In today’s episode, Rory Vaden joins the show to discuss his journey to NY Times Bestseller and eight-figure entrepreneur. Rory is the ultimate success story, starting out in a trailer park in Boulder, CO, dreaming of success. He had to work hard to get scholarships to get into college, and his first job was in direct sales. It was then that he discovered that discipline creates freedom and unlocks the ability to do anything you set your mind to. 

Rory was at a conference a few weeks later when he met Zig Ziglar, who mentored him personally over the next year.

Rory decided on a whim to enter the World Championship of Public Speaking, thinking if he could win, it would launch his career into public speaking. He spoke 304 times for free, invested in coaches and classes, made it to the Championship, and lost. He went back in 2007 and came in second. Rory was at a conference a few weeks later when he met Zig Ziglar, who mentored him personally over the next year.

During that time, Rory started his first company. He met his business partner through a mutual friend and grew that business to eight figures over twelve years. He released his first book in 2012, Take the Stairs, which has lessons Rory learned from his mother that helped him reach success. He later fell in love with his business partner, AJ, and they got married. In 2018, they sold their company and now work with businesses to help them build and monetize their brands. 

Everyone is out there trying to copy other people who are more successful than then, but there can only ever be one.

The key is to focus on how you’re adding value to other people’s lives. It’s about finding your uniqueness and using it to provide a service to others. Everyone is out there trying to copy other people who are more successful than then, but there can only ever be one. They’re already taken, so the best way to get to their level is by being yourself. When you’re teaching what you know, it’s never second hand, and that is powerful. People need real solutions to real problems, so you don’t have to be the best person in the world. You just have to be able to do the job and do it well. 

Personal branding is just the digitization of your reputation. Anyone who has a reputation needs to have a conversation around their personal branding. You need to ask yourself– what problem do you solve? And if you can’t answer that, there’s no way anyone else can. And when you have diluted focus, you’ll get diluted results.

Connect with Rory:

Website www.roryvaden.com

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

Brand Builders Group https://brandbuildersgroup.com

Check out Rory’s Podcast The Influential Personal Brand Podcast