👉 Access The 4% Files Treasure Map HERE To Get A Detailed Recap & Summary Of This Series!

👉 Access all of the bonus material from the 4% Files right here

Have you ever stopped and stared at the beauty of a leaf?

One of the first things you’ll notice is the little veins branching off…

They look awfully similar to the branches that the leaf came from…

They look awfully similar to the roots underneath the tree…

It’s mesmerizing.

And it’s also a fractal.

Once you start noticing fractals, you’ll start to see them EVERYWHERE.

Those ice crystals forming on your windshield? Fractal.

The atoms our bodies are made of? Fractal.

The beautiful pattern on that pinecone? Fractal.

A fractal is simply a repeating pattern that continues at every scale.

Yes, they occur all over nature, but they ALSO occur all over our lives.

That strength you have that gets you results every time you use it? What if THAT was a fractal? (Hint: it is)

That “problem” that keeps occurring in your life? What if THAT is a fractal? (Hint: it is).

Today, I’m introducing you to the person that changed my life by bringing “Fractal Thinking” into it — Perry Marshall.

Perry has one of the most curious and deep minds that I’ve ever interviewed on the show, and his curiosity has led him all over the place. 

Perry is…

• A former mechanical engineer turned famed marketing legend
• The founder of the $10M Evolution 2.0 Prize for Origin of Life research
• On a mission to reverse cancer
• The pioneer of innovative “80/20 thinking” used by NASA’s jet propulsion labs

… to name a few.

It was Perry (and his book 80/20 Sales and Marketing) that broke down the fractal nature of the 80/20 rule that actually led to the entire development of my Find Your Four® process and therefore the 4% Files Series.

There’s so much we dive into, including:

• How to stop fighting problems and instead find and defeat the SOURCE of what’s creating all of the problems to begin with… (and what that has to do with a poem written in the year 975)
• How to solve 95% of a problem by simply shifting the way you define the problem to begin with. 
• How to use “Renaissance Time” to stop reacting and start architecting the life you actually want (and how you can start using it by buying a $13 alarm clock)

What makes this episode so powerful is that it goes FAR beyond tactics… it upgrades the way you see the world and solve problems.

Brandon Fong welcomes listeners to The 9th 4% File, part of the 11-part Beyond Curious series distilling the most powerful insights from over 334 hours of podcast conversations. He previews why Perry Marshall—engineer turned marketing legend and systems thinker—embodies “beyond curious” thinking.

Brandon shares his personal journey into direct response marketing and how discovering Perry’s work—especially 80/20 Sales and Marketing—reshaped his worldview through fractal 80/20 thinking and the concept of “finding your 4%.”

Brandon sets the stage:

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. Stop fighting symptoms and defeat problems at their source
4. 
   
5. 
   
6. 
   
7. Why a problem clearly defined is 95% solved
8. 
   
9. 
   
10. 
    
11. The power of “Renaissance Time” and deep thinking rituals
12. 
    
13. 
    

Perry enters the show, setting an open, exploratory tone as Brandon invites him to begin with a story that frames the entire episode.

Perry retells Beowulf as a systems metaphor: killing Grendel (the symptom) doesn’t solve the problem—Grendel’s mother (the source) lives at the bottom of the swamp. True solutions require confronting what everyone avoids.

Perry explains how the swamp represents taboo truths—organizational, cultural, personal, or scientific—that people build walls around instead of confronting directly.

Brandon connects Beowulf’s descent to Perry’s quote from Evolution 2.0: choosing to pursue truth even if it costs everything, defining “beyond curious” as a lived commitment.

Perry recounts losing his father to cancer at age 17, later losing close loved ones, and how these experiences quietly shaped his openness to tackling cancer when the opportunity emerged.

Perry explains how his background in electrical engineering and systems thinking allows him to see cancer not as chaos, but as an evolutionary process gone unchecked—an insight missed by siloed disciplines.

A disagreement with Perry’s brother sparks a deep investigation into evolutionary theory, revealing that cells actively engineer themselves—contrary to the “random mutation” narrative taught in popular science.

Perry reframes cancer as cells activating their evolutionary toolkit without a proper “off switch,” revealing why current definitions—and treatments—often fail.

Perry shares breakthroughs from researchers who can detect pre-cancerous stress signals in the bloodstream, potentially enabling prevention years before diagnosis.

“A problem clearly defined is 95% solved.” Perry explains how most failures—personal, organizational, or medical—stem from solving the wrong problem entirely.

Perry draws parallels between dysfunctional families, churches, bureaucracies, and scientific communities—each protecting unspoken truths to preserve stability.

“If you need a new idea, read an old book.” Perry explains how forgotten scientific frameworks—some over a century old—resurface once technology catches up.

Perry reveals how discovering fractals helped him see 80/20 as a fundamental law of nature—not just business—governing everything from biology to behavior.

Examples ranging from alcoholism to pest control illustrate how self-reinforcing systems naturally follow 80/20 dynamics.

Perry explains how success accelerates when people stop forcing themselves into roles they’re unsuited for and instead align with their innate abilities.

Deep emotional work reveals how unresolved shame suppresses curiosity, creativity, and growth—both individually and collectively.

Using the Genesis story, Perry identifies shame as humanity’s most universal inhibitor—and the clearest signal pointing toward the real problem.

Perry describes his daily ritual of uninterrupted reflection—no phone, no media—and why reading pre-Gutenberg wisdom sharpens judgment in a noisy world.

Perry explains why he requires Renaissance Time from clients—and why constant stimulation destroys clarity, curiosity, and strategic insight.

Perry shares resources for learning 80/20 thinking and evolutionary science, encouraging listeners to build lives aligned with curiosity, meaning, and long-term impact.

Perry closes with a powerful metaphor: choosing curiosity and purpose may mean eating “slop” instead of steak—but it’s how world-changing missions begin.

• 4% Treasure Map
• 80/20 Sales and Marketing Book – Foundational guide to fractal 80/20 thinking
• Evolution 2.0 Podcast - Ongoing conversations at the intersection of science, evolution, and cancer research
• Ultimate Guide to Google Ads Book

👉 Access The 4% Files Treasure Map HERE To Get A Detailed Recap & Summary Of This Series!

👉 Access all of the bonus material from the 4% Files right here

Back in July 2025, I saw a social media post that made my heart stop:

The headline prominently said:

Rest in Peace Steve Sims

July 1966 - July 2025

Steve Sims was a podcast guest that had a profoundly deep impact in my life. 

In case you haven’t heard of Steve before, he was coined by Forbes as “The Real Life Wizard of Oz” who helped his clients do things like:

• Get married by the Pope
• Take submarine trips to the Titanic
• Have dinner in front of Michelangelo’s David while being serenaded by Andrea Bocelli
• Meet celebrities like Elton John and Elon Musk

He even once took a group on a private tour of the Tesla gigafactory… followed by a visit to a legal, licensed brothel to learn about the power of communication (yes, seriously).

But beyond the crazy experiences…

Steve Sims gave me a new blueprint for life.

In fact, a few years ago when journaling about the 3 people I most looked up to, Steve’s name was high on that list — right next to my wife and daughter.

Even though we only spent a few hours together across these interviews, Steve’s mindset has been running like a background program in my brain ever since I met him.

He embodied the values and passions that drive my life today:

• Family & Heart: He loved his wife and kids deeply, and built his business alongside them
• Doing the Impossible: His entire life was proof that “impossible” is just a starting point
• Experiences: The most inspiring (and wildest) experience designer I’ve ever met
• Fun & Play: He approached life like a big kid—joyful, absurd, and always ready to make you laugh
• Being Unapologetically You: Steve knew who he was and never tried to be anything else
• Pure Passion for Life: You could hear it in his voice—he lived with passion, every single day
• Storytelling: Hands down my favorite storyteller of all time—he didn’t just live great stories, he delivered them in unforgettable ways

So to honor his legacy, on episode #250 of the show, I stitched together all 3 of our interviews at once.

