Podcast Summary: The Russell Brunson Show
Episode: Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown...
Host: Russell Brunson
Date: February 6, 2019
Main Theme / Purpose
In this episode, Russell Brunson offers a raw, honest look at the pressure, stress, and responsibility faced by entrepreneurs—especially as they achieve more success and lead bigger teams or communities. He shares personal experiences of feeling overwhelmed in the run-up to major events, dispels the myth that success erases problems, and discusses the weighty concept: “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” Russell draws inspiration from a quote by Garrett White and aims to encourage listeners who feel the burden of leadership, reminding them of the impact and importance of answering their calling.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Myth of Endless Entrepreneurial Happiness
- Russell addresses frequent questions about whether he ever gets stressed or overwhelmed, given his positive public persona.
- Acknowledges that difficult, exhausting days are common (“Today sucked. Today was really, really, really hard and brutal.” [02:40]).
- Notes that social media often only shows the highlights, not the tough moments.
2. Success Doesn't Eliminate Problems—It Scales Them
- When starting out, Russell believed that having money would solve all problems, only to discover that “the problems don’t change—in fact, they get bigger” ([04:22]).
- Emphasizes that while challenges grow in scale, so too does a person’s capacity and ability to handle them.
Quote:
“No matter where you’re at on the spectrum, the problems don’t change. In fact, I feel like the problems get bigger. Luckily, if you’ve been educating and working hard, your ability to handle those new problems increases as well. But they don’t go away.”
— Russell Brunson [04:20]
3. The Enormous Pressure of High-Stakes Events
- Shares detailed anxieties about upcoming responsibilities:
- Speaking at the 10X event for 35,000 people—more than triple the previous year’s audience ([06:30]).
- The high-pressure nature of live selling from stage, requiring precisely scripted presentations.
- Processing millions of dollars of sales in a single night and logistical complexities involved.
- Preparing to sell a $25,000 program in 90 minutes—something he’s never done before under such circumstances ([08:45]).
- Simultaneous, ongoing company responsibilities (over 250 employees, a rapidly growing organization).
- Deadlines for new projects, like the “Traffic Secrets” book manuscript ([10:10]).
Quote:
“How do you get people to the back of the room? How do you get their order forms? Processing $3.2 million in a night is not an easy process... This time we’re in front of three times as many people. I have no idea—I might bomb and only sell, like, $50 grand. Who knows?”
— Russell Brunson [07:00]
4. Growing Capacity For Leadership
- Shares that although the scope and pressure of work increase, personal capacity also expands (“your capacity and your ability to handle it gets easier” [11:30]).
Quote:
“With great power comes great responsibility. Like, I feel that.”
— Russell Brunson [11:42]
5. Comfort and Perspective from Garrett White
- Russell recounts reaching out to Garrett White for a quote that has given him comfort:
- “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”
- Reads Garrett’s elaboration on the quote, which emphasizes choice, calling, and courage ([13:00]).
Quote (Garrett White via text):
“There are few who can truly understand the pressure of being the king who is becoming the emperor... I have that feeling every day. Every day I have to remind myself of one thing: I chose this calling. Somehow, inside of that reality, the crown, although heavy, becomes doable.”
— Garrett White (as read by Russell Brunson) [13:50]
- Garrett’s message reaffirms that the biggest responsibilities are shouldered by those who choose their calling, and this shared struggle creates camaraderie among leaders.
6. Empathy for Listeners with the Same Burden
- Russell extends empathy to all listeners who are striving to grow or lead—recognizing that feeling overwhelmed is often a sign that someone is pushing themselves and answering their calling ([17:15]).
- Reinforces the idea that while “everyone’s called, but very few are chosen,” even fewer step up to the challenge ([16:30]).
Quote:
“For those of you who are trying to do it, just like Garrett messaged me, I want to message you and say: I hear you. I understand the pressure. I understand the fear, the pain, the worry, the judgment—all the things.”
— Russell Brunson [17:22]
7. The Deeper Motivation Beyond Money
- Shares a personal anecdote—his wife questioning why he continues despite already having enough financially ([19:00]).
- Explains that his drive comes from the desire to impact others’ lives, not just his own success.
- Points to the ripple effect of helping others, referencing Funnel Hacking Live’s thousands of attendees and the profound meaning behind such events ([19:40]).
Quote:
“If I can deliver and serve at my highest level, despite the fact that I’m tired and I’m nervous, then hopefully somebody else will do that as well…If I can change your life because of that, then you can change somebody else’s life, and that’s what makes it all worth it.”
— Russell Brunson [21:17]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” (Garrett White’s quote; discussed at [13:20])
- “With great power comes great responsibility. Like, I feel that.” ([11:42])
- “Everyone’s called, but very few are chosen. Very few actually step up to the calling and do it.” ([16:30])
- “If you’re not going through stuff, it means you’re not trying… not pushing… not trying to grow.” ([17:10])
- “You got to keep going, keep moving forward, because there are people out there whose lives you will change—if you don’t stop.” ([18:20])
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00–02:40 — Russell introduces the episode; discusses perceptions of constant happiness.
- 03:00–05:20 — The reality behind entrepreneurial stress and problem scaling.
- 06:30–11:30 — Anxiety and logistics of high-stakes live events (10X, Funnel Hacking Live).
- 13:00–15:40 — The “heavy is the head” quote; comfort from Garrett White’s advice.
- 16:30–18:20 — Empathy for those feeling the pressure of leadership and calling.
- 18:45–21:17 — Motivation beyond money: Impact and the ripple effect of serving others.
Tone & Language
- Russell is candid, vulnerable, and encouraging, speaking directly to the emotional ups and downs of leadership.
- The tone is motivational yet empathetic—balancing honesty about challenges with reassurance and inspiration.
Final Takeaways
- Leadership and entrepreneurial success come with increasing challenges and responsibilities, not fewer.
- The weight of the crown—responsibility, fear, judgment—never disappears, but one’s capacity to manage it does increase.
- Empathy, community, and a sense of calling are vital supports for those who choose to lead.
- The effort and stress are ultimately meaningful when considered in terms of impact on others—and on the ripple effect of empowering people to step up as well.
If you’re struggling under the weight of your own “crown,” Russell reminds you: keep going, your work matters, and you’re not alone.