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My Life Lessons - The BurgeCast

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by Jeff Burgess

26 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview

<p>In 1979, Jeff Burgess was a 22-year-old college dropout drifting through life in a haze of beer, weed, and dead-end jobs. He was the "town clown" with an undeniable work ethic but no clear direction. Then, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, his father called him home for a talk that would shake him to his core: "You have a gift, and I cannot allow you to waste it anymore. It’s time to get your shit together."</p><p><strong>From that moment, everything changed...</strong></p><p><strong>… and change it did!</strong></p><p>Armed with a relentless drive, a knack for problem-solving, and a newfound determination to make something of himself, Jeff set out to prove his father right. Within two years, he skyrocketed from warehouse worker to Vice President of Sales at a booming tech company. By the time he retired, he had built a global business supplying surveillance video recording appliances to both the most iconic and the secure sites in the world.</p><p><strong>It Worked for Me </strong>is the inspiring, no-nonsense story of how an underachiever transformed into an industry leader—one who thrived not by playing it safe, but by embracing risk, trusting his gut, and always finding a way forward.</p><p></p><p><strong>Amongst the Five-Star Amazon Reviews…</strong></p><p>"Jeff Burgess’s It Worked for Me is one of those rare books that manages to be both deeply personal and universally relatable. What stood out most to me was the way Jeff lays bare his journey—equal parts grit, intuition, lucky breaks, and yes, even a bit of dumb luck. He doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges, but he shows how persistence and openness to opportunity can make all the difference. </p><p>What makes the book especially refreshing is his humility. Rather than presenting his story as a straight line of accomplishments, Jeff acknowledges the twists, turns, and unexpected detours that shaped his path. That honesty makes the victories even more meaningful.</p><p>And I must give special kudos for the way Jeff consistently praises and credits his wife throughout the book. It’s clear that she’s not just a background figure but an essential part of his story. That kind of recognition adds a warmth and authenticity that makes the book resonate even more.</p><p>If you’re looking for inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that success often comes from a mix of hard work and serendipity, this book is a must-read. Highly recommend it."</p><p>Angela T. Verified Amazon Purchase</p><p></p><p>"It Worked for Me isn’t your typical business book—it’s a story of raw perseverance and self-belief from someone who built success without shortcuts or a college degree. Jeff Burgess writes with so much honesty and humor, taking you from the chaos of getting fired to the clarity of founding a multimillion-dollar company.</p><p>What makes this book stand out is how personal and practical it is. Every story carries a takeaway: how to lead with integrity, turn rejection into motivation, and believe in your own potential even when no one else does. Jeff’s lessons apply far beyond business—they’re lessons for life.</p><p>If you’ve ever doubted yourself, this book will remind you that passion, persistence, and people skills will always be worth so much! </p><p>Klaro, Verified Amazon Purchase</p>

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🇺🇲

Publishing Since

1/20/2026

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for The People I Misjudged and The Valuable Life Lessons They Taught Me

July 6, 2026

The People I Misjudged and The Valuable Life Lessons They Taught Me

<p>Confidence built BCD. It also blinded Jeff Burgess to some hard truths about the people around him, including himself.</p><p>In this episode, Jeff looks back at the early naivety of opening his own company after nineteen years in the computer industry, and how a single client, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, ended up representing fifty percent of his first year's sales. He asks the question that's haunted him since: how much of that success was his, and how much was simply momentum and a favor owed?</p><p>But this episode goes deeper than one client. Jeff gets honest about misjudging the CEOs he worked for before founding BCD, about a "quick to hire, slow to fire" philosophy that let a toxic leader stay in place for five years too long, and about the difference between being a selling CEO and being a CEO who happens to sell.</p><p>This is a reflective, unflinching episode about blind spots, loyalty, and the lessons that only land once you've had twenty-five years and a quarter million security devices in ninety-one countries to look back on.</p><p></p><p>To learn more about Jeff’s journey, pick up a copy of <strong>𝙄𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 today!</strong> Now also available in audiobook format.</p><p>100% of all royalties go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project!</p><p></p><p>Wondrous Stories.... Words and music by Jon Anderson.</p><p>Copyright held by Atlantic Recording Corporation (℗ 1977, 2003, 2008)</p>

Episode thumbnail for The Art of Selling: Why Trust and Confidence Win in Business Every Time

June 29, 2026

The Art of Selling: Why Trust and Confidence Win in Business Every Time

<p>The most important product any salesperson sells isn't on the price sheet. It's their word.</p><p>In this episode, Jeff Burgess breaks down where real confidence comes from (homework, not winging it) and why becoming a customer's "Trusted Advisor" matters more than closing any single deal. Jeff walks through the small moves that build outsized trust: letting the customer talk while you listen, reiterating what you heard to show you were paying attention, and never badmouthing a competitor even when you're handed the perfect opening.</p><p>He also shares the counterintuitive move that turns a salesperson into a permanent fixture in an account: pointing a customer toward a product you don't even carry, just because it's the right call for them. That's not generosity. That's strategy.</p><p>This is a practical, experience-tested episode on the two rules that anchor everything else: Know Thy Customer and Know Thy Competition. Skip these, and nothing after matters.</p><p></p><p>To learn more about Jeff’s journey, pick up a copy of <strong>𝙄𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 today!</strong> Now also available in audiobook format.</p><p>100% of all royalties go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project!</p><p></p><p>Wondrous Stories.... Words and music by Jon Anderson.</p><p>Copyright held by Atlantic Recording Corporation (℗ 1977, 2003, 2008)</p>

