Thinking Big: Strategy that scales. Mindset that multiplies.

Olympic Athletes Don't Visualize Winning. Here's What They Do Instead.

This Episode Is Sponsored By The Soul Desire Challenge: https://www.thinkandgrowrichworkshop.com/challenge [https://www.thinkandgrowrichworkshop.com/challenge] Here's something nobody tells you about imagination: it's either building your future or quietly sabotaging it. Most entrepreneurs have turned imagination into a bedtime story—vision boards, manifestation rituals, and visualizing outcomes. Then they wonder why nothing moves forward. The problem isn't imagination itself. It's how you're using it. In this episode, Sean Osborn breaks down The Imagination Trap—why your brain resists unfamiliar effort, and how elite performers use mental rehearsal to train their nervous system before reality demands execution. This is neuroscience-backed, performance-tested, and immediately actionable. --- WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ✓ The Fatal Flaw in Traditional Visualization Why imagining success actually keeps you stuck—and what your brain is really screaming for instead. ✓ What Olympic Athletes Actually Visualize Spoiler: It's not standing on the podium. It's the breath before the dive, the muscle tension in the turn, the split-second decision under pressure. ✓ The Fast:OS vs. Slow:OS Framework How your reactive brain and strategic brain work together—and why most people only train one of them. ✓ Sean's Personal Rehearsal Practice The exact mental rehearsal process Sean uses before every launch, difficult conversation, and high-stakes moment. ✓ The 5-Minute Action Step A simple practice you can do today to remove resistance from any task you've been avoiding. ✓ Why "Visualization Doesn't Work" for Most People The one thing missing from every manifestation practice—and how to fix it immediately. --- KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: "Visualization doesn't work because you want something. It works because your brain rehearses it." "Your brain doesn't resist success. Your brain resists unfamiliar effort." "Imagination isn't magic. It's rehearsal. And rehearsal removes resistance." "Most people use imagination to escape reality. Elite performers use it to prepare for reality." "When you visualize outcomes only, your nervous system stays untrained. When you visualize execution, your nervous system gets familiar with the work." --- FEATURED INSIGHTS: • Napoleon Hill's "workshop of the mind" concept—and how it got corrupted into vision boards • Michael Jordan on expectation vs. wishful thinking • Modern neuroscience on how your brain can't distinguish between vividly imagined experience and real experience • Why the same neural circuits activate during mental rehearsal as during actual performance • The difference between confidence and conditioning --- ACTION STEP: Pick one task you've been avoiding. Set a 5-minute timer. Close your eyes and mentally walk through DOING it successfully—not perfectly, but calmly and competently. Feel the resistance in your body. Watch it soften as your brain realizes: "Oh. We can handle this." Then do the task immediately after. No delay. No negotiation. This is how imagination becomes leverage. --- WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR: → Entrepreneurs who feel stuck despite "doing all the mindset work" → High performers who want science-backed mental preparation techniques → Anyone who's tried visualization and decided it "doesn't work" → Business owners avoiding difficult conversations or uncomfortable tasks → Athletes, creators, and leaders who want to train their nervous system for execution --- RESOURCES MENTIONED: • Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill • Michael Jordan interviews on mental preparation • Research on neural pathway activation during mental rehearsal • The You:OS framework (Fast:OS vs. Slow:OS) --- CONNECT WITH SEAN: Instagram: @ThinkingBig Coaching Twitter: @seanosborn LinkedIn: Sean Osborn Website: thinkingbigpodcast.com --- SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode shifted something for you, please leave a 5-star review and share it with one person who needs to hear this message. Type TAGR in the comments or tag Sean on social media if you're committing to rehearsing success before you execute. New episodes drop every [DAY] on all podcast platforms.

The 7-Word Hook That 10X's Your Response Rate - The Lead System Series (Part 1 of 4)

