Share this episode with somebody you think would benefit from it, and send me a DM. I would be honored to know what resonated most with from this episode. <<
Okay, let’s be real for a sec…
This wasn’t supposed to be a podcast episode.
I was invited to speak at the Wealthy & Well-Known Summit hosted by Rory and AJ Vaden in Nashville—a closed-door, intimate gathering for 8-figure brand builders. And instead of giving a polished keynote (like I usually do), Rory asked if I’d be open to a raw, unfiltered, unglamorous convo on stage about what it really takes to build a brand, create consistent content, and keep going even when it looks like nothing is working.
I said yes. And then… I got on stage and said a lot.
Afterward, I questioned whether I had been too honest. Too open. Too off-the-cuff. But then I reminded myself of what I remind you every week: my brand is built to attract or repel. That’s it. And if I attracted you today, then pull up a seat—we ride at sunrise.
In this very personal Q&A, I open up about the two-year vacuum I lived in. The years when it looked like everything was great from the outside—shiny launches, smiling photos, viral content—but inside, I felt stuck. Forgotten. Uncertain.
In 2023, my word of the year was “rebirth.” In 2024? “Independence.” But y’all… nothing came easily.
This episode dives into what it looks like to iterate in the dark, to chase a vision that hasn’t yet manifested, and to keep showing up even when you’re not sure what you’re showing up for.
We talk about:
- The silent battles founders face
- What it means to build with integrity
- Why I gave up control in my business to create more time for legacy work
- How I know I’m resilient, even when I feel like I’m losing
- The conversations I had with 25+ entrepreneurs that led to our newest offer (and why we’re so dang excited about it)
This episode isn’t about the highlight reel. It’s about what it looks like when you’re building in the shadows. Because real success? It’s not linear. It’s layered with setbacks, pivots, and quiet bravery.
And if you’re in the middle of a hard season, I hope you feel seen here. I hope this conversation is the reminder you needed: if you don’t quit, you can’t lose.
Let’s ride.
Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:
[00:46] An honest behind-the-scenes look at why this recording felt too raw to release.
[01:44] Why leaning into polarity and being unapologetically bold matters more than ever.
[03:50] An exploration of what it feels like to evolve when your audience can't yet see the full picture.
[05:22] The difficult decision to give up control—and the clarity that followed.
[06:20] How a personal mantra—“If I don’t quit, I can’t lose”—became a lifeline during discouraging seasons.
[08:07] How real conversations with ideal clients led to a powerful, beta-tested business pivot.
Listen to Related Episodes:
- How to Discover Your Uniqueness and Gain the Recognition You Deserve with Rory Vaden
- How to Get the Most Profitable Leads for Your Business with Rory Vaden
If you’d like to connect further with Rory and his team, visit freebrandcall.com/jasminestar to sign up for a free call. You can also follow Rory on Instagram at @roryvaden and @brandbuildersgroup.
A little bit more about Rory:
Rory Vaden, MBA, CSP, CPAE is the New York Times bestselling author of Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success and Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time. A recognized expert in business strategy and leadership, insights have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNN, Entrepreneur, Inc, on Fox News national television, and in several other major media outlets. As a world-renowned speaker, his TEDx talk has been viewed over 4 million times, he is a 2x World Champion of Public Speaking Finalist, has been called one of the top 100 leadership speakers in the world by Inc Magazine and was recently inducted into the professional speaking Hall of Fame. He is the Co-Founder of Brand Builders Group and the host of the Influential Personal Brand Podcast.
Share this episode with somebody you think would benefit from it, and send me a DM. I would be honored to know what resonated most with you from this episode.
Click >>PLAY<< to listen now!
