What do 217 rejections, a Brooklyn upbringing, and Italian espresso have in common? They all helped shape the billion-dollar brand we now know as Starbucks.   In this episode, Michael and Lexi dive into the real story of Howard Schultz, the man who didn’t found Starbucks, but turned it into a global phenomenon. Discover how Schultz’s relentless pursuit of his vision (despite over 200 “no’s”) is a perfect example of what it means to live a Seven Eight life.   From swinging for the fences like Babe Ruth to recognizing the power of small daily acts, this episode blends inspiring business lessons with raw personal insights you can apply immediately, whether you’re building a brand, chasing a dream, or just trying to get back up after a fall.   Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/myQagHbCLuA ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

What if the words we use every day hold the secret to creating the life we really want?   In this thought-provoking episode of the Seven Eight Podcast, Michael and Lexi dive into a single word that shows up in our language constantly… “Matter”    From phrases like “What’s the matter?” to declarations like “This really matters to me,” Michael and Lexi unpack how our relationship to language shapes our reality.   Michael shares a powerful story from his ballroom dancing career and his deep dive into linguistics and NLP that led to a surprising revelation: how we speak is how we shape the world around us.   Whether you’re an entrepreneur, visionary, or someone trying to rebuild after a fall, this episode will give you a new lens through which to see your own power and how to bring your dreams into form.   🎧 Subscribe, review, and share to support the movement. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/v6hklGfwD4Y   ****************************************** *************************   Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

In this honest and emotionally resonant episode, Michael and Lexi step out from behind the stories of others and into the light of their own personal reflections. With raw vulnerability, they explore the Power of Contrast. The emotional highs and lows that shape our lives, businesses, and personal journeys. This is a candid look at the in-between moments most people avoid talking about.   If you’ve ever felt like your progress is invisible or that your success isn’t matching your effort, this conversation is for you. It’s a reminder that contrast doesn’t mean failure, it’s proof that you’re alive, growing, and still in the game.   Join us as we unpack what it means to show up, even in the shadowy places between clarity and confusion, light and dark, success and struggle.   Shoutout to the awesome Insta channel: @itslennnie   🎧 Subscribe, leave a review, and share your Seven Eight story with us at https://seveneight.life/78podcast   Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/p3raDGtpRH0   ****************************************** *************************   Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.  

There are moments on the entrepreneurial journey when it feels like giving up might be easier. In this heartfelt solo episode, Lexi shares a personal letter written during one of the lowest points in her business. With raw honesty and deep empathy, she speaks directly to the visionary, the dreamer, the builder, the one who’s questioning if they can keep going. This episode is a lifeline for anyone battling self-doubt, burnout, or fear of failure. Let it be the reminder you need: you're not alone, and your vision still matters.   Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/57tNPXNtKMM   ****************************************** *************************   Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.  

What happens when life forces you to stop completely and why it might be exactly what you need. Have you ever had one of those days.. weeks… or even years? In this raw solo episode, Michael Johnson opens up about the hidden toll that life’s toughest seasons can take and what it really means to get back up. From post-pandemic burnout to moments of forced stillness and soul-searching, he shares a vulnerable story of being knocked down hard and how that time became one of the most powerful periods of reflection, rebuilding, and resilience. Whether you’re in the thick of it or just coming out the other side, this episode is a timely reminder:  You’re not alone.  And the path back up might just begin with some straight forward questions. Youtube: https://youtu.be/c32nsbyt69c ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

In this powerful episode of the Seven Eight Podcast, Michael and Lexi dive into the fiery, grit-filled journey of Colonel Harland Sanders, the legendary founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Long before he became a global icon, Colonel Sanders faced courtroom battles, crippling setbacks, and a reinvention that came at an age when most people are thinking of retirement.   This is not just a business story. It’s a story about persistence when the world tells you you’re done. It’s about reigniting your passion when all signs say you should quit.   Tune in to discover:   How Colonel Sanders turned rejection into a billion-dollar legacy.   Why your age, failures, or starting point don’t define your outcome.   The surprising parallels between street fights and entrepreneurship.   If you've ever wondered whether it’s too late, too hard, or too painful to rise again, this episode is for you.   👉 Listen. Reflect. Rise again. 🎧 Visit: https://seveneight.life/78podcast Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/RF3yaD6WC0IYoutube: https://youtu.be/MOQY1LcJY6k   ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.  

What if your greatest setbacks were the training ground for your greatest impact? In this episode of The Seven Eight Podcast, Michael and Lexi dive deep into the gritty and often overlooked origin story of Nike and its founder Phil Knight. It’s not just about shoes. It’s about lawsuits, rejection, betrayal, burnout—and the death of a son. It's about falling down, over and over... and getting back up anyway. Through this raw and inspiring conversation, you'll discover: Why most success stories leave out the hardest parts—and why those are the parts that matter most How Phil Knight built a global brand through years of chaos, not confidence Why your story doesn’t need to be a “rags to riches” tale to be powerful How to keep moving when the next step feels impossible Whether you’re building a brand, rebuilding your life, or just trying to survive another Monday, this episode is a reminder that the fall isn’t final. Your rise might be closer than you think. Check out the podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/x46jOXwncPk ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.  

