Agency

Why your obsessive work ethic is destroying your company's growth. Fashion CEO Brittney Saunders breaks down the painful reality of scaling a business and why you must step out of your own way to survive.Scaling a multi-million dollar brand requires more than just a good product, it requires an entirely new founder psychology. In this episode, Fayt founder and omnichannel CEO Brittney Saunders reveals the truth about stepping back, letting go of control, and building a leadership team that can actually scale your vision.Alongside her ruthless business insights, Brittney unpacks her incredible personal backstory. Going from a 16-year-old high school dropout with zero family safety net to an industry powerhouse, she explains how she turned 20 failed jobs and a fractured childhood into an unstoppable drive to win.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: ⁠http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj⁠Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: ⁠https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00) - Introduction(01:49) - The Reality of Running a Multi-Million Dollar Fashion Label(06:18) - The Founder Bottleneck: Why Being "Hands-On" is Destroying Your Scale(12:49) - The CEO vs. Influencer Dilemma (Navigating Office Politics)(20:41) - The Content-First Rule: Why Launching Without an Audience is Failure(26:25) - Stop Throwing Cash on Meta Ads(28:05) - The Real Definition of Organic Content(39:00) - The Snowball Effect of Taking Blind Risks(46:20) - The Pain of Scaling: Why More Money Equals More Chaos(54:34) - Why You Can't Fake Authenticity(01:00:19) - The "Sparkly Jeans" Strategy: How to Sell a Vibe, Not a Product(01:13:14) - Do You Actually Need Passion to Succeed in Business?(01:22:34) - Turning Childhood Trauma Into Entrepreneurial Fuel(01:38:23) - Fayt Estate: Dominating the PR Industry(01:45:18) - FOMO & Engineering Cult-Like Loyalty

In this episode, we sit down with six-time founder Joe Stolte to explore the reality of AI adoption and why refusing to adapt will ultimately bankrupt your business. After achieving four successful startup exits, Joe realised most entrepreneurs treat AI as a shiny distraction. Joe breaks down the mechanics of the AI Maturity Ladder, revealing why he uses incentives and intensive two-day workshops to demand real behaviour change from his teams. We dive deep into business longevity, why companies stuck between $1M and $5M are one storm away from collapse, and why surviving requires a strategic pivot to a new operating model.If you are struggling with the ego of learning AI from scratch, or trying to scale without adding more headcount, this episode provides the exact framework you need.(00:00) - Introduction(04:13) - The 5 Levels of AI Business Maturity(11:02) - Why You Must Demand 3x Output From Your Team(20:00) - The 48-Hour AI Training Manual(31:12) - Why Resumes Have Expired: Hiring Elite Talent With AI(34:21) - Exposing the "Tool Collector" vs. The "Architect"(44:08) - The 3 Things You Must Never Automate(52:31) - Meta-Prompting: Having AI Build Your Systems(58:23) - The G.R.I.T. Prompting Framework Explained(01:02:53) - Stop Building Hacks, Start Building Systems(01:28:56) - The 5 Elements of an Automated Agency System(01:39:05) - Capture, Catalog, Convert: Building a Media Factory(01:56:36) - The Plumit of Agency Retainers(02:07:26) - How CEO Ego and Status Will Bankrupt You(02:10:40) - Taking Agency & Building a LegacyAccess Joe’s AI Instagram Chat Bot here: https://dmjoe.comBook Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, we sit down with Josh Sparks, former CEO of Thom Browne New York, advisor for Deus Ex Machina, and ex-managing director for Anthropologie E-Commerce to decode the harsh realities of scaling a business. The skills and hustle required to launch a brand are rarely the same as those needed to sustain it, and most founders fall into the "Founder's Trap" by confusing ego with elite operational leadership.Josh unpacks the profound difference between building a true brand and just sticking a "label" on a product, why relying on discounts and performance marketing is a race to the bottom, and why sacrificing short-term profit for the illusion of growth will eventually bankrupt you. We explore his raw, vulnerable failure at Thrive, the "New Guy Rule" for auditing your own company, and why the real money is always made in the last 4% of execution.If you are a founder struggling to scale, feeling the crushing weight of imposter syndrome, or trying to transition into a true Chief Executive Officer, this masterclass provides the exact operating system you need to increase your enterprise value.The Founder's Playbook:• The Identity Shift: Why "mindset" crumbles under pressure, and why you must undergo a total identity shift to become the leader your company actually needs.• Brand vs. Label: The brutal truth about marketing: if you have to constantly bribe customers with discounts and paid ads, you don't have a brand, you have a label.• The Profit Delusion: Why using high-interest debt to mask a broken business model is fatal, and why rapid growth only amplifies your mistakes.• The "New Guy" Rule: The zero-based thinking framework used by elite retailers to creatively destroy and rebuild their own business models every 90 days.• The Final 4%: Why most founders abandon projects at 95%, and why the ultimate competitive advantage lies in executing the final 2-4%. (edited) Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00:00) Introduction: The Evolution of a Founder to CEO(00:01:54) Why It's Never Been Harder to Build a Legacy Brand(00:04:45) Founder vs. CEO: The Paradox of Leadership(00:08:08) The "Founder's Trap": Identity Shift vs. Mindset(00:12:48) Recognizing the Symptoms of a Fragile Business(00:17:03) The Reality of Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt(00:24:46) Josh's Vulnerable Story: The Failure of "Thrive"(00:27:31) Why Most Business "Pivots" Are Just Hail Marys(00:31:43) The Venture Capital Secret: Why Failing is Valuable(00:35:50) Stop Deceiving Yourself: Hustle Does Not Equal Productivity(00:41:59) The 4% Rule: Why the Real Money is Made at 100% Execution(00:48:12) The Rainforest Metaphor: Growth, Maintenance, and Destruction(00:54:51) The "Antifragile" Strategy of Urban Outfitters(00:58:20) The Only Sustainable Rate of Growth is Organic Brand Demand(01:01:51) Brand vs. Label: The Brutal Truth About E-Commerce Valuations(01:07:40) Lifestyle Branding: The Deus Ex Machina Masterclass(01:13:59) How to Successfully Delegate and Create Executive Alignment(01:18:35) Creative Destruction: Firing Your Old Identity(01:22:02) The "New Guy Rule": How to Ruthlessly Audit Your Company(01:25:48) Why Scaling Fast Will Actually Destroy Your Business(01:31:23) Brand is Not Vanity: The Scaffolding of Enterprise Value(01:36:43) The Profit Delusion: Why Debt Can't Fix a Broken Business(01:45:31) Taking Agency: How to Step Into the CEO Role

