Young and Profiting with Hala Taha

Career success isn't always about working the hardest, and Courtney Johnson learned that the hard way. While climbing the corporate ladder, she was told to keep her head down and grind, only to discover that top performers play by a completely different set of rules. Getting laid off forced her to crack the code and write Career Cheat Codes to help others build thriving careers with ease. In this episode, Courtney shares actionable strategies to get noticed, land promotions, negotiate raises, and build a personal brand that creates real opportunities.

In this episode, Hala and Courtney will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:30) The Expensive Lie About Working Hard

(07:33) A Players vs. B Players Mindset

(12:49) How Entrepreneurs Can Build Visibility

(14:55) How to Impress Your Boss and Clients Fast

(23:30) Job Search Strategies That Work in 2026

(30:56) Using Keywords for Resumes and Branding

(34:33) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome at Work

(36:30) Building a Personal Brand and Monetizing Content

(52:26) How to Land Paid Speaking Gigs

(54:25) How to Become Visible and Profitable

Courtney Johnson is an entrepreneur, author, and personal brand strategist who helps professionals accelerate their career growth through visibility and strategic positioning. Her new book, Career Cheat Codes, reveals the unwritten rules of workplace success and career development. Known for her viral content on LinkedIn and TikTok, she has built a loyal community of professionals and creators who follow her for no-nonsense career and personal branding advice.

Sponsored By:

Huel - Get over $50 in savings with the Discovery Bundle from Huel. Use my exclusive code YAP15 for 15% off at huel.com/yap15.

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Experian - Manage and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reduce your bills. Get started now with the Experian App and let your Big Financial Friend do the work for you. See experian.com for details.

Intuit - Start paying bills the smart way, not the hard way. Learn more at QuickBooks.com/billpay

AT&T Business - Power your small business with reliable connectivity from AT&T. Switch today at business.att.com. 

Fabric - Protect your family with term life insurance from Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/profiting 

ZocDoc - Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments. Find and instantly book a doctor you love today at Zocdoc.com/PROFITING 

Blinkist - Turn the world’s best nonfiction books into quick 15-minute reads or listens. Grab your free trial plus an exclusive 30% discount at blinkist.com/profiting 

Resources Mentioned:

Courtney's Book, Career Cheat Codes: bit.ly/CJ-CCC 

Courtney's Instagram: instagram.com/courtlynnjohnson/ 

Courtney's TikTok: tiktok.com/@courtney..johnson 

Courtney's Website: courtneyjohnsonnews.com 

Atomic Habits by James Clear: bit.ly/JC-AH 

Show Your Work by Austin Kleon: bit.ly/AK-SYW

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Hiring, Startup, Business Ideas, Growth Hacks, Money Management, Career Podcast

Leadership expert Patrick Lencioni spent nearly 20 years feeling drained and frustrated at work, despite loving his job and the people around him. As the CEO of his own firm, he was constantly pulled into tasks that fell outside his natural strengths, with no clear understanding of why it was killing his productivity and energy. That frustration led him to create the Working Genius framework, transforming how leaders and entrepreneurs approach team building. In this episode, Patrick breaks down the six working geniuses to help you build teams where people find genuine fulfillment at work.

In this episode, Hala and Patrick will discuss: 

(00:00) Introduction

(01:18) The Origin Story of Working Genius

(04:19) Finding Joy and Energy at Work

(08:05) Defining the Six Working Geniuses

(20:51) Applying Working Genius to Entrepreneurship

(30:51) How to Apply Your Assessment Results

(35:18) Doing Work You Don’t Enjoy

(38:32) Working Genius Assessment vs. Personality Traits

(50:18) The Three Stages of Teamwork

(59:02) Using Working Genius for Better Hiring

(01:03:56) Identifying and Fixing Team Genius Gaps

(01:15:33) Tips for Running Better Meetings

(01:22:35) Daily Habits for Personal Success

Patrick Lencioni is a bestselling author, speaker, and founder of The Table Group, specializing in organizational health and leadership. He has spent over 25 years helping leaders build high-performing teams and improve workplace culture. Patrick is the author of multiple business classics, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Six Types of Working Genius. His work has impacted millions of leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide.

Sponsored By:

Huel - Get over $50 in savings with the Discovery Bundle from Huel. Use my exclusive code YAP15 for 15% off at huel.com/yap15.

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Experian - Manage and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reduce your bills. Get started now with the Experian App and let your Big Financial Friend do the work for you. See experian.com for details.