As I dove through my entire podcast library for this series, I HAD to include my interviews with Steve, despite the fact that I only recently published the trilogy.

But of course, with this being the 4% Files I had to do something even more epic…

You see:

The magic of this series is that EVERYTHING I’m sharing I’ve tested personally… for years. 

None of this is something I just learned about and haven’t implemented in a deep way.

So in addition to the truly transformational content that Steve himself shares in the episodes, I actually weave together ~45 minutes of bonus content walking you through exactly how I’ve implemented what I learned from Steve.

These episodes with Steve truly showed me what was possible beyond my wildest imagination at the time…

But just as a fair warning:

This is my LONGEST episode to date, clocking in at 3 and a half hours. 

So you’re in for a ride if you commit to this one.

But if you do, I promise it’ll be worth it.

00:00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Steve Sims, as Brandon tees up a “monster” 3+ hour episode surfacing the full Steve Sims trilogy—plus his own commentary between each interview segment.

00:01:36 - Brandon kicks off the trilogy compilation (“buckle your seatbelts”), then we get a teaser straight from Steve: an absurdly epic Florence dining experience beneath Michelangelo’s David—complete with a lesson hidden in the punchline “no one’s ever asked.”

00:02:57 - Brandon zooms out on imagination and identity (“you can’t become a version of yourself you can’t conceive”), name-dropping Napoleon Hill and Einstein while framing why Steve’s worldview can permanently expand what feels possible.

00:05:34 - Brandon introduces Steve’s backstory and impact (bricklayer → bouncer → luxury concierge and experience designer), then shares the heartbreaking context: Steve passed away July 7, 2025 from cancer, and this release honors his legacy by stitching all three episodes together.

00:07:17 - Brandon explains the special 4% Files format: after each interview installment, he’ll return with implementation-focused commentary—what he actually applied and what created compounding results over time—then transitions into episode one (recorded October 2021).

00:13:09 - Steve (story): A client wants to recreate how he originally “won” his wife—college picnic rug, boom box, and all—so Steve rebuilds the moment down to the exact vibe, including tracking down working boomboxes and even figuring out how to record a cassette in the modern era.

00:15:29 - Steve reveals the ridiculous-but-brilliant workaround to “you can’t rent a public park”: he stations attractive women walking dogs on long leashes in a moving perimeter—because “men are terrified of attractive women”—to keep strangers from wandering into the recreated proposal scene.

00:26:03 - Steve (principle): “Control the front door.” As a doorman, he learns you don’t filter people out to be exclusive—you filter to prevent chaos later. Then he introduces “silly password” mechanics (Sesame Street / Teletubbies-type prompts) that inject positivity before anyone even enters.

00:29:18 - Steve describes bouncing a wealthy, entitled guy for refusing to play the childish password game—and how the resulting “rude doormen” press turned into the best marketing they could have gotten, making even more people want in.

00:31:03 - Brandon reflects on how the “velvet rope” concept applies to business: designing the filter up-front prevents 99% of downstream problems—then pivots toward Bluefishing strategies.

00:48:12 - Brandon (commentary bridge): He connects Steve’s patterns (filters, contrast, and bold asks) to how Brandon has applied them in real life—setting up the “implementation” framing that will recur between each installment.

00:01:04:08 - Brandon introduces Part 2 with three things to watch for: (1) listening under what people say (Elton John + realtor examples), (2) leveraging “Unpolished” to stand out, and (3) Steve’s experience design (including a Tesla gigafactory → brothel contrast day).

00:01:06:15 - Part 2 begins with Brandon and Steve riffing on “Sims the Sequel,” setting the tone for another rapid-fire, story-heavy sprint.

00:01:08:12 - Steve (insight): We live in a “gotcha society” that loves laughing at people—so most people hide their dreams to avoid ridicule. Steve’s job, as he sees it, is listening past the words to the real desire underneath.

00:01:10:00 - Steve revisits the core responsibility of proximity to high-status people: guard the front door. If someone misbehaves at Elton John’s Oscar party, it reflects on you, so curation is a form of integrity—not elitism.

00:01:11:38 - Steve (story): A brash caller wants a photo + autograph with Elton “before he dies.” Steve clocks the request as shallow and doesn’t even take the guy’s contact info—because it’s about status props, not meaning.

00:01:13:45 - A second caller sounds similar, but Steve shifts the conversation with one question—“Why?”—and the whole emotional temperature changes, revealing a completely different motivation.

00:01:15:01 - Steve (story payoff): The real “why”: the caller’s dad drove him to school with an Elton John cassette on repeat; years after his dad’s death, hearing Elton briefly “brings his dad back” for three minutes—so he just wants to say thank you.

00:01:17:16 - Steve orchestrates the moment at the Oscar party; when the story lands, both men tear up and hug. Steve highlights the lesson: solving the surface request would’ve missed what the person truly needed—asking “why” created the impact.

00:01:35:41 - Steve (unpolished connection): He sends clients bizarre physical “touches” (scribbles on in-flight magazines, random artifacts) and expects they might hate it—until a long-time client says the “worthless crap” is exactly why they remember him: “Don’t stop.”

00:01:38:47 - Steve underlines the meta-lesson Brandon just said out loud: the human element. Imperfect, obviously-human mail signals care in a world drowning in polished automation.

00:01:44:55 - Steve (tactic): Approaching someone famous? Start with “You don’t know me” to remove their anxiety and let them actually listen—then offer value (e.g., “I noticed three things that could improve your marketing/branding”).

00:01:47:58 - The guy Steve approaches laughs—then reveals the project was shut down six months ago… and Steve’s first two suggestions would’ve saved it. Result: Steve gets invited into an ongoing retainer relationship.

00:01:53:47 - Experience design, live: Steve describes taking Speakeasy attendees to two extremes in one day: a private tour of Elon Musk’s Gigafactory (newest industry) followed by the Bunny Ranch (oldest industry), using contrast to create a learning “roller coaster.”

00:01:55:17 - On the bus pulling up to the brothel, the energy drops—60% of the group is women, everyone goes silent, and Steve’s friend warns it could go “real well or real south fast.” Then Air Force Amy welcomes them in, and the awkwardness evolves into unexpected connection and conversation.

00:02:02:41 - Steve’s event philosophy: your gathering should become a community—“one person turns up and 200 people leave as one unit”—and that unity is built through shared discomfort, pattern interrupts, and guided growth.

00:02:03:58 - Steve (exercise): At a Speakeasy, he pulls everyone’s LinkedIn photo + bio into a printed sheet without asking, then has random people introduce each other using only what’s on the page—instantly exposing who’s showing up weak online and why it’s costing them conversations.

00:02:07:04 - Steve (Elon story): While touring SpaceX with clients, one asks Elon about NASA publicly humiliating him. Elon replies: “They always laugh at you just before they applaud.” Steve ties this to creating “safe ridicule” inside his room—so people can practice being bold with backup.

00:02:28:26 - Brandon (commentary): He emphasizes psychological safety: pushing people past comfort zones only works when the container is benevolent and trust-based—then tees up Part 3’s themes: Luigi, protecting big dreams, and being impossible to misunderstand.

00:02:29:44 - Part 3 begins with Brandon joking about Steve as the “ugly bald guy” people ask about—and calling him the first “three-peat” guest.

00:02:35:00 - Steve lays out a filter for criticism: why care about opinions from people who “can’t afford you” or haven’t built anything? He ties it to choosing better voices to listen to—and the danger of letting bitter bystanders shrink your vision.

00:02:36:22 - At a dinner party with Marvel actors, the table plays “what’s your superpower?” Steve struggles to answer—until his wife Claire steps in.

00:02:37:53 - Claire declares Steve’s superpower is “ignorance”—and Steve’s first thought is “I’m gonna get a divorce.” Then she reframes it as his refusal to internalize naysayers, chuckles, or “it can’t be done.”

