Powerful Leaders

Do You LOVE your life?

I'm serious. Because most people don't. 

If you're like most people, you're living the life you think you are supposed to live. But if you're being completely honest, something is missing. On the outside, things look picture perfect, but on the inside, you feel a void.  And chances are, you aren't quite sure what that is. That's where I come in.

I work with you to uncover the areas where you are not performing at your fullest potential. Then I create a personalized strategic, forward thinking plan to help you perform at your optimal levels in the areas of career, relationships, emotions and health so you can run to the rooftops and shout at the top of your lungs "I LOVE LIFE!!!" 

Are you ready to stop sleepwalking through your life? 

Isn't it time to get off the hamster wheel?

Don't you deserve more?

Apply to work with me today. https://powerfulleaders.com/start-today

CEO & Certified High Performance Coach

ARE YOU READY TO ELEVATE YOUR WEALTH TO UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS?

If so, look no further, than my first co-authored book,"Cracking the Rich Code Vol 12"
Your next level of success awaits within the powerful pages of this book.

Unlock the secrets to unparalleled success with insights from 20 coauthors worldwide, featuring a comprehensive guide endorsed by none other than Tony Robbins, with a foreword by the legendary Brian Tracy. This book is not just a read; it's a transformative experience, offering thought-provoking insights, impactful stories, and powerful strategies for success.

Seize the Opportunity to benefit from the experiences and successes of those who have truly made an impact. Let our journeys inspire you to new levels of achievement and fulfillment.

Unlock Your Path to Wealth and Success - Order Your Copy Now!

https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?vFplchsF2sFHXzUBhnq52ZNGFMHLOiConst8TzZlonT

*Books currently available in the US only. If you live internationally & would like a copy please email me julie@powerfulleaders.com with BOOK in the subject line & we’ll make it happen.

Thank you very much for your support!

Enjoy!

Author

Forbes Coaches Council

I am an official member of Forbes Coaches Council, an exclusive community of accomplished business and executive coaches. 
 
The Forbes review committee vetted and selected me based on the depth and diversity of my experience as well as my distinguished track record of successfully impacting my clients and their companies.

As a member of the council, I will be sharing my original business articles on Forbes.com and contributing to published Q&A panels alongside other esteemed experts. Each piece I write will provide you with invaluable high performance tools and strategies that will empower you to elevate your career, deepen your relationships, enhance your health, and optimize your finances.

Council Member

The Institute For Resilience (IFR)

Member Board of Directors

RVN Television

Host of "The Next Level with Julie Hruska". I interview successful people about their paths for success and their advice for you to take your life to the next level of potential and possibility.

Host of "The Next Level with Julie Hruska"

Cyber Security Global Alliance

Chief Communications Officer (CCO)

Member Board Of Directors

Awakened Life Yoga & Coaching 

Offered health, wellness & high performance coaching; yoga & meditation instruction

Creator & Visionary

🔥IF YOU HAVE WILDLY AMBITIOUS GOALS, I'm the Game Changing, Results Driven Force to be Reckoned With that You've Been Looking For, Dynamic High Performance Coach, Energized Trainer, Forbes Contributor, Lover of Life🔥

NOW IS YOUR TIME TO ELEVATE & DOMINATE! 

If you make the right choice, I'll be the Best Decision You'll Ever Make as Your High Performance Partner in Leadership & Success.

How I Help You WIN:
✔ High-Performance Executive Coaching – Unlock elite-level leadership.
✔ Executive Edge for C-Suite Leaders – Master influence, impact & strategy.
✔ Leadership & Team Development – Build high-performance cultures.
✔ High-Performance Accelerator: 90-Day Intensive – Rapid transformation.
✔ Total Life Alignment – Achieve career & personal success with equanimity.

Why Work With Me?
✅ Proven Track Record of Transforming Leaders & Companies – No fluff, only results.
✅ Science-Backed, Proven High-Performance Strategies – Your best performance is a system.
✅ Customized Coaching & Workshops for Maximum Growth – No cookie-cutter BS.
✅ Industry Expertise Across Construction, Finance, Fashion, Tech, Real Estate & More.

💡 Who Trusts My Expertise?
Steve Madden (himself)
JLL
Landry French Construction
Kimberly-Clark
MH Williams Construction
Pregis
Dovico
Thiel
Junicon
Acuity
Value Pros
Lorval Capital Management 
Apex Aluminum Extrusions
Vitrum Glass 
Van Andel Institute
NCAA
MLB
Edward Jones
BNI
and more

🏆 Awards & Recognition:
High-Performance Coach of the Year 2024 – Best Holistic Life Magazine
LinkedIn Top Voice 2024
Forbes Contributor 2023-2024
Forbes Coaches Council 2023
Top Executive Coaching Voice, LinkedIn 2023
Top Life Coaching Voice, LinkedIn 2023
Top 10 Coaches on LinkedIn 2022
50 Most Impactful People on LinkedIn 2021
LinkedIn Rising Star 2021, 2022, 2023

Are you ready to break through barriers, shatter limits, and lead with unstoppable confidence?

If you’re a C-Suite executive, business leader, or organization serious about reaching the next level, you’re exactly where you need to be. I deliver elite-level transformation that changes the trajectory of your success.

Because you didn’t come this far to stay the same. 

You’re here to WIN.

Let’s make high performance your new standard. 

📧 Email me at: Julie@powerfulleaders.com to learn more.

Julie Hruska

Billy Samoa Saleebey

Podify

Podify, LLC is a podcasting services and technology company that specializes in the production and promotion of digital media and podcasts. We work with podcasters and companies to provide audio editing, video editing, search engine optimization, web development, writing, analytics, transcription, publishing, media management, advertising, marketing, and social media support. Our clients subscribe to our monthly membership to receive these services and our mission is to help their podcasts achieve high production quality while reaching their target audience. We also create applications, technology, and automated tools to help create a more efficient workflow to produce a podcast.

Co-Founder & CEO

Insight Out with Billy Samoa 

What if an insight could change your life? 

