The inspiration that today’s guest on the What’s Working Now Show brings is enough to make host Katie Richardson exclaim with joy. Don’t miss this meeting with “the amazing, exceptional, and absolutely incredible” George Bryant, a man who, despite a life filled with deep trauma, decided to up and give away his multi-billion-dollar busines and become a better man for his son. George shares the raw, honest details about the defining moments in his life, urging you to reexamine your business frustrations and address the real problem that entrepreneurs often avoid. Learn to reconnect human-to-human, because, ultimately, “If you sell a product for $100 people will pay it, but if you sell a relationship, people will pay $10 grand” (George Bryant).

3 Key Takeaways

• You’re in the driver’s seat! You control where you go and at what speed
• What you’re sharing with people is already inside of them
• Entrepreneurs use business to distract from unresolved problems

Listen to the Full Episode

Show Notes

[0:20] Katie introduces George

• George met Katie at a conference
• George Bryant will help you see the truth
  • What’s getting in the way, what’s not connecting, why you’re frustrated with your email
• His deployment in Afghanistan and Somalia as an active duty marine
• Rising above and helping others
• New York Times bestselling author
• Business builder and marketing machine

[1:50] An experience that’s shaped who George is today

• The number one experience that shaped his life and perception of the world was the birth of his son
• Feeling like a monster/machine of trauma
  • “It was really easy to succeed as an entrepreneur because outworking everybody was the only option.” -George Bryant
• Not realizing that paradigm would negatively affect those around him
• What you saw online was not happening in real life
• The birth of his son made transformation happen in an instant
  • From “monster” to dad

[5:35] His old belief that he didn’t have any feelings and never would

• His son’s birth gave him purpose and meaning to connect with what he feels
• People in business get into their head and spur hustle culture

[7:50] Entrepreneurs use business to distract from unresolved problems

• One therapist broke his hustle culture for him in one five-minute sitting
  • “Numb is a feeling”
• Losing his drive because he was no longer running or hiding
• Taking 9-10 months to unravel who he wanted to be

[11:15] George’s experience walking away from a multi-million business that wasn’t working for him

• His three+ years of disappearance
• Navigating how to tell the truth
• His belief that his business was his identity
  • Loving people but not knowing how to because of trauma
• The one critical moment where he was honest in the business
  • His wife’s influence: “Are you really going to give another keynote and lie again?”
    • “I’ve been lying to all of you”

[15:50] His audience no longer allowed him to show up disconnected

• Dividing a wedge of cognitive dissonance
• Taking a few days of silence to determine he couldn’t live that way anymore
  • “Call Josh. Give him the company.”

[17:50] Going back into the real world

• Connecting with real people
  • Rewriting his own story and using his gifts to help others without validation
• Two-and-a-half years later: his wife spurs him to help people on social media
  • Starting a Facebook group and connecting without spending money on getting followers
  • “It was the hardest thing I had ever done because It challenged the fabric of what I thought was me.” -George Bryant

[19:43] Life can end in a moment

• You’re in the driver’s seat! You control where you go and at what speed
  • “My feelings are amazing, but if I give them too much time and attention, they prevent me from things that matter. So instead, I give them a cup of coffee and tell them to tighten their seatbelt.” -George Bryant

[20:45] It’s about momentum and consistency!

• “The biggest challenge for my humanity is that I think I’m smarter than I am. But I’m a biological mammal that is really simple.” -George Bryant
• Waiting longer is choosing to stay in a position you don’t like

23:45] The common pitfalls of entrepreneurs

• Not putting in the destination
  • Don’t run away from your own truth!

[24:30] What did it feel like to give away his business?

• “It was petrifying before and after! The only thing that changed was the choice and the action I took.” -George Bryant
  • All he was left with: himself
    • “Everything I wanted in my life was directly in front of me. I just couldn’t see it.” -George Bryant
• “There isn’t one champion that you will find isn’t afraid of competing at the highest level.” -George Bryant
• Empowerment over security

[30:36] A lesson for entrepreneurs listening right now

• When people come to George with issues with their emails or team response or marketing
  • Go read it and ask: is that the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
• Recovering 58% of abandoning parts in one month
  • Integrity is the only thing that you have!

[35:22] What does this look like in real life?

• People don’t want to be treated differently online
• There’s a limited number of customers!
  • What you’re sharing with people is already inside of them!
  • “If you sell a product for $100 people will pay it, but if you sell a relationship, people will pay $10 grand.” -George Bryant

Resources

George’s Podcast: The Mind of George Show

Instagram: @ItsGeorgeBryant

Website: mindofgeorge.com