Intuit - Start paying bills the smart way, not the hard way. Learn more at QuickBooks.com/billpay

AT&T Business - Power your small business with reliable connectivity from AT&T. Switch today at business.att.com. 

Fabric - Protect your family with term life insurance from Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/profiting 

ZocDoc - Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments. Find and instantly book a doctor you love today at Zocdoc.com/PROFITING 

Blinkist - Turn the world’s best nonfiction books into quick 15-minute reads or listens. Grab your free trial plus an exclusive 30% discount at blinkist.com/profiting 

Resources Mentioned:

Patrick’s Book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: bit.ly/-TFDOAT 

Patrick’s Book, Death by Meeting: bit.ly/PL-DBM 

Patrick’s Book, The 6 Types of Working Genius: bit.ly/T6TOWG 

Patrick's Book, The Ideal Team Player: bit.ly/PL-TITP 

Patricks’ Company: The Table Group: tablegroup.com 

Working Genius Assessment: workinggenius.com/profiting 

YAP E394 with Patrick Lencioni: 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Networking, Goal Setting, Time Management, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Leadership Skills, Strategic Planning

Social media marketing success starts with understanding your audience, yet most creator-entrepreneurs skip this step entirely. Without that foundation, even consistent creators end up guessing what works, leading to low engagement and missed business opportunities. In this episode of the YAPCreator Series Replay, Hala Taha shares proven insights from experts like Neil Patel, Julie Solomon, and Ken Okazaki to help you understand your audience, create content that converts, and build a loyal, engaged community.

In this episode, Hala will discuss: 

(00:00) Introduction

(02:04) Neil Patel on Finding the Right Audience

(06:22) Turning Your Audience Into a Business

(08:28) Creating Content That Actually Converts

(12:55) Understanding What Your Audience Really Wants

(17:29) Mastering Your Craft and Building Trust

(21:48) Using Data to Guide Your Content Strategy

(23:32) The Toilet Strategy for Video Marketing

(26:13) Adapting Content Based on Audience Feedback

Hala Taha is the host of Young and Profiting, a top 10 business and entrepreneurship podcast on Apple and Spotify. She’s the founder and CEO of YAP Media, an award-winning social media and podcast production agency, as well as the YAP Media Network, where she helps renowned podcasters like Russell Brunson, Jenna Kutcher, and Neil Patel grow and monetize their shows. Through her work, Hala has become one of the most influential creator entrepreneurs in podcasting.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Experian - Manage and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reduce your bills. Get started now with the Experian App and let your Big Financial Friend do the work for you. See experian.com for details.

Intuit - Start paying bills the smart way, not the hard way. Learn more at QuickBooks.com/billpay

Huel - Grab nutritionally complete meals you can drink. Get 15% off with code PROFITING at huel.com/PROFITING

AT&T Business - Power your small business with reliable connectivity from AT&T. Switch today at business.att.com. 

Fabric - Protect your family with term life insurance from Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/profiting 

ZocDoc - Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments. Find and instantly book a doctor you love today at Zocdoc.com/PROFITING 

Blinkist - Turn the world’s best nonfiction books into quick 15-minute reads or listens. Grab your free trial plus an exclusive 30% discount at blinkist.com/profiting 

Resources Mentioned:

YAP E226 with Neil Patel: https://youngandprofiting.co/4gqjng0 

YAP E325 with Nick Loper: https://youngandprofiting.co/40MTrVM 

YAP E233 with Oz Pearlman: https://youngandprofiting.co/42DkUMt 

YAP E292 with Julie Solomon: https://youngandprofiting.co/4jJTpXp 

YAP E230 with Ken Okazaki: https://youngandprofiting.co/3Ervwnx 

YAPCreator Replay E1: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E1

YAPCreator Replay E2: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E2

YAPCreator Replay E3: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E3

YAPCreator Replay E4: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E4 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, SEO, E-commerce, LinkedIn, Instagram, Content Creator, Storytelling, Advertising, Communication, Social Proof, Marketing Trends, Influencers, Influencer Marketing, Marketing Tips, Digital Trends, Online Marketing, Marketing Podcast

With over 25 years of experience working with leadership teams, Patrick Lencioni has seen successful companies crumble; not because of strategy, but due to poor organizational health. Behind the success were team members who were afraid to open up, make mistakes, or disagree. This insight led Patrick to dedicate his career to creating frameworks that help entrepreneurs and leaders build healthy teams. In this episode, Patrick breaks down the five dysfunctions of a team and shows how embracing healthy conflict can foster trust, boost productivity, and improve decision-making.

In this episode, Hala and Patrick will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction(03:52) What Is Organizational Health?(09:24) Healthy vs. Unhealthy Team Culture(17:20) The Five Dysfunctions of a Team(23:57) The Power of Peer Accountability at the Workplace(26:50) Diagnosing Dysfunctions with Real Scenarios(41:41) How to Run Effective Team Meetings(54:55) How Working Genius Improves Productivity(01:06:51) The Truth About Entrepreneurship and Success

Patrick Lencioni is a founder of The Table Group and a pioneer of the organizational health movement. He is the author of 13 books, which have sold over 8 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages. Patrick has spent over 25 years helping organizations and leaders improve their team dynamics, decision-making, and productivity.

Sponsored By:

Huel - Get over $50 in savings with the Discovery Bundle from Huel. Use my exclusive code YAP15 for 15% off at huel.com/yap15.

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Experian - Manage and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reduce your bills. Get started now with the Experian App and let your Big Financial Friend do the work for you. See experian.com for details.

Intuit - Start paying bills the smart way, not the hard way. Learn more at QuickBooks.com/billpay

AT&T Business - Power your small business with reliable connectivity from AT&T. Switch today at business.att.com. 

Fabric - Protect your family with term life insurance from Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/profiting 

ZocDoc - Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments. Find and instantly book a doctor you love today at Zocdoc.com/PROFITING 

Blinkist - Turn the world’s best nonfiction books into quick 15-minute reads or listens. Grab your free trial plus an exclusive 30% discount at blinkist.com/profiting 

Resources Mentioned:

Patrick’s Book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: bit.ly/-TFDOAT 

Patrick’s Book, Death by Meeting: bit.ly/PL-DBM 

Patrick’s Book, The 6 Types of Working Genius: bit.ly/T6TOWG 

Working Genius Assessment: workinggenius.com/profiting 

Patrick’s Instagram: instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial/ 

YAP E305 with Patrick Lencioni: youngandprofiting.co/PL-E305 

YAP E306 with Patrick Lencioni: youngandprofiting.co/PL-E306 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Networking, Goal Setting, Time Management, Problem Solving, Leadership Skills, Strategic Planning

Nick Bostrom saw the AI revolution coming before it was taken seriously. When he warned about superintelligence in 2014, AI risk was dismissed by mainstream academia and the public. Now, as AI reshapes the future of work and human purpose, he has moved from warning about its risks to exploring a future where AI solves everything, and humans are left searching for new meaning. In this episode, Nick shares how artificial intelligence could end human labor and what that means for purpose, entrepreneurship, and humanity’s future.

In this episode, Hala and Nick will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:35) Are We Living in a Simulation?

(11:48) Moral Implications of a Simulated Reality

(22:28) The Fermi Paradox and the Doomsday Argument

(30:29) Is AI Bigger Than the Industrial Revolution?

(38:26) Three Types of AI and How They Work

(41:43) The Risks of Advanced AI Systems

(49:15) Finding Purpose in a Solved World

(57:26) Beating Boredom and Artificial Purpose

(01:08:07) Entrepreneurship’s Place in an AI-Driven Future

Nick Bostrom is a philosopher and leading expert on artificial intelligence and existential risk. He is the founding director of the now-defunct Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University and the bestselling author of Superintelligence and Deep Utopia. His work has shaped global conversations on AI safety, long-term human survival, and the future of advanced technology.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Experian - Manage and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reduce your bills. Get started now with the Experian App and let your Big Financial Friend do the work for you. See experian.com for details.

Intuit - Start paying bills the smart way, not the hard way. Learn more at QuickBooks.com/billpay

Huel - Grab nutritionally complete meals you can drink. Get 15% off with code PROFITING at huel.com/PROFITING

AT&T Business - Power your small business with reliable connectivity from AT&T. Switch today at business.att.com. 

Fabric - Protect your family with term life insurance from Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/profiting 

ZocDoc - Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments. Find and instantly book a doctor you love today at Zocdoc.com/PROFITING 

Blinkist - Turn the world’s best nonfiction books into quick 15-minute reads or listens. Grab your free trial plus an exclusive 30% discount at blinkist.com/profiting 

Resources Mentioned:

Nick’s Book, Superintelligence: bit.ly/_Superintelligence 

Nick’s Book, Deep Utopia: bit.ly/DeepUtopia 

Nick’s Website: nickbostrom.com 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, ChatGPT, AI Marketing, Prompt, AI in Action, AI in Business, Generative AI, AI for Entrepreneurs, AI Podcast