August 13, 2025
As of this writing, I’ve already written three bestsellers, grown my YouTube channel to 130,000 subscribers, and trained some of the most prestigious brands out there. But I also made a lot of mistakes along the way — mistakes that slowed me down. If I could go back and talk to my 20-year-old self, here’s the brutal advice I’d give.
I spent $130,000 on an MBA from Columbia University and it was a terrible investment. Was it fun? Sure. I made some of my best friends during that time. But when it comes to real-world skills, it just wasn’t that useful.
Most universities are stuck in outdated models. They don’t teach the stuff that actually matters to grow your business: how to get clients, how to tell a great story, how to build a personal brand that people care about.
If I could go back, I’d skip the degree and spend that $130,000 on the best courses I could find — sales, storytelling, productivity — from people who have actually done it, not from professors who never left the classroom.
A month ago, my friend asked, “Hey Phillip, can you teach the zoo class on Sunday?” I said, “What? I’m not a dance teacher.”
She told me, “Don’t worry, just teach a few beginner steps.” So I agreed. On the day of the class, my heart was pounding. It started awkwardly, but then something strange happened. I wasn’t just remembering the steps — I was seeing the dance in a completely new way.
By teaching, I leveled up my own dancing. After the class, someone even asked if I gave private lessons. I realized: you don’t have to be perfect to teach. You just have to be a few steps ahead. If you’ve already put 100 hours into something, you know more than 99% of people.
Don’t wait to be great. Teach to become great.
I used to think change had to be hard, that I had to suffer to grow — until one book shattered that belief.
In June 2014, I was sitting in my apartment with a cigarette in my hand, thinking, “You’re such a failure. You’ve tried to quit so many times. What’s wrong with you?” It was my fifth attempt, and I’d tried everything: patches, willpower, shame. Nothing worked.
Then a friend gave me The Easy Way to Quit Smoking by Allen Carr. I read it in three hours, and something clicked. From that moment on, I never smoked again — and it wasn’t even hard.
The shift? I stopped saying, “This is so hard,” and started saying, “This is easy.” Before filming a video, going on stage, or writing, I now tell myself: This is easy. I’m here to have fun. Just by reframing, everything becomes easier.
Why do most people never hit their goals? Because they keep operating as the same person — same routine, same mindset, same environment.
You don’t get what you want. You get who you are.
Instead of asking, “How do I get that goal?” ask, “Who do I need to become to deserve that goal?” Your goals don’t respond to wishes — they respond to identity.
People think they need a genius idea to succeed. But I’ve written three bestselling books and reached millions on YouTube not because my ideas were revolutionary, but because I obsessed over making things easy.
I saw that most storytelling books were full of fluff and lacked real examples. So I took the same ideas and made them simpler, more useful, and more practical.
I didn’t reinvent the wheel. I made the wheel easier to roll.
I used to set realistic goals — grow by 10% a year, make a little more. It worked, but it was exhausting.
Then I heard Dan Sullivan’s concept: 10x is easier than 2x. At first, it made no sense. But a 2x goal means doing more of the same. A 10x goal forces you to think completely differently.
It made me focus on the one or two things that could radically change my business, what to outsource, and what to drop. Once I shifted my focus, I quadrupled my clients and exploded on YouTube — all in one year, without working harder.
When I started teaching storytelling, I had finished just one course. Two weeks later, I posted on LinkedIn: “I’m a professional storytelling coach.”
Was I delusional? Yes. But that one post pushed me to read 34 books, take 10 more courses, and share what I learned every week.
That post also led to Google hiring me for workshops. None of it would have happened if I’d waited to feel ready.
Go all in before you’re ready. Commit first, then grow into it.
For years, I showed up with the wrong energy. I wanted people to like me, applaud me, buy from me. I was showing up as a taker, and people can sense that.
Everything shifted when I started asking before every workshop, video, or call: How can I serve?
That one question changes your tone, your presence, and your energy. Show up to give, not to get
My coach once asked, “Phillip, why are you so magnetic and fun in your videos, but not here on this call?” I said, “That’s my on-camera energy. Off-camera, I’m more introverted, more quiet.”
She challenged me: “That’s not your identity — it’s a habit. You can choose who you bring to the table.”
Charisma isn’t a trait, it’s a choice. You can choose to bring energy, warmth, and presence — even if you don’t feel like it.
In my 20s, I spent time with people who were fine — nice, familiar, fun at parties — but I wasn’t growing with them.
The people around you shape your energy, mindset, and trajectory. Now, I intentionally spend more time with people who inspire me in any area of life — business, spirituality, hobbies, love.
When you upgrade your circle, you upgrade your life.
For years, I read a book a week, always chasing the next big insight. But every teacher had a different method, so I got pulled in different directions.
Things changed when I picked one teacher per topic and went deep. For spirituality, Michael Singer. For business, Alex Hormozi. I reread their books multiple times, watched all their videos, and applied what I learned.
I grew more in one year than in the five years before.
Last year, I asked: Can I work half the time but earn more? I tested it for 30 days — working three hours less each day, and using that time for spiritual practices: long walks, hour-long meditations, tuning into feelings of abundance and confidence.
The result? More deals closed, my highest earning month ever, and my best feedback. Not because I worked harder, but because I showed up centered and magnetic.
Your inner state comes before your to-do list. The best results don’t come from grinding — they come from showing up in your highest state.
Those were some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in the last 20 years. But if there’s one skill that changed everything for me, it’s storytelling. It helped me grow my business, land my dream clients, and reach millions online.
So if you want to learn on how to tell powerful and unforgettable stories, check out this article where I share three simple frameworks to better articulate your thoughts.
Enjoy.
P.S. Want to become a stronger communicator?
Here are two ways I can support you:
👉 Want to tell more engaging stories? Join our next Storytelling Workshop.
👉 Want to speak with confidence and clarity? Check out our Communication Skills Training.
Both are fun, practical, and designed to help you grow fast.
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
