Your Brand Amplified

Anika sat down with Tim Lindsay to explore what it really takes to build a publishing company from the ground up—starting with negative net worth and zero safety net. The conversation revealed the realities of bootstrapping Tellwell Publishing to over 6,000 books, the critical differences between traditional and self-publishing, and how a 128-day NICU crisis tested his leadership. Tim's journey offers a masterclass in resilience, scaling teams, and understanding the true strategic value of writing a book.

In This Episode

• Quitting a day job with massive credit card debt and mastering the art of bootstrapping
• The evolution of self-publishing and why traditional publishing gatekeepers are losing their grip
• The three core motivations for writing a book: Give, Build, and Journey
• Scaling a team from 1 to 12 (the honeymoon phase) versus the painful jump to 30 employees
• Navigating a 128-day NICU crisis while keeping a growing business from collapsing
• Why the "Guide" function is the missing link in the modern publishing landscape
• Writing The Call to Authorship in just 30 minutes a day before the second cup of coffee
• The importance of team cohesion and why traditional HR rules often miss the mark

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction: Bootstrapping a publishing company from nothing
• 01:34 The leap into self-employment with $50,000 in credit card debt
• 07:04 How Amazon and Print-on-Demand revolutionized the publishing industry
• 10:40 Understanding the real reasons people write books (Give, Build, Journey)
• 12:25 The incredible story of The 10-Year-Old Man and publishing for impact
• 21:44 The honeymoon startup phase and the chaos of scaling past 12 employees
• 29:29 The parallels between starting a business, writing a book, and starting a family
• 32:53 Tim's personal writing routine for The Call to Authorship
• 36:58 Surviving a 128-day NICU crisis without burning out the business
• 43:56 Why the "Guide" function became Tellwell Publishing's secret sauce
• 48:34 Redefining book success: visibility and strategy over royalties
• 51:14 Why team cohesion matters more than traditional management
• 55:08 Atomic Habits and a powerful William Blake quote on taking action

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: The Three Core Motivations for Authorship (Give, Build, Journey)

People don't just write books to make a profit. The drive to publish typically stems from three areas: "Give" (serving the reader or society), "Build" (using the book as a strategic tool to grow a business or speaking career), and the "Journey" (personal healing, expression, and meaning). Understanding your primary motivation changes how you write and market the book.

Insight 2: The "Guide" Function is the Missing Link in Publishing

While self-publishing offers higher royalties and creative control, it can be an isolating and overwhelming process. Tellwell succeeded by institutionalizing the "Guide" role—a mix of advice, project management, quality control, and emotional encouragement that empowers authors without removing their creative autonomy.

Insight 3: The Danger Zone of Scaling is Between 12 and 30 Employees

Growing a team to 12 people feels like a honeymoon phase where everyone communicates like a volleyball team in a huddle. But scaling past 20 requires building a functional management team. This transition drains cash flow, demands rigorous hiring, and risks creating a negative flywheel if bad hires lead to customer issues and low morale.

Insight 4: A Book is a Strategic Tool, Not a Lottery Ticket

Competing against millions of books and streaming platforms makes getting rich off royalties incredibly difficult. The modern author wins by using their book to gain visibility, establish credibility, and generate leads for speaking engagements or consulting services, rather than waiting to become the next Oprah book club pick.

Insight 5: Consistency Trumps Free Time

Tim wrote The Call to Authorship while running a scaling business and managing a family. His secret wasn't taking a sabbatical; it was dedicating 30 minutes a day to write 500 words before his second cup of coffee. Small, daily habits build momentum that eventually results in a completed 50,000-word manuscript.

Insight 6: The Soft Stuff is the Hard Stuff in Business

Reflecting on his journey, Tim realized he underestimated the importance of team cohesion. It isn't built at an annual retreat; it's forged in daily interactions, dropping guards, and building trust. Without that personal connection, communication breaks down and business decisions suffer.

Resources & Links Mentioned

TellwellPublishing.com

The Call to Authorship (Tim's book)

Free Guide to Self-Publishing

Atomic Habits by James Clear

About Tim Lindsay

Tim Lindsay is the founder and CEO of Tellwell Publishing. He bootstrapped the company over 11 years ago after quitting his day job to get himself out of $50,000 in credit card debt. Since then, Tellwell has published over 6,000 books across multiple genres. Tim is also the author of The Call to Authorship, a guide for aspiring writers. He operates his company out of Victoria, British Columbia, balancing entrepreneurship with family life, having navigated the turbulent waters of scaling a startup alongside a 128-day NICU journey with his newborn.

Connect with Tim Lindsay

TellwellPublishing.com

CalltoAuthorship.com

Tellwell Publishing on Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/TellwellPublishing/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tellwellpublishing/

https://www.instagram.com/tellwellpublishing/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

YBA was named the top PR podcast in the US by FeedSpot! Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place.

Like the show? Leave us a rating or review: https://lovethepodcast.com/67940257010b317cdaa9d857

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Position Your Nonfiction Book for Bestseller Success with Wiebke Tasch

Anika sat down with Wiebke Tasch to explore a hard truth in the publishing world: most nonfiction books fail not because the writing is bad, but because the positioning was wrong before the first word was ever written. Wiebke shares her journey from feeling stuck in a German PR agency to accidentally writing an Amazon bestseller about heartbreak, and how that success led her to found Digital Authors. The conversation reveals why a book is not just a vanity project, how data should dictate your book's direction, and why the "AI hype train" might be the worst thing to happen to your legacy.

