EP48 Outsmart AI with These Essential Skills for Future Success w/Brandon Fortino, Founder of Short Form Pros

My team helps business owners install a full-scale client acquisition system - ads, setters, CRM, nurture, and content - so they can scale to $100K/month without burning out or hiring a full in-house team.

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Levi Arreola

instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thatswhatlevisaid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Brandon Fortino

instagram: @brandon.fortino

In this episode of Raspberry Lemonade, we sit down with Brandon Fortino, founder of Short Form Pros - a creative agency helping entrepreneurs grow their business through short-form content and organic social media.

Brandon shares his story of growing up in Jakarta, moving to the U.S., and building a business from scratch with no funding, no team, and no experience. He opens up about what it really takes to grow a content agency, how AI is changing the creative landscape, and why having a Googleable online presence matters more than ever.

We also dive into how Brandon transitioned from real estate videos to helping clients close deals through organic content, his thoughts on hiring and delegation, and a powerful personal moment that shaped his mindset for success.

If you find value in this episode, please consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who would benefit from hearing Brandon's story.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:54 Journey into Video Production

06:03 Starting a Business in Photography and Videography

08:59 Challenges and Learning Experiences

12:00 Mindset and Permission to Fail

15:05 Advice for Newcomers in the Industry

17:27 The Journey of Persistence in Creative Fields

19:56 The Impact of AI on Videography

23:01 Choosing Skills for the Future

25:49 The Human Element in Videography

28:00 Sweet and Sour Stories: Personal Reflections

34:04 Turning Points in Life

35:29 Moments of Triumph

37:59 Family Connections and Legacy

39:30 The Significance of Giving Back

41:34 The Value of Relationships

42:11 Life Soundtrack and Personal Reflections

45:56 Building a Googleable Presence

Takeaways

• Brandon grew up in a low-income household and was heavily influenced by his grandparents’ business mindset.

• He picked up photography and videography to help fund college, learning through school projects and personal hustle.

• After realizing real estate clients needed leads more than flashy visuals, he pivoted to content creation and launched Short Form Pros.

• He found early opportunities in graduation photography and emphasized learning by doing — even if that meant failing along the way.

• Starting a business came with challenges like hiring, selling, and trusting others, but Brandon gave himself permission to grow through mistakes.

• His advice: Don’t get stuck on one path. Explore, tolerate the hard parts, and unlearn limiting beliefs to make faster progress.

• Brandon views AI as a productivity tool, not a threat. He believes adopting tech early gives creators an edge.

• Human connection and storytelling still matter — tech can assist, but not replace emotion or presence.

• Personal experiences fuel purpose. One moment as a teen without power shifted his mindset toward building a better life.

• The wins that matter most are helping clients grow and giving back to loved ones who supported you.

• Strong relationships and consistent content build credibility. Being “Googleable” is key to standing out in today's world.

Keywords

video production, photography, entrepreneurship, business challenges, mindset, social media, content creation, organic growth, personal journey, advice for beginners, videography, AI, creative fields, persistence, human element, skills, personal stories, entrepreneurship, technology, storytelling, turning points, personal growth, family legacy, giving back, relationships, life soundtrack, Googleable presence, business success, emotional moments, impact