Useful Not Famous

We've found a way to use worry to improve our lives. Worry, problem solving, attacking constraints, whatever you call it, it's what we do before going all in on an idea. By taking this approach, we've found it's given us a superpower: Conviction. Leave us a voicemail to be featured on the show: call.show/usefulnotfamous Chapters (00:00) - Worry Before Betting (00:27) - Psycho Cybernetics Intro (01...

Half a million followers. $323 a month. That's the average. In this episode, we break down why fame is one of the worst goals you can chase — and why the people getting rich aren't the ones you see on your feed. They're the ones solving hard problems you'll never hear about. We get into: • Why the right tools in the wrong hands are worthless • The "aspiring entrepreneur" trap (and how to escape it...

Change doesn't fail because you're too early. It almost always fails because you're too late. In this episode, we explain why chasing views, followers, and “fame” won’t pay the bills without a real business behind it, and how to flip the whole game by becoming genuinely useful to a specific group of people. We break down usefulness as a chain (audience → business owners → advertisers/customers), w...

"Work smarter, not harder" is comforting advice—until you realize it's also a complete lie. Your competitors are doing both: using AI to sprint through research, production, and decision-making while everyone else scrolls. This week, we break down why tools like Grok and Claude can compress hours of work into mere seconds (if you know how to prompt well), why offloading your thinking is the fastes...

Most people are stuck solving the wrong problems. They obsess over pixel-perfect website tweaks, compare follower counts, and replay awkward conversations in their head while the questions that actually move the needle go unanswered. What are you building? Who is it for? Why does it matter? In this episode, we break down why small problems shrink your life and how choosing bigger, harder problems...

You crave certainty, yet that need is precisely what's holding you back. This week, we talk about why building trust with a personal brand, going hyperlocal, and creating real-life experiences people want to talk about are the only left ways to thrive in the AI future that's rapidly approaching. Chapters (00:00) - Certainty Quote (00:05) - Engagement (00:28) - Why We Disappeared (01:56) - Plane Ge...

We’re engaged! But before we share that story, we talk about pronoia (the opposite of paranoia), choosing to believe the universe is working in your favor. And how that simple shift changes what you notice, how you feel, and how you perform. We also talk about a gratitude practice that’s not a reaction (“grateful for”), but surprisingly far more effective. Plus, a wiener dog joins the show mid-epi...

If you think being adept at shortcuts will make you indispensable in an AI world, think again. Mastery takes time, practice, and, like Steph Curry who shoots 500 shots every single day, lots of reps. The best results come from action, learning, and exploring the stepping stones right in front of you. That also means choosing better inputs: books, high-level conversations, and real proof of skill,...

Not everybody wants to be looked at, but everybody wants to be seen—and that fear shows up fast online, especially when friends and family might judge us. In this episode we also discover that we fall into a new category: “all bite, no bark”—doing real work without talking about it—and why success often needs both strong work and smart marketing. 00:00 Not Looked At, But Seen: The Quote That Sets...

Trust the process. Time is the essential ingredient of success. Use it to your advantage. In this episode, we start with Kevin Kelly and Robert Greene, discuss the value of enduring the slow process of mastery, and emphasize why having the right focus in a hyperlocal market is crucial. We also share our personal struggles with content creation (despite running a video marketing agency ), the parad...

You get no competitive edge from consuming the same things as everyone else. Join us as we dive into the importance of storytelling, why unique hobbies matter, the nuances of live streaming, and unconventional sales strategies. Small shifts that lead to big changes. 00:00 Introduction 00:35 The Importance of Unique Consumption 01:33 Exploring New Interests and Hobbies 02:18 The Concept of Derive a...

We've been doing it all wrong. And we had no idea. 00:00 Introduction and New Rule 00:29 Personal Reflections on Teaching 03:13 The Shift to Storytelling 06:04 Navigating Negativity and Positivity 11:56 Exploring Storytelling Techniques 16:09 Balancing Creativity and Analysis 19:55 The Intersection of Art and Science 20:32 Elon Musk: Analytical and Creative 21:30 The Balance of Creativity and Prac...

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you went there? It’s not just you—scientists have found that crossing through doorways can actually make you forget what you were thinking. This phenomenon is called the “doorway effect,” and it can affect everything from daily tasks to content creation. 00:00 Introduction to Memory and Boundaries 00:55 The Concept of Boundaries in Mem...

Are you struggling to find happiness? You may be stuck with shallow happiness, when you need to focus on deep happiness. Jeff Sarris and Amara Andrew explore the difference between shallow happiness and deep happiness. They discuss how being present-focused can lead to instant joy but might prevent long-term achievements. They reference Derek Sivers' philosophy of 'Hell Yeah or No,' emphasizing do...

In this episode of Useful Not Famous, Amara and Jeff explore the concept of desire and how it ties to unhappiness. They discuss whether happiness truly exists or is just a state of contentment and joy. They delve into how setting no specific objectives can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths, using examples like Robert Greene's journey to writing 'The 48 Laws of Power.' They also touch on the...

In this episode of Useful Not Famous, Amara Andrew and Jeff Sarris delve into the concept of becoming the best in the world at what you do, drawing inspiration from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. They discuss the importance of continuous improvement, redefining your goals, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. The conversation covers a range of topics, including the necessity of hard work, co...

'I am a museum of everything I've ever loved.' We dive into what it means to us and how we all collect memories and experiences that shape who we are. We chat about the idea of always adding to our personal 'museums' and how life is all about growth and trying new things. --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our u...

What really exists is not things made, but things in the making. Once made, they are dead. —James Gleick --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our useful family at usefulnotfamous.com to get one actionable tip delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Follow Jeff Sarris Instagram | X | YouTube | Facebook | TikT...

Publicly, they want to be interesting. Privately, they want to be understood. —Derek Thompson, Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our useful family at usefulnotfamous.com to get one actionable tip delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Follow Jeff Sarris...

If you think you haven’t found your passion yet, you’re probably expecting it to be overwhelming. —Derek Sivers --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our useful family at usefulnotfamous.com to get one actionable tip delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Follow Jeff Sarris Instagram | X | YouTube | Facebook...

"You seem to be holding a bag of trash. But if you know there's actually a diamond inside, you'll sift through the junk until you find it." —Derek Sivers --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our useful family at usefulnotfamous.com to get one actionable tip delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Follow Jeff...

"The best thing a human can do is help another human being know more." —Charlie Munger --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our useful family at usefulnotfamous.com to get one actionable tip delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Follow Jeff Sarris Instagram | X | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn Foll...

"Not to assume it's impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it's humanly possible, you can do it too." —Marcus Aurelius --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our useful family at usefulnotfamous.com to get one actionable tip delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Fuck fame, make money....

What if having a goal is the reason you can't reach your goal? --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our useful family at usefulnotfamous.com to get one actionable tip delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Fuck fame, make money. Follow Jeff Sarris Instagram | X | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn Follo...

After making 12,000 videos, you may think we don't get overwhelmed by filming. Well, you'd be wrong. --- Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers. Join our useful family at usefulnotfamous.com to get one actionable tip delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Fuck fame, make money. Follow Jeff Sarris Instagram | X | YouTub...