The true 7/8 story behind one of the world’s most iconic dreamers.   Before Disneyland, before Mickey, and before the empire—Walt Disney’s first animation studio went bankrupt.   This episode uncovers the real 7/8 story behind one of the most iconic creators of all time. It’s not just about what Disney built—but how he responded when everything he built was taken from him.   We dive into the early fall of Laugh-O-Gram Studios, what nearly broke him, and why his ability to rise became more influential than any castle he ever dreamed up. This is the beginning of our ongoing series spotlighting real stories of visionary leaders who fell—and then got back up stronger.   Video link https://youtu.be/_NB1I-4YezM ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

The truth about failure, growth, and what the 7/8 movement really stands for.   We don’t believe in failing on purpose. We believe in learning when life forces your fall. In this episode, we clarify a key piece of the 7/8 philosophy: this isn’t a celebration of struggle. It’s not about chasing collapse or glamorizing burnout. It’s about accepting that life has seasons—ups and downs, highs and lows, expansion and contraction. The fall isn’t the goal. But it’s often where the deeper story begins. This conversation unpacks what it means to fall with awareness, rise with creativity, and choreograph your comeback—without shame, and without pretending the pain doesn’t matter. If you’ve ever felt stuck between judging your failure and forcing your rise, this episode is your breath in the middle.   Video link https://youtu.be/j4B6BUb2GHk ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up. Ready to build something impactful of your own? Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

A candid look at what we built, what failed, and why it all mattered.   No one builds something great without a few misfires along the way. In this episode, we take you behind the curtain of the many businesses we’ve launched—and left behind. From partnerships to pivots, products to programs, you’ll hear what worked, what didn’t, and why every step was essential. This isn’t just a list of projects. It’s a real-time reflection on what it takes to keep rising when your ideas don’t hit the way you hoped. If you’ve ever wondered how many wrong turns lead to the right one—this episode proves the answer is “a lot.”   Video link https://youtu.be/qQCYebnwFlY ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

An interview of one of your hosts Lexi Ruffell What happens when your identity has been built on performance, approval, and leadership—but you realize you haven’t built belief in yourself?   In this episode, we explore what it means to rise through critique, pressure, and high expectations, especially when those expectations have come from everyone but you.   It’s a reflection on internalizing judgment, performing strength, and slowly realizing that without self-belief, everything starts to collapse.   If you’ve ever tried to lead while being picked apart, or struggled to hear your own voice beneath the noise, this conversation will resonate. Video link https://youtu.be/xYjj7YQmLsY ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

A behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to rise. You can lose your job, your direction, and even your identity. But sometimes the fall you didn’t want… is the one that changes everything. This episode opens the curtain on a deeply personal fall—the kind that strips you bare and makes you question everything you thought you were building. It’s a story about what happens when you hit the ground, not just financially or professionally, but emotionally and spiritually. And it’s also a story about what can emerge from the wreckage—if you’re willing to rise again, differently. If you’ve ever had to start over, this episode is for you.   Video link https://youtu.be/cciX7XhU7y8   ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up. Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

The brands you know. The falls you didn’t. The episodes that will shift everything.   This isn’t just a podcast. It’s a series of wake-up calls wrapped in comeback stories. And what’s coming next… will stay with you. In this episode, Michael and Lexi preview some of the powerful stories that will define the next phase of the 7/8 movement—starting with Disney, Nike, and KFC. You’ll hear how some of the world’s most iconic brands were born from failure, and why the stories you think you know… aren’t the stories that really matter. This episode is your glimpse into what’s ahead—and why you won’t want to miss a single moment of what’s coming.   Video link https://youtu.be/rdeBCBxSnjk ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up.   Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.

You’ve heard the phrase “Fall down seven, get up eight.” But what  does it really mean to live it?   In this episode, we break down the deeper logic behind the 7/8 movement. Michael unpacks the wisdom of the ancient Japanese proverb, explores the transformative message of The Alchemist, and reveals the hidden story behind the 7/8 logo.   This is more than a quote—it’s a way of seeing the world, your setbacks, and your ability to rise differently every time you fall.   If you’ve ever felt like you were on a journey with no map… this episode might be your compass.   Video link https://youtu.be/mkEjhvG5JoQ ****************************************** *************************   Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up. Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.  

The vulnerable backstory that started it all—and why you belong here, too. You don’t start a movement because everything is going well—you start it because you’ve been knocked down, hard.    In this first episode of the Seven Eight Podcast, Michael Johnson and Lexi Ruffell open up about the heart behind the brand, the meaning of the name, and why this show exists. You’ll hear the story behind the fall that started it all—and the rise that followed. This episode isn’t polished or pretty. It’s real. It’s raw. And it’s a promise that you’re not alone. Whether you’re in your own fall, somewhere in the middle, or trying to rise again—this is your place. Welcome to 7/8. This is where the comeback begins. Video link https://youtu.be/mFoiYxgy2gU ****************************************** ************************* Visit SevenEight.life to explore the movement, share your story, or wear the message that reminds the world you got back up. Ready to build something impactful of your own?Start your journey at CreateMyImpact.com and take the first step toward creating the business you were born to lead.