Make Your Break with Jai Long

In 2017, I picked up a copy of The ONE Thing. I didn’t know it at the time, but the ideas in that book would completely change the way I thought about business, focus and what was actually possible when you stopped trying to do everything. Now, almost a decade later, I’m sitting down in New York City with the man who wrote it. Jay Papasan is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller The ONE Thing, alongside Gary Keller, and has spent decades writing, publishing and studying what it takes to achieve extraordinary results. In this episode, we go behind the book. Jay breaks down how he actually writes books, how he made his own break as an author, what he’s learned from writing multiple bestsellers, and why doing less—but focusing deeply on the right thing—can completely change the trajectory of your life. We talk about: • How Jay made his break as an author • The story behind The ONE Thing • How he approaches writing a book • How to find an idea worth writing about • Why most people struggle to focus • How to identify your ONE thing • What makes a book last for years instead of weeks • Advice for first-time authors • What Jay would do if he had to start again today • And the lessons he’s learned from decades of studying success This one is particularly special for me. I read The ONE Thing back in 2017. Now, as I prepare to release my own book, Make Your Break, I got to sit across from Jay in New York City and ask him the questions I’ve wanted to ask for years. If you're building something, writing something, chasing an unrealistic goal—or simply feel like you're being pulled in a hundred different directions—this conversation is for you. 📕 Buy The ONE Thing: https://the1thing.com/book/ 📘 Pre-order Make Your Break by Jai Long: https://makeyourbreak.co/ Subscribe to the Make Your Break Podcast for conversations about business, creativity, mindset and the people who made their own break. About Jai LongJai Long is an entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and speaker known for helping creative entrepreneurs turn their ideas into income and build lives on their own terms. After growing up in government housing, experiencing homelessness, and going bankrupt at 21, Jai went on to build multiple seven-figure businesses, educate thousands of creatives worldwide, and become one of the most respected voices in the creative business space. Today, through his podcast, speaking, and upcoming book Make Your Break (releasing 3 November 2026), Jai shares lessons on mindset, business, purpose, and creating opportunities in an ever-changing world.Learn more at ⁠⁠www.jailong.co⁠

What matters more in a creative career: making great art or making sure people see it? Oli Sansom is one of the most respected wedding photographers and creative minds in the world, and this conversation goes much deeper than photography. We talk about the tension between creating work that genuinely means something to you and doing the things required to get that work seen. In a world where we're constantly told to post more, build a personal brand, chase visibility and stay relevant, it's easy to forget why we started creating in the first place. Oli and I unpack where art fits into building a career, when visibility becomes important, and whether you can build a successful creative business without compromising the work you actually care about. It's a conversation about creativity, ambition, attention, identity and what it really means to build a career around your craft. If you're a photographer, filmmaker, designer, artist or any kind of creative trying to build a career without losing yourself along the way, I think you'll get a lot from this one. Welcome to the Make Your Break Podcast. 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify:⁠https://www.jailong.co/podcast⁠ 🌐 Connect with Jai:Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/jailong.co⁠Website: ⁠https://www.jailong.co⁠ 📚 Pre-order Make Your Break:⁠⁠https://www.makeyourbreak.co⁠⁠ About Jai Long Jai Long is an entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and speaker known for helping creative entrepreneurs turn their ideas into income and build lives on their own terms. After growing up in government housing, experiencing homelessness, and going bankrupt at 21, Jai went on to build multiple seven-figure businesses, educate thousands of creatives worldwide, and become one of the most respected voices in the creative business space. Today, through his podcast, speaking, and upcoming book Make Your Break (releasing 3 November 2026), Jai shares lessons on mindset, business, purpose, and creating opportunities in an ever-changing world. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠www.jailong.co

Big goals can feel impossible. Writing a book. Starting a business. Running a marathon. Changing careers. Reinventing your life. We often look at the finish line and forget that every extraordinary achievement is built on ordinary actions repeated over and over again. In this episode, I share the seven lessons that have helped me make my break throughout my life and career. From becoming an electrician, to building an award-winning photography business, speaking around the world, and now starting over as an author, these principles have stayed the same. Inside this episode, we cover: • Why big goals are built with small daily actions. • How to stop feeling overwhelmed by your vision. • The power of momentum over motivation. • The habits that compound into extraordinary results. • Why consistency will always beat intensity. • Stories from my own journey of making my break. • A practical framework you can start using today. If you've been waiting for the "right time" to begin, this episode is your reminder that the next small step is all you need. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps us grow this podcast and continue bringing conversations that inspire people to make their break. 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify: https://www.jailong.co/podcast 🌐 Connect with Jai: Instagram: https://instagram.com/jailong.co Website: https://www.jailong.co 📚 Pre-order Make Your Break:⁠https://www.makeyourbreak.co⁠ About Jai Long Jai Long is an entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and speaker known for helping creative entrepreneurs turn their ideas into income and build lives on their own terms. After growing up in government housing, experiencing homelessness, and going bankrupt at 21, Jai went on to build multiple seven-figure businesses, educate thousands of creatives worldwide, and become one of the most respected voices in the creative business space. Today, through his podcast, speaking, and upcoming book Make Your Break (releasing 3 November 2026), Jai shares lessons on mindset, business, purpose, and creating opportunities in an ever-changing world. Learn more at ⁠⁠www.jailong.co

Everyone is obsessed with building a personal brand. But most people are making the exact same mistake. In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and Founder OS creator Matt Gray (@matthgray) to unpack what actually matters if you want to build a brand that creates opportunities, attracts the right audience, and lasts. Matt has built multiple successful businesses, sold a company, and become one of the most respected voices in entrepreneurship. When he stopped through Byron Bay, we sat down in my loungeroom for what became one of my favourite conversations on the podcast. In this episode we cover: • The biggest mistake people make when building a personal brand. • Why taking time away from work can be your biggest competitive advantage. • What we'd do if we had to start from zero today. • How to think differently about creating content. • Building leverage instead of chasing followers. • The mindset required to create your own breakthrough. If you're building a business, creating content, writing a book, or simply trying to make your break, this episode is for you. If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. The podcast grows almost entirely through word of mouth, and every share helps us bring bigger guests and even better conversations. 🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-your-break-with-jai-long/id1479145264?uo=4 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1S1ureQ3mFpX4v1Al8ciH1?si=9ca07f0764b64089 🌐 Connect with Jai Long: Instagram: https://instagram.com/jailong.co Website: https://www.jailong.co 📚 Pre-order Make Your Break: https://www.makeyourbreak.co About Jai Long Jai Long is an entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and speaker known for helping creative entrepreneurs turn their ideas into income and build lives on their own terms. After growing up in government housing, experiencing homelessness, and going bankrupt at 21, Jai went on to build multiple seven-figure businesses, educate thousands of creatives worldwide, and become one of the most respected voices in the creative business space. Today, through his podcast, speaking, and upcoming book Make Your Break (releasing 3 November 2026), Jai shares lessons on mindset, business, purpose, and creating opportunities in an ever-changing world. Learn more at ⁠www.jailong.co

In this episode of Make Your Break, Jai explores a difficult truth that most people never stop to consider: The way you speak about other people often reveals the way you feel about yourself. Why do some people seem to attract incredible friendships, opportunities, mentors, clients, and communities... while others feel stuck in cycles of negativity, gossip, comparison, and drama? The answer might be closer than you think. Jai breaks down five powerful ideas around self-love, self-awareness, envy, and personal growth, showing how the energy you bring into conversations shapes the people you attract into your life. This isn't about toxic positivity. It's about understanding the hidden signals you're sending every day through your words, beliefs, and behaviours. You'll learn: Why successful people rarely waste energy tearing others down How envy can become a powerful tool for growth What gossip reveals about your own insecurities Why the people around you are often a reflection of your inner world How to attract better friendships, clients, mentors, and opportunities The link between self-respect and being respected by others If you've ever wondered why certain people seem to have the right circle around them, this episode may change the way you see yourself and everyone around you. Because the quality of your life is often reflected in the quality of the conversations you're having. About Jai Long Jai Long is an entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and speaker known for helping creative entrepreneurs turn their ideas into income and build lives on their own terms. After growing up in government housing, experiencing homelessness, and going bankrupt at 21, Jai went on to build multiple seven-figure businesses, educate thousands of creatives worldwide, and become one of the most respected voices in the creative business space. Today, through his podcast, speaking, and upcoming book Make Your Break (releasing 3 November 2026), Jai shares lessons on mindset, business, purpose, and creating opportunities in an ever-changing world. Learn more at www.jailong.co