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The Brand You Podcast with Mike Kim helps you showcase your unique expertise and build a profitable business around your personal brand. Each episode blends real-world strategy with actionable tips in personal branding, marketing, copywriting, consulting, business, and coaching — so you can attract the right clients, grow your influence, and do more of the work you love.
Mike Kim is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of You Are the Brand, a proven guidebook that has helped entrepreneurs, consultants, coaches, and creators position themselves as trusted authorities in their field. As a sought-after speaker and marketing strategist, Mike has worked with industry leaders, NYT bestselling authors, and influential organizations to craft messaging that moves people to action.
With years of hands-on experience in branding, direct response marketing, and high-level consulting, Mike distills what he's learned into clear, practical advice — so you can stop feeling stuck, clarify your message, and build a business that's unmistakably you.
Mike Kim is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of You Are the Brand, a proven guidebook that has helped entrepreneurs, consultants, coaches, and creators position themselves as trusted authorities in their field. As a sought-after speaker and marketing strategist, Mike has worked with industry leaders, NYT bestselling authors, and influential organizations to craft messaging that moves people to action.
With years of hands-on experience in branding, direct response marketing, and high-level consulting, Mike distills what he's learned into clear, practical advice — so you can stop feeling stuck, clarify your message, and build a business that's unmistakably you.
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I've spent years building a library that shaped who I am as a person and entrepreneur. From memoirs of obsessive creators to dark philosophy, relationship healing to marketing classics—these aren't just books I've read, they're books that changed me. Here's my full list (with some comic books, YouTube channels, and newsletters thrown in): http://mikekim.com/booklist CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » One of the most important aspects of my business costs about $12 on Amazon. It's a cheap plastic 12 month calendar that I stick on a wall. In this episode, I break down my entire annual planning system. I'll show you how I schedule big rocks (webinars, launches, events), build in proper runway and recovery time, and create the margin needed for life's inevitable curveballs. I'm also sharing my five guiding principles for 2026: fewer commitments, stronger yeses, slower starts, deeper fulfillment, and cleaner endings. Whether you're in startup mode or ready to work less and create more, this framework will help you design a year that's sustainable, profitable, and fulfilling. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » Learning to Love Midlife by Chip Conley (book) » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » The past year has been a reckoning on work, grief, and self-trust. I reflect on the changes I made this year: what I built, what I cut, and what death clarified for me. This episode is about subtraction, nervous system regulation, and learning to live without numbing or chaos. I hope you find some of my learnings helpful. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » Welcome to that in-between liminal week and a half between Christmas and New Year's. Every so often we get lucky and score two weekends during this stretch, and this year is one of them. This is one of my favorite times of the year. Despite the commercialization, this period is a rare cultural pause. A collective breath, if you will. For me, it's a time to live unarmored and to make peace with peace. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » During her visit to New York City, my (sweetheart!!!) niece Nylah asked if I could help with a school project on social media and influence. (She thinks I'm an actual influencer, haha.) We braved the winter weather and did an interview while walking towards the Museum of Natural History. I always tell people that if you want to explain what you do, try explaining it like you're talking to a kid. Well, this is my attempt! I could have explained it to her in way more complex terms and she would have understood me – she's a smart cookie. She asked me some pretty deep questions! But you get what I mean. Reflecting on our interview, I realized it's really important to have these kinds of conversations with kids. I share some life skills I think will be really important for Nylah, as well as recommended books, the reality behind what people see online, and the pitfalls and opportunities social media affords. If you're interested in the books that shaped me as a communicator and marketer, here are the originals I studied: Ogilvy on Advertising - David Ogilvy The Boron Letters - Gary Halbert Advertising Headlines that Make You Rich - David Garfinkle Influence - Robert Cialdini The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing - Al Ries & Jack Trout Great Leads - Michael Masterson & John Forde Tested Advertising Methods - John Caples EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » Content marketing is dead. "How-to" isn't a differentiator anymore—AI can do that better than any of us. What actually cuts through now is the messenger, not the message. In this video, I break down why the shift from "How-to" to "How I…" content matters, how connection beats conversion, and why wisdom earned through lived experience is the real currency in a post-AI world. People don't buy from experts—they buy from humans they believe. If you're tired of chasing trends and fighting for attention, this is the path forward: share your wisdom, not just your knowledge. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch on YouTube » Read this newsletter » I played (too many) videogames in college and often sank a lot of time into "character creation" – where you get to pick what kind of character you'll build for the game. Game developers knew players would obsess over getting it "right," so they built in something called a respec — a way to wipe your build, reassign your points, and start fresh without losing your progress. Turns out, businessa and life can work the same way. Today, I share how I've been re-specing my own habits, business, and direction. You might be overdue for a reset yourself. EPISODE LINKS: The Second Mountain by David Brooks » Ryan Levesque's Newsletter » Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch on YouTube here » I used to think gratitude was an obligation—something church kids did while passing an offering plate or something people talked about every Thanksgiving. But four years with The Five Minute Journal did something I never expected: it made me a grateful person instead of someone trying to feel grateful. EPISODE LINKS: The Five Minute Journal » Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for my Private Mastermind » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch this on YouTube » In this episode I break down the hidden season high achievers avoid: the quiet "wintering" phase where you subtract, repair, and redirect your energy to what actually matters. I share how cutting $25k/month in retainers, drinking 70% less, and reclaiming 80+ hours a month reshaped my life, creativity, and identity. If you're feeling the pull to shed old leaves and grow deeper roots, this one's for you. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for my Private Mastermind » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Watch this on YouTube (recommended) » Last week, I hosted a live presentation called "From Expert to Author: The Strategic Blueprint for Writing a Book That Builds Your Business." While writing a book has always been a good idea for experts, I believe it's a non-negotiable in today's world. This is a long presentation, but I believe there's a lot you can learn from it. Check out the timestamps below for the different sections. If you're interested in working with me in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026, go to mikekim.com/writeyourbook 02:44 The Role of a Book in Your Business 08:15 AI Has Shifted How Experts are Perceived 18:54 Crafting a Strong Book Proposal 24:26 Platform Audit and Marketing Strategy 30:05 Comparable Titles and Differentiation 35:35 Leveraging AI for Writing and Proofreading 39:36 Building Demand While Writing Your Book 49:21 Ways to Work Together and Final Q&A CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Read this episode: mikekim.com/foundational-frantic Watch this on YouTube » This week's episode is a bit shorter because I'm preparing for a live training later this week on How to Write and Market a Bestselling Book (register below). My thoughts for this week: Just because the work is quiet doesn't mean it's not important. This really just boils down to a fight we all face: foundational vs. frantic. Just like the autumn season here in the Northeast U.S. has a purpose, it's vital to define the purpose of the season you're in. You define it. Take agency over it. My definition for Q4: depth of execution, not volume of activity. You might be in a different season. Good. All I'm saying is: define it. Join the free training on Zoom » LINKS MENTIONED: Join my newsletter » Register for the Creator School AI Summit » CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Read this episode: mikekim.com/book-roi Watch this episode on YouTube » In this behind-the-scenes breakdown, I share the real numbers and lessons from You Are the Brand: how large my email list grew, how the book hit the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, and how I turned one book into $250K+ in coaching and certification offers. You'll hear what it actually takes to hit those lists, what "writing a good book" really requires, and how the process itself rewires your identity and business from the inside out. CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Read this episode: mikekim.com/economy-of-meaning Watch on YouTube here » What if the next great economy isn't about money, content, or attention, but meaning? In this conversation, I unpack every major shift we've lived through—the Industrial, Knowledge, Digital, Creator, and Attention Economies—and why the next frontier for personal brands is the Economy of Meaning. It's a wake-up call for entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators to stop chasing optimization and start embodying integration: to share stories that cost them something, lead with honesty, and build brands that matter because they mean something. I believe this is where personal branding is going in the age of AI. CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Read this episode: mikekim.com/delete-and-replace Watch on YouTube here » Most of us carry stories we didn't consciously choose. Growth usually requires letting go of those stories, but trying to them can feel impossible. In this episode, I share something that has helped me: instead of fighting to delete the file, save over it by creating new experiences in the same spaces. Some stories can only be released when you transmute them into something with material consequence—a book, a body of work, something that makes it all matter. If you've spent years hiding behind other people's frameworks and voices, there comes a moment when what's clawing its way out of you demands to be heard. RESOURCES & LINKS: Waitlist for Book Accelerator: mikekim.com/writeyourbook My new book, Own Your Brand, Own Your Career: » Connect with Kevin Monroe on LinkedIn » CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
