
The Me Bet
By Erica Johnson
We talk to people who decided to betting on themselves. They share the good, the bad and the downright ugly. It's a transparent and honest discussion about taking risks, overcoming challenges, resilience, success and burnout.
This show features guest interviews with entrepreneurs, employees, side hustlers and stay at home parents who share their me bet journeys.

The Me BetApr 25, 2023

14. The 6 Required Mindset Shifts to Bet on Yourself | Erica Johnson
Are you mentally prepared to take an entrepreneurial Me Bet? Do you have the right mindset to bet on yourself?
Your mindset can make or break your entrepreneurial efforts.
Get out your notebooks and pens because today in episode 14, Erica breaks down the 6 required mindset shifts to bet on yourself.
Erica outlines each one and provides examples along with suggested books to learn more.
Mentions:
Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. - What To Say When You Talk To Yourself
Don Miguel Ruiz - The Four Agreements
Mark Manson - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Clay A. Johnson - The Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption
John C. Maxwell - Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success
To get exclusive content and to connect with Erica, go to:

13. Highlights for Getting Started on Betting on Yourself
Are you plagued by fear from betting on yourself?
If you've been wrestling with how to get started, take a listen to these nuggets of wisdom.
This episode features highlights from past conversations with four guests about the advice they have for betting on yourself. Their recommendations are philosophical, practical and tactical.
Advice provided by:
Ingo Rauth: Episode 4 - How To Get Out of Your Own Way & Reinvent Your Career
Rob Roseman: Episode 3 - How Doing Scary Things Get You Closer To What You Want
Anfernee Chansamooth: Episode 2 - How to Stop Settling for Mediocrity By Betting on Yourself
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at:

12. An Inspiring Journey of Achieving Freelance Success and Overcoming Mental Health Struggles | Mateo Melgar
Are you ready to learn how to be a successful freelancer on your own terms?
I had the pleasure of talking with Mateo Melgar, a family-first digital entrepreneur, who built a successful freelancing business from scratch. He shares his journey from making a mere $3 an hour as a virtual assistant to earning over $5,000+ a month as a freelancer, all while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
We dive into Mateo's entrepreneurial beginnings, discuss the importance of finding a niche skill that people will pay for and uncover valuable freelancing tips to market yourself on platforms like Upwork.
Mateo discusses how he uses his mental health challenges to his advantage by carving out a system that makes him more productive in business but allows him to be present for his family.
Don't miss Matteo's insightful advice on achieving freedom and success in the world of digital entrepreneurship without losing yourself along the way.
Learn more about Mateo at:
Mentioned:
Daniel Vassallo - Small Bets Community
Paul Jarvis - Company of One
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at:

11. Escaping the Corporate Grind While Overcoming Fear as an Entrepreneur | Kathleen Ross
Ever wondered what it takes to walk away from a high-profile corporate job and venture into the world of entrepreneurship?
Join me in this engaging conversation with Kathleen Ross, a corporate jobber turned entrepreneur, who shares her inspiring story of quitting corporate jobs twice, even when she was up for promotions.
Kathleen opens up about her experience of burning out in her corporate roles, taking a one-way ticket to India for her first sabbatical and eventually starting her own business.
We delve into the significance of self-care for entrepreneurs, the impact of hustle culture on our perception of success and Kathleen's strategies for managing two businesses simultaneously.
Find out more about Kathleen’s businesses at:
https://www.kathleenrosscreative.com/
https://www.styleyourcareer.com/
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at:

10. The Art of Bouncing Back: Turning Failures into Opportunities for Growth | Zlatko “Z” Bijelic
In episode 10 of The Me Bet podcast, Zlatko “Z” Bijelic shares his journey from worker to freelancer to entrepreneur of two agencies.
Z talks about prioritizing action and learning from experience instead of overthinking. He shares his views on failures and how to process them. He also describes how taking risks and moving quickly can lead to exciting opportunities.
Find out more about Z at:
Listen to Z’s podcast–What is My Brain? at:
https://www.zlatkobijelic.com/podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
Julia Cameron - The Artist’s Way
Rick Rubin - The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at:

9. How to Leverage Your Skill Set & Time to Create a More Balanced Life | Ayush Chaturvedi
How do you use what you know to create a more balanced life?
In episode 9, Erica talks to Ayush Chaturvedi, a former corporate jobber turned entrepreneur, about how rejections and failures are good. He outlines how he uses leverage to his advantage and the power of community.
Contact Ayush on Twitter at:
https://twitter.com/ayushtweetshere
Ayush’s Indie Masterminds:
Ayush mentioned:
Small Bets – created by Daniel Vassallo
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at:

8. Finding Freedom By Tapping Into Your Creative Zone | Michelle Varghoose
How can you be more intentional about the life you wake up to every morning?
In episode 8, Erica talks to Michelle Varghoose, a podcaster and writer, about leaving corporate sales to pursue creative endeavors.
Michelle discusses the mindset shift required when moving from a corporate setting to being a creator. She highlights what you need to dream big and overcome your fears.
Michelle offers a quick way to get started on your Me Bet journey.
To find out more about Michelle:
https://michellevarghoose.substack.com/
Listen to Michelle’s podcast, Build a Wealthy Spirit, at:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-a-wealthy-spirit/id1551186349
https://www.buildawealthyspirit.com/
Michelle mentioned:
Small Bets –created by Daniel Vassallo
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at:

7. Letting Go of Perfectionism & Setting Boundaries While Overcoming Personal Struggles | Jennie Johnson
How do you restore your courage to get over your perfectionism and just start? How do you arrange your work schedule so it doesn’t seep into your personal time? How can your vulnerability open a door to connection?
In episode 7, Erica talks to Jennie Johnson, an entrepreneur and digital nomad, about the transition from working a corporate job to being a business owner. She describes what helped her to connect with her audience and how she sets boundaries to prevent burnout. Additionally, she opens up about the personal challenges she dealt with and how she overcame them. Jennie also outlines the 4 steps to take when getting started on a Me Bet.
Find out more about Jennie at:
https://www.thejjadventures.com/
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at: https://themebet.com

6. Why Being a Successful Actor is the Ultimate Me Bet | Mark Bloom
In episode 6, Erica talks to Mark Bloom, a successful LA actor, writer and photographer, about being dedicated to whatever you decide to do. Mark discusses the number one thing you must do in all of your pursuits. He talks about the challenges of betting on yourself and what success feels like to him. He also shares some great advice as you’re going through your Me Bet journey.
To see Mark’s tv and movie credits, go to:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089200/
To view and buy Mark’s photography prints, go to:
https://www.markbloomphotography.com/
Get in contact with Mark at:
MarkBloomPhotography@gmail.com
Mark mentioned:
Mark Bloom - Life in a Ride: Stories of a Son, Actor and L.A. Uber Driver
Netflix - Abstract: The Art of Design
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at: https://themebet.com

5. The Importance of Experimenting & Trusting Yourself | Miche Priest
What opportunities can you create for yourself when you welcome experimentation? How can you enjoy the process without focusing on the outcome?
In episode 5, Erica talks to Miche Priest, an entrepreneur and co-founder for hire, about trying new things and embracing the experimentation process. Miche shares the most important piece of advice that her coach taught her. She also outlines her unique framework for getting unstuck.
Get in contact with Miche on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MichePriest
To learn more about Unstuck in 15: https://www.unstuckin15.com/
Miche Mentioned:
Hal Gregersen–Questions Are the Answer: A Breakthrough Approach To Your Most Vexing Problems At Work and In Life.
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at: https://themebet.com

4. How To Get Out of Your Own Way & Reinvent Your Career | Ingo Rauth
Are you ready for a career reinvention but you don’t know where to start? Do you want to do something different with your life but thinking about the unknowns prevents you from getting started?
In this episode, Erica talks to Ingo Rauth Ph.D., a professor and entrepreneur, about how he didn’t let his personal struggles hold him back from accomplishing a major goal.
Learn how to uncover the three sources of uncertainty when starting something new. Ingo offers an alternative way to approach challenges. He brilliantly highlights the two keys you need when betting on yourself and outlines two examples of small bets you can do when starting out.
- Get in contact with Ingo at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingorauth
- Follow Ingo's work at:
https://schoolofbecoming.substack.com/
- Ingo mentioned:
Daniel Vassallo – Small Bets
Julia Cameron–The Artist’s Way
Michael Michalowicz–Clockwork:Design Your Business To Run Itself
Chip Heath & Dan Heath–Made To Stick: Why Some Ideas Thrive and Others Die
- Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at: https://themebet.com

3. How Doing Scary Things Get You Closer To What You Want | Rob Roseman
Why do we have to do scary, uncomfortable things in order to get what we want?
Erica talks to Rob Roseman, a divorced dad of 3, former trader and poker player turned entrepreneur, about how doing scary things gets you closer to where you want to be in life. Rob emphasizes how you must do uncomfortable things to win. He outlines the mindset that is required to bet on yourself and highlights one of the most important skills you can learn in life.
Get in contact with Rob at: https://www.wtfdivorce.com/
Listen to Rob’s podcast, WTF Divorce Podcast at: https://www.podpage.com/wtf-divorce/
Rob mentioned:
- Daniel Kahneman–Thinking Fast & Slow
- Steven Pressfield–The War of Art
- Neville Medhora–Copywriting Course
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at: https://themebet.com

2. How To Stop Settling For Mediocrity By Betting On Yourself | Anfernee Chansamooth
How can you stop getting sucked into the hustle culture and get clear on what you really want out of life?
What does it take to live a more inspired life?
Erica talks to Anfernee Chansamooth, a marketing consultant and podcaster, about a catastrophic event that made him reevaluate his life and bet on himself. Anf realizes that part of the me bet is that you’re taking full responsibility for your own destiny. He discusses the hidden cost of chasing fast growth and how to deal with burnout.
Get in contact with Anf at: https://theauthenticmarketer.com/mebet/
Listen to Anf’s podcast, Authentic Influence Podcast at: https://theauthenticmarketer.com/podcast/
Get more of Anf at: https://theauthenticmarketer.com/
Connect with Erica by joining the Me Bet community at: https://themebet.com

Trailer - the Me Bet
This podcast is about enhancing your life and career by betting on yourself. You don’t need to wait until you’re retired before you live the type of life that you want. You can have that right now by taking small bets.
I interview people who decided to bet on themselves. They share the good, the bad and the downright ugly. It's a transparent and honest discussion about taking risks, overcoming challenges, resilience, burnout and success.
This show features guest interviews with entrepreneurs, employees, side hustlers and stay at home parents who share their me bet journeys.

1. How Going Through Challenges Teaches You a Lot About Yourself | Dan McDermott
Dealing with challenges is never easy--no matter if they are life or career related. They are just a part of life. But, we all have different ways in which we deal with them.
In this episode, Erica talks to Dan McDermott, an entrepreneur and tech executive, about how he bet on himself in both his career and in life. Dan is no stranger to challenges and setbacks. He discusses how he handled them and offers a refreshing perspective on how you should process them. He talks about the 5 ways to prevent burnout and gives advice on getting started with your me bet journey.
Connect with Dan McDermott at:
Connect with Erica and the Me Bet community: