Episodios
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If You Don’t Know Your Numbers, You Don’t Own a Business
Too many entrepreneurs are flying blind when it comes to their finances—and it’s costing them big time. In this powerful recap episode, AJ Vaden breaks down the most important lessons from her interview with CPA and bestselling author Greg Crabtree (Simple Numbers) to help you take control of your business with clarity and confidence.
You’ll learn:
The 3 numbers every business owner must track monthly
Why you must separate business and personal finances (no matter your revenue)
The difference between tax filing and tax planning—and why it matters
How to create a simple but powerful system for managing your money
Why profit doesn’t happen by accident (and how to actually budget for it)
Whether you're just starting or scaling into seven figures, this episode gives you a crash course in real-world financial intelligence—without the jargon. This isn’t about spreadsheets. It’s about survival and success.
🎯 Want to keep your business alive and thriving? Start here.
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Most entrepreneurs think they understand their numbers — until reality hits. In this eye-opening episode of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, AJ Vaden sits down with Greg Crabtree, CPA, author of Simple Numbers and Simple Numbers 2.0, and one of the most trusted financial voices in the Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO).
Greg breaks down the two most important—and misunderstood—metrics for business owners: Labor Efficiency Ratio (LER) and Contribution Margin. You'll learn how to:
Use data, not gut feelings, to decide when to hire
Optimize profitability without scaling expenses
Identify toxic productivity killers inside your team
Use just a handful of key numbers to guide your business decisions
Build a capital-efficient business that’s ready to sell—or ready to scale
This conversation turns traditional financial “best practices” upside down and gives you a clear, actionable roadmap to measure what actually matters in your business.
Whether you’re a solo operator or a 7-figure founder, this episode will forever change how you think about your numbers.
🎯 Learn more: simplenumberscri.com
📘 Grab the book: Simple Numbers 2.0
🌐 Connect with Greg: gregcrabtree.net -
How Nick Built a Million Followers by Leading with Heart (Not Hype)
In a world obsessed with algorithms, trends, and viral hacks, Nick (aka Nicholas John) proves that authenticity still wins. In this raw and inspiring episode, Rory sits down with the content creator, former model, and self-proclaimed bookworm who went from filming solo in front of a window to building a loyal audience of over a million people—without a single brand deal and without selling out.
Nick shares:
How he overcame imposter syndrome by starting a new anonymous account
The surprising reason he never told his friends what he was doing
His simple but powerful video setup that helped him go viral
Why enthusiasm is the most underrated content strategy
How Jesus radically changed his purpose—and how that purpose fuels everything he creates
This is more than a story of social growth—it’s a masterclass in serving first, building trust, and showing up with integrity. Whether you're a creator, a dreamer, or someone just trying to figure out your next step, Nick's journey will move you.
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In this episode, AJ Vaden recaps the podcast with Vincent Phamvan that flips the script on typical marketing strategy. While the world obsesses over what to post and where to show up online, Vincent makes a bold case for a “Who First” strategy—focusing on the person you’re trying to serve before anything else.
If you're a personal brand, content creator, or mission-driven entrepreneur, this episode will reframe how you think about your audience, your message, and your impact. Learn why platforms, formats, and funnels are secondary—and how knowing your who brings total clarity to your what and where.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to reconnect with your purpose, this episode is your reminder: your message isn’t for everyone—it’s for someone. Get clear on who that someone is, and everything else becomes obvious.
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In this episode of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, AJ Vaden sits down with entrepreneur and tech innovator Vincent Phamvan, founder and CEO of Vyten Apps. Together, they dive deep into the biggest shifts happening right now in marketing, technology, and personal branding — and what you must know to stay ahead. You'll learn: Why technology is evolving faster than ever—and how to keep up How personal brands are being built differently in the digital economy The major impact of AI on marketing, communication, and content creation Why traditional email and social media strategies are no longer enough How personal brand apps are giving entrepreneurs the same tools large companies have used for years Practical steps to embrace AI without losing your authenticity Why now is the time to own your audience—not rent it Vincent also shares insights from building Vyten, how personal brand apps are changing the way we reach our audiences, and why the future belongs to creators who act now.
