Success Story with Scott Clary

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Nirav Tolia is the co-founder and CEO of Nextdoor, the hyperlocal social network he built to connect neighbors and that now spans more than 100 million verified users worldwide. He originally led the company from its founding in 2010 through 2018, stepped away, then returned as CEO in 2024 to lead a turnaround that brought Nextdoor to profitability ahead of schedule. Before Nextdoor, Nirav was employee No. 84 at Yahoo and co-founded Epinions.com during the first dot-com boom — a company that eventually went public and sold to eBay for $620 million. He's also a guest Shark on ABC's Shark Tank.

➡️ Show Links

https://www.instagram.com/niravtolia/

https://x.com/niravtolia

https://www.linkedin.com/in/niravtolia/ 

➡️ Podcast Sponsors

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➡️ Talking Points

00:00 – Intro  

02:21 – The Age of Intelligence Needs Human Connection  

10:22 – Why Online Communities Don’t Create Real Connection  

16:42 – Is AI Fueling a Loneliness Epidemic?  

19:08 – Sponsor Break  

23:37 – How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Addicted to Screens  

33:55 – Why Nextdoor Chose Trust Over Growth  

38:27 – The 20–60–20 Rule for Using AI  

44:02 – How to Balance Trust, Privacy, and Growth  

50:06 – Sponsor Break  

53:25 – Building a Company That Can Survive AI  

1:01:30 – Why Leaving Nextdoor Was So Hard  

1:13:58 – The #1 Lesson for Every Founder  

1:15:07 – Nirav’s Advice to His 20-Year-Old Self

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In this "Lessons" episode, Milton "Todd" Ault III, CEO of Ault & Company, shares the lessons he's learned from more than three decades on Wall Street and a career defined by resilience and reinvention. He explains why honest relationships and clear expectations are essential for long-term success, how taking action can prevent problems from becoming overwhelming, and why scheduling time to worry can help create focus and clarity. Drawing on his own experiences overcoming financial hardship and navigating adversity, Todd offers practical insights on building meaningful relationships, learning from mistakes, and staying focused on progress through life's inevitable challenges.

➡️ Show Links

https://successstorypodcast.com  

YouTube: https://youtu.be/rWtgEXUSgEU 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/milton-todd-ault-iii-chairman-of-ault-and-company/id1484783544 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4p8bynNnCiWFHK7zLNr10D 

➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

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In this "Lessons" episode, Rick Macci, Tennis Hall of Fame coach and mentor to some of the sport's greatest champions, shares his insights on what separates good from great. Drawing from his experience coaching Venus and Serena Williams, Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, and other elite athletes, he explains why high performance requires a balance between relentless ambition and smart recovery. Rick also discusses the art of adapting to different personalities, controlling emotions under pressure, and knowing when to push forward, step back, or simply stay silent.

➡️ Show Links

https://successstorypodcast.com  

YouTube: https://youtu.be/3yL76OadSsk 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rick-macci-williams-sisters-tennis-coach-unlock-the/id1484783544 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wSWlxsWmjn9ST2nrWZRtu 

➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

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Patrick Lencioni is the founder of The Table Group and a New York Times bestselling author whose books on leadership and teamwork have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, including classics like "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" and "The Advantage." For decades, he's worked with CEOs and executive teams to help them build healthier, more cohesive organizations. In this episode, he explains why roughly 80% of people are unhappy in their jobs, breaks down the root causes behind that number, and shares a simple, practical framework anyone can use to make work more fulfilling — whether you're leading a team or just trying to find more meaning in your own.

➡️ Show Links

https://www.instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial/

https://x.com/patricklencioni 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth/ 

➡️ Podcast Sponsors

Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/  

Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott)

NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/ 

Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory)

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Dell - https://dell.com/dell-pro  

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Cohesity - https://www.cohesity.com/datacloud 

Whatnot - https://www.whatnot.com/

Monarch - https://www.monarch.com/ (Code: success)

Cash App - https://cash.app/ (Code: cashapp10)

MyFitnessPal - https://podcasts.myfitnesspal.com (Code: SCOTT)

Scribe - https://scribe.how/success (Code: SuccessStory)

Noom - https://www.noom.com/ 

➡️ Talking Points

00:00 – Intro

02:18 – What Working Outside Your Genius Feels Like

08:39 – Why We Think Work Has to Suck

10:12 – How Patrick Discovered Working Genius

15:14 – What Is Working Genius, Really?

