How One Instagram DM Changed Everything with Braxton Kilgo

What if sending one Instagram DM could completely change the trajectory of your life and business?

In this episode, Braxton Kilgo, Founder & CEO of I Believe In You (IBIY), shares his incredible journey from a small town in Texas with just 200 people to building a global movement that's touched lives in over 20 countries and 100+ cities. After a career-ending football injury forced him to reimagine his future, Braxton discovered his true calling when a middle school principal's phone call led him to create stickers that said "I believe in you" - sparking a ripple effect of kindness he couldn't ignore. From frantically rewriting a speech 24 hours before delivery to receiving stories about lives saved, Braxton reveals how one bold DM to a stranger in Scottsdale introduced him to his business partners Joey and Dylan, who brought him into a world of entrepreneurs that transformed everything.

Through the power of "big belief leading to big action," Braxton built IBIY - a tech-enabled bracelet movement where small acts of kindness create measurable waves of impact, with partnerships including Tony Robbins' Mastermind.com and Recovery Unplugged that happened before they even officially launched their B2B offering.

Braxton shares why "show up to serve, not sell" will 10x everything you're doing, how being kind and asking "how can I help you?" creates an army of people ready to connect you with anything you need, and why the person giving the bracelet might experience something even more powerful than the person receiving it.

 

[00:05:19] What Braxton Does: Building a Kindness Movement with Technology

• Founded I Believe In You (IBIY) - a movement centered on one core belief: small acts of kindness can make big waves of impact

• Flagship product: Bracelets with "I believe in you" message that you wear with the intention to give away

• Each bracelet contains an NFC chip synced with mobile app - tap your phone to see personalized video/photo messages and track the bracelet's journey

• Track every city, country, and person impacted - watch your ripple effect spread around the world even after you give it away

• Mission: Create an army of "wave makers" to make impact as individuals and businesses

[00:07:40] The Origin Story: From Football Dreams to Purpose

• Grew up in May, Texas - a town of 200 people where his whole family lived on one farm

• Thought his only path out was playing in the NFL

• Got to college on a football scholarship but struggled with injuries, limping off the field every day after practice

• Strength coach Coach Ramey pulled him aside: "I think you were made for something bigger than this, and I think you also want to be able to run around in the yard with your kids one day"

• Eventually dropped out, went back to the farm and oil field, returned to school and started a clothing company called Vision about defining your version of success

[00:10:41] The Pivotal Moment: A Principal's Phone Call That Changed Everything

• Got invited to speak at a middle school (about 10 scho