In This Episode

• How a personal crisis and a lack of available therapy led to Wiebke’s first bestselling book
• The difference between a vanity project and a strategic credibility builder
• Why "guessing" your book's niche is a recipe for failure—and how to use data instead
• The cultural divide: Why European authors feel they must be an authority first, while US authors use a book to become one
• Repositioning a business coach: How pivoting from "digital nomad" to "building a business" resulted in 9x more pre-sales
• The "personal story formula": Why frameworks alone are boring and how to keep readers engaged
• The role of AI in publishing: Why ChatGPT makes for terrible books but a great proofreader
• A surprising market trend: Why the flood of AI books has created a unique opportunity for genuine human authors right now
• The psychological mirror of writing: How becoming an author forces you to confront your fear of visibility
• The "5-Day Amazon Window" and the secret to getting the algorithm to market your book for you
• Crafting a 3-month launch strategy and why Sunday afternoon is the worst time to hit "publish"

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction: Why do most nonfiction books fail to find an audience?
• 01:24 From Berlin PR to digital nomad: The origin of Digital Authors
• 03:10 Writing Why Can't You Love Me? and accidentally hitting a bestseller niche
• 05:38 Learning from failure: Why the second and third books flopped
• 07:27 Market analysis: Using data to find demand before you outline the book
• 11:38 Europe vs. US publishing culture: "Who are you to write?" vs. "Write to become."
• 14:27 Case Study: Repositioning a "digital nomad" book to 9x the pre-sales
• 17:34 The writing process: Blending personal storytelling with actionable frameworks
• 23:28 The truth about AI in publishing: Use it to proofread, not to write your legacy
• 27:55 The personality development of writing: Overcoming the fear of being seen
• 32:01 The 5-Day Amazon Window: How to trigger the algorithm to push your book
• 36:31 A 3-month book launch strategy: Pre-sales, webinars, and launch parties
• 39:50 Positioning differences between established experts and brand-new authors
• 45:54 A special 25% discount offer for authors under 40
• 49:33 Favorite mantra: Trusting your own intuition above all else

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Positioning Precedes Writing

Most authors write what they want to say without checking if anyone is actually searching for it. By running a data-driven market analysis first, you can identify high-demand, low-competition niches, ensuring your book has a built-in audience before you even outline the first chapter.

Insight 2: Frameworks Are Boring; Stories Stick

If your book is just a step-by-step guide, it should have been a PDF. To keep readers engaged in an era of scrolling and short attention spans, authors must blend their conceptual frameworks with deeply personal stories and actionable exercises. Readers need to see themselves in your journey.

Insight 3: The 5-Day Amazon Algorithm Window

Publishing your book quietly and starting marketing two months later is a death sentence for sales. Amazon gives new releases a 5-day window. If you can drive massive traffic and conversions during those first five days, the algorithm will pick up the book and essentially take over the marketing for you long-term.

Insight 4: AI is for Polishing, Not Creating

While the market was briefly flooded with ChatGPT-authored books, readers are rejecting the generic, soulless writing. A book is a timeless authority tool meant to last for decades. Use AI for final grammar checks or structuring thoughts, but the core ideas and the voice must remain deeply human.

Insight 5: Writing a Book is an Act of Personal Transformation

Writing a book forces authors—especially women—to confront their imposter syndrome and fear of visibility. The process of claiming your expertise on the page ultimately translates to how you show up in your business, handle speaking engagements, and price your services.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Digital Authors (Wiebke's Agency)

About Wiebke Tasch

Wiebke Tasch is the founder of Digital Authors and a publishing strategist who helps entrepreneurs and thought leaders turn their expertise into books that build authority and attract opportunity. Originally from Germany with a background in journalism and PR, Wiebke walked the hard path of publishing—first writing an accidental bestseller, followed by books that flopped. These experiences taught her the crucial importance of data-driven market positioning. Today, she helps authors identify demand, outline their frameworks, and execute high-impact book launches that leverage the Amazon algorithm.

Connect with Wiebke

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiebke-tasch-%F0%9F%93%9A-43731b164/?locale=en
• Digital Authors Website: www.digital-authors.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

YBA was named the top PR podcast in the US by FeedSpot! Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place.

Like the show? Leave us a rating or review: https://lovethepodcast.com/67940257010b317cdaa9d857

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anika sits down with Dr. Tommy Rhee, a former US Navy aviator, sports chiropractor, and founder of RheeGen. They discuss his journey from treating professional athletes and Olympians to developing a patent-pending, topical stem-cell cream. Dr. Rhee shares why he shifted away from injectables, the challenges of self-funding a biotech startup, and his bold transition toward plant-based regenerative medicine to make advanced healing affordable and accessible for everyone.

In This Episode

• How a Navy aviator background shapes startup discipline and problem-solving
• The pivot from traditional sports chiropractic care to pioneering topical regenerative medicine
• Why elite athletes avoid downtime and how that inspired a non-invasive solution
• The science behind stem cell signals (extracellular vesicles) and transdermal delivery
• Transitioning from human-tissue stem cells to plant-based alternatives for cost and accessibility
• The challenges of self-funding a biotech company and seeking proof of concept
• Why writing a book (The Future of Regenerative Medicine) became the ultimate patient education tool

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction: Meet Dr. Tommy Rhee and the mission of RheeGen
• 01:28 How Navy aviation training translates to biotech entrepreneurship
• 04:50 From sports fanatic to treating professional athletes and Olympians
• 09:04 The problem with athlete recovery, pain management, and forced downtime
• 10:10 A pivotal moment with a pro quarterback that inspired topical stem cell therapy
• 17:16 Balancing an active chiropractic practice while self-funding a biotech startup
• 18:33 The game-changer: Sourcing regenerative signals from plants instead of human tissue
• 24:40 Why Dr. Rhee wrote his book before launching his consumer product
• 28:04 Regulatory hurdles and the ethical supply chain issues in traditional stem cell clinics
• 31:46 The stress and reward of delivering a TEDx talk on healthcare breakthroughs
• 36:15 Democratizing sports medicine: Making elite healing accessible to the everyday person
• 41:19 Favorite quote: Bruce Lee's "Be like water"

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Focus on Micro-Victories

Drawing from his Navy aviation background, Dr. Rhee emphasizes the importance of breaking massive goals down into actionable steps. R&D and business development don't happen overnight; they are the result of small, consistent wins that build momentum, test hypotheses, and create confidence.

Insight 2: The Needle is the Problem

Traditional regenerative medicine relies on injectables, which create secondary injury sites, pose infection risks, and require downtime that professional athletes can't afford. Topical delivery solves these pain points by offering non-invasive, transdermal healing that can be applied seamlessly during a competitive season.

Insight 3: It's About the Signal, Not the Cell

Live stem cells themselves aren't the magic bullet—it's the information (extracellular vesicles or EVs) they secrete. Once Dr. Rhee understood that healing relies on signaling existing tissue to regenerate, he realized those smaller molecules could be effectively delivered via a transdermal cream.

Insight 4: Plant-Based is the Future of Accessible Healing

Human-tissue stem cells are expensive, highly regulated, and limited in supply, which has led to shady practices in the industry. By identifying plants that emit the exact same regenerative signals as human tissues, RheeGen is pivoting to an Over-The-Counter (OTC) model that aims to bring the cost of elite therapy under $100.

Insight 5: Educational Content as a Business Strategy

Dr. Rhee didn't wait until his product was fully mainstream to establish thought leadership. Writing a book and doing a TEDx talk allowed him to educate the market, establish trust, and replace repetitive 40-minute patient consultations with a scalable, accessible educational resource.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Company: RheeGen (Topical Regenerative Medicine)
• Book: The Future of Regenerative Medicine by Dr. Tommy Rhee
• Video: Dr. Tommy Rhee's TEDx Talk (Science fiction inspiring healthcare)

About Dr. Tommy Rhee

Dr. Tommy Rhee is a former US Navy aviator, the former team chiropractor for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the founder and CEO of RheeGen. After years of treating elite athletes, WWE wrestlers, and Olympians, he saw the limitations and exorbitant costs of traditional injectable regenerative medicine. This frustration inspired him to develop a patent-pending topical therapy. He is also a bestselling author and TEDx speaker passionate about democratizing sports medicine and making advanced healing accessible to the everyday weekend warrior.

Connect with Dr. Tommy Rhee

• Website: www.RheeGen.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtommyrhee/
• Facebook: RheeGen

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

YBA was named the top PR podcast in the US by FeedSpot! Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place.

Like the show? Leave us a rating or review: https://lovethepodcast.com/67940257010b317cdaa9d857

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anika sat down with Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri to explore how they built a thriving, 100% virtual boutique agency by leaning into radical authenticity. The conversation revealed how their Gen X and Millennial dynamic fuels their strategy, why hiring for intangibles matters more than a resume, and how they cut through the digital noise with unscripted banter on their podcast, Ducks Unplugged.

In This Episode

• The origin story of Blue Duck Agency and how a "no-meeting Wednesday" led to a radical rebrand
• Why Deanna hires for "intangibles" and how asking about high school grades reveals a candidate's true character
• Ashley's transition from buttoned-up banking to thriving in the "gray area" of agency life
• Launching the Ducks Unplugged podcast as a business strategy and creative testing ground
• How Gen X and Millennial perspectives complement each other in leadership and marketing strategy
• The truth about hustle culture and how different generations brand their work ethic
• Why generative AI (like Deanna's ChatGPT, "Janice") is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity
• Brainstorming on the fly: Pushing boundaries with brands like Netflix and Tupperware

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction: Building businesses around radical authenticity
• 01:42 The origins of Blue Duck Agency and diverse career paths
• 05:24 Hiring for the "gray area" and the importance of intangibles
• 10:10 Launching the Ducks Unplugged podcast to differentiate the agency
• 18:48 The Gen X and Millennial dynamic: Bridging the generational gap
• 23:24 The Blue Duck rebrand: Standing out in a sea of yellow ducks
• 26:51 The "hustle culture" rebrand and generational work ethics
• 36:31 Balancing radical honesty with professional boundaries and real-time feedback
• 41:25 Generative AI in marketing: Why human creativity still wins
• 45:36 Pitching Netflix a "binge pass" and other pop-culture brand moments
• 50:48 Favorite quotes and life mantras

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Authenticity is a Differentiator

In a crowded agency landscape where everyone offers similar services, clients buy the people. Creating unscripted, imperfect content like Ducks Unplugged lets prospects experience the team's chemistry, humor, and problem-solving skills before they ever book a discovery call. Perfect polish is out; relatable authenticity is in.

Insight 2: Hire for Intangibles Over Resumes

Resumes get you in the door, but character keeps you in the room. By asking candidates to talk through their intentions and past choices—even going back to high school—you learn how they navigate challenges, communicate, and fit into a remote, tight-knit culture.

Insight 3: Generational Differences Are a Strategic Asset

The contrast between Gen X (Deanna) and Millennial (Ashley) perspectives creates richer marketing strategies. Instead of clashing, these diverse viewpoints—from how they view hustle culture to how they consume media—ensure that campaigns resonate across different age demographics.

Insight 4: AI is a Tool, Not a Strategy

While generative AI is great for efficiency and thought starters, it cannot replace human experience. Relying too heavily on AI leads to homogenized marketing where everyone sounds the same. The human element, drawn from real-world experience and cultural nuance, is what makes campaigns actually convert.

Insight 5: Embrace the "Gray Area"

Having team members who thrive in the gray—testing, trying, and innovating without a guaranteed outcome—is crucial for an agency's evolution. Not every podcast segment or marketing test will work (like a blind dating show for marketing channels), but giving your team the freedom to test is how you find the strategies that stick.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Blue Duck Agency
• Ducks Unplugged Podcast
• Direct Mail Marketing (and why it's making a comeback)

About Deanna Dolecki & Ashley Ruggeri

Deanna Dolecki is the President of Blue Duck Agency, a boutique female-founded marketing agency. As a Gen X woman stepping into a new life phase with college-age kids and a post-marriage reset, she brings a perspective shaped by over 25 years of building a career, leading teams, and building brands. Known for leading with straight talk and hiring for intangibles, she also brings a well-informed and passionate take on pop culture.