00:02:43:35 - The Luigi story: Steve recounts shutting down an entire museum in Florence so clients could dine at Michelangelo’s David while Andrea Bocelli performed. When Steve tries to flex to a staffer (“Luigi”), the guy shrugs: “No one’s ever asked.”

00:02:46:16 - Steve lands the thesis: you get an automatic “no” for every question you don’t ask. Brandon sums it up in one word: Ask.

00:03:11:05 - Clarity & simplicity: Brandon and Steve discuss making messages easy to understand (even “fourth grade level”), and Steve explains he’s heard hyper-advanced ideas from people like Peter Diamandis, Ray Kurzweil, Elon Musk, and Larry Page—yet the best communicators can explain them simply enough to retell at home.

00:03:12:10 - Brandon transitions to Steve and Claire’s 37-year relationship and asks how their partnership evolved across decades and identity shifts.

00:03:14:06 - Steve talks about “toys change as you get more successful,” and critiques the reflex to “upgrade” partners instead of asking if you can grow together. He credits Claire as essential to his books and to raising their standards through mutual pushing.

00:03:15:32 - Steve articulates Claire’s superpower: quiet strength—nudging him back into alignment without making him feel controlled (which, he notes, entrepreneurs typically hate).

00:03:18:01 - Steve closes with a promise about his book: it’s not a “glory hole” autobiography—it’s meant to be tactical, helping readers improve relationships, raise standards, increase clarity, and remove confusion.

00:03:18:34 - Brandon’s final call-to-action: the biggest permission Steve gave him is to ask, practice asking until it gets easier, and go for “stupid” goals you’re willing to be laughed at for.

00:03:19:39 - Brandon returns solo, thanks listeners for staying for 3+ hours, and begins his final takeaway list—starting with the Luigi punchline and his dad’s framing that “no” is the worst outcome, so asking has asymmetric upside.

00:03:26:24 - Brandon points listeners to Steve’s work (Bluefishing, Go for Stupid) and mentions Steve’s son Henry’s legacy via henrysims.com and Sims Media (if still active).

00:03:27:16 - Final “ask” from Brandon: leave a rating/review via ratethispodcast.com/BeyondCurious to help others discover the 4% Files wisdom—then he wraps and previews the ninth file.

Links & Resources

• Steve D. Sims Official Website: Learn more about Steve’s work and legacy.
• Henry Sims – Sims Media: Explore the ongoing legacy of Steve Sims through his son Henry’s media company.
• Sims Distillery: A place for curated ideas, coaching, and inspiration from the Sims family.
• Book: Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen by Steve D. Sims
• Book: Go for Stupid: The Art of Achieving Ridiculous Goals by Steve D. Sims

👉 Access The 4% Files Treasure Map HERE To Get A Detailed Recap & Summary Of This Series!

👉 Access all of the bonus material from the 4% Files right here

. . .

Today I’m introducing you to someone I consider to be an alchemist.

But the type of alchemy that he practices is far more transformational than turning metal into gold…

He’s an alchemist of genius, helping people reorganize their lives around the work they were actually born to do.

Here’s what I mean by that:

Imagine if you could spend 70% or more of your day doing exactly what you are uniquely suited to do.

You removed the things from your life you are incompetent, competent, or even excellent at… and instead focus PURELY on the work that you feel like you were put on planet Earth to do.

This is the magic of the New York Times bestselling author and beautiful soul, Dr. Gay Hendricks.

In the words of his wife, Katie, “He sees the essence of people and the core pattern blocking their direct experience of essence in about two seconds.”

In his book, The Big Leap, he outlines his process of converting your life experience into the raw material you need to build a home in what he calls “The Zone of Genius.”

Gay has made a profound impact on my life, not only through his work but through the radiance he exudes.

Here’s a small sample as to why Gay is someone I deeply respect and admire:

1. He has a beautiful and deep 40+ year relationship with his wife, Katie. They have co-created a relationship that is their “living laboratory for conscious loving”
2. He practices what he preaches, and at age 77 at the time we recorded this episode he is full of energy and a strong desire to continue sharing his gifts with the world.
3. He has found a way to translate every element of his life (relationship, his books, his business) into a vehicle for elevating his consciousness.
4. He has an ability to (1) identify his own limiting unconscious patterns, (2) leverage his life experience to extract his essence, and (3) communicate what he learned by studying himself in a truly heartfelt way

In other words, Gay is who I want to be when I grow up.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How to come up with your top five life goals
2. What the “Upper Limit Problem” is and why Gay believes it’s the ONLY problem that we need to solve if you desire to always feel good and have life go well all the time
3. How you can STOP worrying (yes, you read that correctly)
4. How to turn your business into a powerful vehicle for spiritual growth
5. How to design a life you never want to retire from

For those following along with the 4% Files in order, this episode is an incredible power up that will help you deepen your awareness of your Player to consciously design a life in alignment with your unique gifts.

This episode helps you identify where you’re unconsciously holding yourself back from your natural brilliance.

I can’t wait for you to listen!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Dr. Gay Hendricks, as Brandon opens “The Seventh 4% File” in his 11-part series, explains the purpose of surfacing the show’s most high-impact insights, and points listeners to the “treasure map” in the episode description to get oriented fast.

00:06:11 - Gay rewinds to an early “genius breadcrumb”: getting a tricycle on his birthday and (when rain kept him indoors) channeling that energy into playful problem-solving—setting the stage for how childhood instincts can hint at a lifelong Zone of Genius.

00:10:46 - Gay tells the Mr. Lowen watermelon story: after hours of failure trying to sell whole watermelons, he pivots to selling cold slices for instant gratification—an early lesson in positioning, value, and adapting to what people actually want.

00:14:03 - Brandon turns that childhood story into homework: ask yourself what your first “can’t-wait” toy was—and consider how that excitement might still be a clue to the kind of work you’re built to do now.

00:18:38 - Gay makes his case that “business is spirituality,” drawing on time living in monasteries and walking through major companies: he shares how leaders like Bob Galvin (Motorola) and Bob Shapiro (Monsanto) modeled values like seeing workers as whole humans—and calls “cellular honesty” (naming anger, fear, hurt directly) a deeply spiritual practice in the real world.

00:25:17 - Gay explains how he first discovered the Upper Limit Problem: after dropping off his daughter Amanda at her first sleepaway camp, he spirals into worry-fantasies—only to learn she’s happily playing, and to realize the discomfort was his projection (and his “allergy to feeling good”).

00:29:38 - Gay names one of the core roots: the fear of being “fundamentally flawed.” When things start going well, that old belief can surge and trigger self-sabotage—pulling you back to your familiar set point.

00:33:49 - Brandon + Gay zoom out: Gay reflects on how he used to be a “heady intellectual” disconnected from emotions (and the cost of that), while Brandon frames the Upper Limit Problem as a clarifying lens—language that helps you catch unconscious barriers before they quietly run your life.

00:39:25 - Gay shares a guiding integrity principle from his grandmother—“tell the truth so you don’t have to remember what you said”—then connects Upper Limits to small accidents and illnesses, teeing up the idea that the body can be an early warning system when you’re shrinking back from your own expansion.

00:44:26 - Brandon reveals the “diagram” he printed and wants to live by: treat worry like an addictive reflex, then practice the pivot—notice → release → shift focus → wonder what positive new thing is trying to come through—and ask Gay how to train this transformation in real time.

00:51:06 - Gay defines the deeper payoff of genius work: not just “peace of mind,” but “peace of heart”—the rare calm that comes from contributing. He describes building a life you’d never want to retire from and offers a developmental arc: 30s find your life, 40s build it, 50s+ enjoy it—while encouraging listeners to enjoy it now through genius alignment.

00:55:32 - Gay introduces the “deathbed question” exercise: imagine you’re at the end of your life, declare it a total success, then identify the five specific reasons you can say that—turning vague ambition into a clear scoreboard for the life you actually want.

01:00:23 - Gay shares his first and biggest “wish”: creating a long-lasting, loving relationship where both partners grow in wisdom and love—something he hadn’t witnessed in his family—and how that clarity led him to commit deeply to Katie (later inspiring his book Five Wishes).

01:04:38 - Gay points listeners to where they can go deeper: hendricks.com and the Foundation for Conscious Living, highlighting the abundance of free relationship and “feeling good” resources available there.

01:10:47 - Brandon closes the file with gratitude and a clear ask: if the episode helped you, take a moment to rate the podcast at “RateThisPodcast dot com / Beyond Curious,” so the work spreads further—and he signs off with love and “see you in the eighth file.”

• 4% Treasure Map (in the episode description; no opt-in)
• hendricks.com - Hendricks Institute
• Foundation for Conscious Living
• Toastmasters (mentioned as a tool Gay used with a client to work through public-speaking fear)

👉 Access The 4% Files Treasure Map HERE To Get A Detailed Recap & Summary Of This Series!

👉 Access all of the bonus material from the 4% Files right here

. . .

If you asked me:

“Brandon, what ideas have most permeated your life?”

Of the ideas that I actively use on an almost daily basis and have done so consistently for years, there are really only two of them:

1. The Find Your Four® concept that my entire world is built around
2. +2 Energy

These two concepts unlock the ability to:

1. Build a life doing the things you love the most
2. With the people that bring you the most energy

I’ve gone deep on Find Your Four® already in the first file… but today is an opportunity to go SUPER deep on +2 Energy.

On the surface, it’s a very simple concept:

After every interaction you have, rate your ENERGY level from -2 to +2.

You’ll start to notice several things:

1. When you feel +2 energy from someone, they most likely feel +2 energy from you
2. Therefore, when you feel +2 energy from someone, odds are the other +2 people in your world will feel it too!
3. When you connect +2 humans to other +2 humans, EVERYONE wins

This simple concept has literally created an energy vortex of transformational humans.

So much so that most people that operate in the “+2 World” are often receiving 10 or more incredibly transformational intros every single week.

This also goes beyond just people though…

Because this simple energy rating scale can help you start to orient your entire life around EVERYTHING you’re doing that gives you +2 energy.

Because this is such an important concept that I talk about all the time, I wanted a deep dive “Masterclass” on this subject that covers perspectives from how people have implemented this concept.

So, I brought on THREE of the humans most responsible for transforming my life with this concept:

1. Randy Molland
2. Mark Fujiwara
3. Jennifer Hill

I can’t wait for you to listen… and even better IMPLEMENT this concept.

It’s truly changed so many people’s lives, so I’d be honored to introduce it to you.

Brandon Fong kicks off the sixth 4% file by introducing the concept of "+2 Energy," a simple yet powerful tool that has significantly shaped his life. He previews the masterclass-style episode featuring three transformational guests—Randy Molland, Jennifer Hill, and Mark Fujiwara—who each offer unique perspectives on how they use this energy-based framework to build meaningful, exponential relationships.

Brandon breaks down the "+2 Energy" framework—rating every interaction from -2 to +2 based on how it impacts your energy. He explains how identifying and connecting with +2 individuals creates a vortex of transformational energy, elevating everyone involved.

Brandon introduces the three guests: Randy Molland (founder of Go Big to Give Big), Jennifer Hill (founder of Optimatch and super-connector), and Mark Fujiwara (wealth advisor and mental health advocate). Each guest shares a deep personal connection to the +2 concept and plays a key role in the energetic ecosystem Brandon has cultivated.

Mark shares how he was first inspired by a Tim Ferriss podcast featuring Jim Collins, which led him to track his energy in 15-minute increments. He reveals how noticing energy drains helped him improve family interactions and realize which relationships were affecting him the most—even if those relationships were financially lucrative.

Randy picks up the story, explaining how he used Mark's framework to categorize people in his CRM by energy rating. He shares the traits of +2 people—service-first, high character, and impact-driven—and how this system helped build an aligned referral network where intros are made purely based on energetic compatibility.

Jennifer describes her daily spiritual routine, including the "anti-jerk" prayer, which helps her attract aligned relationships. She shares how she uses a Google Sheet to track every referral and interaction, recording not only energy levels but also what matters most to each person.

Jennifer relays a concept from neuroscientist Jeanne Fontana—when two aligned people meet, their energy amplifies like sine waves. She explains how differing motivators create resistance, making even well-intentioned relationships energetically draining.

The guests reflect on the power of only engaging with +2 people throughout the day. Mark shares how his energy naturally remains elevated when he's intentional about who he surrounds himself with, reducing the need for constant tracking.

Brandon introduces the acronym CAST (Curious, Aligned, Spiritual, Transformational) to describe the shared traits of the +2 people in his life. He discusses how naming the pattern made it easier to spot and nurture high-vibration relationships.

Randy shares how he began applying the +2 energy lens to hiring. Rather than focusing on resumes, he and his team assess energetic alignment during interviews. The result: a company culture where team members support and check in with each other based on shared energetic values.

Jennifer ties the +2 concept to psychological safety, referencing Google’s Project Aristotle. The study found that psychological safety is the #1 predictor of team success—a quality that naturally thrives in +2-centric relationships.

Brandon explains how +2 relationships often connect at the “0.8% identity” level—the deepest part of a person’s core belief system. These relationships aren't about what someone does but who they are, making long-term transformation inevitable.

Randy and Jen explain how referrals in the +2 world are based on energy and values, not resumes or industries. Because of this, people often become lifelong friends or collaborators even before knowing what the other person does professionally.

Randy explains how in the +2 ecosystem, sharing phone numbers and doing text intros becomes effortless because everyone is trusted and aligned. The joy of seeing a text from a +2 connection is part of the magic of this system.

Brandon shares that some of his deepest +2 relationships were evident within 30 seconds of meeting the person. He emphasizes that +2 energy isn’t intellectual—it’s energetic and heart-based.

Jen tells the story of how her relationship with Ian, a fashion entrepreneur, started transactionally but evolved into a deep, supportive friendship rooted in spirituality and shared personal growth, illustrating how +2 transcends business boundaries.

Jennifer connects +2 energy to abundance, quoting Yasmina Ellis: “What if all our relationships could be exponential?” Surrounding yourself with +2s enhances not just your mental state, but also your material and emotional wealth.

Mark recommends letting go of overthinking and rating your energy immediately after interactions. This prevents rationalization (e.g., “but they pay me a lot”) from clouding the energetic truth.

Randy closes by offering practical tips: let loved ones know if you'll be around a minus energy person, schedule a +2 call afterward, and recognize that a well-placed +2 intro can elevate your credibility and access to higher-level relationships.

1. The 4% Files Treasure Map – A recap and guide to the 11-part series. (Linked in episode description)
2. Go Big to Give Big – Randy Molland’s initiative
3. The Impact Circle – Randy's nonprofit connector platform
4. OptiMatch – Jennifer Hill’s alignment algorithm
5. MarkFujiwara.com – Mark Fujiwara’s website

👉 Access The 4% Files Treasure Map HERE To Get A Detailed Recap & Summary Of This Series!

👉 Access all of the bonus material from the 4% Files right here

. . .

In April 2018, I left the cow poop-smelling college town of Whitewater, Wisconsin (Population 15,000)…

And walked into a $25,000/yr mastermind room in Tempe, Arizona, filled with 7-, 8-, and 9-figure impact-driven entrepreneurs.

I was a 22-year-old college senior and by every traditional standard, I didn’t belong.

Yet somehow, I manifested a way to be there… and my life changed almost instantly.

One of the biggest upgrades came during the very first session when I found myself sitting next to Dr. Benjamin Hardy.

At the time, his blogs were being read by 100M+ people as the #1 writer in the world on Medium.com and he had just published Willpower Doesn’t Work. 

Today, he’s an organizational psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and co-founder of scaling.com supporting people in realizing impossible goals.

That day marked the beginning of me going deep with Ben’s body of work that would fundamentally shift the trajectory of my life.

But the real tipping point for me came when he released 10x Is Easier Than 2x in 2023.