Episode thumbnail for Nobody Knows the Video I’ve Seen: Inside High-Stakes Security, Surveillance, and Trust

June 22, 2026

Nobody Knows the Video I’ve Seen: Inside High-Stakes Security, Surveillance, and Trust

<p>Most companies compete on price. BCD Video competed on trust. And when the stakes are high enough, trust is the only thing that matters.</p><p>In this episode, Jeff Burgess pulls back the curtain on his years leading BCD Video, a company that put security surveillance storage servers into some of the most consequential places on earth. Wimbledon. Westminster Abbey. Apple. Oracle. Machu Picchu. The Pentagon. Disney theme parks worldwide.</p><p>Jeff shares the moments that stayed with him long after retirement: footage from a Lord and Taylor camera that helped identify one of the Boston Marathon bombers, Secret Service video capturing Mike Pence being evacuated on January 6th, and a Sunday night on the couch watching 60 Minutes when he recognized the crystal-clear drone attack footage from Saudi Aramco oil fields and broke down in tears.</p><p>This is a rare look at what it means to build something that quietly shows up at the most important moments in modern history, for better and for worse. Reputation over price. Uptime over everything. One server at a time.</p><p></p><p>To learn more about Jeff’s journey, pick up a copy of <strong>𝙄𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚: 𝙈𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 today!</strong> Now also available in audiobook format.</p><p>100% of all royalties go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project!</p><p></p><p>Wondrous Stories.... Words and music by Jon Anderson.</p><p>Copyright held by Atlantic Recording Corporation (℗ 1977, 2003, 2008)</p>

26 total episodes available

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What is My Life Lessons - The BurgeCast?
<p>In 1979, Jeff Burgess was a 22-year-old college dropout drifting through life in a haze of beer, weed, and dead-end jobs. He was the "town clown" with an undeniable work ethic but no clear direction. Then, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, his father called him home for a talk that would shake him to his core: "You have a gift, and I cannot allow you to waste it anymore. It’s time to get your shit together."</p><p><strong>From that moment, everything changed...</strong></p><p><strong>… and change it did!</strong></p><p>Armed with a relentless drive, a knack for problem-solving, and a newfound determination to make something of himself, Jeff set out to prove his father right. Within two years, he skyrocketed from warehouse worker to Vice President of Sales at a booming tech company. By the time he retired, he had built a global business supplying surveillance video recording appliances to both the most iconic and the secure sites in the world.</p><p><strong>It Worked for Me </strong>is the inspiring, no-nonsense story of how an underachiever transformed into an industry leader—one who thrived not by playing it safe, but by embracing risk, trusting his gut, and always finding a way forward.</p><p></p><p><strong>Amongst the Five-Star Amazon Reviews…</strong></p><p>"Jeff Burgess’s It Worked for Me is one of those rare books that manages to be both deeply personal and universally relatable. What stood out most to me was the way Jeff lays bare his journey—equal parts grit, intuition, lucky breaks, and yes, even a bit of dumb luck. He doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges, but he shows how persistence and openness to opportunity can make all the difference. </p><p>What makes the book especially refreshing is his humility. Rather than presenting his story as a straight line of accomplishments, Jeff acknowledges the twists, turns, and unexpected detours that shaped his path. That honesty makes the victories even more meaningful.</p><p>And I must give special kudos for the way Jeff consistently praises and credits his wife throughout the book. It’s clear that she’s not just a background figure but an essential part of his story. That kind of recognition adds a warmth and authenticity that makes the book resonate even more.</p><p>If you’re looking for inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that success often comes from a mix of hard work and serendipity, this book is a must-read. Highly recommend it."</p><p>Angela T. Verified Amazon Purchase</p><p></p><p>"It Worked for Me isn’t your typical business book—it’s a story of raw perseverance and self-belief from someone who built success without shortcuts or a college degree. Jeff Burgess writes with so much honesty and humor, taking you from the chaos of getting fired to the clarity of founding a multimillion-dollar company.</p><p>What makes this book stand out is how personal and practical it is. Every story carries a takeaway: how to lead with integrity, turn rejection into motivation, and believe in your own potential even when no one else does. Jeff’s lessons apply far beyond business—they’re lessons for life.</p><p>If you’ve ever doubted yourself, this book will remind you that passion, persistence, and people skills will always be worth so much! </p><p>Klaro, Verified Amazon Purchase</p>
How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

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No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.

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