Ashley Ruggeri is a senior executive and Marketing Strategist with over 15 years of experience. A Millennial and married mom to a 7-year-old, she is right in the thick of balancing career and family. After navigating highly regulated corporate worlds, she brings clarity and calm to the chaos of agency life. She is also a proud hockey mom and unapologetically into Formula 1. Together with Deanna, she hosts Ducks Unplugged, bringing real conversation to work, life, relationships, parenting, and pop culture.

Connect with Deanna & Ashley

• Blue Duck Agency: blueduckagency.com
• Podcast: Ducks Unplugged
• LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ducksunpluggedpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

YBA was named the top PR podcast in the US by FeedSpot! Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place.

Like the show? Leave us a rating or review: https://lovethepodcast.com/67940257010b317cdaa9d857

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anika sat down with Kristian Fields, President of Klover Contracting, to explore why the construction industry remains stuck in outdated practices while a few innovators are fundamentally reshaping how large-scale infrastructure gets built. They revealed a counterintuitive truth: the problem isn't labor shortage—it's workflow predictability. Kristian's 25-year perspective on construction management and his experience scaling Klover offered practical solutions against the persistent "construction can't change" narrative, alongside a sharp look at where prefabrication and AI actually create value.

In This Episode

• The origin story of Kristian's transition from VP Field Operations to President and what it actually required
• Scaling velocity: watching Klover expand from regional contractor to national prefab leader with 100,000 sq ft manufacturing facility
• The prefabrication bet: why solving a 450,000-worker shortage required rethinking entire construction workflows
• Team culture that endures: why the "31 Fundamentals" campaign transformed hiring and retention
• Why documented processes and institutional memory matter more than raw headcount
• The ongoing myth that prefab compromises quality—what real project data actually shows
• Building the BIM-to-Field execution bridge and why that gap existed
• Leadership lessons from historic preservation to data centers: why architectural intent matters in every build
• Predictive automation versus chatbot AI: where manufacturing is actually headed

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction: 25 years in construction management
• 10:00 The prefabrication origin story and why it started 15 years ago
• 12:16 The construction industry's real problem: skilled labor shortage and workflow unpredictability
• 22:01 Environmental impact: reducing 3,000+ gallons of diesel fuel through prefab consolidation
• 29:24 Preparing for AI-assisted manufacturing: rethinking BIM coding for future machine integration
• 36:33 Advice for newcomers: pursue work you enjoy, stay close to target roles, maintain humility
• 39:00 The core mantra: "Be relentless about improvement" and "action over accuracy"

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Workflow Unpredictability Isn't a Labor Problem—It's a Strategy Problem

Construction sites with 50+ workers juggling electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and structural crews operate like traffic on a congested highway. One trade delays another. The industry assumes the solution is hiring more workers. Klover's insight: the problem is predictability. By moving complex coordination off-site into BIM modeling and prefabrication, you eliminate the traffic jam entirely. The fix isn't more people—it's smarter workflows.

Insight 2: Culture Scales Through Documented Examples, Not Top-Down Mandates

The "31 Fundamentals" campaign works because it's not a poster on the wall. Every week, Kristian shares one fundamental with real examples of employees living it. Other employees then submit their own interpretations. Recognition follows. That's how culture survives hypergrowth—through repetition, example, and celebration of behavior you want to see.

Insight 3: AI Amplifies What You Already Have—It Doesn't Create Value in a Vacuum

Kristian isn't chasing chatbots or automation theater. He's preparing for AI that augments human expertise. The vision: BIM models coded to eventually communicate with automated welders or assembly equipment. Workers don't disappear—they expand their capacity. If you don't have documented processes and repeatable workflows, no AI tool compensates. Your advantage is the expertise you've already built.

Insight 4: The Future Isn't Conversational AI—It's Predictive Intelligence

Forget chatbots answering questions. Imagine manufacturing AI that knows your project timeline, your site constraints, your crew's skill level, and your budget—and it automatically optimizes panel sequencing, delivery schedules, and installation sequences without asking a single question. That's predictive intelligence. That's where Klover is heading.

Resources & Links Mentioned

Klover Contracting

• Website: www.kloverinc.com
• Services: Prefab construction, BIM coordination, data center solutions, healthcare, multifamily housing, higher education

Key Concepts

• BIM (Building Information Modeling): 3D digital modeling that resolves design conflicts before manufacturing
• Just-in-Time Delivery: Manufacturing and delivering components precisely when needed to avoid waste
• The 31 Fundamentals: Weekly cultural communication framework covering safety, quality, teamwork, and accountability
• Prefabrication: Off-site manufacturing of building components for faster, safer, more predictable installation

About Kristian Fields

Kristian Fields is President of Klover Contracting, a prefabrication and commercial construction leader serving healthcare, multifamily housing, higher education, and data center markets across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. With 25 years in construction management, structural engineering, and senior leadership, he brings rare technical expertise combined with operational vision.

His career progression—from estimating and procurement to VP Field Operations to COO to President—reflects deliberate commitment to understanding every aspect of the business. At Klover , he's championed the prefabrication strategy that has scaled the company to national prominence, including completing one of the largest prefabricated apartment buildings in the US and expanding into data center construction.

His philosophy centers on relentless improvement, action over perfection, and treating people as the core asset. He maintains that humility and continuous learning are non-negotiable leadership practices.

Connect with Kristian Fields

Website: www.kloverinc.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristian-fields-a29b7613/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

YBA was named the top PR podcast in the US by FeedSpot! Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place.

Like the show? Leave us a rating or review: https://lovethepodcast.com/67940257010b317cdaa9d857

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anika sits down with Julie Ellis to explore the inflection point every founder dreads—the moment you've built the business, achieved the goal, and suddenly realize you have no idea who you are without it. Discover why selling an eight-figure business can feel like grief disguised as success, how delegation is the real bottleneck between scaling and plateauing, and the counterintuitive truth that derails most women entrepreneurs: it's never about having a bigger vision. It's about believing you're worthy of one—and whether you have the systems and people around you to make it real.