Sponsored By ClickFunnels Live - Las Vegas [https://www.cfconnectvegas.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNPpChleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExRzB0UWJZNlN5OUJkNm01AR4HVWNUlSeeOS8VmvRWvzRt28uv3KUdHCH8QcoJSf5XeJAhkBHXzlX8FITtNQ_aem_rYkmfaobs4upQrvGBvAQlA] Date: October 22nd I will be speaking and teaching this material live on stage with exclusive bonuses for attendees. Virtual seats available. Join me https://www.cfconnectvegas.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNPpChleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExRzB0UWJZNlN5OUJkNm01AR4HVWNUlSeeOS8VmvRWvzRt28uv3KUdHCH8QcoJSf5XeJAhkBHXzlX8FITtNQ_aem_rYkmfaobs4upQrvGBvAQlA In this episode, Sean breaks down the single most important element of your marketing: the hook. Learn why the first seven words you write can literally determine whether your content gets ignored or generates sales. This is the foundation episode of Season 7's 16-episode roadmap to building a growth engine that pays for itself every 30 days. Key Takeaways What Is a Hook? A hook is whatever people see, read, or hear first. It's the opening line of your video, the first words in your headline, your email subject line, or the visual that pops up before you speak. Without a killer hook, nothing else in your marketing matters. The Two Types of Hooks Verbal Hooks: * Labels that call out your audience * Sharp questions * Conditional statements ("If you're struggling with X...") * Commands * Bold statements * Lists * Mini stories * Provocative statements Nonverbal Hooks: * Pattern interrupt visuals * Unusual props * Surprising camera cuts * Distinctive sounds Pro tip: Combine verbal + nonverbal for "multimodal" hooks that hit attention from multiple angles. The 70-20-10 Rule * 70% - More of what's already working (your proven winners) * 20% - Winner-adjacent content (variations on proven hooks) * 10% - Big, crazy, new experiments The Hook Tracker System Create a simple spreadsheet with: * Hook name * Actual hook copy * Outcome/results * Link to where you used it Always test at least 2 hooks per campaign - never just pick one and hope. Resources Mentioned Free Tools (Available in Show Notes): 1. Hook Tracker Template - Simple spreadsheet to track what's working 2. AI Hook Generator Prompt [https://docs.google.com/document/d/19GHuGJr8PHHI6AbnFx_sNYUkWepCjZMz4iOXtwcK6wc/edit?usp=sharing] - Generates 55+ world-class hooks in under 2 minutes across 11 categories including: * Pattern break hooks * Open loop hooks * Identity ping hooks * Status and safety hooks * Reward preview hooks * Proof hooks * Pricing hooks * Fast cash/lightning hooks * Closing hooks * Branding hooks The 30-Day Payback Engine Connection Strong hooks = Better attention = Cheaper clicks = Better show-up rates = Faster upsells The Goal: Make your gross profit in the first 30 days cover your customer acquisition costs, so your growth pays for itself. Hook Examples by Business Model SaaS Companies: "Launch fully configured in 4 hours, or we pay your first month" Course Creators: "One module in 7 days that fixes your most urgent pain—and you keep it forever" Service Providers: "Strategy session booked in 60 seconds + $197 credit if we can't help" Weekly Hook Creation Rhythm Monday: Research - Collect 10-20 outlier hooks from your niche Tuesday: Write 50 hooks total (35 from winners, 10 winner-adjacent, 5 moonshots) Wednesday: Record 10 hook variations per content package Thursday: Edit - Pair hooks with content sections and CTAs (assembly line style) Friday: Ship across platforms and update your hook tracker Weekly: Keep top 10%, kill bottom 10%, repeat Critical Hook Rules ✅ For email subject lines: 7 words or less ✅ For social: You have 0.007 seconds to stop the scroll ✅ Clear beats clever - Every. Single. Time. ✅ Shorter is stronger - If you can cut words and keep impact, do it ✅ Split test everything - Use A/B testing (10% one hook, 10% another, winner gets 80%) Common Hook Mistakes to Avoid 1. Vague hooks - If your audience can't self-identify instantly, it's too broad 2. Fancy words over simple promises - Don't get cute 3. All verbal, no visuals - Make it multimodal when possible 4. Guessing instead of tracking - Log everything 5. Starving the 70% - Stop reinventing weekly; repeat what works 100x more than you think This Week's Homework Write These Hooks (Manually or Using AI Tool): * 3 identity hooks ("If you're a [blank]...") * 3 question hooks ("What if you could [blank]?") * 3 conditional hooks ("When you finally [blank]...") * 3 command hooks ("Stop doing X and start...") * 3 strong statements ("Here's the truth nobody's telling you...") * 3 list/step hooks ("The 5 ways to...") * 2 nonverbal ideas (weird prop, unusual sound, visual element) Deploy This Week: 1. Pick your top 5 hooks 2. Read them out loud 3. Tighten each one (cut every unnecessary word) 4. Add to your hook tracker 5. Test at least 5 hooks this week 6. DM Sean your top 3 and tell him which one you think will win What's Next Next Episode: Building Your Content Factory Learn how to take 50 hooks + 5 content sections + 3 CTAs and create 150+ content variations per week without burning out. Season 7 Roadmap Preview Lead System Series (4 episodes): * Hooks that make people stop * Building your content factory * Branding that creates instant trust * Turning customers into your marketing team Sales Series: * Closing without feeling sleazy * Building undeniable proof Delivery Series: * Making each customer worth more * Retention strategies Profit Series: * Lightning offer plays * Premium pricing strategies * Simple margin improvements Final Episodes: * Offer stacks and architecture * Proof systems that scale * Complete 90-day game plan Connect with Sean * DM your top hooks and results at https://www.instagram.com/thinkingbigcoaching [https://www.instagram.com/thinkingbigcoaching] Remember: Everything you create needs a HOOK.

