THE RESET

Your Reset — The Inner Work That Makes You Profitable

When mastering yourself turns out to be the most powerful business decision you’ll ever make

She spoke at Harvard, shared a stage with Richard Branson, and built a world-class personal growth academy. But none of it happened by chasing success. It happened when she stopped.

Mahima, one of the world’s most sort afar Self Mastery Mentors. Mahima spent years trying to be everything to everyone. Like most of us, she was running on empty, performing her way through life, and wondering why it still felt so hard. The harder she worked on the outside, the more the inside crumbled.

The reset didn’t come from a strategy session or a new business plan. It came from going inward.

This is The Reset — where your inner world becomes the foundation for everything you build.

3 Lessons on Unlocking Your Inner Wealth

Lesson #1: Your Authentic Self Is Your Most Profitable Asset

Most of us are exhausted because we’re performing a version of ourselves that isn’t real. Mahima’s breakthrough insight is this: operating from our authentic self isn’t just more fulfilling, it’s actually less tiring and more impactful. When we stop pretending, we stop leaking energy.

Apply this: Ask yourself honestly which part of your work, relationships, or daily life are you performing? Where are you showing up as someone you think you should be, rather than who you actually are? Pick one place this week to drop the mask.

Lesson #2: Silence the Voice That Keeps You Small

The negative inner critic doesn’t just make you feel bad, it keeps you stuck. Mahima teaches that the voice telling you, “you’re not enough” or “who do you think you are?” is not truth. It’s a programme. And like any programme, it can be rewritten.

The first step isn’t to fight the voice. It’s to recognise it isn’t you.

Apply this: Next time your inner critic speaks up, instead of arguing with it or believing it, simply notice it. Say to yourself: “That’s the old programme talking.” Then ask: “What would I do if I believed I was enough?” Act from that answer.

Lesson #3: Work on Yourself as Hard as You Work on Your Business

Mahima’s most powerful challenge is this: most people invest heavily in their businesses, their skills, their strategy, but almost nothing in themselves. Yet your results will never outgrow your mindset.

Mahima’s built over 10,000 hours of meditation practice not as a luxury, but as a strategy. The inner work isn’t soft, it’s the foundation everything else is built on.

Apply this: Block out 15 minutes this week not to plan, not to scroll, not to hustle. Just to sit, breathe, and check in with yourself. What are you feeling? What are you carrying? That 15 minutes might be the most profitable thing you do all week.

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1 Quote

“Your inner peace isn’t separate from your success. It’s the source of it.” — Mahima

Mahima’s journey proves that happiness and success don’t come from the outside in. They come from the inside out. The moment she stopped chasing external validation and started mastering her inner world, everything changed, her business, her impact, her peace.

1 Question

What would your life and work look like if you invested in yourself as seriously as you invest in everything else?

Take a breath before you answer. Not the version that sounds good the honest one.

Now ask yourself: What’s one small step you could take this week to start treating your inner world like the asset it is?

Your Reset starts here: Pick one of the three lessons above and try it this week. Silence the inner critic, drop the mask, or give yourself 15 minutes of stillness. You can’t pour from an empty cup and you can’t build something real from a version of yourself that isn’t.

The most profitable thing you’ll ever do is become who you actually are.

Listen to the full conversation with Mahima

If this resonated, the full conversation goes deep on mindset shifts, inner peace, and what it really takes to build a life that feels as good as it looks. Listen here →

P.S. Know someone going through a setback? Forward this newsletter to them.

The Reset is for anyone figuring out what comes next.

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THE RESET

Your Reset - When “Healthy” Isn’t Healthy Enough

When a marathon-running doctor discovered his heart was failing, it changed everything he thought he knew about health

Dr. Ford Brewer was the picture of health. He ran marathons, ate clean, followed every conventional health wisdom rule about fitness and wellbeing. As head of Preventive Medicine at Johns Hopkins, he literally taught others how to live healthy lives.

Then one simple test shattered everything. Despite decades of “doing everything right,” one test revealed significant heart disease lurking beneath his fit exterior. The metabolic dysfunction was silent, invisible, and deadly. His marathon-running body had masked what was happening on the inside.

Most people would panic. Dr. Brewer did something different. He rebuilt his entire understanding of health from the ground up and now dedicates his life to preventing others from making the same dangerous assumption that fitness equals health.

This is The Reset where Dr. Brewer’s health crisis became his mission to redefine what “healthy” really means.

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3 Lessons on Real Health

Lesson #1: Fitness Doesn’t Equal Health

Dr. Brewer learned the hard way that you can run marathons and still be unwell on the inside. Conventional markers like exercise, clean eating, and a healthy weight aren’t enough. They’re surface indicators that can hide serious metabolic dysfunction underneath.

The brutal truth? Most of us are walking around thinking we’re fine because we exercise regularly or eat salads. Meanwhile, silent problems like insulin resistance, inflammation, and arterial plaque can be building up completely undetected.

Apply this: Stop assuming you’re healthy just because you work out or eat well. Ask yourself: When was the last time I actually tested what’s happening inside my body? Book that appointment. Get real data. Don’t wait until symptoms appear, because by then, you could be months behind the problem.

Lesson #2: Get The Test That Matters

Dr. Brewer’s life changed because of one test: a coronary calcium scan. It revealed what blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, and physical fitness couldn’t show, actual disease building in his arteries.

Most people avoid these tests. They’re expensive, not always covered by insurance, and frankly, we’re scared of what they might reveal. But here’s Dr. Brewer’s message: the fear of knowing is nothing compared to the reality of not knowing until it’s too late.

Apply this: Research what tests are available beyond your standard physical. Talk to your doctor about preventative tests you can consider taking to make sure you are in the best of health.

Lesson #3: “It Won’t Happen to Me”

Dr. Brewer sees it constantly: people who think heart disease only happens to overweight, sedentary people. People who believe their yoga practice or morning run is a protective shield. People who assume symptoms will warn them in time.

None of this is necessarily true. Dr Brewer, metabolic disease can creep up silently. And the “it won’t happen to me” mindset is putting us at risk, including people who look perfectly healthy on the outside.

Apply this: Challenge your assumptions. If you’ve been telling yourself you’re too young, too fit, or too careful to worry about heart disease, pause. That belief could cost you everything. Take one small action this week: research your family history, book a consultation.

1 Quote

“I thought I was healthy—then this test changed everything.”
— Dr. Ford Brewer

Dr. Brewer’s story proves that health isn’t about appearances or assumptions. It’s about data, prevention, and facing the uncomfortable truth that our bodies on occasions can hide problems beneath a fit exterior. Dr. Brewer’s crisis didn’t just change his life, it created a mission to help others avoid the same wake-up call he faced.

1 Question

Dr. Brewer spent decades teaching others about health before discovering he’d missed the signs in himself. Who in your life might be making the same mistake right now?

Take a moment. Think about the people you care about, the ones who “seem fine” because they’re active or eat well. The ones who’d never suspect they’re at risk.

Now ask yourself: What if forwarding this newsletter to them could spark the conversation that saves their life?

Listen to the full episode with Dr. Ford Brewer to hear how he rebuilt his health, the specific tests that saved his life, and the actionable steps you can take today to protect yourself and the people you love. Full conversation with Dr. Brewer here.

P.S. Know someone who thinks they’re healthy just because they work out? Forward this to them.

The Reset is for anyone who’s ready to face uncomfortable truths.

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THE RESET

From Endless Rejection to a $65M Exit: Why Your Vision Must Be Bigger Than Your Obstacles

Ali Halabi had a vision, to transform public transportation in Turkey with smart mobility. The problem? Nobody believed in him.

Dozens and dozens of investors turned him down. Some meetings lasted fifteen minutes before the door closed. Friends questioned his sanity. The safest path family and friends said to Ali, was to go back to his comfortable corporate job at Procter & Gamble, collect a steady paycheck and forget his startup nonsense.

But Ali didn’t quit. He launched Volt Lines in 2018 with whatever resources he could scrape together. Four years later and any number of setbacks, he sold Volt Lines to Swvl for $65 million.

The difference between Ali and the hundreds of entrepreneurs who gave up after their 10th, 20th, or 50th rejection? His vision was more powerful than his obstacles.

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3 Lessons on Building Through Rejection

Lesson #1: Rejection Is Information, Not Rejection

When investors said no, Ali didn’t hear “your idea is terrible.” He heard feedback. Each rejection taught him something, how to refine his pitch, which concerns mattered most, what investors really wanted to see.

The countless no’s although disappointing at the time weren’t failures. They were free consulting sessions that made each subsequent pitch better than the last. By the time he secured funding, he’d basically obtained a master’s degree in investor psychology and business model refinement, paid for with nothing but ego and bruises.

Apply this: Think about a recent rejection you faced. Instead of dwelling on the “no,” write down three things you learned from it. What feedback did you get? What can you adjust? What do you know now that you didn’t know before?

Lesson #2: Your Vision Must Dwarf Your Obstacles

Ali’s secret wasn’t optimism or stubbornness. It was having a vision so compelling that the obstacles became footnotes.

He wasn’t just building a van app. He was reimagining how millions of people would move through their cities. When another rejection hit, he didn’t see it as a reason to quit, he saw it as one more step toward s

Here’s what most people get wrong: they try to eliminate obstacles before they start. Ali accepted that obstacles would always exist. The question wasn’t “how do I avoid rejection?” It was “is this vision worth pushing through rejection for?”

Apply this: Write down your current goal, then ask yourself: Is this vision powerful enough to sustain me through 50 rejections? 100? If not, you might need a bigger vision or a different goal entirely.

Lesson #3: Execution Beats Perfection Every Time

Ali didn’t wait for the perfect pitch deck, the ideal market conditions, or unanimous investor approval. He started with what he had and improved as he went.

This is what separates dreamers from builders: dreamers wait for everything to align. Builders execute with imperfect conditions, then course-correct based on reality.

The entrepreneurs who succeed aren’t the ones with flawless plans. They’re the ones who take messy action, learn fast, and adapt faster. Ali proved you don’t need everything figured out. You just need to start, then refuse to stop.

Apply this: Identify one thing you’ve been waiting to “perfect” before launching. Set a deadline to ship it this week, messy, imperfect, and real. Done is better than perfect.

1 Quote

“Your vision must be more powerful than your obstacles.”
— Ali Halabi

Ali’s journey proves that success isn’t about avoiding rejection. It’s about building something so meaningful that rejection becomes irrelevant. The dozens of investors who said no although painful at the time didn’t stop him. They refined him. And when Swvl wrote that $65 million check, every single “no” became part of the success story.

1 Question

What would you attempt if you knew rejection was just feedback, not failure?

Think about the dream you’ve been holding back on because you’re afraid people will say no. What if those no’s were actually the pathway to your yes?

Your Reset starts with one action: This week, put yourself in a position to be rejected. Pitch that idea. Send that email. Make that ask. Not because you’re guaranteed to succeed, but because each no brings you closer to the yes that changes everything.

Want the full story? Listen to Ali’s complete journey on the My Perfect Failure podcast discover how he navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, that built Volt Lines from scratch, and turned repeated rejections into a $65M success story.

Listen to the full episode here →

P.S. Know someone stuck after a rejection? Forward this newsletter to them. They might need the reminder that every “no” is just one step closer to their breakthrough.

The Reset is for anyone figuring out what comes next.

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THE RESET

When Survival Becomes Your Superpower

How a 15-year-old refugee turned terror into unbreakable resilience

When an angry mob surrounded his home at the age of 15, Oumar Dieng made a choice that would change everything for him.

Oumar was just a teenager when violence erupted outside his family’s home and quickly moved to his front door. The kind of situation you see only on the TV, but never think will ever impact you was unfolding right before Oumar’s eyes. But there he was, a 15-year-old boy staring through the window at a mob ready to destroy everything he knew.

Most of us panic when we miss a deadline or lose our job. Oumar had seconds to decide if he’d freeze or fight. He chose to fight, Oumar’s instinct in the moment was to protect his family. But his nightmare wasn’t over, days later, he was ripped away from his family, finding himself alone in a refugee camp, with no idea if he’d ever see his family again,

Due to his resilience and quick-thinking Oumar ultimately was able to escape the refugee camp and reunite with his family.

Today, Oumar teaches resilience strategies to thousands of people. Not because he read about resilience in a book, but because he’s lived through it. Oumar’s story proves we all have the ability and the capability to navigate and find our way out of the direst of situations.

3 Lessons on Building Unbreakable Resilience

Lesson #1: Micro-Resilience Is Your Real Training

Here’s what most people get wrong about resilience: they think it’s about surviving the big stuff, the trauma, the crisis, the disaster. Oumar learned something different in the refugee camp.

Resilience isn’t built in the earthquake. It’s built in the aftershocks. It’s the small daily challenges, the annoying setbacks, the frustrating moments that trains our brain for when life gets tough.

Stuck in traffic? That’s resilience training. Difficult conversation with your boss? Resilience training. Computer crashes before you save your work? Resilience training. Every single micro-moment of discomfort is preparing you for the macro-moments of crisis.

Oumar calls these “micro-resilience events.” When he was separated from his family at 15, he didn’t suddenly discover inner strength. He called upon the strength he had been building in a thousand tiny moments prior to this situation.

Apply this: Stop avoiding the small uncomfortable things this week. That awkward conversation? That difficult task you’re putting off? Start it. Every time we lean into discomfort instead of walking away from it, were building the resilience muscle we need when life gets tough.

Lesson #2: Create Anchor Memories

When Oumar was alone in the refugee camp, terrified and uncertain, he discovered a technique that changed everything. He started deliberately recalling specific positive memories, not just any memories, but vivid, detailed memories that made him feel strong.

He calls them “anchor memories.” Moments where you felt capable, loved, or powerful. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between experiencing something and vividly remembering it. So, when fear takes over, you can drop an anchor memory and shift your entire emotional state in seconds.

In the camp, Oumar would close his eyes and return to moments with his family, times he felt safe, times he felt brave. Those memories became his lifeline. They didn’t erase the fear, but they reminded him he’d felt strong before and could feel it again.

Apply this: Now, think of a moment when you felt genuinely powerful or capable. Close your eyes and replay it in detail. What did you see? Hear? Feel? Save that memory. Next time anxiety hits or doubt creeps in, drop that anchor. Let your brain remember you’ve been strong before.

Lesson #3: Your Past Doesn’t Define Your Future

This is the lesson that matters most. Oumar survived ethnic cleansing and refugee camps. He could’ve let that define him forever, stayed stuck in trauma, let the past write his future.

Instead, Oumar made a different choice. He decided that what happened to him would inform his strength, not determine his story. After moving to America with nothing, he built a successful corporate career. Then he built a successful coaching practice, then a podcast. None of it erased what he went through, but all of it proved he wasn’t limited by it.

Your Reset isn’t about forgetting what happened. It’s about refusing to let what happened decide what happens next. Oumar’s past made him resilient. It didn’t make him a victim.

Apply this: What story are you telling yourself about your past? Is there a failure, a trauma, a setback you’re using as evidence of who you are? This week, rewrite that story. Not by pretending it didn’t happen, but by deciding it won’t decide what comes next. You survived it. Now you have moved on from it.

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1 Quote

"I discovered an inner resilience I never knew existed."
— Oumar Dieng

1 Question

What small uncomfortable things are you avoiding right now that could be building your resilience?

Think about it, not the massive crisis, the tiny annoyance, the awkward conversation, the task you keep putting off.

Now do this: Face it this week. Not because it’ll change your life, but because it’s training for when something actually really does challenge you in the future.

Oumar survived what most of us can’t imagine, but the lesson isn’t about surviving trauma. It’s about realising that every challenge, big or small, is preparing us for what’s next.

Resilience isn’t about what you’re born with. It’s about what we build.

Listen to the full episode with Oumar Dieng to hear how he turned the worst night of his life into unbreakable strength.

P.S. Know someone going through a setback? Be sure to forward this newsletter to them.

The Reset is for anyone figuring out what comes next.

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THE RESET

What Three Brothers Built After Losing Everything

Matthew Addai had everything sorted. MSc in Finance and then a Senior trader at a hedge fund. After early setbacks, Matthew figured things out and had all the boxes ticked.

Then unexpectedly Matthew lost his job. Most people would’ve scrambled back into finance. Matthew and his two brothers came together and decided they wanted to create a purpose driven business, something they all identified with and truly believed in.

Their inspired group huddles around the kitchen table led them to launch 2 unique platforms, Cashblack and Afrofiliate. Both platforms created to support black owned business giving the businesses connection with their communities whilst also helping them connect with with global brands such as Amazon, eBay, and Uber Eats.

Matthews Reset where losing his job became an economic revolution.

3 LESSONS

Lesson #1: Your Skills Don’t Belong to One Industry

Matthew had spent years mastering finance and trading. When the hedge fund job disappeared, he didn’t abandon that expertise. He redirected it.