In This Episode

• From dance to finance to founder: How an unexpected career path led Julie to solve a problem every parent knew existed
• The basement to eight figures: Building Mabel's Labels from a 300 sq ft basement in Hamilton, Ontario to an internationally recognized brand—with zero industry experience
• Grassroots growth and celebrity endorsements: How a tiny magazine feature led to Daily Candy recognition and a life-changing mention from Elizabeth Hasselbeck on The View
• The art of delegation and scaling: Why most founders plateau and what separates those who scale to eight figures from those stuck at product-market fit
• The post-exit identity crisis: Navigating grief, imposter syndrome, and gratitude after selling to Avery Products—and why the 90-day rest period changed everything
• Big Gorgeous Goals: Why "gorgeous" matters as much as "big"—and how to chase ambitious goals while actually enjoying the journey
• The confidence gap and funding inequity: Why only 2.9% of venture capital goes to women entrepreneurs, and what Julie is doing to change that
• Pocket Coach: The asynchronous coaching model that keeps entrepreneurial momentum alive between sessions
• Building community for women founders: The Big Gorgeous Goals podcast and investing in women-led businesses
• Leading through uncertainty: Why the biggest breakthroughs happen in times of change

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction: The woman who solved every parent's labeling problem
• 02:01 An unexpected founder: Dance degree, 15 years in finance, and the moment everything changed
• 04:00 The basement days: One year of research, zero industry experience, and a team of misfits
• 06:28 From tiny magazine feature to Elizabeth Hasselbeck's endorsement on The View
• 11:06 The biggest gap between founders who plateau and those who scale: Delegation and decision-making
• 12:49 The acquisition: Selling Mabel's Labels after nearly 13 years—and why it was the right time
• 17:29 The post-sale emotions: Grief, imposter syndrome, and the gratitude sandwich
• 19:07 The 90-day rest and the identity crisis: Why "I'm not qualified" became the biggest lie
• 22:22 The coaching pivot: Why certification gave her the "add" she was looking for
• 23:18 Writing during the pandemic: How a daily writing group turned a book idea into Big Gorgeous Goals
• 25:37 Why "gorgeous" matters: Dancing toward your goals instead of grinding toward them
• 28:01 Creating white space: Why unstructured time is where the best ideas live
• 31:33 The confidence gap and funding inequity: 2.9% of VC goes to women; only 2% of women-founded businesses reach $1M
• 33:45 Pocket Coach: Asynchronous coaching for keeping momentum alive between sessions
• 35:52 The Big Gorgeous Goals podcast: Storytelling for women entrepreneurs
• 39:02 Her ideal coaching clients: Low seven-figure founders scaling to $5-10M
• 40:01 What's next: New keynotes and workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty
• 41:38 Her guiding quote: Rabindranath Tagore's "Reach high for stars lie hidden in you"

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Unmet Market Needs Beat Industry Expertise

Julie and her co-founders had no background in supply chain, marketing, or distribution—just a teacher, a financial planner, a lawyer, and a printing expert. What they had was a real problem to solve and a growth mindset. Expertise can be learned; identifying genuine customer pain points cannot.

Insight 2: Delegation and Decision-Making Are the Scaling Bottleneck

The biggest gap between founders who plateau and those who scale to eight figures isn't product or market—it's the ability to delegate and make decisions. Most founders get caught in the "I should have just done it myself" trap, which prevents them from reaching the next level.

Insight 3: Post-Exit Grief Is Real—And Worth Processing

Selling your business is an achievement, but it's also a loss. Julie experienced imposter syndrome, grief, and identity confusion after the sale. Her 90-day rest period—where she did nothing—was transformative. The emotional work matters as much as the financial outcome.

Insight 4: White Space Is Where Creativity Lives

The best ideas don't come at your desk—they come in the shower, on a walk, flying on a plane. Creating intentional unstructured time requires saying no to things and protecting space fiercely, even though it feels counterintuitive.

Insight 5: Women Entrepreneurs Face Systemic Funding and Confidence Gaps

Only 2.9% of venture capital goes to women, yet women-led businesses outperform on efficiency and team management. The solution isn't just funding—it's mentoring, networks, and other women believing in women.

Insight 6: Asynchronous Coaching Keeps Momentum Alive

Traditional coaching sessions every two weeks create gaps where momentum dies. Pocket Coach's voicemail-based model lets entrepreneurs push through decisions in real time, maintaining the energy they need to scale.

About Julie Ellis

Julie Ellis is a leadership coach, author, investor, and podcast host specializing in helping women entrepreneurs scale from seven to eight figures and beyond. She co-founded Mabel's Labels in a 300 sq ft basement in Hamilton, Ontario in 2003, growing it into an internationally recognized eight-figure brand before selling to Avery Products in 2016.

After a 90-day rest and a brief stint managing 135 people in corporate retail, Julie pursued coaching certification and discovered her true calling: helping other entrepreneurs navigate the inflection points she'd experienced. She is the author of Big Gorgeous Goals: Bold Women Achieve Great Things, which features interviews with 16 women entrepreneurs who've scaled beyond the comfort zone.

Today, Julie invests in women-led businesses, hosts the Big Gorgeous Goals podcast, offers one-on-one and asynchronous coaching through Pocket Coach, and delivers keynotes and workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty.

Resources & Links Mentioned

Julie Ellis's Ecosystem

• Big Gorgeous Goals (Book) — Hybrid published with Page Two, distributed through Macmillan
• Big Gorgeous Goals Workbook — Self-published companion guide
• Big Gorgeous Goals Podcast — Stories from seven and eight-figure female founders
• Pocket Coach — Asynchronous voicemail-based coaching for entrepreneurs

Connect with Julie Ellis

• Open to: Keynotes, workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty, coaching, and investing in women-led businesses
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-ellis/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejulieellis
• Website: www.julieellis.ca

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Anika sits down with Dr. Mickey Fitch Collins to expose the leadership development trap most companies fall into, uncover the psychological safety crisis silently burning out middle managers, and reveal the counterintuitive secret to sustainable organizations: it's never about the strategy. It's about the people executing it—and whether they feel confident enough to show up as their whole selves.

