Permission to CEO is the podcast for anyone tired of playing by the rules and ready to redefine what’s possible—on their own terms..
In Permission to CEO, Abu ...
#118 Mentor Conversations: 10 Things About Success No One Tells You
The older I get, the more I realize success isn’t about what I thought it was. Here are 10 life lessons that stand out as I reflect todaySome lessons came easy. Others? Harder than I expected. But each one shaped me._Sponsored By:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link {GET 50% OFF NOW}Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO _Follow us on social media:InstagramTwitterYoutubeThreadsTikTok_Here's how I can help you:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator - The go-to program for entrepreneurs ready to master digital marketing and paid advertising. Learn how to build a scalable marketing system, generate leads, and turn ads into predictable revenue. Perfect for business owners looking to grow their audience and sales without burning out.The Growth Community - A community-driven space where entrepreneurs and marketers get real-world strategies to optimize their marketing, increase profits, and scale their business. Get access to expert insights, live discussions, templates, and resources to fine-tune your marketing and maximize ROI.Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - When top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and creators need expert marketing strategies that drive real results, they turn to me. I work with a select number of high-level founders to refine their sales funnels, optimize paid advertising, and implement proven growth strategies that scale businesses efficiently.--
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#117 I Built a Multi-Million Dollar Empire— I Had Everything… And I Still Walked Away. Here’s Why.
In this episode, I open up about one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made—walking away from my business at the peak of its success. After years of pushing through burnout, loss, and exhaustion, I finally asked myself a crucial question: If this were my last year, would I keep doing what I’m doing? The answer changed everything.I share:My blog post about taking a sabbatical that went viral: Ask Somebody Else to Do It, PleaseWhy I ignored the signs for six months before finally making a changeThe emotional toll of losing a close friend and how it reshaped my perspectiveThe realities of shutting down a multi-million-dollar business and stepping awayHow I struggled with identity, money, and expectations during my sabbaticalThe biggest lessons I learned about prioritizing my happiness over hustleIf you’ve ever felt trapped by your own success, this episode is for you._Timestamps:00:00 – The question that changed my life04:30 – How I knew it was time to walk away (but waited 6 months)08:45 – Losing a close friend & how grief pushed me to rethink everything12:30 – The struggle of stepping away from a multi-million-dollar business17:00 – The harsh truth about burnout & ignoring the signs22:15 – What my sabbatical really looked like (and what I learned)27:40 – Living below my means: The financial shift I had to make32:00 – The hardest part of stepping back: Identity, expectations & fear38:10 – The risk of not doing anything when you know it’s time to change42:50 – My biggest takeaway: Redefining success on my own terms_Key Takeaways:The signs that it’s time to pivot are often small, but ignoring them only makes it harder.Success doesn’t mean happiness—if your success is costing you your well-being, it’s time to reassess.Your identity isn’t tied to your business; walking away doesn’t mean failure.Taking a sabbatical isn’t running away—it’s choosing to pause and realign.You don’t need permission to choose yourself._Mentioned in this episode:Vanessa Lau Instagram Vanessa Lau: I'm going on sabbatical Vanessa La: I'm Back: Why I Quit My 7-Figure Creator Business_Sponsored By:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link {GET 50% OFF NOW}Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO _Follow us on social media:InstagramTwitterYoutubeThreads
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#116 BONUS: Super Bowl Marketing - What Rihanna, Coinbase & Doritos Teach Us About Marketing Genius
The Super Bowl isn’t just a game—it’s the biggest marketing event of the year. Brands pay a staggering $8 million for a 30-second ad, and artists perform for free on the biggest stage in the world. But why?In this episode, I break down:Why brands willingly spend millions on Super Bowl adsThe marketing psychology behind high-budget commercialsHow artists like Rihanna and The Weeknd turn their halftime show into massive profitsThe viral effect of Super Bowl marketing and how you can apply it to your businessHow brands like Coinbase leveraged a simple QR code to drive record-breaking engagementKey Takeaways:The Super Bowl is not just about entertainment—it’s a marketing goldmine.Businesses bet on data-backed ROI, not just exposure.You don’t need $8 million—you can create your own “Super Bowl moment” by testing content and tapping into emotions._Sponsored By:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link {GET 50% OFF NOW}Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO _Follow us on social media:InstagramTwitterYoutubeThreadsTikTok_Here's how I can help you:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator - The go-to program for entrepreneurs ready to master digital marketing and paid advertising. Learn how to build a scalable marketing system, generate leads, and turn ads into predictable revenue. Perfect for business owners looking to grow their audience and sales without burning out.The Growth Community - A community-driven space where entrepreneurs and marketers get real-world strategies to optimize their marketing, increase profits, and scale their business. Get access to expert insights, live discussions, templates, and resources to fine-tune your marketing and maximize ROI.Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - When top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and creators need expert marketing strategies that drive real results, they turn to me. I work with a select number of high-level founders to refine their sales funnels, optimize paid advertising, and implement proven growth strategies that scale businesses efficiently.--
