--- title: "Nat Berman: Stop Chasing Followers | The Hot Takes | Mick Unplugged transcript | Mick Unplugged Podcast | Reclip.Me" description: "Full transcript of \"Nat Berman: Stop Chasing Followers |…\" from Mick Unplugged Podcast, November 10, 2026. 18 min, 3,462 words, timestamped. 8 notable quotes…" canonical: https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript --- Transcript # Nat Berman: Stop Chasing Followers | The Hot Takes | Mick Unplugged From [Mick Unplugged Podcast](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast) · [Episode page](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged) · [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAZ-calNRYs) November 10, 2026 · 18 min · 3,462 words · 45 timestamped sections This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Nat Berman: Stop Chasing Followers | The Hot Takes | Mick Unplugged", an episode of Mick Unplugged Podcast published November 10, 2026 (18 min, about 3,462 words). It mentions 17 people, works and ideas, including Nat Berman, Mick Hunt, Passion Struck, LinkedIn, Hot Takes segment. ## What this episode is about Discussion centers on how success reveals true allies vs. detractors, and how ultra-competitive mindset—exemplified by athletes like Michael Jordan, Kobe, and Tom Brady—drives ongoing motivation and resilience beyond early underdog status. Key idea: winning exposes who’s truly in your corner and fuels a forward-focused, relentless mindset. ## Key takeaways - Winning reveals true allies and hidden non-fans; the brushfire test separates circles from champions. - Underdog narratives fuel motivation; champions use forward momentum to render past losses irrelevant. - Boring is beautiful: repetition, patience, and consistency crush luck-based ascent and build durable skill. - Focus compounds value; jumping between 5,000 projects dilutes impact—bleed one idea dry before expanding. - Great companies obsess over one core value (customer service, branding, etc.); breadth follows from depth. ## Who speaks in this episode? - [Nat Berman](https://reclip.me/speaker/nat-berman) (Host) · 10 min speaking - [Mick Unplugged (Narrative Context Only)](https://reclip.me/speaker/mick-unplugged-narrative-context-only) (Guest) ## What is discussed, and when 1. [0:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=0) – 3:00: [Michael Jordan](https://reclip.me/person/michael-jordan), [Nat Berman](https://reclip.me/person/nat-berman), [Ian Brady](https://reclip.me/person/ian-brady), [Hot Takes segment](https://reclip.me/media/hot-takes-segment) 2. [3:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=180) – 6:00: [Amazon](https://reclip.me/company/amazon-2), [Jane Buffett](https://reclip.me/person/jane-buffett), [The 10,000 hour rule](https://reclip.me/concept/the-10-000-hour-rule) 3. [6:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=360) – 9:00: [Apple Inc.](https://reclip.me/company/apple-inc), [Jeff Bezos](https://reclip.me/person/jeff-bezos), [Steve Jobs](https://reclip.me/person/steve-jobs) 4. [9:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=540) – 12:00: [LinkedIn](https://reclip.me/entity/110133), [Instagram](https://reclip.me/company/instagram-2) 5. [12:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=720) – 15:00: [Nat Berman](https://reclip.me/person/nat-berman), [LinkedIn](https://reclip.me/entity/110133), [Fortune 500](https://reclip.me/concept/fortune-500), [Grok Bot](https://reclip.me/product/grok-bot) 6. [15:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=900) – 18:00: [Fortune 500](https://reclip.me/concept/fortune-500) 7. [18:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=1080) – 18:31: [Fortune 500](https://reclip.me/concept/fortune-500) ## Notable quotes from "Nat Berman: Stop Chasing Followers | The Hot Takes | Mick Unplugged" - > Absolutely. Absolutely. So, I'm going to go to this next segment that I call hot takes and this is about to be all about that right here, brother. *about [Mick Hunt](https://reclip.me/person/mick-hunt) · at [0:02](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=2)* - > Because even when those guys were winning, they found narratives to keep moving on and to keep being motivated and to keep pressing on as if all the other championships didn't happen. And. *about [Kobe Bryant](https://reclip.me/person/kobe-bryant-2) · at [1:20](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=80)* - > Advantage. That is your, {quote} {unquote} superpower. It's like when Michael Jordan won a championship, who's in the gym the next day? Michael Jordan is in the gym the very next day. *about [Michael Jordan](https://reclip.me/person/michael-jordan) · at [2:05](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=125)* - > The most successful people that I know in life and business get to boring as quickly as they can. *about [Nat Berman](https://reclip.me/person/nat-berman) · at [3:35](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=215)* - > You have to consistently do it over and over for God knows how many years. It's like the 10,000 hour rule. I don't know how much that technically applies, but there's a lot of merit to that. And even to this day. *about [The 10,000 hour rule](https://reclip.me/concept/the-10-000-hour-rule) · at [4:52](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=292)* - > The guy has been harping on the same thing for years and years, which is customer service. And the reason a company like that does so well is because of that. *about [Amazon](https://reclip.me/company/amazon-2) · at [6:10](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=370)* - > And as you just said, the algorithm will not reward you and it will not connect you with the right people. LinkedIn is a very good example of a place where you can have a very small following and do very well for yourself. *about [LinkedIn](https://reclip.me/entity/110133) · at [10:23](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=623)* - > Be careful of the messenger that's giving you the message. And I say this meaning this, Nat. This is where I'm going. *about [Fortune 500](https://reclip.me/concept/fortune-500) · at [13:01](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=781)* ## Who and what is mentioned in this episode? ### People - [Nat Berman](https://reclip.me/person/nat-berman) — Person · Main guest · 4 mentions · first at [0:15](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=15) Primary interviewee discussing mindset, consistency, social media strategy, and how success reveals true supporters. - [Mick Hunt](https://reclip.me/person/mick-hunt) — Person · Host · 3 mentions · first at [0:02](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=2) Episode host leading the Hot Takes segment and prompting Nat Berman's responses about success, consistency, and AI/messenger cautions. - [Michael Jordan](https://reclip.me/person/michael-jordan) — Person · Referenced expert / exemplar · 3 mentions · first at [1:11](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=71) Mentioned as an archetype of relentless drive and maintaining motivation after success (used to illustrate the underdog mindset even when winning). - [Jane Buffett](https://reclip.me/person/jane-buffett) — Person · Referenced exemplar · 1 mention · first at [4:15](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=255) Cited as an example of 'boring' consistency — reading and waiting — that drives long-term success. One of my favorite phrases is boring is beautiful, right? And I always go back to somebody like a Warren Buffett who's like the reason that guy's so successful is he just sat and waited. - [Ian Brady](https://reclip.me/person/ian-brady) — Person · Referenced exemplar · 2 mentions · first at [1:31](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=91) Used as another example of elite competitors who remain motivated by past slights (e.g., draft position) even after great success. Round draft pick. I was with I was in a room and I heard Tom say this, No matter what, people still didn't pick me. And that pisses me off. - [Kobe Bryant](https://reclip.me/person/kobe-bryant-2) — Person · Referenced exemplar · 1 mention · first at [1:11](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=71) Referenced alongside Michael Jordan as an example of athletes who stay driven after success, illustrating the mentality of elite competitors. - [Jeff Bezos](https://reclip.me/person/jeff-bezos) — Person · Referenced exemplar / business leader · 1 mention · first at [6:07](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=367) Referenced for his long-term focus on customer service as a core driver of Amazon's success. But, if you listen to early interviews with somebody like Jeff Bezos, the guy has been harping on the same thing for years and years, which is customer service. And the. - [Steve Jobs](https://reclip.me/person/steve-jobs) — Person · Referenced exemplar · 1 mention · first at [6:19](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=379) Mentioned as an example of a leader (Apple) whose marketing and storytelling were central to the company's success. Look at Apple back in the day, Steve Jobs, right? He master of marketing. ### Companies & orgs - [LinkedIn](https://reclip.me/entity/110133) — Company · Case study / platform example · 5 mentions · first at [9:58](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=598) Used as a concrete example of how social platforms' algorithms reward consistent content and can enable growth even with a small following. - [Amazon](https://reclip.me/company/amazon-2) — Company · Case study / business example · 1 mention · first at [5:48](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=348) Referenced as an example of a company built around a central idea (customer obsession) to illustrate the power of focus and consistency. - [Apple Inc.](https://reclip.me/company/apple-inc) — Company · Case study / business example · 1 mention · first at [6:19](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=379) Mentioned as an example of a company with a central core message (branding/marketing) that drove success despite product imperfections early on. Apple didn't always have the best products in the world, but they always sold the most because he brought them home. He was able \[clears throat\] to relate to every single person out there. - [Instagram](https://reclip.me/company/instagram-2) — Company · Platform example · 1 mention · first at [10:03](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=603) Mentioned as another social platform for content distribution; Nat references being fairly new to Instagram compared to LinkedIn. I've been doing three videos a day since last October at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. Every single day. Every single day. Is that something to boast about? ### Products & tech - [Grok Bot](https://reclip.me/product/grok-bot) — Product · Referenced product · 1 mention · first at [13:40](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=820) Tool mentioned as a product to be introduced; alias suggested as Grok Bot Corporate executive at a international financial institution is oh, yeah, Meg, I'm going to introduce Grok Bot into the things that we're doing and I can do this and that with AI and I'm pump the brakes. ### Concepts & topics - [Fortune 500](https://reclip.me/concept/fortune-500) — Concept · Referenced context · 3 mentions · first at [14:35](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=875) Used to describe senior executives and to illustrate why some tactics (e.g., solopreneur AI advice) may not be appropriate for large-company leaders. - [The 10,000 hour rule](https://reclip.me/concept/the-10-000-hour-rule) — Concept · Referenced concept · 1 mention · first at [4:39](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=279) Invoked to support the argument that repetition and long-term practice (boring consistency) are required for mastery. ### Media & podcasts - [Passion Struck](https://reclip.me/media/passion-struck) — Media · Program / show · 3 mentions · first at [0:02](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=2) The parent podcast hosting the conversation; establishes the episode's framing and host identity. Absolutely. Absolutely. So, I'm going to go to this next segment that I call hot takes and this is about to be all about that right here, brother. - [Hot Takes segment](https://reclip.me/media/hot-takes-segment) — Media · Episode segment · 1 mention · first at [0:11](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=11) The named segment of the episode where Mick Hunt and Nat Berman exchange brief, opinionated topics (hot takes) about winning, consistency, algorithms, and AI. Absolutely. Absolutely. So, I'm going to go to this next segment that I call hot takes and this is about to be all about that right here, brother. ## Full transcript with timestamps [0:02](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=2) Absolutely. Absolutely. So, I'm going to go to this next segment that I call hot takes and this is about to be all about that right here, brother. [0:09](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=9) Uh-oh. Okay. My my first hot take is this. And And this is when I first fell in love with that. Sorry. Nat, I fell in love with you, brother. But uh this is when I first fell in love with Nat. It It's this right here. The more you start winning, the more you see people who were truly on your side. I think people love to root for the underdog as long as they stay the underdog. The moment you win and become a champion, or in a in the business world, the moment you get success, whatever that means, you really start to see the people that were never really in your circle. They always were on the outside. I'd love for you to take that over and give us the Nat Berman experience because I saw you do this and I was like, "That's my dude." And And And I be I've become your number one raving fan ever since that comment. [1:06](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=66) It's interesting when when you were saying that, all I kept thinking was Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. I know that's like weird, but it immediately came to mind only because you mentioned the underdog. [1:19](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=79) Right. Because even when those guys were winning, they found narratives to keep moving on and to keep being motivated and to keep pressing on as if all the other championships didn't happen. And that's their mentality. Tom Brady's another one, right? Like where it's just like it doesn't matter what you did. It matters where you're moving forward. [1:41](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=101) round draft pick. I I was with I was in a room and I heard Tom say this, like, "No matter what, people still didn't pick me. And that pisses me off." [1:52](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=112) Yeah. And And And And ultra-competitive people are like that. It's not as It's not even a a It's just part of your DNA. [2:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=120) Right. It's you're going to hold that that weight forever. And that is your advantage. That is your, you know, {quote} {unquote} superpower. It's like when Michael Jordan won a championship, who's in the gym the next day? Michael Jordan is in the gym the very next day. So, but on the flip side of that, or not even the flip side, just in addition to that, um you know, you hear more from those who are closest to you when you are in fact winning, and those people support you. Um and you find out a lot about people who also haven't been talking to you all this time when you're winning. All of a sudden it's like, well, why are you speaking to me now? How come you weren't speaking to me at the beginning? [2:46](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=166) Um so, the there's so much to unpack with that statement, but I just love the fact that um I think I I really think it's no matter where you are as when it comes to support from people, whether you're winning or losing, you kind of know who your people are in both situations if you understand how to observe them. Yeah. And whether you're winning or losing, the right supporters will probably be there, but you got to see how they're there, right? And I think that's really, really important. So, I hope that answers that or or unpacks it a little bit. [3:26](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=206) Yep. No, you unpacked it perfectly. And the next thing I want you to unpack is this, and this is a recent recent topic for you. And again, I agree with it completely. The most successful people that I know in life and business get to boring as quickly as they can. [3:44](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=224) \[snorts\] Right? The most successful people I know try to find boring and consistency as fast as they can, because that's when you actually start becoming successful. Unpack that one. [3:55](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=235) Yeah, that is probably one of my favorites, um because it applies to every possible business you can think of or any skill that you can think of. Um on that one I always think, you know, one of my favorite phrases is boring is beautiful, right? And and um I always go back to somebody like a Warren Buffett who's like the reason that guy's so successful is he just sat and waited. The majority of the time he just read and waited and read and waited and read and waited. And of course he understands all the fundamentals and knows