Success Story with Scott D. Clary

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com   ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic, where he has led one of the most successful turnarounds in American media—achieving profitability, record subscriptions, and three Pulitzer Prizes since 2021. Previously editor-in-chief of Wired (where he boosted digital subscriptions nearly 300%) and editor of NewYorker.com, Thompson co-founded two tech ventures sold to WordPress and Amplica Labs, edited stories that became the Oscar-winning film Argo, and authored The Hawk and the Dove, hailed as "brilliant" by The Washington Post. An American record holder in the 50K run with 2 million social media followers, he embodies the intersection of editorial excellence, entrepreneurial vision, and athletic discipline—bringing the same relentless drive to building media companies as he does to distance running.   ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/nxthompson/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasxthompson/  https://www.nickthompson.com    ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Truth, Lies & Work Podcast - https://truthliesandwork.com  ShipStation - https://www.shipstation.com/ (Code: SuccessStory) Square - https://square.com/go/success  SurveyMonkey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/scott  Monarch Money - https://www.monarchmoney.com (Code: Success) Claude - https://claude.ai/success  Incogni - https://incogni.com/success (Code: Success) Think Big, Buy Small Podcast - https://link.chtbl.com/B2cH36AX?sid=SuccessStory  NetSuite — https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary   ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:31 – Why Running Is the Purest Sport 02:28 – The Challenge of Being Alone with Your Thoughts 04:44 – Discovering the Need for Solitude 11:52 – Running with Awareness, Not Just Discipline 14:42 – Living with Conflicting Personalities 16:42 – Sponsor Break 19:27 – The Double-Edged Sword of Obsession 21:14 – How Cancer Changed His Perspective 31:50 – Sponsor Break 43:29 – When Simplicity Becomes Profound 48:40 – Running as a High-Performer’s Edge 49:30 – Nicholas’ Wildest Running Story 53:22 – Running as a Multifaceted Tool 54:43 – The One Takeaway for Readers 55:11 – Advice to His 20-Year-Old Self

➡️ Start Here: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Subscribe Here: https://youtube.com/c/scottdclary ➡️ If you like more content like this, you'll love my podcast, 10 Minute Mindset https://10minmindset.org/ In this "Lessons" episode, we're exposing why you're exhausted all the time: It's not from working too much, it's from carrying dozens of unfinished things in your head. Every unanswered text, every avoided decision, every half-done project drains your mental energy all day without you noticing. Here's why unfinished tasks destroy your energy more than actual work—and how closing them gives you your energy back immediately. ➡️ Connect With Me https://instagram.com/scottdclary / https://twitter.com/scottdclary

Richard D. Fain, longtime leader of Royal Caribbean Group, transformed the cruise industry from a $550 million company to a $90 billion giant. He shares insights on the power of long-term thinking and intentional culture-building, making decisions that favor excellence over cheap compromises. Fain emphasizes the importance of fostering open debate and maintaining alignment in decision-making. He also reflects on leadership during the pandemic, advocating for over-communication and prioritizing people in challenging times.

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory     In this "Lessons" episode, Alexandra Fasulo, author of Freelance Your Way to Freedom, reveals the reality behind building a million-dollar freelancing career on Fiverr. She shares how starting on a marketplace can teach invaluable skills in time management, communication, and client relationships—foundations that later empower freelancers to scale independently. Learn how mastering soft skills like discipline and professionalism builds long-term success, why structured client onboarding prevents miscommunication, and how strategic pricing decisions pave the path from solo work to a thriving agency.   ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/IM7LZ-vMC6E  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alexandra-fasulo-full-time-digital-nomad-how-to-make/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7McJiaPKzX7XMPETW9mi1P    ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary   

