Growth Street

288 days. 20 podcasts. 175 videos. We finally did it. 1000 subscribers ?? I don’t even know where to start. But this is an emotional milestone for me. I am so happy right now and proud of myself for what I’m creating. As well as the many people who have helped us get here so far… directly and indirectly! So thank you everyone. Every piece of engagement means so much to me. Launching a business is hard. I have no income anymore, I don’t have a full 100 person team behind me, and I have to try to make this crazy dream come true. To actually help people, and make money doing so. I feel like I’m doing half of that right now and that still feels pretty good. I launched this podcast and YouTube channel on January 1st with 0 experience editing, creating videos, like sh*t… I didn’t even know how to use a camera or an SD card. But finally after 175 videos and 288 days, I feel like I can see my hard work starting to make waves. I’ve had on some amazing podcast guests with hundreds of thousands of followers, amazing personal journeys, to make this dream come true as well as some kick ass support from teammates and interns to make this possible. I want to shoutout everyone, so for the next few weeks, I’ll be making gratitude posts… Maybe that’s the thanksgiving coming up for me (my favorite holiday) We are just getting started, and I cannot wait for what’s to come. Thank you all so much ?? Please subscribe if you want to join our mission and the Growth Street family: https://lnkd.in/depeARKa #thankyou

>30 million people in the US sports bet. I just placed a 4-leg parlay… On my personal growth! Here’s my bet slip... - Wager: 6 hours - Payout: GROWTH I combined two major themes in my parlay—Personal Growth and Development + Strategic Positioning and Accomplishment: Personal Growth and Development: 1 .?? Read a book to invest in myself and skills that scale (Day Trading Attention by Gary Vaynerchuk) 2. ?? Post a vulnerable video on YouTube to connect with my audience and build trust (https://lnkd.in/e8XTgfQa) Strategic Positioning and Accomplishment: 3. ?? Network with someone I look up to—build a relationship, learn, and give value (Spoke with Sam Panitch today... 10/10 conversation + relationship) 4. ?? Further develop my new “for-students” career product (launching in November shhhhh) It’s funny—over 30 million people in the US are placing bets on sports. But how many of us are placing bets on ourselves? The truth is, if more of us focused on betting on our own growth, relationships, and skills, the payout could be bigger than we ever imagined. Success, growth, impact… and who knows, maybe even more money to sports bet with later haha. ?? So, are you ready to place your bet? ?? #BetOnYourself #PersonalDevelopment #Networking #CareerGrowth #StrategicAccomplishment #SuccessMindset

Is “Dream big” bad advice. Listen to this crazy insight… ?? I’ve been thinking a lot about something Umang Chauhan said on the latest episode of the Growth Street Podcast. Dreaming isn’t the problem—stopping is. Most people dream big, fail once, and never dream again. That’s the real problem. When I asked Umang about his path, he laid it out like this: “I dreamed the most random things. I wanted to be an actor, a YouTuber, a corporate leader. But every time one of those dreams failed, I just dreamed up something else. The dream keeps changing, but I never stop.” That hit hard. The key isn’t dreaming big—it’s adapting big. 1?? You will fail. Accept it. The reason people stop dreaming is because they believe failure is the end. “I didn’t become the tech lead by 26, so I guess I’ll never be one.” Umang’s response? “So what if I didn’t hit that goal by 26? I’ll adjust. I’ll switch companies. I’ll keep pushing. My dream isn’t gone, it’s just evolving.” That’s the key. Fail, learn, adjust, repeat. 2?? Forget rigid plans. Build a framework instead. Most people think you need a concrete 5-year plan to succeed. Not Umang. He’s got something better: a flexible framework. He’s always working toward one big goal (entrepreneurship), but he’s not rigid about how he gets there. He’s constantly learning—management skills, marketing, team building. He’s not waiting for “the perfect moment” to take action. He’s always moving forward. Dreams change. Your framework stays steady. 3?? Action > Ambition. Every. Single. Time. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: No dream, no matter how big, works without daily action. One focus for six months, another focus the next. Maybe management this year, maybe marketing next. But every single day, he’s taking action to move toward his ultimate goal. That’s the difference between people who dream and people who achieve. What does this mean for you? If you’ve ever had a dream and felt crushed when it didn’t happen, let this be your wake-up call. Failure isn’t the end. Your dream isn’t dead. Take the hit. Pivot. Build your framework. And take action every single day. Because in the end, it’s not about dreaming big—it’s about how many times you’re willing to dream again. Want more of this? You have to hear Umang’s full story. Trust me, it’s a game-changer. ??? [https://lnkd.in/e7aBZyQs] ?? Comment below—what dream are you chasing right now? And if you’re ready for more insights that actually help you grow, follow Growth Street for more. #DreamBig #FailureIsNotFinal #Resilience #Adaptability #GrowthStreetPodcast

