About 1 in 5 businesses fail within their first year. So when you make $63 in year one and $350 in year two, most people would have quit. Maria Wendt didn't.

She now runs an eight-figure business with over 150,000 customers, a million-dollar month, and an average of $2,500 per reel, selling products that cost around $85. She has a team of eight, no company meetings, and launches roughly one new product every single week.

I brought her on to understand how she got there, and why she walked away from making $1M a year in high-ticket coaching to build something completely different.

"I made $63 in my first year and $350 in my second year, and yet I've made over $20 million now." ~ Maria Wendt

In This Episode:

- How Maria started and went from $63 to $20 million

- The million-dollar business she walked away from

- Eight figures, a team of eight, and zero meetings

- How Maria tracks exactly how much each reel makes her

- Saying your biggest goals out loud without apology

- The answer to growth is almost always more volume

- Maria Wendt's advice on the best way to begin your business journey

About Maria Wendt

Maria Wendt is an eight-figure online business educator based in Orange County, California. She started as a freelance graphic designer before pivoting into teaching marketing and eventually building one of the most recognized low-ticket course businesses in the online space. She has over 150,000 customers, a catalog of 300 products, and runs a lean team of eight out of an in-person office. Her mission is to help millions of people make a few extra thousand dollars a month rather than help a few people make millions.

Where to find Maria Wendt:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/maria.wendt/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Maria-Wendt-Official-100090621002736/

Website: https://www.mariawendt.com/

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

Natalie Ellis had millions of followers, a full team, and a fancy LA office by the time she was 25. Then one day, she got on a regular Zoom call and said, "I quit. I no longer wish to be CEO of this company."

How do you build a female entrepreneurship platform? How do you make it one of the biggest of its kind in the world? And how do you walk away from something like that? Those were some of the questions I had in mind before sitting down with today's guest.

During our conversation, she breaks down what makes content actually convert. Why audience growth and revenue growth are two completely different things. And most importantly, how she went from burning out to making over $2.2 million while completely offline for 12 weeks.

"Audience growth does not equal business growth, and audience growth does not equal revenue." ~ Natalie Ellis

In This Episode:

- Introduction: how Natalie built Bossbabe

- Seeing Instagram's potential before anyone else

- The type of content that makes people buy

- Why follower count and revenue have nothing to do with each other

- The Zoom call where she quit and what came after

- Mindset before systems, and the discipline of staying simple

- How Jen and Natalie each use AI for content

- Why right now is the time to build

- Where to find Natalie and get her book

About Natalie Ellis

Natalie Ellis is the founder and CEO of Bossbabe, one of the largest online communities and education platforms for female entrepreneurs, with over 4 million followers and more than $20 million in course and membership revenue. She is also the co-founder of glōci, host of the Bossbabe Podcast, and an angel investor in women-led businesses. Her work has reached thousands of students through her online courses, all built through organic social media with no paid ads. Natalie wrote the Freedom-Based Business Method, her playbook for building a business that generates revenue without requiring you to run every part of it yourself.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/iamnatalie/

Website: https://www.natalie-ellis.com/

Get Natalie's Book: https://bossbabe.com/buythebook

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

At just 30, Sahil Bloom had everything society told him he needed. The house, the job, the salary, and everything else on the list. And yet, he was miserable.

This episode is a replay of one of my favorite conversations on this show. Sahil's story had a pretty normal beginning. He set goals, worked hard, and hit his goals. Except when he got there, something felt off.

He was living 3,000 miles away from his family, drinking seven days a week, all while pretending everything was fine. So he stopped and asked himself a question most people are too afraid to ask. Am I even playing the right game? What follows in our conversation is everything he found on the other side of that question.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/cgJ-NpUmGSE

"Unless you create your own definition of success, you will never feel successful." ~ Sahil Bloom

In This Episode:

- When you feel empty despite hitting every goal

- Why money became the way we measure success

- Why “later” is just another word for “never”

