TDC 078: 12 Days in Austin: Business Lessons, Dad Fails, and Why the AI Backlash is Coming

Dec 13, 2025

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TDC 078: 12 Days, 12 Takeaways: Lessons from Austin That Will Change How You Think About Business & Life

The last mile is the one that matters most—and why most entrepreneurs quit right before their breakthrough.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares his biggest lesson from each of 12 days spent in Austin, Texas—covering five back-to-back events, dozens of private dinners, and nearly 50 hours of sessions.

You'll learn why the coming AI backlash requires immediate brand strategy shifts, discover the 4-step plan for raising multi-millionaire kids, and understand why hosting dinners beats Facebook ads for ROI.

Question of the Day 🗣️

What's one habit that's keeping you small right now and no longer serving who you want to become?

Key Take-aways

Standing ovations happen in the last 60 seconds—most people remember sentences, not books
A committed group will raise the average together when focused on shared improvement
The AI backlash is coming as 162,000+ layoffs create anti-AI sentiment—prepare your brand now
Hosting dinners for friends offers better ROI than spending the same cash on Facebook ads
If it requires daily discipline, it's a badly designed system—successful people need less willpower

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Introduction: 12 Days, 12 Takeaways
00:54 – Day 1: The Last Mile Matters Most
02:42 – Day 2: A Committed Group Raises the Average
03:25 – Day 3: Laugh at Yourself in Public
04:15 – Day 4: Enjoy the Mess Before It's Gone
05:00 – Day 5: The AI Backlash is Coming
06:18 – Day 6: Dinners Beat Facebook Ads
07:11 – Day 7: Heart, Humor, Humanity & Hilarity
08:05 – Day 8: How to Raise Multi-Millionaire Kids
10:28 – Day 9: What Strengthened, Surprised & Needs Evolution
11:00 – Day 10: No Deal Goes in a Straight Line
12:34 – Day 11: Daily Discipline = Bad System Design
13:17 – Day 12: A Man Admits His Mistakes
14:56 – Closing Thoughts: Who Needs Your Hug?

Links & Resources 🔗

Issue #077 of The Digital Contrarian – "True Self vs. Strategic Self"
→ https://ryanlevesque.net/true-self-vs-strategic-self/
→ https://youtu.be/Va41rZ3TJCM
Work with Ryan's agency to build your Strategic Content Ecosystem → https://www.ryanlevesque.net/apply
Subscribe to The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

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