I've Been Hiding This $25K Secret From You (Until Now)

This Episode Is Sposored By: https://www.sellingonline.com/?aff=0f0e7bfa3f0c1ab2cc390d52948e863391044ae8dbc7dae06fba2a8cdcc161fa Welcome to the most explosive season of Thinking Big yet! After 6 seasons of mindset mastery, Sean is finally pulling back the curtain on the $25,000 framework he's been teaching exclusively to his high-ticket coaching clients and mastermind members. In this season premiere, Sean reveals why he's been holding back his most powerful business strategy - and why he's decided to give it all away for free in Season 7. What You'll Learn 🎯 The Big Reveal * The Self-Liquidating Growth Model (SLG) that took one client from $400K to $2.8M in 18 months * Why Sean kept this framework exclusive to his $25K mastermind... until now * How your customers can finance the acquisition of your next customers 📊 The 3 Critical Numbers * Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) - What it really costs to get a paying customer * 30-Day Gross Profit - Your real profit window that matters most * Payback Period - The timeline that determines your freedom or prison 🚀 Season 7 Roadmap The Lead System Series: * Hooks that convert clicks into customers (not just vanity metrics) * The AI prompt that generates 75+ high-converting hooks * "GOATED" ads that produce 150+ variations per week The Sales System Series: * Lead nurture sequences that actually work * Natural closing techniques (no sleazy tactics) * Proof frameworks that make prospects feel foolish NOT to buy The Delivery System Series: * Lifetime value optimization strategies * Retention systems that create raving fans * How to avoid the post-sale crickets The Profit System Series: * Lightning launches every 90 days * 2025 pricing strategies that work * How to raise prices without customer rebellion Key Quotes "Information without implementation is just expensive entertainment." "The distance between where you are now and where you want to be isn't measured in episodes consumed. It's measured in actions taken." "If your 30-day gross profit is less than your customer acquisition cost, you're in venture capital prison." "Your current situation is not your final destination." Action Items (Your Homework) Before the next episode, calculate these 3 numbers: 1. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) - How much you spend to acquire each paying customer 2. 30-Day Gross Profit - Average profit per customer in their first 30 days 3. Payback Period - How long it takes for a customer to pay back their acquisition cost Pro Tip: If you don't know these numbers, you're driving blindfolded on a highway. Success Stories Mentioned * Client scaled from $400K to $2.8M in 18 months using the SLG framework * Another member broke 6-figures for the first time using these systems * Hook framework case study: 10K views/2 sales → 50K views/47 sales (same audience, same offer) Podcast Milestones 🏆 Top 20 Entrepreneur Podcast in 52 countries on Apple Podcasts 🌍 Entrepreneurs in 52 countries building empires with Thinking Big 📈 6 seasons of mindset mastery foundation Connect with Sean * Website: thinkingbigcoaching.com * Instagram: @thinkingbigcoaching Share Your Wins: Sean collects success stories like vintage wine. Send voice notes, emails, or DMs when this season changes your business. Coming Up Next Episode We dive deep into the 3 critical numbers, how to calculate them, and how to change them if they're not where they need to be. Plus, discover how a tiny change in your first 30 days can 10X your company's performance. Subscribe & Review If this episode fired you up, subscribe to never miss an episode and leave a 5-star review. Your reviews help other entrepreneurs find the show and start thinking bigger.

