Episodes

  • “I think anyone can be a great, great superconnector whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert.” - Ryan Paugh
    Click to Tweet

    In today’s episode I sit down with the Superconnectors themselves, Scott Gerber and Ryan Paugh. Scott and Ryan founded the YEC, an invite-only organization for entrepreneurs under 40 back in 2010, which quickly became one of the most elite organizations of its kind. Since then they have partnered on virtually everything they have done from founding a service-based company to The Forbes Leaderships Councils.

    I had the pleasure to sit down with these two fine gents just before their book, Superconnector: Stop Networking and Start Building Business Relationships that Matter hit the shelves back in February and it has since become and instant hit.

    From understanding your natural style of connection, to forging partnerships capable of standing the test of time, and how to become a Superconnecting rockstar in your your own circles, in this episode of Community Made!

    Reviewer of the week: Nate Lesnik

    Select Links and References

    Superconnector

    Never get a real job

    YEC

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Kyle Kramer

    Steve Sims

    Richard Branson

    Morely Safer

    Penelope Trunk

    Chris Farley

    Gary Vaynerchuck

    JJ Ramberg

    Ryan Holiday

    Tim Ferriss

    Clay Hebert

    Michael Roderick

    Neal Strauss

    David Hassel

  • “If I could buy people at what they think they're worth, and sell them at their true value, I’d be filthy rich.“ Jayson Gaignard Click to Tweet

    Amazing people become more amazing over time and you just can’t predict who someone will become or what they will go on to accomplish in their life.

    So if you’re looking to build a world class network, if you appreciate the power of proximity and want to build a solid group of peers, then find people who are undervalued, under-appreciated, who show great potential, and double down on them. You’ll be glad you did.

    Practical steps for scouting new and promising talent, how to capture relationship intelligence, my 6 Strategies for investing in relationships so that you can really nurture them for the long haul, and so much more in this episode of Community Made…

    Reviewer of the week: Zvi Band

    Select links and references

    The Tim Ferriss Show

    The 5 Love Languages

    People mentioned

    Ryan Holiday

    Nick Kusmich

    Tim Ferriss

    Richard Branson

    John Paul Dejoria

    Travis Kalanick

    Eric Schmidt

    Bob Chapman

    Burnay Brown

    Dan martell

    Tony Robbins

    John Ruhlin

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  • “If you want a world class network, you need to invest in world class people.” Jayson Gaignard Click to Tweet

    I’m a firm believer that all problems can be solved with the right peer group. That being said, if you’re looking to build a world class network then you got to go wide in your networking and narrow in your nurturing.

    In this episode I share action-oriented strategies for building an incredibly peer group regardless of whether you’re just starting out or already established as a community catalyst within your circles. You will learn the 5 categories of relationships and the practical steps you can take nurture them each step of the way, why the key to a strong network is subtraction not addition, and how to constantly be re-investing in existing relationships and micro-investing in new ones

    this week on Community Made…

    Reviewer of the week: Sol Orwell

    Select Links and References:

    Warren Buffett’s ‘20 Slot’ Rule: How to Simplify Your Life and Maximize Your Results

    Summit Series

    Fire by Judy Brown

    People Mentioned in this episode

    James Clear

    Warren Buffett

    Robin Dunbar

    John Ive

    Esther Perel

    Tim Ferriss

    Larry Page

    Sergei Brin

    Casey Neistat

    Tai Lopez

    Kevin Kelly

    Judy Brown

  • If you want to be great at something, find someone who’s the best at it and learn from them.” -Todd Herman

    Full disclosure: I am a huge Todd Herman fan. I met Todd during one of the darkest times of my life, and my connection to him has had a substantial positive impact.

    This man owns real estate in my mind when it comes to mentorship, and for good reason. His digital book, The Definitive Guide on Finding & Becoming a Mentor is the most underrated piece of literature on the subject I have ever read.

    In this episode of Community Made, the two of us sit down to discuss the many myths of mentorship, Todd's framework for finding a great mentor, his personal playbook on how to be a great mentor, and the many benefits that can be found in mentoring other people...

    Reviewer of the Week: Christy Burch

    Select Links and References

    The Definitive Guide on Finding & Becoming a Mentor

    Seeking Wisdom by Peter Bevelin

    Contagious by Jonah Berger

    Give and Take by Adam Grant

    Luxy Hair

    Coaching the Mental Game by Harvey Dorfman

    22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

    How to Get a Meeting with Anyone

    The 90 Day Year

  • “The best mentors know this: Instead of giving answers, they ask better questions. Instead of speaking in absolutes, they offer points of view. Instead of giving direct advice, they share their first hand experience.” Jayson Gaignard Click to Tweet

    Looking backwards on my career, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am without the guidance of a few great mentors that took me under their wing. I have learned that you’re never too old to have a mentor, you’ll need different mentors at different stages in your life and career, and no one person will take you from good to great and excellent to exceptional, so approach it with the goal of creating a network of mentors instead of looking for the whole package.

    Why the wisest investment is wisdom, how to make the most of a mentoring relationship regardless of which side of the equation you might fall, myths of mentorship that we tend to take as truths, and the 4 stages of mentoring, and so much more in this episode of Community Made!

    Reviewer of the week: Na Ka

    Select Links and References

    How to Find and Become a Mentor by Todd Herman I can’t make this up by Kevin Hart Back Pocket COO by Cameron Herold Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold The Perfect Calendar Steve Sisler’s DISC profiles
  • ”I was feeling a little bit isolated in my entrepreneurial journey and I just wanted to build a circle of people.” Alexis Dean Click to Tweet

    In this episode of Community Made I sit down with two uber-catalysts, Giovanni Marsico and Alexis Dean. Giovanni is the founder of Archangel Summit, Archangel Academy and Archangel Masters, a trifecta designed to support mission-driven entrepreneurs, help socially oriented startups fund their dreams, and connect global leaders in cause-driven enterprise through annual gatherings. Alexis is the founder of Dovetail Summit, a curated global community of high performing female founders who gather at invitation-only, all-inclusive summit weekends.

    The three of us discuss how to build communities at scale, finding your tribe, the complexities of hosting small intimate gatherings vs. huge summit style events, best practices for vetting potential members and attendees and so much more!

    Reviewer of the week: Ernest Khan

    Select Links and References:
    ArchAngel Masters

    Archangel Summit

    Dovetail Team Building

    To apply for an invitation to the Dovetail Summer Summit (August 9th - 12th, 2018) visit: Dovetail Summit

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Joe Polish

    Chris Guillebeau

    Dan Martell

    Sol Orwell

    A.J. Jacobs

    James Altucher

    Naveen Jain

    Tony Gareri

    Clay Hebert

  • Today I sit down with publicity powerhouses Selena Soo and Chris Winfield to discuss how their “divide and conquer” mentality has enabled them to host dinners for some of NYC’s top media influencers.

    Reviewer of the week: Mary Dooley

    Select Links and References

    Elite Retreat

    Impacting Millions

    Unfair Advantage

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Derek Halpern

    Dan Martell

    Todd Herman

    John Corcoran

    Clay Hebert

    Neil Patell

    Jeffrey Zurofsky

    Michael Fishman

    Ramit Sethi

    Steve Jobs

    Danny Meyer

    Pat Flynn

    John Lee Dumas

    Chris Ducker

    Kimra Luna

    Suzy Moore

    Ryan Lee

    Sol Orwell

    Victor Chung

    David Olk

    Neil Strauss

    Nick Onken

    Jonathon Fields

    Ryan Lee

  • “If you’re not acting consistently, then any strategy you try to implement will be useless” - Zvi Band Click to Tweet

    How do you successfully implement a relationship strategy that nurtures key connections and takes them to the next level?

    In this episode of the Community Made Podcast, Derek Coburn and Zvi Band about best practices for building a killer network from scratch. Derek founded Cadre, which is a relationship-oriented, invitation-only community of successful business owners. And Zvi Band is the CEO of Contactually, which is essentially a relationship-based CRM system. I use the software myself, and it’s had such a positive impact on my relationships… all of this to say, they’re the real deal when it comes to building networks.

    Get ready to hear how to create a network of incredible people from scratch on this episode of Community Made...

