Chicken Soup for the Soul Co-Creator: From 144 Rejections to 500M+ Books Sold Worldwide

Mark Victor Hansen got rejected 144 times before Chicken Soup for the Soul became one of the bestselling book series in history. In this episode, Howie Chan sits down with the legendary author, publisher, and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise to unpack the psychology behind persistence, goal-setting, destiny, and influence. Hansen breaks down why most people never figure out what they actually want, and shares the mental technique he and Jack Canfield used to program their subconscious mind while they slept, the same process that produced the Chicken Soup for the Soul title itself. He explains why storytelling is the real engine behind influence and sales, and walks through the traps that kill most first-time authors before they ever finish a book. You'll learn why writing down your goals every day changes how your brain processes opportunity, how to identify a niche worth owning, and how the biggest rejections often turn into the biggest wins. **Chapters:** 00:00:00 Ask Yourself, Ask Others, Ask God: Finding Your Destiny 00:04:35 Program Your Subconscious Before You Sleep 00:12:06 Storytelling: The Core of Influence 00:22:24 Four Paths to Publishing 00:25:02 The Traps That Kill Most Books 00:26:53 Own Your Niche: How to Choose What to Write First 00:32:07 Top Tips to Write Your Book 00:35:12 Writing Emotion Into a Nonfiction Business Book 00:38:52 Turning Problems Into Fortunes 00:44:17 Marketing Your Book: Lessons from Podcasting's Biggest Names 00:54:54 Final Advice on Purpose and Legacy **From Mark Victor Hansen:** Website LinkedIn Books **Mentioned in this video:** How To Create Any Reality (The Belief Blueprint) (August 4) **What’s Your Influence Style Profile? What do you do when you need someone to do something?** This quiz will help you discover your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots). → https://www.influencestylequiz.com/ Join 1,025+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is. **Become the Expert People Remember, Trust, and Choose.** Expert Foundations is a live 3-week program where you'll build the three foundations every influential expert needs. → https://www.howiechan.com/expertfoundations Next cohort begins August 17 - September 4, 2026 — *Produced by* Ideablossoms