Libsyn Directory

473 - The Newsletter-First Strategy That's Changing How I Build My Brand

Release Date: 09/25/2025

[#15] 2025: What I Gave Up to Move Forward

Brand You Personal Branding

The past year has been a reckoning on work, grief, and self-trust. I reflect on the changes I made this year: what I built, what I cut, and what death clarified for me. This episode is about subtraction, nervous system regulation, and learning to live without numbing or chaos. I hope you find some of my learnings helpful. EPISODE LINKS: CONNECT WITH ME

[#14] The Unarmored Life and Making Peace with Peace

Brand You Personal Branding

Welcome to that in-between liminal week and a half between Christmas and New Year's. Every so often we get lucky and score two weekends during this stretch, and this year is one of them. This is one of my favorite times of the year. Despite the commercialization, this period is a rare cultural pause. A collective breath, if you will. For me, it's a time to live unarmored and to make peace with peace. EPISODE LINKS: CONNECT WITH ME

[#13] My 14-Year Old Niece Interviewed Me About Influence and Personal Branding

Brand You Personal Branding

During her visit to New York City, my (sweetheart!!!) niece Nylah asked if I could help with a school project on social media and influence. (She thinks I’m an actual influencer, haha.) We braved the winter weather and did an interview while walking towards the Museum of Natural History. I always tell people that if you want to explain what you do, try explaining it like you’re talking to a kid. Well, this is my attempt! I could have explained it to her in way more complex terms and she would have understood me – she’s a smart cookie. She asked me some pretty deep questions! But you...

[#12] The Messenger Is More Important Than the Message - The New Rules of Personal Branding and Why Content Marketing is Dead

Brand You Personal Branding

Content marketing is dead. “How-to” isn’t a differentiator anymore—AI can do that better than any of us. What actually cuts through now is the messenger, not the message. In this video, I break down why the shift from “How-to” to “How I…” content matters, how connection beats conversion, and why wisdom earned through lived experience is the real currency in a post-AI world. People don’t buy from experts—they buy from humans they believe. If you’re tired of chasing trends and fighting for attention, this is the path forward: share your wisdom, not just your knowledge....

[#11] Video Games Let You Start Over Without Losing Progress. Your Business Can, Too.

Brand You Personal Branding

I played (too many) videogames in college and often sank a lot of time into “character creation” – where you get to pick what kind of character you'll build for the game. Game developers knew players would obsess over getting it “right,” so they built in something called a respec — a way to wipe your build, reassign your points, and start fresh without losing your progress. Turns out, businessa and life can work the same way. Today, I share how I’ve been re-specing my own habits, business, and direction. You might be overdue for a reset yourself. EPISODE LINKS: CONNECT...

[#10] How Gratitude Became the Backbone of My Inner Life

Brand You Personal Branding

I used to think gratitude was an obligation—something church kids did while passing an offering plate or something people talked about every Thanksgiving. But four years with The Five Minute Journal did something I never expected: it made me a grateful person instead of someone trying to feel grateful. EPISODE LINKS: CONNECT WITH ME

[#09] The Secret Season I'm Using to Reset and Rebuild My Business and Life

Brand You Personal Branding

In this episode I break down the hidden season high achievers avoid: the quiet “wintering” phase where you subtract, repair, and redirect your energy to what actually matters. I share how cutting $25k/month in retainers, drinking 70% less, and reclaiming 80+ hours a month reshaped my life, creativity, and identity. If you're feeling the pull to shed old leaves and grow deeper roots, this one’s for you. EPISODE LINKS: CONNECT WITH ME

[#08] From Expert to Author - The Strategic Blueprint for Writing a Book That Builds Your Business

Brand You Personal Branding

Last week, I hosted a live presentation called "From Expert to Author: The Strategic Blueprint for Writing a Book That Builds Your Business." While writing a book has always been a good idea for experts, I believe it's a non-negotiable in today's world. This is a long presentation, but I believe there's a lot you can learn from it. Check out the timestamps below for the different sections. If you're interested in working with me in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026, go to 02:44 The Role of a Book in Your Business 08:15 AI Has Shifted How Experts are Perceived 18:54 Crafting a Strong...

[#07] Foundational vs. Frantic: Depth of Execution, Not Volume of Activity

Brand You Personal Branding

Read this episode: This week's episode is a bit shorter because I'm preparing for a live training later this week on How to Write and Market a Bestselling Book (register below). My thoughts for this week: Just because the work is quiet doesn't mean it's not important. This really just boils down to a fight we all face: foundational vs. frantic. Just like the autumn season here in the Northeast U.S. has a purpose, it's vital to define the purpose of the season you're in. You define it. Take agency over it. My definition for Q4: depth of execution, not volume of activity. You might be in a...

[#06] An Inside Look at My Book Numbers - Sales, Strategy, and the Real ROI of Writing a Book

Brand You Personal Branding

In this behind-the-scenes breakdown, I share the real numbers and lessons from You Are the Brand: how large my email list grew, how the book hit the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, and how I turned one book into $250K+ in coaching and certification offers. You’ll hear what it actually takes to hit those lists, what “writing a good book” really requires, and how the process itself rewires your identity and business from the inside out. CONNECT WITH ME

More Episodes

I got sick this past week and it made me realize something important about my content strategy - I've been spreading myself way too thin.

Sometimes it takes getting "punched in the mouth" (as Mike Tyson would say) to see what's really not working. So, I'm sharing my honest struggle with feeling scattered across multiple platforms and the bold new approach I'm testing for the next six months minimum. I

f you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to be everywhere online, this look at simplifying your content might give you the permission you need to focus.

Check out my new book with Andy Storch - available now!

Get Own Your Brand, Own Your Career on Amazon »

This fall, I'm planning to host an accelerator to help future authors ideate, write, and market their book. If you're interested, get on the waiting list here:

mikekim.com/writeyourbook

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