Host Billy Samoa Saleebey (award-winning filmmaker and former Tesla Exec) sits down with the world’s most remarkable people to uncover their life-changing insights. Impeccable research and deep curiosity help to shine a spotlight on transformational insights that can change your life. Learn the secret formulas and playbooks world changers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders have used to reach incredible levels of success. Practical and specific, you will walk away knowing how to put these lessons into action so get ready to take theses Insights Out!

Creator and Host of Insight Out

For the Love of Podcast

After leaving corporate life last year, I’ve become obsessed with podcasting. I created the show Insight Out to highlight the transformational moments of remarkable people.

It was a year spent learning a new industry and while I may have left my career, in the process I found my calling!

The purpose of this new show is to help podcasters create world-class podcasts. I meet with the best podcasters in the world, renowned experts, and industry leaders to continue my own learning and to serve this purpose.

There are over 1,000,000 podcasts and this show will focus on what separates the top 1% from the rest.

So this is a podcast about podcasts, podcasters, and podcasting.

I’ll dissect what makes some shows are great while others fail to find success; Exploring how to produce a high-quality show and how to promote it so it can find it’s audience

I’m on a mission to help make your podcast shine by giving you the tools, insights, and technical tips used by best podcasters of all time

If you’re like me, constantly working to make your podcast reach its fullest potential then you’re in right place

I hope you’ll join me on this journey, where everything we do, we do it...

FOR THE LOVE OF PODCAST!

To be notified when the first episode is out please join the mailing list by visiting the link below:
http://fortheloveofpodcast.com/for-the-love-of-podcast-is-launching-8-31/


#podcast #billysamoa #podcasters #podcasting

Creator and Host of For the Love of Podcast

Insight Media

Insight Media is a Los Angeles based broadcasting and media production company focused on the growth and development of individuals and businesses.  Our mission is to produce content and experiences that will inspire action for the good of humanity. We do this by sharing insights and life stories that help illustrate how the choices we make have an impact on our life and our planet. Our first program is a podcast and video series called Insight Out (http://insightoutshow.com). The purpose of this show is to discover and dissect transformational insights that have helped propel the lives and careers of exceptionally successful individuals.  Through interviews and case studies we examine how these major breakthrough moments teach valuable lessons that often influence the trajectory of our lives. 

For more information please visit our website to see our Master Plan: https://insightoutshow.com/index.php/2019/09/01/insight-studios-public-master-plan/

President and Founder

Tesla

As Director of Global Sales & Product Training I am responsible for all sales and product training teams for Tesla worldwide.  My organization supports every sales function at Tesla and provides product knowledge to empower all our employees to share how our groundbreaking eco-system of products enhance our customer’s lives while accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. My mission is to ensure all our global sales teams receive the training and development necessary to perform at an exceptional level so they are equipped to exceed sales targets while delighting our customers with a world-class experience.

Director, Global Sales & Product Training

As Director of Global Onboarding & Growth I am responsible for all new employee onboarding at Tesla. This includes the new hire welcome experience (orientation), mergers & acquisitions, new markets, and role-specific training. In this role, I work closely with senior business leaders and an incredible team to develop and deploy effective and impactful Onboarding experiences to thousands of individuals that join Tesla each year. Our approach is simple; never ever settle and constantly raise the bar. This ensures we are providing a world-class experience for all new Tesla team members.  We are not just “training” a new hire, we our providing an immersive experience that will prepare them to contribute to our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.

Director of Global Onboarding & Growth

As Senior Director of Training & Development I am responsible for all sales training departments at SolarCity, including new hire onboarding, ongoing training, and leadership development.  In this role, I work closely with senior leaders and world-class trainers to develop and deploy effective and impactful training curriculum to all 5,000+ sales professionals in the organization.  In addition to training, I am responsible for all sales communications, including the production of SolarCity TV, our internal television network that is focused on delivering communication to the entire company.

Senior Director of Training & Development (SolarCity)

Responsible for creating positive, transparent, and constant communication between all levels of the organization.  Assist sales leadership in developing the voice and content used to ensure that all team members feel heard and engaged in building the most transformative company on the planet.  

This role combines elements of film/video production, sales execution, management strategy, training and motivation of sales professionals.  Responsibilities include gathering continual feedback from all sales channels at all levels, sharing ideas for improvement with all necessary departments, building a world class management training program, collaborating with the CRO in preparing weekly all-hands meeting agendas/contests/content, and creating motivational videos and other training deliverables that will provide an exciting and innovative approach to disseminating all information to the sales organization.

Director of Internal Sales Communications (SolarCity)

Verengo Solar

• Responsible for all sales functions for Inside and Outside Sales Organizations
• Developed new strategy for referral and pipeline conversion
• Increased overall sales volume 50% 
• Created new business practices and personally rolled out initiatives to every sales market
• Hosted weekly company-wide training webinars on successful sales strategies

Vice President of Sales

• Oversaw all training and development for Inside and Outside Sales organizations
• Managed team of trainers, instructional designers, and support staff
• Developed modular 12 Step Sales Process
• Created compresensive 90 day onboarding infrastructure for all new solar consultants
• Designed four part Solar Academy curriculum with classroom and field training
• Achieved 30% average close rate for newly hired solar consultants
• Developed ongoing training curriculum and certification
• Applied Adult Learning Theory methodology to all training fuctions
• Created weekly training series “Ask the Expert” to share best practices of high performers
• Developed full service LMS from ground up using Moodle platform

Director of Sales Training

• Responsible for all sales activities and revenue for Los Angeles market
• Managed sales supervisors and team of 25 solar consultants
• Maintained highest overall revenue, deal count, and SG/referral volume every month
• Orchastrated initiatives that led to company-wide canvass program
• Set company record for total monthly revenue: 7.1 million (March 2012)
• Set company record for most deals in a single day: 20 (September 2013)
• Set company record for most revenue in a single day: 600k (September 2013)

Regional Sales Manager

• Educated homeowners on the benefits of solar for their home electricity needs
• Sold over 200 PV solar systems
• Set company record for most sales in a month: 33 deals (December 2010)
• Set company record for most revenue in one month: 1.3 million (December 2010)