He understood cashback models, affiliate networks, and consumer behavior. Instead of trying to rebuild what he lost, he asked: “Where else does this knowledge matter?” The answer: building financial incentives that drive people to support Black-owned businesses.

Apply this: List three core skills from your current or previous roles. Now ask: What completely different problem could these skills solve? Your setback might just be forcing you toward a better application of what you already know.

Lesson #2: Timing Isn’t About Luck, It’s About Readiness

2020 changed everything. The anti-racism movement exposed gaps Matthew had been thinking about for years. But here’s what matters: Matthew and his brothers didn’t wait until they had it all figured out.

Matthew along with his brothers launched while still figuring out the tech, the partnerships, the trust-building. The moment arrived, and they were ready enough to move.

Perfect timing doesn’t exist. But being positioned to act when the moment comes? That’s everything.

Apply this: What’s one thing you’ve been waiting to start until “the timing is right”? What would being “ready enough” look like? Sometimes the best time is now, messy and incomplete.

Lesson #3: Build Infrastructure, Not Just Ideas

Matthew and his brothers didn’t just create a nice concept about supporting Black owned businesses. They built two platforms: Cashblack for consumers and Afrofiliate for business partnerships.

They secured deals with retail giants. They created actual cashback rewards, they built trust through delivery, not promises.

The difference between a dream and a movement is infrastructure. Matthew and his brothers turned frustration into systems that work without them having to convince people every single day.

Apply this: Look at your current goal. Are you building something that runs, or something that requires constant convincing? What’s one system you could create this week that moves your idea toward infrastructure?

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1 QUOTE:

“Economic power flows through community. Cashblack proves that redirecting spending toward Black-owned businesses creates a multiplier effect, keeping wealth circulating within communities that need it most.”
— Matthew Addai

Matthew and his brothers understood something crucial: individual change is nice, but systemic impact requires infrastructure. The Addai brothers platforms don’t ask people to be heroes. They make supporting Black businesses easy, rewarding, and sustainable.

1 QUESTION/CHALLENGE:

Matthew lost his job and could have spent years trying to get back what he lost.

The Question: What are you trying to rebuild that you should actually be leaving behind?

Action: Write down one thing you’ve been trying to recreate from your past. Now write down what you could build instead if you let that old thing go. Bring both lists to someone you trust and talk it through with them.

Want the full story of how Matthew and his brothers turned developer nightmares, trust issues, and audience struggles into thousands of customers and major corporate partnerships? Listen to the complete episode here: Listen here for the Cashblack Revolution

P.S. Know someone going through a setback? be sure to forward this newsletter to them.

The Reset is for anyone figuring out what comes next.

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THE RESET

Your Reset - Stop Chasing Money, Start Solving Problems

When a $25 million empire crumbled, this entrepreneur discovered the one shift that rebuilt everything back even bigger

Damion Lupo had it all at 30. A $25 million real estate portfolio. Multiple businesses. The kind of success most entrepreneurs dream about their entire lives.

Then 2008 hit, the housing market collapse. This was not just a setback for Damion; it was a total collapse. Damion didn’t just lose money, he lost everything. His empire evaporated completely, his identity shattered as a result. He ended up homeless, sleeping in his car, wondering how he’d gone from a millionaire to rock bottom so quickly.

Most people would’ve stayed in the doldrums. Miraculously Damion got back up and built something even bigger. Today he’s launched 70 plus companies. Generated $100 million in revenue. Achieved multiple 7, 8, and 9 figure exits. But here’s what matters more than the numbers: he did it completely differently the second time around.

The shift? He stopped chasing money and started chasing problems worth solving.

This is The Reset where losing everything taught Damion what builds lasting wealth.

3 Lessons on Building Real Wealth

Lesson #1: Your Ego Will Bankrupt You

Damion’s first empire didn’t collapse because of bad timing or market forces. It collapsed because his ego convinced him he was smarter than everyone else. He ignored warning signs, dismissed advice, and believed his own hype.

Pride made him think he could outrun a recession. Overconfidence made him overlook risks that were staring him in the face. When everything fell apart, he had to face the brutal truth: his ego had been writing checks his business couldn’t cash.

The rebuild started when he got honest about his blind spots and learned to listen to signals, he previously ignored.

Apply this: What’s one area where your ego might be blocking your growth right now? Where are you dismissing advice or ignoring warning signs because you think you know better? Write it down. Get honest about it.

Lesson #2: Chase Problems, Not Paychecks

After losing everything, Damion realised something most entrepreneurs miss: the money isn’t the goal. Solving real problems is.

When you focus on revenue targets and profit margins, you build fragile businesses that crumble under pressure. When you focus on solving problems people actually care about, you build something that lasts.

Damion’s second act wasn’t about recreating his first fortune. It was about finding problems worth solving, disrupting retirement planning, revolutionizing construction. The money followed because he was creating genuine value, not just chasing the next deal.

Apply this: Look at your current business or project. Are you solving a real problem or just trying to make money? If someone asked you, “Why does this matter?” could you answer without mentioning revenue? Shift your focus from what you’ll earn to what problem you’ll solve.

Lesson #3: Know When to Let Go

Here’s what nobody tells you about resilience: sometimes the strongest thing you can do is walk away.

Damion learned to read the signals. If a door won’t open, stop kicking it down. If an opportunity requires forcing your way through resistance, it’s probably not your opportunity. The best wins come when you’re working with the market’s momentum, not against it.

This isn’t about giving up easily or without a fight. It’s about strategically letting go. Protecting your energy and time for the fights that actually matter and you can win.

Apply this: Think about something you’ve been forcing lately, a project, a partnership, a strategy. Ask yourself honestly: Am I working with momentum or fighting against it? If it’s the latter, what would happen if you redirected that energy toward something with less resistance that energises you?

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1 Quote

“Don’t chase money. Chase the problem. The money will follow when you solve something that actually matters.”
— Damion Lupo

Damion’s journey from homeless to $100 million proves this isn’t motivational fluff. It’s the fundamental difference between businesses that survive and businesses that thrive. When you solve real problems, you create value that outlasts market cycles, economic downturns, and personal setbacks.

1 Question

Are you chasing money or solving problems?

Be brutally honest with yourself. Look at your current work, your business, your side project. Strip away the revenue goals and profit projections for a moment.

What problem are you actually solving? Who’s life is genuinely better because of what you do? If you can’t answer clearly, that might be your signal to pause and consider a Reset.

Your Reset starts with one shift: This week, instead of tracking metrics and targets, spend time understanding the real problem you’re solving. Talk to customers. Ask deeper questions. Find out what they actually struggle with.

The money you’re chasing will show up when you start solving problems that matter.

Want to hear Damion’s full story? Listen to the full conversation here Listen to Damion's full story here

P.S. Know someone going through a setback? be sure to forward this newsletter to them.

The Reset is for anyone figuring out what comes next.

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THE RESET

He got fired 4 times in 7 years then founded one of NY’s most awarded agencies

John Follis got fired four times in seven years. Not once. Not twice, but four times.

Most people would’ve left advertising and opened a coffee shop. But John? He founded follis/DeVito/Verdi one of New York’s most awarded agencies. His campaigns ended up in Harvard Business case studies, national press, and advertising textbooks.

Here’s the thing: John didn’t just survive those failures. He turned them into stories. And those stories became his superpower. In our conversation, John shared how his “True Stories in Advertising” short film project isn’t just nostalgia, it’s a masterclass in how storytelling connects, teaches, and inspires in business.

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3 Lessons

LESSON #1: Your failures are your credentials

John could’ve buried those four firings. Instead, he made a film about them. Why? Because authenticity beats perfection every single time. When you share real struggle not just the highlight reel people lean in. They trust you. They see themselves in your story.

Apply this: Think about a failure you’ve been hiding. What if that’s actually the story that makes you relatable? Write it down this week. You don’t have to share it yet, just get it on paper.

LESSON #2: Stories teach better than tactics

John’s “True Stories in Advertising” films aren’t instructional videos about marketing techniques. They’re stories about real moments, like the Sorrel Ridge Jam campaign that became a case study in innovation. The lesson sticks because it’s wrapped in narrative, not bullet points.

Facts tell. Stories sell. More importantly? Stories stick.

Apply this: Next time you need to explain something complex at work, don’t lead with data. Start with “Let me tell you about the time when...” Notice the difference in how people respond.

LESSON #3: Archive your wins (and losses)

John didn’t wait until retirement to document his career. He’s been creating his “True Stories” archive for years. These aren’t just memories, they’re teaching tools, connection points, and proof of expertise. Your past experiences are assets, but only if you capture them.

Apply this: Start a “stories” folder this week. After every significant project, success or failure, write three paragraphs about what happened. Future you will thank present you.

QUOTE FROM JOHN

"One day I made 106 calls and got 104 rejections." — John Follis

THE QUESTION:

You’ve got stories sitting in your head right now, moments of failure, breakthrough, learning. Stories that could help someone else navigate their own setback. Stories that prove you know what you’re talking about.

Here’s your question: What’s one story from your career that you’ve never properly told?

This week, write it down. Even if it’s messy. Even if you’re not sure what to do with it yet. John Follis got fired four times and turned it into a film series. Your story matters too.

PODCAST LINK:

Want to hear how John turned Madison Avenue failures into a legendary agency? Listen to the full episode where he breaks down his short films, shares behind-the-scenes stories from his biggest campaigns, and explains why getting fired might’ve been the best thing that ever happened to him.

🎧 Listen to John's story

P.S. Know someone going through a setback? be sure to forward this newsletter to them.

The Reset is for anyone figuring out what comes next.

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Rewriting Your Life After Collapse: Tori Jenae’s Blueprint for Confidence & Healing

When Burnout Becomes Breakthrough: Tori Jenae on Rewiring Your Life

About Tori Jenae

Tori Jenae is a trauma-informed confidence and relationship coach with multiple degrees in psychology. She specializes in helping women, and some men, heal from emotional wounds, rebuild self-worth, and create aligned, thriving lives and relationships after breakups, divorce, and personal challenges.

Her work uniquely blends psychology, somatic healing, and spiritual wisdom to guide clients through deep, lasting transformation. Tori’s own journey—from a difficult childhood surrounded by addiction and instability to experiencing profound personal loss as an adult—fuels her mission to help others rise stronger and reclaim their power. She believes that our greatest wounds, when properly understood and integrated, become our most potent sources of wisdom and strength.

When Burnout Becomes Breakthrough: Tori Jenae on Rewiring Your Life

What if the moment you completely fell apart was actually the moment you finally found yourself?

In this deeply powerful and unflinchingly honest conversation, trauma-informed confidence and relationship coach Tori Jenae takes us inside the hidden architecture of human transformation—where our greatest pain becomes our most profound teacher.

This isn’t another surface-level self-help discussion. This is a raw excavation of what it really takes to rebuild yourself from the ground up when everything you thought you knew about yourself comes crashing down.

Tori doesn’t just talk about transformation—she’s lived it. From surviving a childhood marked by addiction, instability, and emotional chaos, to experiencing devastating personal loss as an adult, she’s intimately familiar with the terrain of rock bottom. But rather than letting these experiences define her as broken, she used them as the foundation for something extraordinary: a life dedicated to helping others reclaim their power and rewrite their stories.

In this episode, we venture into territory most people avoid: the messy, uncomfortable space between who we were and who we’re becoming. Tori introduces her Reclamation Method—a transformative framework that blends psychology, somatic healing, and spiritual wisdom to guide people back to their authentic selves. This isn’t about positive thinking or quick fixes. It’s about doing the deep inner work that creates lasting change.

You’ll discover:

• Why your breakdown might be the most honest conversation you’ve ever had with yourself

• The hidden trap of the victim mindset and how it keeps you stuck in cycles of pain

• How high achievement can become a sophisticated form of self-abandonment

• Why nature, stillness, and silence are underrated portals to self-discovery

• The revolutionary idea that your wounds aren’t weaknesses—they’re wisdom waiting to be unlocked

• How to move from “why is this happening to me?” to “what is this teaching me?”

• The critical difference between knowing yourself and leading yourself

• Why healing isn’t about returning to who you were—it’s about becoming who you’re meant to be

What makes this conversation different:

Tori brings the dual lens of lived experience and professional expertise. With multiple degrees in psychology and years of guiding women (and some men) through breakups, divorce, and personal upheaval, she understands both the science of healing and the soul work required for genuine transformation. She doesn’t speak from theory—she speaks from the trenches.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt broken, anyone who’s wondered if they’ll ever feel whole again, anyone who’s tired of pretending everything is fine when it’s not. If you’re navigating chaos, sitting in confusion, or desperately searching for clarity in the wreckage of what used to be your life—this conversation is your permission slip to stop performing and start healing.

Tori reminds us of a truth we often forget: we’re not broken. We’re not damaged beyond repair. We’re simply becoming. And sometimes, the only way forward is through.

Are you ready to reclaim your power?

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Watch Tori’s full episode on YouTube and Subscribe for more episodes

Connect with Tori Jenae

Website: www.torijenae.com

Work with Tori: https://www.torijenae.com/pages/work-with-me

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tori.jenae/

Episodes

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Know someone navigating a Reset? Share this story with them—it might be exactly what they need right now

From Disney Dream to Cancer Comeback: How Kristin Wyza Reinvented Her Life & Brand

MPF Discussion with Kristin Wyza

About Kristin Wyza

Kristin Wyza is the Founder and Executive Director of KW Media Design, a web design and branding agency born from resilience and reinvention. With nearly two decades of experience at Disney, Kristin knows what world-class brands look like from the inside. But it was her personal journey surviving cancer and navigating an unexpected layoff that gave her the courage and clarity to build something truly meaningful.

Today, Kristin helps entrepreneurs and businesses craft authentic brands and websites that cut through the noise and create genuine connections. Her approach combines creative excellence with the kind of hard-earned wisdom that only comes from facing life’s toughest challenges and choosing to rise.

About This Episode

What happens when your dream career at Disney ends abruptly, and life delivers a devastating cancer diagnosis in the same breath? For most people, it would be crushing. For Kristin Wyza, it became the catalyst for building something extraordinary.

In this powerful episode of My Perfect Failure, Kristin pulls back the curtain on one of life’s most challenging moments and reveals how she transformed rock bottom into rocket fuel. This isn’t just another comeback story—it’s a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to rebuild your life when everything falls apart, and how to emerge stronger, bolder, and more purposeful than ever before.

After nearly two decades at Disney, Kristin faced a corporate layoff that could have ended her story. Instead, she channeled her creativity, grit, and hard-won wisdom into founding KW Media Design, a thriving web design and branding agency that helps small to midsize companies create brands that don’t just look good—they connect, inspire, and drive real results.

This episode is essential listening for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, scared, or uncertain about their next move. Kristin’s journey proves that your greatest setbacks can become your most powerful comebacks, and that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s within your reach.

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5 Key Takeaways

1. Setbacks can be the start of something extraordinary.

2. Courage and belief often outweigh certainty.

3. Listen to your intuition—it knows more than you think.

4. Creativity and resilience are powerful business tools.

5. It’s never too late to reinvent your life or career.

Connect with Kristin Wyza

Website: https://kwmediadesign.com/

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

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

MPF Website: https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: paul@myperfectfailure.com

YouTube: Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

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Quit the “Golden Ticket” How Jason VanDevere Built a 6-Figure Dream from Scratch

MPF Discussion with Jason VanDevere

About Jason

Jason VanDevere is the founder and CEO of Goal Crazy, a company dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and dreamers turn their visions into actionable plans. After walking away from a secure position in his family’s fourth-generation car dealership business, Jason launched Goal Crazy with nothing but conviction and a commitment to validating his idea before going all-in. Today, his planning system has reached over 40,000 users and continues to grow. Jason is also the host of the Goal Crazy Podcast and author of “Dream Driven,” a step-by-step guide to discovering and achieving your biggest goals. His approach combines practical business strategy with a deeply personal philosophy: build something that fuels your soul, not just your bank account.

Episode Description

Imagine being handed the keys to a fourth-generation family empire—a guaranteed income, established reputation, and a clear path forward. Now imagine walking away from it all to chase an idea that existed only in your mind.

Jason VanDevere made that gutsy choice, and it changed everything.

In this gripping episode, Jason pulls back the curtain on one of the most difficult decisions of his life: turning his back on his family’s successful car dealership business to build Goal Crazy, a planner system that has now empowered over 40,000 entrepreneurs to transform their dreams into reality. This isn’t just another business success story—it’s a masterclass in courage, calculated risk-taking, and the power of betting on yourself when everyone else thinks you’re crazy.

Jason reveals the exact strategies he used to validate his concept before investing a dime, why he believes discomfort is the ultimate signal you’re on the right track, and how his “dream-driven” philosophy has become the foundation for both his business and his life. From conducting focus groups that shaped his product to navigating the fear and doubt that comes with leaving security behind, Jason’s journey will challenge everything you thought you knew about playing it safe versus pursuing your passion.

