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Undisputed Authority · September 21 · 1 hr 10 min

Jay Acunzo

It took Jay Acunzo five years to build a successful business as a paid keynote speaker. At his peak, he did 25 gigs a year and opened the biggest event in his industry to 4,000 people. Then the pandemic hit, and his business disappeared overnight. He pivoted, built an advisory business model, and now earns more than he did in his most lucrative years as a speaker. And he's done that in a way that few other advisors selling expertise attempt. He prioritises creative projects, blends them with commercial ones, and runs a one-person business that pays musicians, videographers, and illustrators instead of outsourcing to AI. He's gone all in on vinyl while the market has moved onto streaming. That's the story I'm telling in Episode 15 of Undisputed Authority, one of advisory built on craftsmanship. Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive Wisdom There are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible. Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribe Resources: Website: jayacunzo.com Podcast: Why They Resonate Book: Break the Wheel Sources used in this episode: The Learning Leader Show #349 The Learning Leader Show #321 Ira Glass on Storytelling, Part 3 (Current TV) Creator Science #63 Creator Science #81 The Marketing Companion with Mark Schaefer, Episode 329 Trinity College English Alumni Panel Nothing Is Boring (jayacunzo.com) I Had 12 Readers. Google Still Loved My Blog (jayacunzo.com) How I Broke Through (jayacunzo.com) How I Unf*cked My Marketing (jayacunzo.com) On Current and Future Struggles in the Creator Economy (jayacunzo.com) Building the Creator Kitchen (Outseta) The Worst Advice for Building Your Business or Career: "Be the Best" (Jay's YouTube channel) Jay Acunzo on his personal journey (Instagram) LinkedIn: Turned 40 LinkedIn: I hated both Google and HubSpot Undisputed Authority with Carl Richards Undisputed Authority with Marty Neumeier Undisputed Authority with Michael Zipursky Undisputed Authority with David C. Baker Undisputed Authority with Blair Enns Undisputed Authority with Nancy Duarte Undisputed Authority with Dorie Clark About Liam Curley Liam Curley works with leaders who sell their expertise, helping them articulate the insights that get them recognised as authorities in their field. Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.uk LinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33

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It took Jay Acunzo five years to build a successful business as a paid keynote speaker.

At his peak, he did 25 gigs a year and opened the biggest event in his industry to 4,000 people.

Then the pandemic hit, and his business disappeared overnight.

He pivoted, built an advisory business model, and now earns more than he did in his most lucrative years as a speaker.

And he's done that in a way that few other advisors selling expertise attempt.

He prioritises creative projects, blends them with commercial ones, and runs a one-person business that pays musicians, videographers, and illustrators instead of outsourcing to AI.

He's gone all in on vinyl while the market has moved onto streaming.

That's the story I'm telling in Episode 15 of Undisputed Authority, one of advisory built on craftsmanship.

Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive Wisdom


There are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.

Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribe


Resources:

Sources used in this episode:

About Liam Curley

Liam Curley works with leaders who sell their expertise, helping them articulate the insights that get them recognised as authorities in their field.

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