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory     In this "Lessons" episode, Aaron Marino — better known as Alpha M, with over 6 million YouTube subscribers — shares how authenticity, resilience, and community drive true personal branding success. He reveals how his journey from style vlogs to entrepreneurship was built on self-awareness and embracing imperfection, not polish. Learn why showing up as your unfiltered self builds stronger trust than trying to be someone you’re not, how repeated failures can become the foundation of confidence and creativity, and why surrounding yourself with ambitious, like-minded people fuels lasting growth in both business and life.   ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/pBPakchjxgE  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aaron-marino-alpha-m-serial-entrepreneur-how-to-launch/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5iibFw8k6k00mpGBN06qWT    ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary   

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com   ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Chris Do is an Emmy award-winning designer, director, CEO, and founder of The Futur, an education platform with 3+ million YouTube subscribers and a community serving millions of creatives across 190+ countries. As the former CEO of Blind for 20+ years—a motion design agency that generated $7M+ annually working with Fortune 500 brands including Nike, Microsoft, and Samsung—Chris has built a career spanning design, strategy, and entrepreneurship, now empowering the next generation through courses, workshops, and content that have generated over 500 million views worldwide.   ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/ https://x.com/thechrisdo/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/    ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   ShipStation - https://www.shipstation.com/ (Code: SuccessStory) Square - https://square.com/go/success  SurveyMonkey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/scott  Monarch Money - https://www.monarchmoney.com (Code: Success) Claude - https://claude.ai/success  Incogni - https://incogni.com/success (Code: Success) Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) Think Big, Buy Small Podcast - https://link.chtbl.com/B2cH36AX?sid=SuccessStory  NetSuite — https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary   ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:21 – Why the Most Creative People Are Survivors 05:00 – Can Creativity Be Built from Scratch? 07:43 – Discovering Creativity at 42 10:04 – From Corporate Leader to Creator 13:25 – How to De-Risk Entrepreneurship 16:23 – Knowing Your Worth as an Entrepreneur 23:58 – Sponsor Break 28:34 – Why Charging More Makes Sense 31:15 – What It Really Means to Build a Personal Brand 40:07 – Growing a Business on Social Media (Without Oversharing) 47:25 – Chris Do’s Personal Branding Playbook 57:43 – Sponsor Break 1:00:36 – How to Present Yourself to the World 1:16:06 – Turning an Audience into Opportunity 1:19:16 – The Right Way to Monetize Your Audience 1:28:46 – Advice Chris Do Would Give His 20-Year-Old Self

Miko Matsumura, a partner at a $500M crypto venture fund, discusses how blockchain disrupts traditional finance by introducing competition for consent and accountability. He emphasizes the importance of responsible risk-taking and diversification in the volatile crypto landscape. Miko advises newcomers to start slow, play with small amounts, and learn through experimentation. He also critiques the dangers of influencers and stresses independent judgment to navigate the digital economy wisely. His insights offer a practical roadmap for engaging with decentralized systems.

John Hagel, Chairman of the Center for the Edge and a visionary researcher, dives into the pervasive impact of fear on the global economy and individual behavior. He discusses how escalating competition and rapid technological change foster a culture of short-term thinking and anxiety. Hagel introduces three transformative pillars—narrative, passion, and platform—aimed at overcoming fear and cultivating resilience. He emphasizes the importance of open narratives as a call to action, encouraging listeners to redefine success through purpose and supportive communities.

Discover how the gym is more than just physical training; it's about mastering discipline in life's toughest moments. Learn about the critical six-second decision between motivation and inertia, and how that internal negotiation shapes your ability to tackle difficult tasks. Scott connects gym attendance patterns to business habits and personal resilience, emphasizing that skipping workouts can predict future struggles with hard work. Ultimately, he offers a simple prescription: train consistently to build the mental strength needed for success.

Lavell Juan Malloy, co-founder and CEO of Brag House Holdings, discusses engaging Gen Z through gaming and college sports. He shares insights on why Gen Z is hard to reach, emphasizing their need for authenticity and community over mere audiences. Lavell recounts his journey from securities lawyer to entrepreneur, sparked by personal experiences in college sports. He delves into the importance of grassroots culture, navigating major partnerships, and scaling while maintaining authenticity. His advice on taking calculated risks and surrounding oneself with the right people resonates throughout.