About George Kao

It took years to discover my authentic business path.

In 2008, friends and colleagues started asking me to coach them about social media marketing. Some of them said I should sell a training about it. So in 2009, I began by selling high-ticket trainings — the typical online marketing model.

Within a year, I was making over $10,000 per month, and by year three, my mailing list had grown to 10,000 subscribers and my annual revenue reached $350,000. It looked like success — but it ran on the hype and pressure of traditional marketing, and deep down it wasn't sustainable or true to me.

I did all the work myself — marketing, sales, partnerships, coaching, speaking, administration, finances, tech, customer service — all working from home, keeping it under 40 hours a week, and taking a month of vacation per year. I learned the ins and outs of running a coaching business while maintaining a life.

Despite all this, I felt something was deeply off about how I was doing business.

Starting towards the end of 2012, I experienced a kind of spiritual awakening. There were questions persistently knocking on the door of my consciousness, asking me to reflect:

I realized I'd been using lizard-brain marketing — effective for quick sales, sure… but upon reflection there was only one conclusion: it was manipulative. I also saw a gap between the promises I made and the results my students achieved. This is common in the coaching industry, especially with those "six-figure" promises. I just couldn't ignore it anymore.

Finding a more authentic path

That spiritual awakening led to a radical change in my business. I transitioned to authentic marketing, prioritizing genuine connection and service to my audience — regardless of whether or not they bought.

I lowered my course prices (see: George Kao's Courses), created more in-depth group programs, and started giving away much of my content for free through my blog and videos (see: George Kao's Best Videos).

And here's what surprised me: as I leaned into joyful productivity and authentic marketing, my income didn't collapse — it stabilized at a solid six-figure level, and the work became far more fulfilling and balanced. Less pressure, more meaning, more life.

Along the way, I've also written five books, including Principles of Authentic Business, Authentic Content Marketing, Joyful Productivity, and Authentic Selling.

Starting around 2013, I intentionally reduced my workload and income to an "enough" level — enough for a healthy, modest lifestyle and more free time.

Then in 2023, my wife Kim and I — with our dog Buddy and cat Babygirl — moved to Lakeside Chapala, Mexico, seeking a warmer climate, a family-oriented culture, and a lower cost of living. We still work remotely, but with a focus on spaciousness — allowing more time for reflection, creation, and serving my audience.

The "influencer" dream of a lavish lifestyle doesn't resonate with me. My vision is a world where everyone can do work they love, be financially sustained, and have abundant time for their loved ones and passions.

Who I am today — my approach to business, my values, my way of being — is a blend of these threads:

• Taiwanese heritage Growing up immersed in Taiwanese culture instilled a deep sense of heartfulness — a genuine warmth and care for others. It also fostered resilience, a spirit of perseverance, and a touch of rebellion — a willingness to question the status quo.
• Early childhood As the youngest of three boys, often told to be quiet, I was forced to be comfortable with not knowing — a recognition that I don't have all the answers. This also fostered a comfort with being "different," which has served me well in forging my own path.
• Immigrant experience Moving to the United States as a child gave me the perspective of an underdog — someone who had to work harder to be understood and accepted. This cultivated adaptability: the ability to navigate new cultures and situations.
• Christian faith My early conversion to Christianity provided a strong foundation in discipline, nurtured a commitment to spiritual growth, and instilled the values of fellowship and community — the importance of connection and support.
• Spiritual exploration My faith journey also includes the exploration of other traditions — Buddhism, Universalism, Spiritism, and afterlife studies — leading to a deep belief in inner work and a profound sense of interconnectedness. I've written about these yearnings and practices in my book Soul Gym.
• Musician & speaker Years of practicing music instilled a practicing mindset — mastery comes through consistent effort. Training in public speaking, with Lee Glickstein's "Speaking Circles," encouraged me to use my voice authentically, connecting from a place of truth and vulnerability.
• Business coaching My training and experience as a business coach emphasized prioritization (focusing on what truly matters) and metrics (tracking progress and making data-driven decisions) — essential tools for building a sustainable business.
• Masculinity I embrace the positive aspects of traditional masculinity: bravery in the face of challenges, a willingness to take calculated risks, and a commitment to fighting for the well-being of others — particularly my clients and community.
• MBA The MBA program I studied in, with its blend of professionalism and a more relaxed "hippie" ethos, showed me that one can be excellent while remaining casual and approachable — that success doesn't require sacrificing authenticity or personal values.

I'm an AI optimist, believing in technology's potential for good. I'm passionate about bridging divides and finding common ground, even in difficult conversations. I love bringing lightness and humor to situations, and I'm good at reframing challenges to see the opportunity or lesson. I deeply believe in the afterlife and see this life as a training ground for our souls.