Read this post: mikekim.com/ip-empire Watch on YouTube here » If your business depends on one market, one trending topic, or one lucky break, you're more vulnerable than you think. I'm breaking down the exact strategy I've used to take the same intellectual property and multiply it across multiple markets—creating an antifragile business that actually gets stronger during downturns. This is the framework that kept my business growing during COVID while others scrambled, and it's built on strategic principles I learned from an ancient Chinese novel and it's videogame counterpart. 0:01 - An overview of what shaped my view of strategy 3:15 - I'm no Sleeping Dragon, but... 4:23 - The IP Empire framework 6:44 - Stop chasing gigs, start building properties 9:05 - Taleb's "Antifragility" RESOURCES & LINKS: Waitlist for Book Accelerator: http://mikekim.com/writeyourbook My new book, Own Your Brand, Own Your Career: » Three Kingdoms book: https://amzn.to/4nAF6Gf Three Kingdoms vid summary: Three Kingdoms - OverSimplified Antifragile book: https://amzn.to/3VP5wYL CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
It's common to agonize over decisions, but a few years ago I realized I was asking the wrong question entirely. Instead of "Did I make the right decision?" I started asking "How do I make better decisions faster?" That shift led me to discover and study decision-making frameworks - and these three have that completely changed how I approach business and life. 1:22 - One-way vs. Two-way doors 4:39 - The Lindy Effect 8:28 - The Chick Test 12:49 - Waitlist for writing your book You can watch this episode on YouTube here » RESOURCES & LINKS: Waitlist for Book Accelerator: http://mikekim.com/writeyourbook My new book, Own Your Brand, Own Your Career: » CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
I got sick this past week and it made me realize something important about my content strategy - I've been spreading myself way too thin. Sometimes it takes getting "punched in the mouth" (as Mike Tyson would say) to see what's really not working. So, I'm sharing my honest struggle with feeling scattered across multiple platforms and the bold new approach I'm testing for the next six months minimum. I f you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to be everywhere online, this look at simplifying your content might give you the permission you need to focus. Check out my new book with Andy Storch - available now! Get Own Your Brand, Own Your Career on Amazon » This fall, I'm planning to host an accelerator to help future authors ideate, write, and market their book. If you're interested, get on the waiting list here: mikekim.com/writeyourbook Connect with Me: Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
What happens when a hardworking analyst who gets mistaken for a flight attendant discovers she needs more than excellent work to climb the corporate ladder? May Busch's 24-year journey from junior analyst to Chief Operating Officer at Morgan Stanley Europe reveals the uncomfortable truths about executive presence, personal branding, and why your skills alone won't get you promoted. Some key points: The promotion-killing wardrobe mistake that taught May the harsh reality about looking "the part" The secret world of workplace sponsors and how May accidentally earned one of the most difficult managing directors as her champion Why AI won't eliminate all roles but will fundamentally change what companies expect from rising talent in the next 3-5 years The "hand brake" revelation that explains how world-class worriers can still achieve extraordinary success in high-pressure environments Get May's new book, Visible: thevisiblebook.com Connect with May: maybusch.com May on LinkedIn Finally, check out my new book with Andy Storch - available now! Get Own Your Brand, Own Your Career on Amazon » This fall, I'm planning to host an accelerator to help future authors ideate, write, and market their book. If you're interested, get on the waiting list here: mikekim.com/writeyourbook Connect with Me: Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
In this conversation, I team up with my friend Andy Storch to share the behind-the-scenes story of our new book Own Your Brand, Own Your Career. We pull back the curtain on what it's like to co-author a book from scratch, why we chose to self-publish, and how this project bridges my world of solopreneurs with Andy's corporate leadership audience. Beyond the book itself, we dive deep into collaboration, personal branding, and the future of work in the age of AI. Get Own Your Brand, Own Your Career on Amazon » This fall, I'm planning to host an accelerator to help future authors ideate, write, and market their book. If you're interested, get on the waiting list here: mikekim.com/writeyourbook Connect with Me: Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Barry Davis, a collegiate Hall of Fame baseball coach and author of Old Dog, New Tricks: The Power of Leading with Emotional Intelligence. Barry shares how writing books has not only shaped his leadership but also expanded his platform as a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. You'll also get some golden insights on coaching and mentorship. My favorite takeaway? Coach the person, not the position. Get Old Dog, New Tricks on Amazon » This fall, I'm planning to host an accelerator to help future authors ideate, write, and market their book. If you're interested, get on the waiting list here: mikekim.com/writeyourbook Connect with Me: Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
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