Solar Sales Consultant

Believe Entertainment

OWNER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR,  2002 –  2009
• Wrote, directed, and produced award winning feature film Rolling
• Winner of Audience Award at San Francisco Independent Film Festival
• Winner of Evil City New York Film Festival
• Winner of PRISM Award recognizing the accurate depiction of substance abuse
• Coordinated film festival tour spanning 10 cities in the US, Germany, England and Australia
• Deployed grassroots social media marketing campaign
• Sold merchandise and products to both retailers and end users
• Raised over half a million dollars to produce, promote and distribute film
• Landed multi-territory film distribution deal Indican Pictures

Owner, Executive Producer, Director

We Launch 🚀 Podcasts🎙️for Speakers🎤 Authors✍️ and Founders🔥 Ex-Tesla 🚘 Exec Turned Podcast Production & Marketing Agency Owner 🔴 You Record, We Do the Rest → Learn More by Booking a Podcast🎙️Strategy Call Below👇

𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬:
In 2019, I left Tesla as the Head of Global Sales & Product Training and went ALL IN on podcasting

I left my career but I found my calling. Here's what happened 👇

Spent a decade making movies - My feature film, Rolling, won awards, went to festivals all over the world, and got picked up for distribution in 2009

In 2010, I decided to make a pivot

I wanted to make a difference so I got into the renewables space

Helped scale a small solar company scale to become one of the biggest in the country

Got recruited by SolarCity

When Tesla acquired SolarCity, I got the opportunity to create the Onboarding Program for Tesla

Every new hire who starts at Tesla, goes through this program

I became the Global Head of Sales and Product Training, one level removed from Elon

Then I got the call...

Elon didn't want a global head of sales training

I could have stayed in corporate, but it was time to do my own thing

I started my podcast, Insight Out

Quickly realized how much work it is, so built a team

It became clear that others could also use help, so I started Podify

Today we help 40+ podcasters produce, promote, and monetize their shows

______________________
𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 🚀
🎙️Insight Out - Top 1% Globally
▶️ Co-Founder & CEO of Podify
🎞️ Audience Award Best Feature - Rolling
🎥 Million+ views on YouTube
🤝 30K+ on LinkedIn - Millions of content views 
🏆 Top 100 LinkedIn Sales Star
🚗 Global Leader at Tesla
🥇All-Time Sales Record Holder
📺 Creator of SCTV 

______________________
𝗠𝗬 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 🌎
To help visionaries and change-makers amplify their VOICE to make their mark on the world!

______________________
𝗠𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗬 🎙
We help podcasters and brands produce, edit, promote, and monetize their shows - Podify.com

______________________
𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 🎙
Insight Out dissects how the world’s most impactful people have made their mark - insightoutshow.com

______________________
𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗜 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 🤝
People who are changing the world

______________________
𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 👊🏻
Brands, influencers, celebrities, podcasters, athletes, speakers, radio/TV personalities, entrepreneurs, and executives

______________________
𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦 🤙🏻
🌎 World Traveller (42 countries 6 continents)
🍜 Ramen Addict
👨‍👦Dad to Kid Epic (YouTube)
⚾️ Little League Coach

______________________
𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗠𝗘 📲
📆 Book a FREE podcast strategy call:
calendly.com/billysamoa/podify

📫 Media requests: saleebey@gmail.com

I post here daily: Hit 🛎 to be notified

Follow #BillySamoa

This is what building a business actually looks like…and most people will never survive it. Here’s the part nobody wants to admit:

Most entrepreneurs don’t win because they’re smarter.
 
They win because they keep going after the part that would make normal people quit.

Everyone wants the “perfect plan.”
 
But the real skill?

- Using the chaos to your advantage.
 - Turning the obstacle into the strategy.
 - Making the landing look intentional, even when the middle was a disaster.

The best founders aren’t avoiding friction.
They’re weaponizing it.

Real examples:
• Airbnb couldn’t get traction… until they leaned into politics and protests and used “belong anywhere” to turn resistance into the brand.
 Their friction became their positioning.

• Netflix was getting crushed by Blockbuster on convenience… so they turned a disadvantage (mailing DVDs) into a subscription model that created predictable revenue.
 Their limitation became the business model everyone copied.

• Slack wasn’t built to be Slack. It was a failed video game.
 The thing that wasn’t supposed to be the product became a $26B product.

• Spanx couldn’t get into stores—so Sara Blakely used that invisibility to listen to customers directly, build community, and create pull instead of push.

Lack of access became a moat.

The pattern?

Some people crumble under friction.
Entrepreneurs manipulate it.
Elite entrepreneurs turn it into leverage.

If you can’t handle unpredictability, you don’t have a “strategy problem.”
 
You have a capacity problem.

Building a company rewards founders who stay in the car when it’s violently flipping…and somehow steer on the way down.

The goal isn’t to avoid chaos.

The goal is to become the kind of operator who can turn chaos into a competitive advantage.

That’s the muscle.
 
Build it and you become unbeatable.

Founder of Podify | Launching Video Podcasts for Speakers, Authors & Founders | Amplifying Purpose-Driven Voices, Building Unstoppable Brands | Ex-Tesla

The debate is over: Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie. Here’s the definitive case.
Before you throw your ornaments at me… let’s look at this like adults:

1. Christmas themes ≠ Christmas decor

Christmas movies center on:
• generosity
• redemption
• belonging
• transformation
• a Christmas-specific moral

Die Hard centers on:
terrorism, masculinity, marriage conflict, corporate greed.

Christmas does not shape the story.
 
It’s wallpaper.

2. Christmas does NOT create the conflict

Christmas movies require the holiday to:
• create stakes
• drive tension
• shape the plot

In Die Hard:
• the heist creates the stakes
• Hans’s plan has nothing to do with the holiday
• McClane’s marriage issues existed already
• Christmas adds zero narrative pressure

Move the date → nothing breaks

3. Christmas movies resolve on a Christmas message

Elf, Grinch, Home Alone, Wonderful Life…

Their endings reinforce Christmas morals

Die Hard ends with:
“A cop kills terrorists and leaves with his wife.”

Great ending
Not a Christmas ending

4. The creators themselves rejected the label

Bruce Willis (Comedy Central Roast):
“Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. It’s a Bruce Willis movie.”

Director John McTiernan:
“We weren’t making a Christmas movie. Christmas was a backdrop.”

Writer Steven E. de Souza:
Joked about it online, but has never once said it was actually made as a Christmas film.

Creator intention matters. Just asked the guy who invented the GIF

This settles the genre debate, but there's more, and it gets even more compelling...

5. The release date nukes the argument

Die Hard premiered on July 22, 1988
Summer
 
Action-movie season.
Not Christmas season.

Studios don’t accidentally release holiday films in July.

This was positioned/marketed as a summer blockbuster.

6. Christmas is not required for any major plot point

A true Christmas movie breaks if you remove Christmas.

Die Hard:
• The heist works any day the building is empty
• McClane could visit L.A. for any family reason
• The party could be any corporate event

Change Date
Same movie

7. Critics in 1988 never called it a Christmas movie

Not one

• No Christmas marketing
• No holiday framing
• No genre classification
• No awards positioning

The “Christmas movie” label started decades later

8. The Christmas setting only survived because it was in the original book

The film is based on a novel that takes place at Christmas, but it’s not thematic.

kept out of convenience, not intention

BONUS: The psychology of why people want it to be a Christmas movie

People call Die Hard a Christmas movie because:
• it’s ironic
• signals “I’m in on the joke”
• turns a non-holiday movie into a holiday tradition
• it creates a sense of identity & ritual


Watch it at Christmas
Enjoy it at Christmas
Make it your tradition

But…
Die Hard is an action movie set during Christmas, not a Christmas movie with action.

Your turn:
Where do you stand?

 (And yes… I’m prepared for the comments.)

Convince me I'm wrong!

Stop scrolling.
I just found the most organized place in America…and it’s a Taco Bell sauce station.

Seriously, look at this thing.

Every Diablo, Fire, Hot, and Mild packet lined up like they’re interviewing for a job at NASA.

Straws? Perfect.
Napkins? Perfect.
Salt? Perfect.
My life? Not as perfect.

But here’s the part that gets me:
Someone did this voluntarily.
 
At a fast-food condiment bar.
Probably at 11PM.

No bonus.
No promotion.
 
Not even a “Great job arranging the Diablo packets in a perfect 4x5 grid!” from their manager.

Just quiet, obsessive excellence.

And honestly?

I’d hire this person immediately.

Because if someone cares THIS much about the smallest part of the job…you can trust them with the biggest parts.

Most companies chase “rockstars.”
 
Meanwhile the real rockstars are out here alphabetizing hot sauce.

Find that person.
Promote that person.
Protect that person.

What’s the most unexpectedly elite act of excellence you’ve ever seen at work?

50,000 people showed up… and this is all the trash they left behind.
And no, this isn’t AI.
This isn’t staged.
This is Seoul after a massive public protest.

One tiny, neatly bagged pile of garbage… left by one million human beings.

I stared at this photo for a long time, because it says something we don’t talk about enough in business and leadership:

**Great cultures don’t need rules.
They create expectations.**

No one supervised this cleanup.
No one threatened fines.
No one chased people around with trash bags.

People just… cleaned up.

Because that’s what you do here.
 
It’s baked into the identity.

And it made me think:

Most teams don’t need more policies.
Most clients don’t need more contracts.
Most relationships don’t need more structure.

They need shared standards.
The kind you don’t have to remind people about.
The kind that feels obvious once you’re part of the group.

Here are the 3 takeaways I’m stealing from this photo:

1. Culture is built in micro-moments, not memos.
What people do when no one is watching tells you everything.

2. Expectations beat enforcement.
If you have to police behavior, you’ve already lost.

3. Leadership is invisible when it works.
Someone built this culture long before this protest ever happened.

If one 50K strangers can leave a city spotless…

What would happen if we built teams, companies, and communities that behaved the same way?

Standards that don’t have to be shouted.
Values that show up in actions.
 
Cultures that clean up after themselves.
That’s the kind of leadership I want to build.

The holidays aren’t broken—but how we approach them might be. Here's why 👇
Every December, we get caught in a whirlwind of tasks:

Buy the perfect gifts.

Wrap them beautifully.

Send them to everyone on our list.

Shop for the best holiday feast.

Put up the lights.

You know the drill.

But here’s the truth: when we obsess over doing, we forget about being.

A few years ago, I spent Christmas Day glued to my phone, frantically hunting for last-minute deals. Guess what I don’t remember? Being on the phone and missing the important moments that matter. 

That moment taught me something simple but profound:

Presence beats presents every time.

This year, I ditched the checklist and chose to show up differently, and this image sums it up perfectly. 

The best holiday memories aren’t about what you give or do. They’re about how you show up.

What’s one thing you stopped doing to create space for what matters most? 

Share below. And remember to make this the season of being. ❤️ 🎄 💚

The unusual origin of Black Friday that almost no one knows...

Black Friday didn’t start with discounts.
Or profits.
Or retail strategy.

It started with chaos.

1960

Philadelphia police began calling the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” because the city was slammed with:
 • traffic gridlock
 • packed sidewalks
 • shoplifting
 • crowd control issues
 • long overtime shifts
 (They dreaded the day — it was a logistical nightmare.)

1961

Philadelphia retailers hated the name so much they tried to rebrand it as “Big Friday.”

It didn’t work.
The public ignored it.

1980s

National retailers took the term and flipped the meaning.

They reframed it as the day stores finally went from “in the red” to “in the black.”
 (The story wasn’t historically true, but it was psychologically brilliant.)

That narrative stuck.

And the negative term became the most profitable retail event of the year.

Entrepreneurial takeaways (non-obvious):

1. Reframing > Reinvention

You don’t always need a new product.
Sometimes you just need a new meaning.
Black Friday turned chaos into profitability through a story — not a strategy.

2. People follow narratives more than logic

When retailers said, “This is the day we go into the black,” shoppers didn’t ask for proof.
 