It was that book — and the 6-week challenge Ben hosted for it — that catalyzed some of the biggest moves that got me to where I’m at today:

• Re-branding to Beyond Curious® and hosting my first ever live event 
• Hiring my amazing Executive Assistant, Kevin, who has saved me thousands of hours and helps to amplify my work
• Connecting to my future self and vision, building my Curiosity Island™ community, and setting the vision to celebrate my 30th birthday by hosting a live Curiosity Island event (which is now 44 days away)

So when I poured the 334+ hours of recorded content on the show to find the best of the best, it was a no-brainer to include one of my interviews with Ben.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to shift your perception of time so that your future self guides your decisions instead of your past.
• How to leverage “impossible” goals as a TOOL to come up with teleporting pathways to achieving your vision
• Why your vision is a DRAFT… and how evolving your vision with better information is a sign of growth, not failure.
• How thinking at 10x or 100x might surface invisible beliefs and identity structures you weren’t consciously aware of that are keeping you stuck
• How to edit your past from the lens of your future to free you from old stories that no longer serve you

As with every episode in the 4% Files, this one is a potent one that I’m confident will make a big difference!

Brandon introduces the fifth installment of the 4% Files series and explains the goal of surfacing the most transformational content from over 334 hours of podcast conversations. He previews today's featured guest, Dr. Benjamin Hardy, whose work has played a pivotal role in Brandon’s own personal transformation.

Brandon shares a helpful resource for new and returning listeners called the “4% Files Treasure Map,” providing a high-level overview of how the series is structured and how best to navigate the episodes.

A powerful quote from Dr. Hardy kicks off the episode: “To actually go for a seemingly impossible goal, you can’t do more, you actually have to do less.”

Brandon recounts how, at age 22, he landed in a $25,000 mastermind group and was serendipitously seated next to Dr. Hardy, marking a major inflection point in his life.

Brandon shares how participating in Ben’s six-week 10x challenge led him to rebrand his podcast to Beyond Curious, host a live event, hire his executive assistant, and start the Curiosity Island community.

Brandon outlines the core themes listeners will hear discussed in the episode: shifting perception of time, leveraging impossible goals, evolving your vision, 10x/100x thinking, and editing your past through the lens of your future self.

Ben describes the 10x leap that started when he pitched the idea of “Who Not How” to Dan Sullivan after a Genius Network presentation, leading to three co-authored bestsellers and a transformation in his career.

Ben explains how studying Michelangelo inspired the 10x concept in the book. He draws parallels between Michelangelo’s relentless pursuit of mastery and the stripping away of non-essential effort to achieve greatness.

Ben contrasts his and Dan Sullivan’s “10x is easier than 2x” model with Grant Cardone’s version of 10x, focusing on depth over brute-force activity. Their 10x model is about doing less but better—shedding 80% of what doesn’t serve.

Ben unpacks how your past and future are both drafts, and how you can reframe your past stories based on who you are becoming. He shares powerful examples of this, including a conversation with his adopted kids.

Brandon reveals his “Spreadsheet of Life” and how he tracks his 10x jumps using a self-built tool. He reflects on the evolution from being a “sidekick” to owning his own narrative and leadership role.

Ben shares how he revisits past experiences, like his parents’ divorce or moments of professional frustration, to upgrade the meaning through his current understanding—highlighting the healing power of continuous reframing.

Ben encourages listeners to define 10x on their own terms—whether that means more income, more peace, or less stress—and explains that growth can come from qualitative, not just quantitative, change.

Ben dives into the difference between doing things out of “need” vs. “want.” Operating from pure want, he explains, is the essence of freedom and essential to 10x transformation.

Ben thoughtfully addresses the idea that vision is not “set in stone” and shares how evolving your vision with new information is a sign of maturity—not failure. He discusses the concept of goals being for learning, not just achieving.

Ben introduces the idea of thinking 100x as a technique to reveal hidden limiting beliefs and outdated identity commitments. It’s a powerful tool to go beyond what's currently imaginable.

• 4% Files Treasure Map – Referenced by Brandon for navigating the entire 11-part series
• Genius Network – The mastermind community where Brandon and Ben first met:
• Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s Books:
• Willpower Doesn’t Work
• Personality Isn’t Permanent
• Be Your Future Self Now
• Who Not How (with Dan Sullivan)
• The Gap and the Gain (with Dan Sullivan)
• 10x is Easier Than 2x (with Dan Sullivan)
• The Science of Scaling

Today we’re opening up The FOURTH 4% File — part 4 of an 11 part Beyond Curious series where I surface the most powerful, high-impact insights buried inside the 334+ hours of published episodes on this show.

In this file, I’m introducing you to someone that has impacted my life in a BIG way… the brilliant Michael Roderick.

I could spend several hours telling you about how awesome Michael is.

In fact, I actually did do that earlier this year…

In September, I reached out to 300+ people to throw him a massive virtual surprise party, just to say thank you:

Turns out I’m not the only one that’s been deeply impacted by him!

Anyways…

This interview may very well be the most I’ve EVER invested in terms of “preparing” for an interview.

I’m talking 100+ hours.

How could that even be possible?

Well, I’ve known Michael for over 5 years now and have not only invested significantly to be a part of his programs…

But our relationship has evolved to the point where we talk once a week, and he’s become a truly transformational thought partner in my life.

So this interview is unique from the perspective that EVERYTHING we talk about, I’ve implemented and gotten BIG results from.

And now it’s time for you to get the best of the best!

In The Fourth File, you’ll learn:

1. Michael’s Thought Leader Triple Threat Framework: Discover which of the 3 thought leader types you naturally embody, and why knowing the order of your archetypes is the key to making your messaging memorable, and your ideas unforgettable.
2. How to craft your “Unforgettable Big Idea” by doing what Michael calls challenging the dominant narrative.
3. How to use Pre-Marketing to make your ideas so compelling that you stop knocking on doors and start opening them for the people already knocking on yours.
4. How to use the power of Indirect Asks to turn your ideas into keys that unlock powerful relationships
5. How to use what Michael calls “Windows Thinking” to come up with innovative and original ideas

At the end of the day, it’s the quality of your thinking and the way you communicate your thinking that will unlock the biggest opportunities for you.

This episode is the masterclass for that!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Michael Roderick

Brandon Fong kicks off the fourth installment of the 4% Files series, diving into high-impact insights from past episodes. He introduces today’s guest, Michael Roderick, someone he credits with a massive influence on his life. Brandon sets the stage for a deep-dive into frameworks that bridge identity, connection, and idea development.

01:06 - The Architect vs. Player Operating System Framework

Brandon recaps the foundational files and introduces today's theme—a “power-up” focused on revealing your unforgettable big idea. He explains how today's episode ties into designing a game that supports your highest-impact self.

02:47 - Choice Mapping and the 4% Humans Who Change Everything

Brandon shares a transformative choice-mapping experience from Kim DeYoung that spotlighted Michael Roderick as a pivotal 4% human in his journey, revealing how deeply Michael has influenced his personal and professional growth.

04:31 - The Triple Threat Framework: Celebrity, Scientist, Magician

Brandon previews one of Michael’s most impactful ideas—the Triple Threat—and how understanding your dominant archetype eliminates marketing FOMO and aligns business decisions with your natural operating style.

05:25 - The Power of Packaging Ideas and Challenging Dominant Narratives

Michael and Brandon explore the idea that “thought leaders must have leading thoughts.” They tease the importance of packaging ideas in unforgettable ways and standing apart by challenging dominant market narratives.

06:25 - Relationships at Scale Through Ideas

Michael’s brilliance in merging relationship-building with idea development is highlighted. Brandon explains how Michael’s principles helped him not only meet incredible people but also become a better connector himself.

08:34 - Deep Dive: Celebrity, Scientist, Magician Explained

Michael breaks down the triple threat archetypes. Scientists love the data and analysis, celebrities thrive on people and promotion, and magicians chase novelty and innovation. He discusses how knowing your order helps guide your business strategy.

