Creating Credibility through Clarity with Mitchell Levy

Mitchell Levy on Clear, Trusted Branding

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Welcome back to The Daily Mastermind. George Wright III here with your daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and education. I am super excited today. I'm super excited to have Mitchell Levy here with us. And I'm going to give you a really nice introduction because I’ve got to be honest with you, your background is so credible as well as being impressive.

Guys, listen, we have a lot for you to unpack here on this episode, but I’m going to tell you something—the guest we have today is a credibility expert. He’s a two-time TEDx speaker. He’s written over 60 books, he’s an executive coach, and he has all kinds of ways to help you understand the importance of what you need to do to create credibility while also being able to connect and really grow your business. That’s the whole reason we do this. So Mitchell, welcome to the show, man. It’s good to have you here.

George, it’s great to be here. And I loved our pre-interview and am looking forward to the actual interview itself.

Yeah, it is. It’s great when we take a few minutes and realize how much we align with our passions and what we’re doing.

To those of you listening, you’re looking for that daily dose that’s going to help you create the best version of yourself and the best life possible—the one you really want to create. I can think of no better topic than this idea of credibility, which we’re going to dig into and unpack a little bit. But before I do that...

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Mitchell Levy's Background and Journey

Mitchell, can you give us just a little bit of your background? You’ve got some really great accolades, but give us a backstory of what brought you into this whole topic and where you come from. Lay the foundation for us a bit before we dive in.

Sure.

I’ve been living in Silicon Valley for 35 years. I’ve created around 20 companies, been happily married for 33 years, and have one son who’s 25. Since leaving corporate, I’ve focused on doing the things I truly love.

During the dot-com days, I was the guy who helped companies figure out how to use this “new” internet technology to drop ship products directly to clients and interact with customers.

George, I was literally walked out of two companies—one by the CEO and one by the VP of Ops—who said, “Hey, the internet’s just a fad.”

Oh, wow.

What I’ve always done is find something exciting happening in the world and dive in as an entrepreneur. During the dot-com boom, I was an e-commerce consultant until that faded. I even created the first-ever e-commerce management program. Then LinkedIn hired me—Reid Hoffman and Konstantin Gerlich themselves—to write LinkedIn’s first book after I had started a book publishing company.

Fast forward to four years ago: I woke up one day and thought, “I need to prepare for what’s next.” I wasn’t sure what that was, but the next day it hit me: credibility.

I thought about Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, where he interviewed 500 millionaires. I decided, “If Mitchell Levy interviews 500 thought leaders on credibility, I could have my own Think and Grow Rich for credibility.”

So, I told my team, “We’ll keep running the business, but I’m also going to interview 500 people and create a podcast.” They thought I was crazy. But we worked on the process together, and it was a game-changer. That’s how my journey into credibility began.

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The Importance of Credibility

Around July 2020, after completing 95% of the interviews, I had an aha moment about what I’m truly meant to do. I realized I need to tip the scale between those who are credible and those I call “credcrudibles” (the opposite of credible). This means reaching billions of people.

I’ve been focusing on credibility for three years now. It’s not just about what you do; it’s about being trusted, known, and liked. Not “know, like, and trust,” but the reverse—trust, know, and like. That’s the foundation of credibility.

I’ve got to say, that’s such a powerful framework. And I want to ask you—because I’m a big believer in aha moments happening while you’re in motion, not before—did you know it would be credibility, or did it evolve during the process?

Great question. Honestly, I went with my gut. Afterward, I realized credibility is deeply tied to integrity. It’s about aligning what you say (external integrity) with how you feel (internal integrity). When there’s a disconnect, people sense it. That’s where credibility begins.

‍So, let’s define credibility for everyone. It’s clearly more than just being well-known online. What does credibility mean to you?

Credibility is the quality in which you are trusted, known, and liked. Under trust, there are four components: vulnerability, external integrity, authenticity, and coachability. Are you open to learning and growing? That’s critical.

For being known, it’s not about “knowing of” someone. It’s about truly knowing them. Are you a servant leader? Do you have the intent and commitment to do the right thing? That’s key.

Finally, being liked is about showing respect. It’s simple: come early, come prepared, and come with your heart. People feel that authenticity, and that’s what makes them want to work with you.

That’s so powerful. I think what really stands out is how you break credibility into actionable components like trust, knowing, and being liked. Most people wouldn’t think of that, especially when it comes to business.

Exactly. And one of the most overlooked parts of being liked is “spreading cred dust.”

Spreading cred dust? I’ve never heard that before. Tell me more.

Cred dust is spreading the ideas, thoughts, and values of others while giving credit where it’s due. As leaders, we often think we need to take credit for everything our teams do, but that’s the wrong approach. Highlighting and showcasing others' contributions builds trust and credibility.

I love that. It’s about celebrating others, and in turn, it builds your credibility. That’s huge.

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Credibility and Business Longevity

Most people I work with think credibility is just about getting leads. They don’t see the long-term value. But from what you’re saying, credibility goes beyond the transaction—it’s about building relationships and creating lifelong fans.

Absolutely, George. Credibility doesn’t just impact the lifetime value of your clients—it impacts the lifetime value of YOU.

