David Shands
Appearances
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged. And today's guest is nothing short of extraordinary. He's a visionary entrepreneur, transformative speaker. in the man I call the goat of podcasting. As the mastermind behind the social proof podcast with over a million monthly downloads and a leading inspirational entrepreneur that's turned dreams into millions.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Yes, sir.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Ja.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Ich liebe es. Ich liebe auch den Fakt, dass ich jetzt, jetzt, dass ich einen Podcast habe, genau das verstehe, was du sagst, nämlich die Fähigkeit, deine Gedanken in deiner eigenen Art und Weise auszudrücken. Weil du recht hast. Die Leute müssen nicht hören. Ja. Aber manchmal ist das alles sehr therapeutisch. Ja. Um eine Konversation zu haben über das, worüber ich sprechen möchte.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Und das Beste davon ist, dass es dein Show ist. It is your show. So I can bring on David Shands every day if I could afford to bring him on every day. But no, I can bring on who I want to. I can host it wherever I want to. I can go out publicly and just say, hey, let's record it. Let's have a conversation. I love the fact
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
dass Podcasting für mich von einem Beziehungsstandpunkt aus Gelegenheiten geöffnet hat, die ich nicht sagen würde, dass es nie geschehen wäre. Es wäre einfach schwieriger gewesen. Podcasting hat das getan. Und du hast es genau richtig gemacht. Und zu Ryan und zu Daniel und zu Bradley, ihr habt es richtig gemacht. Jeder sollte einen Podcast haben, weil jeder eine Stimme hat.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Also danke, David Shams, für das. Yes, sir. So coming towards the end of 2024. And for entrepreneurs, I always say every year becomes different. Not necessarily challenging, but every year becomes different, right? The world advances in technology. Now we have AI that literally changes every five minutes. There's something new that you can do and improve on or get better.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
But I also think a lot of entrepreneurs stay in this warp of trying to figure things out and not always keeping the main thing the main thing. So for David Shands, man, what's some advice that you have for entrepreneurs as we get ready to start 2025?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Please join me in welcoming the one and only, the goat, Mr. David Shands. Mr. Shands, how are you doing today, brother?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
I told you he keeps things simple, ladies and gentlemen. If you can't follow and input something that David Shands says, it's a you problem. I promise you. He breaks things down to the simplest form like water. So what do you have coming up? What's exciting? What new projects is David Shands working on?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
How are you? I am great and I truly mean that when I say you are the GOAT, man. I just started my podcast back in March. I'm now part of Urban One Podcast Network. But I'm going to be honest, when I started, there wasn't people I could really look up to. You were the one. I dissected and listened to every podcast.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Und ich möchte dir nichts weggeben. Keine Tipps, keine Tricks oder so. Ich möchte, dass alle für dieses Event registriert sind. Wie können wir uns registrieren? Wie können wir finden und folgen, was du machst?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Perfect. Where is the Summit 2025 going to be? In Atlanta. Yes, sir. It's an easy drive for me if I'm invited, David.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Absolutely. So I want to end with this because I know you have a lot going on and you were gracious with your time today, man. Okay. For the listener or viewer right now that's like, they need that something to keep going. Because you mentioned keep going earlier. And that's one of the pillars of my life too.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
What's two or three things that you want to tell or leave with people that are watching and listening now?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Amazing. Amazing. David, brother, I appreciate you more than you know. Thank you for being the man, the leader, the father, the inspiration that you are, man. From my soul again, thank you so much.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
David Shams, man, like, what was your because?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
You got it. And for all the listeners and viewers, remember, your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
I was a huge podcast listener of yours before, but when I decided to start, I was like, okay, Let me hear how David's doing it. And what I realized and what became my method was make it all about the guest. And that's what you truly are, is you're a carer of people.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
And so I wanted to just take a moment before we even get into everything, man, and just say from the bottom of my soul, thank you for being someone that A kid, I call a kid from Greenville, South Carolina could look up to. So I appreciate it.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Yo, I appreciate you more and just what you mean to the world, man, like your journey, your story. You know, I'll make unplugged. We go deeper than your why and really talk about that because that thing that really fuels you, that gives you that purpose.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
And so I love for the listeners and viewers, David Shands, man, like what is or what was your because that moment, that thing that said, this is my purpose and this is who I'm going to be.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Amen.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
You talked about the attitude of gratitude.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
I love it, man. And again, I love your authenticity. You are always going to talk to people about things that matter. And one of your recent episodes, and it's something that tells me about the core of who you are. I'm not going to lie, Dave, it made me cry, man. I'm a tough guy, but tough guys can cry sometimes, too. You talked about the attitude of gratitude. And I felt like that message...
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
ist so inspirierend und es ist etwas, was jeder hören muss. Und ich würde gerne, dass du einen Moment nimmst und darüber sprichst, die Attitüde der Gratuität und was es bedeutet und wie das deinen Tag zentriert, weil ich es das erste Mal am Morgen gesehen habe, ein paar Morgen zuvor und, Bro, es hat mich da. Und das war der Message, den ich benötigt habe, literally in diesem Moment.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Ich würde gerne, dass du einen Moment nimmst und über die Attitüde der Dankbarkeit sprichst und was das bedeutet und wie das deinen Tag zentriert.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Mann, das ist so großartig. Und meine Mutter ist Ministerin. Ich spreche viel über meine Mutter auf dem Podcast. Und ich habe sie sofort angerufen. Und ich habe gesagt, Mama, weißt du was? Ich weiß, dass du weißt, dass ich dich genieße und dass ich dir dankbar bin. Aber in diesem Moment, wie etwas mir sagt, dass du weißt, dass ich dich liebe. Und meine Mutter fragte mich, was gerade passiert ist.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Und ich habe das YouTube-Video mit meiner Mutter geteilt. Und sie hat mich 20 Minuten später zurückgesucht. Sie hat gesagt, eigentlich, das ist das Sermon, das ich dieses Wochenende spreche. um einfach dankbar zu sein. Und in diesem Moment hat mich das zentriert, Mann. Dankbar, dass ich meine Schuhe auf meine Beine stellen kann. Dankbar, dass ich mich zum Frühstück machen kann.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Die kleinen Dinge, die du gesagt hast, die wir für unerwartet nehmen, die wir einfach dankbar sein müssen. Und für mich und die Spiritualität, die ich habe, hat es mich einfach erinnert, dass wir hier für einen Zweck sind. Und du musst dankbar sein für, du hast es ehrgeizig gesagt, die Ups und die Downs, die Trial und die Tribulationen. Du musst dankbar sein, My pleasure. I'm honored, bro.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
I'm honored. Ja, Herr. Also, du hast auf Cheesecake gesetzt, Mann. Lass uns darüber reden. David Shantz, Cheesecake Server. Zum Multi-Multi-Multi-Multi-Multi. Ich werde nicht all die Millionen drauflegen. Aber zu dieser sehr erfolgreichen Person, die anderen Menschen die Inhalte des Erfolges lehrt. Wie hat das geschehen? Also, du bist bei Cheesecake Factory.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Wann hat es geklickt, dass ich andere inspirieren möchte, aber auch vor allem, dass es etwas Größeres für mich gibt? Weil ich denke, das ist, wo es anfängt, richtig?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Ja, und jetzt haben wir die T-Shirt-Brand und du hast Erfolg. Was hat dich dazu inspiriert, für andere inspiriert zu sein?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
zu Multi-Multi-Multi-Multi-Multi. Ich werde nicht all die Millionen drauflegen, aber zu dieser sehr erfolgreichen Person, die anderen Menschen die Zutaten des Erfolgs lehrt. Was hat dich inspiriert, für andere inspiriert zu sein?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Simplicity, right?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
No, I love it. So started as a T-Shirt brand, but then it became a movement, man. And like it still is a movement today. And again, very honored to say that I've been touched by that movement. Like, when did you get the idea to scale it? So, so yeah, you're making money, right? You've got that part down and it's like, okay, because I feel like that's the ingredient that most entrepreneurs miss.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
It's like, okay. Du wirst sich gut fühlen, du hast die Idee, aber ich weiß, dass du wiederum dein Mantra hast, Schlaf ist für Verrückte, du hattest nicht aufhören, es war, okay, ich kann das Ding jetzt aufbauen.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Es war kein Geld.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Ja.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Dinge in der einfachsten Form zu halten, die Dinge, die ich am liebsten von David Shands interessiere. Wenn ich David spreche, wird er es dir rausgeben. Er wird es dir einfach geben mit Dingen, die du anfangen kannst. Und du hast es genau richtig. Für Unternehmen geht es darum, wie ich mehr machen kann. Und dann ist die Profitabilitätsseite, wie ich mehr behalten kann. Also es ist zweifelsohne.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Wie kann ich mehr bekommen und gleichzeitig mehr behalten? Und mitten drin ist der Profit.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Und für mich ist es so einfach. Es ist wirklich so einfach.
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Also, die Dinge, die du gut machst, bist du der Meister davon. Ich sage das, richtig? Die Dinge, die du gut machst, bist du der Meister davon. Wann wurde Podcasting ein Thema für David Shands?
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Das ist, warum er der OG ist. Er ist der OG. Und du hast es vorhin gesagt. Everyone should have a podcast. And I know three of my best friends are laughing at me right now because they were for two years trying to convince me to have a podcast. And my answer was, everybody shouldn't have a podcast. I don't want to listen to everybody. So
Mick Unplugged
David Shands | From Cheesecake Factory to Millions: Lessons in Success with David Shands
Jetzt, dass ich einen habe, bin ich überzeugt, dass Podcasts Türen öffnen. Und ich spreche nicht nur finanziell darüber. Podcasts öffnen Türen für Kommunikation. Podcasts öffnen Türen für die Leute, die zu dir hören, um etwas durchzuführen. Warum fühlt David Shands, dass jeder einen Podcast haben sollte?
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
One, you have to be good at it. It's not like I don't have a one, two, three step for someone that's not good. that doesn't ask good questions or put up amazing content or come out with shareable stuff. There's nothing I can do for you. You have to practice the craft. It's really cool because for two years of actually doing the podcast and putting it on YouTube, I wasn't thinking money. 10 years.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
So I started 2010. I didn't start monetizing until 2020. For those 10 years, I'm not even thinking that YouTube makes money. I never even thought about it. My only thing was, are people liking this content? Are they sharing it? Are they commenting? And I was focused on having a good show and being a good interviewer and being engaging.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
So that's where I'm blessed because I came before the era of jump on YouTube to make a million dollars. I had time to perfect my craft. So one, you just have to be good at it. I don't care if you're super consistent, you have the best camera, best lighting, best. If the content isn't amazing, It's not going to work. So practice your craft. You really need to find a niche
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
that you're passionate about and that other people are passionate about. And you have to brand yourself around this conversation. So I brand, my whole world is branded around podcasting and entrepreneurship. One, I've been doing it for 10 years or longer than that, my whole life really. But this whole podcasting thing and entrepreneurship, my whole world is that. My bio says it.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
If you talk to me long enough, we're going to talk about podcasting or entrepreneurship. That's my brand. So I have a niche. I have an audience. I know all the things that my audience is struggling with. That's how I can tell you. All right. So you got to stop stopping. You got to stop.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
One of the worst things that can happen to an entrepreneur is a little bit of success because other people see that little bit of success and they start inviting you to their business. thing that they're doing. And it's going to take you off path. The reason I know that is because I've been through it and I've been coaching entrepreneurs for the last decade on this space. So I know my audience.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
I know exactly what they're going through. So you need to know your audience, know exactly what they're going through. You for sure need to be consistent. So the best way to do that is have a consistent day that you record. whether it's every Wednesday, every Thursday, we record our podcast every Wednesday, for sure.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
Now, if somebody can't do Wednesday and they're a big enough guest, we'll do it on Thursday or do it on Tuesday because I'm on the studio, so it's cool. But I have a specific day that we record. We have a specific day that we release. And it's consistent. If you think of your favorite shows growing up, it wasn't sporadic when they delivered the content.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
It was the same time, same day, every single week. Because people put their, they put your show or your content into their life. So I released my podcast at seven in the morning because I know there are people going to work. And I want them to listen to my podcast on their way to work. Because I want them to be inspired. I want them to be motivated. And this is their thing. It's in the routine.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
If anything ever happens, like there's a misfire on the scheduling or something like that, I get messages. Hey, you ain't released an episode? What happened? What happened? What happened? I'm like, whoa, whoa, let me find out what's going on. Because they put my show into the framework of their lives. And you can't disappoint. Or you'll break trust.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
So if you say every Monday at 7 o'clock it's going to release, and sometimes it's at 7, sometimes at 2 p.m., sometimes it releases on Tuesday, sometimes it just doesn't release that week, you're breaking the trust because now I can't trust you to put this in my schedule anymore. So, yeah, and also looking at the trends, studying your craft, studying what's working in your industry.
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
And, yeah, I think if you put all of those together and you're good at it, it will grow, period.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
One, you have to be good at it. It's not like I don't have a one, two, three step for someone that's not good. that doesn't ask good questions or put up amazing content or come out with shareable stuff. There's nothing I can do for you. You have to practice the craft. It's really cool because for two years of actually doing the podcast and putting it on YouTube, I wasn't thinking money. 10 years.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
So I started 2010. I didn't start monetizing until 2020. For those 10 years, I'm not even thinking that YouTube makes money. I never even thought about it. My only thing was, are people liking this content? Are they sharing it? Are they commenting? And I was focused on having a good show and being a good interviewer and being engaging.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
So that's where I'm blessed because I came before the era of jump on YouTube to make a million dollars. I had time to perfect my craft. So one, you just have to be good at it. I don't care if you're super consistent, you have the best camera, best lighting, best. If the content isn't amazing, It's not going to work. So practice your craft. You really need to find a niche
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
that you're passionate about and that other people are passionate about. And you have to brand yourself around this conversation. So I brand, my whole world is branded around podcasting and entrepreneurship. One, I've been doing it for 10 years or longer than that, my whole life really. But this whole podcasting thing and entrepreneurship, my whole world is that. My bio says it.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
If you talk to me long enough, we're going to talk about podcasting or entrepreneurship. That's my brand. So I have a niche. I have an audience. I know all the things that my audience is struggling with. That's how I can tell you. All right. So you got to stop stopping. You got to stop.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
One of the worst things that can happen to an entrepreneur is a little bit of success because other people see that little bit of success and they start inviting you to their business. thing that they're doing. And it's going to take you off path. The reason I know that is because I've been through it and I've been coaching entrepreneurs for the last decade on this space. So I know my audience.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
I know exactly what they're going through. So you need to know your audience, know exactly what they're going through. You for sure need to be consistent. So the best way to do that is have a consistent day that you record. whether it's every Wednesday, every Thursday, we record our podcast every Wednesday, for sure.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
Now, if somebody can't do Wednesday and they're a big enough guest, we'll do it on Thursday or do it on Tuesday because I'm on the studio, so it's cool. But I have a specific day that we record. We have a specific day that we release. And it's consistent. If you think of your favorite shows growing up, it wasn't sporadic when they delivered the content.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
It was the same time, same day, every single week. Because people put their, they put your show or your content into their life. So I released my podcast at seven in the morning because I know there are people going to work. And I want them to listen to my podcast on their way to work. Because I want them to be inspired. I want them to be motivated. And this is their thing. It's in the routine.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
If anything ever happens, like there's a misfire on the scheduling or something like that, I get messages. Hey, you ain't released an episode? What happened? What happened? What happened? I'm like, whoa, whoa, let me find out what's going on. Because they put my show into the framework of their lives. And you can't disappoint. Or you'll break trust.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
So if you say every Monday at 7 o'clock it's going to release, and sometimes it's at 7, sometimes at 2 p.m., sometimes it releases on Tuesday, sometimes it just doesn't release that week, you're breaking the trust because now I can't trust you to put this in my schedule anymore. So, yeah, and also looking at the trends, studying your craft, studying what's working in your industry.
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Master Audience Engagement and Create Content That Clicks | Presented by OpusClip | YAPCreator
And, yeah, I think if you put all of those together and you're good at it, it will grow, period.