Miracle Mentality with Tim Storey

Episode Title: Russell Brunson: Why Success Without Service Feels Empty | Ep 1
Date: September 8, 2025
Host: Tim Storey
Guest: Russell Brunson

Episode Overview

The inaugural episode of "Miracle Mentality" features a deep, honest conversation between Tim Storey and renowned entrepreneur Russell Brunson. They explore the journey from chasing personal success to discovering real fulfillment through service, the importance of maintaining humility, and balancing faith, business, and family. The discussion covers Russell’s background in wrestling, his approach to entrepreneurship, the transformative power of giving, and strategies for staying aligned with one’s higher purpose.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Chasing Success to Seeking Service (00:00 - 01:41)

• Russell’s Early Entrepreneurial Drive: Like many, Russell started his business to make money, culminating in his first million-dollar launch, which ended up feeling empty.
  • Quote: “I went home and... I was just like, huh, that was it. And it was weird because it was not fulfilling like I thought it was going to be.” — Russell [00:00]
• Revelation Through Coaching: True fulfillment came from helping others succeed.
  • Quote: “When you coach someone else and you see them have that success, it's infinitely better.” — Russell [00:30]
• Why Many Feel Unfulfilled: Russell describes how lacking purpose beyond money leads to misery for many entrepreneurs.

2. Wrestling Foundations: Grit, Humility, and Mindset (01:55 - 08:25)

• Why Wrestling, Not Football: Russell chose wrestling to escape politics and because effort directly translated to results.
  • Quote: “I loved wrestling because if I beat the guy in front of me, even if the coach hated me, I got the spot.” — Russell [02:00]
• Humbling Reality of College Wrestling: Transitioning from high-ranking high school athlete to being humbled as a college freshman.
  • Quote: “I went from thinking I was here to, like, realizing I was down here... most humbling experience of my life.” — Russell [04:00]
• Influence of Dan Gable: The relentless mindset and pressure taught by wrestling legend Dan Gable shaped Russell’s work ethic and mindset.
  • Quote: “Dan Gable… he would get up at night and run, and that was his mindset.” — Russell [06:12]

3. Breakthrough Moments and Spiritual Destiny (08:25 - 12:19)

• Breakthrough at 10X: Tim recalls Russell’s standout performance at the 10X Conference as a pivotal public moment.
• Spiritual Framing: Tim attributes Russell’s meteoric rise to “the plan of God.”
  • Quote: “I think that in what you're doing is the plan of God for your life and this is what you're supposed to do.” — Tim [11:22]
• Enjoyment in Helping Others: Russell finds deep excitement in witnessing others’ “aha” moments and growth.

4. The Shift: From Personal Glory to Empowering Others (12:19 - 15:45)

• The Excitement of First Discoveries: Early entrepreneurship was thrilling, but novelty faded over time.
• Coaching as a New High: Helping others achieve their milestones is now Russell’s main motivation.
  • Quote: “It’s even a better feeling when you see that person have the aha than when you did initially.” — Russell [12:19]
• Building Community: The focus with ClickFunnels shifted to celebrating customer achievements rather than his own.
  • Quote: ”So far we've given away 3,000 of our Two Comma Award. That is... so much cooler than any of my own accomplishments.” — Russell [14:33]

5. Staying Aligned to Your Assignment (17:24 - 20:09)

• Missionary Work as a Foundation: Serving a two-year mission instilled powerful humility and the habit of service.
• Family as a Grounding Force: Russell’s wife and children keep him humble and focused on what matters.
  • Quote: “She has no... desire for fame or money… She likes seeing the stories of all the people we helped. That's the thing that fires her up.” — Russell [17:45]
• Lessons in Humility: Past failures and reading scripture on humility keep ego in check.

6. Service, Giving, and the True Power of Wealth (33:55 - 37:38)

• Money’s Original Allure Fades: Even significant financial wins felt hollow until Russell focused on helping others.
  • Quote: “It was weird because it was not fulfilling like I thought it was going to be.” — Russell [33:55]
• Transformative Experience in Kenya: Giving to charity and witnessing its direct impact brought deep fulfillment.
  • Quote: “I push play on this video, and I'm just, like, bawling my eyes out. Like, what... what just happened?” — Russell [36:02]
• ClickFunnels & Giving: Every funnel built results in a charity donation, amplifying the impact.

7. Pedestals, Role Models, and True Leadership (23:14 - 25:08)

• Navigating Praise and Pedestals: The importance of not allowing others to idolize you and redirecting inspiration back to their own potential.
  • Quote: “There's no value in somebody idolizing or looking up to me... the value comes... when they've got to become the person.” — Russell [23:46]
• Routine of Prayer for Service Mindset: At every ClickFunnels event, Russell’s team prays for humility and service over self-glorification.

8. Work-Life Balance and Defining Real Success (27:10 - 28:38)

• Balance Is Non-Negotiable: Despite his business success, Russell prioritizes family and faith, learning from both experience and mentors how much these matter in the long run.
  • Quote: “The things that are the most rewarding… it's not the business one…” — Russell [27:38]

9. Next Chapter: Priming Entrepreneurs for a Broader Impact (29:56 - 32:13)

• Prime Mover Initiative: Russell is developing a program focused on holistic entrepreneur development—not just business skills but personal growth and societal impact.
  • Quote: “The impact that can have on the world is... the biggest leverage point I can have.” — Russell [31:00]

10. Mindset: Winning Through Adversity (40:07 - 42:48)

• Wrestling Lessons in Life: Russell uses competition as his lever to snap himself out of funks or adversity—reframing challenges as competitions to win.
  • Quote: “Every time I start getting... proud of myself, it’s like... be careful because God will have a humble people. Either you can humble yourself, or he’ll humble you.” — Russell [19:19]
  • Quote: “For me, it's just, like, how do I win? That's the transition.” — Russell [41:16]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• "When you coach someone else and you see them have that success, it's infinitely better."
  — Russell Brunson [00:30]

• "I loved wrestling because if I beat the guy in front of me, even if the coach hated me, I got the spot."
  — Russell Brunson [02:00]

• “Dan Gable… he would get up at night and run, and that was his mindset.”
  — Russell Brunson [06:12]

• “I think that in what you're doing is the plan of God for your life and this is what you're supposed to do.”
  — Tim Storey [11:22]

• “It’s even a better feeling when you see that person have the aha than when you did initially.”
  — Russell Brunson [12:19]

• “So far we've given away 3,000 of our Two Comma Award. That is... so much cooler than any of my own accomplishments.”
  — Russell Brunson [14:33]

• “She has no... desire for fame or money… She likes seeing the stories of all the people we helped. That's the thing that fires her up.”
  — Russell Brunson [17:45]

• "Every time I start getting... proud of myself, it’s like... be careful because God will have a humble people. Either you can humble yourself, or he’ll humble you."
  — Russell Brunson [19:19]

• "There's no value in somebody idolizing or looking up to me... the value comes... when they've got to become the person."
  — Russell Brunson [23:46]

• “The things that are the most rewarding… it's not the business one…”
  — Russell Brunson [27:38]

• “The impact that can have on the world is... the biggest leverage point I can have.”
  — Russell Brunson [31:00]

• “For me, it's just, like, how do I win? That's the transition.”
  — Russell Brunson [41:16]

Important Timestamps for Segments

• Russell on Unfulfilling Success: [00:00–00:40]
• Sports & Wrestling Life Lessons: [02:00–08:25]
• Breakthrough and Spiritual Destiny: [08:25–12:19]
• Story of Coaching and Community: [12:19–17:24]
• How to Stay Humble in Success: [17:24–20:09]
• Mindset and Overcoming Adversity: [40:07–42:48]
• Giving and Impact through Wealth: [33:55–37:38]
• Work-Life Balance Real Talk: [27:10–28:38]
• Prime Mover Vision: [29:56–32:13]

Memorable Moments

• First Million Dollar Launch—Disappointment: The moment when Russell realized big financial wins weren’t truly satisfying [00:00].
• Africa Charity Video: Getting a video from Kenya provoked an emotional breakthrough about the real meaning of his success [36:02].
• Meeting Dan Gable: Young Russell idolizes his hero and gets to shake his hand, showing the lifelong impact of role models [07:22].
• Praying Before Events: The team’s backstage prayer that God would help them serve, not be idolized [24:18].

How to Connect or Work With Russell

• Main Hub: russellbrunson.com
• Signature Event: sellingonline.com — three-day experience teaching one-to-many sales presentations.
• New Initiative: Watch for the “Prime Mover” program on entrepreneurial and personal development.

Final Thoughts

Russell Brunson’s path testifies that true fulfillment lies in serving others, staying humble, and using worldly success as leverage for greater good. Tim and Russell’s energetic rapport inspires listeners to pursue not just external accomplishments but a miracle mindset, balancing ambition with humility, service, and strong family values.

Summary compiled and structured for listeners seeking deep insights and actionable inspiration from Miracle Mentality Ep 1 with Tim Storey and Russell Brunson.