Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)

Gabor George Burt, a top expert on the influential Blue Ocean Strategy, found that many organizations struggled to put it into practice. The thought of having to create something entirely new was simply too overwhelming. To help make innovation more easily attainable for these businesses, Gabor developed the Slingshot Framework, which provides manageable, incremental steps for growth. In this epis...

A happy child, Kristen Butler didn’t realize she was poor until other kids in school pointed it out. As a result, she decided to change her circumstances. But after years of pushing herself to the brink of exhaustion in the pursuit of success, Kristen hit rock bottom. Forced to reevaluate everything, she discovered the life-changing power of positivity. She went on to build a global community and...

David Meltzer knows how to play to win. Having led the world’s most iconic sports marketing and management firms, he has spent his career mastering the game of business. Eager to carry on his mission of impacting over a billion people, he wrote Game-Time Decision Making. The book draws from the biggest names in sports and entertainment to uncover how to make confident decisions in high-pressure si...

David Meltzer was determined to get rich to buy his mom a house and car she never had. In college, he was able to use the emerging internet industry to his advantage and make over $100 million online but later went bankrupt before finding faith, kindness, and service. In this episode, David explains the mindset shifts entrepreneurs need to avoid failure and achieve long-term success. David Meltzer...

Even while working full-time, Hala Taha was already planting the seeds for something much bigger. What started as a side hustle, Young and Profiting podcast, quickly became one of the top business shows on Apple Podcasts. But Hala didn’t stop there. She went on to build an award-winning social media and podcast network, YAP Media. In this episode, Hala reveals her secrets for growing and monetizin...

Peter Norvig was curious about getting computers to understand English, he went to his teachers, but they admitted that it was beyond their abilities. Peter dove into the complex but exciting world of AI on his own. Today, he is recognized as a key figure in the advancement of modern AI technologies. In this episode, Peter offers practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to leverage AI in their b...

Mark Batterson had his sights set on a legal career, but he followed his true calling into pastoral work. Going in with a bold entrepreneurial approach, he developed a unique model combining ministry with business ventures that serve the community. Today, he leads a multi-site church that owns and operates several businesses. In this YAPClassic episode, Mark discusses social entrepreneurship and s...

Patrick Lencioni realized they struggled with innovation because he was the only one with the “invention” working genius. This pushed him to rethink his team’s roles and align them with their strengths. The result? A surge in collaboration and creativity, proving the power of the Working Genius framework. In this episode, Patrick shares how to apply the Working Genius model to unlock your team’s f...

As a young child in kindergarten, Jim Kwik was rushed to the emergency room for a traumatic brain injury that would cause him to struggle in school for many years. He even internalized the label ‘the boy with the broken brain’ until he discovered that genius is built, not born. Then, he transformed his life by mastering brain optimization and now helps others do the same. In this episode of YAPCla...

For two decades, Patrick Lencioni bounced between excitement and frustration at work. Driven to understand the root of his frustration, he discovered that while there are six types of work, he only truly enjoyed two. This insight led to the creation of the Working Genius model. Recognizing its universal value, Patrick and his team developed an assessment to help individuals and teams identify thei...

Starting as an actor in New York, Ryan Serhant quickly pivoted to real estate to make ends meet. What began as a backup plan evolved into a billion-dollar career, establishing him as one of the most successful real estate brokers in the world. In this episode, Ryan breaks down essential sales principles, including the “balls up” strategy and the “3Fs” approach: follow up, follow through, and follo...

Fed up with the stranglehold of the two-party system and its close ties to big corporations, Dr. Jill Stein decided to take action. She wanted to offer a real alternative to the “war economy” that puts profits before people, so she entered politics to fight for a government that cares about everyone. In this episode, Dr. Jill breaks down how the war machine controls the government. She also champi...

Robert Cialdini was once an easy target for salespeople, often saying yes to things he didn’t want. Intrigued by the psychological factors behind his decisions, he set out to uncover the secrets of persuasion. Today, he's known as the "Godfather of Influence" and has transformed our understanding of how persuasion works. In this episode of YAPClassic, Robert breaks down the 7 universal principles...

