they can create a better life for themselves, their families, and the world. 

Have you ever grappled with attaining self-realization, autonomy, and success? Then this episode is for you. Tune in now to uncover the power of transformation!

Here's what Doug and I cover:

• What inspires Doug about the great leader Gandhi. (00:03:00)
• How did a young Doug Dane survive the abusive environment he was brought up in and then go on to achieve success?(00:05:28)
• The Pumpkin a Jar story. (00:12:41)
• How can people break free from their mental programming and limiting beliefs to follow their hearts and discover their real Identities? (00:15:40)
• Why you need to have clearly defined goals. (00:19:56)
• The importance of believing in ourselves. (00:26:00)
• Why you need to have a healthy self-image (00:29:26)
• How should we think about goals? (00:36:22)
• The importance of discipline to develop good habits (00:40:00)
• How to set mindset (00:47:53) 
• Why you don't have to go looking for your calling. (00:53:00)

Notable quotes: 

• “The average person tiptoes through life hoping to make it safely to death” - (0012:22)
• ‘’We're kind of like pumpkins in a jar’’ - (00:12:31)
• “There's nothing wrong with you. The only thing that's wrong is what you believe about yourself or about the way you should approach the world. One of the chapters is called Stop Shooting on Yourself” - Doug (00:18:29)
• “Just because someone loves you doesn't mean they give you good advice” - Billy quoting David Meltzer (00:25:07)
• Rather than fighting the existing reality, why not create a new model that makes the existing reality obsolete?” - Doug (00:28:02)
• “Energy comes from a desire” - Doug (39:00:25)
• “Mindset is an action. It's not a thing” - Doug (00:50:02)
• “If you're busy out there searching online and on dates, trying to find the love of your life, they can't find you because you're moving all around” - Doug (00:53:20)
• “Take an action, and you get a reaction” - Doug (00:56:00) 

Resources & Links:

Doug’s Website:

⁠dougdane.com⁠

Doug’s Book:

https://www.dougdane.com/mistakenidentity

Doug on Social Media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougdane/

https://twitter.com/dougdane

https://web.facebook.com/dougdaneofficial

https://www.instagram.com/doug.dane/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/@DougDaneCoaching

Billy Samoa Saleebey 

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa⁠ 

Email: [email protected] and [email protected] 

Loved this episode? Please support us here: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=23010497⁠

This is an encore episode and was originally published on February 10, 2023

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just like every great recipe, captivating communication requires some spice! And who better to teach us that than world-renowned communication and public speaking expert, David JP Phillips? 

David has spent his career researching and building a business on the art of communication and presentation, but his expertise goes beyond these practical skills that allow us to succeed in professional settings. He’s also dedicated to helping others apply these techniques on a personal level so that we can improve our relationships, exert control over our emotions, find our sense of happiness, and foster great empathy.  

With his three widely-recognized TED Talks, “The Magical Science of Storytelling,” “How to Avoid Death by PowerPoint,” and “The 110 Techniques of Communication and Public Speaking,” he is reforming our understanding of communication and simultaneously eliminating antiquated notions about storytelling. 

His journey is certainly one of dedication and perseverance, and as he discusses the scientific and psychological sides of expression and communication, the impact of his wife’s stroke, and how he rebuilt his company from nothing, you will walk away from this episode feeling both inspired and ready to tackle your day. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy helps fuel David’s creativity (4:36) 
• The art of adding spice to your presentation (6:57) 
• The transformative power of happiness and the difference between internal and external communication (10:40)
• The focus and importance of David’s upcoming book as well as his tip for grounding yourself in peace, gratitude, and compassion (17:30)
• David’s experience with his wife’s stroke and the process of rebuilding his company (23:46)
• What the somatic feedback loop is and why body language is a huge element of conversation (32:58) 
• The Five Layers of Communication and how to practice utilizing your facial expressions (36:49) 
• Why actors and comedians rate higher than other professions (38:25)
•  How YouTube forced David to adapt and grow and the #1 lesson he’s learned in the realm of public speaking (39:48) 

Notable Quotes:

• “The perception we have of a talk is related to the number of spices in a talk. And that is what you were on to contrast and surprises.” – David (8:55)  
• Every war and every action of hatred stems from our desire to get the substances in our brain fulfilled. That’s where they come from. So yeah, if people would actually understand that they could create them by themselves without hurting and causing pain and destruction, the world would be a better place by far.” – David (20:55)
• “It is interesting how life’s moments that are so shakingly painful can also be so important and put in perspective the few moments that we have on this ball of rock flying through the sky. We sometimes take for granted that we’re given this life.” – Billy (31:15)
• “If you focus on performance, anxiety is its brother. If you focus on having fun, that is when you will be the best version of yourself… And in a state of having fun, we are relaxed. We get free access to our vocabulary, our thoughts…” – David (41:10) 

Resources & Links:

David JP Phillips 

Website: ⁠https://www.davidjpphillips.com/⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjpphillips/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidjpphillips/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/davidjpphillips⁠

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@davidjpphillips⁠

HeadGain: ⁠https://www.headgain.com/⁠

Presenter Mastery Training: ⁠https://www.headgain.com/jp/⁠ 

Billy Samoa Saleebey 

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa⁠ 

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

Website: ⁠https://insightoutshow.com/⁠ 

This is an encore episode and was originally published on December 16, 2022

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What keeps a digital business moving and thriving, and what makes it truly valuable? 

Blake Hutchison, CEO of Flippa, is joining me on this episode of Insight Out to break down his role at Flippa, his experience over the last 20 years, and the variables that influence the value of businesses in the market. He touches on the importance of looking at growth, average order value, refund rate, cost base, etc., when evaluating how much to buy and sell a business for and some patterns that have emerged over the last few years. 

The team he leads at Flippa supports business owners in their exit or their introduction to possible new business ventures. In short, he helps them make an existing business their own and then, a little further down the road, understand how to optimize the organization financially and systemically! 

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Flippa works in terms of buying and selling (2:43)
• Blake’s entrepreneurial journey and selling his business in 2015 (5:15)
• How data allows Flippa to check the pulse of successful businesses across the globe (9:06) 
• Flippa’s evolution with value assessment (14:46)
• Common themes that Blake has noticed in this market (19:53)
• How to get involved with the platform (23:36)
• Blake shares some inspiring success stories (28:55)
• The most lucrative businesses for entrepreneurs today (32:24)
• How to know the ways a business needs to expand & grow (37:12)
• The future of digitally-based businesses (39:25)
• 
  

Notable Quotes:

• “So what I encourage everyone to do is find a business model that they can imagine themselves having a skill set that they orient well too. And then secondly, find a category that they know they’re gonna be passionate about for long enough that they’ve got the resilience to get through that stabilization period…” – Blake (26:07)
• “It’s better to go slow. It’s a marathon. It’s not a sprint. If you treat it as a sprint, chances are you’re going to make some bad decisions.” – Billy (28:40)
• “Age is a factor in evaluation, by the way, because it gives you some predictability. And buyers and investors love predictability.” – Blake (30:40)
• “You don’t actually have to know tech to buy a digital asset.” – Blake (43:31)

Resources & Links:

Blake Hutchison 

LinkedIn: ⁠https://au.linkedin.com/in/blakehutchison⁠ 

Twitter: ⁠https://mobile.twitter.com/blakenow⁠ 

Flippa: ⁠https://flippa.com/⁠ 

Billy Samoa Saleebey 

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa⁠ 

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ and ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Insight Out 

Website: ⁠https://insightoutshow.com/⁠

This is an encore episode and was originally published on December 23, 2022

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices