Episodes
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If you consider yourself to be a creative type, you probably find that it’s easy to have great ideas for things you’d love to try or projects you want to do in the future, but you struggle to actually make things happen. Even if you organize yourself and your time pretty well, the fact is everyday life has a way of creeping in from all sides and crowding out a good chunk of our plans.
That’s why Tiago Forte has developed the idea of a second brain, a revolutionary idea that makes it possible to really unleash creative potential in a transformative way. Your second brain is a place outside of your head to store and organize your ideas and plans so you can effectively implement them at a later date. And when we understand the creative process and its natural cycles, we can utilize it in a way that causes us to be more effective with what we’re trying to accomplish.
Tiago uses the acronym CODE (capture, organize, distill, express) to describe the creative process, which he says comes in two phases. Phase one (capture, organize) is the divergent phase and must happen first. This is when we gather all our information and consider all possibilities. We expand and gather. Phase two (distill, express) is convergent, and can only be done when phase one is complete. This is when the whole cloud of ideas and information is organized and given a shape and a plan.
We also discuss the difference between the infinite and finite areas of life, namely, areas vs projects. How can we tell when something has an end, and when it is ongoing? The key to success is realizing that a full life should have both.
After you’ve listened to this conversation, I encourage you to read Tiago’s book, Building a Second Brain. You will be inspired to capture all the input that life throws your way and turn into something that works for you and your business.
HIGHLIGHTS
[4:51] We tend to think of people as either artistic or analytical, right-brained or left-brained. But realistically, life requires us to be both.
[6:36] Tiago describes how he found his creative medium, which is to find practical solutions to the challenges of life.
[11:10] A second brain is a place to store ideas that you want to revisit and/or implement in the future.
[17:04] Tiago’s acronym for the creative process: CODE: Capture, Organize, Distill and Express.
[26:55] The first half of CODE is divergence, expanding possibilities and increasing scope. The second half, Distill and Express are convergent.
[28:53] PARA: Projects, Areas, Resources and Archives. How do we organize all the notes and information we’ve collected so we can find them again?
[30:43] Projects end, Areas don’t. Areas are aspects of life that are ongoing. There are different rules for both.
[36:47] Why it should matter to people to build a second brain.
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Mako’s paintings have been described as a rebellion against the speed of the internet and an antidote to time. In fact, the New York Times refers to his work as a form of “Slow Art”. Rather than using conventional paint, Mako uses various pulverized minerals, applied layer by layer to create huge finished works that can only truly be seen and appreciated when the viewer is able to slow down and observe the painting for longer periods of time. It can take over 10 minutes to begin to see the multi-dimensional qualities of one of Mako’s works. He takes inspiration from both traditional Japanese and contemporary American art.
Although Mako’s art is intrinsically full of beauty and joy, it explores the themes of trauma, brokenness and healing. He and Ty both have the experience of having lived in New York City during 9/11 and its aftermath, and also of building a ground zero teahouse that served as an exhibit gallery for local artist to share their expressions of grief and loss as the city healed from tragedy.
But how do we translate this into dollars? Where does capitalism fit in when we’re talking about art, meaning, personal expression and communication? This is where the conversation gets interesting! I’m so glad to be able to have Mako and Ty together in the same conversion, because they represent two different manifestations of this idea. Since Ty is in the business of helping people monetize their creativity, and as a creative person himself, he has lots of insight into this area. In fact, while Ty and his father seem to be opposites in many ways, it’s interesting to see how they actually think alike when we’re talking about values and what’s important in life.
I hope this episode inspires you to take another look at what it means to be creative, and maybe to even get a fresh perspective on the world with all its different angles and dimensions.
Links
You can explore the work of Makoto Fujimura here.
Learn more about Ty and his work here and here.
Timeline
[2:31] Mako introduces us to the concept of pulverized minerals in his form of slow art.
[3:49] The mulit-dimensional aspect of Mako’s paintings is best seen in person when you can view them from all angles and take time with them.
[6:25] Mako’s paintings are an homage to American expressionism as well as ancient Japanese artistic traditions.