    Reviewer of the week: Michelle Talbert

    Select Links and References

    Cadre

    Contactually

    Networking is Not Working

    Your Network is Your Net Worth by Porter Gale

    Book in a Box

    EO

    YPO

    747 dinners

    WeWork

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Daniel Pink

    Joey Coleman

    Glenn Hellman

    Anton Zolotov

    Tucker Max

    Chris Brogan

    James Altucher

    Ryan Holiday

    Neils Parker

    Clay Hebert

    Steve Jobs

    Warren Buffett

    Gary Vaynerchuck

    Tim Ferriss

    Chris Shembrauf

    Eddie Vedder

    Richard Branson

    Michael Port

    Jay Papasan

    Scott Stratten

    John Hall

    Sol Orwell

    Cal Newport

  • “I do dinners selfishly because I’m fascinated… I just have an addiction to being around people who are passionate about what they’re creating in the world. Period.” - Dan Martell

    In this episode of Community Made I sit down with my dear friends Sol Orwell and Dan Martell to talk about their signature styles of hosting catalyst dinners in their own communities. The three of us discuss everything you need to consider to become an excellent host. From best practices for invitations, to seating assignments, venue selection, tips for facilitating great dinner conversations and so much more….

    Select Links and References

    Sol Orwell

    Dan Martell

    Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferazzi

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Clay Hebert Michael Litt Tim Ferriss Keith Ferrazzi Jeff Walker Lewis Howes Ryan Holiday Shaa Wasmund Joey Coleman Chris Plough Chris Ashenden Mark Cuban Derek Coburn Richard Branson Dave McClure Ryan Holmes Michael Lind Rick Perreault Nicholas Kusmich Trivinia Barber Jack Canfield Steve Hanselman Frank Bouchard Matt Bertulli Neil Patel Jim Estill Darryl Hicks
  • I’m a firm believer that all problems can be solved with the right peer group. Hosting dinners and unique live experiences is my favourite way to seed new relationships and re-invest in existing ones. To date I’ve done hundreds of dinners in cities all over North America but in full transparency, I was a complete wreck while planning my first dinner so many years ago.

    In this episode of Community Made I’m going to share some of the key takeaways from my book Mastermind Dinners: Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts, Influencers, and Linchpins and provide an in-depth play by play of what went into the planning of one of my most recent dinners, giving you the playbook on how to become a super-connecting catalyst in your own community. Enjoy!

    Reviewer of the week: Mark Fujiwara

    Links and references

    Mastermind Dinners: Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts, Influencers, and Linchpins

    The Art of Charm Podcast

    People mentioned in this episode

    Seth Godin Neil Strauss Jordan Harbinger David Buss Tim Ferriss Mark Ecko Dave Asprey Ryan Holiday Travis Kalanick Eric Schmidt BJ Fogg Simon Sinek

    Simon Bowen

    Robert Cialdini

  • “It wasn’t about being a great musician. It was about irritating the parents as much as we could” Shep Gordon Click to Tweet

    This is a very special conversation for me. Leveraging many of the principles shared in the previous "reaching the unreachable" episode, I connected (and ultimately fostered a great relationship) with the legendary Shep Gordon. A man who's name is synonymous with Film, Music, and the Culinary Arts.

    He's known by GQ magazine as the unfamous man who made everyone famous, and in this episode you'll discover why.

    Be prepared for one of the best storytellers you’ll ever hear on this week’s episode of Community Made...


    Reviewer of the Week: Kirsten Reeder


    Select Links and References

    SuperMench Documentary - Supermench: The Legend of Shep Gordon

    They Call Me Supermench: A Backstage Pass to the Amazing Worlds of Film, Food, and Rock 'n' Roll

    Song: Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin

    Chitlin’ Circuit

    Earth, Wind, and Fire

    BBC Documentary of Teddy

    Kiss of the Spiderwoman

    Whales of August

    Stop Making Sense

    Cannes Film Festival

    EMI Records

  • “One thing I’ve learned over the years is that people will reward effort. The success of your outreach is often in direct proportion to the amount of effort you put into it.” Click to Tweet

    Connecting with big names is more of an art than a science and in today’s episode I’m going to talk you through 3 real life examples of reaching the unreachable to dissect the strategies used in each case to make those connections finally happen.

    If you listen carefully, you’ll discover ways to cut through the noise, how to work with gatekeepers, and how to turn rejection into opportunity….