In this episode, we sit down with Calvin Coyles to decode the inner psychology of elite founders. Moving past traditional business strategy, Calvin unpacks the profound impact of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and how the labels you attach to your identity are secretly dictating your company's growth.Calvin explains the confronting reality that 95% of your neurological connections are formed by age 30. He reveals how founders unknowingly trap themselves in a "well-rehearsed past," and why you will inevitably hit a nervous system ceiling long before you hit a financial one.If you are a founder feeling misaligned, burnt out, or trapped by your own limiting beliefs, this masterclass provides the exact psychological frameworks to upgrade your mental operating system.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00:00) Trailer(00:01:33) What is NLP? Rewiring the Brain for Success(00:04:39) How the Brain Deletes, Distorts, and Generalizes Reality(00:11:17) Internalizing Transformation: Be the Guide, Not the Hero(00:16:12) The “I Am” Trap: Reframing Your Core Identity(00:21:05) The Neuroscience of Personality: Breaking the 30-Year Lock(00:26:54) The 3 Developmental Cycles: Imprint, Modeling, and Socialization(00:31:22) Internal Alignment: How to Stop Driving with the Handbrake On(00:35:55) The Goldilocks Zone: Challenge vs. Capability(00:40:58) The Harvard Study: Financial Stress and the 15% IQ Drop(00:45:21) The Nervous System Ceiling: Why Founders Burn Out(00:52:10) The W.I.L.D. Method: Crafting a Compelling Vision(01:02:05) Grafting Habits: Redirecting “Addictive” Tendencies(01:14:30) The 5 Switches of Alignment: Beliefs, Emotions, Focus, Behaviors, Values(01:26:20) The Psychology of Agency: Are You the Kite or the Wind?(01:32:40) Visualization and the “Mastermind” Hack(01:38:15) Reframing Failure: Feedback and Skill Acquisition(01:44:20) The Ultimate Fear: Squandered Potential

