On this episode of the Encourage Mindset Podcast, host Ethan Van De Hey sits down with RJ Parrish — a small-town Michigan native who studied psychology in college and went on to build a video production company. RJ shares his philosophy on building the life you want one step at a time, why your unique story matters more than you think, and why chasing someone else’s routine will always backfire.
Watch the Full Episode with RJ Parrish
From Rural Michigan to Running a Video Company
RJ Parrish grew up in a very small town in rural Northern Michigan. His K-12 school was in one building with under 800 students total, and his graduating class had about 40 people. He went to college to study psychology because he was fascinated by a simple question: why do people do what they do? Why do we become the people we become?
Despite never attending film school, RJ now runs a video production company. He tells Ethan that his psychology background actually gave him something film school could not — a deep understanding of people, motivation, and storytelling from a human behavior perspective. His career path is living proof of a principle he shares later in the conversation: life is additive, and experience from one field transfers to the next.
Your Story Is Unique and It Matters
One of the most powerful moments in this episode is when RJ talks about the people he works with who doubt their own value. He hears the same question over and over: “Who am I to think I can have an impact?” RJ pushes back hard on that limiting belief. He tells Ethan that what each person has to offer is unique — no one can explain things the way you can, no one has your story, and no one has your perspective. That unique perspective could be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
RJ acknowledges that there are competitors in every space and people doing similar work. But he is firm in his conviction that who you are is what separates you. There is power and freedom in accepting your uniqueness and leaning into it rather than trying to be a carbon copy of someone who already exists.
Life Is Additive: Experience Always Transfers
RJ delivers one of the most practical insights of the conversation when he explains his belief that life is additive. He describes how many people — especially those in their late 30s, 40s, and 50s — hesitate to pursue something new because they feel like they would be throwing away decades of career experience. RJ reframes that fear entirely. Everything you learned in your previous career applies to the new thing you want to build. It is not like transferring colleges and losing credits.
He uses himself as the example: a psychology major running a video company. The understanding of human behavior he developed in school directly informs how he creates compelling video content. If he had stayed stuck thinking he needed a film degree to do this work, he would have never started.
Stop Copying Someone Else’s Routine
Ethan and RJ have an honest discussion about morning routines and the toxic side of hustle culture. RJ challenges the popular idea that everyone needs to wake up at 4 a.m. to be successful. He explains that if you are straining that hard just to get out of bed, you are burning through finite energy before your day even begins. That energy should be applied to the work that actually matters.
RJ recommends finding your own sweet spot — the routine and rhythm that makes you feel good and sets you up for a productive day. He warns against blindly copying routines from billionaires or influencers because what works for them may drain you. Ethan agrees, sharing his own experience of trying to force early wake-up times that simply did not work for him. The lesson is clear: build habits that serve your life, not someone else’s highlight reel.
Building Belief in Yourself One Step at a Time
Throughout the conversation, RJ returns to a consistent theme: building belief in yourself is a gradual process. You do not wake up one day with unshakeable confidence. You build it through small, consistent actions — saying yes to the opportunity, sharing your perspective even when it feels uncomfortable, and trusting that your unique path has prepared you for what comes next.
RJ is honest about the fact that most people do not believe their voice matters. His mission — both through his video work and conversations like this one — is to help people realize that they already have what it takes. The gap between where they are and where they want to be is not talent or resources. It is belief and the willingness to take one step at a time.
Connect with the Encourage Mindset Podcast
The Encourage Mindset Podcast is hosted by Ethan Van De Hey and brings together leaders, entrepreneurs, and high-performers who share their real stories and strategies for growth. Subscribe on YouTube to catch every new episode.
Related Episodes You Might Enjoy
If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these related episodes from the Encourage Mindset Podcast:
- Tyler Webb: Forget the Gatekeepers: Innovation is the New Key to Success
- Anthony Pierri: Marketing Isn’t Magic, Its Mindset
- Matt LeBris: Turn Failure into Fuel for Success
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