10:52 - Identifying and Leaning into Your Strengths

Michael walks through how to determine your primary, secondary, and tertiary archetypes based on your “zone of genius, excellence, and competence.” Brandon reflects on how misalignment with your strengths can lead to burnout or frustration.

17:24 - Examples of Each Archetype: Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, Gary Vee

To help clarify the framework, Michael gives real-world examples: Tim Ferriss as Scientist, Seth Godin as Magician, and Gary Vaynerchuk as Celebrity—highlighting how each uses their natural strengths to lead.

20:57 - Pre-Marketing: Identity and Positioning Before Strategy

Michael introduces the concept of “pre-marketing” as the foundational work of clarifying your identity and market position before executing any marketing tactics. It's the difference between being a thought leader and a parrot.

24:44 - Challenging a Dominant Narrative as a Positioning Tool

Michael elaborates on how positioning your idea against an existing norm (dominant narrative) creates instant intrigue. He uses the metaphor of “Wicked” and the Wizard of Oz to highlight how being the anti-hero can magnetize your tribe.

29:20 - Brandon’s 4% Concept: A Case Study in Challenging Narratives

Brandon shares how Michael helped him identify a market-wide narrative (the 80/20 rule) and challenge it with the “Find Your Four” model, which zooms into the most potent 4% of effort and impact.

33:47 - “Find Your Celine” – The Familiar Before the Innovative

Michael explains the concept of finding your “Celine Dion” before sharing your “Hey Ya” (innovative idea). Drawing from the book The Power of Habit, he illustrates how leading with familiarity opens minds to innovation.

38:01 - Signature Moves for Each Archetype

Michael introduces the idea that each archetype has a “signature move”: Magicians create “black boxes,” Scientists develop “intriguing hypotheses,” and Celebrities thrive in “small crowds.” Understanding these helps you wield your idea effectively.

47:02 - Windows Thinking vs. Doorway Thinking

Michael describes “windows thinking” as a form of idea play where you explore the variables inside any concept, breaking away from rigid thinking (“doorways”) to find novel paths forward.

51:37 - From Vague to Specific: Unpacking Problems to Unlock Help

The duo discusses the importance of specificity. Brandon reflects on how deeper questions can uncover the 4% within a problem, and Michael shows how granular thinking opens clearer paths to support and collaboration.

58:38 - Ambiguity Is Kryptonite for Connectors

Michael reinforces that specificity is key for connection and clarity, and ambiguity is the enemy of effective asks. He encourages identifying beliefs beneath preferences to reach deeper resonance in conversations.

1:02:31 - Collaboration by Archetype: Sizzle Needs Steak

They explore the synergy between archetypes—for example, a magician or scientist partnering with a celebrity amplifies visibility, while celebrities benefit from aligning with substance-rich experts.

1:06:43 - The Power of Indirect Asks

Michael introduces the concept of indirect asks—questions that invite collaboration instead of forcing decisions. This method opens people up, lowers defenses, and leads to more authentic yeses.

1:09:35 - Making Better Asks: Respecting Autonomy

Brandon shares how indirect asks can unlock more creativity and reduce resistance. Michael explains how honoring someone’s autonomy during an ask creates better, longer-lasting connections and results.

1:13:16 - Final Thoughts: Specificity, Autonomy & Market Reinvention

Michael closes by emphasizing the importance of exploring variables, constantly reinventing your message, and how specificity in thinking not only improves problem-solving but positions you for market longevity.

Links & Resources:

1. 🌐 https://gobeyondcurious.com/files – Access all 4% Files bonus resources.
2. 🎙️ Episode #255 with Kim DeYoung on “Choice Mapping”
3. 🎙️ Episode #221 – Brandon’s deep dive into the “Find Your Four” framework
4. 💡 Michael Roderick’s Website: https://www.smallpondenterprises.com

Two weeks ago, I launched The 4% Files -- an 11-part series where I'm surfacing the most powerful, high-leverage insights buried inside 334+ hours of Beyond Curious episodes.

1. The First File revealed how to uncover your 4% — the magical zone where your greatest impact meets your greatest joy
2. The Second File revealed an Operating System to help you to architect a game completely based off of your unique strengths

In the Third File and beyond, we’re shifting into “power-up” territory.

I’m surfacing the “80/20 of the 80/20” of Beyond Curious content that led to a disproportionate impact on my life.

And the first power up is a strange one.

Naming.

Yes, naming.

Today I’m re-surfacing an episode I recorded with my friend, Alexandra Watkins.

Ever heard of the Wendy’s Baconator?

Yep, Alexandra named that.

She’s the author of one of my favorite books, Hello My Name Is Awesome, and has created love-at-first sight names for companies like Amazon, Coca-Cola, Disney, Google, Twitter, and Colgate.

Of all places, why start here?

Here’s the embarrassing truth:

For 139 episodes, my brand and podcast was called 7-Figure Millennials 🤮

That brand was the PERFECT example of me “playing a game” I didn’t consciously choose.

It was what I thought I needed to be, inspired by copying others.

And while that name helped get me started… it quickly became a straightjacket.

Every time I saw it, spoke it, or shared it, I felt a wave of emotional resistance.

Because it didn’t reflect my truth.

Through the deep work that eventually became the Find Your Four™ framework, I knew who I was…

But I didn’t yet know how to express it.

So I hired Alexandra, handed everything I’d uncovered about myself to her and said:

“Please please please help me find a name that will let me be me.”

What came out on the other end was not only Beyond Curious®, but also Curiosity Island™… two core pillars of my world.

These two brands bridged the gap between who I knew I was and how the world saw me.

Which is why I truly believe:

Unlocking the right brand name is a single decision that solves a thousand problems.

Because the moment your brand clicks into alignment, everything gets easier:

1. You attract the right people.
2. You get invited into the right rooms.
3. You show up with more confidence and clarity.
4. You stop being misunderstood.

And in this episode, Alexandra will help you build a brand name that sticks.

We explore:

1. Her signature SMILE & SCRATCH framework for creating memorable brand names
2. Real examples of hilariously bad names (Yes, we talk about P*nis Land and Americans Crapping Metal)
3. Behind the scenes of how she helped to come up with the Beyond Curious® brand

This one was a game changer for me, and I know it can be for you too!

Brandon Fong opens the third 4% file of an 11-part series, sharing insights from 334+ hours of Beyond Curious content. This file introduces an "Architect Power-Up" focused on the often-overlooked but transformational skill of naming, featuring branding expert Alexandra Watkins.

Brandon shares his emotional struggle with misaligned branding—specifically, how "Seven Figure Millennials" caused him deep pain and prevented full self-expression. Naming, he reveals, was the key to aligning identity, environment, and external perception.

Exploring the fractal 80/20 framework, Brandon explains how the right brand name affects environmental conditions, actions, and core identity. The right name can remove massive obstacles and unlock thousands of opportunities.

Brandon encourages nonlinear, curious people to consider an external brand that allows them to fully express themselves, rather than defaulting to using their own name.

Alexandra shares a hilarious story about refusing to whitewater raft on terrifyingly named rapids like “Meat Grinder” and “Satan’s Cesspool.” The story becomes a metaphor for the emotional impact and power of names.

Alexandra recounts a wild experience on the Zambezi River where a capsized raft and a swim gone wrong landed her in the wrong country—underscoring how names and unexpected adventures go hand-in-hand in her life.

Brandon and Alexandra discuss how international travel expands creativity by introducing new experiences and forcing people outside their comfort zones. This adventurous spirit shapes Alexandra’s naming genius.

Alexandra credits her mom for encouraging out-of-the-box creativity from a young age, including a high school report where she wrote to prison inmates instead of researching at the library—foreshadowing her inventive problem-solving approach.

Alexandra explains that names are like oil paintings that hang over your desk forever—they should be loved, memorable, and differentiating. She emphasizes that a good name can attract not just customers, but also employees and investors.

From baby brands like "Speesees" to infamous domain name flubs like “PenIsland” and “American Scrap Metal,” Alexandra dives into naming horror stories that perfectly demonstrate what not to do.

