EP48 Outsmart AI with These Essential Skills for Future Success w/Brandon Fortino, Founder of Short Form Pros
Thu Apr 10 2025
My team helps business owners install a full-scale client acquisition system - ads, setters, CRM, nurture, and content - so they can scale to $100K/month without burning out or hiring a full in-house team.
If that sounds like it's for you, message me on WhatsApp: tap here
or
DM me the word " GROWTH" on Instagram: tap here
follow us on socials
Levi Arreola
instagram: thatswhatlevisaid
raspberrylemonadepodcast
Brandon Fortino
instagram: @brandon.fortino
In this episode of Raspberry Lemonade, we sit down with Brandon Fortino, founder of Short Form Pros - a creative agency helping entrepreneurs grow their business through short-form content and organic social media.
Brandon shares his story of growing up in Jakarta, moving to the U.S., and building a business from scratch with no funding, no team, and no experience. He opens up about what it really takes to grow a content agency, how AI is changing the creative landscape, and why having a Googleable online presence matters more than ever.
We also dive into how Brandon transitioned from real estate videos to helping clients close deals through organic content, his thoughts on hiring and delegation, and a powerful personal moment that shaped his mindset for success.
If you find value in this episode, please consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who would benefit from hearing Brandon's story.
***
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:54 Journey into Video Production
06:03 Starting a Business in Photography and Videography
08:59 Challenges and Learning Experiences
12:00 Mindset and Permission to Fail
15:05 Advice for Newcomers in the Industry
17:27 The Journey of Persistence in Creative Fields
19:56 The Impact of AI on Videography
23:01 Choosing Skills for the Future
25:49 The Human Element in Videography
28:00 Sweet and Sour Stories: Personal Reflections
34:04 Turning Points in Life
35:29 Moments of Triumph
37:59 Family Connections and Legacy
39:30 The Significance of Giving Back
41:34 The Value of Relationships
42:11 Life Soundtrack and Personal Reflections
45:56 Building a Googleable Presence
Takeaways
Brandon grew up in a low-income household and was heavily influenced by his grandparents’ business mindset.
He picked up photography and videography to help fund college, learning through school projects and personal hustle.
After realizing real estate clients needed leads more than flashy visuals, he pivoted to content creation and launched Short Form Pros.
He found early opportunities in graduation photography and emphasized learning by doing — even if that meant failing along the way.
Starting a business came with challenges like hiring, selling, and trusting others, but Brandon gave himself permission to grow through mistakes.
His advice: Don’t get stuck on one path. Explore, tolerate the hard parts, and unlearn limiting beliefs to make faster progress.
Brandon views AI as a productivity tool, not a threat. He believes adopting tech early gives creators an edge.
Human connection and storytelling still matter — tech can assist, but not replace emotion or presence.
Personal experiences fuel purpose. One moment as a teen without power shifted his mindset toward building a better life.
The wins that matter most are helping clients grow and giving back to loved ones who supported you.
Strong relationships and consistent content build credibility. Being “Googleable” is key to standing out in today's world.
Keywords
video production, photography, entrepreneurship, business challenges, mindset, social media, content creation, organic growth, personal journey, advice for beginners, videography, AI, creative fields, persistence, human element, skills, personal stories, entrepreneurship, technology, storytelling, turning points, personal growth, family legacy, giving back, relationships, life soundtrack, Googleable presence, business success, emotional moments, impact
More
My team helps business owners install a full-scale client acquisition system - ads, setters, CRM, nurture, and content - so they can scale to $100K/month without burning out or hiring a full in-house team. If that sounds like it's for you, message me on WhatsApp: tap here or DM me the word " GROWTH" on Instagram: tap here follow us on socials Levi Arreola instagram: thatswhatlevisaid raspberrylemonadepodcast Brandon Fortino instagram: @brandon.fortino In this episode of Raspberry Lemonade, we sit down with Brandon Fortino, founder of Short Form Pros - a creative agency helping entrepreneurs grow their business through short-form content and organic social media. Brandon shares his story of growing up in Jakarta, moving to the U.S., and building a business from scratch with no funding, no team, and no experience. He opens up about what it really takes to grow a content agency, how AI is changing the creative landscape, and why having a Googleable online presence matters more than ever. We also dive into how Brandon transitioned from real estate videos to helping clients close deals through organic content, his thoughts on hiring and delegation, and a powerful personal moment that shaped his mindset for success. If you find value in this episode, please consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who would benefit from hearing Brandon's story. *** Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:54 Journey into Video Production 06:03 Starting a Business in Photography and Videography 08:59 Challenges and Learning Experiences 12:00 Mindset and Permission to Fail 15:05 Advice for Newcomers in the Industry 17:27 The Journey of Persistence in Creative Fields 19:56 The Impact of AI on Videography 23:01 Choosing Skills for the Future 25:49 The Human Element in Videography 28:00 Sweet and Sour Stories: Personal Reflections 34:04 Turning Points in Life 35:29 Moments of Triumph 37:59 Family Connections and Legacy 39:30 The Significance of Giving Back 41:34 The Value of Relationships 42:11 Life Soundtrack and Personal Reflections 45:56 Building a Googleable Presence Takeaways Brandon grew up in a low-income household and was heavily influenced by his grandparents’ business mindset. He picked up photography and videography to help fund college, learning through school projects and personal hustle. After realizing real estate clients needed leads more than flashy visuals, he pivoted to content creation and launched Short Form Pros. He found early opportunities in graduation photography and emphasized learning by doing — even if that meant failing along the way. Starting a business came with challenges like hiring, selling, and trusting others, but Brandon gave himself permission to grow through mistakes. His advice: Don’t get stuck on one path. Explore, tolerate the hard parts, and unlearn limiting beliefs to make faster progress. Brandon views AI as a productivity tool, not a threat. He believes adopting tech early gives creators an edge. Human connection and storytelling still matter — tech can assist, but not replace emotion or presence. Personal experiences fuel purpose. One moment as a teen without power shifted his mindset toward building a better life. The wins that matter most are helping clients grow and giving back to loved ones who supported you. Strong relationships and consistent content build credibility. Being “Googleable” is key to standing out in today's world. Keywords video production, photography, entrepreneurship, business challenges, mindset, social media, content creation, organic growth, personal journey, advice for beginners, videography, AI, creative fields, persistence, human element, skills, personal stories, entrepreneurship, technology, storytelling, turning points, personal growth, family legacy, giving back, relationships, life soundtrack, Googleable presence, business success, emotional moments, impact