I never thought I’d write these words.
After walking away from YouTube and vowing never to return, I’ve come full circle—with a revelation that ironically explains exactly why I left in the first place.
My path from filming fitness videos in my little NYC apartment to where I am today has been anything but linear. Each chapter—building a digital fitness platform, running a marketing agency, writing The Influencer Code, and eventually creating curriculum at business schools— taught me a profound truth: you never understand the power of influence more than when you don’t have it. The audience I built in fitness didn’t translate to credibility in the marketing and higher education worlds, forcing me to relearn the real principles of influence from the ground up. What began as my survival strategy became my life’s work: translating the raw reality of building influence across entirely different worlds.
The Moment That Changed Everything
It happened during a faculty meeting at one of the world’s leading business schools. As we debated the merits of various marketing frameworks and theories that hadn’t substantially changed in decades, I realized something that stopped me in my tracks: I was becoming what I had always resisted—someone who teaches without doing.
The distance between what’s taught in academic settings and what actually works in the digital trenches grows wider every day. The algorithms of 2010 bear little resemblance to those of 2025. The platforms and paradigms shift constantly. Yet our educational approach remains largely static.
This isn’t an attempt at a comeback story or content pivot—it’s a response to a fundamental disconnect I’ve witnessed from both sides of the equation. One that affects anyone trying to build something meaningful in today’s landscape, whether you’re a solopreneur or part of a larger organization.
Amanda’s Playbook: A Living Laboratory
Each week, I’ll be sharing a revolving mix of insights, examples, and real-time experiments that bridge the gap between theory and implementation. We’ll test strategies, analyze results, and refine our approach together.
This isn’t just content for you to passively consume—you’re essential to the process as we discover what actually works right now, not what worked years ago.
To my original fitness community who’ve witnessed every pivot of this journey—thank you for your unwavering support through each reinvention. The authenticity and trust we built together remains the foundation of everything I create. And I made this little video for you!
Join Me on This New Chapter
The first experiment launches next Wednesday, and I’d love for you to be part of it. Whether you’re building your own brand, leading marketing for an organization, or simply curious about the evolution of digital influence, there’s a place for you in this community.
Here’s what to expect:
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Real-time strategy testing with transparent results
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A bridge between academic rigor and practical application
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Opportunities to contribute to and shape our collective
Isn’t it fitting that the path forward sometimes requires returning to where it all began—but with new eyes, deeper understanding, and a clearer sense of purpose?
Let’s rewrite the playbook of how to build influence together.
With gratitude and excitement,
Let’s Connect
💬 Reply to my personal email with your questions for our Q&A segment
🎥 Subscribe to Amanda’s Playbook YouTube channel for weekly deepdives
👥 Join our private Substack community
📱 Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @amandasplaybook
