Episode Details

Howie Chan is an influence strategist, branding expert, and marketing consultant who specializes in the psychology behind human decision-making. After losing a $10 million pitch early in his career, Howie became obsessed with understanding the invisible forces that shape behavior, communication, leadership, storytelling, and negotiation. Today, he helps MedTech companies and professionals build stronger brands and attract better opportunities by applying behavioral science and influence psychology.

On this episode we talk about:

• The $10 million pitch Howie lost and how it sparked his obsession with influence psychology

• How getting laid off after 20 years in the corporate world pushed Howie into entrepreneurship

• Why experts should use LinkedIn to build a professional brand and attract opportunities

• The difference between a personal brand and a professional brand—and why solving problems matters more than follower counts

• How podcasts, strategic associations, and social proof can build trust and accelerate your influence

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Turn failure into a learning opportunity. Instead of dwelling on a loss, ask, “What do I not know?” and figure out what you can learn to prevent the same mistake from happening again.

2. Make your professional brand clear, not clever. Your LinkedIn profile should immediately communicate who you help and what problems you solve. Focus on the quality of opportunities you attract rather than vanity metrics like follower counts.

3. Build influence through a flywheel of visibility, trust, and association. People first need to notice you, then remember you, trust you, and ultimately choose or recommend you. Podcasting can accelerate that process by allowing you to consistently demonstrate expertise and associate your brand with respected experts.

Notable Quotes

• “There are a lot of hidden things that we don't know about. We think we know, but we don't, that's influencing decision making every single day.”

• “Make it clear. Not clever.”

• “Every transaction moves at the speed of trust.”

Connect with Howie Chan:

• LinkedIn: Howie Chan

• Website: https://www.howiechan.com/

• Other: Expert Influence Quiz — Take Howie's free quiz to identify gaps in your influence flywheel.

• Podcast: Influence Anyone

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