Alexandra details how she renamed a frozen yogurt brand from “Zenyo” to “Spoon Me,” leading to viral success, merch sales, and even a real-life marriage. A great name became a customer experience in itself.

From T-shirts to theme slogans, Alexandra explains how “Spoon Me” and similar brand names create a deeper connection between brand and audience—sparking joy and active participation.

Alexandra introduces the SMILE framework:

1. Suggestive
2. Memorable
3. Imagery
4. Legs (extendable theme)
5. Emotional
6. She explains how these elements help a name stand out and build brand love.

From “Meet the Parents” (rehearsal dinner) to “Bloody Married” (post-wedding brunch), Alexandra shares how renaming basic wedding services for a San Francisco hotel led to a 25% increase in sales.

Alexandra discusses how names like “Firetalker PR” and “Church of Cupcakes” allow brands to create memorable themes, personas, and even theme songs, turning names into full-blown experiences.

She breaks down the SCRATCH framework for names to avoid:

1. Spelling-challenged
2. Copycat
3. Restrictive
4. Annoying
5. Tame
6. Curse of knowledge
7. Hard to pronounce
8. Brandon uses “Seven Figure Millennials” as a real-life example of violating multiple SCRATCH rules.

Alexandra emphasizes that clarity doesn’t mean boring—names can be both clear and clever, like “Kryptonite” for bike locks. It's all about avoiding confusion and delivering a memorable experience.

Ditch the corporate brainstorm rooms. Alexandra shares powerful tools for ideation: image searches, thesauruses, metaphors, and looking at the familiar with fresh eyes. Great ideas often come from solo inspiration.

1. Eat My Words – Alexandra Watkins’ brand naming company
2. SMILE & SCRATCH Name Test Tool: Free interactive test
3. Hello, My Name Is Awesome – Alexandra’s book on brand naming: Amazon link
4. Brand Name Course - Alexandra's naming course that Brandon has taken
5. Hire Alexandra - Services Tab on https://eatmywords.com/naming-services/

-- To Access All Bonus Material Mentioned In This Series, Visit gobeyondcurious.com/files --

Last week, I released the FIRST ever 4% File -- the first of an 11-part series where I'm surfacing the most powerful, high-leverage insights buried inside 334+ hours of interviews with some of the most curious minds out there.

Quick recap (if you didn't listen yet, or you want a refresher from last week):

In the first file, we started by asking a big question:

What game am I currently playing in life, and did I choose it consciously?

We talked about how society hands us these "default games", and just how easy it is to trick ourselves into thinking we're playing our own game...

... when in reality, there may still be elements of the default games we're playing that no longer serve us.

. . .

The blessing and curse of living in 2025 is that exponential technology is causing more and more of those "default games" to freeze, and some to stop working altogether.

And instead of seeing that as a threat, it’s a HUGE opportunity for us to pause, remove any fragments of the default game that may or may not have been handed to us… and design one that’s truly ours.

That’s where the Player vs. Architect idea comes in.

You have a Player — the version of you running around inside the game — and you have an Architect, the version of you who can step outside the game, see the whole thing, and consciously create it.

In File One, we focused entirely on understanding your Player using the Find Your Four™ framework refined within my Curiosity Island™ community.

It's the 80/20 of the 80/20 where you find just 4% that creates not only the greatest impact but the greatest joy.

In the SECOND File we step into Architect mode.

Here's what's on our roadmap for the Second File:

For the first time ever on the podcast, I'm taking you inside Curiosity Island by sharing a raw, unscripted conversation that happened earlier this year.

You’ll hear the exact breakthrough that completely reframed how we approach goals, accomplishment, and identity evolution… and why the traditional, default ways of setting big visions often don’t serve people like us — people who are using our game as a vehicle to become the next, truest version of ourselves.

Then from that conversation, I reveal the core structure of what I now call The Operating System.

This is a framework developed out of hundreds of hours of testing and evolution for the Architect version of you to design a game that fits your unique Player.

And of course, I'll be giving you some powerful tools to help you as an Architect to design your own game.

And finally, you’ll get the tools to start designing your own game.

READY PLAYER ONE!

Brandon Fong welcomes listeners to the second installment of the 4% Files series, designed to surface transformational insights from 334+ hours of Beyond Curious content. This episode moves from understanding the "player" (from File 1) to designing the game itself—as the "architect"—through a framework inspired by co-creation on Curiosity Island.

Brandon recaps the major theme of File 1—consciously choosing your life's game—and introduces the player vs. architect framework. He previews how this episode will guide listeners through creating a customized operating system to design their own game.

Listeners are invited to hear an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes conversation from Curiosity Island where core ideas about vision-setting and goal design were first developed. Brandon also introduces the metaphor of the Disney board game Villainous to explain individualized objectives within a shared framework.

Brandon explains how Villainous—a board game where each player has unique goals and strategies—mirrors the approach of designing personal visions. The goal isn't to prescribe a path, but to provide a system for customizing your own.

Brandon sets the stage for a transformative group discussion featuring past podcast guests turned castaways. He introduces contributors by their Curiosity Island (CI) passport numbers and names: Jhana Li, Bob Regnerus, Caitlin Doemner, Michael Roderick, Anthony Englert, Susanne Goldstein, and Todd Herman.

Jhana shares her internal conflict with setting a moonshot goal without deep alignment. She highlights the difference between outcome-based and process-based thinking, revealing the struggle of committing energy to a vision she doesn’t yet fully embody.

Brandon references Benjamin Hardy’s The Gap and the Gain to explain how goals are strategic tools to filter decisions, not measurements of self-worth. He argues for blending outcome-based clarity with process-based flow.

Susanne critiques traditional "hit-the-number" goals and advocates for “fuzzy goals” focused on who you become along the journey. Her deeper north star is upgrading human consciousness, and she explains how her projects serve that overarching vision.

Brian uses a health analogy—aspiring to look like Ryan Gosling—as a humorous but insightful example of how people evolve away from early goals, and how that possibility makes public commitment feel risky.

Todd reframes moonshots as evolving visions, using his own journey from basketball to coaching to illustrate how feelings and future identity—not exact goals—should lead decision-making.

The castaways explore the power of intentional direction with flexible pathways. Instead of rigid focus, they advocate for staying open to universal nudges and timeline shifts that may better align with your purpose.

Michael compares moonshots to improv theater: creatives need containers and constraints to spark innovation. The group embraces this idea as central to making moonshots actionable and fun.

Todd recalls a conversation with a Top Chef contestant where the most creative dishes were made under tight constraints. The castaways agree that moonshots should function the same way—setting focused boundaries without emotional attachment.

Jhana proposes rebranding “moonshots” as one of many useful constraints or “markers” that offer directionality without rigidity. Her metaphor of plotting markers across an ocean voyage becomes a visual metaphor for flexible but intentional growth.

Brandon shares his current moonshot—a 4% ecosystem-building event—and emphasizes his emotionally detached but playful approach to making bold moves. His framing encourages iteration and experimentation over perfection.

After reflecting on the castaways' input, Brandon unveils the operating system that arose from this organic conversation. He defines its four cycles: Moonshot Vision, Moonshot Vehicles, Minimum Viable Moonshots, and Moonshot Portals.

The first cycle helps you articulate the future you’re committed to and who you must become to make it real. Brandon offers his own moonshot vision as an example: a world where everyone knows their true self and contributes their unique brilliance.

Cycle two explores platforms and tools that serve your vision. Brandon shares his three vehicles—Find Your Four, the Beyond Curious podcast, and Curiosity Island—and how they support his broader moonshot.

Cycle three emphasizes launching bold, testable projects on a 3-month to 3-year timeline. Brandon shares examples including the founding of Curiosity Island and launching a closed-loop economy inside the community.

The final cycle focuses on 2–8 week sprints that collapse time and catalyze nonlinear growth. Brandon shares the creation of RAD (a gift for Michael Roderick) and the 4% Files series itself as examples of transformative moonshot portals.

Brandon encourages listeners to take imperfect action by drafting their own Moonshot Vision. He reminds listeners that this is an iterative process, and tools are available at gobeyondcurious.com/files to assist with refining their 4% game.

Brandon replays wisdom from two previous guests—Todd Herman (Ep. 76) and Shannon Graham (Ep. 49)—about the psychological weight and transformative potential of honestly answering “What do you want?” This sets up a reflective exercise for listeners to explore their true desires.

• 🌐 Free Bonus Materials: Workbooks, Slides & Custom GPTs
• 🎙️ Todd Herman – Episode 76: The Alter Ego Effect, peak performance, and defining what you want
• 🎙️ Shannon Graham – Episode 49: Expanding vision beyond what's realistic to create world-changing impact
• 🎙️ Perry Marshall – Episode 177: Referenced for the “problem well-defined” quote and systems thinking
• 🎙️ Maxine Cunningham (CI011) – Creator of Pick My Brain, which powers the Curiosity Island Economy
• 🧠 Ben Hardy – "10x is Easier Than 2x" / "The Gap and the Gain" (Referenced for goal setting psychology)
• 🎧 Castaway Guests Featured:
• Jhana Li (CI002)
• Bob Regnerus (CI003)
• Caitlin Doemner (CI008)
• Maxine Cunningham (CI011)
• Michael Roderick (CI014)
• Anthony Englert (CI015)
• Susanne Goldstein (CI019)

-- To Access All Bonus Material Mentioned In This Series, Visit gobeyondcurious.com/files --

Last week, I announced a new series being released on Beyond Curious® called The 4% Files.

In this 11-part series, I’ll surface the most powerful, high-leverage insights buried inside 334+ hours of interviews with some of the most curious minds on the planet.

The inspiration?

The 80/20 rule… but on steroids.

Because 80/20 is fractal, you can 80/20 the 80/20 — which means just 4% of efforts are responsible for over half your results (64% to be exact).

So this means the same is true for my podcast…

Buried within the 267 previously released episodes, there lies 4% of the content that is the most valuable and potent.

AND… because I love you…

Within this series, I’m going FAR beyond simply replaying my most powerful episodes.

I’m sharing it within an overarching framework and pattern I’ve developed that took me THOUSANDS of hours to develop.

In The First File, I reveal this mega framework, and how we’ll be exploring it through the theme of video games.

To say I’m excited to share this with you is a massive understatement…

As I started poring over all of my content, it's almost as if suddenly the thousands of hours I've invested into creating this show all began to click into place.

I can’t wait for you to open the first file!

Stay Curious,

Brandon

P.S. Not only am I creating this series, but I’m also giving away EPIC bonus material to help implement it all.

If you truly want to make the most out of this series, you’ll want to check it out here. 

P.P.S. If you want to see the mini 8 Bit Brandon series I had too much fun creating using Sora (in that GIF you see above) it’s also on that link :) 

Brandon introduces the "4% Files" — a special 11-part series within Beyond Curious. He shares that this series distills the most impactful insights from over 334 hours of published episodes to help listeners surface their own unique brilliance and consciously design their lives.

Brandon reflects on being born in 1996 and feeling like part of a unique "zillennial" generation. He shares nostalgic stories of playing Super Nintendo with his brother and friends, humorously recalling their odd method of fixing cartridges, then connects it to a powerful metaphor: the “game” of modern life is freezing — and it’s time to choose whether we’re playing consciously or unconsciously.

Brandon explains how linear societal programming prepares us for predefined roles — or “games” — such as doctor, lawyer, or entrepreneur. But with AI rapidly transforming industries, even entrepreneurs aren't immune to unconscious patterns like chasing success for external validation. The key is choosing to play consciously.

Brandon dives into the importance of playing a game you’ve intentionally chosen. He warns against blindly following the frameworks of “gurus” and emphasizes a new paradigm: you’re already whole, and the growth journey should come from your truth, not a place of lack.

Brandon highlights how many external programs subtly suggest you’re “not there yet.” Instead, he urges listeners to trust their own wisdom and filter external advice through the lens of their own game. This becomes the foundation for the 4% Files.

Brandon introduces a defining analogy: there’s a Player version of you (who acts) and an Architect version (who designs the game). Inspired by a conversation with his wife and a Google Doc called “personality test synthesis,” this concept reframes how we should approach personal growth.

Brandon lays out the framework for the 4% Files series:

1. Know your player
2. Design your game
3. Use the power-ups
4. He introduces the idea of “player” and “architect” power-ups — insights that have created disproportionate results in his own journey.

Brandon begins walking through the “Find Your Four” framework — a distillation of the Pareto Principle. He explains how 4% of your actions drive 64% of your results and outlines how to uncover your 20%, 4%, and 0.8% layers of impact and joy.

Brandon introduces the three nested layers:

• 20%: Your environment — where your genius naturally emerges
• 4%: Your potent actions and qualities — often unconscious
• 0.8%: Your core identity and beliefs — the energetic foundation powering everything

Brandon shares the Plus Two energy framework from episode 238, explaining how to identify and surround yourself with people who elevate your energy and co-create trust-based, expansive feedback loops that support growth.

Brandon breaks down his 4% into three core elements and shows how they appear in real life:

• Clear energy — the felt experience people have with him - A blend of curiosity, love, enthusiasm, appreciation, and resonance. He often hears “I love your energy” and treats it as meaningful feedback. He shows up with high presence, asks thoughtful questions, reflects people’s strengths, and intuitively tunes to the room.
• Metacognitive synthesis — how he thinks and builds solutions - He breaks complexity into simple mental models, recombines patterns into new frameworks, and uses precise questioning to turn ambiguity into clarity. This includes his “fractal” 4% thinking and constant optimization to increase leverage.
• Clear transmission — how his ideas land with people - He blends storytelling with structured frameworks so ideas land both logically and emotionally, making them immediately usable.

He notes this understanding came from many iterations (he jokes he’s on “version 42”) and from others helping him “read the label on his jar.”

Brandon introduces the final layer: your 0.8% core identity. He shares his values, shaped by guest Darius Mirshahzadeh (ep. 121), and explains how beliefs like childlike curiosity and conscious storytelling fuel every action.

Listeners are guided through a powerful self-inquiry process using a custom GPT designed to extract their 20%, 4%, and 0.8% layers. Prompts include:

• Tell a story of a meaningful and fulfilling accomplishment
• Share a challenge you solved uniquely
• Name three people you admire and why

Brandon wraps the episode with encouragement: finding your 4% is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey. He shares that your brilliance doesn’t need to be earned — it only needs to be expressed. File Two will explore how to design your own game based on the 4% insights.

• Find Your Four™ Workbook & Bonus Materials — Includes journaling prompts, bonus tools, and access to the custom GPT.
• Episode 238: Plus Two Framework — Deep dive into identifying high-energy relationships.
• Episode 221: Find Your Four™ Masterclass — Original episode explaining the foundational metaphor.
• Episode 121: Darius Mirshahzadeh on Core Values — Influence behind Brandon’s core values framework.

Two days ago, a question randomly popped into my head:

“What if I applied my Find Your Four™ framework to the entire Beyond Curious library?”

If you’re new here — Find Your Four™ is a framework I developed inspired by the 80/20 rule (aka Pareto Principle). 

At its core, it’s about identifying the smallest actions that create the biggest results.

It turns out that if you apply 80/20 on the 20% — you get to something even more potent:

4% of your efforts = 64% of your results.

So I ran the numbers.

There are 267 episodes before this one…

4% of 267 = 10.68 → round that up = 11 episodes

And this is how The 4% Files was born.

Over the next 11 episodes, I’ll be digging through 334+ hours of Beyond Curious conversations and surfacing just the 4% — the most potent, high-impact ideas I believe can change your life.

For more details, listen to the announcement here.

Stay tuned for the first episode being released next Tuesday!

Stay Curious,

Brandon