In This Episode

• Bass fishing to breakout rooms: How 30 years of professional fishing taught her more about leadership than any MBA—and why early public speaking shaped her entire career
• The leadership development gap: Why companies wait until burnout is critical to invest in leaders, and the cost of reactive vs. proactive development
• Middle manager isolation: The push-pull stress of serving two masters, losing peer relationships, and why leaders are abandoned once they "make it"
• Psychological safety as the foundation: Why you can't build better leaders without first creating spaces where people can be honest, vulnerable, and whole
• The burnout epidemic: How the WHO classifies burnout as a health concern, and why control-based work models are burning people out
• Remote work and trust: Why flexible work aligned with individual needs enhances motivation, and why monitoring software is the opposite of trust
• Learn It Lounge podcast: Building community among L&D professionals by sharing authentic problem-solving stories
• The giving phase: What's next for Mickey—coaching, speaking, and helping others grow while designing a life centered around family

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction: From pro bass fisherman to leadership facilitator
• 06:23 Why she left higher education after 20 years and a PhD
• 08:00 The pandemic pivot: From C-suite to corporate learning and development
• 16:00 The most common breakdown when companies scale: Delayed leadership investment
• 20:20 Why outsiders and consultants bring objective credibility
• 24:30 The push-pull of middle management and burnout
• 30:31 Psychological safety as the antidote to burnout
• 34:32 Work models and control vs. trust: Why flexible work beats surveillance
• 38:26 How Learn It Lounge started and what's next for Mickey

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Leadership Is a Learnable Skill, Not Innate Expertise

Being a great founder, engineer, or visionary doesn't automatically make you a great people manager. Leadership—coaching, vision-casting, conflict resolution, delegation—is a skill set that must be built. The organizations that win are the ones that invest in emerging leaders before they're in crisis mode, not after.

Insight 2: Proactive Development Beats Reactive Intervention

Companies that delay leadership investment until burnout, turnover, or conflict forces their hand end up spending 3-4x more on reactive solutions. The smartest organizations identify rising stars early and develop skill sets before people are drowning.

Insight 3: Psychological Safety Is the Foundation of Everything

You cannot build better leaders, improve communication, or increase engagement without psychological safety. When people can admit mistakes and be vulnerable without fear, they stop wearing masks and performing—and that's when real growth happens.

Insight 4: Control-Based Work Models Are the Opposite of Trust

Strict hours, in-office mandates, and monitoring software send one message: "I don't trust you." When organizations care for the whole human—flexible work, autonomy, trust—they get higher motivation, lower turnover, and higher profitability. The research is clear.

Insight 5: Storytelling Creates Meaning Beyond Data

We make decisions with data, but we make meaning with stories. In the age of AI and critical thinking, storytelling and authentic presence are just as important as problem-solving skills.

Resources & Links Mentioned

Learn It

https://www.learnit.com/

Learn It Lounge Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-learnit-lounge/id1817436348

Conversations with L&D professionals sharing authentic problem-solving stories and best practices

About Dr. Mickey Fitch Collins

Dr. Mickey Fitch Collins is a leadership facilitator and learning strategist at Learn It, specializing in leadership self-efficacy and building confident leaders. With a PhD in Leadership and Higher Education, a master's degree in Counseling and Student Personnel, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology, Mickey spent 20 years in higher education leadership before transitioning to corporate learning and development during the pandemic.

Her unique origin story includes 30 years of professional bass fishing experience—competing at the national level with 30+ sponsors, speaking at expos and on radio and TV. This early experience shaped her public speaking confidence, marketing acumen, and deep understanding of leadership in male-dominated environments.

Connect with Dr. Mickey Fitch Collins

Learn It Website: https://www.learnit.com/

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

Open to: Coaching, speaking engagements, and mentoring emerging leaders

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YBA was named the top PR podcast in the US by FeedSpot! Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place.

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In this return episode, Anika and Dick Wybrow break down the exact mindset shift required to transition between industries, why independent publishing outperforms traditional deals for genre fiction, and the counterintuitive truth about building a sustainable creative business: it's not about chasing trends—it's about finding your authentic voice and the people who love it.

In This Episode

• Career pivot from broadcast to books: How 20 years in comedy and TV prepared him for writing—and why it required complete humility
• The case for indie publishing: Why control, speed, and 70% royalties beat traditional publishing's marketing machine
• Finding your niche in a crowded market: Why humor is his unfair advantage against AI and how to defend your work in 2026
• Building a dedicated readership from zero: The power of responding to every email and comment—and why word-of-mouth beats paid ads
• The narcolepsy reframe: How he transformed a "disability" into a creativity superpower
• Audience growth without the hype: Why you don't announce your book—you quietly build your team of readers
• The Substack experiment: Serializing a prequel, building SEO, and getting two revenue bites from one story
• Balancing workaholic tendencies with life: Calendar blocking, time limits on creative tasks, and why delegation matters
• Five actionable tips for aspiring authors: The exact framework for finishing your first book (no perfectionism allowed)
• The faith factor: How becoming a Christian shifted his storytelling toward hope and championing marginalized characters

Timestamps

• 07:11 Learning humor writing: Mentors, analysis, and understanding structure
• 11:35 Why independent publishing was the only option for his stories
• 19:22 Why humor is the ultimate AI defense
• 23:11 Finding your first dedicated readers: Authenticity and personal response
• 31:06 Substack as serialization, SEO, and future revenue
• 34:17 Calendar blocking and reframing narcolepsy as a creativity superpower
• 40:09 Five tips for aspiring authors: The exact framework for finishing your book
• 46:15 How faith shifted his storytelling toward hope and purpose

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Skill Transfer Requires Humility, Not Confidence

Dick had 20 years of broadcast success. Writing books is a different craft entirely. Rather than assuming he knew how to write, he became a student—finding mentors, analyzing structure in published works, and accepting he had "permission to be stupid" about the new medium. Confidence kills learning.

