When Rae Fung started her coaching business, older male mentors in the speaking industry told her she needed to dress more professionally to be taken seriously. She ignored them. She showed up the way she wanted. People with decades more experience - including a billionaire - paid her to coach them.

But getting there wasn't linear. There was a season where she stopped posting for six months. Her revenue dropped. She had to ask herself what she actually needed - creatively, emotionally, mentally - before she could show up again.

Rae is a coach and speaker who works with rising leaders on owning their voice. She's coached corporate directors, trained global teams, and hosted Singapore's first ever live in-person talk show. In this episode, we revisit one of her earliest videos - the one where she was trying to look like an expert before she felt like one - and talk about what actually builds the kind of presence that makes people pay you.

Her research-backed insight: over 80% of first impressions come down to just two things - how competent and how warm you feel in someone's presence. Most people only practice one.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:31) The role of content in Rae's business

(03:23) The stages of Rae's business

(06:57) Reviewing Rae's past content

(10:46) Newbie coach vibes

(15:06) How to develop substance

(20:20) Being proud of past you

(21:51) When business feels misaligned

(25:57) Inspired and strategic content

(31:58) Professionalism vs authenticity

(41:20) Actionable takeaways

CONNECT WITH RAE FUNG

Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/raefungx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raematrix

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raefung

Blog: https://raefung.com/blog

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Ruby Lin signed her first client three days after her first ever Instagram post. A month later she had her first 5k month. Three months in, she hit 10k. She has never been consistent on social media.

Before building her coaching business, Ruby was a founding team member of an AI startup that exited in 2022. She spent over a decade in sales - cold calling, door knocking, securing $10M+ in deals with brands like IKEA and UBC. When she started coaching, she didn't lean on content. She leaned on the sales skills she'd already spent years building.

Her "Ruby Rants" series on Instagram became something of a cult phenomenon - fans watching 31 consecutive story clips at a time. She posted it when she felt like it. She still signed clients.

In this episode, we revisit one of her earliest Instagram videos and talk about what actually drives sales when you're not showing up every day - and what gets lost as creators mature and "professionalize" their way out of the raw voice that built their audience in the first place.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:50) Inconsistency in Ruby's content

(03:27) Growing the business despite being inconsistent

(05:24) Creating 10k in the first 90 days

(09:24) Different stages of Ruby's business

(12:40) Prioritizing Instagram

(16:27) Who LinkedIn is for (and NOT for)

(20:17) Novelty creates consistency

(21:48) Reviewing Ruby's past content

(28:43) Commenting on Ruby's past content

(30:17) Bashing on your industry

(33:23) Critiquing your industry

(36:40) Advantages of taking your time

(38:32) Experimentation

(40:40) Being proud of your work

(42:21) Being a hidden gem

(45:05) Actionable takeaways

(48:27) Free resource for entrepreneurs

CONNECT WITH RUBY LIN

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/bombassnews-cheryl-pod

[Private] Podcast: bit.ly/salesbrainpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubysparks.co

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Welcome to EDIT HISTORY - A show where successful entrepreneurs and creators revisit, review, and roast the content that got them to where they are today.

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Launching in January 2025: EDIT HISTORY | Successful entrepreneurs and creators revisit, review, and roast the content that got them to where they are today

Stay tuned 👀

Connect with Cheryl Lau

Website: https://cheryllau.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Newsletter: https://cheryllau.com/email

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

Free Resource for Entrepreneurs

THE AUDIT: Build a differentiated and timeless body of work

- Audit 9 different parts of your body of work

- Identify the specific areas you can improve on right away to set your business apart from the rest

Get the Audit here: https://cheryllau.com/audit

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

On episode 193 of The Thought Leader Club Podcast:

- Delivering on what you said yes to

- Growth is uncomfortable

- Stretching your capacity and creating more opportunities

Connect with Cheryl Lau

Website: https://cheryllau.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Newsletter: https://cheryllau.com/email

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

Free Resource for Entrepreneurs

THE AUDIT: Build a differentiated and timeless body of work

- Audit 9 different parts of your body of work

- Identify the specific areas you can improve on right away to set your business apart from the rest

Get the Audit here: https://cheryllau.com/audit

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

On episode 192 of The Thought Leader Club Podcast:

- Saying yes to an opportunity even if you don't think you're qualified

- When practical obstacles get in the way of an opportunity you want

- Filling in your own gaps and being proactive with your learning and development

Connect with Cheryl Lau

Website: https://cheryllau.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Newsletter: https://cheryllau.com/email

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

Free Resource for Entrepreneurs

THE AUDIT: Build a differentiated and timeless body of work

- Audit 9 different parts of your body of work

- Identify the specific areas you can improve on right away to set your business apart from the rest

Get the Audit here: https://cheryllau.com/audit

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

COWORK & CHILL with Cheryl (CCC) - A personalized and strategic 1:1 content creation experience

Becoming recognized for your thought leadership starts with having a substantial, compelling, and consistent body of work.

