What happens when a broadcaster-turned-salesman discovers that giving is the fastest path to success? In this episode, I talk with Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-Giver, about kindness, influence, and building a life around service.

This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world.

In This Episode

In this episode, Michael Dargie speaks with Bob Burg, speaker, author, and co-creator of the international bestseller The Go-Giver. Known for its simple but powerful message—that shifting focus from getting to giving leads to success—The Go-Giver has sold over a million copies worldwide and become a staple in leadership, business, and personal development .

Bob shares how he stumbled into sales after early stints in radio and television. With no formal training, he failed fast—until a desperate trip to a bookstore introduced him to the work of Tom Hopkins and Zig Ziglar. Devouring their books, he quickly learned that sales wasn't about talking people into something, but about providing real value. That discovery launched a lifelong pursuit of learning, leading him into the world of personal development classics like How to Win Friends and Influence People and Think and Grow Rich .

The conversation spans from his childhood dream of playing third base for the Boston Red Sox to his career as a sought-after speaker, traveling the world to talk about influence, persuasion, and service. Bob explains why nobody buys because of your quota or goals—they buy because they believe they'll be better off. He also shares stories about life in Jupiter, Florida, with his rescue cat Buddy, his admiration for hockey legend Bobby Orr, and his simple joys like reading over coffee and bagels .

Looking ahead, Bob is reworking his book Adversaries into Allies into a new edition called Genuine Influence: How to Master the Art of Persuasion, slated for release in 2026. His advice to "rebels in waiting" is grounded and practical: know your cause, find systems and mentors, take action, persist through the no's, and never mistake failure for finality .

At its heart, this episode is about shifting perspective—success isn't about self-focus, it's about making every person and moment better off for having crossed your path.

Quoteable Quotes

"Nobody's going to buy from you because you have a quota. They buy because they believe they'll be better off." — Bob Burg

"Success is really an inside job. It starts with what you put in your head and heart." — Bob Burg

"The highest purpose of life is to make each moment better off because it passed by you." — Bob Burg

"Kindness is never wasted—it expands into greatness." — Bob Burg

"Our job in business is to be the Yoda. The customer is the Luke." — Michael Dargie

Episode Highlights

The Go-Giver | Why giving first creates success.

From Radio to Sales | How failure led Bob to personal growth.

Discovering Systems | Learning from Zig Ziglar and Tom Hopkins.

Inside Job | Success begins with mindset and personal development.

Jupiter Life | Bagels, coffee, and reading with his rescue cat, Buddy.

Sports Memories | From dreaming of the Red Sox to admiring Bobby Orr.

Travel & Speaking | 35 years of conferences and lessons from the stage.

Genuine Influence | His next book on persuasion and people skills.

Advice to Rebels | Know your cause, persist, and learn from failure.

Links From Episode

Bob Burg Official Website (https://burg.com)

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