17:19 – Escaping Your Parents’ Definition of Success

19:50 – The Six Working Geniuses—At Work and Beyond

29:35 – Sponsor Break

32:55 – Are Great Entrepreneurs Born or Made?

35:19 – When Your Genius Works Against You

36:39 – Can You Change Your Working Genius?

41:42 – Why Burnout Isn’t the Real Problem

46:52 – Where Work Guilt and Shame Come From

49:43 – Can You Recognize Your Own Genius?

54:41 – Sponsor Break

59:15 – Is It Ever Too Late to Find Your Genius?

1:00:47 – Why Patrick Calls Himself a “Lazy Kid”

1:02:44 – When High Achievement Is Really Fear

1:05:09 – Why Life Is Simple—but Difficult

1:08:07 – Patrick’s New Definition of Success

1:12:27 – Why Even Experts Struggle With Self-Awareness

1:14:20 – Working Genius Meets The Five Dysfunctions

1:17:05 – When Great Employees Are in the Wrong Role

1:21:38 – How Patrick’s Faith Became Real

1:23:33 – How Spirituality Changes Leadership

1:29:24 – Patrick’s Most Important Life Lesson

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In this "Lessons" episode, Dmitri Alperovitch, author of *World on the Brink* and co-founder of CrowdStrike, explains why China’s rise may not be as inevitable as many believe. He explores how economic stagnation, demographic decline, and policy decisions could limit China’s long-term power, while outlining why preventing a conflict over Taiwan should remain a critical priority for the United States. Dmitri also discusses America’s advantages in innovation, access to capital, military strength, and global alliances, and how leveraging these strengths could help preserve its position in the race for the 21st century.

➡️ Show Links

https://successstorypodcast.com  

YouTube: https://youtu.be/p1O9UKhi650 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dmitri-alperovitch-co-founder-of-crowdstrike-what/id1484783544 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gi59tvN0cRUV0uTfLcptD 

➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

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In this "Lessons" episode, Ciera Rogers, founder of BABES and author of The Outsider Advantage, shares the entrepreneurial lessons behind building a fashion brand worn by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé. She explains why starting imperfectly is often more valuable than overthinking an idea, how customer feedback can help shape a brand, and when entrepreneurs need to pivot or walk away from a product that isn't working. Ciera also explores how standing out in a crowded market can become a competitive advantage, why brands need to constantly find new ways to capture attention, and how selling confidence or solving a genuine pain point can be far more powerful than simply selling a product.

➡️ Show Links

https://successstorypodcast.com  

YouTube: https://youtu.be/p5nVDbNf06U 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ciera-rogers-fashion-designer-founder-of-babes/id1484783544 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0L8SXPQS6aXBOVgR0aSHv4 

➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

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Mike Fisher is the CEO of MyFitnessPal, where he leads a platform serving more than 200 million users worldwide in their health and nutrition journeys. Before joining MyFitnessPal, he was CTO of Etsy, scaling the marketplace from $3 billion to $13 billion in annual sales while running an engineering organization of roughly 1,000 people. He co-wrote The Art of Scalability and Scalability Rules, the books much of the industry uses to think about growth. Known for challenging conventional thinking about health and wellness, Fisher champions a more holistic, sustainable approach to fitness that moves beyond restrictive dieting and quick fixes.

➡️ Show Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-fisher-3317a8/ 

➡️ Podcast Sponsors

Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/  

Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott)

NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/ 

Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory)

LinkedIn Ads - https://linkedin.com/scottclary 

Upwork - https://upwork.com/ 

Dell - https://dell.com/dell-pro  

AutoPilot - https://www.joinautopilot.com/landing 

Cohesity - https://www.cohesity.com/datacloud 

Whatnot - https://www.whatnot.com/

Monarch - https://www.monarch.com/ (Code: success)

Cash App - https://cash.app/ (Code: cashapp10)

MyFitnessPal - https://podcasts.myfitnesspal.com (Code: SCOTT)

Scribe - https://scribe.how/success (Code: SuccessStory)

Odoo – https://www.odoo.com 

➡️ Talking Points

00:00 – Intro  

02:21 – From Scaling Etsy to Scaling Human Health  

13:34 – Why Influencer Diets Fail You  

17:22 – When More Health Data Makes You Worse  

21:34 – Why You Can’t Outwork a Bad Diet  

25:01 – The Military Feedback Loop for Better Health  

26:58 – Sponsor Break  

31:03 – Leadership Lessons From Flying Helicopters  

42:30 – Why Mike Chose MyFitnessPal  

45:08 – What 300 Million Users Reveal About Weight Loss  

53:05 – Sponsor Break  

56:05 – Why Health Fads Keep Failing You  

1:00:00 – How Busy High Performers Stay Healthy  

1:08:26 – What MyFitnessPal’s CEO Eats Every Day  

1:14:38 – How to Find the Work You’re Built For  

1:18:11 – Are Humans Actually Getting Healthier?  

1:23:36 – Mike’s Advice to His Younger Self

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In this "Lessons" episode, Matt Gutman, ABC Chief National Correspondent and bestselling author, shares his journey of understanding and overcoming the panic attacks that followed him even after thousands of hours on live television. Drawing from his own experiences, he explains how the body’s natural stress response can trigger panic, why repeated exposure alone may not address its deeper causes, and how processing buried emotions helped him build greater resilience. Matt also explores the role of therapy, breathwork, exercise, movement, and human connection, offering practical insights into managing anxiety, regulating stress, and developing a healthier relationship with the body’s response to fear.

➡️ Show Links

https://successstorypodcast.com  

YouTube: https://youtu.be/8byFJIGBa3Y 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-gutman-chief-national-correspondent-at-abc-news/id1484783544 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0h7u5uTcUUEDtTbIjl8meU 

➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

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In this "Lessons" episode, Ilana Golan, founder of Leap Academy and Forbes contributor, shares her approach to navigating career transitions and finding clarity around what comes next. She explains how identifying the must-haves that matter most—whether financial success, growth, impact, or balance—can guide major career decisions, and why recognizing a personal "zone of genius" helps uncover where strengths can create the most value. Ilana also explores the importance of continuous reinvention and how aligning personal, professional, and financial goals with the right opportunities can create greater fulfillment and long-term success.

➡️ Show Links

https://successstorypodcast.com  

YouTube: https://youtu.be/pwKsNt9s_GM 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ilana-golan-founder-of-the-leap-academy-restarting/id1484783544 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Eg0N38hhJavILsVdRwuNq 

➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

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Moshe Haimoff is the founder of The Watch King NYC, a luxury watch business he built from the ground up in Manhattan's Diamond District without a formal secular education, industry connections, or a conventional path to success. He left New York's haredi community at 22 and made his first deal on an $11,000 watch he flipped for $11,800. He now wholesales internationally, moving millions of dollars in timepieces, with more than 1.4 million followers on Instagram and a roster of celebrity clients. His story is proof that grit can outpace pedigree in one of the world's most competitive markets. 

➡️ Show Links

https://www.instagram.com/thewatchkingnyc/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@ThewatchkingNYC 

➡️ Podcast Sponsors

Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/  

Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott)

NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/ 

Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory)

LinkedIn Ads - https://linkedin.com/scottclary 

Upwork - https://upwork.com/ 

Dell - https://dell.com/dell-pro  

AutoPilot - https://www.joinautopilot.com/landing 

Cohesity - https://www.cohesity.com/datacloud 

Whatnot - https://www.whatnot.com/

Monarch - https://www.monarch.com/ (Code: success)

Cash App - https://cash.app/ (Code: cashapp10)

MyFitnessPal - https://podcasts.myfitnesspal.com (Code: SCOTT)

Scribe - https://scribe.how/success (Code: SuccessStory)

Noom - https://www.noom.com/ 

➡️ Talking Points

00:00 – Intro  

02:13 – The $160K Watch—and How It All Began  

05:45 – The $700 Photo That Changed Everything  

06:49 – How Extremism Pushed Moshe Away  

13:47 – How Gambling Took Everything  

25:52 – Rebuilding Through the Watch Business  

30:08 – What Makes a Watch Explode in Value?  

36:39 – How to Avoid Buying a Fake Watch  

39:35 – Sponsor Break  

42:23 – The Diamond District’s Unwritten Rules  

48:56 – Was Skipping Business School an Advantage?  

50:48 – Why Moshe Trusts Almost Nobody  

53:22 – Why He Gives Kids $70K Watches  

59:14 – Inside the Robbery That Nearly Killed Him  

1:05:30 – Why God Is Not Religion  

1:13:12 – Sponsor Break  

1:17:47 – Why Failure Is Never Final  

1:19:53 – When Luxury Becomes a Trap  

1:26:06 – Why Purpose Must Come Before Money  

1:27:44 – The Truth About Fake Watches  

1:32:23 – Which Watches Are Actually Worth Buying?  

1:38:52 – His Biggest Lessons on Business and Life  

1:44:01 – One Lesson for His Children