TDC 060: Inside a Room With 40+ Million-Copy Bestselling Authors
Seven powerful lessons from the literary equivalent of the NBA All-Star team.
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares profound insights from his private gathering with 40+ million-copy bestselling authors including James Clear, Jamie Kern-Lima, and Hal Elrod.
You'll discover why good enough isn't good enough for books, learn the secret to short-form content success, and understand why there's no single "right way" to achieve massive success.
Question of the Day 🗣️
Which of the seven quotes hit you the hardest? Leave a comment to let me know!
Key Take-aways
- There are many things where good enough is good enough, but writing a book isn't one of them
- The secret to short-form video is using series, not just stories
- You're robbing the world of yourself if you pretend to be someone else
- Every person has 5-7 defining pivot points—pick one to start your story
- Above all else, optimize for transformation in your work
Timestamped Outline ⏱️
00:00 – My invitation to the literary "Dream Team"
01:39 – The standing ovation keynote (and plaid shirt controversy)
02:27 – James Clear on writing excellence
02:43 – Pat Flynn's secret to short-form content
02:58 – Dr. Mike Bechtel on authentic living
03:06 – Don Yeager's storytelling framework
03:20 – Hal Elrod's powerful health decision
04:00 – Alex Witkowski on what makes books readable
04:16 – Joseph Wynn on optimizing for transformation
04:38 – The surprising truth about million-copy success
05:30 – What this means for your path forward
Links & Resources 🔗
- Get on the waitlist for Return to Real book → https://ryanlevesque.net/return-to-real-book/
- Books mentioned: Atomic Habits, Worthy, Building a Story Brand, Launch, Profit First, Two Weeks Notice, Limitless, Don't Believe Everything You Think, The Miracle Morning
Connect & CTA 🎯
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🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/
Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.
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