Whether you’re sitting on a business idea you’re too scared to launch, stuck in a “golden handcuffs” situation, or simply wondering if it’s ever the right time to make a major life pivot, this conversation will give you the clarity and courage you need to take the next step.

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Five Impactful Takeaways

1. Passion over predictability – Security means little if the work doesn’t light you up. The comfort of a guaranteed path can become a prison if it pulls you away from what truly matters to you.

2. Validate before you launch – Focus groups and pre-sales aren’t just nice-to-haves, they’re game changers. Jason’s willingness to test his concept before fully committing saved him from costly mistakes and gave him the confidence to move forward.

3. Growth feels uncomfortable – Discomfort isn’t a sign of failure, it’s the clearest indicator that you’re stretching beyond your current limits. Learning to recognize and embrace this feeling is essential for any entrepreneur.

4. Rejection is redirection – Every “no” you receive simply points you closer to the right opportunity. Jason’s journey proves that closed doors often lead to better paths than the ones you originally planned to take.

5. Dream-driven beats easy money – Building a business that fuels your soul creates sustainable success that transcends financial metrics. When your work aligns with your purpose, the money follows naturally.

Connect with Jason VanDevere

Website: https://goalcrazy.com/

Order “Dream Driven”: https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Driven-Step-Step-Discover/dp/B0FJW2KSBS/

Goal Crazy Podcast: https://goalcrazyplanners.com/blogs/goal-crazy-podcast

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

MPF Website: https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: paul@myperfectfailure.com

Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

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Know someone navigating a Reset? Share this story with them—it might be exactly what they need right now

Subscribe now

THE RESET

When the Mobster’s Lawyer Learned to Meditate with Bob Martin

At 32, Bob Martin had his house paid off defending mobsters. At 74, he teaches meditation. The turning point? One word from a therapist that changed everything.

Bob Martin was living the dream. House paid off at 32. Clients walking in with $9,000 in brown paper bags. Defending mobsters who stroked his ego and made him feel important.

But his wife and kids barely saw him. His life was “hitting the rocks.” He was winning cases but losing everything that really mattered to him.

Then a therapist he consulted mouthed the word “Retreat.”

Most of us hear “retreat” and think defeat. Bob heard something different. He walked away from it all and retreated into Meditation. That one word became Bob’s Reset, because he finally understood: sometimes you have to step back to move forward.

3 Lessons on Knowing When to Retreat

Lesson #1: Retreat Isn’t Defeat

We’ve got retreating and resetting all wrong. We think it means quitting, admitting we can’t hack or we have failed something.

Retreat and Resting is about regrouping. Bob was so deep in the adrenaline of defending criminals that he couldn’t see his life falling apart around him. Stepping back gave him perspective.

Apply this: What a situation feels too overwhelming. Think, what it would be like to step back not permanently, but just long enough to catch your breath and your thoughts? Write down one thing you could retreat from today or this week.

Lesson #2: Success Without Meaning Is Just Noise

Bob had everything: money, status, a house paid off before most people even start their careers. And he was miserable.

The mobsters made him feel important. But that validation was hollow because it wasn’t connected to anything real. Bob bought into someone else’s definition of success.

Apply this: Look at what you’re chasing. Is it what you actually want, or what you think you’re supposed to want? Who’s stroking your ego, and what are you getting from it? Think to yourself: Is this validation connected to what actually matters to you?

Lesson #3: Who You Surround Yourself With Shapes Who You Become

Bob liked mobsters. They were charismatic, they made him feel needed, they treated him like he mattered. But surrounding himself with criminals normalized a lifestyle that was destroying him.

He couldn’t see at the time because when everyone around him operated a certain way, it started to feel normal to Bob. The brown paper bags, the dodgy clients, the adrenaline, it all became his baseline.

Apply this: Look at the five people you spend the most time with. Are they pulling you toward the life you want or away from it? This isn’t about judging them. it’s about honest recognition. Write down their names and ask: “Is this person helping you become who you want to be, or making it harder?”

Share

1 Quote

“Retreat isn’t loss. It’s regrouping to come back stronger.”
— Bob Martin

Bob’s retreat from criminal law wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of his real life. At 74, he teaches mindfulness. The retreat wasn’t giving up it was refusing to keep going in a direction that didn’t serve him.

1 Question

What are you still doing because you’re too proud to retreat or reset from it?

Is there something a job, a relationship, a goal that you’re still persisting with because stepping back feels like failure?

Bob’s story proves that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is say, “This isn’t working,” and retreat long enough to figure out what will.

Your Reset starts with permission: You’re allowed to step back. You’re allowed to regroup. Retreat isn’t defeat. It’s the pause before your next chapter.

Want to hear Bob’s full story? Listen to the full conversation with Bob where he talks about defending mobsters, discovering meditation, and what it really means to retreat without giving up. Full Conversation with Bob Martin - Criminal Lawyer

P.S. Know someone who needs permission to step back? Forward this to them.

The Reset is for anyone figuring out what comes next.

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Why Your Brain Lies About Fear And How to Outsmart It with Dr. Mary Poffenroth

MPF Discussion with Dr. Mary Poffenroth

About Dr. Mary Poffenroth

Dr. Mary Poffenroth is a biopsychologist, fear and courage researcher, and the author of the award-winning book Brave New You: Strategies, Tools, and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day. With a unique background that combines neuroscience, psychology, and real-world application, she’s become one of the leading voices on the science of courage.

Her work has been featured in TIME Magazine, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, SUCCESS, and Fast Company. Dr. Poffenroth has delivered workshops, keynotes, and elite retreats for organizations including TED, GoogleX, Britannica, and senior executives at Walmart, helping thousands of people transform their relationship with fear and step into bolder, more authentic lives.

What if your fear isn’t holding you back—it’s actually guiding you forward?

In this transformative episode of My Perfect Failure, host Paul Dalton sits down with Dr. Mary Poffenroth, a groundbreaking neurohacking biopsychologist who’s rewriting the rules on fear, failure, and courage. If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by self-doubt, avoided taking risks, or wondered why some people seem fearless while you feel stuck—this conversation will change everything.

Dr. Poffenroth doesn’t just study courage from an ivory tower. As an award-winning author whose work TIME Magazine called “life changing,” she’s developed practical, science-backed strategies that transform how we understand and respond to fear. Her book Brave New You: Strategies, Tools, and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day (Hachette, 2024) has earned multiple awards and recognition from Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, SUCCESS, and Fast Company.

Why This Episode Matters

Most of us treat fear as the enemy—something to eliminate, suppress, or power through. But what if we’ve been getting it wrong? In this deeply insightful conversation, Dr. Poffenroth reveals that fear isn’t a stop sign—it’s valuable data your body is providing about what matters most to you.

You’ll discover her revolutionary RAIN Method (Recognize, Assign, Identify, Navigate), a neuroscience-based framework that helps you decode your body’s fear signals and use them as a compass for courageous action. Whether you’re facing career transitions, personal reinvention, creative blocks, or the daily anxiety that keeps you playing small, this episode delivers actionable tools you can use immediately.

What You’ll Learn

This isn’t theoretical psychology—it’s practical neuroscience you can apply today. Dr. Poffenroth breaks down complex brain science into clear, accessible strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and fear in real-world situations.

Learn how to distinguish between helpful fear that keeps you safe and unhelpful fear that keeps you stuck. Understand why “fearlessness” is actually a dangerous myth and why the people you admire most aren’t without fear—they’ve simply learned to act alongside it. Discover specific techniques to calm your nervous system when anxiety spikes and turn worry into productive energy.

You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to recognize your unique fear patterns, assign accurate meaning to what you’re feeling, identify the real threat level of any situation, and navigate forward with clarity and confidence—even when you’re scared.

Five Transformative Insights from This Episode

Fear isn’t failure—it’s feedback. Your brain is giving you information, not instructions. Learn to interpret the signal correctly.

Notice your body’s fear signals—they’re clues, not warnings. Physical sensations of fear reveal what you care about and where growth is possible.

Use the RAIN Method to move through fear clearly and calmly. This four-step framework gives you a repeatable process for any scary situation.

Courage is built by action, not avoidance. Every time you move forward despite fear, you’re literally rewiring your brain for bravery.

Fearlessness is a myth—growth happens when you act anyway. The goal isn’t to eliminate fear but to develop a healthier relationship with it.

Perfect For

This episode is essential listening for entrepreneurs facing business uncertainty, professionals navigating career changes, creatives dealing with imposter syndrome, leaders managing high-stakes decisions, anyone struggling with anxiety or self-doubt, and people ready to stop playing small and start living boldly.

