The Business of You with Rachel Gogos

We're running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!

With the digital marketing world changing so fast, how can you keep up? Sunny Dublick shares her recommendations for effective marketing and how your company can innovate to stay ahead of the curve.

Sunny is an award-winning marketing specialist and founder of Sunny Dublick Marketing. She has spent more than 15 years in the marketing and advertising industry, working with high-profile clients such as the Philadelphia 76ers and HanesBrands, as well as small and medium-sized businesses spanning the hospitality, retail, and professional services industries.

After nine years working for various advertising agencies and corporate marketing departments, Sunny set out on her own, forming Sunny Dublick Marketing to provide transparent and effective marketing solutions to businesses nationwide. Her strategies are designed to inspire creativity and enable clients to grow the best, most authentic version of their brand.

The Future of AI in Marketing

The digital marketing landscape is constantly shifting. Instead of fighting to stay ahead of the curve and keep up with rapidly changing technology, Sunny recommends slowing down. If you decide to incorporate something new, be intentional. Act from a place of purpose instead of fear of the future.

At one point, no one knew how to post on Facebook or run Google ads. There were a lot of unknowns — but business owners and marketers figured it out over time. The same will be true for AI and these new technologies. The important part is to stay open and be willing to try new things.

If you want to incorporate AI into your marketing, Sunny recommends using it to kickstart ideas rather than write all of your content. It can be helpful for a first draft, so you're not staring at a blank page, but it still needs a human touch. No one wants to read a blog post written entirely by AI.

The Importance of Innovation

The role of marketing in your organization goes beyond generating new leads. Your marketing team can also problem-solve across departments, inspire new offers, and overcome sales objections. Instead of assuming there's a marketing problem when leads slow down, Sunny recommends starting at the source. Are your offerings still what your customers want? Is there room for innovation and growth? Has the market evolved?

Separating marketing from branding, sales, and finance doesn't serve your organization. This is why more and more companies are shifting away from Chief Marketing Officers to Chief Growth Officers or Brand Officers, to bridge different functions.

Enjoy this episode with Sunny Dublick…

Soundbytes

10:59–11:21 "People are looking forward to like, Metaverse and Web 3.0 and how do we stay ahead of that? There's always been, for a really long time, a question mark of where things are going. And I think the worst thing that you can do, from a marketing perspective, is just running after that shiny object and being like, I have to do this too, right?"

23:07–23:30 "Oftentimes companies will work with a marketing company and they'll have a fancy new logo, some pretty pictures on a website, and they're like, cool, we're done, right? That's what I call lipstick-on-a-pig marketing. You made it pretty. But at the end of the day, your offering is something that can and should change over time."

Quotes

"The beautiful thing about marketing, especially digital marketing, is so much of what you need to know is available to be self-taught."

"The worst thing that you can do from a marketing perspective is run after that shiny object."

"The nature of marketing is one in which you always have to be agile, and you always have to be willing and able to try new things."

"Now we can write six posts a day automatically, but just because you can doesn't mean you should."

"Marketing can and should be something that bridges a lot of different functions within an organization, and you're only getting a tiny piece of it if you're keeping them pigeon-holed into these are the people that put up my social media posts and run some ads for me."

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://sunnydublick.com

Connect with Sunny Dublick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnydublick/

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

We're running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!

Have you ever considered opening a franchise? Maybe you're looking for a new investment opportunity, or you're attracted to a business model where all the systems are already up and running.

Today's guest breaks down what you need to know beforehand, the best industries to invest in, and what separates successful owners from the rest.

Jon Ostenson is the Founder and CEO of FranBridge Consulting, an Inc. 5000 company and a top 1% franchise consultant. He's also the author of the bestselling book, "Non-Food Franchising."

Jon draws on his experience as a former Inc. 500 franchise president and multi-brand franchisee to help his clients select their franchise investments. Jon is a frequent contributor on franchising for publications such as Forbes, Inc., and Bloomberg.

Why Invest in a Franchise

The franchise model offers some advantages over starting your own business. For one, the business has already proven to be successful. The franchise has a playbook for what works and what doesn't — all you need to do is execute it. You also have a community of other franchisees running the same business, where you can learn from each other and exchange best practices.

