What if the idea you're most attached to is the very thing holding your business back?
Mike Gomoll knows what it's like to change direction. He started Joey's Song, a nonprofit supporting epilepsy research, with a modest goal: raise $500 and help another family facing what his own family had experienced.
Mike and his wife lost their son Joey to a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome, shortly before his fifth birthday. What began as a small music fundraising project has now raised more than $2 million, with support from Grammy-winning producer Butch Vig and musicians connected to some of rock's biggest bands.
In this episode of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Shahid Durrani talks with Mike about the business decisions behind that growth.
They discuss why empathy can be more meaningful than guilt in marketing, how relationships create opportunities, and why being willing to fail is part of building something worthwhile.
Mike also shares what he learned from products nobody bought, listening to his team, changing business models, and knowing when to slow down, especially with AI giving us more options than ever.
It's a conversation about entrepreneurship, identity, and learning to pay attention to what actually works.
Watch the full episode and share your thoughts in the comments.
#super #superentrepreneurs #shahiddurrani #JoeysSong #NonprofitLeadership
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Chapter Stamps:
00:00 β Introduction to Mike Gomoll and Joey's Song
00:37 β The personal story behind Joey's Song
04:33 β From a $500 goal to raising over $2 million
05:31 β Why traditional nonprofit fundraising isn't always enough
07:25 β How influential relationships opened doors
11:59 β The unexpected idea that changed everything
15:31 β Why empathy matters more than selling tragedy
18:07 β Building a community around a cause
23:18 β Helping other charities raise money without added costs
26:03 β How to make people care without making them feel guilty
29:21 β Why Joey's Song streams concerts for free
34:59 β Reaching new audiences through musicians and their fans
38:20 β Growing with earned media instead of expensive advertising
41:39 β Why having a good product or mission isn't enough
44:50 β The decision to move from CDs to live events
49:18 β Following the breadcrumbs when making business decisions
52:23 β Why leaders need to listen to their teams
55:15 β Taking chances when most ideas don't work
58:40 β Separating your identity from your business results
59:42 β Knowing the difference between opportunity and distraction
01:02:03 β Why successful musicians keep returning to Joey's Song
01:05:47 β The merchandise experiment that didn't work
01:08:13 β How a spontaneous idea became a fan favorite
01:10:55 β Why good ideas don't always come from the founder
01:12:34 β Making better decisions when AI speeds everything up
01:15:48 β How listeners can support Joey's Song
Pullout Quotes:
"I think what you want to sell is empathy, not tragedy."
"But you can't make it a vanity project. You've got to make it about what is successful, not what you want it to be"
"And you have to realize that what you do is not who you are."
"not every good idea comes out of your own brain."
"you're not forced to work at the speed of AI."
Socials:
Website: https://www.joeyssong.org/
LinkedIn (Mike Gomoll): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-gomoll/
Instagram (Joey's Song): https://www.instagram.com/joeyssong/
Facebook (Joey's Song): https://www.facebook.com/joeyssong/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Joeys-Song
Disclaimer: Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.
One more thing - if there's a decision, direction, or situation in your business or life that you've been going back and forth on, I recently created a free Clarity Audit that may be useful.
It takes about five minutes and gives you a personalized reflection on what may be making the decision feel harder than it needs to be - including the difference between what actually needs your attention and the extra noise around it.
You'll also leave with a clearer way to look at your next step.
Take the free Clarity Audit:
https://start.shahiddurrani.com/the-clarity-audit
