What happens when you abandon the pitch, lead with vulnerability, and treat sales as a sacred conversation? In this powerful crosspost episode from I Made A Podcast, Matt Drinkhahn—host of The Eternal Optimist—flips the script on traditional business-building. He shares how one emotional moment in a sales meeting (yes, he cried) unlocked a radically honest and high-performing coaching practice. From cold calls and high-pressure quotas to $1M+ in revenue with zero paid ads, Matt dives into the principles of radical ownership, clarity-driven leadership, and relationship-first growth. Whether you’re a recovering perfectionist, a mission-driven entrepreneur, or a leader seeking smarter systems, this conversation is your wake-up call to build with integrity—and win.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - What Is the Eternal Optimist Really About?
• 00:00:43 - How to Land World-Class Podcast Guests
• 00:01:45 - What Makes ‘I Made a Podcast’ Different
• 00:02:20 - Who Is Matt Ham (and Why You Should Care)
• 00:03:37 - How This Podcast Was Built From Scratch
• 00:06:22 - Why the Name ‘Eternal Optimist’ Almost Didn’t Happen
• 00:10:49 - Behind the Mic: Favorite Guests + Big Lessons
• 00:17:08 - The Smart Way to Build a Dream Guest List
• 00:24:10 - The Ultimate Pre-Interview Prep Ritual
• 00:25:00 - Tools That Make Guest Booking Effortless
• 00:26:01 - Unlocking the PR Machine: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
• 00:29:53 - Real Talk: How to Build Authentic On-Air Chemistry
• 00:36:17 - Mistakes, Lessons & Growth: The Real Podcast Journey
• 00:45:30 - If You’re Thinking About Starting a Podcast… Listen to This

Links and Resources:

• I Made a Podcast on Instagram @IMadeaPodcast
• I Made a Podcast on Facebook ⁠⁠@IMadeaPodcast

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