This is the first interview I’ve posted on any of my channels in seven months.
That’s not a flex on “strategic absence” (though I do believe in that). Reality is, I didn’t have a conversation worth interrupting the rhythm of this newsletter for.
This one is worth it. I’ll give you the link down below but first – a few short thoughts (since this is still a newsletter).
Ryan Levesque built one of the most successful SaaS companies in my industry. He ran the webinars, scaled the team, won awards, etc.
In 2021, he had a life-changing offer to sell the business. At the 11th hour, the deal fell apart. What followed wasn’t a comeback story. It was something more honest.
I’ve been thinking about mid-life a lot and tossing thoughts out there on smaller channels, like this one on my Threads:
We all have our own kinds of reckonings. Ryan moved his family to a farm in rural Vermont.
He wrote an email to his entire (very large) list confessing that for seven years, none of his emails had actually been written by him.
He committed to writing every word himself going forward. No team. No AI.
(That inspired me to start my newsletter six months ago.)
He described it as moving from the watered-down orange juice you get out of a fountain machine to the freshly squeezed version you get at Sunday brunch.
This conversation carries many more great insights. Take 30 minutes to listen to it, it’s an important challenge for all of us as thinkers, writers, advisors, guides:
This Friday, Ryan and I are co-presenting a session at SXSW in Austin called “You Are Still the Brand: What AI Can’t Do For You.”
It’s the first time we’ve shared a stage together and I’m looking forward to it.
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While in Austin, I’m hosting a two-day retreat with my mastermind group and I’ve got a handful of VIP days scheduled with clients as well.
If you’re interested in details about upcoming openings for VIP Days or small group private intensives, I invite you to join the wait list here: mikekim.com/advisory.
My client roster is full right now but I’m opening some dates in May.
Joining the waitlist doesn’t obligate you to join and you certainly won’t get pounded with spam emails (that’s not my style, and never has been.)
… and I hope you enjoy this convo with Ryan!