Connect with Dr. Mary Poffenroth

Website: https://marypoffenroth.com/

Access Resources & Download RAIN Method Cards: https://hellobravenewyou.com

Order Brave New You: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brave-New-You-Strategies-Courageously/dp/1523518618/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Q

Listen Now

Ready to transform your relationship with fear? Listen to this episode on your favorite podcast platform and discover why courage isn’t about being fearless—it’s about being scared and doing it anyway.

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

MPF Website: https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: paul@myperfectfailure.com

YouTube: Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

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Trusted to Fail: CIA Leadership Secrets for Decisive Action Under Pressure

What The CIA Taught Me About Failure and Trust with Jeffrey Sanow

About Jeffrey Sanow

Jeffrey Sanow is a veteran CIA Intelligence Officer and security expert whose career spans critical global operations across South Asia, the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Serving in the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, he worked alongside senior policymakers in the Office of the Vice President and National Security Council on policies preventing the sale, transfer, or acquisition of weapons of mass destruction. Known for his innovative approach of adapting civilian business tools to execute intelligence operations, Jeffrey brings a unique perspective shaped by extensive field experience and deep understanding of complex geopolitical landscapes and the world’s monotheistic religions.

When decisions carry life-or-death consequences and certainty is a luxury you can’t afford, how do you lead? Former CIA Intelligence Officer Jeffrey Sanow spent years operating in some of the world’s most dangerous regions, making critical calls with incomplete information and trusting his team when failure wasn’t just possible—it was part of the process.

In this gripping conversation, Jeffrey reveals the counterintuitive leadership principles forged in the field: why waiting for perfect information guarantees you’ll be too late, how empowering people to fail actually drives success, and why the best communicators spend more time listening than talking. From preventing weapons of mass destruction transfers to advising senior policymakers in the White House, Jeffrey’s experiences offer a masterclass in operating under extreme pressure.

What You’ll Discover

This isn’t your typical leadership conversation. Jeffrey pulls back the curtain on how intelligence operations actually work and why the same principles that kept him alive overseas can transform how you handle pressure, build trust, and make decisions in business and life. Discover why resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about creating environments where people can take calculated risks, learn from setbacks, and grow stronger. Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or navigating personal challenges, Jeffrey’s hard-won wisdom will change how you think about failure, trust, and what it really takes to succeed when the stakes are high.

4 Actionable Takeaways

1. Empower others to fail. Growth happens when people have the freedom to try, fall short, and learn—not when they’re paralyzed by fear of making mistakes.

2. Decide with 80% of the facts. Don’t wait for perfect certainty. Progress belongs to those who act decisively with the best information available.

3. Listen more than you speak. True communication begins with listening—it’s the foundation of trust and understanding in any high-stakes environment.

4. Trust your training and your people. Whether in intelligence or business, confidence in your process and your team is essential to performing under pressure.

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Connect with Jeffrey Sanow

Website: https://www.jeffreysanow.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-sanow/

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

MPF Website: https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: paul@myperfectfailure.com

Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

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Know someone navigating a Reset? Share this story with them—it might be exactly what they need right now

MPF Discussion with Dr Nick Holton and Dr Adam Wright

Dr. Adam Wright Dr. Nick Holton

About the Guests:

Dr. Nick Holton is a leading expert in athlete development and human performance. With years of experience helping athletes and professionals navigate high-pressure environments, he co-founded the AntiFragile Academy to help people harness challenge for growth.

Dr. Adam Wright is a neuroscientist and performance coach dedicated to translating cutting-edge research into practical strategies for resilience and peak performance. Together with Nick, Adam focuses on teaching individuals and organizations how to thrive in uncertainty.

Episode Description

When faced with a wake-up call that shook the athletic world to its core, Dr. Nick Holton and Dr. Adam Wright didn’t just respond—they created a movement. In this powerful episode of My Perfect Failure, they reveal how a moment of crisis inspired the birth of the AntiFragile Academy, a groundbreaking approach to helping people grow stronger because of challenge, not despite it.

Join us as we explore the science of antifragility, the neuroscience of thriving, and the mindset shifts that transform fear and adversity into tools for courage, resilience, and performance. This conversation is raw, evidence-based, and packed with insights you’ll want to revisit.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why fear isn’t your enemy—it’s the fuel for courage.

• How reframing adversity can change the way you live, work, and lead.

• How neuroscience and antifragility principles can help you build emotional strength and adaptability.

• Why being a high-performing athlete doesn’t always mean being happy, and what that teaches us about success.

• How psychological safety is the cornerstone of thriving teams and cultures.

Connect and Learn More:

• Antifragile Academy: https://www.theantifragileacademy.com/

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How Jay Sapovits Built a $5M Business After Giving Up the Job Chase

MPF Discussion with Jay Sapovits

About Jay Sapovits

Jay Sapovits is a serial entrepreneur who has experienced both sides of the business coin. He helped scale Marquis Jet from zero to $1 billion, gaining invaluable insights into what it takes to build a market-dominating brand. But success didn’t shield him from failure. After watching multiple ventures collapse and confronting a personal gambling addiction, Jay faced a crossroads: give up or rebuild with brutal honesty and unshakeable determination.

He chose the latter. From the ashes of a failed fitness startup, Jay founded Ink’d Stores, applying every lesson learned from his failures to create a sustainable, purpose-driven business. Today, he’s not just running a successful company—he’s proving that the greatest entrepreneurs are those who’ve fallen hard and had the courage to get back up.

What happens when a billion-dollar success story crashes into spectacular failure? Jay Sapovits knows firsthand—and what he built from the wreckage will change how you think about entrepreneurship, resilience, and reinvention.

In this raw and revealing episode of My Perfect Failure, host Paul sits down with Jay Sapovits, the founder and CEO of Ink’d Stores, a thriving $5 million e-commerce brand that serves over 1,000 online swag shops for industry giants like DoorDash, Crocs, and Penn Entertainment. But Jay’s path to success is far from typical—it’s a story forged through devastating setbacks, personal battles, and the kind of hard-won wisdom that only comes from rebuilding yourself from the ground up.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode

This conversation goes beyond typical entrepreneurial advice. Jay pulls back the curtain on the moments that nearly broke him and the mindset shifts that saved him. You’ll hear how career rejection became the catalyst for his entrepreneurial journey, why entering industries as an outsider gave him a competitive edge, and how focusing on sales and action—rather than dwelling on problems—has been his secret weapon through every business challenge.

Jay also reveals a leadership principle that transformed how he handles setbacks: the power of pausing before reacting. In a world that demands instant responses, Jay’s approach to creating space between stimulus and response offers a refreshing alternative to reactive leadership.

Four Powerful Takeaways

1. Rejection Can Be Redirection – Jay’s early career setbacks didn’t end his story; they pushed him to forge his own entrepreneurial path and discover opportunities he never would have found otherwise.

2. The Outsider Advantage – Entering new industries without preconceptions allowed Jay to identify opportunities that industry veterans overlooked, proving that fresh perspective can be more valuable than decades of experience.

3. Sales Cure Almost Everything – When challenges strike, Jay focuses on generating revenue and taking action rather than getting paralyzed by analysis or fear.

4. Pause Before You React – True leadership means creating intentional space before responding to setbacks, allowing for thoughtful decisions instead of emotional reactions.

Share

Connect with Jay Sapovits

Website: www.inkdstores.com

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

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

MPF Website: https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: paul@myperfectfailure.com

Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

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The Brothers Who Turned £0 Into Thousands of Black Business Customers: Matthew Addai's Cashback Revolution

MPF Discussion with Matthew Addai

About Matthew Addai

Matthew Addai is an award-winning social entrepreneur transforming the landscape of Black-owned business support in the UK. Armed with an MSc in Finance and hard-won experience as a senior trader at a hedge fund, Matthew took an unexpected turn that would change thousands of lives. After losing his job during a sabbatical, he channeled his financial expertise and entrepreneurial vision into co-founding two groundbreaking platforms with his brothers: Cashblack and Afrofiliate.

Born from the global anti-racism movement of 2020, Matthew’s ventures address a critical gap in the market. Cashblack revolutionizes consumer behavior by offering cashback rewards for shopping with Black-owned businesses, while Afrofiliate operates as a dedicated affiliate marketing network connecting these businesses with partners to amplify their reach and revenue. Today, Matthew’s platforms boast thousands of active members, prestigious partnerships with retail giants including Amazon, eBay, and Uber Eats, and a clear mission: to bridge the racial wealth gap by empowering Black-owned businesses through innovative financial incentives.

