Episode Overview

In this actionable and heartfelt episode of Young and Profiting, Hala Taha welcomes back Tim Storey, the renowned comeback coach and author, to dive deep into the mindset shift that transforms setbacks into extraordinary comebacks. Drawing from his upbringing in poverty, decades of personal growth, and coaching of high-profile clients like Robert Downey Jr., Oprah, and Kanye West, Tim breaks down how to develop what he calls the “miracle mentality”—an optimistic, service-driven, and practical approach to life’s messes and opportunities alike.

From distinguishing good ideas from “God ideas,” to building genuine relationships and navigating the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, Tim shares profound wisdom, powerful personal stories, and ready-to-implement frameworks for anyone aiming to overcome adversity and lead with purpose.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tim Storey’s Background and Roots

• Growing Up in Poverty, Thinking Like a King

  • Tim recounts his humble beginnings: cramped in a two-bedroom apartment with seven family members and parents working menial jobs. Despite this, his mother taught him self-respect and high standards:

    “We might be lower income, but we're not lower class. So everything about our little apartment, the standard was high.” (03:41)

  • Early exposure to Walt Disney movies fueled his imagination:

    “I was what I call thinking big in small places at a very young age.” (05:06)

• Life Interruptions and Resilience

  • Tim lost his father in a tragic accident at a young age. He reframes such events as ‘life interruptions’—unexpected disturbances that can derail momentum, but also shape character.

    “An interruption really means a disturbance. It's like a knock on the door that you did not expect.” (05:18)

The Path to Brilliance and Success

• Role of Affirmation and Mentorship

  • A sixth grade teacher called Tim “brilliant,” giving him an internal label that he chose to own fully:

    “When he branded me brilliant, I didn't push away the label. I just stuck it on myself.” (07:15)

  • For listeners lacking mentors, Tim emphasizes learning by:
    1. Education (self-learning, online platforms)
    2. Conversation (community & mentorship, even via podcasts)
    3. Observation (modeling admirable qualities in others)

    “Education, conversation, observation.” (09:26)

• Struggles Behind the Scenes

  • Despite early public speaking success—addressing international crowds of tens of thousands in his early 20s—Tim admits he felt “overwhelmed” behind the scenes, and his rapid rise was at times destabilizing.

• The Four Categories of Life

  • Mundane: Status quo, regular life tasks.
  • Messy: Disorder in different life domains.
  • Madness: Chaotic, crisis moments.
  • Miraculous: Extraordinary, uncommon experiences.

    “I think you've learned how to master your mundane...learn how to deal with the madness, and...have a miracle mentality.” (13:54)

The Miracle Mentality

• Definition and Day-to-Day Application

  • Children naturally dream big; adults can cultivate that by shifting from believing in miracles to expecting them.

    “The miracle mentality is innate, but it can grow. You have to go from believing in miracles to expecting miracles.” (16:01)

• Miracles as Meaningful Connections

  • Miracles aren’t always extravagant—sometimes they are life-changing relationships or chance encounters.

    “Sometimes miracles are just in connections.” (18:25)

Being Likable & Building Relationships

• Authentic Service vs. Self-Promotion
  • Tim’s secret: focus on serving others, keeping motives pure, and making meaningful connections over transactions.

    “I think my motives are pure, I want to serve people...I feel like my heart is right. I want to lift up other people more than thinking about myself.” (19:17)

Good Ideas vs. God Ideas

• What’s a God Idea?

  • God ideas are inspired, endorsed, and destined to happen, unlike good ideas which may or may not pan out.

    “A good idea may come to pass, but a God idea will come to pass.” (27:13)

• On Career Pivots and Missed Opportunities

  • Tim and Hala discuss how apparent failures closed the wrong doors—so the right opportunities could manifest.

    “Because God was closing a door to open up the door.” (29:03)

Leading with Love and Launching Movements

• The ‘Lead with Love’ Movement
  • After years of supporting others’ projects, Tim is stepping out with his own compassion-driven movement, “Lead with Love.” He emphasizes building block by block, not chasing fast money:

    “I needed to stay true to who I'm really about, and that's just building things block by block.” (33:05)

Mastering the Stage & Communication

• How Tim Connects with Audiences

  • He personalizes his message, envisaging every audience member as a potential sibling or parent. Preparation is intensive: 20 hours per 45-minute talk, and over 250 talks in his arsenal.

    “Revelation leads to conviction...that conviction is what brings that feeling to people.” (37:44)

• Practical Pitch & Sale Advice

  • Stop selling—start connecting. Learn about the other person’s needs, family, or passions; the best pitches are genuine conversations.

    “I want to make sure I'm in the middle of God's will for my life.” (41:48)

Mindset, Positivity, and Handling Setbacks

• Daily Mindset Renewal

  • Maintaining positivity and faith isn’t accidental—it’s intentional. Tim studies two hours every morning, preparing his mind to handle adversity:

    “Your mindset is yours to set.” (52:45)

• Law of the Harvest

  • Success follows the pattern: Plow → Plant → Water (repetition/habits) → Harvest.

    “First you got to plow, you got to plant, you got to water, then expect the harvest. So maybe in one part of your company you're harvesting, the other part...you're plowing.” (54:36)

Setbacks and Comebacks

• The Comeback Formula

  1. Awaken: Become aware of what’s happening.
  2. Inventory: Honestly assess your situation.
  3. Partner Up: Seek strong, supportive relationships.

  “A setback is always going to happen...you have to become awake, take inventory, and partner with the right people.” (57:01)

• “A Comeback is Not a Go Back”

  • Don’t try to recreate the past, but move forward transformed by its lessons.

    “We have to just learn from our setbacks, grow from our setbacks, and then just go forward.” (59:24)

Navigating Financial Setbacks

• Be Realistic and Patient
  • Focus on learning and gradual growth instead of instant success.

    “First you gotta sit and learn. Then you stand in what you learned and then you walk, you walk it out.” (60:18)

Adapting to the AI Era

• Essential Learning
  • Embrace AI and continual upskilling as necessities, not burdens.

    “AI can be your friend, but I had to invite it in as my friend.” (66:04)

Memorable Quotes

• On Labels and Self-Concept:

  “When he branded me brilliant, I didn't push away the label. I just stuck it on myself.”
  (Tim Storey, 07:15)

• On Serving Others:

  “I want to lift up other people more than thinking about myself. That in this case, I think you reap what you sow...”
  (Tim Storey, 19:17)

• On Comebacks:

  “A comeback is not a go back.”
  (Tim Storey, 58:56)

• On Growth:

  “You may not be what you want to be, but thank God you're not what you used to be. Forgive yourself.”
  (Tim Storey, 70:31)

• On Process & Success:

  “Line upon line, precept upon precept...it was something that I knew that I could not take flight on my own. But it came through that process...”
  (Tim Storey, 63:35 - 63:54)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:41 — Early lessons in dignity & dreaming big in poverty
• 05:18 — The concept of life interruptions
• 07:15 — Turning a teacher’s affirmation into self-belief
• 13:54 — The four categories of life experience
• 16:01 — Nature and nurture of the miracle mentality
• 18:25 — Miracles as meaningful connections
• 27:13 — Good ideas vs. God ideas
• 33:05 — Building "Lead with Love" and resisting shortcuts
• 36:28 — How Tim connects with audiences as a speaker
• 41:48 — The anatomy of an authentic pitch
• 52:45 — Choosing your mindset every day
• 54:36 — Law of the Harvest: plow, plant, water, harvest
• 57:01 — The comeback formula
• 58:56 — “A comeback is not a go back.”
• 60:18 — Patience and gradual growth
• 66:04 — Embracing AI as essential learning
• 70:31 — Forgiving yourself as a path to profit

Actionable Frameworks

• Education, Conversation, Observation: Your guide to self-improvement if you lack mentors. (09:26)
• Plow, Plant, Water, Harvest: Building anything sustainable takes time and repetitive effort. (54:36)
• Awake, Inventory, Partner: Tim’s three-step comeback process. (57:01)
• Sit, Stand, Walk, Run, Soar: The sequential nature of sustainable career growth. (60:18)
• Lead with Love: Compassion is the key that opens doors to a miraculous life. (10:32, 30:11)

Rapid Fire Wisdom Highlights

• Best advice from Oprah:

  “Never force the process, let it unfold. The greats just let themselves unfold.” (66:46)

• Advice to his 20-year-old self:

  “Don't get impatient with the process...be patient, you're right on time.” (67:20)

• Most common struggle for high achievers:

  “Stay on the yellow brick road. Everything in this world is going to try to take you on a detour and distraction...Get back on the yellow brick road.” (68:12)

• Profiting in life:

  “Understand that you are a vital piece of the puzzle.” (70:57)

Conclusion

Tim Storey’s wisdom in this episode is a call to action for those facing adversity. Developing a “miracle mentality” means setting your own mindset daily, leaning into growth by education/observation/conversation, taking deliberate and small steps (plow/plant/water/harvest), and leading with compassionate service—knowing that if you do, extraordinary comebacks are not just possible, but inevitable.

Whether you’re just starting out, bouncing back from a failure, or building on previous wins, Tim’s frameworks are vital reminders to expect miracles, nurture relationships, and grow at your own steady pace.

For more from Tim Storey:

• timstorey.com
• Instagram & Facebook: @TimStoreyOfficial
• Check out Tim's new podcast, Miracle Mentality.

For more actionable episodes:

• Subscribe to Young and Profiting with Hala Taha on your favorite podcast platform.
• Connect with Hala on Instagram @Yapwithhala and LinkedIn: Hala Taha