What Makes a Successful Franchise Owner

Some entrepreneurs struggle to run a franchise because they don't like following the playbook; they aren't coachable or willing to learn. As an owner, you need to trust the franchise that you bought into. The most successful franchise owners are the ones who follow the system the closest. You can innovate within the system, but don't try to reinvent the wheel.

The second-most important characteristic is to be good with people. If you're a good person to work for and with, everything runs more smoothly. Being well-liked can even turn into a competitive advantage.

Enjoy this episode with Jon Ostenson…

Soundbytes

4:57–5:22 "The model has been proven out in other markets. You've got a playbook. It's all about going out and executing. So you're essentially starting on third base. You've got bulk buying of services or products, you get those synergies, but you also get a community of other franchisees, other people running the same business, day in, day out, in their markets, and you're constantly learning from each other and exchanging best practices. You're in business for yourself, but not by yourself."

18:31–18:57 "Our top performers had two characteristics. One, they were good with people, and that's just business 101. They're someone that people want to work for, work with. No, they don't have to be gregarious, but they're decent people. And then secondly, they're willing to follow a system. They've got the humility to say, hey, there's a reason why I bought into a franchise. I'm going to come in and trust you with what you're telling me. The ones that followed the system the closest were our most successful."

Quotes

"For most people, franchising is a better path to business ownership because it allows you to have those training wheels."

"You've got to be someone that people want to work with."

"If it were easy, everybody would be a business owner."

"Be someone that people want to work for, and find your competitive advantage."

Links mentioned in this episode: (from Web version of Show Notes)

From Our Guest

Website: https://franbridgeconsulting.com

Connect with Jon Ostenson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonostenson/

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

We're running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!

What makes a truly iconic brand?

Few people are better qualified to answer that question than Neil Barrie, the branding expert behind household names like Pinterest, Peloton, and Airbnb.

Neil Barrie founded the TwentyFirstCenturyBrand agency in 2018 and works with many of the world's most innovative brands, including Headspace, Bumble, and Depop. From 2021-23, the company grew revenue by 70%.

Originally a failed rock star, Neil has led the development and growth of top-tier brands including Disney, The Grammys, and Unilever. Throughout his career, he has used his platform to make the advertising industry better and has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, and The Guardian.

Landing Your First Client

How did Neil and his co-founder land Pinterest as their very first client? A lot of it had to do with personal branding and the reputation they'd built for themselves in the industry.

From the beginning, Neil was intentional about doing things for free for influential people, with the expectation that they would one day recommend TwentyFirstCenturyBrand. He and his co-founder held workshops for venture capitalists and offered to help them with their portfolios.

It also helped that they had a clear mission for their company (to build influential 21st-century brands) and a strong point of view on what made an iconic brand: it had to be purpose-led, community-driven, tech-enabled, and narrative-based.

Neil and his co-founder came out of the gate with a clear thesis. They published white papers on their four-part framework that helped companies see the value in branding. Their strategy paid off — Pinterest took a chance on the new agency, and TwentyFirstCenturyBrand's client list has only grown since.

Ingredients of an Iconic Brand

Branding can be broken down into two sides: input and output. Output is your brand reputation or what other people say about you when you're not around. Input is everything you put into the brand: your vision, your purpose, and the experience you create for your audience.

When asked about the future of branding, Neil says there are three factors entrepreneurs need to consider: profit, purpose, and people. After the turmoil of the last few years, profitability is more important than ever. Purpose is your vision, and "people" refers to how you rally your community around that vision. To build a truly influential brand, you need to balance all three factors.

Enjoy this episode with Neil Barrie…

Soundbytes

21:02–21:30 "We had a very clear process that we insisted people go through, which had a certain bit of mythology around it, in terms of some of the rituals that we would do. We would have things like 'discuss the undiscussable,' where we put all of the C-suite into a private room and facilitate a discussion around five undiscussable themes that we'd uncovered from meeting everybody. These are things, not necessarily related to brand, just in your culture that you need to address before you can really achieve your potential."