The Episode

What happens when personal failure becomes the catalyst for economic revolution? Matthew Addai discovered the answer when losing his hedge fund position forced him to confront a profound question: how could he leverage his skills to create lasting impact?

The answer came in 2020, a year that exposed the stark realities Black-owned businesses face in accessing capital, customers, and growth opportunities. Matthew and his brothers didn’t just observe these systemic barriers—they built a solution. Cashblack transforms everyday shopping into an act of economic empowerment, rewarding consumers with cashback while funneling support directly to Black-owned businesses. Their second venture, Afrofiliate, tackles visibility and sales challenges head-on, operating as the UK’s first affiliate marketing network dedicated exclusively to Black-owned brands.

But this journey from finance professional to social entrepreneur wasn’t without its battles. In this candid conversation, Matthew pulls back the curtain on the real costs of building a mission-driven tech platform: the developer nightmares, the struggle to build trust with both businesses and consumers, the delicate dance of securing major corporate partnerships while staying true to community values.

In This Episode, Discover:

The origin story behind both Cashblack and Afrofiliate and why the 2020 movement catalyzed their creation

How they secured game-changing partnerships with Amazon, eBay, and Uber Eats—and what it took to get there

The unexpected challenges of convincing customers to change shopping habits and businesses to trust a new platform

The technical failures, mentorship breakthroughs, and audience growth struggles that nearly derailed their mission

Their ambitious expansion plans: physical stores and a U.S. market launch targeted for 2028

5 Key Takeaways

1. Economic Power Flows Through Community – Cashblack proves that redirecting spending toward Black-owned businesses creates a multiplier effect, keeping wealth circulating within communities that need it most.

2. The Right Mentorship Accelerates Everything – Accelerator programs didn’t just provide advice; they delivered the strategic insights that transformed their platforms from concepts into scalable businesses.

3. Failure is Expensive Tuition – From catastrophic tech builds to disengaged audiences, Matthew’s setbacks became the curriculum for his success.

4. Think Bigger Than Your Current Reality – Physical stores and international expansion aren’t pipe dreams when you’re solving real problems for underserved markets.

5. Affiliate Marketing as Economic Justice – Afrofiliate demonstrates that visibility and revenue growth for Black businesses isn’t just good ethics—it’s smart economics.

Connect with Matthew Addai

Shop and earn cashback: https://www.cashblack.com/

Join the affiliate network: https://www.afrofiliate.com/

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

MPF Website: https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: pads3000@gmail.com

Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

Please share and leave a review

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2. Scroll down to Ratings & Reviews.

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Know someone navigating a Reset? Share this story with them—it might be exactly what they need right now

THE RESET

Your Reset - What if the whispers in your head aren’t lies?

She felt broken for years. Turns out, she was just awake.

Simone Milasas couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with her. Everyone around her in Australia seemed content with the script: get a degree, find a partner, buy a house, repeat. Meanwhile, she was suffocating.

When she finally left with £50 to see the world, people thought she was running away. Maybe she was. But three years of adventure taught her something nobody had mentioned: she wasn’t broken. She was just aware of more possibilities than the people around her.

Fast forward a few years. She’s back in Australia, in debt, working herself into the ground for nothing. The old feeling returned: something’s still wrong with me. Then she met someone who asked her a question that changed everything.

Not “What’s wrong with you?” but “What do you know that you’re not acknowledging?”

That question became Simone’s Reset. Today, Simone runs businesses across three continents and teaches others about consciousness and choice. But the real transformation wasn’t about making money. It was about finally trusting that the whispers in her head weren’t lies, they were truth.

This is The Reset where Simone learned that awareness isn’t the problem. Ignoring it is.

3 Lessons on Trusting What You Know

Lesson #1: Ask Better Questions

For years, Simone asked herself: “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I just be normal?”

Those questions kept her stuck. They assumed the problem was her, not her circumstances. Then she learned to ask different questions: “What do I know here? What’s actually true for me? What would I choose if I weren’t trying to fit in?” Everything shifted.

Questions are powerful. They point your awareness in a direction. Ask “What’s wrong?” and you’ll find problems. Ask “What do I know?” and you’ll find answers you already have.

Most of us are brilliant at asking questions that keep us small. We ask “Why am I like this?” instead of “What am I aware of?” We ask “Can I afford this?” instead of “How can I create this?”

Apply this: Right now, think about your biggest challenge. Write down the question you’ve been asking about it. Now flip it. If your question is “Why does this always happen to me?” try “What am I choosing that creates this?” If it’s “What’s wrong with me?” try “What do I know that I’m ignoring?” Notice how different the answers feel.

Lesson #2: Your Knowing Doesn’t Need Permission

When Simone started traveling, she didn’t have a plan. She just followed what felt light, what pulled her forward. Korea one week. Italy the next. People kept asking: “But why? What’s your strategy?”

She didn’t have one. She had something better: awareness of where her energy wanted to go.

We’ve been trained to justify our knowing. To have data, logic, and approval before we trust ourselves. But here’s what Simone discovered: by the time you can prove why something’s right, you’ve usually missed the moment.

Your body knows before your brain does. That pull toward something. That contraction away from something else. That’s information. That’s awareness. And it doesn’t need permission from anyone else to be valid.

Apply this: Think of something you’ve been putting off because you can’t justify it logically. Maybe it’s a conversation you need to have, a change you want to make, a risk you want to take. Close your eyes and think about it. Does your body feel light or heavy? Expansive or contracted? That’s your answer. You already know. Stop waiting for permission.

Lesson #3: Awareness Requires Action

Simone says something crucial: awareness without choice is just information. You can know something deeply and still do nothing about it.

Simone knew she was different. She knew the conventional path wasn’t for her. But nothing changed until she bought that plane ticket with £50. Until she chose to act on what she knew.

After meeting Gary Douglas and learning about consciousness, she didn’t just understand it intellectually. She woke up every morning asking: “What does today require of me?” Then she actually followed through. That’s where the abundance came from, not the awareness itself, but the willingness to choose based on it.

Too many of us collect awareness like souvenirs. We read the books, listen to the podcasts, have the insights, then return to the same patterns. Awareness is the beginning, not the destination.

Apply this: You’ve had at least one major insight while reading this newsletter. Something clicked. Something resonated. Here’s your challenge: within the next 24 hours, take one action, even a small one, based on that awareness. Don’t wait until you’ve figured out the whole path. Just take the next step that feels true. (Let me know what action you take)

Quote From Simone

“Imagine what you would do if you knew you could not fail? To me, you cannot fail. Failure is just the start of something else.”
— Simone Milasas

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1 Question

If you trusted what you know right now, what would you choose differently?

Not what you should choose. Not what makes sense. Not what others would approve of.

What would you choose if you trusted your own awareness completely?

Maybe it’s staying in the job while you build something on the side. Maybe it’s having the hard conversation. Maybe it’s saying no to something everyone expects you to say yes to. Maybe it’s that weird, illogical pull toward something you can’t explain.

You already know. You’ve been aware of it. The only question is: will you trust it?

Your Reset starts with one moment of trust.

Simone’s entire transformation came down to this: she stopped treating her awareness like a problem and started treating it like information. She stopped asking “What’s wrong with me?” and started asking “What do I know?” “What action will I take now?”

The reset isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trusting that you already know the next step.

Want to hear how Simone built global businesses by trusting her awareness? Listen here

P.S. Know someone going through a setback? be sure to forward this newsletter to them.

The Reset is for anyone figuring out what comes next.

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Wrangling the Doubt Monster: A Writer’s Guide to Creativity & Confidence with Amy L. Bernstein

MPF Discussion Amy L. Bernstein

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About Amy L. Bernstein

Amy L. Bernstein writes stories that make readers feel while challenging them to think deeply. She is the author of multiple acclaimed novels including The Potrero Complex, the award-winning The Nighthawkers, Dreams of Song Times, and Fran, The Second Time Around. Beyond fiction, Amy is an accomplished award-winning journalist, speechwriter, playwright, and certified nonfiction book coach who teaches workshops on the craft of writing. Her nonfiction book, Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration, published in October 2024, tackles the universal struggle every creative faces.

Why You Need to Listen to This Episode

Are you a writer paralyzed by self-doubt? Does that nagging voice in your head whisper that you’re not good enough, talented enough, or worthy enough to call yourself a creative? This conversation with Amy L. Bernstein will shatter those limiting beliefs and arm you with the tools to reclaim your artistic voice.

