better. with Jerred Moon

Content marketing isn't about the latest trends, hacks or even going viral. I know this because I have been doing simple content marketing for 15 years and have generated $30M+ in revenue. In this video, I'll share a presentation on content marketing strategy that has worked in scaling brands for 15 years.

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I tackle a question I get all the time: 1099 vs W2 — which should you hire? I break down the real differences, share a story about two moving companies that taught me the lesson, and explain why the choice impacts your company culture more than your bank account. Then, for the first time, I share my own Better Humanness Reporting — what I'm reading, how I'm training, and my biggest wins personally and professionally this past week. This is a new style of episode, going a bit longer and behind the scenes. I'd love your feedback.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• 1099 contractors may save money in the short term, but they rarely build long-term culture.
• W2 employees allow you to invest in leadership, development, and a real "crew."
• Culture is built by consistent teams, not random contractors pieced together.
• Leadership after the first million in business is about succeeding through people.
• Better Humanness Reporting: training, reading, and wins help leaders connect at a deeper level.

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro & New Style of Episode
• 01:10 1099 vs W2 — The Real Question
• 03:00 The Moving Company Story (Contractors vs Crews)
• 06:20 Why W2 Employees Build Better Culture
• 09:00 Leadership Beyond a Million — Succeeding Through People
• 11:30 Introducing Better Humanness Reporting
• 12:15 My Training This Week
• 13:50 What I'm Reading Right Now
• 15:10 Personal & Professional Wins
• 16:30 Asking for Your Feedback

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#leadership #businessgrowth #companyculture #entrepreneurship #tryharder

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I break down the biggest mistake young leaders make — avoiding confrontation. If you're scared to correct team members when they mess up or say something off, you're accidentally building a weak company culture. As a former military officer and entrepreneur for over a decade, I've seen over and over that leadership (not tactics) is what scales companies. Today, I'll show you how to make effective spot corrections, set real standards, and become the leader your team actually respects.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Leadership — not more marketing tactics — is what ultimately scales a business.
• Culture grows by action or inaction. Avoiding tough talks builds a weak culture.
• Spot corrections should happen immediately — but with the right tone and setting.
• Use the "nuclear option" (public correction) only for extreme cases; otherwise, correct privately.
• Always explain the why behind your corrections to earn respect and drive real change.

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 The #1 Mistake Young Leaders Make
• 01:00 Why Leadership — Not Tactics — Scales Companies
• 02:45 How Avoiding Confrontation Destroys Culture
• 04:30 When and How to Make Spot Corrections
• 06:30 The "Nuclear Option" (When Public Correction Is Necessary)
• 08:20 Why Explaining the WHY Builds Trust

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#leadership #companyculture #confrontation #management #tryharder

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I unpack the powerful lesson behind doing hard things—through the incredible story of Admiral James Stockdale. Shot down over North Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for seven years, Stockdale survived by practicing what later became known as the Stockdale Paradox: disciplined thinking, neither blind optimism nor crippling pessimism. His survival was shaped by one seemingly small decision—taking a philosophy class years earlier. You never know which hard thing you choose today will shape who you become tomorrow.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Hard things prepare you for the unknown future—before the crisis comes.
• The Stockdale Paradox: face brutal facts while maintaining belief you'll prevail.
• Stoicism gave Stockdale the mental armor to endure years of captivity and torture.
• We all have "easy buttons," but choosing difficulty builds resilience and strength.
• Daily practice: ask yourself, "What hard thing will I do today?"