31:53–32:22 "Culture is a very special thing: The values of a company. The commitment to work with certain types of clients, to the proper balance of growth agenda, purposeful, profitable growth, and so on. The ability to say no to things, to really look after the team in different ways. So, it was clear from a lot of those conversations that a lot of people wanted us, but they wanted to sort of merge us with another of their consulting agencies, and sort of strengthen that and gain access to our client base, and things like that. And it was just clear that it was going to ruin what we built."

Quotes

"Most tech companies are leaving money on the table because they mistrust branding."

"It's tough to get business when you're starting out. From the start, community and doing things for free for influential people with the expectation they would recommend us was a big part of our strategy."

"Out of the gate, we acted like we'd been around for 30 years and hoped that sense of confidence and conviction would be infectious."

"Vulnerability is required if you're going to build a proper brand."

"You need to invest the time in figuring out what you stand for, what you are, how you're going to codify that into your experience and so on."

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://twentyfirstcenturybrand.com/

Connect with Neil Barrie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-barrie-29488aa/

Book "A Colourful View from the Top": https://www.amazon.com/Colourful-View-Top-Twenty-One-Extraordinary/dp/1408715791

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

We're running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!

Are you thinking of starting a podcast? Or maybe you already have a show and are wondering how to take it to the next level? Today's guest shares everything you need to know to launch and grow a successful, purpose-driven podcast.

Erik Cabral is a leading expert in brand development, trusted by Fortune 100 and Inc. 5000 companies to define and deliver their core messages. Having built thousands of brands over his career, Erik has shared the stage with powerhouse brands like Shark Tank's Matt Higgins and Kevin Harrington, VaynerMedia, David Meltzer, and Hal Elrod of the Miracle Morning.

As the founder of On Air Brands, Be Your Brand, PodMAX, and Mindado Investment Group, Erik is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs develop their personal and corporate brands through podcasting and media strategies. His work has been featured in major publications and has contributed to raising millions in capital for his investor clients.

Preventing Podfade

After launching dozens of podcasts, Erik says the biggest obstacle is "podfade" — where a podcast gradually disappears over time because it runs out of content ideas.

Thousands of new shows were created in the past few years, but very few of them survived past 20 episodes. The reason comes down to a lack of purpose. If you don't have a clear goal for your show, it's unlikely to last.

That's why Erik's company has shifted more into personal branding. Before launching a podcast, be clear on your goals, your mission, and who you want to serve. Focus on your purpose, because that's what makes great content.

In Erik's own business, he's rebranded his podcast to The Erik Cabral Show and is focused on incorporating his faith into his brand. His mission is to build personal brands that glorify God, and his openness about that mission has helped him attract people who share those values.

What to Know Before Starting a Podcast

If you want to start a podcast, the first step is to manage your expectations. The average number of downloads per episode is 29. That may not sound like a lot, but even a small audience can create momentum in your business!

If you have 30 loyal listeners every week, that's the same as having 30 people in a room who are eager to learn from you. Don't believe the noise on social media that says you need massive numbers to create an impact.

When it comes to growing your show, podcasting is like starting a business. It starts with word of mouth and your personal network. Most of the biggest podcasts are hosted by someone who already had a personal brand with a large following. Audience growth is a slow build, so don't give up too soon.

Enjoy this episode with Erik Cabral…

Soundbytes

13:23–13:42 "It's what we call pod fade: all these shows got started, and the statistics are running away from me, but all the hundreds of thousands of podcasts that started during that era, we benefited from, for sure, but then a lot of them faded because they didn't have clarity and purpose and an end goal in mind."

33:07–33:41 "There is a purpose outside of money. Your purpose could be money and earthly things and earthly desires and material things. But I've recognized, and I've been around a lot of successful people…sharing the room in stages with millionaires and billionaires. I've recognized there are people that aren't happy with all that money, but the ones that are have that greater purpose, and they're usually God-fearing people that know there's something bigger than themselves beyond this life here on Earth."

Quotes

"Podcasting is very much like starting a business. We have to start with friends and family, word of mouth. We have to be grassroots."

"Having a podcast, especially with a YouTube channel, you're set apart from most business owners who don't want to do that."

"We want to build personal brands that glorify God."

"Building a business is personal. It comes from us, our heart."