Umang Chauhan mastered taking risks. He now is a TPM in NYC… (here’s how??) While working at Fast Retailing (Uniqlo) in Japan, Umang didn’t speak fluent Japanese. Yet, he made it a point to step into meetings with teams he wasn’t a part of—sometimes with over 100 people—and still, he spoke up. No matter how big the meeting or intimidating the environment, he refused to be like everyone else hiding behind turned-off Zoom cameras. He took calculated risks: 1. He listened carefully, understanding the challenges, even in a language he didn’t fully know. 2. He offered feedback that made an impact—knowing it was a risk because someone might question why he was speaking. 3. He showed up consistently, always ready to contribute value. These weren’t just random risks—they were strategic. Before long, company leaders began to notice. Teams started inviting him back. He went from being a voice in 100-person meetings to being personally invited by senior leaders, eventually sitting with the decision-makers—including the CEO. The boldest move? Umang didn’t rely on technical outputs—he built his reputation by offering insights and guidance in meetings where others stayed silent. That’s how he grew from a 22-year-old software developer to a 26-year-old product manager making a great living in NYC. It wasn’t about staying in his lane—it was about owning the room, taking strategic risks, and proving his value. Daily tasks? No. → Daily actions that build credibility and open doors. (This is how Umang went from navigating language barriers to sitting at the decision-making table.) P.S. Have you ever taken a calculated risk at work? Yes/No? Share your thoughts below. Watch the full episode of the Growth Street podcast here: https://lnkd.in/ezvEhaP3

I was ghosted on LinkedIn. And here’s the story... You’ve heard it before—“Cold message people on LinkedIn, and it’ll change your life.” Sounds simple, right? But the truth is, it’s not that easy. Let me tell you how it really went for me. Back in 2019, I was a sophomore at the University of Maryland, living in a single dorm, feeling stuck and ready to make a change. I wanted to break into sports marketing, so I decided to send out a few cold messages to people in the industry. Here’s the first message I ever sent at 5:59 AM: “Hello Mr. Kelley, I am a college student at the University of Maryland pursuing a career and internships in sports marketing and I would like to connect as I would love to learn from you! Thank you!” I got nothing. No response. Nada. But that didn’t stop me. If anything, it pushed me to keep going. So thank you Jonathan Kelley, we have never spoke, but you taught me so much I never knew I needed to know. I sent more messages, refined my approach, and slowly—conversations started to happen. And those conversations? They changed everything. → One reply led to a real connection → That connection led to more conversations → Those conversations turned into relationships → Those relationships turned into internship offers → Referrals helped me land roles at Bloomberg Industry Group, LinkedIn, and D.C. United → My network exploded, opening doors I never thought possible Being ignored wasn’t the end—it was the beginning. Every message that didn’t get a response taught me something. Every conversation I had led to new opportunities. Cold messaging won’t change your life overnight, but it will if you’re willing to stay consistent, learn, and build relationships. Today, I’ve built a career and network that started with one cold message and a whole lot of persistence. If you’ve been ghosted, don’t stop. Keep sending those messages, because one conversation can change everything. That’s where the real growth starts. P.S. If this story resonates, feel free to repost. ?? #CareerGrowth #LinkedInNetworking #ColdMessaging #Persistence #RelationshipBuilding #Motivation