From Trailer Court to Billions - Marissa Nehlsen's Blueprint for Living Life Rich

Pre-order "Live Life Rich" before August 19th and get exclusive bonuses worth $2,500: Visit: LiveLifeRichBook.com What does it really mean to live a "rich" life? Our guest today, Marissa Nehlsen, went from picking up cans and bottles in ditches for $30 a month while living in a trailer court to managing billions in assets and partnering with leadership legend John Maxwell. But her definition of "rich" might surprise you. In this powerful conversation, Marissa breaks down her five-pillar framework for building true wealth - and it's not just about money. She shares the exact "Freedom Plan" that helped her escape financial struggle, reveals how she built eight streams of income, and explains why the world needs YOU to be rich. Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or looking to take your success to the next level, this episode delivers both inspiration and practical tactics you can implement immediately. Key Topics Covered The Five Pillars of a Rich Life * Emotional : How you feel about yourself when you look in the mirror * Relational : Building rocket ship relationships that compound your success * Spiritual : Connecting to something bigger than yourself * Physical : Taking care of your health to serve at the highest level * Financial : Creating the resources to solve problems in the world The Freedom Plan Framework * Freedom Number : How much you need to maintain your lifestyle * Freedom Sources : All the ways money can flow to you * Freedom Date : When your sources will cover your number * Practical worksheets and calculations included in Marissa's book The Eight Streams of Income * Why most people only have one stream (earned income) * How to systematically build multiple income sources * Marissa's newest stream: royalty income (and how she got it without being Taylor Swift) Mindset and Personal Development * The power of "silent mentors" through books and podcasts * Why consistency beats perfection every time * How to read people and energy quickly (survival skills from tough backgrounds) * The importance of protecting your "Fab Five" inner circle Powerful Quotes from This Episode "If you help enough people get what they want, you can have your heart's desire." - Zig Ziglar quote that changed Marissa's life "The world needs you rich, because if you think like I do, I'm a problem solver, I'm gonna go solve some problems." "You don't create a rich life by sitting in your house just reading all day. You gotta take the idea and you gotta apply the idea." "Small actions over time will lead to great change in your life. You will not see it today. You will not. But small actions over time will lead you to great change." "What at the end of your life would you regret not having given your all to?" Guest Bio Marissa Nehlsen is a financial strategist, entrepreneur, and author who has spent over 30 years in the finance industry. Starting from humble beginnings in a trailer court, she built multiple seven-figure businesses and now manages billions in assets for her clients. Marissa is a certified John Maxwell leadership coach and speaker, and has traveled the world mentoring entrepreneurs and business leaders. She's passionate about helping others build what she calls a "rich life" - one that's abundant in all five key areas: emotional, relational, spiritual, physical, and financial wealth. Her new book "Live Life Rich" features a foreword by John Maxwell and provides a practical roadmap for entrepreneurs to build, protect, and multiply their wealth while living with purpose. Resources Mentioned Books Referenced * "Live Life Rich" by Marissa Nehlsen (releasing August 19th) * "Today Matters" by John Maxwell * "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John Maxwell * "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill * "Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins People Mentioned * John Maxwell (leadership expert, wrote foreword for Marissa's book) * Mike Kim (encouraged Marissa to write her book) * Andrew Manzano (mutual connection) * Zig Ziglar (foundational influence) * Tony Robbins/Anthony Robbins (early influence) * Jim Rohn (personal development mentor) Action Steps from This Episode 1. Calculate Your Freedom Plan * Determine your Freedom Number (annual lifestyle cost × years until retirement) * List all your Freedom Sources (current and potential income streams) * Set your Freedom Date (when sources will cover your number) 2. Audit Your Inner Circle * Identify your "Fab Five" - the five people you spend the most time with * Remove or limit time with "anacondas" who drain your energy and dreams * Invest in relationships with other big thinkers and entrepreneurs 3. Start Your Investment in You * Commit to reading one business/personal development book per month * Replace Netflix time with podcasts or educational content * Join a mastermind or entrepreneurial community 4. Create Your Side Hustle * Set up a side LLC for tax advantages * Identify one additional income stream you can start this month * Focus on serving others and solving problems 5. Journal Your Dreams * Write down what you want to have, do, and become * Ask yourself: "What if?", "What for?", and "What's next?" * Review and update your vision regularly Special Offer Pre-order "Live Life Rich" before August 19th and get exclusive bonuses worth $2,500: * Private Q&A sessions with Marissa * Comprehensive workbook with Freedom Plan templates * Behind-the-scenes video series * Access to exclusive book club community Visit: LiveLifeRichBook.com

Why Your Marketing Efforts Aren't Working (And Rich Relationships Are The Real Key to Business Success) - with Selena Soo

