The Business of You with Rachel Gogos

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where we explore how to build a brand that truly reflects who you are and amplifies your influence in the digital world.Hosted by Rachel Gogos, this podcast brings you insightful conversations with humble entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and industry experts who have built highly profitable businesses. Each episode delves into their journeys, sharing the strategies, challenges, and lessons that led them to create the businesses that make a massive impact.Whether you're just beginning to amplify your online presence or you're an established entrepreneur looking to refine your brand, this podcast will give you the practical tools and inspiration you need to take your business to the next level. From personal branding and online presence to leadership and marketing strategies, we cover it all.To learn more about each episode, and the resources mentioned, check out: https://thebrandid.com/the-business-of-you-podcast/

The Business of You with Rachel Gogos is a business podcast hosted by Rachel Gogos, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Rachel Gogos hosts The Business of You with Rachel Gogos, a business show with 100 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #290

  290 | How to Earn Press in a Noisy World with Jim Edmondson

  Sep 29, 202637 min

  If a journalist gets hundreds of pitches a day, sending one more generic email probably isn't the answer. Jim Edmondson built PressWhisper after becoming frustrated with the traditional PR model and the amount of irrelevant outreach journalists receive. Jim has built, scaled, and exited multiple businesses, raised more than $120 million across ventures, and helped grow a company from two people to hundreds. His career has taken him from the surf industry to running one of Richard Branson's private islands to building an aviation company. Now, he's applying those lessons to PR. In this episode, Jim shares why relevance matters more than volume, how AI can help research journalists more effectively, and why testing an idea quickly can be more valuable than waiting until everything feels perfect. Build Before You Perfect It One of Jim's biggest lessons as an entrepreneur is to stop waiting for everything to be perfect before testing whether an idea actually works. That mindset shaped PressWhisper from the beginning. Jim built the first beta in just two and a half weeks, tested it using his own jacket company, and landed press within 24 hours. His approach is simple: build something scrappy, see what happens, learn from it, and improve from there. Make Every Pitch Matter One of the biggest problems Jim saw in PR was how many irrelevant pitches journalists receive every day. PressWhisper was built around a different approach: research the journalist first. The platform uses AI to look at what journalists are writing about, how they write, and what kinds of stories are actually relevant to them. From there, it helps match the right story to the right people. Instead of sending one pitch to hundreds or thousands of contacts, the focus is on a much smaller, more targeted group. For Jim, better PR starts with relevance. Enjoy this episode with Jim Edmondson… Soundbytes 27:03–27:23 "We're not going to let you send it to a thousand journalists. We're going to let you send it to 20, and that's it. So, the idea being is that it's very [based on] precision. From a journalist point of view, we want to be saying to them, 'Listen, if you hear from us, we're pretty confident that the story you're actually getting is pretty good.' And that's how we're trying to build trust with journalists." 30:45–30:59 "That's the biggest thing I've taken through everything else I've done, really, is, let's not worry about trying to make something perfect. Let's just make something, even if it breaks. Let's be really scrappy and prove the principle before we actually try and refine it." Quotes "I was very willing to be led. Whereas now, since I've had a small amount of success under my belt, I feel that it's okay to be myself." "What I've realized now is that actually accepting myself means that I'm much better at working by myself most of the time and working very, very fast." "I'm a big believer that your ideal customer profile doesn't really show up for a bit of time. You need to actually get out there and just be messy, try to serve everyone until you find out who you can serve best." "You can do it yourself, and here are all the keys and the tools to doing that. Or you can pay us a small amount of money and we'll do it for you." "Don't be afraid of your age or where your product is. You should just try and shoot for those goals." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Connect with Jim Edmondson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-edmondson/ Website: https://www.presswhisper.com/ Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

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  Episode #289

  289 | The 15-Year Overnight Success Behind Kodiak with Founder Joel Clark

  Sep 22, 20261h 4m

  What do you do when success takes far longer than you expected? When the market doesn't believe in your vision, money is tight, and walking away feels like the practical choice? Many founders celebrate the breakthrough—few talk about the years before anyone was paying attention. Joel Clark knows both sides of that story. As the longtime entrepreneur behind Kodiak, he spent more than two decades helping transform a family pancake recipe into America's leading pancake and waffle mix brand. But long before national recognition, Shark Tank, and explosive growth, there were years filled with uncertainty, setbacks, and difficult decisions. In this episode, Joel Clark shares how perseverance, faith, authentic branding, and intentional leadership shaped both his company and the person he became along the way. Success That Took 15 Years Long before Kodiak became a nationally recognized brand, Joel Clark spent years building it behind the scenes. He took over the company at 23, balancing jobs, family, and financial uncertainty while slowly growing the business. It would take roughly 15 years for Kodiak to reach its first $1 million in sales. There were plenty of moments when walking away would have made sense, but Joel kept coming back to the vision. His story is a reminder that perseverance isn't about blindly pushing forward. It's about believing in what you're building enough to keep going when success takes longer than expected. Developing a Brand People Love Kodiak's growth wasn't built on one big moment. Its identity was established long before national recognition. Joel shares how the brand stayed rooted in its original story while evolving with what customers wanted, including the launch of Power Cakes, which became a major turning point. He also explains why culture mattered just as much as product. For Joel, great leadership is about helping people see their own potential and creating an environment where they feel empowered to contribute. Even after stepping away as CEO, he still sees culture as one of Kodiak's greatest competitive advantages. Enjoy this episode with Joel Clark… Soundbytes 31:41–32:12 "The number one thing I really cared the most about was, 'God, what do You want me to do?' This feels like a good path. I think we can make it. I think we can do a lot of good if it works, and so, 'Guide me.' I get a little teary just thinking about it, because I really do feel like I was led to stay in. I could've done anything. I could've just left." 32:43–32:56 "I think any journey that is meaningful typically has its battles. It typically has its adversity and trials, and I think that's the point." Quotes "Those letters from customers were what kept me going. I'd read one and think, 'I've got to keep going because people love this product.'" "What's the worst thing that could happen? Maybe I go bankrupt, but I'm not going to die." "You have to know who you are and be careful not to become everything to everybody." "Leadership is helping people see their worth and potential so clearly that they begin to see it in themselves." "The foundation was always our people and our culture." "People don't care about leaders with big egos. They care about leaders who genuinely care about them." "You spend so much of your life at work. The hope is that you create a place where people genuinely enjoy being." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Website: https://kodiakcakes.com Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

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  Episode #287

  287 | BEST OF: How Expert Positioning Attracts Better Clients with Amy Posner

  Sep 8, 202640 min

  We're running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out! What's the difference between a successful freelancer and one who struggles with feast or famine? It's not how good you are at your craft, but how you position yourself to clients. Amy Posner is a seasoned online entrepreneur and business coach who helps digital creative freelancers build breakthrough businesses. Over her 30-year career, she's launched six successful businesses (five of which are still in business today) and mentored thousands of freelancers to success. Now, Amy focuses on empowering freelancers to grow the business they want by teaching them the skills they need to attract the right clients inside her Complete Breakthrough Freelancer course and on her podcast, Business Badassery. Overcoming Feast or Famine The biggest challenge for freelancers is feast or famine — a windfall of work followed by a period of little to no income. The best way to overcome this is with business systems and processes, so you always have another project in the pipeline. Amy teaches her students skills like writing proposals, selling on calls, and communicating the value they deliver. Many successful freelancers give their clients expert strategic advice, but are selling themselves as order takers — someone who does nothing more than follow orders and create deliverables. If you position yourself as a strategist, you're perceived as much more valuable. The Difference Between an Order Taker and an Expert The primary difference between order takers and experts is that experts deliver an experience, not just deliverables. It starts on the discovery call, when you first connect with the client. High-quality clients want a strategic partner, someone they can trust to give them expert advice and who is interested in getting results. Once you've landed the client, you need to deliver on the experience you've promised. When in doubt, overcommunicate and overdeliver. Again, systems and processes come in handy here. Keep the client in the loop on what's happening, especially for longer projects. Be reliable and do what you say you're going to do. Enjoy this episode with Amy Posner… Soundbytes 12:17–12:31 "I see so many successful freelancers who are giving expert advice, and they're counseling as experts, but they're selling themselves as a creator of deliverables. And you're seen in a very different light." 17:50–18:09 "The truth is, you don't need a unique perspective. You need a perspective. If a client's going out looking, they don't care that I think the same thing you do. They care what I think. Right? And so they're not looking necessarily for originality. They're looking for a stake in the ground, that you believe in something and that you have something to say." Quotes "What I noticed was that you could be really great at your craft. And if you didn't have commensurate business skills, you didn't do as well as mediocre craftspeople who had the business side down." "Nobody gets into business to sell stuff. They get into business because they love doing a thing." "I'm a chronic over-deliverer. I like to get invested in people and in getting results." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Connect with Amy Posner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyposnerbusinessgrowthmentor/ Website: https://amyposner.com Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

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  Episode #285

  285 | BEST OF: From NBA Star to Business Success Through Personal Branding with Shareef Abdur-Rahim