They joined the ritual.

Your audience doesn’t buy your product first.
They buy your story.

3. Momentum is often manufactured

Black Friday grew through a feedback loop:

crowds → coverage → more crowds → cultural tradition.

Entrepreneurs can create their own loop by aligning:
a moment
a message
a reason to act now

4. A flaw can become your feature

Black Friday was a problem.

Then it became a promotion.
Then a cultural pillar.

Sometimes your biggest frustration is hiding your biggest advantage, you just haven’t reframed it yet.

Final Thought:

Black Friday is proof that the story you tell about your business can completely reshape the outcome.

After much thought, here are my Top 10 favorite Christmas movies. 

Here are my Top 3 favorite Christmas movies that aren't Christmas movies:

1. Trading Places
2. Die Hard
3. Gremlins

What about you? What are your Top 10?

Your biggest fans will never like, comment, or share your content.
And they’re the ones who quietly grow your business the most.

Here’s the part almost nobody understands:

The internet is powered by lurkers, not loud people.

We’ve been conditioned to chase visible engagement…
 
But the people who change your business are almost always invisible.

Why?

Because “lurking” isn’t passive.
 
It’s psychological due diligence.

Silent followers aren’t disengaged, they’re evaluating you:
 • consistency
 • tone
 • expertise
 • emotional safety
 • alignment with their worldview
 • and whether you actually follow through on what you preach

They’re not signalers.
They’re observers.

And observers convert.

Because here’s the non-obvious truth:

**The commenter wants attention.
The lurker wants transformation.**

One is performing.
The other is deciding.

And if you understand how audiences actually behave, you stop optimizing for applause…and start optimizing for trust.

Here’s what most creators miss:

1. Lurkers are the ones who binge your content.

They don’t drop likes, they collect receipts.
They’re building an internal map of who you are, what you stand for, and whether you’re worth betting on.

2. Lurkers are status-conscious.

Research shows most people avoid commenting publicly because it feels socially risky.
 
But buying from you?
That’s private.
Safe.
High reward, low exposure.

3. Lurkers are the ones who read every word.
 
Your long posts?
 Your deep dives?
 Your frameworks?
 The people who never engage are actually consuming the most.

4. Lurkers are where the real money comes from.
 
Your “superfans” hype you.
 Your lurkers hire you.
 Ask any agency owner, consultant, coach, or founder: they’ll tell you 80–90% of revenue comes from people they've never seen comment once.

5. Lurkers create network effects without you knowing.

They’ll recommend you in private WhatsApp chats, Slack channels, mastermind groups, and dinner tables.
 Not for clout.
 For utility.

6. Lurkers think long-term.

They’re not impulsive.
They buy only when they fully trust you.
Which means if they convert… they stay.
And here’s the mindset shift entrepreneurs need to make:

**If your marketing strategy relies on visible engagement, you don’t have a marketing strategy, you have an ego strategy.**

Serious businesses don’t need likes.
They need leverage.

And the silent majority gives you exactly that:
 • They compound trust.
 • They drive private referrals.
 • They convert quietly and repeatedly.
 • And they require you to play the long game.

Most people quit because they think no one is listening.

But someone always is.
 They’re watching.
 They’re learning.
 They’re deciding.

And one day, they reach out with six words that change everything:

“Hey, I’ve been following your stuff…”

If you want to win in the creator-economy:

Stop creating for the people who react.
Start creating for the people who remember.

That’s where real brands are built.

Why this post exploded: An antomy of a viral LinkedIn post

Thank you Megan Cornish, LICSW for allowing me to break this down!

Viral posts follow patterns: psychologically, algorithmically, linguistically, and structurally

1. Hook is explosive, taboo, and curiosity-driven

4 elements:

A. Pattern interrupt
LinkedIn is filled with “5 tips for…” posts.

Gender-swap experiment?
400% jump?

Stops the eye immediately.

B. High-stakes social issue
Sexism, gender bias, and algorithmic inequity = engagement triggers.

C. Shock + simplicity
The entire story premise is delivered in 14 words.
Short = shareable, screenshot-able, unforgettable.

D. Curiosity gap
“Is this real?”
 “Why would this happen?”
 “What else is the algorithm doing?”
 “Could this happen to me?”

Curiosity = scrolling.
Scrolling = dwell time.
Dwell time = reach.

2. She shares a real experiment, not an opinion

Test-driven.
Measurable.
Scientific.

Data-driven posts travel farther

3. Challenges the platform

3 topics guaranteed to drive LinkedIn virality:
LinkedIn algorithm
Job market
Leadership toxicity

This post hits 'em all!

Calling out LinkedIn’s algorithm?
Guaranteed engagement.

People love talking about LinkedIn on LinkedIn.
It’s meta-engagement

4. Speaks to two MASSIVE emotional triggers: 

A. Fairness

Feels unjust.
Sharing is an emotional response to injustice.

B. Identity
Women will share it
Men will respond to it
DEI experts will amplify it
Marketers will debate it
Creators will test it

One post.
Many identities activated
This multiplies virality

5. Ties 2 trending topics together: gender + AI

She explicitly says:
ChatGPT rewrote her headline & posts
Voice became more "male"

So suddenly the post becomes about:
AI bias
Algorithm bias
Gender bias
Linguistic bias

6. Writing style is “messy human,” not polished corporate

People trust vulnerability

Reads like a real person typing rapidly while excited, not a brand polishing a statement.

Creates:
- Authenticity
- Imperfection (good for trust)
 ✔ Emotional tone
 ✔ Conversational rhythm

Polished posts get scrolled
Raw posts get read.

7. Shows the receipts

Proof = credibility

Screenshots neutralize skepticism

Visual evidence increases save rate = boosts distribution.

8. Built-in viral mechanics

A. Sparks debate
People cannot resist debating
More comments = more reach

B. Encourages tagging

Women tag other women.
Creators tag AI experts.
DEI leaders tag each other.

Tagging expands reach

C. Repostable

Topic is social commentary = perfect for reposts.

650 reposts amplify impressions - more than likes/comments.

