Never Been Promoted: One Week, Five Episodes, and Zero Safe Bets

I had some wild conversations this week—straight shooters who aren’t afraid to call out the old way of doing things. From shattering outdated models to building brands that feel like real life (not some corporate gimmick), these guests brought the heat. I’m talking big risks, bigger wins, and a mindset that screams, “I’m in charge of my own story.”

Marketing tip of the week: own your brand.

Don’t hand your identity to someone else or bury your voice in cookie-cutter tactics. People smell fakery a mile away. Show up as you are, loud and clear, and let them decide if they want to ride with you.

Here’s this week’s recap...

Episode 204

The Truth About Real Estate Commissions with Brittany Cavallo

Brittany Cavallo isn’t your average real estate broker. She walked away from a cushy marketing job, gave the industry the middle finger (figuratively… mostly), and built Refined Real Estate—a brokerage focused on flat-fee, full-service real estate that saves buyers and sellers thousands. If the traditional commission model has you questioning your life choices, Brittany has a better way.

Key Takeaways

• The Industry is Broken – And She’s Fixing It: Brittany saw how bloated commission structures drain sellers of hard-earned equity. Her solution? Flat-fee real estate. Same service, a fraction of the cost.
• Disruptors Get Hate – That’s When You Know You’re Winning: Traditional agents have called her "the scum of the industry" (ouch). But when you're shaking things up and offering better service for less money, the old guard will come for you.
• Real Estate is About People, Not Percentages: Buyers are staying in homes longer, and affordability is everything. Brittany is making homeownership accessible without the smoke and mirrors.

Expert Recommendations & Resources

• Book: $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi – Brittany’s working on crafting an offer so good, saying no would be stupid.
• Tech: She’s launching a real estate tech platform to help people buy/sell without all the B.S.
• People to Follow: If you’re not already watching Brittany shake up the market, start now. Also, follow Wes Bergmann—her reality show mentor and serial entrepreneur.

Check out the full episode HERE!

Episode 205

Max Emma on Why Entrepreneurs Need Better Bookkeeping

Max Emma is a guy who doesn’t back down. He’s the founder of BooXkeeping Corp. , the only bookkeeping franchise in the U.S. But his journey wasn’t a straight shot—he’s built businesses, gone through bankruptcy, and come back swinging with a business model that’s franchising bookkeeping at scale.

Key Takeaways:

• Failure Isn’t Final – Max went through bankruptcy when his construction business collapsed. Instead of giving up, he pivoted, learned, and built something bigger.
• Franchising Ain’t for Everyone – If you’re not willing to follow the playbook, don’t buy a franchise. Entrepreneurs who think they can "tweak" the system often fail.
• Scale with Systems – BooXkeeping works because it’s repeatable. He built a 900-page brand manual (yes, 900 pages) so franchisees can follow a proven process.

Expert Recommendations & Resources

• Software: QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage – key tools in BooXkeeping’s model.
• Book Mentioned: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber – a must-read for anyone serious about scaling their business.
• People to Follow: Max Emma himself. He’s also behind Franchise with Max, helping others get into franchising the right way.

Check out the full podcast episode HERE.

Episode 206

Scaling Your Brand Without a Marketing Agency – Alex B Sheridan

Alex B Sheridan , Founder of Impaxs , is on a mission to help businesses OWN their content instead of outsourcing it to agencies that just don’t “get” them. He’s built a thriving business proving that internal content teams outperform agencies every time—better results, lower costs, and a brand that actually feels like YOU.

Key Takeaways:

• Your content is your brand. Outsourcing it completely to an agency disconnects you from your audience. Bring it in-house and build a team that breathes your message.
• AI is your creative assistant, not your replacement. The best companies use AI to speed up workflows, not to replace authenticity. Automation? Yes. Removing human touch? Nope.
• Stop posting blindly—get a strategy. Posting random content without a plan is like throwing darts in the dark. Align content with your brand story, engage your audience, and drive real business.

Expert Recommendations & Resources:

• AI for automation – Use AI to streamline content creation, but don’t let it run the show.
• Content processes – Build internal systems (Trello, Monday.com, etc.) to automate workflows and speed up production.
• Social selling tactics – Leverage platforms like LinkedIn Sales Navigator to turn content into conversations.

Full podcast episode HERE!?

Episode 207

Michelle Griffin on Unleashing Your Entrepreneurial Potential Through Personal Branding

MICHELLE B GRIFFIN had the entrepreneurial itch from her 20s, but like many, life got in the way. It wasn’t until she stumbled upon a podcast in 2015 that she realized online business was her way out. Fast forward through years of trial, consuming endless courses, and feeling stuck—she finally cracked the code: clarity, positioning, and action.

Key Takeaways

• Own Your Message – Stop overthinking. The fastest way to get unstuck? Solve a real, painful problem and start talking about it. Visibility = credibility.
• Test Before You Build – She didn’t launch a business in a vacuum. Instead, she started meetups, tested messaging, and validated demand before diving in full-time.
• Niche Down (Without Feeling Trapped) – Specializing doesn’t mean limiting. It means owning a lane where you stand out instead of blending into the noise.

Expert Recommendations & Resources

• Book to Read: Michelle’s upcoming book: Own Your Lane (Coming Soon!)
• Tool for Entrepreneurs: Meetup & Eventbrite for growing local events
• Mindset Shift: “Pricing is a branding strategy.” Charge what you’re worth—people pay for perceived value.

Check out the full podcast episode HERE!

Episode 208

Gary Frayter on Celebrity Brand Building and Social Media Mastery

Gary Frayter isn’t just another social media guy—he’s the guy who ran point on Mike Tyson’s social media, managed YouTube for a 6-million-subscriber creator, and now helps top-tier CEOs, athletes, and influencers dominate their digital presence. He partnered with Kronus Communications to take social media off people’s plates—completely.

Key Takeaways

• Forget Vanity, Build Authority: More followers don’t mean more business. Gary’s strategy? Focus on engagement, thought leadership, and positioning yourself as the go-to expert in your space.
• AI Won’t Replace You—Unless You Let It: AI is a tool, not a takeover. Gary’s take? Leverage AI agents for efficiency but keep the human touch for strategy, storytelling, and real engagement.
• Polarization Wins: Love him or hate him, you remember him. Gary believes playing it too safe makes you forgettable. Want to stand out? Take a stance, own your niche, and attract the right audience.

Expert Recommendations & Resources

• AI Tools: Opus Pro (video editing), Claude, Perplexity (research), ChatGPT (admin tasks).
• People to Watch: Cody Sanchez (entrepreneurship), Kevin O’Leary (content strategy), Gary Vee (branding).
• Platforms to Watch: LinkedIn’s evolving video feed, Spotify entering the YouTube competition, TikTok for raw, unfiltered content.

Check out the full podcast episode HERE.

Up Next on Never Been Promoted...

• Passive Income & Portfolio Diversification with Corey Geary
• Navigating Career Pivots & Big Life Decisions with Dr. Kim Dang
• Beyond Diet & Exercise: The Real Key to Fat Loss with Mauro Stara
• Faith, Coffee & Entrepreneurship with Tim Malm
• Military Precision Meets Business Strategy with Collin Graves

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