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Breckler, CEO of Betts Shoes, to deconstruct the reality of turning around a retail empire and pulling himself back from the brink of personal collapse.Michael inherited a 133-year-old, 5th-generation family business staring down $12 million in debt. He had to make ruthless decisions to keep the company alive. He unpacks his exact turnaround blueprint: shrinking his store network, slashing his product line in half, and investing heavily in a total rebrand at a time when cash was incredibly tight.Beyond the boardroom, Michael opens up about the immense pressure of his family's legacy. He shares his personal journey of crumbling under the weight of expectations and how he used extreme accountability, cold therapy, and an unconventional "meditation" technique to rebuild his mind and take total control of his life.If you are a founder navigating a business crisis, struggling with "work-life balance," or looking to transform an obsessive personality into a superpower, this episode is your ultimate survival guide.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: ⁠http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj⁠Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: ⁠https://www.wix.com/studio (00:00:00) Introduction: Rescuing a 133-Year-Old Family Business (00:02:06) The First 90 Days: Inheriting $12,000,000 in Bad Debt (00:05:36) The Danger of Building a Price-Led Discount Brand (00:08:24) Profit Margins: The Pros and Cons of Vertical Integration (00:13:59) "Chop Off The Arm": Knowing When to Close Retail Stores (00:23:20) How to Fix a Toxic Company Culture Fast (00:33:11) The Burden of Legacy: Crumbling Under Founder Pressure (00:39:33) Hitting Rock Bottom & The "Graveyard Meditation" (00:45:39) Rebuilding Self-Worth and Mastering Cold Therapy (00:48:53) How to Channel an Addictive Personality into Success (00:51:43) The Myth of "Work-Life Balance" for Entrepreneurs (00:58:12) The Turnaround Strategy: How to Audit Your Own Business (01:04:36) The Rebrand Paradox: Investing in Brand While in Debt (01:14:58) Shrinking to Grow: Why We Cut Our Product Lines in Half (01:21:54) Leadership: The Difference Between Delegation and Micromanagement (01:25:40) What "Taking Agency" Truly Means for Founders

In this episode, we sit down with Marc Hermann, Co-founder of Everlab, to deconstruct the friction of scaling a business and the urgent need to redesign how we view human health.Driven by the sudden loss of his father at age 48 to an undetected heart condition, Marc has built a preventative health-tech empire designed to catch invisible risks before they surface.Marc delivers a masterclass on the brutal realities of entrepreneurship. We discuss why raising massive venture capital rounds at billion-dollar valuations can actually sabotage your team, the danger of getting stuck in "prototype hell", and why holding ruthless standards means accepting that you will not always be liked by your employees.If you are a founder navigating the mental weight of leadership, or a high-performer looking to take extreme agency over your long-term health, this conversation is your ultimate blueprint.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: ⁠⁠⁠http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj⁠⁠⁠Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.wix.com/studio⁠⁠(00:00:00) Trailer(00:01:52) Why The Modern Medical System Is Actually "Sick Care"(00:04:31) Health Data: The Missing Component to Optimize Your Wellbeing(00:09:39) The Wellness Gap: Bridging Traditional Medicine and Modern Fitness(00:13:14) Healthcare Economics: Why Prevention is Cheaper than Treatment(00:18:59) Founder Motivation: Turning Personal Hardship into a Global Mission(00:21:29) Team Building: How to Structure a High-Performance Co-Founder Team(00:27:49) Medical Breakthroughs: Catching Silent Health Risks Before They Surface(00:33:09) Product Market Fit: How to Identify Massive Gaps in Crowded Industries(00:40:50) Escape Prototype Purgatory: Why You MUST Charge Real Money(00:46:57) Startup Momentum: Why Speed and Urgency Beat Perfection(00:53:34) Being Accountable: The Ruthless Management Rule For Scaling Fast(01:01:44) The Founder Burden: Managing Extreme Stress and Mental Friction(01:10:21) The 2-Week Firing Rule: Why You Must Trust Your Gut In Leadership(01:15:56) The Valuation Illusion: Why Massive Funding Rounds Destroy Startups

