Episode 54: The Power Of Telling Your Story

On this episode Bella spends time with Andrew O'Brien, Founder and CEO of The Publicity Guy. Andrew O'Brien They discuss: Andrew's compelling story. How crucial it is for you to tell your story. How to get your story out there. Andrew is the founder and CEO of the Publicity Guy. They are on a mission to change the world of publicity. They don’t just want to get media exposure…they want their clients to be known across continents as authorities in their fields. Leveraging the limelight is the backbone of their strategy. Media exposure can be so much more than “social proof,” and their team can show you how. ThePublicityGuy.com Subscribe To The Show: Transcript: This is episode 54 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready, Bella's got your chute. Let's jump. Hi, everybody. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting, and today I have a really special guest for you. A couple of weeks ago, I found myself at a conference here in Phoenix, and I also found myself taking a class with Andrew, my guest, who I was told I had to go to his class by someone who was there the previous day. So of course, I went. And you all know me—it takes a lot for me to stop dead in my tracks. My jaw dropped to the floor, and I literally had to pick it up. I'm not even gonna try to introduce Andrew to you. I'm gonna let him do it himself because that is what made my jaw drop. So if you're driving around right now, or doing laundry, or something else, I want you to stop what you're doing, pull over for the next 60 seconds, and listen to this. Andrew: Thank you for having me on, Bella. My name is Andrew O'Brien. I'm known as “The Publicity Guy,” and by the time I was 23, I had experienced prostitution, war, suicide, and murder. Prostitution because I was raised by a prostitute mother—I experienced a lot of traumatic sexual events as a child. Then I escaped my mother to join the army, went out to Iraq for a year where I served as a lead gunner. After the army, I attempted to take my own life with 120 pills in less than three minutes, but luckily survived and woke up with a newfound appreciation for life. About a year later, my mother actually murdered her husband and asked me to help frame someone else for the murder. Those were four things I experienced when I was 23, and that all led to me wanting to share my story with the world to give hope and empowerment to people who had experienced similar traumatic events as mine. Bella: Incredible, right? By telling your story, you also wrote a book, right? Andrew: Yeah, my first book was Welcoming Your Soldier Home. I wrote it overnight—it’s about 50 pages long—and it’s about how to cope with post-traumatic stress and help soldiers reintegrate into home life. It got a lot of media exposure and was bulk ordered by military bases around the world. Bella: And you mentioned something in our class that was powerful—you said to date you had 200 people email you saying you helped save their lives. Andrew: Yes, for two and a half years I was speaking, and I could literally count 200 people who told me I’d given them at least one more day to live. I may not know if they’re still around today, but I know that I gave them hope. Bella: That’s incredible. You saved people’s lives through your story. Andrew: I didn’t give them solutions. I was simply a storyteller, and that story saved lives. Bella: A lot of our listeners are dog walkers and pet sitters. They may not be saving lives, but they enrich them. They’re an outsource of love and care. Many people think they’re telling their story, but really, they’re selling—saying, “Buy my services.” What’s the difference? Andrew: The biggest mistake people make is that they talk about how great they are at business. They talk about testimonials and features—but that’s not what humans connect with. Humans don’t connect with their wallets; they connect with their hearts. If you sell to the heart, the wallet will follow. Your story sells your services naturally—you don’t have to push it. Bella: So, is your story about why you became a pet sitter? Andrew: It is. Your story is your “why.” Many people say, “I started my business to pay the bills.” But if you dig deeper, there’s always more—an emotional reason you chose this work. That’s the story people connect to. Bella: I’ve seen that—people share how their love for pets began, and that becomes their heart story. Andrew: Exactly. Bella: How did you make the shift from all those traumatic experiences to what you do now? Andrew: If you’re listening and you haven’t shared your story, you’re being selfish. Your story can heal others. It doesn’t have to be extreme like mine—it just has to be real. There are 7.4 billion people in the world; at least 1% have experienced something similar to you. If that 1% comes to you, you’ll have a very successful business. I had to decide—do I keep my story to myself and pretend life is perfect, or do I share it to help people feel less alone? I knew that by sharing, I could literally change lives. Bella: That’s powerful. How did you turn that into a business? Andrew: I didn’t plan to. I was working a corporate job, miserable, and saw a story about veterans taking their own lives. I felt like that was my calling. I started sharing my story—it went viral, hit front pages, and led to my first speaking engagement in Hawaii at the same place where I’d once tried to end my life. It kept growing until I was invited to speak at the White House, Pentagon, and HHS. It all started from publicity. I later realized entrepreneurs have powerful stories too, and I began helping them share theirs. Bella: That’s amazing. How can pet sitters apply this? Andrew: Pets are more than animals—they’re family. They help children with autism, veterans with PTSD, protect homes and hearts. You’re not just a dog walker—you’re caring for family members. That’s how you frame your story. Bella: I love that. Let’s take a quick break. Commercial break. Bella: So, there are many mediums to tell your story, right? Andrew: Absolutely—national media, online publications like Entrepreneur and Inc., podcasts, local news, blogs. Pet sitters should start with local outlets and bloggers—that’s where your audience is. Bella: Many still use press releases. What’s your take? Andrew: Press releases are a waste of time unless you’re famous. Instead, build direct relationships with local reporters who love animals. Connect with them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Build relationships before pitching. Bella: Yes, like offering helpful infographics during weather events—pet safety during storms, for example. That’s how you get noticed. Andrew: Exactly. Provide value first. Bella: What question should I ask you that I haven’t yet? Andrew: How deep do you go with your story? Most people stay surface-level—“I was broke, now I’m successful.” Boring. If it makes you tear up, your stomach turn, your heart race—that’s the story you must share. That’s what creates connection. Bella: I can attest to that—I was shaking when I shared mine on stage. Andrew: That’s the power of authenticity. Bella: This has been such a pleasure, Andrew. Tell people where they can find you. Andrew: Go to thepublicityguy.com. You’ll find everything there. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. I’ve got a staff of seven—all here to help. We also run interviews with producers, editors, and journalists from major outlets like CNN and Good Morning America. These insiders share insights you can’t find elsewhere. Bella: That’s incredible. I love that they get to tell their own stories, too—it’s unique and refreshing. Thank you so much for joining us. This has been another episode of Bella in Your Business. Remember to always keep jumping and subscribe to us on iTunes or Stitcher. For more information, free articles, and coaching sessions, go to jumpconsulting.net. And remember—Bella’s got your chute.