I’ve been friends with Rory and AJ Vaden for many years. I’ve watched them go from triumph to trial to triumph again. At one point they seemed to have it all: a thriving business and a beautiful young family. They invited me into their home where I saw them glow with purpose…before everything unraveled. Then they lost jobs, income, business, and a sense of safety. Their world shook…but they did not.
What happened when they lost their jobs and everything they knew was something to study. They didn’t seem stressed. They didn’t lose their positive attitude or their strong faith. They didn’t lose their sense of purpose and mission.
They launched a new business, Brand Builders Group, from scratch. I remember Rory telling me all about their plans. They leaned on clarity, courage, connection. I admired their entrepreneurial zeal even when they were still wounded.
When Rory sent me an advanced copy of their new book, Wealthy and Well Known, I expected a personal branding class. It was that, but so much more. It was a personal reflection and journey. Without spoiling the book, AJ’s early life moved me. It’s a reminder that we meet people but only know a small sliver of their experiences and life.
You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were. – Rory and AJ Vaden
why a powerful personal brand matters
I’m surprised that many people don’t think it matters, but it does. Why? We live in a sea of noise. Millions chase followers without a plan. And, without clarity, messages become whispers. With it, voices become magnets.
Rory and AJ call this being a mission‑driven messenger. It’s not about virality. It’s about serving through story, aligning purpose with audience.
They’ve refined this through loss and rebuild. And, until I read the book, I didn’t realize it wasn’t just professionally, but personally as well.
Their book teaches that your brand is an asset. It appreciates when you care for it intentionally. They call it the Reputation Formula. Clarity invites trust. Trust builds revenue.
Every message must reflect identity and purpose. Empty clicks won’t move your voice forward. Depth does. That’s a shift worth making.
Clarity invites trust. Trust builds revenue.
lesson two: relationships matter long before you need them
Their secret wasn’t a viral post. It was connection. Rory and AJ tracked contacts, sent thoughtful notes, made introductions. They spoke to people—not algorithms. They nurtured trust that opened doors later.
Consistency found in these small acts created momentum. They didn’t build an audience. They built a community.
lesson three: your story is your strategy
They turned their journey into teaching. Their pain became protocol. They lost everything and built a blueprint from it—a blueprint that now guides others. When you pivot your pain into purpose, your journey resonates. It becomes a bridge for your message.
But what strikes me most is how they teach you to build your personal brand from your story. Not from a conjured up image of success, but from who you are and from where you’ve been. Your story then is the bedrock of your brand. And that builds authenticity in a way that makes it impossible for others to replicate.
They teach you how to draft your future headline. List your key transformations. Audit your online presence. Simple steps. Deep impact.
People don’t pay for visibility. They pay for value.
beyond the book
Wealthy and Well Known is not a one-off read. It’s a guide for leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals ready to rise. It’s written by a couple whose home became a hub
I admire them as friends, entrepreneurs, and teachers. Their work is their character. Their message is their meaning. They rebuilt from nothing, and that impresses me. Their book is proof that your next chapter doesn’t start when things are perfect—it starts when you show up anyway.
If you want to learn more, I highly encourage you to read this book. For more information, see Wealthy and Well Known.
They turned their journey into teaching. Their pain became protocol. They lost everything and built a blueprint from it—a blueprint that now guides others. When you pivot your pain into purpose, your journey resonates. It becomes a bridge for your message.