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://www.erikcabral.co/

Free Podcasting Guide: https://www.erikcabral.co/guide

Connect with Erik Cabral on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikcabral/

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

We're re-running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!

Ever envisioned leading your team effortlessly while sporting cozy slippers? Rachel Gogos turned this dream into reality when she founded brandiD from the comfort of her home in 2007.

Long before remote work became common, brandiD was already building a distributed team. In this "best of" episode, Rachel shares what nearly 20 years of leading remotely has taught her about communication, culture, flexibility, and keeping people connected when everyone is working from different places.

This episode offers a closer look at what it really takes to lead a remote team well, build trust, and keep people connected from anywhere.

The Freedom and Flexibility of Remote Work

Rachel launched brandiD remotely in 2007, long before distributed teams became mainstream. What began as a practical solution quickly revealed a much bigger opportunity: access to exceptional talent and clients around the world.

Remote work removes geographic limitations. Instead of hiring from a single city or serving only local clients, businesses can connect with the best people and opportunities regardless of location.

But flexibility also comes with challenges. Managing multiple time zones, maintaining accountability, and avoiding the "always-on" mentality require clear expectations and intentional leadership.

Why Culture Matters More Than Technology

The most successful remote teams aren't built on tools alone. They're built on communication, trust, and human connection.

Rachel shares how weekly team meetings, informal conversations, daily check-ins, and even simple Slack interactions help strengthen relationships across the team. These moments create opportunities for collaboration, honesty, and engagement that might otherwise be lost in a virtual environment.

As technology continues to evolve, one lesson remains constant: people are the key to successful distributed work. Leaders who prioritize culture, communication, and connection will create teams that thrive no matter where they're located.

Enjoy this episode with Rachel Gogos…

Soundbytes

4:32–5:18 "The beauty of working remotely is depending on what your role is in the company, you can almost work at any time of the day when it fits your schedule. So I think that's been a huge benefit even to attracting great talent on our team. And back to other challenges. I would say building culture with a remote team is a challenge in building relationships. Close work relationships amongst people is a challenge with a remote team because you don't actually get to connect in person. And, and build a rapport that allows for almost radical honesty to be a very strong and well functioning team."

Quotes

"Technology is an amazing enabler; it is people who are the key to success in distributed work."

"As technology becomes a bigger part of our lives, we need human interaction more than ever."

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

What if the thing you've been chasing isn't actually what you're looking for?

Many entrepreneurs build successful businesses or hit major milestones, but they still feel disconnected, burned out, or unsatisfied. The challenge isn't a lack of achievement. It's a lack of alignment.

Mike Brcic is a serial entrepreneur, global adventurer, and founder of Wayfinders, a company that helps entrepreneurs build more connected and fulfilling lives through immersive experiences in some of the world's most remote destinations.

After building and selling businesses of his own, Mike discovered that success without connection often leaves people feeling empty. Today, he helps founders explore a different path.

In this episode, Mike breaks down why community, adventure, and honest self-reflection may be the missing pieces many entrepreneurs are searching for and how you can begin finding them for yourself.

When Success Stops Feeling Successful

After more than two decades building an adventure travel business, Mike found himself trapped in a cycle familiar to many entrepreneurs: relentless growth, mounting pressure, and diminishing joy.

As revenue increased, so did complexity, stress, and burnout. What started as a lifestyle business built around passion slowly became something that no longer felt aligned.

Mike shares the remarkable story of nearly losing everything before a last-minute acquisition changed the course of his entrepreneurial journey. The experience forced him to confront a difficult question: What was all that growth actually for? His answer led to the creation of Wayfinders.

The Power of Connection, Clarity, and Community

Wayfinders takes entrepreneurs far beyond traditional networking events. Through immersive adventures in places like Mongolia, Patagonia, Greenland, and Papua New Guinea, participants step outside their normal environments and create space for deeper reflection.

Mike explains why entrepreneurs often struggle with loneliness and why meaningful community is essential for emotional resilience, better decision-making, and sustainable leadership.

He also shares the concept of alignment: bringing your external life into harmony with your deepest values, desires, and sense of purpose. Through intentional conversations, solitude in nature, and supportive community, participants gain clarity about what truly matters and what changes they need to make moving forward.

