Inside This Episode: This one goes deep into the creator × career crossroads — how personal branding actually impacts job offers, whether “dream jobs” are real or a scam, and what Grace & our guest learned from breaking into tech, navigating identity shifts, and growing online while working full-time. Plus… the Lucy Guo saga, getting into VC-backed startups, and the real game behind “prestige hiring.” ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 — Imposter syndrome & your online reputation 02:45 — How personal branding actually gets you hired 05:30 — Why top-of-mind beats résumés 07:50 — Inside his new role + onboarding realities in tech 10:45 — Why relationships are the real promotion engine 12:30 — The job market is brutal… here’s how to stand out 15:00 — Biggest mistakes people make when building a personal brand 18:00 — Niche vs broad identity: how Grace pivoted 5+ times 21:00 — Do “dream jobs” even exist? (debate gets spicy) 26:00 — When a job isn’t a step down for creators 29:30 — What you actually learn from a W2 that creators miss 34:00 — Systems, tracking, and how corporate teaches discipline 39:40 — Lucy Guo breakdown: career path, scaleAI, Passes, PR spin 44:00 — The VC “hack”: big-name → startup → equity route 48:30 — Why clout still rules hiring (and how to leverage it) 52:00 — Breaking into VC-backed startups without pedigree 55:00 — The truth about early career, prestige & portfolio plays 🎙️ Hosted by Grace Ling & Justin Nguyen 📍 How Creators Make Money — the podcast where we unpack the real strategies behind today’s smartest creators.