how to invest and all that kind of stuff, but guess what? That's boring, too. Learning all of those things. If you're an athlete, how do you become the best athlete in the world? Repetition. [4:41](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=281) Boring, endless, monotonous repetition. Piano, how do you get better? You can't play a song fast on the first go. You got to play it really, really slow and you got to play it every single day and you have to consistently do it over and over and over for God knows how many years. It's like the 10,000 hour rule. I don't know how much that technically applies, but there's a lot of merit to that. And even to this day I think one of the biggest mistakes when it comes to, you know, coming back into something that I think we're both passionate passionate about, which is entrepreneurship, the biggest mistake that I see newer entrepreneurs make, the young folks, is like they'll see one thing go right and what do they do? They start 5,000 new other things. [5:26](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=326) They just go off in five different million tangents. And I did that with websites. I had one website that was doing well. I started like eight that year and they all flopped. All of them. When all I should have done was kept keep focusing on the one. I always tell people you need to bleed it until it's dry. Right? In terms of improvement before you move on and expand it to something else. Like there's look at all the biggest companies in the world. They're a lot of them are based around one idea. When you look at an Amazon, what is it? It's customer service. Like that's what Amazon really is. I mean, don't get me wrong, they know logistics and now they know cloud and all that, you know, of course. [6:04](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=364) But, if you listen to early interviews with somebody like Jeff Bezos, the guy has been harping on the same thing for years and years and years, which is customer service. And the reason a company like that does so well is because of that. Look at Apple back in the day, Steve Jobs, right? He He you know, master of marketing. Apple didn't always have the best products in the world, but they always sold the most because he brought them home. He was able \[clears throat\] to relate to every single person out there. But, it was always a central core message that drove those companies, and not to mention drives people's skills. [6:44](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=404) Like I said, doesn't always have to be a business. You can be an athlete, you could be a musician, whatever it is. If you want to be a master of your craft, you got to learn to do the same stuff day in day out, day in and out. It's like always practice your scales, right? Um so, I I love that, and anytime I see myself drifting, I I either do one of two things. I either completely pause and just say, "Hey, man, you you don't need to do that right now. Just let whatever you just did play out. Let it work, and then do it again tomorrow." [7:15](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=435) Um so, you know, to to kind of adjust course. Stopping's the biggest thing that I do, and then the other thing is like I'll say to my head, man, boring is beautiful. Just do the same stuff, man, you'll be fine. Look at this. The We're talking right now. We're talking about social media. I would say one of the biggest reasons people grow on social media, and people have heard this ad nauseam, but that doesn't mean that they practice it. I've been doing three videos a day since last October at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. Every single day. Every single day. Is that something to boast about? [7:51](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=471) No, it's just a fact. Consistent. And eventually something's going to hit. And all along the way, of course, you can improve and you can learn and iterate and get better and say, "Oh, well, that hook worked." Or, you know, this topic is is, you know, generating either views or interest or whatever, but all along the way, what never stopped? Three videos a day. I get up every day like clockwork, like religion, and it's just like, if I'm not posting those three videos every day, I'm not complete. Just like if I'm not working out on a certain day, I'm not complete. Not practicing piano, not complete. So, I could go on forever about this, but I think your viewers probably get the point that I'm pretty passionate about that subject. [8:34](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=514) No, no, and I think we can even go further with with this hot take cuz I had I had one more, but I want to interject this one in first. People need to understand that algorithms on social media are actually trying to help you. Like I I think people are like, oh, well, this thing said I should post on this time and this day and whatever. I'm going to tell you what not just said. Find a consistent pattern that you can do, and then let the algorithms find you. It's not going to happen overnight. Like I can promise you it's not going to happen overnight, but if you keep switching things up, you're hurting yourself because they're trying to help you. They're trying to understand you. [9:14](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=554) They're trying to understand the messaging and then bring people into you, and then it's up to that person if they want to follow you or not, right? But the algorithms are trying to help you. You just have to be consistent and not listen to everything that you see out there. [9:29](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=569) I totally agree. And the algorithm does one thing every single day. It learns. Right. [9:36](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=576) Right? And whether we like the technology or not, those are the facts. They're not our rules to make. If you want to have your own algorithm, then go make your own social media website and and draw people in, but [9:47](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=587) Right. me, I don't have that capability or the money or the or the or the expertise in doing that, so I have to follow their rules. [9:55](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=595) Yeah. And a great example of what you just said is um LinkedIn obviously is a very popular platform for business, and I've been on there producing content since 2019. So, I'm fairly new on Instagram. But one One things that's really interesting about their particular algorithm cuz right now everyone's complaining like reach is lower da da da da which it is. [10:16](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=616) Mhm. Doesn't matter. Like the point is this. If you don't stick with something long enough and as you just said, the algorithm will not reward you and it will not connect you with the right people. LinkedIn is a very good example of a place where you can have a very small following and do very very well for yourself. [10:34](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=634) Mhm. But only under certain conditions. Those conditions are you need to really understand what your topic is, who your audience is and you need to just push that into the ground every single day left and right left and right. Not to mention not to get into more technical specifics but like I'm a video guy, right? [10:50](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=650) Right. And on LinkedIn one thing that slapped me in the face was was I heard that like selfies did really well. And so I became like a selfie guy and I did like selfies and I and I wrote text. But I also committed to it. I said I'm going to give this like 3 months. And in the beginning my reach tanked like absolutely tanked. [11:12](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=672) Mhm. And when you look at it it's actually there's a real simple reason for it. It's because LinkedIn was used to me being on video and pushing those video out those videos out to the people who like watching videos. [11:23](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=683) Right. But eventually I did all the selfies and it went ballistic and I grew a lot that way. And then I kind of had a stream of consciousness where I was just like, yeah but I'm a video guy and I won't I won't do this anymore. And so I went back and I ran a test. I was like, well, if I could do a video and get back to the same amount of views or impressions or same kind of engagement I'll go back to that. And that took time. That was like a good 3 4 weeks before I saw real proof that it was coming back in the right way. [11:55](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=715) Yep. But to your point um \[clears throat\] you know, stick it out. The algorithms they really are on your side. It's just hard to hear that when you're speaking to no one. And everyone is speaking to no one in the beginning. [12:10](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=730) Right. You know, everyone is speaking to no one in the beginning. You were, I was, the biggest creators on the planet were. Mr. Beast was. The dude was making videos for like, I don't know, 3 years or something before anything cracked. [12:26](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=746) Yep. And so, um sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you know, LinkedIn took me a while. That was, you know, 6 to 9 months, which in the which in the grand scheme is it is it a dot, right? It's nothing. [12:39](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=759) Yeah. We'll talk about the things you do in a moment, but absolutely. Absolutely. [12:44](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=764) Yeah. My last hot take is is this, Nat, like and I'm going to pause for half a second cuz I need people to really dial in on this one cuz I'm going to hurt some feelings. Nat and I are about to hurt people's feelings on this. And and \[snorts\] and I don't mean it in a bad way or a negative way, but here's the deal. Be careful of the messenger that's giving you the message. And I say this meaning this, Nat. This is where I'm going. I know a Fortune 100 senior executive who loves to be on social media from a viewing perspective, not not posting. [13:23](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=803) And is trying to take AI advice from a solopreneur who's teaching about AI. And so, this corporate executive at a international financial institution is like, oh, yeah, Meg, I'm going to introduce Grok Bot into the things that we're doing and I can do this and that with AI and I'm like, pump the brakes. Understand who you are, but more importantly, understand who the person is that you're following. Like, yes, you were learning a lot about AI. That person is great at teaching AI, but that doesn't mean you should be doing that. [14:03](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=843) And I think that is also something that people need to understand. Not that the messenger is wrong, but that message might not be for you and you can't implement those things because you're at different places of life. I'd love for you to take that and go a little bit deeper for me. [14:19](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=859) Yeah. Um It's not only it's it's about two things. It's about what you want to do and what you should do for what place you are at. Right? So a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, there are certain functions in that kind of a role that that person really shouldn't be doing. And that also goes for every role, by the way. I don't care how low on the totem pole you are or how high you are, it doesn't make a difference. Um I've always believed that every business, every skill will be successful if you're really focusing on only one or two or maybe three things a day that are top priority. If you're not doing those things, don't bother doing eight, nine, and 10 cuz it's not going to get you anywhere unless one, two, and three are attended to. [15:08](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=908) Right. But when it comes to one, two, and three and the things that you should be doing, should a CEO of a Fortune 500 company be a And I know your your guy's not the CEO, but whatever, same thing. [15:19](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=919) Yeah. Yeah. If you're immersing yourself in solopreneur AI advice, that's cool on your own time, maybe doing your own projects, but running your company, maybe. But not probably not, right? And and I'm and I say that just to be to be nice because I don't want to poo-poo anyone's methods or strategies, but it's true. And and you know, and then the other thing is what you want to do. And a lot of us don't have that luxury until we're at a certain point in our lives, uh you know, be it a financial place or a mental place, whatever it is, to be able to start doing more of the things we want. [16:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=960) Mhm. But it's like here's a really selfish example, right? Um I don't I don't want to mow my lawn, right? Like I don't I don't want to I don't want to do my landscaping. And it's not like I live in a mansion or whatever, but you know, there's enough property around it where I'm like, how is my time better spent? Is it better spent me doing all this stuff, or me hiring somebody to do that?" And you talked about AI, and AI is is is really kind of what this is leaning towards, right? Which is the ultimate form of leverage, if you allow it to be. [16:35](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=995) Right. Um and a lot of people don't really understand that. I think these days people think AI is just going to do the job for them, and make them millions of dollars. [16:43](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=1003) Right. I That I think is the wrong take, in terms of what it is today. I don't know what it's going to be in 20 years, but right now, it's a tool. It's a tool like anything else. And you can use that tool to further enhance who you are and what you want to do, or you can just let it run and take over your life. And then guess where you are. Then you're the CEO who's using the solopreneur's advice, and not really taking advantage of what that power is. [17:10](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=1030) Right. Um so, if you're not leaning into who you are and what you should do, um you're going to have a very difficult time advancing and evolving and doing well and all that stuff. So, as you said, you know, the the more clear you are, the more clarity you have, the easier it will be to say no to a lot of things, which is a critical component of of doing well, which is saying no to all the wrong things, saying no to the things that won't get you ahead. So, um I I love that. I love that topic. And you'd be surprised at how many people perceive themselves as the wrong messenger. They just don't realize it. [17:58](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=1078) Correct. They're do because like, "Dude, you're already the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. What the hell do you care about being on social media?" You know what I mean? Like, you could take that attitude, right? [18:08](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=1088) Right. Or you could take the attitude of "You're the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Why wouldn't you be on social media and doing well?" Well, guess what? It depends on who that person is, what they do, what their goals are. You can't just say it in a vacuum like that, right? Um so, once you have that clarity, then you can make those other decisions. [18:28](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/nat-berman-stop-chasing-followers-the-hot-takes-mick-unplugged/transcript?t=1108) Yep. ## Questions about this episode ### Who speaks in "Nat Berman: Stop Chasing Followers | The Hot Takes | Mick Unplugged"? Nat Berman (Host), Mick Unplugged (Narrative Context Only) (Guest). ### What is "Nat Berman: Stop Chasing Followers | The Hot Takes | Mick Unplugged" about? Discussion centers on how success reveals true allies vs. detractors, and how ultra-competitive mindset—exemplified by athletes like Michael Jordan, Kobe, and Tom Brady—drives ongoing motivation and resilience beyond early underdog status. Key idea: winning exposes who’s truly in your corner and fuels a forward-focused, relentless mindset. ### What is mentioned in this Mick Unplugged Podcast episode? 17 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Nat Berman, Mick Hunt, Passion Struck, LinkedIn, Hot Takes segment, Michael Jordan. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it. ### How long is "Nat Berman: Stop Chasing Followers | The Hot Takes | Mick Unplugged"? The episode runs 18 min; the transcript is about 3,462 words in 45 timestamped sections. ## More from Mick Unplugged Podcast - [All analyzed episodes](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast) - [Books mentioned on Mick Unplugged Podcast](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/books) - [People mentioned on Mick Unplugged Podcast](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/guests) - [Sponsors mentioned on Mick Unplugged Podcast](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/sponsors) - [Topics mentioned on Mick Unplugged Podcast](https://reclip.me/podcast/mick-unplugged-podcast/topics) About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated November 11, 2026.