Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews

Ep. #1184: Jonathan Goodman on Writing, Success, and Finding Your Way

Jan 15, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Jonathan Goodman, acclaimed author and entrepreneur, shares his insights on marketing and storytelling. He emphasizes the importance of simplicity in business strategies and defines the concept of a 'unique game' to focus on personal strengths. Goodman discusses the pitfalls of prioritizing online popularity over genuine connections and advocates for problem-solving approaches. Expect valuable tips on community building, authenticity, and the true meaning of success in a crowded market.

01:44:03

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Episode guests

Jonathan Goodman

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Quick takeaways

Defining your unique game in business enables you to focus on activities aligned with your strengths and market opportunities.

Storytelling is crucial for building trust and connecting emotionally with your audience, moving beyond simple metrics like likes.

Creating a community fosters familiarity and lasting relationships, highlighting the importance of local connections over mass marketing efforts.

Deep dives

Choosing the Right Game

Many entrepreneurs work hard on their businesses but often struggle to achieve results, not due to a lack of effort or knowledge, but because they are engaging in the wrong activities for their unique situation. The podcast discusses the importance of recognizing that there are different 'games' one can choose to play in business, such as 'winning the internet' versus 'building a sustainable business.' While there may be some overlaps between these approaches, they operate under different rules and expectations. This distinction is critical as many entrepreneurs mistakenly prioritize social media engagement or algorithm results, which can lead to frustration and inefficient business practices.

Intro

5min

Navigating Success in Business Strategies

28min

Navigating Nonfiction: Passion vs. Profit

15min

Flexible Dieting and Identifying Personal Strengths

5min

The Journey of True Passion

6min

The Journey of Creative Expression

24min

Striving for Excellence in Pursuits

13min

The Power of Excellence in a Competitive Market

3min

Understanding the Value of Creatine Supplements

6min

Why is simplicity so important in marketing? What is the “unique game” approach, and why does it work? And how does storytelling help you build trust and achieve long-term results?

In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Goodman, acclaimed author and entrepreneur, to discuss the insights behind his latest book, The Obvious Choice.

Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center and host of the Obvious Choice podcast, a top show for coaches and entrepreneurs. Featured in Men’s Health, Forbes, and more, Jon has helped over 200,000 small business owners worldwide grow their businesses.

In this interview, you’ll learn . . .

What it means to define your “unique game” and play to your strengths Why storytelling is critical for connecting with your audience How to focus on solving problems, not chasing likes or algorithms The power of community, specificity, and familiarity in building trust Why success comes from simplicity and identifying your "good enough"

And more . . .

So, if you want to discover practical strategies for finding your way in a crowded market while staying true to your goals, click play and join the conversation.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(04:57) Why “The Obvious Choice”?

(09:30) Winning the Internet

(17:57) Growth strategies

(26:01) Smart marketing

(32:38) Writing a book: why and how

(39:46) Writing focus

(47:02) Choosing your game

(01:00:38) Exploring your hypothesis

(01:07:05) Finding focus