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 Why Doing Hard Things Matters
• 01:35 The Story of Admiral James Stockdale
• 03:15 From Fighter Pilot to Philosophy Student
• 05:00 Shot Down & Captured Over North Vietnam
• 06:30 Surviving Seven Years of Captivity
• 08:00 The Stockdale Paradox Explained
• 09:40 Why Small, Hard Choices Shape Your Future
• 11:00 Daily Practice: Choose Hard Things

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#stoicism #mentalstrength #stockdaleparadox #dohardthings #tryharder

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I share my personal journey with resiliency—what it means to "be where your feet are," how to handle anxiety about the future, and why facing life's hardest moments one step at a time is the key to moving forward. I'll talk about my early entrepreneurial days, lessons learned from the military, and the powerful advice from my late best friend Talon that has carried me through some of life's hardest seasons.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• "Be where your feet are" — focus fully on the present moment, not on future unknowns.
• Only worry about the "closest alligator to the boat" — solve the problem right in front of you.
• Worry alone is useless; move from anxiety to action by making a plan.
• Entrepreneurship (and life) is a contact sport — expect challenges and prepare to respond.
• Resiliency is built through presence, planning, and executing one step at a time.

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 Why Resiliency Matters for Entrepreneurs
• 01:20 My Journey Into Entrepreneurship & Self-Development
• 03:00 The Friendship That Shaped My Perspective
• 05:00 "Be Where Your Feet Are" — Talon's Powerful Advice
• 07:10 Learning to Face Anxiety & Worry With Logic
• 09:05 The Closest Alligator to the Boat: How to Focus
• 10:40 Planning Your Way Through Uncertainty
• 11:50 Final Thoughts on Presence & Resiliency

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#resiliency #mentalstrength #entrepreneurship #bewhereyourfeetare #tryharder

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I break down how to run a sub-6 minute mile—even if you're not a "runner." This framework is built for the well-rounded athlete: strong in the gym, fast on the track, and still fitting training into a busy life. I've used this exact system to hit sub-6 consistently, and I've coached countless others to do the same, all without training for hours a day.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• You don't need marathon-level mileage—just smart, targeted conditioning.
• Use the three energy systems: Gain (short bursts), Pain (intense efforts), and Sustain (longer intervals).
• Interval training is the fastest way to improve mile time when you're limited on time.
• Consistency across intervals matters more than volume—stop when your performance drops.
• Combine this with bodyweight strength work (like my pull-up program) for a complete, efficient system.

📌 Example Protocols:

• Gain: 30s on, 90s off — start with 5 intervals, build up while maintaining consistency.
• Pain: 2m on, 4m off — very hard efforts, 5–10 intervals max.
• Sustain: 5m on, 5m off — 3–5 intervals at aerobic threshold or Zone 2.

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 Who This Is For (Well-Rounded Athletes)
• 01:05 Why a Sub-6 Mile Matters
• 02:00 The Simplicity of Energy System Training
• 03:15 Gain Workouts (Explosiveness & Power)
• 04:30 Pain Workouts (The Hard Stuff No One Trains)
• 06:00 Sustain Workouts (Aerobic & Threshold)
• 07:25 Putting It All Together in a Week
• 08:20 Why Fitness Fuels Every Part of Life

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#sub6mile #intervaltraining #conditioning #wellroundedathlete #tryharder

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I show you how to get off your damn phone—so you can take back control of your mind, sharpen your focus, and be more present. The average American spends 4.5 hours a day on their phone, mostly doom-scrolling. I've cut my screen time down to about 29 minutes a day, and the difference in clarity, presence, and enjoyment of life is huge. Here's the system I use and how you can do it too.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Most phone time isn't productive—it's addictive by design, draining your energy and focus.
• I use an app called Opal (no affiliation) to block distracting apps with strict schedules.
• The key is the Allow List—only keeping essential apps (GPS, camera, Audible, Spotify, kids' sports apps, etc.).
• Set different rules for weekdays and weekends—block during family time and cut down work distractions.
• Even if you need Instagram or another app for business, set strict daily limits (15–30 minutes max).
• Track your average daily screen time to make sure your system is actually working.