  Aug 25, 202635 min

  We're running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out! The original release of this episode marked the 200th for our podcast. We were thrilled to celebrate the occasion with none other than Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a former NBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, and current President of the NBA G League. Shareef's incredible journey from professional athlete to business leader is packed with lessons on leadership, personal growth, and making an impact. Reflecting on the Journey Beyond the Court In this milestone episode, Shareef shares how he transitioned from a celebrated NBA career into a dynamic role on the business side of sports. From his time as a player to leading the NBA G League's expansion to 31 teams and its first international team in Mexico City, Shareef reveals how he embraced change and built on his strengths to create a meaningful second act. For leaders and entrepreneurs, Shareef offers valuable insights into the importance of setting a clear vision, leading by example, and building trust within a team. He emphasizes that leadership isn't always about charisma — it's about consistency, care, and a shared commitment to success. The Power of Personal Branding Shareef discusses the importance of personal branding, especially for young professionals and athletes. In today's social media-driven world, understanding and leveraging your brand can open doors to lifelong opportunities. Shareef shares practical advice on how to balance authenticity with strategy to build a brand that aligns with your values and goals. This episode also highlights the incredible ability of sports to bring people together, regardless of background or beliefs. Shareef's dedication to creating opportunities for the next generation — both on and off the court — serves as a reminder of how we can all use our platforms to make a difference. This special conversation is packed with inspiration, and we can't wait for you to listen, again! Enjoy this episode with Shareef Abdur-Rahim… Soundbytes 22:19–23:08 "I think it starts with education, especially when it's young people. We're in an era where young athletes — the name, image, and likeness era, social media era — for so many different reasons there are so many opportunities that are in place for young people. I think it's great. As early as high school, I think that is great for young athletes. You spend so much time, especially at a young age, in your sport. To be able to chronicle that, to be able to share that, to be able to build a presence that you can then leverage to the rest of your life — I think is a great opportunity that young people should have." 26:32–26:55 "One of the great things about sport is that it humbles you naturally. And being a part of the team — you're not going to have much success if you don't have humility, because you understand the necessity of working with other people and how important other people doing well is to your success." Quotes "The power of sport is its ability to bring communities together, regardless of background or beliefs." "Leadership starts with outlining a vision, crafting a plan, and exemplifying the behavior you want to see." "As athletes, we must leverage our experiences to build something meaningful for life beyond the game." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Connect with Shareef Abdur-Rahim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shareef-abdur-rahim/ Website: https://shareefabdurrahim.com Learn more about Future Foundation: https://future-foundation.com/ Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

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  Episode #284

  284 | BEST OF: How a Little Faith Led to Supplying Bread to Every Whole Foods Market in America with Nick Ambeliotis

  Aug 18, 20261h 14m

  We're running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out! Nick Ambeliotis knows what it takes to turn a small business into a national brand. Born from a deep-rooted appreciation for fine foods, Nick founded Mediterra Cafe to satisfy his longtime passion and to provide a warm and inviting gathering space for Pittsburgh natives and visitors alike. Mediterra is a wholesale production facility for artisan bread whose customers include Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and the Ritz-Carlton. Nick opened his first cafe location in June 2018 with the mission of serving high-quality coffee, pastries, breakfast, and lunch, in addition to hard-to-find cheeses, charcuterie, and more. Mediterra has since grown to three locations but remained a family-owned and operated business. Spiritual Guidance Advice from spiritual elders has played an important part in Nick's business journey. It was during an elder consultation at his church that he first decided to open a bakery, specifically with a mission-driven lens. Mediterra gives away hundreds of loaves of bread every day. Their facility in Arizona also makes extra bread to be transported to families in need in Mexico. All three cafe locations have grown to incredible financial success, averaging $1,000 per square foot in sales per day — but for Nick, faith always comes first. His primary goal is always to be a good steward of the wealth the company generates, which means giving back as much as possible and sharing the company with his family. Building an Industry-Leading Brand If you want to build an industry-leading company, Nick says three main factors contributed to Mediterra's success. The first was his willingness to learn from experts in the field. Nick spent years working for his father's retail business and later for specialty food importers. Second, understand what your market wants. Mediterra sells handmade artisan bread, which means they need customers who appreciate premium products. So he chose cafe locations in neighborhoods with high foot traffic and disposable income. They also started with multiple product options to understand which items were most popular. Lastly, it's critical to hire the right people for the right roles. For his service team, Nick prefers artistic types who are engaging and enjoy talking to customers all day. On the backend, provide instructions to make sure the work is done to a high standard, but micromanaging employees doesn't help anyone. Enjoy this episode with Nick Ambeliotis… Soundbytes 36:08–36:25 "It literally just happened organically and by never compromising what we do, and just trying to find ways to make bread better, faster, all the time." 47:18–47:44 "The big thing in business is, find something that you're going to want to do the rest of your life, if you really want to be a businessman. Find something that you know when you get up in the morning, you're going to want to go and do it. And secondly is, there's nothing like practical experience from people who know what they're doing." Quotes "As many revenue sources as you can have, as long as they're good and you research them, you'll do well." "The only way someone's going to learn is if they fail." "There's a lot of sorrow in the world and a lot of people who are really suffering. So it's always been our mission: what can we do to help? We've never lost sight of that mission." "If you feel you're Christ-based, you're going to be shown the direction." "I'm not worried about gaining wealth as long as you're a good steward of it." "You can't listen to God and what He has to say if you're in all the noise." Links mentioned in this episode: From Our Guest Connect with Nick Ambeliotis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-ambeliotis-10a69a18/ Website: https://www.mediterracafe.com/our-vision Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mediterracafe/ Connect with brandiD Find out how top leaders are increasing their authority, impact, and income online. Listen to our private podcast, The Professional Presence Podcast: https://thebrandid.com/professional-presence-podcast Ready to elevate your digital presence with a powerful brand or website? Contact us here: https://thebrandid.com/contact-form/

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