The result isn't simply a memorable trip. It's a chance to reconnect with yourself.

Enjoy this episode with Mike Brcic…

Soundbytes

15:14–15:45 "For me, alignment is this idea of your outer experience matching your inner experience. And so, on the inside, for lack of a better word, we have this thing called a soul. And soul, to me, is this really true aspect of myself, this really true core of who I am at the center of my being, and layered on top of that is years and decades of people layering messages on top of that about who we should be, how we should be, what we should be, why we should be — all these kind of things."

23:43–24:12 "I'm trying and I'm hoping that I can get them to take seriously this idea of having a dialogue with one's inner world, with one's soul, and that that's a useful thing to do. And also this understanding that, you know, there's a journey to be had in this life, this journey towards self-actualization, towards individuation, to becoming a whole person, to becoming more yourself. And eventually casting off these shackles of who you're supposed to be."

Quotes

"Adding more zeros to your balance sheet is ultimately not going to get you what you're searching for."

"Life will force you to answer those questions eventually."

"I'm trying to help people stop bullshitting themselves."

"The soul doesn't deal in logic. The soul wants what the soul wants."

"There's a journey toward becoming more yourself."

"What I do isn't really about travel. Travel is simply the delivery mechanism."

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://way-finders.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Mike Brcic on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebrcic

Follow Mike Brcic on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfinders_inc

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

What makes people buy? Most businesses assume it's visibility. In reality, trust often matters far more than reach.

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Chelsea Clark, founder and CEO of Momfluence, a leading influencer marketing agency that helps brands create authentic connections with consumers through trusted creator partnerships.

Chelsea shares her entrepreneurial journey from scaling a restaurant franchise business to building a specialized marketing agency and developing software designed to streamline influencer campaigns.

She breaks down how trust-driven marketing creates stronger business outcomes, why niche positioning can be a competitive advantage, and how founders can build businesses that align with the life they actually want.

Trust Beats Reach Every Time

Many brands focus on finding the biggest audience possible. Chelsea believes that's often the wrong approach.

The most successful campaigns are built around credibility and connection. Smaller creators with highly engaged communities can often drive stronger results than influencers with massive followings because trust has already been established.

Chelsea also explains why influencer marketing works best when it becomes part of a broader strategy. The most effective brands don't stop at a single campaign. They build familiarity over time through repeated exposure, retargeting, and long-term partnerships.

Building a Business That Fits Your Life

Chelsea's entrepreneurial journey began in the restaurant industry, where she spent over a decade growing a business to 13 locations through company-owned stores and franchising.

That experience taught her valuable lessons about customer service, leadership, systems, and the realities of scaling. It also helped her recognize that growth isn't always about getting bigger. Sometimes it's about creating a business model that offers more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment.

Today, Chelsea is focused not only on growing Momfluence but also on building software that supports the influencer marketing industry, allowing her to solve bigger problems while creating a more scalable future.

Enjoy this episode with Chelsea Clark…

Soundbytes

27:58–28:18 "The person in charge of our content said that something like 90 percent of content on LinkedIn is AI-written. Of course, we use AI as foundation research, but then she writes it. It's almost like all content's going to become obsolete if you assume AI is writing it. Why are you going to read it?"

31:28–31:47 "Use the same creators multiple times. Most brands still use one creator one time and then get upset when she doesn't sell them out. Then it's like it seems inauthentic if a creator is always just using something once. So, having the same creator, even if it's months apart, you show that they're actually a fan of your brand and use it."

Quotes

"Growing things is just satisfying. I would get really bored if I didn't have problems to solve."

"Customer service gives you tough skin. It teaches you how to handle people and solve problems."

"Most successful marketing comes down to trust and consistency."

"It's better to work with the right audience than the biggest audience."

"Influencer marketing works best when it's part of a larger brand-building strategy."

"Growth isn't always about getting bigger. It's about building the business you actually want."

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://www.momfluence.co

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Chelsa Clark on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-clark-momfluence/

Follow Chelsea Clark on Instagram: https://instagram.com/momfluence.co

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

Most entrepreneurs don't realize how much money they're losing through poor tax strategy. The problem isn't always revenue. It's what happens after the money comes in.