Cal Fussman declined Jeff Bezos's offer to sell his children's book on Amazon, balking at a 50% profit split. Before long, it dawned on him that he had underestimated the power of Amazon's platform. But this blunder became a pivotal wake-up call, driving him to embrace new opportunities and stay ahead in tech. Determined to seize every golden chance, Cal now confidently navigates the fast-paced wo...

Despite managing 30 employees and earning $100,000 monthly from her business, Hala Taha was reluctant to leave her stable job. But once she took the leap, her company truly took off. In this episode of the Big Questions podcast, Hala talks to Cal Fussman about her entrepreneurial journey and her strategies for leveraging social media and marketing to build a top-rated business podcast. Cal Fussman...

“Are you happy to be the president?” asked 7-year-old Cal Fussman in a letter to President Lyndon B. Johnson after JFK’s assassination. Six months later, his mother ran into their apartment, waving a letter from the White House. This profound moment revealed the power of a question, setting Cal on a lifelong journey of asking questions and telling stories. In this episode, Cal discusses the power...

Dandan Zhu’s family worked as babysitters for rich folks. Determined to maximize the opportunity, she learned how rich people behaved and carved her own path to financial success. She pursued a career in recruitment and real estate, becoming a self-made millionaire before she was 30. In this episode, Dandan shares her journey, offering her best insights on earning, saving, and investing to achieve...

Believing that "pressure makes diamonds," Dr. Aditi Nerurkar endured grueling 80-hour weeks as a medical resident. One day, she felt a sudden pain like wild horses racing across her chest. Thinking she had a heart condition, she underwent tests, but her doctor revealed stress as the culprit. This drove her to investigate its underlying causes. In this episode, Aditi explains the science behind str...

Passionate entrepreneurs like Hala Taha pour their hearts into their businesses. But this often means working late hours and spending less time with loved ones, resulting in burnout. With smart strategies like regular therapy, solid routines, and task prioritization, you can channel your passion into productivity without sacrificing your mental health. In this episode, Hala shares essential tips t...

One day, John R. Miles came home from the gym to find an intruder pointing his own gun at him. Days later, a close friend’s suicide further shattered his world. These traumatic events forced John into deep introspection and a transformative life change. Emerging stronger, he founded the Passion Struck movement to help others find fulfillment, just as he did. In this episode, John offers actionable...

Benjamin Hardy felt like a failure when his book didn’t make it to the New York Times bestsellers list, resulting in deep depression. Forced to confront his perceptions of success and failure, he realized he could drive significant positive change by focusing on progress and aligning with his future self. In this episode, Ben introduces the concept of 'The Gap and The Gain' for measuring progress...

Determined to master her messy personal finances, Jean Chatzky immersed herself in learning all about money. She worked on Wall Street to understand investing, then transitioned to personal finance journalism. After she got fired for being too expensive, she combined her side hustles and launched HerMoney, a safe space for women to learn about finance. In this episode, Jean shares practical tips o...

After battling depression and finding chemical antidepressants somewhat ineffective, Johann Hari researched the deeper causes of the condition. This led to his book, Lost Connections, solidifying his reputation as a leading mental health author. He followed with another bestseller, Stolen Focus, establishing himself as an authority on focus and productivity. In today's episode, Johann debunks the...

Ginni Rometty was often the only woman in her engineering classes. But, she was determined to excel in a male-dominated field and eventually became the first female CEO of IBM. Her trailblazing leadership revitalized the company and set new standards for women in tech and business. In this episode, Ginni shares her best insights on leadership, resilience, and the importance of being in service of...

Despite being a successful social scientist for nearly three decades, Arthur Brooks realized that he was missing the boat on personal happiness. He decided to apply his expertise to develop a strategy for living a happier life. So he quit his job and devoted himself to the pursuit of happiness. In this YAPClassic episode, Hala talks to Arthur about building true happiness.   Arthur Brooks is a beh...