9. It produces what LinkedIn LOVES: “Accelerated Velocity Engagement”

LinkedIn’s algorithm prioritizes posts that get early:
Reactions
Comments
Reposts

“850 impressions but 74 reactions and 31 comments.”
Crazy high engagement ratio

Why it took off!

10. Exposes a system flaw

Any post that reveals:
a hack, loophole, bias, broken system

…creates “YOU MUST SEE THIS” impulse.

We share what surprises us

This is one of the smartest ads you’ll see all year...and it’s not because it’s funny.

It’s because it solves one of the biggest problems in marketing:

Borrowed relevance.

Deadpool & Wolverine dominated culture the summer it came out.

Memes, clips, interviews, trailersy: your feed was flooded with them.

Heinz saw that cultural tsunami saw didn’t do what most brands do

(which is… nothing).

They did something far smarter:
They attached themselves to a cultural moment they didn’t create, but made it feel like it belonged to them.

And here’s the genius:

They didn’t force a connection.
 
They found a truth that already existed:

Red + yellow.
Ketchup + mustard.
Deadpool + Wolverine.

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

That’s the entire strategy.

Cultural pattern recognition executed perfectly.

Most brands wait for permission.
Heinz didn’t.

They saw the wave of attention coming and paddled early.

And that’s the real marketing lesson:

The fastest way to become part of culture is to reflect it back to people in a way that feels inevitable.

Not forced.
Not try-hard.
Inevitable.

Deadpool & Wolverine dominated the theaters.

Heinz just made sure they dominated the grocery aisle too.

It’s not just a billboard.

It’s a psychological trick:
➡️ It collapses the distance between a blockbuster movie and a grocery-store product.
 ➡️ It hijacks attention without asking for permission.
 ➡️ It makes Heinz feel like the “official condiment” of the summer’s biggest film…
without ever saying it.

That’s not advertising.
That’s cultural jiu-jitsu.

And it’s a masterclass every brand should study.

#Marketing #BrandStrategy #CulturalMarketing #Heinz #Deadpool #Wolverine

The billion-dollar idea Nintendo almost missed…because it didn’t come from the “innovation team.” In the late 1960s, Nintendo was failing.

They tried everything:
 • instant rice
 • love hotels
 • a taxi company
 • toy guns
 • a vacuum cleaner
 • Disney-themed playing cards

Nothing worked.

The company was days from collapse.

Then something happened that would quietly change the future of the entire video game industry:

A maintenance worker was caught tinkering with a toy idea on his lunch break

His name was Gunpei Yokoi
 
Job title: janitor / maintenance engineer.
 Zero formal authority
Zero product responsibility

He was playing with a homemade, extendable “grabber arm” made from leftover factory parts

Most companies would’ve scolded him:
 “Get back to work”
 “Stay in your lane”
 “That’s not your job”

Nintendo did something different.

They asked: “Could this be something?”

That idea became the Ultra Hand: a cheap, silly plastic toy

Sold over 1.2 million units, saved Nintendo from bankruptcy, and launched Yokoi’s career

Fast-forward:
Yokoi didn’t just invent a toy
 
He invented the Game Boy, the D-pad, and the entire philosophy behind Nintendo’s biggest hits

A maintenance worker became one of the most influential product creators in history

Entrepreneurs miss:

Innovation often comes from the edges of the organization:
 • Hobbyists
 • Tinkerers
 • No official authority
 • Understand the product emotionally, not strategically
 • See problems others are blind to

This is the psychology behind it:
 
1. Hierarchy kills creativity
The higher people climb, the narrower their perception
 Leaders optimize systems
 Front-liners notice friction

Biggest ideas often live at the bottom because that’s where reality lives.

2. Experts are biased toward complexity
Yokoi wasn’t an engineer designing for prestige
 
He believed in “lateral thinking with withered technology” using simple, accessible components to make something fun

That philosophy created:
• The Game & Watch
 • The D-pad
 • The Game Boy
 • Metroid

Sony and Sega chased horsepower, Yokoi chased fun.

 3. Creativity thrives in constraints
Nintendo was broke
Couldn’t afford cutting-edge
Had to invent within limits

Entrepreneurs forget this:
Constraints don’t block creativity
 
They shape it.

Game Boy wasn’t powerful
 It was durable, cheap, and portable

4. Billion-dollar ideas look like toys at first
The Ultra Hand cost pennies to make

But toys or simple experiments reveal the customer’s emotional triggers 

1. Your next breakthrough probably isn’t coming from you
But from someone on your team who’s playing with something “irrelevant.”

2. Build a culture where “side projects” are signals, not distractions.
If Yokoi had been punished for tinkering, Nintendo might not exist today.

3. Stop chasing cutting-edge tech, chase emotional resonance.

Emotion > specs

4. Empower the edges of your organization.

 • support
 • interns
 • ops

If you aren’t listening to them, you’re flying blind.

The world’s fastest-growing meat company… doesn’t use animals. Here’s the wild story behind it:

 It started with an insane question:
 
“What if we could make meat… without animals?”

Most ideas try to improve something that already exists.
 
Ethan Brown tried to reinvent one of the oldest industries on Earth.

Here’s how a farmer from Maryland ended up reshaping global food culture...and the lessons every entrepreneur should study:

1. Big missions start with uncomfortable questions

Ethan grew up around livestock.
 
But he couldn’t ignore the data:
• Meat production uses enormous water and land
• Livestock contributes heavily to greenhouse gases
• Demand was rising, but the system wasn’t sustainable

So he asked the question:
“Meat is just amino acids, lipids, minerals, and water.
 Why can’t we rebuild that…with plants?”

Game-changing ideas begin where most people stop thinking.

2. In 2009, he quit his clean-energy job and went all-in

He assembled a team of scientists, molecular biologists, and food engineers.

Goal wasn’t to make veggie burgers.
 
It was to replicate:
• the sizzle
• the texture
• the fat melt
• the flavor compounds
• the Maillard reaction
…using plants.

Not “fake meat.”

A competing technology.

Entrepreneurial takeaway:
 
The fastest way to win a market is to redefine what the product actually is.