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Peter Holtz, founder of one of the fastest-growing accounting firms in the country. With experience spanning Big 4 accounting, CFO leadership, and building a $10M-plus firm from the ground up, Peter shares why traditional accounting models are failing entrepreneurs and what founders should be doing instead.

Peter explains how proactive tax planning, financial organization, and smarter business structures can dramatically improve profitability and help business owners build real long-term wealth.

He also breaks down how entrepreneurs can legally reduce their tax burden, improve financial clarity, and turn accounting into one of the highest ROI investments in their business.

Why Reactive Accounting Is Costing Founders Thousands

Peter explains that most accountants operate as "box fillers," focused only on filing returns instead of helping business owners strategically reduce taxes year-round.

He shares why accuracy, organization, and the right business structure are foundational to keeping more of what you earn. From separating business and personal expenses to optimizing entity structure, small changes can create a massive financial impact.

Peter also dives into overlooked strategies many entrepreneurs miss, including the Augusta Rule, paying children through the business, vehicle deductions, and structuring travel expenses correctly.

Building Wealth Through Financial Clarity

Beyond taxes, this conversation explores the deeper connection between financial awareness and leadership.

Peter reflects on building his firm from a small operation into an Inc. 5000 company by embracing cloud accounting, systems, and long-term thinking early. He also shares why he believes entrepreneurs are modern-day pioneers and why supporting business owners is central to his mission.

Rachel and Peter also discuss personal branding, scaling a service-based business, and the evolution of authority in today's digital landscape.

Enjoy this episode with Peter Holtz…

Soundbytes

17:53–18:14 "The Augusta Rule lets you rent out your house at fair market value. You have to determine fair market value. You've got to create a lease between yourself and your business, and there's a lot of details you have to live with. But it could easily be anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 in tax-free income, depending on how you use it."

20:39–21:04 "I've said, you know, you should pay your kids, and I've heard, 'Well, we talked to our tax preparer, and they said it's a red flag.' It's not. I've been around for 40 years. I've been through audits. I've helped people that have come to me to get help with audits. The tax law is very clear that any child above age 7 can be paid a reasonable wage to help you in your business."

Quotes

"Most entrepreneurs are overpaying in taxes because no one ever showed them a better strategy."

"A CPA should not be a cost center. They should be one of the highest ROI partners in your business."

"When you don't commingle business and personal expenses, you're already telling the IRS you're organized."

"The ultimate resource you can never get more of is time."

"There's not a business problem that I can't solve anymore because after a while, you understand how businesses really work."

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://www.peterholtzcpa.com/

Free Resource and Consultation: https://go.peterholtzcpa.com/rachel

Connect with Peter Holtz on LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/peterholtzcpa

Follow Peter Holtz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterholtzcpa

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

What happens when the drive that helped you build your success becomes the very thing that pushes you toward burnout?

Many entrepreneurs pride themselves on powering through exhaustion, stress, and overwhelm. But eventually, the body sends signals that can no longer be ignored.

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Dr. Anna Cabeca, a triple board-certified OB/GYN, bestselling author, hormone expert, and founder of a thriving wellness company. Dr. Anna shares how personal loss, infertility, burnout, and financial hardship led her to completely rethink health, performance, and what lasting success really looks like.

In this episode, she breaks down how leaders can protect their energy, improve resilience, and build a healthier foundation for both life and business.

When Success Comes at the Expense of Health

Dr. Anna's entrepreneurial journey wasn't born from a business plan. It was born from necessity.\

After losing her mother, experiencing infertility and early menopause, navigating divorce, and eventually reaching severe burnout, she found herself forced to step away from the medical practice she had spent years building. The emotional and financial consequences were significant, but so was the lesson.

Rather than accepting the limitations she was told to live with, Dr. Anna began exploring functional medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches to health. Her own transformation became the catalyst for helping others do the same.

What started as solutions for her patients eventually evolved into bestselling books, educational programs, and a seven-figure wellness brand built around solving real problems and sharing authentic stories.

Why Energy is the Ultimate Asset

One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is the connection between health and performance.

Dr. Anna explains how chronic stress, elevated cortisol, inflammation, and insulin resistance can affect everything from decision-making and focus to mood, resilience, and long-term health. While many people focus solely on hormones, she argues that true wellbeing requires a broader approach.

