An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Much of my work has been focused specifically on how parents can parent from a place of love rather than fear. Twenty-five years later and I don’t feel like I’ve even scratched the surface. It’s hard work, but it’s the only worthwhile work. I just want to grow love.
As part of my series about “How Influencers Can Monetize Their Brand”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bryan Post.
Bryan Post, Founder and CEO of Major Media League, is a superpreneur. Having started twenty companies over a twenty-five-year entrepreneurial career, he has had ten successful exits. His most recent start-up in the social services space grew from 0- 8 figures in three years. A 3-time best-selling author, international speaker, and world-renowned child behavior expert, Bryan has an enduring passion for children, families, and entrepreneurship.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit more. What is your “backstory”? What brought you to this point in your career?
Ha! I’m 49 years old so depending on how long of a story you want that could be a loaded question! I am literally an Okie from Muskogee, as Merle Haggard sang. I was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma and shortly thereafter placed for adoption. I was in a couple of different foster homes before being adopted by a beautiful young couple that was unable to conceive. I was raised in a Mountain View, Oklahoma, a small southwestern town. There were so many great things about my childhood: friends, Friday night sports, and girls!
However, there was also a lot of violence in our home. I had a sister who was also adopted and what most people don’t understand about adoption is that it is a traumatic experience. It shapes the brain in a different way. Leading the child to be more stress-sensitive, anxious, and fearful. This can manifest into problematic behaviors because most parents don’t understand that they use traditional parenting techniques like hitting, yelling, shaming etc., which only exacerbate the problem and create more stress. My parents were beautiful, consistent providers, but they were not nurturing and, when stressed by our behavioral problems, they did all the wrong things.
On the other side of idyllic was more trauma. I excelled in school and sports, but my sister struggled. The violence finally diminished around the time I was sixteen because she left home. However, my sister struggled for the rest of her life, and she was later tragically killed in a car accident.
God allows experiences in our lives to happen for what are, oftentimes, mysteries. The struggles related to my adoption, and family struggles propelled a twenty-five-year career being recognized as one of America’s foremost child behavior experts. When I was in college and needed money, I called my mom and asked if she could send me some. A week later I received an envelope from her with four dollars in it. My parents were spending all their extra money on lawyers to help my sister stay out of jail, so there wasn’t much leftover.
More than thirty years later, those four dollars became one of the inspirations for launching the Major Media League. My mission is for every young athlete to have a chance to be a part of a supportive community and to learn how to put a few bucks in their pocket.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you in the course of your career?
As a trauma expert, I’ve traveled around the world providing consultation to struggling families.
I was working with a family in Alaska once and it was getting late. The mom and I were upstairs the boy’s room working with him on settling down for the night. While he was jumping around, without either of us realizing it, he picked up a pair of scissors, slid around behind me and cut one of my dreadlocks in half! They were about halfway down my back then. It was a big cut!
I thought the mom was going to have a heart attack. I am 100% committed to love-based parenting and used the moment of shock to teach the mom a very valuable lesson on how to love when you really would prefer to choke your child. Many years later, my locks now hang to the back on my legs.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
The famous activist Cornel West once told me that success is not enough. That if I really wanted to do something, that I should work to be great! My entire career working with families has not been merely to be good at what I do but to be great. To create impact and inspiration in all the lives that I touch.
Love is the most powerful force in the world and all I want to do is generate more love in a world of fear. Whether this is by saving a family, inspiring a career, or empowering a community for young athletes to achieve more than they ever believed. I just want to live the life God put me on this earth to live.
You have been blessed with great success in a career path that many have attempted, but eventually gave up on. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path but know that their dreams might be dashed?
From the time I was in the first grade, the only thing I ever wanted to be was a professional football player. And I mean it was the only thing. I was 100% obsessed and it is the one thing that got me to college.
After a couple of years in college, I simply realized that dream was no longer for me. I fell into social work and then entrepreneurship. It has never been easy, but it has always been worth it. When you are doing what you love, it is not absent pain. Rather, it just means when you encounter the strain, the stress, and the struggle it’s easier to tolerate. Faith, Focus and Perseverance…from these three things comes success. Set goals, big and small, and go after those goals every single day.
I used to write my goals every day for years until they became a part of my very being. My obsession is driven by my goals. Not everything is going to work out, but you have to find gratitude during the struggle and stay focused on the goal. Where one door is closed, another will open. It is a natural law and, most importantly, don’t let negative people drag you down. Cut them loose and protect your heart and your energy.
None of us can achieve success without a bit of help along the way. Is there a particular person who made a profound difference in your life to whom you are grateful? Can you share a story?
My life is a series of blessings from amazing people that God has placed in my life. Starting with my parents who struggled so mightily with us as children! They were always consistent, predictable, and supportive. My parents gave me a foundation of support that let me take the leap.
My father, Billie R. Post, rest his soul, has been gone eighteen years now. I didn’t for one minute like the whippings he dished out as a kid, but he was the single greatest man I’ve ever known. He was an unwavering rock and the best provider. I miss him so much that it still brings tears to my eyes. My mother, Opal Post, is amazing and is still my biggest fan.
Lawrence G. Anderson, rest in peace, set me on the path of entrepreneurship. Lee Nefsky is still my mentor. I can call on him for anything. And have you ever had a friend who literally tells you that you are awesome? That you are inspiring and loved? My best friend, Patrick Watson, says it to me all of the time. We’ve been best friends since the first grade and those are my “in-the-flesh” mentors. I’ve had so many other mentors from books I’ve read and courses I’ve studied. What’s the takeaway here? Find a mentor, it’s one of the best life hacks.
So, what are the most exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
Major Media League is my latest project, and it is going to be a social media and gamechanger in the sports industry. Yet has there been a community for young athletes to connect with one another AND have a place for their friends/family/friends to follow them, donate, and support them. A platform where they can be mentored by masters of the sport, like gold medalist Olympians, and learn how to build their brand, grow their influence, and become brand sponsors.
What we are creating will be the benchmark that other platforms are measured against. I want this community to transcend sports and become a place for inspiration, influence and social impact.
What are your “Top Five Ways That Influencers Can Monetize Their Brand” . (Please share a story or example for each.)
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
A movement of love. In a society of fear, there just isn’t enough love. Love in all we do, in every breath, and interaction. Love that strengthens relationships, creates understanding, acceptance, and hope.
Much of my work has been focused specifically on how parents can parent from a place of love rather than fear. Twenty-five years later and I don’t feel like I’ve even scratched the surface. It’s hard work, but it’s the only worthwhile work. I just want to grow love.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this. 🙂
I would love to have a conversation with Peyton Manning! When I think of an ambassador for integrity, perseverance, athletic achievement, and success, he immediately stands out. I’ve always respected him as a legendary athlete, and I bet he could likely open any door that the Major Media League and our kids may need.
Call me, Peyton! Let’s do it for the kids!
What is the best way our readers can follow your work online?
I seem to be the most active on Instagram these days, so you can find me @bryanpostofficial (IG) or at bryanpost.com. Also, definitely come check us out @majormedialeague on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Thank you for the opportunity!
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you continued success!
Bryan Post of Major Media League: 5 Ways Influencers Can Monetize Their Brand was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.