Insight 2: Independent Publishing Wins for Niche Voices

Traditional publishers reject stories that are "strange" or don't fit market categories. Independent publishing gives you three critical advantages: (1) Complete creative control, (2) 3-4x faster release schedules, (3) 70% royalties instead of $1 per $14.99 book. For passionate authors with unique voices, this isn't a trade-off—it's freedom.

Insight 3: Humor Is Your Unfair Advantage Against AI

AI can generate content at scale. AI cannot be funny. Humor is what Dick calls "cultural voodoo"—nobody can define it precisely enough to code it. By writing humor-forward genre fiction, he's built immunity to AI competition that pure genre writers don't have. Authenticity and voice beat volume every time.

Insight 4: Your Readers Are Built One Person at a Time

Dick didn't build a following through viral moments. He built it by responding personally to every email and comment. Readers who feel seen become advocates. One person from 2019 (Neil) has been a loyal reader for seven years. That's lifetime value that no algorithm can buy.

Insight 5: Five Steps to Actually Finish Your Book

1. Write the book you want to read (don't chase trends)
2. Don't announce it (avoid the dopamine hit that kills momentum)
3. Find 2-3 trusted readers (not family)
4. Set a daily writing goal (even one sentence counts)
5. Finish before you fix (first drafts are garbage—that's the point)

The real permission slip: Give yourself permission to write badly. Every author writes garbage first drafts. Revision is where the work happens.

Insight 6: Your Limitations Are Often Your Unfair Advantages

Dick has narcolepsy—he's half-asleep most of the time. Rather than fighting it, he reframed it as his creativity engine. Being in a dream-state means his mind wanders into places other people don't naturally go. That's where his best story ideas come from. The lesson: reframe, don't resist.

Resources & Links Mentioned

DDUB Publishing (Dick's independent publishing company)

Hell Inc. and Wolfwear series (bestselling collections)

The The Facilite Con (sci-fi heist comedy, August 2026 release)

Substack (serialization platform for prequel content)

Facebook Ads Library (research tool for ad copy analysis)

Joe Abercrombie's "The Devils" (humor writing structure reference)

About Dick Wybrow

Dick Wybrow spent 20 years as a standup comedian, radio host, and TV producer (including work on CNN's early comedy newscast with Pete Dominic). He pivoted to full-time authorship and founded DDUB Publishing, building a multi-book catalog of supernatural thrillers blended with humor. He's financially supported his wife's retirement through author earnings, relocated to New Zealand, and is now exploring teaching online from Thailand while maintaining a prolific writing schedule. He's a self-taught expert in ad copywriting, graphic design, and marketing—and is committed to mentoring aspiring authors.

Connect with Dick

Website: https://www.dickwybrow.com/

Social:

facebook.com/dickwybrow

tiktok.com/@dickwybrow_

Open to mentorship: Authors working on projects can reach out for guidance

Substack newsletter: dickwybrow.substack.com

Weekly humorous newsletter + prequel serialization

Related Episode

Rejection to Recognition: The Tenacity Behind Dick Wybrow’s Best-Selling Success

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Anika teamed up with Benjamin Behrooz to decode why massive exposure so often fails to drive revenue. The conversation revealed a counterintuitive truth: the problem isn't content creation—it's integration. Benjamin's 17-year perspective on branding and his experience scaling Branding Los Angeles across five states offered practical pushback against the persistent "AI will replace everything" narrative, alongside a sharp look at where AI actually creates value.

In This Episode

• The origin story of Branding Los Angeles: from a 400 sq ft apartment to a national powerhouse
• Scaling velocity: expanding from California to Texas, New York, Hawaii, and Florida with intentional footprint strategy
• The staffing challenge: why grading your team A+, A, B, C determines whether you scale or collapse
• Why 75% of potential clients get turned down—and why that's the competitive advantage
• The integrated approach: how branding, PR, SEO, and storytelling work together (not in silos)
• Market psychology and decision timelines: understanding when your customer is actually ready to buy
• Why human-written content still outperforms AI-generated content in Google's eyes
• Building authority through PR and media mentions, not just organic reach

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction: Standing out in a saturated market
• 00:59 The 400 sq ft beginning: how showing up changes everything
• 06:23 The integrated branding and market strategy approach
• 09:02 Understanding market psychology and customer decision timelines
• 10:12 Where conversations are actually happening: Reddit, Facebook groups, and beyond
• 18:41 The AI content truth: Google is separating human-written from machine-written
• 31:18 PR is more important than SEO (the hook)
• 34:00 Staffing as the #1 scaling bottleneck: the A+/A/B/C grading system
• 36:45 Selective client intake: saying no to 75% of opportunities
• 44:30 Blue collar workers as the future champions of the economy
• 48:57 The personal motto that drives everything

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Visibility Without Revenue Is a Strategy Failure, Not a Content Failure

Fortune 500 companies frequently have massive social followings and brand awareness. Yet their phones aren't ringing. The problem isn't more content—it's integrating branding, PR, SEO, and storytelling into a cohesive system. Generic approaches die. Strategic integration wins.

Insight 2: Human-Written Content Still Outperforms AI Content in Search

Google is actively separating human-written from machine-written content. Websites with 200 pages of AI-generated content rank, then instantly vanish. The companies winning in 2026 kept their content writers and use AI checkers to verify authenticity.

Insight 3: Your Customers Aren't Where You Think They Are

The conversations your customers are having—the questions at 2 AM, the pain points they're sharing—aren't on your LinkedIn. They're on Reddit, in Facebook groups, where real people congregate. Win by showing up where the conversation already exists.

Insight 4: Staffing Quality Determines Scale or Collapse

Grade your team A+, A, B, C. C's go. B's get trained. A's get pushed to A+. One question: "If this position was open, would you rehire this person?" If no, you're already failing. Quality beats speed every time.