She also introduces the concept of increasing oxytocin, the hormone associated with connection, trust, and wellbeing, as a practical strategy for managing stress and supporting overall performance.

Enjoy this episode with Dr. Anna Cabeca…

Soundbytes

29:11–29:40 "You can't out-supplement a bad diet. So, it's these lifestyle pieces. So when I think about what are some of the things we do to improve our health? It's starting with — I don't like to talk about stress management — increasing oxytocin. That is the antidote to stress. So, gratitude practice. Positive terminology. Being kind to yourself. Being kind to others."

36:39–37:49 "I was over 240 pounds. I had terrible weight loss, and that was at 39 years old. Everyday I think, OK, I can walk towards health, or I can walk towards disease."

Quotes

"Your mess becomes your message."

"It takes more than hormones to fix the hormones."

"Workaholism is an addiction like anything else."

"We have it within us to be empowered and to create solutions and serve others."

"I want to be a safe place where people feel seen and heard and empowered and inspired that their life can be better."

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://dranna.com

10-Day Breeze Through Menopause Program: https://dranna.com/tribe

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drannacabeca

Follow Dr. Anna Cabeca on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAnnaCabeca

Follow Dr. Anna Cabeca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

Starting a nonprofit can feel inspiring until the paperwork, confusion, and red tape slow everything down.

In this episode, Rachel Gogos sits down with Christian LeFer, founder and CEO of Instant Nonprofit, to talk about how mission-driven founders can move from idea to 501(c)(3) without getting buried in complexity.

Christian has helped thousands of changemakers launch and grow nonprofit organizations by removing the legal, administrative, and operational barriers that often keep great ideas from moving forward.

In this conversation, he shares how simplicity creates momentum, why fundraising is really about inviting people into a bigger mission, and how automation, AI, and authentic human connection can help nonprofits scale with more ease and impact.

Why Simplicity Creates Momentum

Christian's early experience in fundraising changed the way he viewed nonprofit work. He stopped seeing fundraising as "asking for money" and started seeing it as an invitation for people to be part of something meaningful.

That perspective shaped Instant Nonprofit. Instead of making founders navigate complexity on their own, Christian built a process designed to remove friction and make starting a nonprofit feel more approachable.

He also shares an important lesson from an early software failure: technology alone doesn't solve the problem. The process has to work first. By simplifying the customer experience before layering in automation, Instant Nonprofit was able to scale while still delivering personalized support.

Building Human-Centered Brands in the Age of AI

As AI and automation continue to reshape business, Christian believes authenticity will become even more valuable.

Rachel and Christian talk about why people want real stories, transparency, and human connection from the organizations they support. They also explore how team members can build trust by showing personality, sharing experiences, and genuinely caring about the customer experience.

The episode also looks at the future of philanthropy, including the growing number of entrepreneurs and families using nonprofits and foundations to connect financial success with legacy, purpose, and long-term impact.

Enjoy this episode with Christian LeFer…

Soundbytes

04:58–05:23 "Once I flipped around that way I looked at fundraising and that way I looked at what was that exchange for something, I wasn't selling them a product. I was just giving them a good feeling. But, the good feeling is actually — to recall the old MasterCard commercial — the good feeling is what's priceless, right? Inviting someone to feel like they have a bigger part of life by giving them an opportunity to do something they can't do."

21:39–21:46 "People just want a real experience, and they want to deal with real people. They don't want to buy from companies. They want to buy from people."

Quotes

"You're really inviting people to a bigger life. You're adding to their life; you're not taking away."

"What automation allows us to do is allow our humans to be most human."

"Anything short of somebody snapping their fingers and wishing the nonprofit into existence is still an obstacle for the customer."

"People don't want polished perfection anymore. They want real people and real experiences."

"There's nothing wrong with doing well while doing good."

Links mentioned in this episode:

From Our Guest

Website: https://instantnonprofit.com

Start-Up Kit: https://instantnonprofit.com/podcast

Connect with Christian LeFer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianlefer/

Follow Instant Nonprofit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instantnonprofit

Connect with brandiD

Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast

Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/