Betting on Yourself: Sales, Ghostwriting, and Taking Risks That Change Your Life with Brian Kurian

Podcast Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat Host David Chametzky Guest Brian Kurian Entrepreneur | Premium Ghostwriter | Business Consultant | Sales Trainer | Nonprofit Leader Episode Overview In this inspiring episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, David Chametzky reconnects with longtime friend and collaborator Brian Kurian for a conversation about entrepreneurship, sales, ghostwriting, personal growth, and the courage required to bet on yourself. Brian shares how three layoffs within approximately two and a half years pushed him to stop relying on corporate security and launch his own business. What began with decades of sales experience has grown into an expanding ecosystem of ghostwriting, publishing support, business consulting, sales training, and nonprofit leadership. This conversation is a reminder that success rarely begins with having every answer. It begins with curiosity, determination, strong values, and the willingness to say: “I don’t know how to do that yet—but I can learn.” From Corporate Sales to Entrepreneurship Brian spent more than 20 years working in sales across established corporations and startup companies. His experience included: Cold calling and prospecting Booking demonstrations Negotiating proposals Closing deals Managing sales teams Reaching executive leadership roles He eventually landed what he considered a dream position with a strong salary, supportive colleagues, and a great company culture. Then the layoffs began. After experiencing three layoffs from three different companies, Brian decided he was finished allowing other organizations to determine his professional future. Four days after his third layoff, he launched his business. “I can just do this myself.” The Values That Built the Business Brian credits much of his character and professional approach to the values his parents instilled in him. Growing up with South Indian roots, he learned the importance of: Family Honesty Integrity Accountability Hard work Keeping commitments Treating people properly His father did not praise him simply for meeting expectations. Brian was encouraged to push harder, improve consistently, and demonstrate that he could deliver exceptional results repeatedly. That lesson now shapes the way Brian runs his companies and serves clients. The Obsession with Overdelivering When David asks what makes Brian different, Brian identifies one defining trait: He is obsessed with overdelivering. Brian does not wait for opportunities to provide extra value. He actively searches for them. That may mean: Making a valuable introduction Offering additional strategic guidance Connecting a client with a potential partner Improving a project beyond the original scope Helping someone personally as well as professionally For Brian, great business is not about completing the minimum requirements. It is about leaving people better than he found them. How Brian Became a Ghostwriter Brian’s journey into ghostwriting began with a simple thought: “I think I have a book in me.” His wife suggested that his many ideas might work better as a blog. At the time, Brian did not even know what a blog was. He researched blogging, discovered Medium, and began writing. His first articles were not polished, and very few people read them. Rather than treating that as proof that he was not a writer, Brian decided to practice. He began publishing several articles each week, learning through repetition and gradually improving his craft. From there, the opportunities expanded: Writing blog posts Editing other writers’ work Offering free developmental feedback Coaching writers Launching a writing-coaching business Creating e-books and training materials Ghostwriting executive content Writing books for entrepreneurs and thought leaders Each new opportunity began with Brian admitting that he had not done it before—and then committing to learning how. Say Yes, Then Learn One of the strongest lessons from Brian’s story is the value of being willing to learn in public. When someone asked whether he offered writing coaching, he had never formally coached writers before. He said yes, while being transparent about his experience. When a company asked him to ghostwrite e-books, he learned how. When clients needed blog posts written in their own voices, he studied their language, personalities, goals, and communication styles until he could represent them authentically. Brian’s approach is not about pretending to know everything. It is about believing: “I may not know how to do this today, but I am capable of figuring it out.” Practice Creates Expertise Brian’s success did not appear overnight. He built his skills by getting repetitions: Writing daily Publishing consistently Editing other people’s work Requesting feedback Learning new services Studying client needs Improving through real-world experience Natural ability may help, but consistency creates mastery. You do not have to be excellent when you begin. You must be willing to begin badly, remain committed, and continue learning. Sales, Effort, and Personal Responsibility Brian also reflects on his earliest sales experience at CompUSA. As a teenager, he learned that strong performance could directly increase his income. For someone raised to value accountability and hard work, the realization was powerful. If he learned the skills, accepted feedback, and produced results, he would be rewarded. That experience created a lifelong connection with sales. Brian began actively seeking constructive criticism: What did I do wrong? How can I improve? What could I have said differently? How can I make the next interaction stronger? He was not afraid of feedback because he saw it as a tool for becoming better. Leaving the Comfort Zone Brian has met many intelligent and talented people who possessed money, connections, education, or natural advantages—but remained trapped because they were afraid to leave their comfort zones. They told themselves: “That is not for me.” “I’m not smart enough.” “I don’t know how to do that.” “I should stay in my lane.” Brian took a different approach. He entered rooms before he felt fully ready. He took opportunities that frightened him. He accepted that he might fail and trusted himself to learn from whatever happened. The willingness to move despite uncertainty became one of his greatest advantages. Risking Well Brian does not advocate taking reckless chances. His story is about risking well. Some of the most meaningful experiences of his life began with frightening decisions: Leaving home to attend college Moving to a city where he knew almost nobody Relocating for employment Moving across the country to pursue a business dream Launching a company days after being laid off None of these decisions came with guaranteed success. Brian looked at the potential opportunity, compared it with the possible pain, and decided the opportunity was worth pursuing. Each successful risk became evidence that he could take the next one. Your Previous Courage Becomes Evidence When Brian faced a new challenge, he reminded himself of earlier moments when he had entered the unknown and survived. He could say: I moved away for college and found my place. I relocated for work and built a new life. I entered unfamiliar environments and created relationships. I started something before knowing exactly how it would work. The past was no longer evidence that he should be afraid. It became proof that he could adapt. Building a Business Ecosystem Today, Brian operates and supports several ventures, including: Brian Kurian’s Business Services Providing premium ghostwriting, publishing guidance, business consulting, sales strategy, and training. Cliniko Strategies Supporting business growth, strategic planning, and client development. After Athlete A nonprofit organization offering professional development and life-skills training to current and former athletes navigating life beyond sports. Brian’s goal is to build an ecosystem where entrepreneurs, thought leaders, industry experts, and athletes receive support without being repeatedly passed from one disconnected provider to another. A Personal Reminder About Health During the conversation, David shares his recent heart scare and the discovery of serious arterial blockages despite not recognizing obvious symptoms. The experience became a major wake-up call and led him to make immediate lifestyle changes. His message is simple: success means little if we continuously neglect our physical health. Paying attention to the body, attending appropriate medical appointments, and taking professional guidance seriously are also forms of personal responsibility. The Magic Garden Seed 🌱 Bet on yourself—and risk well. The best opportunities may not feel comfortable. They may feel terrifying. You do not need to know everything before you begin. You need to recognize when the potential reward is greater than the cost of remaining stuck. Remember the risks you have already survived. Use them as evidence. Take the next step. Connect with Brian Kurian Website BrianKurianBusinessServices.com LinkedIn Search for Brian Kurian Instagram and Facebook Search for Brian Kurian Brian and his team support clients who need: Premium ghostwriting Memoirs and autobiographies Thought-leadership books Publishing guidance Sales training Business consulting Marketing strategy Brand development Speaking and podcast positioning Final Words from David You do not have to remain in the lane someone else chose for you. You can learn. You can develop the skill. You can enter the room. You can build the business. You can write the book. You can take the risk. Bring peace and love into your life. Bring awesome thoughts, trust what you have learned, and keep swinging until you hit your sweet spot.