Jonathan Chanti is the CEO and co-founder of Reign Maker Group, and he helped build the world’s largest influencer representation agency at Viral Nation. In this Inside A Hustler’s Brain episode, Jonathan Chanti’s life advice covers betting on yourself, not rushing the process, money habits, founder sacrifices and why he’d bet his fortune on weightlifting.
Someone once told him influencer marketing was “a fad.” He ignored that advice and helped build what became the world’s largest influencer representation agency.
I sat down with Jonathan Chanti, who brokered some of the earliest influencer deals for Fortune 500 brands and has been featured in Forbes, WSJ, Bloomberg and AdWeek. This wasn’t a tactics episode. It was 25 minutes of honest life advice from 15+ years in business, and it hits hard.
Quick Facts: Jonathan Chanti
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Guest | Jonathan Chanti |
| Role | CEO and co-founder of Reign Maker Group |
| Previously | Helped build the world’s largest influencer representation agency at Viral Nation |
| Experience | 15+ years in business |
| Featured in | Forbes, WSJ, Bloomberg, AdWeek |
| Co-founder across | Reign Maker Group, The Now and RMT |
| Episode length | About 25 minutes |
| Host | Jitendra Vaswani |
| Podcast | Inside A Hustler’s Brain (YouTube) |
In This Episode, We Unpacked
- Jonathan’s best (and worst) advice ever
- What he’d tell his 18-year-old self
- The three people who shaped him personally and in his career
- His best financial advice: diversify early, but don’t be a penny pincher
- Why he waited 15 years before making his big move
- The real sacrifices of being a founder (and the 3:30 a.m. brain)
- The one habit he’d bet his fortune on
- The books and people that shaped his thinking
Watch the Full Jonathan Chanti Life Advice Episode
Jonathan Chanti’s Best (and Worst) Life Advice?
I started with a classic question. The worst advice Jonathan ever got? “Don’t get involved in influencer marketing. It’s a fad.” The best?
“Bet on yourself.” – Jonathan Chanti
And to his 18-year-old self, he’d say this:
“Be bullish on the destination you want to arrive at, but be nimble on how you get there.” – Jonathan Chanti
That one line is a whole business strategy. Fix the goal, stay flexible on the route.
Who Shaped Jonathan Chanti? The People Behind His Success
If he could bring back one person, it would be his grandfather, one of the savviest deal-makers he ever knew. He spoke seven languages, studied at Stanford and the Sorbonne, and knew how to rally and inspire people. Jonathan would love to have him “on my shoulder” for perspective.
His three most influential people on a personal level:
- His mother, one of the most resilient people he’s ever met, who taught him to keep moving forward no matter what
- His aunt Karen, who inspired his career and helped open doors
- His wife, “one of the most dynamic, ambitious, self-made people” he knows, balancing her own career with family
Career-wise, he credits his first boss, who gave him an opportunity he says he “didn’t deserve”, a long-time mentor who taught him the influencer economy and how to be a good partner, and today his co-founders across Reign Maker Group, The Now and RMT.
Why Did Jonathan Chanti Wait 15 Years? Don’t Rush the Process
This was my favourite part. When I asked for a reality check for anyone who wants to do what he does, Jonathan said: don’t rush the process.
He waited about 15 years before making his recent move. He wanted to work for people at the top of their game and learn every key function of a business first.
His warning is spot on. Great salespeople sometimes jump straight into being CEO. Great marketers assume they can build a company that does marketing better for everyone. Sales and marketing are components, not the whole thing.
Learn all facets of running a business, then “walk in with as much preparation as possible and let the rest fly.”
If you like this kind of honesty, read Trackier co-founder Udit Verma on success, sacrifices and regrets.
What Is Jonathan Chanti’s Best Financial Advice?
Jonathan’s money advice is balanced:
- Diversify investments early
- Don’t underestimate how fast time goes. Small early investments lead to bigger wins later
- Don’t be a penny pincher. Your greatest successes come from experiences with other people, and those cost money
How Does Jonathan Chanti Think About Networking?
On networking, he says in his business “you’re always running for office.” You never know when a relationship will matter. But he separates a wide circle of acquaintances from a core group you trust and spend a lot of time with. You want people around you who want you to win as much as you do.
Once the saving is done, he spends on travel, experiences with family and great food. He calls himself a “qualified foodie.”
What Are the Real Sacrifices of Being a Founder? Jonathan Chanti’s Honest Answer
What is the “3:30 a.m. brain”? It is Jonathan Chanti’s name for the moment you wake up by accident in the middle of the night and your brain starts listing every worry. By 8 a.m., he says, most of those scary things aren’t so scary anymore.