    Reviewer of the Week: Ryan France

    Select Links and References

    The Art of Charm with Jordan Harbinger

    Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon

    They Call Me Supermensch: A Backstage Pass to the Amazing Worlds of Film, Food, and Rock’n’Roll

    Underground - Online Marketing Seminar

    Tony Robbins’ Unleash the Power Within

    Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio

    Board Meetings Retreat by Jim Sheils

    MixMax

  • “I have been able to build a lot of relationships with speakers and mentors – not by being the most exciting person in the room – but by being the most attentive person in the room” – Vanessa Van Edwards Click to Tweet

    Vanessa Van Edwards went from struggling with social interactions in college to becoming the recognized expert on relationship building communication skills and author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People.

    In this episode I sit down with Vanessa and UJ Ramdas, the creator of the Five Minute Journal to discuss tips and strategies for building meaningful connections at conferences and how to nurture those connections for genuine relationship building over time.

    How to maximize your time and energy at conferences, approach speakers and VIPs, master the art of small talk, and so much more…

    Review of the week: Jay Wong

    Select Links and References

    Vanessa Van Edwards

    UJ Ramdas

    Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards

    Tribe by Sebastian Junger

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Adam and Jordan Bornstein

    Jason Feifer

    Mark Manson

    Richard Branson

    Jesse Katz

    Tim Ferriss

    Pellegrino Castronovo

    Dan Martell

    Sol Orwell

    Dave Chappelle

    Yanik Silver

  • “What’s funny is why we get introductions wrong. We either never get taught how to do it, or we learn this stupid thing called the elevator pitch.” ~ Clay Hebert Click to Tweet

    A good introduction should engage you, draw you in, and leave you wanting more. It’s not a slogan or a sales attempt, and if it comes across like one it will turn people off. If your nervous, unprepared, or a little too aggressive you not only compromise what you’re saying but how you’re saying it.

    The good news is that how you introduce yourself is completely within your control; something that you can and should prepare in advance.

    In this episode of Community Made I sit down with Clay Hebert to discuss how to craft the perfect introduction, engage in small talk, and nail first impressions each and every time...

    Reviewer of the week: Melissa C

    Select Links and References
    Never Lose a Customer Again by Joey Coleman

    Automattic

    The Perfect Calendar

    The Perfect Introduction Facebook Group

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Brian Kurtz

    Phil Randazzo

    Michael Fishman

    Joey Coleman

    Matt Mullenweg

    Richard Branson

    Elisha Otis

    Jim Kwik

    Simon Mainwaring

    Dan Martell

    Doug Brackmann

  • “Anybody I know who really makes the most out of live experiences, judges an event not by the content, but by the potential connections.” Click to Tweet

    Events have the power to deliver a disproportionate amount of value for the amount investment made. Almost every time someone has helped me overcome an obstacle, opened a door of opportunity, or made a profound introduction, it’s been someone that I originally connected with at a live event. Investing your time, money, and energy into attending events is an absolutely critical part of building new relationships and growing your network. But for so many of us, events are a serious pain point.

    In this episode I offer you an event networking guide that anyone can use to maximize the ROI of attending events, with particular tips and tricks for all you introverts out there. Because growth begins at the end of your comfort zone...

    Reviewer of the week: Josh Stanton

    Links and References:

    Mastermind Dinners: Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts, Influencers, and Linchpins by Jayson Gaignard

    An easy conversation trick that will make you more likable from CNBC

    Why talking about yourself can be as pleasurable as sex from The Daily Mail

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Yanik Silver

    Joe Gebbia

    Clay Herbert

    Satya Twena

    Vanessa Van Edwards

  • “You can't change the people around you, but you can change the people you are around. Who you surround yourself with is who you become, so choose wisely.“ ~ Jayson Gaignard Click to Tweet

    Studies prove time and again that strong relationships are the key to lifelong health and wellbeing, yet in today’s digital age we are drowning in contacts and absolutely starved for genuine connection to other people. Entrepreneurs, who already tend to be socially isolated due to the demands of their professional lives, are particularly susceptible to depression and the detrimental effects of lacking social connection.

    In this episode I dive into the importance of establishing your tribe, the power of peer group influence, and how to assess whether you should love them, lift them, or leave them.

    You really are the company you keep.