This episode is sponsored by: https://secretsofsuccess.com/roundpegs?afmc=h2r Here's the hard truth I learned in this conversation: You can spend thousands on Facebook ads, perfect your email sequences, and create the most polished marketing campaigns... but if you're not building rich relationships, you're fighting an uphill battle that's only getting steeper. In this episode, I sit down with publicity strategist and author Selena Soo to dive deep into her new book "Rich Relationships" - and what she reveals will completely shift how you think about growing your business. As a fellow introvert, I've always struggled with the idea of "networking." The thought of working a room or making small talk at conferences made my skin crawl. But Selena showed me something game-changing: You don't need to be an extrovert to build a million-dollar network. You just need to be intentional. Why This Episode Will Transform Your Business We're living in what Selena calls a "trust recession." People are bombarded with ads, skeptical of marketing messages, and increasingly buying from their communities rather than responding to traditional marketing. The entrepreneurs who thrive in this new landscape aren't the ones with the biggest ad budgets - they're the ones with the richest relationships. I've seen this firsthand. When I look back at my entire career - from taking a company public in the late '90s to my current work with industry leaders like Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, and Russell Brunson - every major breakthrough came through relationships, not marketing campaigns. What You'll Discover The 3 Types of Givers (And Why Most Entrepreneurs Are Doing It Wrong) * The "Indiscriminate Giver" trap that leads to burnout and resentment * How "Transactional Givers" actually block abundance * The "Rich Giver" approach that creates win-win relationships The 6 Circles of Connection Framework This is Selena's signature system for managing your network without overwhelm: * Circle 1: Your innermost circle (1-3 people doing life with you) * Circle 2: Treasured connections (your soul family) * Circle 3: Active network (people you'd invite to the party) * Circle 4: Distant connections (arm's length relationships) * Circle 5: Disconnected connections (people you keep at distance) * Circle 6: Unknown individuals The Top 40 Strategy * 20 rich relationships to nurture and prioritize * 20 new relationships to develop based on your goals * How to avoid the "one is the most dangerous number" trap Standout Moments From Our Conversation "Rich relationships are the world's highest form of currency. There's no amount of money you can pay for that trust." - Selena Soo "Everything that has pushed me forward in my businesses has been the relationships that I've had. You cannot buy that trust. You have to build the relationships and the relationship has to come first." - Sean Osborn "One rich relationship is more powerful than a hundred casual connections." - Selena Soo "People are now buying from their communities, from their tribes. It's no longer business to consumer - it's consumer to consumer, tribe to tribe." - Sean Osborn Key Takeaways ✅ Rich relationships have 3 characteristics: They bring financial abundance (directly or indirectly), align with your biggest goals, and inspire you to become your best self ✅ The relationship-first approach: Stop leading with transactions. Build trust through conversations - Level 1 (getting to know each other), Level 2 (nurturing and building trust), Level 3 (solid foundation for collaboration) ✅ Your network is your net worth: There are places you can only reach through rich relationships. No amount of mass marketing can replace a trusted referral ✅ The email list revelation: My most effective sales don't come from ads anymore - they come from my communities. Think of your list as a savings account where you must make deposits (value) before withdrawals (asks) ✅ Introverts have superpowers: You don't need to be the center of attention. Mission-driven leaders who put themselves out there for a bigger purpose are often the most influential ✅ The vulnerability factor: The fastest way to build relationships is to show genuine interest in others, support their goals, and be open to receiving support yourself Why This Matters More Than Ever As AI becomes more prevalent and marketing becomes increasingly automated, the human connection becomes even more valuable. Selena and I both believe that businesses without rich relationships won't survive in the coming years. The entrepreneurs winning today aren't just great marketers - they're great relationship builders. They understand that in a world of infinite content and constant noise, trust and personal connection are the ultimate differentiators. Resources Mentioned * Selena's New Book: "Rich Relationships" (Available for pre-order on Amazon) * Free Resources: Get the first 4 chapters free + 25 Rich Relationship Scripts at richrelationshipsbook.com/thinkingbig * Myers-Briggs Assessment: Referenced as a tool for understanding your personality type (Selena is an INFJ - same as Gandhi and Mother Teresa) Connect with Selena Soo * Website: https://www.selenasoo.com/ If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear about it. Share your biggest takeaway on social media and tag me - I read every single message. And if you know another entrepreneur who's struggling with networking or feeling like their marketing isn't working, share this episode with them. Sometimes one conversation can change everything. Remember: You don't need to be the most extroverted person in the room. You just need to be the most intentional about the relationships you build. Keep thinking big, Sean