Influence Anyone

Most professionals think branding starts with picking the right customer. Howie Chan says that’s the wrong question to ask. In this solo episode, Howie breaks down the positioning framework he uses to build some of the world's biggest brands, translated for executives, founders, and professionals who want to be remembered instead of overlooked. He explains why a brand is not a logo or a tagline but a memory sitting in someone else's mind, and why trying to serve everyone leaves that memory blank. You'll learn how to plot your brand on the relevance and difference matrix, why trigger-first targeting beats picking a persona or title, how to map your direct, indirect, and alternative competition, and how to build a star anchor that sticks through point of view, repetition, and expression across visual, verbal, and experiential touchpoints. Chapters: 00:00:00 What Brand Actually Means 00:03:25 The Relevance vs Difference Matrix 00:05:54 The Trigger First Strategy 00:10:11 Finding Your Difference 00:14:24 Expression: Point of View and Memorable Idea 00:18:09 Visual, Verbal, Experiential Branding Mentioned in this video: Neuroscientist: “Attention spans are NOT shorter” (7 tactics that get anyone’s attention) (July 28) Your Expertise Deserves to Be Known The Behavioring Lab is a new community for experienced professionals who want to build a professional brand that gets them known, trusted, and chosen by the right people. → http://behavioringlab.com/ Join the founding member waitlist. — Produced by Ideablossoms

Mark Victor Hansen got rejected 144 times before Chicken Soup for the Soul became one of the bestselling book series in history. In this episode, Howie Chan sits down with the legendary author, publisher, and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise to unpack the psychology behind persistence, goal-setting, destiny, and influence. Hansen breaks down why most people never figure out what they actually want, and shares the mental technique he and Jack Canfield used to program their subconscious mind while they slept, the same process that produced the Chicken Soup for the Soul title itself. He explains why storytelling is the real engine behind influence and sales, and walks through the traps that kill most first-time authors before they ever finish a book. You'll learn why writing down your goals every day changes how your brain processes opportunity, how to identify a niche worth owning, and how the biggest rejections often turn into the biggest wins. Chapters: 00:00:00 Ask Yourself, Ask Others, Ask God: Finding Your Destiny 00:04:35 Program Your Subconscious Before You Sleep 00:12:06 Storytelling: The Core of Influence 00:22:24 Four Paths to Publishing 00:25:02 The Traps That Kill Most Books 00:26:53 Own Your Niche: How to Choose What to Write First 00:32:07 Top Tips to Write Your Book 00:35:12 Writing Emotion Into a Nonfiction Business Book 00:38:52 Turning Problems Into Fortunes 00:44:17 Marketing Your Book: Lessons from Podcasting's Biggest Names 00:54:54 Final Advice on Purpose and Legacy From Mark Victor Hansen: Website LinkedIn Books Mentioned in this video: How To Create Any Reality (The Belief Blueprint) (August 4) What’s Your Influence Style Profile? What do you do when you need someone to do something? This quiz will help you discover your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots). → https://www.influencestylequiz.com/ Join 1,025+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is. Become the Expert People Remember, Trust, and Choose. Expert Foundations is a live 3-week program where you'll build the three foundations every influential expert needs. → https://www.howiechan.com/expertfoundations Next cohort begins August 17 - September 4, 2026 — Produced by Ideablossoms

Howie Chan sits down with Owen Fitzpatrick, social psychologist and author of Inner Propaganda, to unpack why your brain is running a quiet campaign against your own objectivity. Owen reveals that belief has almost nothing to do with logic. It has to do with what feels right, safe, and stable. Together they break down the four different kinds of truth we mistake for objective fact, why argumentation almost never changes anyone's mind, how to build a belief growth mindset, and why your brain decides what to believe before it ever starts reasoning. Owen also shares the deeply personal story behind why he's spent his career studying belief: he got very close to ending his life at 14 years old, but one line in his own suicide letter stopped him and saved his life. Chapters: 00:00:00 How Our Beliefs Influence Our Reality 00:12:34 Why This Matters: Living in a Difficult World 00:17:12 Building a Belief Growth Mindset 00:22:16 The Kale Analogy: Curating Your Information Diet 00:26:56 Desired Truth: When We Don't Want to Believe 00:31:22 Becoming a Belief Leader 00:34:02 The Courage to Change Your Beliefs 00:37:19 The Antifragile Identity 00:43:03 Influencing Teams and Companies 00:52:03 Nuance, Real Propaganda, and Complex Characters 01:00:52 Owen's Story: The Letter That Saved His Life (and His Final Message) From Owen Fitzpatrick: Website LinkedIn Book: Inner Propaganda Mentioned in this video: Beyond Belief: The Truth About Why You Feel STUCK | Behavioral Change w/ Nir Eyal (March 10) What’s Your Influence Style Profile? What do you do when you need someone to do something? This quiz will help you discover your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots.) → https://www.influencestylequiz.com/ Join 900+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is. Become the Expert People Remember, Trust, and Choose. Expert Foundations is a live 3-week program where you'll build the three foundations every influential expert needs. → https://www.howiechan.com/expertfoundations Next cohort begins August 17 - September 4, 2026 — Produced by Ideablossoms