Founder Unfiltered - What Founders Think But Never Say

Mylance
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Formerly Six Figure Secrets of Fractional Experts, Founder Unfiltered is the show about the stuff founders don't talk about: the identity crisis when you go from operator to leader, the weird shame of self-promotion, the gap between who you are and who your business needs you to be. Hosted by Bradley Jacobs, founder of Mylance — a LinkedIn thought leadership platform for B2B founders — this show gets into the psychology, the patterns, and the honest conversations that actually move the needle. No hacks. No hype. Just the raw truth about what's really holding you back.

  1. 20h ago

    AI and the Founder Opportunity (Pt 4 of 4): What AI Can't Copy

    This is part four of my four-part series on AI and the founder opportunity, and it's the one that answers the question I get asked the most: once AI makes it easy for anyone to build a product or service, what's actually left to protect? I walk through why AI is a multiplier, not a moat. The technology gets you to market fast, but so does everyone else's. What separates one founder from the next isn't the product, it's trust, credibility, and the story only you can tell. I share the honest version of my own journey building Mylance since 2020, including the products I sold and the ones I shut down, and why I don't count any of it as failure. I also get into the real reason most people never do this: not laziness, but fear of judgment. And I close with the four things I'd focus on if I were starting over: know what you're passionate about, validate there's a business in it, get honest about what's holding you back, and pick a strategy and stick with it for years, not weeks. No books or resources referenced in this one, just the lessons from building and rebuilding Mylance since 2020. Build your founder brand with Mylance: https://mylance.coConnect with Bradley Jacobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-r-jacobs/Timestamps 00:00 Welcome & what we're building00:39 Recap: the AI series so far02:20 AI is a multiplier, not a moat03:15 Why customers choose you03:46 Products I built and killed06:41 Your story is the differentiator08:28 Why founders hide instead of market09:37 The real reason: fear, not laziness10:58 Consistency over years, not weeks13:01 Recap: short game vs long game14:08 4 keys to set yourself up right15:52 Wrap up

    16 min
  2. Dr. Ruth Gotian Studied Nobel Winners, Astronauts & Olympians — Here’s What She Found

    Jun 25

    Dr. Ruth Gotian Studied Nobel Winners, Astronauts & Olympians — Here’s What She Found

    I sat down with Dr. Ruth Gotian, a success researcher and executive coach who has spent her career studying the world's highest performers, Nobel laureates, NASA astronauts, and Olympic champions, to figure out what they actually do differently when the pressure is real. What surprised me most is how often these elite performers say "I don't know." They're not protecting their egos, they're staying curious and pulling knowledge from outside their lane. We dug into why imposter syndrome is actually a sign of your success, why high achievers fear not trying more than they fear failing, and why focusing on your next goal beats obsessing over the ultimate one. We also got into self-promotion, the thing so many founders avoid. Ruth's take reframed it for me: it's not about you, it's about the value and the people you put the spotlight on. And she shared a networking system, the 24/7/30 rule, that any founder can use right now. Resources mentioned: Ruth's book The Success Factor, her LinkedIn Learning courses, and the free Passion Audit at RuthGotian.com. Build your founder brand with Mylance: https://mylance.coConnect with Bradley Jacobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-r-jacobs/ 00:00 What elite performers do differently01:15 The subway that sparked the research03:30 No one teaches you how to succeed05:00 The surprising power of "I don't know"07:00 Reading isn't it, open your mind09:30 Get out of your lane to learn11:30 Ego and saying "I don't know"14:00 Your five people set your baseline16:30 Think next goal, not ultimate goal19:00 They're terrified too20:30 Imposter syndrome is a strength22:30 Failure is just data25:00 Saying yes only to aligned goals28:00 Giving value across seasons30:30 Self-promotion is really value-giving33:30 Becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice36:00 Don't fear giving away your secrets39:00 Breaking through the praise plateau42:00 What got you here won't get you there44:30 Using AI for real human connection47:30 The 24/7/30 networking rule50:00 Remember your why

    44 min

  3. Jun 18

    AI and the Founder Opportunity (Pt 3 of 4): Finding Your Product-Market Fit

    This is part three of my four-part series on how AI is reshaping the workforce, and it's the one I promised would be tactical. If you've listened to parts one and two, you know about the macro shift and the inner-game work, this episode is the playbook. I walk through the exact mistake most founders make: they get excited about an idea, build it, then go looking for customers, only to discover they built the wrong thing. I share the step-by-step process I used about a year ago to launch a brand-new product at Mylance, one that had paying customers before we'd even built it. You'll hear how I wrote out my hypotheses, ran real customer conversations instead of asking leading questions, built a no-code MVP I could ship in a day, and used the Sean Ellis score to know when I'd actually found product-market fit. I also talk about how tools like Claude Code, Lovable, and Base44 have made building fast, but figuring out what to build is still the hard part. Part four, on building trust and a sustainable customer experience, drops in two weeks. Build your founder brand with Mylance: https://mylance.coConnect with Bradley Jacobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-r-jacobs/ 00:00 Intro and what Mylance does00:50 Recap of parts one and two01:30 What this episode delivers02:15 The mistake most founders make03:00 Step 1: write your hypotheses04:15 Bradley's own hypothesis example05:30 Step 2: real customer conversations07:00 Talk to real ideal customers08:00 Step 3: brainstorm the MVP08:45 Build fast with AI/no-code tools10:00 Get customers onto the MVP11:15 The Sean Ellis score and PMF12:30 Why founders skip this step13:15 Recap, Part 4 coming in 2 weeks