3. Their first stroke of genius wasn’t a product...it was positioning

When Beyond Burger launched in 2016, they didn’t stick it in the vegan aisle.

They put it directly in the meat section next to beef.

This did two things instantly:

Changed perception: If it sits next to beef, it competes with beef.

Expanded TAM: Instead of serving vegans (~2% of consumers), they served everyone.

Entrepreneurial takeaway:

Niche products stay niche because founders place them in niche contexts.
 
Change the context → change the customer

4. They rode momentum and created cultural demand

2018–19:
Fast-food chains like Carl’s Jr., Dunkin’, and A&W start offering Beyond Meat.

Suddenly, plant-based meat isn’t counterculture, it’s mainstream.

In 2019, Beyond Meat goes public.
The stock surges 163% on day one...the best IPO in nearly 20 years.

Entrepreneurial takeaway:
When your mission collides with timing, distribution, and cultural tailwinds...that’s when revolutions happen.

5. The mission wasn’t marketing 

 Beyond wasn’t fighting culture.
 
It was solving an environmental problem using innovation instead of activism.

By 2022, Beyond Meat was in 80+ countries and partnering with KFC, McDonald’s, and Pizza Hut.

Entrepreneurial takeaway:
 A mission becomes a megaphone when it’s measurable:
 • less water
 • less land
 • less emissions
 • same experience

Beyond Meat didn’t win because the world wanted plant-based burgers.
 
It won because Ethan Brown showed the world a future where meat didn’t need animals.

If you want more stories like this about founders who think differently and reshape entire categories, follow me.

This “free” plastic football phone quietly generated over $80,000,000 in magazine revenue.

Not because it was high tech.

Because it was high psychology.

Here is what Sports Illustrated did brilliantly:

They sold the bonus, not the product.
 
Nobody wakes up thinking, “I need a long-form sports magazine.”
 
But a talking, working football you can unwrap on Christmas morning? T

That’s a story.
 
The phone was the star. The magazine was the upsell.

They understood unit economics better than most founders do today.

Cost to make the phone: about $4.
Price of the annual subscription: about $55
New subs driven 1986–1991: roughly 1.6M

Rough math:
Revenue ≈ $88M
Premium cost ≈ $6.4M
 
The “free” gift was a rounding error that unlocked massive LTV (lifetime value).

They spoke to the real buyer.
 
The ad isn’t aimed at hardcore sports fans.

It’s aimed at stressed gift-givers.
 
The script is basically:

“Christmas shopping is impossible.”
“This solves your problem in one phone call.”
 
It’s a relief offer, not a features offer.
They bundled identity into plastic.
 
That phone wasn’t just a gadget.
 
It said: “I’m the kind of person who lives and breathes football.”
 
People will happily pay for objects that let them signal who they are.

They made the value stack lopsided.
 
In one shot you get:

A full year of sports coverage.
NFL, NBA, MLB previews.

The famous swimsuit issue.

A novelty phone that sits in your living room.
 
All for “99 cents an issue” and a “free” phone.
 
The perceived value is ridiculous compared to the actual cost.

They used the premium to own the home.
 The magazine lives on the coffee table.
 The phone lives next to the couch.
 
Every time it rang, SI got free impressions.
 
It was physical remarketing before pixels existed.

They turned a commodity into an event.
 
A subscription is boring.
Unboxing a football phone on Christmas morning is memorable.
 
They didn’t sell magazines.
They sold a moment.

What can entrepreneurs steal from this?

Stop obsessing over “features.” Design an offer so good it feels slightly irrational to say no.

Add a physical or experiential premium that costs you little but feels big to the buyer.

Aim your message at the real decision-maker (often the gift-giver, assistant, spouse, or boss).

Think in LTV, not first sale. If a $4 “free” gift acquires a customer who stays for years, it’s a bargain.

Ask: What’s my version of the football phone?
A private community?
A live workshop ticket?
A done-for-you template?
A piece of merch that sits on their desk and keeps your brand in their line of sight?

The football phone wasn’t just a cheesy 90s gimmick.

It was a masterclass in offer design, customer psychology, and long-term thinking.

If your product is good but growth is flat, you may not need a new product.
You might just need a better “football phone.”

Do you feel like this at work?
Because honestly…

This is all of us.

Employees trying to hold up the weight of 10 missing coworkers.
Entrepreneurs trying to carry the whole company on their back.
Leaders pretending the wobbling stack isn’t wobbling.

This guy in the ad?
He’s basically every founder I know.

Carrying 30 boxes.
Balancing a business on two wheels.
Praying today isn’t the day customers, clients, or payroll tip it over.

This classic ad nailed something we still avoid talking about:

Burnout isn’t a personality flaw.

It’s a math problem.
Too many boxes.
Not enough hands.

And no one wants to admit they're one tilt away from disaster.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

We glorify hard work…but ignore hard loads.

People aren’t failing.
They’re drowning.

Entrepreneurs aren’t “hustling.”
 They’re duct-taping the universe together.

Here’s why this visual hits:
- Employees see their workload.
 The “do more with less” era has gotten absurd.

- Entrepreneurs see themselves.
 We’re building, selling, hiring, fixing, planning…
 (and somehow still answering service emails at 10pm).

- Everyone sees the truth:
 This isn’t about capability, it’s about capacity.

If your team looks like this, you don’t need tougher people:

you need better systems, better clarity, and fewer boxes.

And if you look like this?

Welcome to entrepreneurship.

You don’t need to push harder.
You need to stop playing human forklift.

What’s the one box you need to put down this week?

Why This Post Hit 90k+ Impressions

1. The Hook Was Irresistibly Scroll-Stopping

Perfect pattern interrupt:
“This isn’t just a shopping list. It’s a 100-year-old productivity hack we should all be using.”

Curiosity gap: presents a contradiction: a shopping list… that is actually a “productivity hack”?

Historical angle: “100-year-old” triggers novelty and wisdom bias.

Universal relevance: Everyone shops. Everyone wants to be more productive.
No fluff, no jargon: Simple language = fast comprehension.

Earns click on “See more.”