- How investing in the right things compounds over time

- The “Life Razor” and why everyone needs one

- How the stories we tell ourselves shape our future

About Sahil Bloom

Sahil Bloom is a New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and investor on a mission to positively impact one billion lives. A Stanford graduate, he spent seven years in high finance before walking away from the traditional path to redesign life on his own terms. His debut book, The 5 Types of Wealth, redefines what it means to live a wealthy life, making the case that true fulfillment goes far beyond money. Over 800,000 people read his newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicle, every week. He is also the owner of SRB Holdings and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom 

X: https://x.com/SahilBloom  

Website: https://www.sahilbloom.com/ 

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/   

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb   

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/   

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

Today's episode is a throwback to a keynote Q&A I did with Lisa Johnson at one of her live events. We get into building a speaking career from nothing, the daily habits that got me there, what changed when my Instagram started blowing up, and how Stage Leaders came to life during one of the hardest times of my life. Hope you enjoy!

"Confidence comes from consistently sticking with the commitments you make with yourself." ~ Jen Gottlieb

In This Episode:

- Why Jen went from actress to entrepreneur

- How Instagram led to Jen's first speaking opportunity

- How doing events with Chris became her speaker boot camp

- Why imposter syndrome is actually a sign of growth

- The mindset shift behind Jen's Instagram explosion

- The story behind Stage Leaders

- The four pillars of Influence

- Jen and Chris’ working relationship

About Lisa Johnson

Lisa Johnson is a multi-seven-figure business strategist who makes 90% of her income through passive and semi-passive income streams. Her debut book, Make Money Online, made the Sunday Times bestseller list, and her podcast has been downloaded over 500,000 times, reaching number one in the business podcast charts. She has been featured on the BBC's Women's Hour, The Telegraph, The Guardian, Psychologies, Fast Company, and Forbes, where one of her articles garnered over 250,000 views in a week.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lisajohnsonstrategist/

Website: https://lisajohnson.com/

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

Personal branding looks easy from the outside. Just be yourself, show up, and let your personality do the work. Then the camera turns on, and suddenly it's not so simple anymore.

Amy Landino never set out to become a personal branding expert. Back in 2007, she just wanted to make a nice wedding video for a friend. But something about that experience stuck with her.

That one video turned into a YouTube channel. The channel turned into a business. And the business eventually became two seven-figure media companies and a global audience in over 100 countries.

In about 40 minutes, Amy walks us through what she learned from every pivot in her journey and the strategies she uses today to turn content into clients.

"If I believe in it first, everybody else will get on board." ~ Amy Landino

In This Episode:

- How a wedding video started it all

- Pivoting your brand without losing your audience

- Why the best content strategy is meeting people where they are

- Talking to your audience like they are already your clients

- How to use Instagram Stories to test content before going all in

- The BREAK formula for hooking viewers in the first 30 seconds

- How to market a book by borrowing other people's audiences

About Amy Landino

Amy Landino is a three-time bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the award-winning creator behind AmyTV. She has built two seven-figure media companies, amassed nearly half a million subscribers and 37 million views, and grown a readership spanning more than 100 countries. She has spoken on stages for Adobe, Oracle, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and has been featured on The Tamron Hall Show, Fortune, CNBC Make It, and Business Insider. Her latest book, Good Morning, Good Life, is available in bookstores everywhere.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/schmittastic/ 

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

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

Website: https://amylandino.com/ 

Get Amy's Book: https://goodmorninggoodlife.com 

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/   

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb   

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/   

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

Most people have stood up and spoken in front of a crowd at least once. But turning that into a career, or even a paycheck, is something most speakers never figure out.

I brought in Zach Nadler, Co-Founder and CEO of VaynerSpeakers, because he knows exactly how this industry works, and he held nothing back.

We got into what event planners actually look for, how to build a reel that opens doors, what your speaking fee should really be, and why LinkedIn might be the most underrated tool speakers are not using. If you want to get on stages and get paid to be there, this one is for you.

