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 the Tone
00:42 Looking vs Seeing: Why Visibility Feels So Scary Online
02:15 Art History Lens: The Active Work of ‘Seeing’
03:40 Amanda Palmer & The Art of Asking (Plus How We Save Quotes)
04:59 All Bite, No Bark: Doing the Work Without Talking About It
08:03 Bark vs Bite in the Real World: Billionaires, Brands, and Balance
11:34 Useful Not Famous: Why Fame-First Usually Fails
12:59 The Iron Law of Stardom: The 3-Year Fame Window
15:43 Turn Fame Into a Business: What Actually Sells
18:09 Proof in the Age of AI: Real Humans, Real Trust, Better Output
22:07 AI as a 10x Team: Scaling Creative Output Without Hiring
23:23 Beyond “AI Slop”: Taste, Intentionality, and the Dead Internet Problem
25:09 Proof You’re Real: Why Authentic Local Presence Matters More Now
27:02 Human Slop & Trend Chasing: Why Copycat Content Builds Nothing
27:54 The Influencer Money Myth: Views, Burnout, and the Hamster Wheel
30:19 Own Your Audience: Escaping Algorithm Dependence with an Ecosystem
33:22 All Bark vs All Bite: Start, Keep Going, and Manage Your Time
37:39 No Magic Pills: Temporary Fixes, Root Causes, and Getting to Work
39:41 Resulting & “Thinking in Bets”: Luck, Variables, and Long-Term Compounding
43:10 Closing + How to Support the Show

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Useful Not Famous is the podcast for people who care more about making money than getting likes and subscribers.

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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 paradox of choice, and the importance of transformation in storytelling and business.

00:00 Introduction and Quotes
00:54 Exploring Daily Meditations
01:54 Patience and Process
03:51 Social Media and Attention Span
07:34 Hyperlocal Platform Strategy
18:19 Link Trees and Online Presence
23:36 Client Collaboration and Decision Fatigue
24:24 Hyperlocal Platform Explained
25:15 Personal Content Challenges
26:35 Content Creation Strategies
28:04 Paradox of Choice in Content Creation
30:47 Exploring Video Concepts
37:11 Importance of Storytelling and Transformation
41:27 Sales and Transformation in Business
42:53 Conclusion and Upcoming Plans

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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.

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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 and Mental Breaks
03:37 The Value of Hobbies and Relaxation
07:42 Social Media and Content Consumption
14:21 Live Streaming and Personal Content Creation
19:59 Nostalgic TV Shows and Music Distractions
20:53 The Art of Storytelling in Screenwriting
22:02 The Importance of Character Transformation
23:19 Challenges of Teaching and Performing
24:47 The Struggle of Self-Promotion
25:40 Unique Sales Techniques
27:30 The Aggressive Sales Experience
30:11 MAVEN's Approach to Marketing
33:00 Creative Ideas for Conferences

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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.

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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 Practicality
22:25 Defining Art and Creativity
27:50 The Role of Storytelling in Human Connection
34:11 The Underdog Phenomenon
39:22 Football Analogies and Lessons
42:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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.

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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 Memory
01:11 Practical Examples of Boundaries
02:27 Boundaries in Media and Content Creation
04:44 Screenwriting and Successful TV Shows
15:51 Familiarity and Inside Jokes in Media
23:39 Lip Gloss Mishap
23:42 Soundtracks and Familiarity
24:07 Comfort in Familiar Spaces
26:51 Social Media and Notifications
27:26 Effective Use of Phones
29:45 Email Marketing Insights
32:53 Recording Content Tips
41:02 The Mandela Effect
49:45 Concluding Thoughts

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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
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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 doing things that truly excite you. The hosts also share personal experiences with balancing short-term joy and long-term goals, highlighting the importance of building a brand over time rather than seeking instant fame. They conclude with insights on ambition, objectives, and the value of consistent effort in achieving true happiness.

00:00 Introduction to Shallow vs. Deep Happiness
00:35 Meet the Hosts: Amara and Jeff
01:13 The Philosophy of 'Hell Yeah or No'
03:08 Conferences and Business Networking
05:00 Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Happiness
07:11 Ambition vs. Objectives
14:01 Living in the Moment vs. Planning for the Future
23:51 Driving Exotic Cars
24:06 The Fascination with Ferrari
25:42 The Joy of Anticipation
26:33 Wrestling and Viral Moments
29:54 The Pitfalls of Chasing Virality
32:38 Building a Sustainable Brand
33:48 The Importance of Hyperlocal Content
37:48 Consistency Over Virality
48:05 Celebrating Small Wins

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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.

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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 importance of continuous learning, especially through reading non-fiction, and how it can lead to personal and professional growth. Tune in to find out how exploring can lead to significant and unexpected successes!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:23 Meet the Hosts: Amara and Jeff
00:49 Exploring the Concept of Desire
02:54 The Three Types of Fun
04:45 The Nature of Happiness
10:40 Desire and Unhappiness
12:23 Personal Reflections on Desire and Career
14:41 The Joy of Unexpected Freedom
15:51 Embracing the Unknown
16:10 The Power of Learning and Exploration
17:43 Introducing Hive: A New Framework
19:55 The Journey of Robert Green
25:49 The Importance of Continuous Learning
32:44 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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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.

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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, competing with yourself, the satisfaction that comes from doing what you love, and learning from notable examples like Michael Jordan and Taylor Swift. They also touch on the broader idea that everyone has a unique form of genius, which can be harnessed by focusing on what truly fulfills you. Join them as they explore the mindset and strategies needed to achieve greatness in whatever you do.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back
00:30 Discussing Naval Ravikant's Wisdom
00:57 Reflecting on Past Podcast Episodes
01:24 The Journey to Becoming the Best
02:44 Competing with Yourself
05:07 The Importance of Hard Work
11:21 Focusing on the Right Questions
14:22 Living in the Present
18:52 Finding Fulfillment in Non-Work Activities
20:25 Redefining Creativity and Artistic Identity
23:04 Different Types of Genius
24:08 The Importance of Passion in Avoiding Burnout
26:48 The Role of Hard Work and Practice in Success
28:36 Taylor Swift: A Case Study in Reinvention
30:39 Balancing Passion and Practicality
37:08 The Magic of Mastery and Practice
40:36 Podcast Updates and Future Plans

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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

Follow Amara Andrew
Instagram | X | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok