Episode Summary:

In part two of this powerful series, Ryan and Brook dive deep into three more legendary comeback stories that will reframe how you think about crisis and failure. From FedEx CEO Fred Smith's desperate Vegas gamble with the company's last $5,000, to LEGO's $800 million debt recovery, to Airbnb's stunning pivot during COVID-19, these stories prove that your biggest setbacks might actually be your greatest opportunities for breakthrough success.

Key Takeaways:

• (03:49) The FedEx Vegas story: How a $27,000 blackjack win saved a company and led to $69.7 billion in annual revenue - it's not about the action, it's about taking action when your back's against the wall
• (13:10) LEGO's $300 million loss reality check: Why 12,000 different product elements nearly killed the brand and how radical simplification saved everything
• (20:14) The danger of "just because we can, doesn't mean we should" - why going deep instead of wide creates unstoppable market dominance
• (28:49) Airbnb's 80% revenue drop pivot: How losing everything in 8 weeks led to the largest IPO of 2020 at $86 billion valuation
• (38:43) "Change your offer, change your life" - the fundamental business truth that separates those who survive from those who thrive

Notable Quotes:

• "We cannot live out a mission if we're playing comfortable." - Brook Bishop (17:04)
• "Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. The path to hell is paved through the pursuit of volume." - Ryan Lang (15:33)
• "I'm not ready to say that this doesn't work. There's just a different way that I need to find to do it." - Ryan Lang (36:12)
• "What would you do if you knew that there was no failure? That you couldn't fail?" - Ryan Lang (41:22)

Resources Mentioned:

• The Seven Triggers of a Crisis framework
• Nibll.com- COVID pivot success story

What's the impossible thing you're facing right now? Stop reacting to your crisis and start using it as the catalyst for your breakthrough.

Ask yourself: What's your one thing? How would you show up if failure wasn't an option?

These stories prove that on the other side of your biggest challenge lies your greatest opportunity - but only if you're willing to make the hard pivot.

Connect with Empire Partners: Ready to turn your setback into your comeback? Subscribe to The Coaching Equation Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a coach who needs to hear that their current crisis might be their biggest opportunity for success.

Episode 59: From Bankruptcy to Billions: The Business Comeback Stories Every Business Owner Needs to Hear - Part 1

Episode Summary: In this powerful two-part series, Ryan and Brook dive deep into the mindset required to overcome seemingly impossible business challenges. Through the lens of Apple's 90-day death sentence in 1997 and Tesla's Christmas Eve miracle in 2008, they explore what separates those who survive crisis from those who quit. This isn't motivational fluff—these are real stories of companies closer to death than most entrepreneurs will ever face, and the lessons that can transform how you approach your own "impossible" moments.

Key Takeaways:

• (09:50) The power of seeking reference points: Why Ryan actively hunts for stories of people who overcame worse challenges than what he's currently facing
• (12:09) Brook's "one, two, three, too many" strategy: How to organize overwhelming thoughts on paper and prevent decision paralysis in crisis moments
• (14:41) Apple's 90-day cash crisis: How Steve Jobs turned to his biggest rival Microsoft for $150 million and used breathing room to cut 70% of inventory
• (26:53) Elon's $40 million Christmas Eve gamble: The moment Tesla was two days from bounced payroll and Musk bet his entire PayPal fortune on the company
• (34:28) The gladiator mindset: Why less than 1% of businesses survive 10 years and what it takes to be in that elite group

Notable Quotes:

• "We're either learning or we're growing, right? And like you and I have been very good at turning quickly to go, okay, what story and language are we giving this shit?" - Brook (04:49)
• "One of my strategies around keeping my head screwed on straight when I have a challenge is I go seeking out as many examples and reference points of people who have overcome something way fucking worse than what I'm dealing with right now." - Ryan (09:17)
• "Picture this: You're Steve Jobs, and you've just returned to the company you co-founded only to discover that it's pretty much a walking corpse." - Ryan (14:10)
• "Business is a sport for gladiators. And it's like, we're not saying that like metaphorically, like straight up." - Brook (34:28)

Resources Mentioned:

• Elon Musk SpaceX interview clip: "I don't ever give up. I'd have to be dead or incapacitated"

What's your "impossible" right now? Instead of focusing on why it can't be done, start seeking out reference points of people who overcame something way worse. Remember: every time you decide not to pack it in, every time you get up off the mat one more time, you're stacking credibility with yourself and building the identity of someone who figures it out. Part 2 drops next week with even more incredible comeback stories that will change how you see challenge forever.

Connect with Empire Partners: This is just Part 1 of an epic two-part series. Subscribe now so you don't miss Part 2, where Ryan and Brook share the most insane comeback stories you've never heard. Leave a review and share this with a coach who needs to hear that their current challenge isn't the end of their story—it might just be the plot twist.

Episode Title: The 3 Scariest Questions in Sales That Close 75-80% of Deals

Episode Summary: Ryan Lang and Brook Bishop reveal the three most feared questions in sales that most people avoid—yet these same questions are what separate top closers from everyone else. Learn the permission-based sales framework that builds trust, creates energetic momentum, and allows you to coach prospects to a "yes" rather than pushing them toward a decision. This isn't about manipulation; it's about serving at the highest level.

Key Takeaways:

• (04:05) The coaching frame that gives you permission to ask hard questions: "Does a good coach tell you what you need to hear or what you want to hear?"
• (13:36) The bridge question that transitions from discovery to solution: "If I could show you a way to remedy this today, would you be interested?"
• (27:34) The tie-down close that creates certainty before your offer: "Do you see why so many people get incredible results by leveraging our systems?"
• (19:00) Why identity shifts are crucial in sales—people hold onto stories as neural pathways that must be disrupted through vocalization(
• (31:47) The neuroscience of opening and closing loops in sales conversations to create natural momentum toward a decision
• (35:23) How to build an energetic crescendo that leads prospects to say "this is exactly what I need" instead of feeling pressured

Notable Quotes:

• "We will always do the activities of who we truly believe we are. If you believe you're lazy, guess what? Here you go." - Brook Bishop (19:00)
• "People don't buy because they like you. They buy because they think you understand them." - Ryan Lang (Referenced)
• "Being heard means being held. I cannot tell you how many people on the planet have never had somebody hold space for them." - Brook Bishop (16:16)
• "Don't assume that they want what you have. You must qualify and you've got to get them to vocalize it." - Brook Bishop (21:17)
• "When you do this the right way, you can literally coach people to a yes." - Brook Bishop (38:59)

Resources Mentioned:

• Empire Partners 7-Step Sales Framework - empirepartners.net/script

Stop avoiding these three questions and start implementing them in your sales process. Download the complete 7-step sales framework at empirepartners.net/script—it's 100% free and contains the exact system Ryan and Brook use to close 75-80% of their prospects. Practice these questions this week and watch how they transform your sales conversations from pushy to powerful.

Connect with Empire Partners: Ready to master sales conversations that feel authentic and get results? Subscribe to The Coaching Equation Podcast and grab the free sales script framework. Your prospects are waiting for someone who knows how to ask the right questions—make sure it's you.