Podcast Summary

Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson

Host: Jay Schwedelson (GURU Media Hub)
Episode: Are You Proud of Yourself? ⚡ Jay’s SCOOP | Ep. 473
Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

In this introspective episode, Jay Schwedelson shifts focus from tactical marketing tips to a deeper exploration of mindset, resilience, and the value of self-reflection. He discusses the importance of acknowledging personal and professional challenges, using gratitude towards your past self as motivation, and the underrated power of brief moments of courage. By sharing personal stories, Jay empowers listeners to recognize their growth, embrace vulnerability, and find fuel for future successes, especially as the new year begins.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Everyone Deals with Challenges

• Jay emphasizes that regardless of your title or status, everyone carries burdens and self-doubt.
  • [01:07] "It doesn't matter if you are the CEO of a big company, if you're a solopreneur, marketing manager... unemployed... everybody's got a lot of stuff that they're dealing with."
• The perception that 'important' people have it together is a myth.
  • [02:00] "While they may seem like they're just smooth sailing on the inside, they're not."

2. Reflecting on the Past Self

• Introducing the concept of being thankful for courageous decisions made by your "slightly younger" self.
  • [03:17] "What is one thing that you are grateful for – that your past self had the courage to do?"
• Encourages listeners to look at recent past years, not just distant history, to identify pivotal actions.

3. The Guru Conference: A Case Study in Courage

• Jay tells the origin story of Guru Conference, birthed from a moment of crisis during COVID.
• Describes the uncertainty, fear, and initial failures involved in launching something entirely new.
  • [07:14] "When I say I didn't know what I was doing, I did not have a clue. I didn't know where to begin. I was so far into this world, I knew nothing, right?"
• Overcoming obstacles and sleepless nights eventually led to business survival and growth.
  • [09:20] "Coming out of COVID, my agency was able to survive... and the Guru Conference after year one really took off."

4. 10 Seconds of Bravery

• Argues that impactful choices don’t require prolonged courage—just a few seconds of boldness.
  • [10:00] "You need to be brave for ten seconds, whatever it is."
• Applies to both business (reaching out for connection or opportunity) and personal life (initiating new relationships).

Examples:

• Sending a LinkedIn connection with a custom note
  • [11:04] "You need to be brave enough for ten seconds to send that LinkedIn connection with that custom note."
• Introducing yourself at a networking event
• Taking the first step to meet someone new

5. Reframing for Future Growth

• Encourages listeners to view current actions through the lens of what their future self will appreciate.
  • [13:12] "What am I doing today that my future self is going to be happy I did?"
• Reminds that substantial growth often starts with small, uncomfortable steps—no need for a monumental plan.

6. Shared Human Experience

• Calls out collective feelings of inadequacy, burnout, and negative self-talk, especially prominent at the start of a new year.
  • [16:00] "Not every day you wake up like, yeah, I'm crushing it. There are days that you wake up, you're like, oh, it's all... you have this catastrophic mindset."
• Normalizes these emotions and stresses that everyone is "in it" together.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On gratitude for past self:

  "I almost want to high-five myself from a few years ago and say, I can't believe that you stepped it up and you did that thing."
  — Jay Schwedelson [04:17]

• On taking the leap:

  "You don't need to be this brave, courageous person with this overall huge plan. No, you need to be brave enough for ten seconds."
  — Jay Schwedelson [10:10]

• On relatable vulnerability:

  "For some reason it feels more comfortable knowing that we all deal with it. So you got this. We all got this."
  — Jay Schwedelson [17:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro and Framing of Episode: [00:01 – 01:00]
• Universal Struggles & Myths about Success: [01:00 – 02:10]
• Reflecting on Past Decisions: [03:00 – 05:00]
• Guru Conference Story (Crisis and Creation): [06:30 – 09:30]
• The “10 Seconds of Bravery” Principle: [10:00 – 13:00]
• Applying Courage to Professional & Personal Life: [13:00 – 14:30]
• New Year, New Mindset—Collective Struggles: [15:00 – 17:30]

Episode Takeaways

• Everyone—regardless of status—faces moments of doubt and struggle.
• Being grateful for your past self's bravery can inspire bold, beneficial actions today.
• Courageous change can begin with just ten seconds of action.
• Small bold moves, not monumental plans, often create the most meaningful progress.
• Shared vulnerability builds comfort and solidarity in the professional journey.

Tone & Style Notes

Jay is conversational, candid, and reassuring—mixing personal anecdotes with actionable life lessons. This episode offers motivation and normalize the messy, sometimes difficult, realities behind business and personal achievement.