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#115 What I Learned About Burnout (And Why Rest Isn’t Enough)
In this episode, Abu Fofanah dives into the raw, unfiltered truth about burnout—what it really is, why it happens, and how to overcome it. Drawing from personal experiences of running a business, navigating mental health, and hitting rock bottom, Abu shares actionable insights on how to restructure your life, reclaim your joy, and lead with purpose. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in responsibilities or losing the passion for what you once loved, this episode is your roadmap to finding balance and building a life that doesn’t cost you your peace._Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Understanding Burnout01:19 Personal Experience with Burnout02:23 Symptoms and Realizations04:46 Impact on Personal and Professional Life09:22 Steps to Overcome Burnout11:52 Final Thoughts and Homework_Sponsored By:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link {GET 50% OFF NOW}Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO _Follow us on social media:InstagramTwitterYoutubeThreadsTikTok_Here's how I can help you:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator - The go-to program for entrepreneurs ready to master digital marketing and paid advertising. Learn how to build a scalable marketing system, generate leads, and turn ads into predictable revenue. Perfect for business owners looking to grow their audience and sales without burning out.The Growth Community - A community-driven space where entrepreneurs and marketers get real-world strategies to optimize their marketing, increase profits, and scale their business. Get access to expert insights, live discussions, templates, and resources to fine-tune your marketing and maximize ROI.Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - When top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and creators need expert marketing strategies that drive real results, they turn to me. I work with a select number of high-level founders to refine their sales funnels, optimize paid advertising, and implement proven growth strategies that scale businesses efficiently.--
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#114: Permission to Pause: Redefining Success on Your Own Terms
Hey, Welcome Back!We have a new look and more conversations coming your way.Permission to CEO is the podcast for anyone tired of playing by the rules and ready to redefine what’s possible—on their own terms..In Permission to CEO, Abu dives into the raw, unfiltered truths of entrepreneurship, sharing stories and strategies from his journey of building multiple 7-figure businesses, reinvention, rebuilding, and grief.This podcast is for the dreamers sitting on the sidelines, wondering if they’re ready to take the leap. It’s for the ones who think they need permission to start a business, chase an idea, or lead a team—but deep down, know they don’t.Through candid conversations, actionable insights, and real-world advice, Abu explores topics like overcoming imposter syndrome, building a business with purpose, and navigating the mental hurdles of entrepreneurship. Whether you’re a first-time founder, a creative with a big idea, or someone who’s been waiting for the “right time,” this podcast is your reminder: you don’t need permission to start.Success isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about having the courage to start, even when you don’t feel ready._Follow us on social media:InstagramTwitterYoutubeThreadsTikTok_Sponsored By:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link {GET 50% OFF NOW}Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO _Here's how I can help you:Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator - The go-to program for entrepreneurs ready to master digital marketing and paid advertising. Learn how to build a scalable marketing system, generate leads, and turn ads into predictable revenue. Perfect for business owners looking to grow their audience and sales without burning out.The Growth Community - A community-driven space where entrepreneurs and marketers get real-world strategies to optimize their marketing, increase profits, and scale their business. Get access to expert insights, live discussions, templates, and resources to fine-tune your marketing and maximize ROI.Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - When top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and creators need expert marketing strategies that drive real results, they turn to me. I work with a select number of high-level founders to refine their sales funnels, optimize paid advertising, and implement proven growth strategies that scale businesses efficiently.--
Permission to CEO is the podcast for anyone tired of playing by the rules and ready to redefine what’s possible—on their own terms..
In Permission to CEO, Abu dives into the raw, unfiltered truths of entrepreneurship, sharing stories and strategies from his journey of building multiple 7-figure businesses, reinvention, rebuilding, and grief.
This podcast is for the dreamers sitting on the sidelines, wondering if they’re ready to take the leap. It’s for the ones who think they need permission to start a business, chase an idea, or lead a team—but deep down, know they don’t.
Through candid conversations, actionable insights, and real-world advice, Abu explores topics like overcoming imposter syndrome, building a business with purpose, and navigating the mental hurdles of entrepreneurship. Whether you’re a first-time founder, a creative with a big idea, or someone who’s been waiting for the “right time,” this podcast is your reminder: you don’t need permission to start.
Success isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about having the courage to start, even when you don’t feel ready.
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