In CCC, you'll get in-depth feedback on not just the content you're writing during our coworking session, but also how this piece fits into your body of work and thought leadership strategy at large.

For the program details: https://cheryltheory.com/ccc

To book a discovery call: https://cheryltheory.com/discovery

Connect with Cheryl Lau

Website: https://cheryllau.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Newsletter: https://cheryllau.com/email

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

Free Resource for Entrepreneurs

THE AUDIT: Build a differentiated and timeless body of work

- Audit 9 different parts of your body of work

- Identify the specific areas you can improve on right away to set your business apart from the rest

Get the Audit here: https://cheryllau.com/audit

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

How does someone go down the unconventional career path of building a global community of over 2300+ entrepreneurial and creative women from the Asian diaspora?

That is what Emily Fang unpacks on episode 191 of The Thought Leader Club Podcast as part of the "Quit Story" series.

Topics we touch on include:

• Feeling not good enough but still proactively take steps to try new things and create your dream life

• The challenges and failures while building the Asian Wander Women global community

• Finding support and continuing to move forward when your loved ones don't support your decisions

About Emily:

Emily is the Co-Founder of Asian Wander Women Media and community, a tight knit Facebook group of 2300+ entrepreneurial and creative women from the Asian diaspora. Many are remote entrepreneurs, coaches, creators, and more. She is also known as The Fang Girl, a content creator on YouTube that talks about travel and remote work, with the belief that working abroad or building a business is similar to a self-guided MBA. She previously worked at Google, OmniSci, and Stripe building online communities and running operations. Nowadays, she rotates her time between Taipei and San Francisco.

Connect with Emily:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFangGirl

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyifang

Asian Wander Women Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/asianwanderwomen

What do you do if an interviewer expresses concern over your personal brand on LinkedIn?

This was the final nudge Adrian Tan needed to big farewell to the corporate world.

In Adrian's words: "After spending a decade running my own businesses, I realised I'd become virtually unemployable."

That is a taste of the conversation we had with Adrian Tan on episode 190 of The Thought Leader Club Podcast as part of the "Quit Story" series.

Topics we touch on include:

• What does it mean to be "unemployable"? How does someone know if solopreneurship is the right path for them?

• The honest reality of being your own boss: Adrian's highs and lows with self-employment

• Building a personal brand on LinkedIn and practical tips on positioning yourself on LinkedIn

About Adrian:

Adrian Tan is the author of the Amazon SG Bestseller No More Bosses—The Journey to Sustainable Self-Employment. A father of four and owner of two dogs, he is also a prominent HR Key Opinion Leader and B2B marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

Adrian is the founder and Chief Market Strategist of Marketing Sumo, a B2B marketing agency focused on serving HR tech companies. He previously co-hosted the "Work It" podcast by CNA, a popular career-focused show. Currently, he hosts "The Adrian Tan Show," a podcast where he interviews people shaping the future of work. Through his website, adriantan.com.sg, he shares insights on self-employment and how to navigate modern work.

Connect with Adrian:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/

📖 No More Bosses: https://amzn.asia/d/bWBjfYH

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2db5aN9xKxaTEFQDibzwNm?si=RyEixbmxRQCCUvPvcQGFrA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@adriantan18

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanadrian18/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adtan/

Marketing Sumo: https://marketingsumo.co/

How does a corporate professional leverage LinkedIn and a newsletter to set themselves up for more career opportunities?

That is what Nicholas Braman explores with us on episode 189 of The Thought Leader Club Podcast as part of the "Work in Progress" series.

Topics we touch on include:

• What it looks like to build a presence on LinkedIn and write a weekly LinkedIn newsletter for reasons NOT related to growing a business

• Building thought leadership on LinkedIn

• Being consistent on LinkedIn while maintaining a well-balanced life outside of work

About Nicholas:

I'm Nicholas Braman, a Korean-American who grew up in Seattle and has lived in Asia for a total of almost 15 years. With over 8 years of experience in the B2B tech space, I currently serve as the Marketing Director for APAC and Japan at Kyriba. My role revolves around driving demand and revenue growth across the region, building innovative campaigns, and working hand-in-hand with our sales team. I'm passionate about using data to optimize our marketing strategies and outcomes and am always looking for new ways to push the boundaries in marketing.

Outside of work, I try to spend as much time with my wife and two-year-old daughter as possible. I'm a devoted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, which I enjoy for the great exercise, social community, and intense challenges of "human chess". When I'm not on the mats, I'm often in the kitchenexperimenting with different cuisines, out traveling or hiking, or spending time at home reading and writing.

Connect with Nicholas:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasbraman/

Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-weekend-wind-down-7180124794724519936/