Wow. That’s deep.

Think about it: if your kids aren’t proud of you because you made money at the expense of others, what kind of life are you living? But if you’re the same credible person as a parent, friend, leader, and business owner, that consistency defines your legacy. That’s credibility.

It’s such a profound shift in thinking. You’re saying credibility touches every aspect of who we are, not just our business persona.

Exactly. When people recommend you, it’s because they trust you, and that’s the most powerful form of marketing—word of mouth. In today’s world, thought leadership is everywhere. Anyone can generate content with tools like ChatGPT. But what sets you apart is your credibility, your trustworthiness, and your ability to serve others genuinely. That’s what keeps you relevant.

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Building Credibility and Clarity with CPOP

You’ve worked with so many people, done TEDx talks, written books, and developed frameworks. Let’s dig into the strategies. You mentioned something called CPOP. Can you explain what that is and how it ties into credibility?

Of course. CPOP stands for “Customer Point of Possibilities.” It’s about identifying two things: who you serve and what pain or pleasure point they want to address.

For example, my CPOP in executive coaching is “CEOs flying like eagles.” It’s concise, clear, and defines my playground—the space I love working in. From there, I explain how I help CEOs who’ve created jobs instead of businesses, who are stuck in minutiae, and who aren’t happy. That’s my focus.

I like how you start with something simple and then expand as needed. Most people overcomplicate it.

Exactly. When you clearly articulate your CPOP, you save time and energy. It helps you identify whether someone is a prospect, a referral partner, or simply not a fit. If they don’t resonate with your playground, you move on. That clarity saves you from wasting time on people who aren’t aligned with your goals.

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Credibility as a Lifelong Focus

This concept of merging personal and business credibility is fascinating. Most people think of business as separate from personal life, but you’re saying they’re intertwined.

Absolutely. If you can’t see yourself continuing to serve your clients even after “retirement,” you’re probably not doing what you love. The key is to build a life where your personal and business credibility are seamlessly integrated. That’s how you create true happiness and fulfillment.

Man, that’s a game-changer. It’s not just about building a business—it’s about building a life.

Exactly. Your credibility isn’t just about short-term ROI. It’s about creating a legacy. If you love what you do and align it with who you are, your work will never feel like a job. That’s the ultimate goal.

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Actionable Steps for Building Credibility

For listeners who want to start building their credibility, where do you recommend they begin?

Start with your CPOP. Ask yourself two questions: Who do you serve, and what’s their biggest pain or pleasure point? Once you have that clarity, reflect on your daily activities and ask, “Am I CPOPing?”

Most people forget their CPOP within two weeks because life gets in the way. But if you consistently align your actions with your CPOP, you’ll stay on track and build credibility every single day.

I love that you turned CPOP into a verb. It’s such a practical way to stay focused.

Thanks, George. It’s about being intentional. Credibility isn’t something you set and forget—it’s something you live and breathe every day.

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Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Mitchell, this has been an incredible conversation. I know we’re running short on time, but where can listeners connect with you and learn more about your work?

The simplest way is to go to MitchellLevy.com. It links to everything I do, including my newsletter on Substack, “Staying Relevant with Mitchell Levy.” I’m also active on LinkedIn, so feel free to connect with me there. And if it’s important, you can book time on my calendar directly through my website.

That’s fantastic. We’ll include all the links in the show notes. Guys, Mitchell has shared so much value today. If this resonated with you, share this episode. The idea of spreading cred dust is something we can all do.

Thank you, George. It’s been a pleasure.

Remember, it’s never too late to start living the life you’re meant to live. Spread some cred dust and be credible in everything you do.

Thanks again, Mitchell. Guys, we’ll see you next time on The Daily Mastermind.

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About Mitchell Levy:

Global Credibility Expert Mitchell Levy is a 2x TEDx speaker, an international bestselling author of over 60 books, and an executive coach at Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches. After interviewing 500 thought leaders on credibility, he published a 7-country international bestselling book, delivered a powerful TEDx on humanity, created courses, and created the Credibility Nation membership community to help those live, learn and surround themselves with others on the credibility journey.

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Guest Resources:

LinkedIn: Mitchell Levy on LinkedIn

YouTube: Mitchell Levy's YouTube Channel

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themitchelllevy

Facebook: Mitchell Levy on Facebook

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchell.levy

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About George Wright III:

George Wright is a Proven, Successful Entrepreneur- and he knows how to inspire entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals to achieve Massive Results. With more than 20 years of Executive Management experience and 25 years of Direct Marketing and Sales experience, George is responsible for starting and building several successful multimillion-dollar companies. He started at a very young age to network and build his experience and knowledge of what it takes to become a driven and well-known entrepreneur. George built a multi-million-dollar seminar business, promoting some of the biggest stars and brands in the world. He has accelerated the success and cash flow in each of his ventures through his network of resources and results driven strategies. George is now dedicated to teaching and sharing his Prosperity Principles and Strategies to every Driven and Passionate Entrepreneur he meets. His mission is to Empower Entrepreneurs Globally to create Massive Change and LIVE their Ultimate Destiny.

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