[11:06] Mako describes the experience of straddling two different cultures simultaneously, and how living in New York City affected him and his work.
[14:36] Ty shares his experience of growing up in the city and now raising children there. He and Mako talk about their 9/11 teahouse collaborative art project.
[21:04] Mako’s work explores themes of trauma, brokenness, and life and death.
[23:35] Art as therapy and communication
[30:00] There is no need to push yourself to create during trauma. Sometimes it’s okay to do nothing. But you can wait and hope for transcendence and rebirth.
[33:50] Creativity is not trivial just because it doesn’t always translate into business. Your creativity is something that people need.
[40:23] How does creativity fit into the model of capitalism? Mako talks about the ‘gift economy’.
[44:03] Creating a transaction around a work of art shows the value of that work. Decentralizing art only hurts the middle man, not the artist or the consumer.
[47:00] Ty explains why he created Cantilever, and how it functions as an operating system for running a creative business.
[52:20] Technology as an artistic medium
[56:33] Ty and Mako discuss what they have learned from each other, and how the so-called ‘unproductive’ moments in life are what contribute to creativity.
[1:03:45] The assumption of scarcity vs. the assumption of abundance.
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Missing episodes?
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Gerald Leonard has had a diverse career filled with creative pursuits and technical education. The magic happened when Gerald was able to draw a throughline from the success of small jazz ensembles to the success of tech teams and businesses. It all came down to knowing how and when to lead.
When you’ve played for years or spent that time developing your IT skills, you become an expert. While those skills are absolutely necessary for success in your chosen field, you also need an understanding of how your role must adapt. On a team, each person is an expert in their niche, but it’s only by coming together and supporting each other that the team can achieve its goals.
Putting together the various pieces of the success puzzle and creating powerful teams combines creativity, neuroscience, culture, and, of course, a little jazzy improvisation. Finding your way there can help you truly live your life “in the zone.”
If you’d like to learn more about these concepts, Gerald Leonards’ books Workplace Jazz and Culture is the Base cover these topics in more detail.
Timeline:
[4:08] Gerald details the eclectic road of specialties he’s walked and explored throughout his life.
[6:58] Choosing between pursuing a life on the road and being with his kids allowed him to slow down. But it was all meant to be and came back around later on.
[7:50] Balancing local concerts and starting a career in IT as a consultant showcased his natural talent for project organization and a mastery for adaptation.
[10:50] IT teams were changing and getting smaller. Gerald saw the similarities between playing with a small ensemble and working with concentrated tech teams.
[13:00] Culture and talent, incorporating not only the players on the stage but the audience, are the keys to succeeding at initiative changes.
[15:15] Gerald discusses the framework for his book, Culture is the Base.
[18:12] Leadership and collaboration are all about trust- trusting yourself, the process, and each other. Building that trust and establishing common ground is essential to creating strong teams.
[24:24] Being in the zone and learning to be in that flow state with a group of others. It’s about synchronizing with your team and melding those brainwaves.
[26:53] Gerald elaborates on whole brain integration and how it relates to coming together and finding that synchronistic groove. Outside of music, where it can naturally occur, there is a way to practice whole brain integration.
[30:05] How Gerald’s faith interacts with his daily routine and path toward success.
[33:20] Gerald talks about finding your purpose and direction. Consider what you want your mark to be and how you want your life celebrated in your old age.
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Today’s conversation with Tim Arnold explores the gray areas that organization leaders encounter when faced with questions that don’t have black and white answers. We seem to be conditioned from an early age to see life in terms of either/or, right and wrong, good and evil, especially when it comes to problem solving. And there’s nothing wrong with this. In fact, it’s an incredibly useful tool for leaders to have. But what about the gray areas? What if polarizing the issue only makes it worse? How do we navigate questions of fairness, values, and creating win-win outcomes?
Dane and Tim discuss how to balance some of these values that often feel paradoxical. Should we lean towards greater responsibility, or more freedom? The answer can be both. Tim shares his own experience with learning to balance the need for stability within a company with his own inner drive to be constantly changing things. With a both/and mindset, he is able to successfully maintain both these seemingly conflicting values.