2. The Visual Asset Was Unusual and Highly Shareable

The vintage 1920s grocery list device is:
Visually strange
Tactile
Intriguing
Not commonly seen on LinkedIn

People stop scrolling because the brain is wired to notice objects it doesn’t recognize

Also:
Image contains lots of small text, which makes people zoom, look longer, and re-read

More dwell time = LinkedIn boosts distribution.

3. Perfect Blend of Nostalgia + Utility

Modern pain points:

Overcomplicating things
Using too many apps
Forgetting basics
Getting distracted

Nostalgia posts work well, but nostalgia w/ actionable lesson performs 2–3× better

4. Taps Into a Collective Frustration

“Complexity is the enemy of action.”

People feel this everywhere:
Work systems
Apps
Tech overload
Productivity tools
Business processes

Creates:
Emotional resonance
High comment rate
Shares because people tag colleagues

5. Provided a Framework (LinkedIn LOVES frameworks)

Lesson into actionable steps:

Whiteboard
Physical notebook
Focus on simple processes

Posts that translate insight → action stimulate:
Comments
Saves
Reposts
Longer reading time

6. Invited Conversation

“What’s one outdated system you still use because it just works?”

Easy to answer
Makes people feel smart
Encourages stories 

Makes people think “Ooo I want to share mine”

Drives massive comment volume, which the algorithm rewards.

7. Appeals to Every Demographic

This is rare.

Works equally well for:

Engineers
Founders
Designers
Productivity geeks
Tech skeptics
Parents
Boomers
Gen Z

Any post that spans generations/industries inevitably gets pushed further.

8. Format Is Classic High-Performing Structure

Strong hook
 ↓
 Simple, curiosity-fueling explanation
 ↓
 3-part list (humans love threes)
 ↓
 Cultural commentary
 ↓
 One big lesson
 ↓
 Practical examples
 ↓
 Call-to-comment question

It follows the exact rhythm the LinkedIn algorithm favors.

9. Topic Is “Evergreen Viral”

Themes that perform:
Productivity
Simplicity
History
“Things you didn’t know”
Curiosity objects
Anti-app / anti-tech sentiment


10. People Felt Smart Sharing It

Hidden driver of virality:

People share posts that make them look insightful

EVERY growth lever:

✔ Scroll-stopping hook
 ✔Strange + nostalgic visual
 ✔Universal relatability
 ✔Valuable insight
 ✔Actionable takeaways
 ✔A story + lesson combo
 ✔An irresistible conversation prompt
 ✔Branding alignment
 ✔Perfect rhythm + formatting
 ✔Zero friction to engage

Writing down tasks you already did isn’t laziness. It’s leadership.
Here’s why:

Every founder I know who ships consistently has one thing in common:

They build systems that reward action, not systems that punish imperfection.

A to-do list is supposed to help you focus.

But for most people, it’s a daily reminder of everything they didn’t finish.

The “write it after you do it” trick flips the script:
 • You see progress
 • You reduce stress
 • You reinforce action
 • You stay in motion

That’s the entire game in entrepreneurship.

Most people fail because they quit during the boredom phase.

Not because they weren’t capable, but because they couldn’t feel the progress.

Here’s the real psychology:
 • Dopamine → fuels consistency
 • Consistency → creates output
 • Output → compounds into results

Entrepreneurs don’t need more willpower.

We need more wins.
Tiny, manufactured, unfair wins… every day.

So if crossing off something small keeps you in forward motion?

Do it.
Stack it.
Repeat it.

We think we fail because we’re unorganized or undisciplined.

Nope.

We fail because we don’t give ourselves enough reasons to stay in motion.

Entrepreneurs who win long-term aren’t the ones with the most complex systems.
 
They’re the ones who master one simple skill:

Making progress feel good enough to repeat.

Momentum beats discipline.

Every time.

A snail can sleep for three years. Most entrepreneurs can’t stay consistent for three months. That’s the real problem...

We massively overestimate what we can build in a year…
and completely underestimate what we can build in ten.

The founders who break through aren’t the fastest.
 
They’re the ones who stay in the game long enough for compounding to finally kick in.

Business isn’t a sprint.
 It’s not even a marathon.
It’s a stamina sport.

The truth nobody talks about:
Most companies don’t die from lack of potential.
 
They die from lack of patience.

A snail can wait out three years without moving an inch.
 
Surely we can survive a slow month, a bad quarter, or a season where nothing feels like it’s working.

The entrepreneurs who win aren’t the ones who “hack speed.”
 
They’re the ones who master staying power.

The most resilient founders I know do three things exceptionally well:

1. They don’t confuse stillness with failure.
 Sometimes pulling back is what keeps you alive.

2. They protect their energy more than their ego.
 Slow progress is still progress.

3. They think in decades, not days.
 That’s where compounding becomes unbeatable.

Consistency beats intensity. Every. Single. Time.
• 1 good decision, repeated for 3 years, > 100 “crush it” days
 • 1 offer refined relentlessly beats 10 new ideas
 • 1 audience nurtured beats 10 audiences chased

Momentum always comes back...
but only for the people who are still around to catch it.

Move fast when you can.
Hibernate when you must.
 
Just don’t disappear.
The long game is undefeated.

If you’re moving slow right now?

Good.
 
Direction > velocity.

Just don’t stop.

Every brand claims to be #1.
IKEA became unforgettable by admitting it’s not.

Here’s why that’s genius.

At first glance, it’s just a dad feeding his child.

But notice what’s not happening:

The IKEA high chair is empty.
The toys are ignored.
The product isn't being used at all.

Most brands would panic at that.

IKEA leans into it.

“Proudly second best.”

It’s a message you almost never see in advertising:

We know we’re not the most important thing in your home.
 
Your kid is.
And we’re okay with that.

This is why the campaign worked:

It’s humble instead of loud.
Human instead of salesy.
Honest instead of aspirational.

IKEA isn’t selling a high chair.
 
They’re selling trust.

And trust is what makes a brand last.

#Marketing #BrandStrategy #EmotionalIntelligence #IKEA #Advertising

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Billy Samoa Saleebey

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