" You have to start small. You have to be willing. You also have to put the work in. Nobody's gonna come knocking at your door (with opportunities)." ~ Zach Nadler

In This Episode:

- How Zach went from CAA to co-founding VaynerSpeakers

- What makes a great speaker

- The assets every speaker needs to get booked

- Why event planners are now requesting full speech footage

- How to set your speaking fee

- How to negotiate without losing your value

- Why value exchange matters more than money

- How to book your first stages

- Why LinkedIn is the most underrated tool for speakers

About Zach Nadler

Zach Nadler is the Co-Founder and CEO of VaynerSpeakers, which he launched in 2018 alongside Gary Vaynerchuk. Before that, he was a top sales agent at CAA, representing talent including Al Pacino, Malala Yousafzai, President Joe Biden, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also spent three years as Head of Programming for VeeCon, the first NFT-ticketed super conference. Over the course of his career, Zach has driven nearly $100M in sales and booked keynote speakers at close to 4,000 events.

Connect with Zach

IG: https://www.instagram.com/zachnadler/

His business: https://www.instagram.com/vaynerspeakers/

Website: https://vaynerspeakers.com/

Book a 1:1 with Zach: https://intro.co/ZachNadler

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

If writing a book has been on your someday list forever, this one's for you.

I brought in Chandler Bolt, CEO of selfpublishing.com and author of 7 bestselling books, because honestly, I had questions. I traditionally published my own book, and I still wasn't sure I made the right call. So we got into all of it, the real difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing, why the bestseller list obsession might be costing you more than you think, and how a book can become your best client-generating tool.

And I'll be honest, by the end of this conversation, I felt like I'd just paid for a private coaching session. Chandler has built an eight-figure business almost entirely off books, with zero social media until five months ago. So if you've ever thought about writing a book, or you have one and you're not squeezing everything out of it, you're going to want to stick around for this one.

"Give away all of your best stuff for free, and people will pay you to tell it to them again." ~ Chandler Bolt

In This Episode:

- Self-publishing vs traditional publishing

- How to have a successful book launch in 2026

- Why chasing bestseller lists is the wrong goal

- How to use a book to bring in clients

- How Chandler's team speaks at 100 events a year

- Deciding on audiobooks, hybrid publishing, and book stores

- How to work with Chandler and write your book

About Chandler Bolt 

Chandler Bolt is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, college dropout, and CEO of selfpublishing.com. He built the company into a $75M business and an INC 5000 company four years running, almost entirely off books and with zero social media presence until recently. He is the author of 7 bestselling books, including "Published," and his mission is to help 100,000 people publish a book by 2035.

Free Book Publishing Consultation: http://selfpublishing.com/jen

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChandlerBoltOfficial 

Website: https://selfpublishing.com/

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/   

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb   

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/   

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

Are you using AI in your business, or are you still just asking ChatGPT to write your captions and then calling it a day?

I'll be completely honest with you. AI overwhelms me too! Every day, something new drops, and keeping up feels impossible. So I brought in my husband and business partner, Chris Winfield, who has gone fully all in on this, to break it all down for us.

Chris explains the difference between the AI tools you already know and AI agents, the kind that actually go out and execute tasks for you. We get into what it looks like to have your own AI employee handling the work that's been sitting on your to-do list for months, and why the people who move on this now will be way ahead.

"You just need the skills. The skills are transferable. It doesn't matter what the technology is or what the product is, even if it goes away or a better one comes along." ~ Chris Winfield

In This Episode:

- Why everyone in AI feels overwhelmed and why that's okay

- AI agents vs. AI chatbots and the difference that matters

- Real examples of what an AI agent can do for your business

- Why AI employees are changing the way small businesses operate

- How Chris compressed a 3-hour content workflow into 15 minutes

- What AI will look like in 5 years and how it will impact business

- How to get your own AI employee and get ahead right now

About Chris Winfield:

Chris Winfield is an entrepreneur, co-founder of Super Connector Media, and a contributor to Inc. and Entrepreneur Magazine. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, NBC's Today Show, USA Today, and over 200 other outlets. He has worked with clients from companies including Disney, Virgin, and Intuit, helping entrepreneurs build credibility, grow their media presence, and make the right connections.

Connect with Chris:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/chriswinfield/

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

Website: https://www.chriswinfield.com/

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

I finally reached 750K followers on Instagram, and gained 100K of those followers in under 30 days. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the five-step framework that fueled this rapid growth and showing you how you can implement it to start seeing results today.