Tim has over two decades experience running a for profit business and a homeless shelter, and he has learned a lot about how to manage the complexity of tensions that arise within organizations. Currently he works as a speaker and author, helping others learn the tools for leadership success. His latest book is Lead With AND: The Secret to Resilience and Results in a Polarized World.
You can learn more about Tim by visiting Lead With AND
[2:17] Tim tells us his background and what led him to write his book.
[5:42] How it can be a benefit to shift from either/or to both/and thinking when it comes to solving complex problems.
[8:34] Tim gives a real-world example of an organization finding the balance between freedom and responsibility in order to successfully live out its values.
[12:53] Does this kind of thinking come more naturally to certain personality types or people of a certain age or maturity level?
[15:51] Young children see in terms of black and white, good and bad. The ability to navigate the gray areas is something we learn to grow into.
[17:45] Most leader personality types tend to do the either/or thing by nature, so they need to learn both/and thinking as a second language.
[20:24] Tim introduces his assessment tool that helps people successfully identify tensions and gives insight as to how to manage them, available at leadwithand.com
[21:59] Ignoring both/and thinking is like insisting to only inhale without ever exhaling. You’ll suffocate.
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Amit Gupta is an entrepreneur, writer, and serial optimist. He’s also a personal friend of Dane’s, and in this episode, Dane and Amit discuss the past, the present, and - with Amit’s own brand of optimistic clarity - the future.
Amit is, in his own words a “relatively successful entrepreneur”, though we would argue his success is more than relative. Among other various startups, he is the founder of Photojojo, an online photography store which he sold in 2014 after recovering from an aggressive form of leukemia. From there, he began exploring his creative side as a science fiction author, which is what inspired him to develop his most recent project with fellow writer and business partner, James.
Sudowrite is an AI writing tool that Amit and James invented to help writers get real-time feedback and suggestions. His hope is that not only will their program help people overcome writers’ block, it can also help solve some of the issues of isolation that writers experience.
You can learn more about Amit and Sudowrite here:
sudowrite.com
amitgupta.com
jamesyu.org
[2:57]Amit tells a bit about his history as a tech entrepreneur, from playing around with HTML in college to his first startup and working as an intern with Seth Godin.
[5:08]Amit tells a story about a traumatic event that happened to him with some friends on the train tracks, which Dane says shows not only Amit’s resilience, but also that he hasn’t led a charmed life of the entrepreneur destined for success..
[8:07]In 2011, Amit was unexpectedly diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia, throwing him into a whirlwind of treatment and recovery, and subsequently began a national campaign for stem cell donation awareness.
[12:44]“Suffering is never an inevitability, it’s a universal human experience. But those who suffer and respond to suffering, in a way that somehow transcends the suffering is the kind of person that I want to learn from.”
[14:02] After his recovery, Amit changed the course he had been on and began to write science fiction, to pursue a passion for imagining a world made possible by technology.
[15:39] “The fiction that we're deluged with is so often dystopian. And it really concerns me that if we are just seeing the imaginations of our most creative people being devoted to how terrible the future could be, we're not going to be able to dream other ways that could be wonderful.”
[20:13] Amit shares some of the ways that getting sick changed his perspective and choices in life, and how he struggles to remember what the things are that really matter.
[22:21] The book Replay by Ken Grimwood is a reminder of the universal possibilities that exist for each of us in this life.
[24:10] Amit introduces us to his newest creation, Sudowrite, an AI-based creative writing tool.
[29:00] Dane admits to gushing when it comes to how cool Sudowrite is, and how much it could change the landscape for writers and open up new possibilities.
[32:14] Amet shares his thoughts on where he thinks the future is going.
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Jaz Ampaw-Farr is no stranger to feeling like an outsider. In this podcast, Jaz shares her personal story from her earliest days as a girl who seemingly had no name, to where she is now as a wife and mother, successful businesswoman, and survivor.
Jaz’s keystone message is that you need to believe that you belong. It’s a feeling that we can cultivate, what she calls a habit. This habit/feeling has little to do with data or evidence, although those can sometimes intersect with our thoughts and feelings about ourselves. It’s about relying on your internal story, what you know to be true about yourself.
