Michael Macdonald: Why Most Entrepreneurs Fail Before They Even Start | DSH #1679

Earn Your Leisure co-founder Michael J. MacDonald sits down for a powerful, transparent conversation on manifestation, confidence, building a billion-dollar mindset, scaling InvestFest to 25,000+ attendees, leading with family and community, turning content into an empire, learning to speak on the biggest stages, surviving the dark side of entrepreneurship, and why your vision only becomes real the moment you write it down and say it out loud. ✅ WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 🧠 How manifestation actually works when you write goals down daily 📈 Why Earn Your Leisure became profitable from Day 1 without major sponsors 🎤 How Michael overcame fear and stepped confidently onto a 25,000-person stage 🏗️ The structure behind building a scalable, community-driven business 📊 Why data is the most important tool for growing a platform 💰 The truth about podcast rankings, monetization & owning your platform 💔 The sacrifices required to build something great — relationships, time, comfort 📹 Why “becoming the content” beats fancy cameras, editing and effects 🧩 How ADHD + “word vomit” turned into a powerful creative superpower 🔥 Michael’s plan to become one of the best speakers in the world CHAPTERS 0:00 – Why Manifestation Works: Believe It, Say It, Write It 1:02 – Michael J. MacDonald Enters: Family, Loyalty & Vision 2:25 – InvestFest: From 6 Weeks of Chaos to 25,000 Attendees 3:30 – Facing Fear: Speaking On Stage for the First Time 4:55 – The Power of Repetition, Writing Goals & Tangible Vision 6:10 – Behind Earn Your Leisure’s Business Model & Profit Strategy 8:16 – Organic Growth, Zero Ads & Data-Driven Decisions 10:44 – Podcast Rankings, Apple Charts & How It REALLY Works 12:58 – Being Raised in the Projects, Staying Grounded & Leading Family 17:00 – Friendship vs Business: How Leadership Exposes True Loyalty 18:50 – Sacrifice, Relationships & Paying the Price for Your Vision 22:10 – The Dark Side of Entrepreneurship: Loss, Pressure & Rebuilding 27:20 – Why Podcasting Is the Most Valuable Stage in the World 29:30 – Crypto, Risk & Losing It All (Twice) Before Winning Again 33:40 – Stop Overthinking: Become the Content, Not the Camera Gear 37:55 – Generational Wealth, Kids & The Responsibility of Success 43:30 – Word Vomit: The Productivity Hack That 10x'd His Ideas 49:00 – Hooks, Visuals & How Viral Content Actually Works 53:05 – Becoming One of the Best Speakers in the World (And How He’ll Do It) 55:00 – Free Gift: Michael’s “Business Engine” Training for Viewers 🎙️ APPLY OR CONNECT 👉 Apply to be on the podcast: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application 📩 Business inquiries / sponsors: jenna@digitalsocialhour.com 👤 GUEST: Michael McDonald - https://www.instagram.com/michaelmcdonaldofficial/ https://www.michaelmcdonald.com/tour? 💼 SPONSORS QUINCE: https://quince.com/dsh 🥗 Fuel your health with Viome: https://buy.viome.com/SEAN Use code “Sean” at checkout for a discount! 🎧 LISTEN ON 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 📸 Sean Kelly Instagram: @seanmikekelly ⚠️ DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed by guests on Digital Social Hour are solely those of the individuals appearing on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, Sean Kelly, or the Digital Social Hour team. While we encourage open and honest discussions, Sean Kelly is not legally responsible for any statements, claims, or opinions made by guests during the show. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions and seek professional advice where appropriate. The content shared is for entertainment and informational purposes only — it should not be taken as legal, medical, financial, or professional advice. We strive to present accurate and reliable information; however, we make no guarantees regarding its completeness or accuracy. The views expressed are solely those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of the producers or affiliates of this program. 🔥 Stay tuned for more episodes featuring top creators, founders, and innovators shaping the digital world! ✅ SEO KEYWORDS Earn Your Leisure Michael J MacDonald InvestFest Digital Social Hour manifestation writing goals podcast business entrepreneur motivation scale content creation viral clips data marketing business model success mindset family See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .