Alan McLaren

What Alan talked about

Alan McLaren discussed personal branding for entrepreneurs, arguing it works best when treated as sharing knowledge generously rather than self-promotion, which he said removes much of the anxiety people feel about putting themselves out there. He described fear and imposter syndrome as nearly universal among clients starting out, including the common objection 'why would anybody listen to me,' and his response that what feels normal to someone is often what others find useful. He also made the case that most people are indifferent to us until we bring something to their world, and that everyone has a gift even when they don't believe it.

He spoke about running a business partnership, saying it depends on shared alignment on the end goal, a clear division of talents, and addressing conflicts directly rather than letting them fester. He also talked about his own earlier struggles with weight, drinking, and half-hearted exercise after moving from Montreal, and how he and his wife decided to build a consistent physical practice, including yoga, so they could stay fit and strong together into later decades of life.

The show

The Total Entrepreneur is a weekly conversation with founders, researchers, and health experts about what actually moves entrepreneurial performance across mind, body, spirit, and business.