    14 min
  4. "Nobody Cares About You" | Mark Samuel on Failure, Pivots & Founder Health

    Jun 11

    "Nobody Cares About You" | Mark Samuel on Failure, Pivots & Founder Health

    I sat down with Mark Samuel for an episode that pushed back on a lot of startup gospel. Mark's a serial CPG entrepreneur. He built Iwon Organics into thousands of retail doors before licensing it, had a global brand in Fitmark that was acquired, and he's now building MARK'S, a better-for-you snack company. He also hosts the Let's Eat podcast, where he's interviewed over 250 CPG founders and operators. We got into why getting onto the shelf is the easy part and why velocity in the door is the metric that actually matters. Mark challenged my own belief that winners are simply the ones who never quit. His reframe: "keep going" means keep moving your feet, not keep pushing a product that's clearly not working. We talked about how to tell a real pivot from a sunk cost, the emotional weight of carrying private investors' money, and why he puts his own health ahead of family and work, in that order. It's an honest, unfiltered conversation about identity, failure, and starting over. No books or external resources were mentioned in this episode. Build your founder brand with Mylance: https://mylance.coConnect with Bradley Jacobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-r-jacobs/ Connect with Mark Samuel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markalansamuel/ 00:00 Welcome + meet Mark Samuel00:48 Iwon Organics: scaled then licensed03:00 Getting in the door is the easy part04:51 The emotional weight of investor money07:02 The numbers speak for themselves11:13 Marks' go-to-market: Amazon + DSD09:25 Pushback: do winners just never quit?09:46 "Keep going" means move your feet16:36 How to know: pivot or move on15:58 The Poppy outlier story21:00 Health, family, work — in that order24:53 Marks as a health & wellness platform25:25 Discipline over motivation25:45 On resilience27:00 What drives him now + brand position31:13 "Nobody cares about you" — the takeaway31:43 Where to find Mark

    32 min

  5. Jun 4

    AI and the Founder Opportunity (Pt 2 of 4): Why Founders Stay Small

    In this episode — part two of my four-part series, AI and the Founder Opportunity — I get into the real stuff that keeps founders stuck. Not the tactics, not the tools. The fear. After talking with thousands of founders, I keep seeing the same patterns. Fear of judgment and rejection. Not knowing which move to make next. And that subtle, quiet thing where you're going through the motions but never quite giving it everything you've got — leaving yourself a back door just in case it doesn't work out. I talk about why action is the only thing that actually moves the needle on these blocks. Not therapy, not journaling (though those have their place) — but taking small, uncomfortable steps forward anyway. I share how I work with my own business coach, and why if you can't afford one, buying a smart friend tacos once a week might be the best investment you can make. I also get into why this moment — with AI making it easier than ever to build, test, and launch — is a massive opportunity for founders who are willing to stop waiting for the perfect idea, the right co-founder, or one more dollar in the bank. The riches are in the niches, and the tools to go after them have never been more accessible. No books or external resources were mentioned in this episode beyond a brief reference to 10x Is Easier Than 2x (highly recommended by Bradley). Build your founder brand with Mylance: https://mylance.co Connect with Bradley Jacobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-r-jacobs/

    15 min
  6. Are You Playing to Win, or Playing Not to Lose in Your Business? with Dr. Angela Kerek

    May 28

    Are You Playing to Win, or Playing Not to Lose in Your Business? with Dr. Angela Kerek

