The $100M Entrepreneur Podcast

Host: Brad Sugars
Episode: Find Your TRUE Passion by Focusing on USEFULNESS First | Trailer
Date: June 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this trailer episode, Brad Sugars previews an upcoming conversation with entrepreneur John Tanoff, diving into the core themes of confidence, passion, and usefulness in entrepreneurial success. The episode challenges the traditional belief that confidence is a prerequisite for action and introduces the idea that passion is often the result—not the cause—of becoming useful.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Myth of Waiting for Confidence

• Confidence Is Not a Starting Point:
  • Speaker A (John Tanoff): “Confidence comes last. If you think that you're just waiting to feel more confident before you take this step, before you look for another job, before you embark on this new phase of your life, you're going to be waiting forever.” (00:00 – 00:16)
• Action Comes First:
  • John emphasizes that waiting to feel confident only leads to stagnation. Instead, taking action, even in the face of fear or uncertainty, is what eventually builds confidence.

2. The Nature of Confidence and Action

• Brad’s Framing:
  • Host Brad Sugars poses a critical question to the audience: “How do you get confidence? Or is confidence the thing you actually even need?” (00:16 – 00:24)
• Perspective Shift:
  • The discussion suggests that the need for confidence before beginning something new is a fallacy. Action and progress create their own form of confidence.

3. Usefulness as a Foundation for Passion

• Feel the Fear, Do It Anyway:
  • John: “If you're waiting for the confidence to happen, you'll be waiting forever. Just do it. Feel the fear and do it anyway. The true goal in life, life and career starts on the inside.” (00:24 – 00:34)
• Internal Drive:
  • The conversation focuses on looking inward to determine what drives you, rather than waiting for external validation or reassurance.

4. Flipping the Passion Narrative

• Brad Summarizes the Twist:
  • Brad: “How does your usefulness become your passion rather than the other way around? Here's John Tanoff.” (00:34 – 00:41)
• Insightful Premise:
  • The podcast teases a deep dive into how becoming useful to others and solving real problems can fuel the discovery and growth of true passion—contrary to the common advice to “follow your passion” from the outset.

Notable Quotes

• John Tanoff:
  • “Confidence comes last... you're going to be waiting forever.” (00:00)
  • “Just do it. Feel the fear and do it anyway.” (00:24)
  • “The true goal in life, life and career starts on the inside.” (00:31)
• Brad Sugars:
  • “How do you get confidence? Or is confidence the thing you actually even need?” (00:16)
  • “How does your usefulness become your passion rather than the other way around?” (00:34)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – 00:16: John Tanoff challenges the myth of waiting for confidence.
• 00:16 – 00:24: Brad Sugars frames the central question on confidence.
• 00:24 – 00:34: John encourages taking action despite fear, focusing on internal drive.
• 00:34 – 00:41: Brad introduces the concept of usefulness as a path to passion.

Episode Tone

The tone is direct, motivational, and gently contrarian—aimed at provoking thoughtful action in entrepreneurs who may be paralyzed by hesitation or overthinking the role of passion and confidence in their journeys.

Takeaway Summary

This trailer sets the stage for The $100M Entrepreneur Podcast’s wider exploration: Success comes from usefulness and action, not passively waiting for confidence or obsessing over passion. By flipping the script, John Tanoff and Brad Sugars promise insight into how doing what is useful leads to discovery of passion—and ultimately, lasting entrepreneurial growth.