Nobody talks enough about what founders give up. For Jonathan, it’s time and energy. He’s missed moments, and even when he’s been physically present at a dinner or on a trip, he hasn’t always been mentally present. 🧠
“The most daunting time for a CEO and founder is 3:30 in the morning.” -Jonathan Chanti
That’s when you wake up by accident and your brain starts listing every worry. By 8 a.m., he says, most of those scary things aren’t so scary anymore.
The last time he cried was at his three-year-old son’s graduation. Kids make you understand time, and he realised how much he’d missed because he’d been so busy. Still, his view is clear: nothing great comes without sacrifice. How you manage it is what matters.
His best year was the year his daughter was born, which reset his priorities. His worst was losing his uncle suddenly, which became a wake-up call to create meaningful memories now.
For another founder’s take on building big while staying human, see how Sujay Pawar built Brainstorm Force.
What Habit Would Jonathan Chanti Bet His Fortune On? Weightlifting
No hesitation: weightlifting. For high performers and executives, Jonathan says working out matters mentally and physically, and it also trains resilience. Increasing your weights or routine has a linear effect on your ability to deal with adversity at work. There won’t always be yeses or sunny days, but you still show up.
His morning starts with amino acids, vitamins and supplements. He started about a year and a half ago and says he thinks more clearly for longer, has more stamina and sleeps better.
Books, Elon Musk and Financial Literacy: What Shaped Jonathan Chanti’s Thinking
The authors who shaped him most are Robert Greene, for practical business strategy drawn from real history, and Nietzsche, for human psychology, which helps him understand the person across the deal table.
If he could spend a day with Elon Musk, he’d joke about asking if aliens exist, but really he’d want to learn how Musk builds organisations systematically, combining structure with great people to scale. He finds Tesla even more impressive than SpaceX, because Musk educated the market on a product that barely existed and then built a phenomenal one on top.
If he were US president for a day, his focus would be financial literacy and education: debt, credit cards, taxes, investing, the stock market and 401(k)s. And with five minutes of the world’s attention? “Stop the fighting. Be more collaborative.”
Want more creator-economy wisdom? Read how Milan Smets manages 30+ YouTube channels and Yogesh Chabria’s life lessons and regrets.
How Can You Connect With Jonathan Chanti?
Jonathan says he’s active on LinkedIn and personally looks at who’s reaching out and what value they bring, because “you never know who you’re going to meet.” What’s next for him? “Just winning. More winning.”
Honestly, what I loved most was his humility. He’s hugely successful, but he talks like a friend who’s here to help.
Key Takeaways From the Jonathan Chanti Life Advice Interview
- Be bullish on the destination, nimble on the route
- Bet on yourself, even when people call your industry a fad
- Don’t rush. Learn every function of a business before you lead one
- Diversify early, but invest in experiences with people
- Build a wide network and a small, trusted core
- Founders sacrifice time and energy. Manage it consciously
- Train resilience in the gym so you can handle adversity at work
- Be present. Time passes fast, and moments with family can’t be replayed
FAQs About Jonathan Chanti
Jonathan Chanti is the CEO and co-founder of Reign Maker Group. He helped build the world's largest influencer representation agency at Viral Nation and has 15+ years of experience in the creator economy.
"Bet on yourself." He also tells young people to be bullish on their destination but nimble on how they get there.
He wanted to learn from top people and understand every key function of an organisation, not just sales or marketing, before leading his own company.
Weightlifting. He believes it keeps you mentally and physically sharp and trains the resilience you need to handle adversity in business.
He named Robert Greene for business strategy and Nietzsche for understanding human psychology.
Final Thoughts on Jonathan Chanti’s Life Advice
Jonathan Chanti’s life advice comes down to a few clear ideas: bet on yourself, be bullish on the destination and nimble on the route, don’t rush the process, diversify early and invest in people and experiences. Train your resilience, and manage your sacrifices on purpose, because nothing great comes without them.
If this conversation with Jonathan Chanti gave you even one idea, share it with a friend who needs it today. One conversation can change someone’s life.
More Inside A Hustler’s Brain Interviews You’ll Love
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- How Mindvalley Became $100M Superpower in Ed-Tech Industry By Marisha Lakhiani
- Eman Pulis CEO of SiGMA Group : The Story Behind MultiMillion Dollar Brand
- Stase Blitz CMO Of PIN-UP Partners : How to Be An Influencer in Affiliate Marketing Industry
If this conversation with Jonathan Chanti gave you even one idea, share it with a friend who needs it today. One conversation can change someone’s life.
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