Text: Free Mobile App Strategy Call with Vyten Link: https://vyten.com/bbg -
How to BOOST Your Brain Power, Prevent Dementia & Beat Brain Fog (For Good) | Dr. Helena Popovic What if the key to your long-term success, energy, and clarity isn’t more productivity hacks—but better brain health? In this episode of the Influential Personal Brand podcast, AJ Vaden sits down with Dr. Helena Popovic, a leading authority on brain health, dementia prevention, and positive aging. This isn’t just a conversation about the science of the brain—it’s a practical guide to reclaiming your mental sharpness, reducing brain fog, and taking proactive steps toward long-term wellness. Dr. Popovic shares the deeply personal story that led her to this work and unpacks why brain health should matter to everyone—no matter your age or profession. In this episode, you’ll learn: What brain health actually means (and why your doctor isn’t talking about it) Early warning signs of cognitive decline and what you can do about them Why movement, muscle strength, and balance are essential for brain function The shocking truth about sugar, sitting, and sleep—and how they impact your brain Simple, daily habits that can radically improve your mental performance and protect your future Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or simply someone who wants to stay sharp and healthy for the long haul, this episode is packed with powerful takeaways you can start applying today. Want to build a personal brand that aligns with your purpose and expertise? At Brand Builders Group, we help mission-driven individuals grow their influence, impact, and income. Visit https://brandbuildersgroup.com/call to schedule your free Brand Strategy Call. Resources Mentioned: Learn more about Dr. Helena Popovic: https://drhelenapopovic.com Explore her books and research on brain health, dementia prevention, and positive aging Subscribe to the Influential Personal Brand podcast and never miss an episode. New conversations weekly with thought leaders, authors, and experts who are building brands that matter. #BrainHealth #DementiaPrevention #PersonalDevelopment #AJVaden #InfluentialPersonalBrand #DrHelenaPopovic #MentalClarity #BrainFog #BrandBuildersGroup #HighPerformanceHabits
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What if the life you're living right now is being shaped by the words you speak every day—especially the ones you say to yourself? In this video, I break down what I call the Creation Principle of Integrity from my book Take the Stairs: 👉 You think it. You speak it. You act. Then it happens. From the chair you're sitting in to the goals you're chasing, everything begins the moment you speak it into existence. But here's the real challenge: What are you telling yourself about yourself? Most of us say things to ourselves that we’d never allow others to say to our spouse, kids, or closest friends. And over time, we start to believe those lies—not because they’re true, but because we hear them over and over. 🔥 In this video, you'll learn: Why your words are the genesis of all creation How self-talk shapes your identity and future The heartbreaking truth about how we treat ourselves A mindset shift that could radically change your life If you're ready to take control of your internal narrative and start speaking the life you want into reality, this message is for you. 💬 Comment below: What’s one negative belief you’re ready to stop saying to yourself? 🎯 Ready to rewrite your story and clarify your message? Schedule a Free Brand Call with Brand Builders Group and discover how to build a personal brand that aligns with your true identity and calling. freebrandcall.com #SelfTalk #MindsetShift #PersonalDevelopment #SpeakLife #TakeTheStairs #BrandBuildersGroup #Integrity #PersonalBranding #Transformation #createyourlife
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What if you could transform your toughest experiences into a powerful way to connect with potential clients and build a thriving business? Today, we welcome one of our first Brand Builders Group clients; speaker, coach, sales expert, and Founder and CEO of Untap Your Sales Potential, Ian Koniak. Four years into his business, Ian hit an impressive $3 million in revenue! In this episode, he shares his incredible journey, from his career and personal struggles to how he met AJ and Rory. He opens up about the near-death experience that sparked his business and the challenges he’s faced along the way. We explore his battle with addiction, the power of authentic storytelling in business, and the importance of confronting your deepest struggles. Tune in today to discover how embracing vulnerability and authenticity can help you grow your business and connect with your audience on a deeper level! Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of drug and sex addiction, which may be sensitive for some listeners and children. Please listen with care.
Key Points From This Episode: The story behind Untap Your Sales Potential and its rapid growth. Insight into Ian’s journey to creating his business and newsletter. TW: Ian’s struggle with addiction and how he overcame it from [15:47] to [21:07]. How sharing the hard parts of your story can help your business in the long term. Where you can learn more about Ian and his work online.
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Choose Your Hard — A Life-Changing Mindset Shift with Rory Vaden
In this episode of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, AJ Vaden delivers a powerful message that will transform how you approach life’s challenges. Whether it's in your health, relationships, finances, or personal growth, everything in life is hard — but you get to choose your hard.
AJ dives deep into:
Why hard choices lead to greater satisfaction and growth
Real-life examples that highlight the power of intentional decision-making
How discomfort in the short term often leads to peace, progress, and purpose in the long term
The connection between hard conversations and strong relationships
The true cost of convenience in our health and habits
This isn’t just motivational — it’s transformational.
Key Takeaways:
Hard isn’t bad — it’s often the beginning of breakthrough.
Avoiding difficulty today often leads to deeper pain tomorrow.
You can’t escape life’s hard choices, but you can decide which ones are worth it.
Growth, healing, and success are almost always found on the harder path.