Insight 5: Saying No to 75% of Business Is the Competitive Advantage

Benjamin turns down three out of every four potential clients. Not because he can't do the work—because he knows which clients will succeed. Sustainable growth comes from working with clients you can actually scale, not chasing every opportunity.

Insight 6: PR Builds Authority That AI Can't Fake

When a trusted third party validates who you are, that signal is worth more than a thousand blog posts. AI uses 15-20 platforms to cross-reference claims. If you're mentioned by credible sources, you win the trust game.

Insight 7: Blue Collar Work Is the Future Safe Haven

While corporate roles face disruption and downsizing, skilled trades are in desperate demand. Companies are cutting office staff by 40% while desperately hiring tradespeople. Positioning yourself in skilled trades offers more security than most white-collar paths.

Resources & Links Mentioned

Branding Los Angeles (flagship company)

National hubs: California, Texas, New York, Hawaii, Florida

Clients include: Cousins Maine Lobster, Chipotle, and Fortune 500 brands

About Benjamin Behrooz

After 17 years in branding and digital strategy, Benjamin Behrooz built Branding Los Angeles from a 400 sq ft apartment into a national powerhouse serving Fortune 500 companies. He's scaled teams across five states and made the deliberate choice to keep human expertise at the core of his strategy while competitors chased AI automation. He leads a 95-person team that turns visibility into revenue.

Connect with Benjamin

LinkedIn

Branding Los Angeles

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YBA was named the top PR podcast in the US by FeedSpot! Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place.

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Part Two: Stephan Bajaio on Digital Visibility

Anika continues her conversation with Stephan Bajaio, diving deeper into what it really means to lead people in a way that outlasts you. Moving beyond business strategy, this episode explores the human side of leadership—passion, failure, servant leadership, mindfulness, and the balance between "vibe" and "logic" that defines sustainable team culture.

In this conversation, Stephan shares his framework for leadership rooted in four core beliefs, his daily Tefillin practice and gratitude ritual, why Performance Improvement Plans are misused as firing mechanisms, and how parenting a daughter influences his approach to building confident, empowered teams.

In This Episode

• The four pillars of leadership: passion, failure, servant leadership, and empowerment
• Why passion can't be taught—only discovered
• Creating environments where vulnerability and failure are welcomed, not punished
• Flipping the org chart: servant leadership as a behavior, not a position
• How to empower people in small doses and build their confidence through affirmation
• The myth of PIPs as firing tools—and how they actually transform performance
• Why not every high performer should become a manager
• The "human being" vs. "human doing" trap and how to escape it
• Daily mindfulness practices: Tefillin, gratitude, and intentionality
• Vibe + Logic: the duality that defines sustainable business
• Why your company culture is defined by how people leave, not how they arrive

Key Timestamps

• 02:28 – The four pillars of leadership begin
• 04:01 – Failure is not only welcome, it's expected
• 08:58 – Leadership is a behavior, not a position
• 13:09 – Empower your people first—in small doses with follow-up affirmation
• 18:51 – PIPs aren't meant to fire someone—that's corporate nonsense
• 31:00 – The "human being" vs. "human doing" trap and daily mindfulness practice
• 43:06 – Building confident, independent women and team members
• 44:40 – Vibe + Logic: the duality that defines sustainable business
• 50:00 – Stephan to participate in upcoming AI and workforce skills podcasts

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Passion Is Discovered, Not Taught

The most valuable asset in leadership can't be developed through training programs. It has to exist within people. Stephan's approach to hiring is built on understanding what motivates people—what gets them up in the morning—because that's the fuel that carries them through failure and challenges.

Insight 2: Leadership Is a Behavior, Not a Position

The title doesn't make you a leader. Your actions do. Servant leadership means flipping the traditional org chart so your job becomes supporting those around you, not commanding from above. This shift in mindset changes everything about how teams respond to you.

Insight 3: Empower in Small Doses, Then Affirm

Don't just hand someone a big responsibility and walk away. Give them leadership opportunities in manageable pieces, then follow up with genuine affirmation. The power of a thank you is shocking—people often overlook how much courage it took someone to step outside their comfort zone.

Insight 4: PIPs Should Improve, Not Fire

Performance Improvement Plans are routinely misused as mechanisms to force people out. When done right, PIPs actually transform performance. Stephan has seen people on PIPs become star players because they understood the company wasn't trying to get rid of them—it was trying to help them succeed.

Insight 5: Your Culture Is Defined by How People Leave

The way employees exit your company says more about your culture than how you bring them in. If you're not celebrating the alumni who've gone on to bigger things, you're missing the point. People aren't assets to trap—they're people to empower.

Insight 6: Being Requires Daily Practice

It's too easy to go through life doing without ever being present. Stephan's two-year Tefillin practice—binding, prayer, gratitude—forces him to stop and recognize what he's grateful for. These rituals look different for everyone, but what matters is the intentionality.

Insight 7: Vibe + Logic Is the Balance That Works

Leadership requires both creativity ("vibe") and technical rigor ("logic"). You need both—a Picasso without a frame is worthless, and a frame without art is empty. The key is recognizing where you're weak and building complementary teams that offset your blindspots.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• VibeLogic.com – Stephan's digital strategy firm
• Conductor – The enterprise SEO platform he co-founded
• Practical Pedagogy: The Art of Teaching for the Future of Work – New Podcast

About Stephan Bajaio

Stephan Bajaio is a leadership strategist and founder of VibeLogic, a digital strategy firm focused on making businesses visible to the customers who need them most. With 25 years in digital marketing, he co-founded Conductor (scaled to 65 people serving Fortune 500 brands), navigated a WeWork acquisition that took the company to $500M+ valuation, and stepped away when the timing was right. He's also a father to a five-year-old and a practitioner of daily mindfulness through Jewish rituals and gratitude practice.

Connect with Stephan

LinkedIn

VibeLogic.com

YouTube: VibeLogic

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YBA was named the top PR podcast in the US by FeedSpot! Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place.

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