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 Why You Need to Get Off Your Phone
• 01:05 The Average 4.5 Hours Problem
• 02:15 The App I Use: Opal
• 03:45 Building an Effective Allow List
• 05:20 My Weekday and Weekend Schedules
• 07:10 Handling Instagram for Business
• 08:15 Why You Can't "Just Use Discipline"
• 09:20 Final Thoughts: Protect Your Mind, Be Present

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#digitaldetox #focus #productivity #mindset #tryharder

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I break down how to build mental toughness—not by waiting for life to throw you hard times, but by deliberately creating them through training. The tool I've used for over a decade is called Meet Yourself Saturday—a weekly workout designed to confront the weakest version of yourself and strengthen the voice that pushes you forward. Mental toughness isn't about never wanting to quit—it's about changing the conversation in your head when you do.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Mental toughness is built by controlling the conversation in your mind.
• Meet Yourself Saturday is a weekly hard workout designed to expose your inner quitter—and overcome it.
• The Murph workout (1 mile run → 100 pull-ups → 200 push-ups → 300 squats → 1 mile run with a 20 lb vest) is one of the best mental toughness builders.
• True grit comes from repetition—doing this every week for years, not days.
• Visual representations (stickers, bricks, markers) reinforce progress and keep you accountable.

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 Why Mental Toughness Must Be Practiced
• 01:20 The Inner Conversation That Defines You
• 03:00 What Is Meet Yourself Saturday?
• 04:15 The Murph Workout Example
• 06:00 Recognizing and Reframing Weak Thoughts
• 07:20 How Long It Really Takes to Build Mental Toughness
• 08:30 Visual Bricks & Tracking Progress
• 09:30 Final Thoughts: Grit Takes Years, Not Days

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#mentaltoughness #grit #resilience #entrepreneurship #tryharder

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I share my honest experience with building a personal brand—what's worked, what hasn't, and why ditching polished AI content for raw, authentic storytelling has made a massive difference. After building multiple businesses, I realized engagement and trust don't come from perfectly produced videos or AI-written captions—they come from showing up as yourself, listening to your audience, and playing the long game.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Raw, authentic content outperforms polished AI "slop."
• Your story, struggles, and behind-the-scenes matter more than perfection.
• Ask your audience what they actually need help with—and create content around that.
• Engagement isn't about vanity metrics—it's about real conversations, replies, and relationships.
• Play the long game—trust and brand growth are built over time, not overnight.

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro & Why Personal Branding Matters
• 01:15 The Problem with Polished Content
• 03:00 Why I Ditched AI Captions
• 04:45 Creating Content Around Audience Struggles
• 06:30 Authenticity Over Vanity Metrics
• 07:45 Playing the Long Game

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#personalbrand #entrepreneurship #authenticcontent #newslettergrowth #tryharder

Want to GROW your newsletter? Join mine to learn how it's done: https://better.biz/newsletter

In this episode, I break down the Strike Zero Program—a simple and brutally effective way to get better at pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, or any bodyweight exercise. This is the exact program that took me from struggling to do a single pull-up to being able to rep out 20+ strict reps consistently. It's customizable, time-efficient, and built for busy entrepreneurs, parents, or anyone trying to stay fit while building a better life.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• The Strike Zero Program uses maximum effort sets until you "strike" through all reps down to zero.
• It tailors itself to your fitness level by bringing you to failure every set.
• Rest periods are short (about 60 seconds), making workouts efficient and effective.
• You can do it three times per week with a lower body move, upper body push, and upper body pull—or just pick one exercise when short on time.
• Momentum > perfection—one session, even short, builds consistency and results.

📌 Example Workout:

• Air Squats: 200 reps total
• Push-Ups: 100 reps total
• Pull-Ups: 50 reps total
• Do max reps → subtract from total → rest 60 sec → move to next exercise → repeat until you hit zero.

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 Why Fitness Fuels Everything Else in Life
• 01:15 My Embarrassing Start with Pull-Ups
• 02:45 The Marine Who Showed Me the Way
• 04:10 The Origins of the Strike Zero Program
• 05:30 How the Program Works (Strike Down to Zero)
• 07:15 Weekly Programming & Variations
• 08:45 Quick Wins for Busy Entrepreneurs
• 09:40 Final Thoughts on Consistency & Momentum

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerred.moon/ My site: https://better.biz Get my book: https://bit.ly/killingcomfort

#bodyweighttraining #strikezeroprogram #pullups #entrepreneurfitness #tryharder