Podcast Summary: The Think Media Podcast

Episode 445: How to Start on Social Media (Even if You Feel Late)

Release Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Sean Cannell (Think Media)
Guest: Neil Dhingra, CEO of Forward Academy

Episode Overview

This episode features content marketing expert Neil Dhingra, who shares his journey from starting as an "awkward, cringe-worthy" content creator in the mortgage industry to running a multiple seven-figure business and hosting major entrepreneurial events. Sean and Neil dive deep into the real challenges creators face in 2025, why it's NOT too late to get started on social media—even in "boring" or "stale" industries—and reveal Neil's 3C system for content success. The episode is packed with practical advice about standing out in a saturated AI-driven environment, building a personal brand, and creating content that drives connection and conversions.

Key Discussion Points

The Current Social Media Landscape

• Saturation and the AI Content Flood:
  • There's “never been this many people posting every day on social” ([03:48] B) and with AI, content volume is “like a firehose.”
  • “What used to work a year or two ago isn’t necessarily working today.” ([00:21] B)
  • Audience preferences have shifted: higher bar for information, demand for better packaging, B-roll, text overlays, and authentic storytelling.

Opportunities to Stand Out

• General to Specific Storytelling:

  • Telling your unique, specific story outperforms generic "how to" content.
  • “Anytime you can go from general to specific, it’s going to perform better because then the audience feels this is real. It’s not just some AI produced video or generic.” ([05:20] B)
  • Swipe: Use “How I…” headlines, e.g., “How I made an extra $1,000” instead of “How to make $1,000” ([06:07] A).

• Addressing the Viewer’s Pain Point:

  • Start by meeting the viewer where they are – acknowledge problems, share vulnerabilities, and connect around mistakes or struggles ([06:45] B).
  • “Call out the problem that you know is going to be on the viewer’s mind” ("8 Mile strategy") ([07:56] B).

• Hooks and Strong Statements:

  • Move the boldest, attention-grabbing line to the very start of your clips.
  • "Nothing is saturated because most people suck at what they do." ([10:20] B)
  • Proper clip structuring and “game of inches”—small tweaks in editing can lead to massive jumps in reach ([11:30] B).

Neil Dhingra’s Personal Story

• From Cringe to Confidence:
  • Neil started making videos in 2018/19, didn’t feel natural, and described early videos as “cringe, boring. Awful. The worst.” ([12:47] A).
  • “I just said, you know what, I’m going to try. I’m going to go for it anyway... at a certain point it just becomes about reps.” ([14:32] B)
• Lessons for “Stale” Industries:
  • Even in mortgage/real estate, starting content creation early gave huge personal and business impact.
  • “Even bad content will perform because the bar is so low...” If one good client sees your video, “80 [views] is viral for me.” ([17:04] B)

Getting Past Fear, Hate, and Vulnerability

• Dealing with Embarrassment and Haters:
  • "Most people are just scared to do the thing so they don’t put it out there.” ([14:32] B)
  • Most hate comes from people who wish they were doing what you’re doing–ignore it ([18:46] B).

Building Your Personal Brand: Contrast and the “Five Fs”

• Contrast Creates Connection:
  • Share what makes you different (heritage, appearance, interests).
  • Referenced example: Alex Hormozi (genius business mind and “just a gym bro”) ([20:30] B).
• The Five F’s for personal content:
  • Food, Faith, Family, Fitness, Fashion. Weave these into your content for genuine connection. Examples: “Just wearing the [Dallas Cowboys] hat or the jersey and some of your content…” ([21:33] B).
• Broader Appeal vs. Niche:
  • “People rarely come up to say, ‘I loved your video on buying that rental property.’ ... they remember the quirky, the personal—the Wu Tang, the fitness, the faith.” ([22:07] B)

Anti-AI & Power of Vulnerability

• Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch:
  • “Use AI to amplify the message, clean it up, organize your thoughts... but I’m not using it to replace me.” ([26:05] B)
• Be Willing to Share Opinions:
  • “If you don’t stand for something, you stand for nothing and it just gets lost in this void of soulless content.” ([27:25] B])
  • Polarizing or slightly controversial topics can drive engagement and debate—don’t be afraid to spark conversation ([27:34] A).

