The Alter-Ego Trick To Beat Performance Anxiety

Anxiety can be debilitating whether it manifests as a stutter, a bad attitude or feeling stuck. In this episode, Joe shares how he went from a kid with a stutter to a keynote speaker using a powerful mental technique: creating an alter ego. Learn the persona method Joe used to overcome his anxiety, how he taught his daughter to use it for sports performance, and why preparation and repetition are the real keys to building confidence. This episode delivers actionable techniques for turning fear into your greatest advantage.

Key Takeaways:

• How to create an alter ego or persona to shield yourself from criticism and self-doubt
• Why modeling charismatic leaders (like Alan Mulally) can transform your confidence
• The power of gradual exposure: speaking to 5 people before scaling to 500
• How preparation and "doing the work" eliminates anxiety better than any other method
• Teaching the alter ego technique to others (real example with Joe's daughter "Brooklyn")
• Why adversity and struggle in childhood can become your greatest competitive advantage
• The importance of iteration and postmortem analysis in any creative or business endeavor

Key Topics: Public speaking anxiety, overcoming stuttering, alter ego technique, performance anxiety, building confidence, imposter syndrome, parenting advice for athletes, deliberate practice, entrepreneurship mindset, turning adversity into strength

How to get the trademark you want and need.

Ready to launch and name your new business? Don't file anything until you listen to this. Veteran entrepreneur Joe Chura shares the complete process for choosing a business name that won't get you sued—from Google searches and domain availability to USPTO trademark filing and protecting your brand equity.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Google and GoDaddy aren't enough—the free USPTO search that could save your business
• How to find available business names using NameBoy and trademark class searches
• The phonetic trademark rule that almost cost Go Brewing everything
• When to hire a trademark attorney (and when you might not need to)
• Domain names, social handles, and the "confusion test" explained
• Real story: navigating trademark challenges and calculated risk-taking

Whether you're launching a startup, side hustle, or scaling a brand, learn the step-by-step checklist for securing your business name legally—before you invest in logos, websites, and packaging.

Topics: how to trademark a business name, naming your business, USPTO trademark search, business name availability, domain name strategy, trademark attorney, startup legal tips

And why taking a lesser valuation might actually accelerate your growth.

Veteran entrepreneur and investor, Joe Chura, breaks down the critical questions every entrepreneur needs to answer before raising capital—and explains why even successful founders get more "nos" than you'd expect.

What you'll learn:

• Convertible notes vs SAFEs: Which is better for founders?
• Angel investors vs venture capital: How to choose the right fit
• Why investors bet on founders, not just ideas
• The "data story" framework for first-time founders with no track record
• When to actually take investment (and when to avoid it)

Real talk on valuation, dilution, time horizons, and why proving yourself matters more than your pitch deck. Whether you're bootstrapping or ready to raise, this episode reveals what investors are really thinking when they evaluate your business.

For: Startup founders, entrepreneurs seeking funding, business owners considering investment, first-time founders

Topics: Raising capital, angel investors, venture capital, convertible notes, SAFEs, startup funding, founder equity, business valuation, investor pitch