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In this episode I break down the hidden season high achievers avoid: the quiet "wintering" phase where you subtract, repair, and redirect your energy to what actually matters.

I share how cutting $25k/month in retainers, drinking 70% less, and reclaiming 80+ hours a month reshaped my life, creativity, and identity. If you're feeling the pull to shed old leaves and grow deeper roots, this one's for you.

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Last week, I hosted a live presentation called "From Expert to Author: The Strategic Blueprint for Writing a Book That Builds Your Business." While writing a book has always been a good idea for experts, I believe it's a non-negotiable in today's world. This is a long presentation, but I believe there's a lot you can learn from it. Check out the timestamps below for the different sections.

If you're interested in working with me in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026, go to mikekim.com/writeyourbook

• 02:44 The Role of a Book in Your Business
• 08:15 AI Has Shifted How Experts are Perceived
• 18:54 Crafting a Strong Book Proposal
• 24:26 Platform Audit and Marketing Strategy
• 30:05 Comparable Titles and Differentiation
• 35:35 Leveraging AI for Writing and Proofreading
• 39:36 Building Demand While Writing Your Book
• 49:21 Ways to Work Together and Final Q&A

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Read this episode: mikekim.com/foundational-frantic

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This week's episode is a bit shorter because I'm preparing for a live training later this week on How to Write and Market a Bestselling Book (register below).

My thoughts for this week: Just because the work is quiet doesn't mean it's not important. This really just boils down to a fight we all face: foundational vs. frantic.

Just like the autumn season here in the Northeast U.S. has a purpose, it's vital to define the purpose of the season you're in. You define it. Take agency over it.

My definition for Q4: depth of execution, not volume of activity. You might be in a different season. Good. All I'm saying is: define it.

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Read this episode: mikekim.com/book-roi

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In this behind-the-scenes breakdown, I share the real numbers and lessons from You Are the Brand: how large my email list grew, how the book hit the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, and how I turned one book into $250K+ in coaching and certification offers.

You'll hear what it actually takes to hit those lists, what "writing a good book" really requires, and how the process itself rewires your identity and business from the inside out.

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Read this episode: mikekim.com/economy-of-meaning

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What if the next great economy isn't about money, content, or attention, but meaning? In this conversation, I unpack every major shift we've lived through—the Industrial, Knowledge, Digital, Creator, and Attention Economies—and why the next frontier for personal brands is the Economy of Meaning.

It's a wake-up call for entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators to stop chasing optimization and start embodying integration: to share stories that cost them something, lead with honesty, and build brands that matter because they mean something. I believe this is where personal branding is going in the age of AI.

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Read this episode: mikekim.com/delete-and-replace

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Most of us carry stories we didn't consciously choose. Growth usually requires letting go of those stories, but trying to them can feel impossible. In this episode, I share something that has helped me: instead of fighting to delete the file, save over it by creating new experiences in the same spaces.

Some stories can only be released when you transmute them into something with material consequence—a book, a body of work, something that makes it all matter. If you've spent years hiding behind other people's frameworks and voices, there comes a moment when what's clawing its way out of you demands to be heard.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

• Waitlist for Book Accelerator: mikekim.com/writeyourbook
• My new book, Own Your Brand, Own Your Career: »
• Connect with Kevin Monroe on LinkedIn »

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Read this post: mikekim.com/ip-empire

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If your business depends on one market, one trending topic, or one lucky break, you're more vulnerable than you think.

I'm breaking down the exact strategy I've used to take the same intellectual property and multiply it across multiple markets—creating an antifragile business that actually gets stronger during downturns.

This is the framework that kept my business growing during COVID while others scrambled, and it's built on strategic principles I learned from an ancient Chinese novel and it's videogame counterpart.

• 0:01 - An overview of what shaped my view of strategy
• 3:15 - I'm no Sleeping Dragon, but...
• 4:23 - The IP Empire framework
• 6:44 - Stop chasing gigs, start building properties
• 9:05 - Taleb's "Antifragility"

RESOURCES & LINKS:

• Waitlist for Book Accelerator: http://mikekim.com/writeyourbook
• My new book, Own Your Brand, Own Your Career: »
• Three Kingdoms book: https://amzn.to/4nAF6Gf
• Three Kingdoms vid summary: Three Kingdoms - OverSimplified
• Antifragile book: https://amzn.to/3VP5wYL

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It's common to agonize over decisions, but a few years ago I realized I was asking the wrong question entirely. Instead of "Did I make the right decision?" I started asking "How do I make better decisions faster?"

That shift led me to discover and study decision-making frameworks - and these three have that completely changed how I approach business and life.

1:22 - One-way vs. Two-way doors 4:39 - The Lindy Effect 8:28 - The Chick Test 12:49 - Waitlist for writing your book

You can watch this episode on YouTube here » RESOURCES & LINKS:

• Waitlist for Book Accelerator: http://mikekim.com/writeyourbook
• My new book, Own Your Brand, Own Your Career: »

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

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

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

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

Get Own Your Brand, Own Your Career on Amazon »

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

mikekim.com/writeyourbook

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What happens when a hardworking analyst who gets mistaken for a flight attendant discovers she needs more than excellent work to climb the corporate ladder? May Busch's 24-year journey from junior analyst to Chief Operating Officer at Morgan Stanley Europe reveals the uncomfortable truths about executive presence, personal branding, and why your skills alone won't get you promoted. Some key points:

• The promotion-killing wardrobe mistake that taught May the harsh reality about looking "the part"
• The secret world of workplace sponsors and how May accidentally earned one of the most difficult managing directors as her champion
• Why AI won't eliminate all roles but will fundamentally change what companies expect from rising talent in the next 3-5 years
• The "hand brake" revelation that explains how world-class worriers can still achieve extraordinary success in high-pressure environments

Get May's new book, Visible: thevisiblebook.com

Connect with May:

• maybusch.com
• May on LinkedIn

Finally, check out my new book with Andy Storch - available now!

Get Own Your Brand, Own Your Career on Amazon »

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

mikekim.com/writeyourbook

Connect with Me:

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• X (Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Facebook