But this isn’t just about numbers. It's about how to use your Instagram growth to build credibility and position yourself for bigger opportunities. I’ve experienced firsthand how building your audience opens doors to bigger speaker fees, book deals, visibility, and much more.

If you’re struggling to grow your own Instagram, listen to the full episode and then join me for a two-day intensive in South Florida, where we will create content together in real time. Just DM me the word “Intensive” on Instagram, and I will share the application details with you.

“If you're not consistently actually putting content up there on the internet every single day, you're not feeding the algorithm, and it's not going to be in your favor. ~Jen Gottlieb

In This Episode:

- An overview of the 5D growth framework

- Discover: find the content that resonates with your audience

- Design: crafting content that stops the scroll

- Deliver: create content consistently

- Data: measuring success and tweaking content

- Double down on successful content

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

Ever wondered how successful entrepreneurs manage to balance their ambitions, personal life, and productivity? In today’s episode, I revisit a conversation I had with my good friend Jasmine Star on how to balance it all.

Jasmine has built a thriving business and an empowering online presence while juggling the demands of being a wife and mom. With a successful SaaS company, a popular podcast, and millions of social media followers, Jasmine’s life is a testament to how structure, discipline, and a clear sense of purpose can create true freedom and fulfillment.

She shares her disciplined approach to time management, unique family dynamics, and her philosophy on ambition and purpose. Listen in as Jasmine shares inspiring personal stories, lessons learned, and how she keeps her fire alive without compromising her well-being.

“I don't think that working a lot is like, oh, you get a medal. But I do think that your actions have to match your ambitions ~Jasmine Star

In This Episode:

- A day in the life of Jasmine Star

- How structure creates freedom and fuels creativity

- The power of resistance and discipline

- Where Jasmine’s ambition comes from

- Scheduling intentional rest and vacations

- Being the only woman in the room and breaking the molds

About Jasmine Star

Jasmine Star is a photographer, business strategist, and founder of Jasmine Star Brands, a holding company with multiple successful ventures. After building a reputation as one of the world's top wedding photographers, Jasmine pivoted into online education, creating resources and courses for small business owners on topics like social media, branding, and marketing. Known for her magnetic personality, unparalleled work ethic, and commitment to living life on her own terms, Jasmine has inspired millions to find the courage to pursue their passions and build the lives and businesses they love.

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jasmine-star-show/id1479619320

Website: https://jasminestar.com/

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

Is your mindset holding you back from success? In today's episode, I sit down with Coach Justin Kavanaugh, a six-time Olympic coach and the founder of Sites at Scale, an agency that helps entrepreneurs build their personal brands. Coach Kav shares how you can shift your limiting mindset, conquer self-doubt, and step into your power. 

As a coach to the second-fastest man of all time and a mentor to Olympic medalists, he knows the power of mindset and discipline. With over 20 years of experience, he’s now using the same principles that lead athletes to success to empower business owners to unlock their full potential. 

You’ll hear how awareness, ownership, and action can accelerate your growth in life, career, and business. Join our conversation to discover how to embrace your unique identity, build an authentic personal brand, and take courageous action towards your goals.

“Regret lives at the moment where your potential is, and your action stops.”  Justin Kavanaugh

In This Episode:

- The mindset to reinvent yourself to win

- Awareness, ownership, and action framework

- How courage builds confidence

- Priming and scheduling for the best performance

- Building an authentic personal brand

- Overcoming the fear of being seen

- Managing expectations and taking one step at a time

- Using filters as training wheels

- Game day uniform mindset

- How real presence builds trust

- Kav’s power five daily alignment and a preview of his book

About Justin Kavanaugh

Justin Kavanaugh, known as Coach Kav, is a six-time Olympic coach, performance strategist, and CEO of Sites at Scale. With two decades of coaching elite athletes and advising business leaders, he helps people win the right way—with integrity, clarity, and mastery. His frameworks (WIN the Right Way, Every Day is Game Day, Live Your Telos) fuse Olympic principles with business success, empowering leaders to scale, perform, and build lasting legacies.

Website: https://www.sitesatscale.com/ 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.kavanaugh.75/ 

Where to find me:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/   

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb   

Website: https://jengottlieb.com/   

My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb