Most people look for hacks. I searched for principles. And the two mentors who reshaped how I see the world were Sam Ovens and Joe Soto.

I didn’t know how much noise was in my system until I studied their thinking. It wasn’t just about getting clients or designing offers. It was about thinking like an operator, not just a hustler.

The First Time I Heard Sam Ovens Speak

I still remember watching one of Sam’s early YouTube videos while working late one night. I was grinding freelance design jobs and trying to turn Wise Media into something real.

Sam didn’t pitch. He deconstructed. He talked in systems, logic, and first principles.

He said things like:

  • “Most people build businesses based on emotion. Not logic.”
  • “If you don’t track your time, you don’t own your day.”
  • “All chaos is caused by poor thinking.”

I was hooked. It wasn’t flashy. It was precise. Methodical. Obsessively clear.

That’s when I started restructuring my calendar, my offers, and my internal beliefs.

Joe Soto and the Psychology of Selling

Joe came later. But when I found him, he helped me bring my ideas to the market more effectively. His approach was less tactical than Sam’s but just as powerful.

He taught me:

  • “Selling is a service if you believe in the result.”
  • “Most people don’t close because they don’t lead.”
  • “People buy clarity.”

Joe made me understand that confidence in your value is everything. You don’t need to chase. You need to frame.

That principle helped me close five-figure clients. It helped me redesign my approach to pitching and positioning Wise Media.

Where It Showed Up in My Work

Sam’s obsession with systems led to how I built my internal workflows, especially around client onboarding and delivery. I went from messy to methodical.

Joe’s sales clarity reshaped how I wrote headlines, positioned service packages, and created outcomes instead of deliverables.

I started offering Website Packages instead of “web design.” I positioned my branding not as a logo, but as a market-entry system. That shift changed everything.

Mentorship Without Access

I never met these guys. I don’t need to. That’s the beauty of the internet.

I believe in dead or alive mentorship. And I consume the same lectures and lessons like it’s gospel. Over and over. Until it wires itself into my day.

If you’re a founder or creative, your thinking is your limit. Not your skills.

That’s what Sam and Joe taught me.

Final Thought

Mentors aren’t people. They’re operating systems.

Mine helped me turn a solo hustle into an actual business. They helped me think like a strategist, not a service provider.

You don’t need a guru. You need a mental framework that never turns off.

If you’re trying to scale your creative business or make your offers convert better, check out my About page to see what I’m building. Or head to the Contact page and let’s talk about how I can help you do the same.

Also, read more real stories like this on the blog. This is where I document the truth behind creative entrepreneurship.