Hope gives you power: How a LinkedIn Live duo is dismantling negativity on social media

Success was no surprise for motivational speaker Les Brown, whose daily Facebook and LinkedIn Live show reaches more than a million weekly views — with help from a colorful Kansas City personality known for her social media prowess. 

Les Brown

“How people live their lives is a result of the story they believe about themselves; what we do [on the show] is distract, dispute and inspire,” Brown said, noting that if one does all three — correctly — people will listen. “We distract people from the story they currently believe that is instilled through the negative news that they receive. 

“Through the execution of the message I deliver, we dismantle their current belief system and inspire them to become — as Mother Teresa would say — a pencil in the hand of God and start writing a new chapter in their lives.”

Brown’s social media show, “Live with Les Brown and Aaron Fulk,” also brings to the forefront the bold flavor of Fulk, founder and CEO of Kansas City-based Lillian James Creative. Self-described as a “LinkedIn-Geek,” Fulk said she has always looked up to Brown, who leads the show from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was delighted to help him get connected to a wider audience.

Click here to learn more about Aaron Fulk, who also hosts Drinks With Leaders with Scott Havens, Cocktail Hour, and Market Like You Mean It podcasts.

“I feel like it’s been 10 times more powerful for me because I get to get up every day and listen to the top motivational speaker in the world,” Fulk said, describing her experience with the popular LinkedIn Live show. “It’s been an incredible journey.”

Their first show went live July 28 on Brown’s Facebook and LinkedIn, and the duo has been posting shows 11 a.m. Monday through Friday ever since. 

Click here to watch previous episodes of “Live with Les Brown and Aaron Fulk.”

With no specific target audience, the show is for anyone looking for hope in a time of heightened fear and anxiety, said Brown. 

“We attract business people, entrepreneurs, everyday people,” he noted. “[Those] who are looking for some answers on how they can begin to rebuild their lives, how they can build mental resolve and handle all the things that are happening right now.”

With suicide rates increasing about 33 percent within the past two decades, Brown said, he emphasized the importance of sharing a positive message with viewers. 

“People need hope; when there’s hope in the future, that gives you power in the present,” Brown said. “And not only hope, they need methods on how they can increase their skill set to plug into this new economy to extract themselves from their situation.

“They need to be a part of a community of collaborative, achievement-driven, supportive relationships,” he continued. “You can’t make it by yourself.”  

Fulk and Brown agreed they’ve seen viewers build a worldwide community within the social media comments.  

It starts in the a.m.

Along with listening to Brown and Fulk debut each morning’s show, Brown encourages others to make the most out of the first 20 minutes of their days.

Aaron Fulk

“Whatever you do first thing in the morning will affect the spirit of your day,” he said. “So we encourage people to, first: write down seven things that they’re grateful for; two: review the goals they want to achieve for the day (that they wrote down the night before); three: make a commitment to learn something today that they did not know yesterday; and four: program yourself for success by reading something positive or watching motivational videos.”

In the past eight weeks since the show began, Fulk has already seen the impact beyond noteworthy viewer numbers, she said.

“There’s been some pretty dramatic stuff of people who were seriously considering ending their lives until they saw the show,” Fulk said. “I mean it — he’s changing people’s lives. I didn’t even realize how powerful this would be.”

The drive to create long-lasting positivity fuels Brown’s passion, he said. 

“I’m committed, and so is Aaron, to live a life that will outlive me,” Brown said. “I believe that we all have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. Each day when I wake up, I aspire to inspire until I expire. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”

Click here to check out more of Les Brown’s talks and writings.