In this episode, we sit down with Jack Delosa to unpack the hidden psychological drivers and fundamental business mechanics required to scale an empire. Jack reveals why entrepreneurship is fundamentally a trauma response, and why the "dirty fuel" of anger and proving people wrong will eventually lead to burnout.We deconstruct the concept of taking true "Agency" over your life, shifting from being at the "effect" of your circumstances to becoming the "cause" of your reality. Jack also shares his intense journey of steering his business out of a multi-million dollar debt crisis caused by government regulation changes, proving that environment matters far less than execution. Why being a "nice" leader is secretly selfish, the mechanics of instant cash flow via pricing power, and why you must stop doing mundane tasks to elevate your identity.This is a masterclass in shedding the ego, mastering your internal state, and building a business that actually serves your life.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: ⁠http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj⁠Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: ⁠https://www.wix.com/studio⁠(00:00:00) Introduction(00:05:56) The Mindset Shift to Build True Confidence(00:13:53) Why Great Entrepreneurs Ignore the Economy & Government(00:18:21) How to Save a Failing Business from $4 Million in Debt(00:28:10) Why "Ego Death" is Necessary for Business Leaders(00:32:00) The Psychology of Entrepreneurship: Is It a Trauma Response?(00:41:10) Productivity Hacks: How to Cure "Entrepreneurial ADHD"(00:44:05) The "Done By One" Deep Work Routine to Scale Your Business(00:52:35) Pricing Strategy: How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome & Charge More(00:57:32) Time Leverage: Why Rich Entrepreneurs Outsource Personal Chores(01:07:32) Why the Founder's Energy is the Most Important Business Asset(01:14:55) Leadership Advice: Why Being a "Nice" Boss Sabotages Your Team(01:27:05) Wealth Building Secrets: Why You Must Become the Exception(01:31:16) The Social Cost of Success: Outgrowing Your Old Friendships(01:40:12) How to Take Agency and Design Your Dream Life

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Gaudet, the Creative Director and "Architect" behind Dan Martell’s media empire. Sam explains how they scaled from a modest 10k following to over 8.8 million followers across platforms by treating content creation not as art, but as a manufacturing process.We deconstruct the specific infrastructure required to scale a personal brand: from the "H.E.I.T. Framework" for perfect scripting to the "Lake Method" of distribution that outperforms the traditional waterfall strategy. Sam also breaks down the concept of "Artifacts", how to extract the founder's taste into tangible assets so the team can execute without constant approval.We also go deep on the psychology of retention, why "modeling" is better than "innovating" for 70% of your content, and the specific "View-to-Follower" ratio you must track to ensure you aren't just getting views, but building an asset you own.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:17) The Architect Behind 8.8 Million Followers(00:04:43) Delaying Gratification: The Porsche Story(00:11:39) The First Step To Personal Branding(00:15:20) Why You Must Give Away Your Best Secrets(00:19:33) Defining Your "Frustrated Fred" (ICP)(00:26:44) Identifying The Psychological Blockers(00:33:34) Overcoming The "I Don't Have Experience" Trap(00:39:46) The H.E.I.L. Framework For Viral Scripts(00:45:12) Why Topic Selection Outweighs Editing Quality(00:51:22) Balancing Core, Casual, and New Audiences(00:56:26) The Timeline Of Success: 10k to 8.8M(01:03:02) Scaling The Team: Moving From Doer To Leader(01:09:49) Creating "Artifacts" To Scale Your Taste(01:14:27) The Protocol For Giving (And Receiving) Feedback(01:22:42) Setting Goals That Stretch The Team Correctly(01:32:01) The "Model, Make, Multiply" System(01:41:02) The 70-20-10 Rule For Content Innovation(01:57:28) Building The Production Conveyor Belt(02:06:38) The "Lake Method" vs. Waterfall Distribution(02:16:03) How To Spot Trends Before They Happen(02:22:58) What Taking "Agency" Really Means

James Smith is one of the internet’s most unapologetic voices on fitness and modern culture. Known for cutting through online noise with blunt honesty, James has built a global audience by challenging misinformation, calling out performative success, and prioritising action over aesthetics. In this episode, he unpacks content creation, monetisation, virality, and personal responsibility offering a grounded perspective on what it actually takes to build influence, credibility, and a meaningful personal brand in today’s digital landscape.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00) Introduction(09:12) Calling Out Internet Bullshit(21:30) From Overweight to Unapologetic(33:40) Why Hot Takes Cut Through(47:10) Views vs Conversions(1:00:29) Monetisation Without Killing the Magic(1:12:45) Niches, Scale, and Thinking Bigger(1:25:30) Engineering Virality(1:38:20) The Reps No One Sees(1:49:20) Why You Can't Outsource Authenticity(2:04:31) Building Influence Through Obsession(2:17:40) Taking Agency Over Your Life