In this conversation, Amy pulls back the curtain on the internal battles that plague writers and creatives at every stage of their journey. Discover why the holiday season triggers creative anxiety for so many writers and how the trap of chasing “superficial success” keeps you from doing your most meaningful work. Amy channels the audacious self-belief of Muhammad Ali to demonstrate how owning your creative identity transforms everything.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level motivation. You’ll explore the transformative power of artistic communities, learn why understanding your “why” is the foundation of sustainable creative practice, and uncover the structural secrets that separate published authors from perpetual dreamers. Amy reveals the magic behind book coaching and how the right guidance can help you architect your story with precision and confidence.

Whether you’re wrestling with your first manuscript, navigating multiple genres, or searching for that elusive state of creative flow, this conversation offers practical wisdom and hard-won insights. Amy’s approach to “Wrangling the Doubt Monster” isn’t about eliminating fear but about moving forward despite it, writing on your own terms, and building a creative life that sustains rather than depletes you.

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Key Themes Explored:

Amy’s unconventional path to discovering writing as her calling

Why writers dread going home for the holidays and what it reveals about creative identity

The critical importance of understanding your “why” and mastering story structure

Inside the transformative work of book coaching and how it accelerates your writing journey

Deep dive into Amy’s book “Wrangling The Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration”

How to embrace multi-genre adventures while staying true to your voice

Achieving creative flow and writing with authenticity

Connect with Amy L. Bernstein:

Website: https://amywrites.live/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amylbernstein/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyLBernsteinAuthor

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

MPF Website: https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: pads3000@gmail.com

Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

Please share and leave a review

1. Click the link below via your mobile device — you’ll go to our show page in Apple Podcasts.

2. Scroll down to Ratings & Reviews.

3. Tap or click a ⭐ to give us a star rating.

4. Tap “Write a Review”.

5. Type your thoughts (why you enjoy the show, favourite episode etc.), then hit Submit/Send.

Click This Link To Leave Your Review

That’s it — your review helps a lot. 🙏

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Know someone navigating a Reset? Share this story with them—it might be exactly what they need right now

Stop Agreeing to Things You Hate: A Real Talk Guide to Saying No

MPF Discussion with Suzanne Culberg

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About Suzanne Culberg

Suzanne Culberg is a boundary-setting coach and author who has made it her mission to help over-givers and people pleasers reclaim their lives. As the creator of the signature online program Why W8?, Suzanne has guided hundreds of women through the transformative process of breaking free from the exhausting cycle of putting everyone else first.

Her expertise isn’t just theoretical. Suzanne’s passion stems from her own hard-won battles with over-giving, over-consuming, and over-doing everything. This personal journey has shaped her unique approach to making boundaries not just acceptable, but normal. She firmly believes we should all be saying ‘No’ more often, without guilt or apology.

Suzanne is a co-host of the upcoming podcast Over It and brings impressive credentials to her work: she’s a Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), holds a Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours), has earned Certificates III and IV in Fitness, and is a Certified Sacred Depths Practitioner. Based in Sydney, Australia, Suzanne balances her thriving coaching practice with raising two young children alongside her husband Jeremy. When she’s not transforming lives through coaching, running programs, delivering wisdom on Facebook Live, podcasting, or crafting her popular newsletter, you’ll find her reading, creating Diamond Dotz art, practicing burlesque dancing, or flowing through yoga poses.

Why You Need To Listen To This Episode

Do you find yourself nodding along to requests you want to refuse? Do you end your days drained because you’ve said ‘yes’ to everything except what matters to you? If you’re exhausted from overextending yourself and agreeing to things that ultimately leave you resentful or overwhelmed, this conversation will be a revelation.

In this compelling episode of My Perfect Failure, Suzanne Culberg pulls back the curtain on the people-pleasing patterns that keep so many of us trapped in cycles of self-sacrifice. She doesn’t just identify the problem—she provides a practical roadmap for breaking free.

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What You’ll Discover

Suzanne reveals how to recognize the subtle signs that you’re caught in the people-pleasing trap and delivers actionable strategies for saying no without the crushing guilt that usually follows. You’ll learn why discomfort is actually the currency of growth and why choosing temporary discomfort over long-term resentment is one of the most powerful decisions you can make.

This isn’t about becoming selfish or uncaring. It’s about understanding that boundaries aren’t walls—they’re the foundation of authentic relationships and sustainable success. Suzanne’s warm, no-nonsense approach makes even the most uncomfortable truths feel manageable and her insights will stick with you long after the episode ends.

Whether you’re drowning in commitments, struggling to prioritize your own needs, or simply curious about why you can’t seem to say no, this conversation offers both the wake-up call and the tools you need to start living life on your own terms.

Key Topics Covered

• People Pleasing: Understanding the roots of the behavior

• Spotting your People Pleasing signs: The red flags you’re ignoring

• How to say no to things that don’t serve you: Practical techniques that work

• Why we should not feel guilty about saying no: Reframing the narrative

• Why discomfort is the currency of growth: Embracing the uncomfortable

• Choose discomfort over resentment: The choice that changes everything

Connect With Suzanne Culberg

Work with Suzanne: https://www.suzanneculberg.com/

Connect with Suzanne on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanneculberg

Subscribe to Suzanne’s newsletter: https://www.suzanneculberg.com/newsletter

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: paul@myperfectfailure.com

Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

Please share and leave a review

1. Click the link below via your mobile device — you’ll go to our show page in Apple Podcasts.

2. Scroll down to Ratings & Reviews.

3. Tap or click a ⭐ to give us a star rating.

4. Tap “Write a Review”.

5. Type your thoughts (why you enjoy the show, favourite episode etc.), then hit Submit/Send.

Click This Link To Leave Your Review

That’s it — your review helps a lot. 🙏

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Know someone navigating a Reset? Share this story with them—it might be exactly what they need right now

Manifest Success with AI: How ChatGPT Helped a Self-Made Millionaire Think Bigger with Manuj Aggarwal

Upgrade Your Operating System with Manuj Aggarwal

About Manuj Aggarwal

Manuj Aggarwal is a global AI thought leader with 15 years of experience and four patents in artificial intelligence. He has served industry giants including Microsoft, IBM, and Pearson Education, generating over $500 million in value for his clients. His groundbreaking work has impacted more than 10 million lives worldwide and has been recognized by President Obama and Bill Gates. Beyond his technical expertise, Manuj possesses a rare gift for making complex concepts accessible to anyone—breaking down AI and personal development strategies in ways that resonate with audiences at every level. As a devoted parent and relentless achiever, he brings both vulnerability and vision to every conversation, proving that with courage, insight, and the right mindset, extraordinary transformation is within anyone’s reach.

What Makes This Episode Essential Listening

In this powerful episode of My Perfect Failure, Manuj takes us inside his remarkable journey from gruelling 12-hour workdays for less than the cost of a coffee to the boardrooms of the world’s most influential companies. But this isn’t just a rags-to-riches tale—it’s a revelation about how we can fundamentally upgrade our own “operating systems” to unlock potential we didn’t know existed.

Manuj shares the pivotal moments of failure and hardship that became the catalyst for his success, offering a refreshingly honest look at how setbacks aren’t roadblocks—they’re essential data points for growth. You’ll discover why being “forced into entrepreneurship” became his greatest advantage, and how understanding the true power of our minds can reshape everything from our careers to our daily habits.

And in a fascinating twist for our modern age, Manuj reveals practical, actionable strategies for using tools like ChatGPT not just for productivity, but for manifestation, meditation, and personal growth—techniques you can implement immediately.

From earning $2 a day in a small Indian town to advising Fortune 500 companies and sharing stages with Nobel Prize winners Manuj Aggarwal’s story isn’t just inspiring, it’s a masterclass in transforming failure into fuel.

Key Topics Explored:

• The extraordinary journey from $2-a-day laborer to technology innovator and global speaker

• How difficult moments can ignite an unstoppable desire to succeed

• The unexpected advantages of being forced into entrepreneurship

• Reframing failure as opportunities for growth and breakthrough success

• Unlocking the untapped power of the human mind

• Innovative ways to use ChatGPT for manifestation, meditation, and personal development

Whether you’re facing your own challenges, looking to level up your mindset, or simply curious about how AI can enhance personal growth, this conversation will leave you with fresh perspectives and practical tools you can use today.

Connect with Manuj Aggarwal:

Website: manujaggarwal.com

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

Connect with Paul & My Perfect Failure

MPF Website: https://www.myperfectfailure.com/

Email: paul@myperfectfailure.com

Subscribe To My Perfect Failure YouTube Channel For More Episodes

Leave a comment

Know someone navigating a Reset? Share this story with them—it might be exactly what they need right now