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
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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
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The great irony of personal branding is this: it’s not actually about you. We are back with another special recap episode of the podcast, and today we are diving into why the strongest personal brands are built on service, not self. True personal branding begins when you focus on who you can help, what you can teach, and how you can add value to others. Tune in to learn what makes a great personal brand, why a focus on service leads to real wins, the key question you need to answer, and how having a clear mission to serve can destroy fear. Thanks for listening!
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How do you build a thriving business around a niche audience? In this episode, we sit down with Remington Ramsey to unpack how he built a business around curating top real estate professionals. Remington is an influential author, speaker, and entrepreneur renowned for his significant contributions to the real estate industry. He is the creator of Real Producers, a popular media platform that includes a magazine connecting top real estate agents and industry leaders across markets nationwide. In our conversation, Remington shares the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey and how he created a business model that benefits agents, vendors, and local real estate communities. We discuss the steps for building a community around a brand and maintaining momentum as your brand and community grow. Explore why print is making a comeback, the "build a Cathedral" marketing concept, how merit and exclusivity drive engagement, and why staying top of mind is more valuable than being the best at your job. Gain insights into how Real Producers monetized and scaled without charging agents for exposure, why likeability is vital for sales, alternative sources of revenue Real Producers leverages, and the role of awards, events, and community-building in strengthening the brand. Join us and uncover the secret to turning niche audiences into revenue-generating communities with Remington Ramsey. Tune in now!
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Failure is a prerequisite for success! Do you want to know what the number one thing is that’s holding you back from what you want most? In this special recap of our conversation with Jason Stacy, we discuss the one thing that holds us all back from success, fear! Most of us live in a fictional fear-filled world inside our own brains. It’s not rooted in reality and yet it is the thing preventing us all from achieving our dreams. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about the power and importance of walking through fear, how you can overcome it, and redefining failure. To close off, AJ asks us to consider what they are most afraid of doing right now and implores us to commit to doing that thing. You can only become fearless when you walk through fear-filled situations so what do you have to do to become fearless today?
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We can all build resilience by learning about how to manage our emotions, energy, and environment, which is imperative to sustain true, long-term success. This episode is all about how to succeed in life – it’s one of those universal conversations that will help you no matter who you are, where you are in life, and what you do! Joining us today is Jason Stacy, owner of The Coaching Sweet Spot, to discuss how to manage your emotions, energy, and environment to achieve success. Tune in to hear all about Jason’s journey from homelessness to high performance! We delve into why you need to give 100% to everything you do, asking yourself if you’re doing something because you have to or because you want to, how to face what’s holding you back, and so much more! We go on to discuss why managing your emotions, energy, and environment is imperative to success before Jason shares the best ways to manage those things. Learn about self-awareness, how to manage overwhelming moments, why what you are doing in that moment should be the most important thing you need to do, and more! Jason even explains why the most important part of your environment is the people in it and the power of reciprocity. Finally, Jason tells us what you can do to sustain success. Thanks for listening in!
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It’s not just talent, knowledge, or luck that separates the truly successful from the rest. It’s a set of habits and mindsets that are often overlooked. In this special recap episode of The Influential Personal Brand Podcast, Rory breaks down three essential traits that drive lasting success. Drawing from the journeys of top entrepreneurs and personal brands, as well as our own experiences here at Brand Builders Group, you’ll discover the mindset shifts you need to make to reach the next level. Find out why crushing it where you are now is the foundation for future success, how trust-building is the key to sales and influence, and why perseverance through setbacks is the number one predictor of long-term success. If you want to grow your personal brand, boost your revenue, or build a thriving business, this episode will reveal the mindset and strategy to make it happen. Tune in to start applying these success principles today!
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Do you feel frustrated and overwhelmed by digital clutter, lost files, or chaotic inboxes? In this episode of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast, we sit down with Shawn Lemon, founder of The Digital Organizer, to explore expert strategies for decluttering your digital life. Join us as Shawn offers practical tips for managing emails, passwords, files, and tasks efficiently, all while reducing stress and boosting creativity and productivity. From taming your inbox to mastering project management tools, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you reclaim your time and focus on what matters most. To learn how digital organization can transform your workflow and free up your energy for what truly counts, tune in today!
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Why do people buy, and why should they buy from you? If you’re selling high-ticket offers, you need to understand what makes an offer truly compelling. In this special recap episode, we revisit our conversation with Zach Hesterberg, founder of Paid Events, to break down the key ingredients of a great offer. We explore how every purchase decision ties back to four core desires — better health, better relationships, more time, or more money — and why the best offers speak directly to these motivations. You'll also learn why people don’t buy processes or features; they buy results. Tune in to discover how to position your offer for maximum impact and make it irresistible to your audience!
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