You: "The job market is broken" Reality: You suck at recruiting. Still sending out the same resume, applying to 20 jobs a day, and wondering why you’re not hearing back? I get it. You’re doing what you were taught: - Build a solid resume - Get a decent GPA - Hit “Easy Apply” and hope for the best But here’s the hard truth: It’s not enough anymore. You’ve probably found yourself frustrated, saying, “The job market is broken,” or, “No one’s hiring.” But let’s be real for a second—companies are still hiring. Just not you. Why? Because you’re playing the game wrong. It’s time to stop blaming the job market and start looking at your strategy. Every day, companies like Google, Microsoft, and hundreds of others are filling roles. If you’re not getting these opportunities, it’s not because they aren’t there—it’s because you’re not positioning yourself the right way to get noticed. You’re not being overlooked because you’re not qualified. You’re being overlooked because you’re stuck using an old, outdated approach—and the game has changed. Imagine this: 80% of resumes never make it past the ATS. You’re competing against candidates all over the world who are doing way more than just clicking “Easy Apply.” If you’re sending the same resume out to every company, hoping for a different outcome, it’s no wonder you’re not getting interviews. Feeling bad yet? Good—because here’s the reality: It doesn’t have to be this way. The people landing jobs today aren’t necessarily smarter or more qualified—they’re just playing the game smarter. Here’s how: 1. Tailor Every Resume - Stop sending out a generic resume. Tailor each one to the specific job you’re applying for. Use key words from the job description to make sure your resume passes the ATS filter. If you don’t, you’re likely being filtered out before anyone even sees your application. 2. Leverage Referrals - Referrals give you a 4x higher chance of landing the job. Companies like Google have separate portals for referred candidates, and it’s one of the best ways to get noticed. I’ve personally used referrals to land roles at Google, Microsoft, and IBM. It works. 3. Build Relationships - Stop relying on job boards alone. The best opportunities come from relationships you build with people inside the companies you want to work for. Networking isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential. If you’re still stuck doing the same thing and hoping for different results, that’s on you. The job market hasn’t stopped hiring—you’ve just stopped adapting. Want better results? 1. Tailor your resume to fit each job 2. Use referrals to open doors that a resume alone can’t 3. Build relationships that get your foot in the door The race has changed, and it’s time you changed with it. Stop complaining and start competing. #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Referrals #TailoredResumes #Networking #ATS #CareerGrowth

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend Rutgers University’s - Phi Chi Theta Business Fraternity ran "Annual Corporate Expo." This event brought together top companies like Deloitte, KPMG, Prudential Financial, BODYARMOR Sports Nutrition, Merck—and even Growth Street! I was there to act as a resource for students navigating the professional marketplace, especially in a career fair setting. Throughout the day, I connected with students, from freshmen to seniors, offering advice on their resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and networking strategies. It was inspiring to see so many driven and ambitious individuals, especially the freshmen, who were already thinking ahead about their careers! A few students even inquired about internship opportunities at Growth Street, which was great to hear. One highlight of the day was connecting with reps from companies like Body Armor like Laura Giannotti and Corey Meachem. This is especially exciting because at Growth Street, we’re planning to host our own career fair in March—an event that will be untraditional and unlike anything college students and early career professionals have experienced. Big shoutout to Dylan Curnow, Andrew Scibilia, and Arnitha Nayana for having me, and to all the students who came out. Your drive for self-improvement and ambition in the professional space was clear, and I’m grateful for the chance to support and connect with the next generation of professionals. What do you think is the best way for students to stand out at career fairs? #CareerDevelopment #Networking #GrowthStreet #CareerFair #Rutgers #ProfessionalGrowth

Are You Ready For A Harsh Truth? Your Friends Are Holding You Back. If you’ve got big dreams, but your 10 closest friends don’t, it’s going to be tough. This really hit home for me in a recent podcast episode I recorded with Umang Chauhan. He shared something that every dreamer needs to hear: Your friends are amazing. You love them, and you’re grateful for the memories, the support, and the fun times. But if they don’t share the same big dreams, they can hold you back. - 10 friends who are content with where they are → won’t push you toward your dreams - Spending every moment with them → pulling you further from your own goals - Staying comfortable → delaying the life you know you’re capable of having Umang made a powerful point: It’s not that your friends don’t care—they probably do. But they’re living their own lives. And unless they’re chasing dreams like yours, they’re not on the same journey. It’s easy to get caught up in the fun, but the reality is, you need to create space to focus on your goals. Start with clarity: ? What do you want, and why do you want it? ? Sit with it. Really ask yourself: is this *your* dream, or someone else’s? Once you know what you want, you have to take the time to make it happen. Your friends will still be there, but right now, your dreams need YOU. Then, take action: Small, intentional steps. Every single day. Repeat this: ? Stay focused ? Show up for yourself ? Be grateful for the tough days ? Keep moving forward, even when it’s hard This message from Umang hits home for me because it’s the truth every dreamer faces. Your friends will still be there, but it’s your dreams that need you the most right now. #DreamChasers #BigDreams #GratefulHeart #CareerAdvice #EntrepreneurMindset