The Three C’s System for Social Media Success

1. Content

• Focus on higher-quality, original, and specific content.
• Share real stories, unique perspectives, and address timely trends.
• “What are the stories only you could tell?” ([05:20] B)

2. Connection

• The “missing piece” for most creators.
• Share personal stories, behind the scenes, interests (the Five Fs).
• “One of my best performing videos... was when I got my daughter tickets to Taylor Swift.” ([32:43] B)
• Don’t leave “connection content” only for Stories—post it to your main feed for greater reach ([33:30] B).
• “Anytime you do this, it just gives you more chances to get lucky.” ([35:31] B)

3. Conversion

• Replace the hard sell with the “dating method.”
• “People are selling the thing on social that the audience doesn’t want... The best marketers are not looking for sales; they’re looking for signal.” ([36:54] B)
• Insert conversion events or micro-commitments (webinar, lead magnet, DM “HOME” for a resource, events/conversations) before a big ask ([36:54] B; [38:01] B).
• “The only step was to book an appointment with me... I was missing that easy next step.” ([39:41] B)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Standing Out in a Saturated Market:

  “Nothing is saturated because most people suck at what they do.” (Neil Dhingra, [10:20])

• On Small Tweaks Making Big Leaps:

  “Small tweaks equal big leaps... you can make one change that maybe takes you a couple minutes, bro, and all of a sudden you are reaching thousands of more people, maybe tens of thousands, maybe millions of people.” (Neil Dhingra, [11:30])

• On Starting, Even if Cringe:

  “Even bad content will perform because the bar is so low... If I get 80 views on a video, but one... wants to have a conversation, that’s viral for me.” (Neil Dhingra, [17:04]) “I just said, you know what, I’m going to try. I’m going to go for it anyway.” (Neil Dhingra, [14:32])

• On Personal Brand:

  “Contrast. The more contrast, the better... Think about some of the biggest brands. Hormozi... This guy is a genius, but also looks like just a gym bro.” (Neil Dhingra, [20:29])

• On Connection Content:

  “They rarely come up to me and say, hey, I loved your video on buying that rental property... But, bro, I know you’ve been on a fitness journey!” (Sean Cannell, [22:13])

• On Authenticity vs. AI:

  “Use AI to amplify the message, clean it up, organize your thoughts... but I’m not using it to replace me...” (Neil Dhingra, [26:05]) “If you don’t stand for something, you stand for nothing and it just gets lost in this void of soulless content.” (Neil Dhingra, [27:25])

• On Conversion:

  “The best marketers are not looking for sales, they're looking for signal.” (Neil Dhingra, [36:54]) “What’s the thing that people could download or opt in for at one in the morning in their underwear at home?” (Sean Cannell, [40:14])

• On Where Personal Branding Is Heading:

  “It’s heading into basically the top 1% being able to really crush it and then everybody else getting smoked out.... It’s not for everybody. It’s for the people who want to be intentional.” (Neil Dhingra, [40:54])

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Saturation & Changes in Social Media Landscape: [03:48]–[05:20]
• Formula of “How I” (personal storytelling): [06:07]
• Calling Out Pain Points—“8 Mile strategy”: [07:56]
• Hooks and Clip Editing: [09:29]–[11:30]
• Neil’s “Cringe” Beginnings: [12:47]–[14:32]
• Opportunities in Stale Industries: [16:26]
• Building Connection—Five F’s and Brand Contrast: [20:00]–[23:30]
• Broad Appeal vs. Niche: [23:45]
• Power of Vulnerability & Anti-AI Content: [26:05]–[27:34]
• Three C’s System Revealed: [31:41]–[38:01]
• Conversion Content / Micro-Commitments: [36:54]–[38:01]
• Personal Brand, “Top 1%” Prediction: [40:54]

Actionable Takeaways

• It’s not “too late”—starting on social in most industries still gives you a huge edge, especially if you show authenticity.
• Tell stories only you can tell, move from “How to” to “How I.”
• Address your audience’s pain points and vulnerabilities openly.
• Edit attention-grabbing statements to the very front of your videos.
• Build personal brand with the “Five F’s”—show more of who you really are.
• Don’t rely on generic AI content—use it to support, not replace, your unique voice.
• Conversion takes steps: focus on “signals” (conversations, events, free resources) rather than direct sales, especially on social.
• The future belongs to intentional, strategic content creators—not dabblers.

For more, connect with Neil on Instagram (@NeilHome) and check out the Forward conference July 11–12, 2026, Las Vegas.

This summary captures the spirit, insights, advice, and voice from both Sean Cannell and Neil Dhingra while skipping non-content and ad sections for clarity and value.