Steve Grace is a founder and media operator who views failure as an unavoidable companion to meaningful work. In this episode, Steve unpacks how repeated setbacks shaped his thinking, decision-making, and definition of success. Rather than treating failure as something to overcome, the conversation explores how it functions as information, constraint, and filter. The episode is a grounded reflection on endurance, identity, and staying committed long after results fail to arrive.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00) Redefining Failure in Business(07:02) Early Mistakes and Better Risks(15:34) Detaching Self-Worth From Outcomes(24:18) Building Through Uncertain Periods(33:06) Discipline When Efforts Go Unrewarded(41:52) Accepting Failure Despite Best Efforts(50:27) Revenue Experiments and Protecting Trust(59:41) Using Past Mistakes as Constraints(1:09:08) The Internal Toll of Delayed Success(1:18:42) Shifting Success From Status to Alignment(1:28:31) Turning Theory Into Hard-Won Insights(1:37:12) Endurance as the Ultimate Differentiator

Cameron Grant is the co-founder of Unyoked, the pioneering nature escape company redefining how modern humans disconnect and restore. After leaving a demanding career in banking, Cameron built Unyoked with a single mission: help people switch off to switch on. Blending science-based design, minimalism, and deep respect for the natural world, he has scaled Unyoked globally, from Australia to Europe while collaborating with cultural icons and shaping a movement around meaningful rest, creativity, and immersion in nature.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00) Introduction: Rewriting the Rules of Busyness(04:12) Burning the Suit(10:01) The Genesis of Unyoked(17:34) Designing an Instrument of Nature(24:12) Rituals & Analogue Experiences(30:47) Simplicity, Design & Longevity(38:04) Early Pushback & Traction(45:55) Taking on Airbnb(53:15) McConaughey Partnership(1:00:01) Expanding to Europe(1:08:42) Regulations & Red Tape(1:15:28) The Future & Agency

Mitchie Brusco is one of the most accomplished skateboarders in history, known for redefining what’s possible on a vert ramp. From becoming a global prodigy as a kid to landing the world’s first 1260, he has consistently operated at the very edge of human capability. Beyond the headlines, Mitchie shares a rare perspective on fear, pressure, identity, mental health and the psychological cost of high performance, offering hard-earned lessons from a career spent pushing past the limits.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00) Introduction(07:32) Early Rise to Fame(13:48) Pressure as a Teenage Prodigy(20:56) Breaking the Mega Ramp Ceiling(28:44) Learning Fear at 14(35:59) Managing Competition Pressure(43:21) The Road to the 1260(50:58) Landing the 1260(57:46) Tony Hawk’s Belief and Influence(01:05:12) Going Viral & Global Attention(01:12:58) Processing Achievement vs Reality(01:19:44) Lessons on Fear, Identity & Mastery

Scott O’Neill is the founder and managing director of Rethink Investing, Australia’s leading commercial property advisory. After leaving his engineering career to pursue financial freedom, Scott built a multimillion-dollar portfolio and has helped thousands of investors create passive income through commercial real estate. In this episode, he shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur, why commercial property outperforms residential, and how disciplined strategy and mindset can lead to long-term wealth and freedom.Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio(00:00) Introduction to Scott O’Neill & Commercial Property(06:03) The Risks of Traditional Residential Investing(12:09) Lessons From the GFC & Mining Town Collapse(18:03) Escaping the Middle Class Through Strategic Assets(24:01) How Scott Scaled Into Commercial Property(30:33) The Power of “Boring Businesses” That Print Cash(36:58) Finding Hidden Business Opportunities Locally(43:04) Scaling Multiple Companies Without Venture Capital(50:41) Founder Evolution: From Operator to CEO(57:56) What Real Market Disruption Looks Like(01:05:12) Commercial Solar: Australia’s Next Big Industry(01:12:44) The Future of Property, Energy & Long-Term Wealth