    Reviewer of the week: Gordie Bufton

    Select links and references:

    “4 Words That Will Get Your Email Opened” by AWeber

    Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't by Jim Collins

    Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger

    What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness by Robert Waldinger

    People Mentioned in this episode:

    Keith Ferrazzi

    John Wooden

    Dan Sullivan

    Jim Collins

    Warren Buffett

    Jim John

    Sebastian Junger

  • “You can’t connect the dots looking forward, you just need to trust that they will somehow connect.” Steve Jobs In 2011 I attended an invite only event hosted by Tim Ferriss geared towards authors who wanted to become New York Times Best Sellers. I had no desire to write a book at the time, but with a price tag of $10k USD, I had a strong feeling that there was bound to be some interesting people in attendance. That event fundamentally changed the trajectory of my life. In this episode I share... - Why you never know the value of your relationships until you really need them. - How Seth Godin’s Q&A inspired me to host my very first Mastermind Dinner (which later led to the creation of MMT). - and why I bought 4000 copies of Tim Ferriss’ book. Enjoy! Also, a special shout out to our reviewer of the week Lee DeBoo!

    Select Links and References:

    Opening the Kimono

    Mastermind Dinners

    The Four Hour Chef

    The All You Can Eat Campaign of Goodness by Tim Ferris

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Tim Ferriss

    Seth Godin

    Thornton May

    Scott Kavanagh

  • “I’ve been doubling down on relationships for the last 4 years and I’ve never felt more fulfilled, I’ve never been in a better financial position. To me it’s the safest, wisest investment you can make.” Jayson Gaignard Click to Tweet

    Season two of the podcast - How to Grow, Nurture, and Amplify Your Business Relationships - is just a few short weeks away and I figured what better way to introduce the season than this rapid fire, actionable chat with podcasting pro Andrew Youderian. So I’m turning the tables in this Wildcard Wednesday episode of Community Made and sharing a recent interview featuring yours truly on the eCommerceFuel Podcast.

    How to connect with influencers, deciding when leverage the power of your network, the rules of facilitating warm introductions for people in your inner circle, and so much more...

    The perfect primer for season two, I hope enjoy this intimate, one on one!

    Select Links and References

    eCommerceFuel Community

    eCommerceFuel Podcast

    Tribe by Sebastian Junger

    People Mentioned in this episode:

    Kevin Rose

    Seth Godin

    Tim Ferriss

    Gary Vaynerchuk

    Elon Musk

  • In this very special Wildcard Wednesday episode it is my privilege to sit down James Altucher and A.J. Jacobs to discuss the art of the interview. James is the host of the top rated podcast The James Altucher Show and best-selling author of over 17 books including Choose Yourself and The Power of No. He’s also a contributing writer to publications like the The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. A.J. is a contributing editor for Esquire, commentator on NPR, and the author of six books including New York Times bestseller, My Year of Living Biblically and his latest work It’s All Relative.

    In this episode the three of us sit down to discuss interviewing big names like George Clooney and Scarlett Johansson, how to build instant rapport with interview guests, and what to do when your interview tanks. Ever wondered happens when you put three interviewers in a room together for over two hours? This...

    Select Links and References:

    It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the Family Tree by A.J. Jacobs

    Know it All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs

    Fractured Fairy Tales by A.J. Jacobs

    The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Tim Ferriss

    Louis CK

    Jerry Seinfeld

    Garry Kasparov

    George Clooney

    Scarlett Johansson

    Adam Grant

    Eva Longoria

    Joe Rogan

    Marc Maron

    Gerard Butler

    Biz Markie

    Tim Kennedy

    Chuck Klosterman

    Bill Maher

    Sarah Michelle Gellar

    Shane Claiborne

  • “Being exceptional at gift giving is not rocket science, but it does require you to go the extra mile. However when you go the extra mile, it’s never crowded...” ~ Jayson Gaignard Click to Tweet

    In this very special Holiday Edition of the Community Made podcast I share 3 important reasons why gift giving during the holidays is a big mistake. You’re better off spending your time, money, and energy on gifts that will leave a lasting impression.

    Consider your colleagues and clients from a Biggest Fan Perspective and learn how to 10x your gift giving efforts in this episode of Community Made...

    Select Links and References:

    The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

    The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact

    Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Retention

    People mentioned in this episode:

    Charles Duhigg

    Danny Meyer

    The Heath Brothers (Dan Heath & Chip Heath)

    Tony Robbins

    John Rouland

    William Arthur Ward