    Most founders I talk to already know what they need to do — they just aren't doing it. In this episode, I find out why. Dr. Angela Kerek is a former professional tennis player, big law finance partner, and now founder of Active Giving — and her framework for sustainable performance completely reframed how I think about fear, self-sabotage, and what it actually means to give your all. We talked about the difference between playing to win versus playing to avoid losing, and how that same psychology that showed up on the tennis court follows us into every pitch, every client call, and every revenue goal we set. Angela shared how she realized she'd never truly given 100% in her entire career — not because she couldn't, but because if she gave everything and still lost, she'd have no excuse left. We dug into how to build a value system that's truly your own, why movement is one of the most underrated tools for mental resilience, and what it really looks like to live a sustainable, high-performing life without burning out. No books or external resources were mentioned in this episode. Find Angela and Active Giving at angelakeriek.com and activegiving.de. Build your founder brand with Mylance: https://mylance.co Bradley Jacobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-r-jacobs/ Connect with Angela Kerek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelakerek/ 00:00 Welcome & guest intro00:44 Angela's background02:39 Learning to succeed without losing yourself06:38 Winning in business vs. winning in sport07:35 Defining success on your own terms11:04 Process focus & planning the night before12:48 We know what to do — so why don't we?13:59 Self-sabotage: the fear beneath the avoidance14:53 Playing to win vs. playing not to lose19:58 Fear of giving your all — and still failing20:14 What we can and can't control21:23 What to actually do about it23:27 Building your own universe25:00 Blocking out the noise — from everyone26:27 Training the mind to come back to itself29:42 Why building a business is so hard30:16 Uncertainty and the hardest part of founding32:02 Closing thoughts & last advice32:18 Never stop following your dreams34:10 Where to find Angela & Active Giving34:49 Wrap-up

    35 min

  7. May 21

    AI and the Founder Opportunity (Pt 1 of 4): The Macro, the Opportunity, and the Fear

    The AI revolution isn't coming — it's already here. Bradley Jacobs breaks down what the wave of tech layoffs actually signals and why he sees it as a massive opening for founders and solo entrepreneurs. With the cost and complexity of building software plummeting, Bradley argues that anyone with niche expertise can now create tailored solutions for underserved audiences that big companies will never touch. A focused, one- or two-person business serving a specific audience? More viable today than it has ever been — and getting more so by the month. But the real barrier isn't technical or financial. It's mindset. Bradley gets honest about fear, imposter syndrome, and the habit of playing small — drawing on quotes from Lady Gaga and Emma Watson to show that self-doubt is universal. The people who break through aren't fearless; they just act anyway. This episode sets the stage for a four-part series exploring the opportunity in front of every founder right now. Build your founder brand with Mylance: https://mylance.coConnect with Bradley Jacobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-r-jacobs/ 00:00 Welcome & episode overview01:15 Big tech layoffs & what they signal03:30 AI is still in its infancy05:00 The niche founder opportunity07:45 Custom solutions for underserved audiences10:00 Why being miserable at work isn't required12:30 What really holds founders back: fear15:00 Imposter syndrome — Lady Gaga & Emma Watson17:30 Playing big despite the fear19:45 Bradley's personal fear of playing big21:30 Miniseries roadmap: episodes 2, 3 & 423:00 DM Bradley & Mylance CTA

    16 min
  8. Take the Blame, Give the Credit: The Leadership Mindset That Scales with Asim Khaliq

    May 14

    Take the Blame, Give the Credit: The Leadership Mindset That Scales with Asim Khaliq

    Most founders start their companies with a clear vision — and then accidentally become the biggest obstacle to that vision. Asim Khaliq has built seven companies and generated over $800 million in revenue, and he's seen this pattern play out over and over again. Bradley sits down with Asim to unpack why the founder mindset that launches a company is often the very thing that stalls it. Asim breaks down the difference between delegation and true decision design — and why most founders who think they're delegating are still bottlenecking everything. He also shares his framework for failure: fail often, fail cheap, fail fast. It's not about avoiding failure — it's about making sure each one only costs you $500, not $50,000. They also get into what's actually changing in e-commerce and business right now. Asim's take on AI is refreshingly practical: stop chasing every new tool, and figure out how AI fits your operations. And on the question of passion? Asim gives a honest answer — most great businesses are boring, and accepting that is part of what makes you a great founder. Learn More: Build your founder brand with Mylance: https://mylance.co Connect with Bradley Jacobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-r-jacobs/ 00:00 Introduction & Asim's background00:51 Why the founder is the problem02:53 Delegation vs. decision design04:57 Staying close to your customer06:20 Humility and the best founders07:39 Key founder skills: culture, resilience, listening10:46 Fail often, fail cheap, fail fast13:23 Taking blame, giving credit15:23 How Asim builds personal resilience17:37 What's working (and not) in the market19:45 Practical AI use cases for e-commerce21:42 How to choose AI tools without overwhelm22:39 Claude vs. ChatGPT as strategic advisors23:47 Building a business that can survive AI25:55 Passion in entrepreneurship — the honest take27:51 Why great businesses are boring28:54 Where to find Asim

    30 min
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About

Formerly Six Figure Secrets of Fractional Experts, Founder Unfiltered is the show about the stuff founders don't talk about: the identity crisis when you go from operator to leader, the weird shame of self-promotion, the gap between who you are and who your business needs you to be. Hosted by Bradley Jacobs, founder of Mylance — a LinkedIn thought leadership platform for B2B founders — this show gets into the psychology, the patterns, and the honest conversations that actually move the needle. No hacks. No hype. Just the raw truth about what's really holding you back.

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