Jaz’s story of finding and sharing her name is a powerful example to listeners of finding your own truth to stand on, and owning it, transcending identity or external labels. Ultimately, Jaz Ampaw-Farr helps us challenge the idea that says, “People like me don’t do things like that.”
TIMELINE
[2:04] Jaz shares one of her “Impostor Syndrome” stories.
[6:22] There are two buckets: evidence and data in one, and thoughts and feelings in the other.
[7:08] It becomes a habit to think you don’t belong, and from there the thought can become a feeling.
[9:39] Dane shares the story of Dan Allender to illustrate how it’s possible to shift perspective from being a victim to owning your story
[12:21] Jaz recounts an awkward moment that resulted in her being put on the spot to tell the story of the origin of her name.
[26:23] Jaz continues telling the story of her name, and how she met her husband, Al.
[32:27] Jaz’s story comes full-circle back to the first incident mentioned, while weaving in the meaning of “jazz” as being the music produced by the suffering and hope of enslaved people.
[36:24] Jaz recaps her message, “Your one job is to stand on the truth about yourself when it comes to who you are and where you belong. People want to pull you one way or another, but it’s your story. Your one job is to believe that you belong.”
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Focusmate is all about distraction-free productivity. As a creative entrepreneur, you often get pulled away from your work because of the other things you need to do to keep your business running.
Taylor founded the company on the principle that working with others and being “held accountable” for your productivity leads to improved work. And it took off. As the company’s popularity rose, Taylor found himself in the same position as his clients.
Today, we talk about the rise of Focusmate and what it really takes to prioritize properly.
Check out more at https://www.focusmate.com/ and create a free account to get a taste of enhanced productivity thanks to a “live” co-worker. You can also find him on LinkedIn on Twitter.
TIMELINE:
[1:20] The history of caring about humans and creating better lives for everyone- of “getting out of our own way.”
[6:25] Something to offer in a world with need. Productivity is more than just tools and techniques. It’s filling in the gaps with a human connection and understanding our differences.
[10:15] We want to look at the tools and duplicate them, but life is messier than that.
[11:45] Working in a corporate environment showed Taylor that lacking support meant a lack of performance. It informed his ideals of coming together to be better humans.
[14:47] Focusmate came from perseverance and luck. It connects the focus comradery that the service offers.
[19:27] While the press and interest have certainly gone up, Taylor thinks of it as a welcoming party for those discovering the benefits of Focusmate. Creating a great remote experience is crucial now more than ever.
[22:40] COVID has opened up a window to vulnerability, and it’s stripped away a lot of norms and status quos.
[25:05] Mental health and remote work have an interesting relationship. The challenge of learning these new life skills, especially through a pandemic, is something that we’re all dealing with.
[28:16] Understanding where you work best is crucial. How do you respond to working remotely? It can be a huge struggle for some, and it’s important to know what works for you and ask for it.
[31:20] Now is when employers must make a paradigm shift. We need to shake things up. We’ve never had more permission to do so than now
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Cloverleaf uses popular assessments to create a slow drip of insights that can significantly change how you approach your career. No one thinks and communicates the same way. By understanding your audience and team members on a deeper level, you can be a better manager, enterprise leader, and coach.
Kirsten talks about how recognizing different people’s strengths can build a foundation of understanding. By leaning into your strengths and confronting your weaknesses at work, you can create lasting benefits that stretch beyond your office and help you be a better you.
As a leader, it’s about building the patterns and rhythms to help your team do what they excel at and be unleashed to do their best work.
Check out more at https://cloverleaf.me/ and create a free account to see more about partnering with those around you.
TIMELINE:
[2:14] What do you want from life and business? Finding what you’re good at, what you’re wired for, can help you succeed and work collaboratively with those around you.
[5:55] Digital coaching nudges can help practically by creating a team dashboard that customizes insights based on who you’re working with and their unique traits.
[9:41] A new workplace superpower that transforms life outside the office. You can change your team for the better without pursuing outside resources or changing the members by understanding your strengths and weaknesses.
[12:41] You can bang yourself against the wall of productivity based on other people’s expectations. Still, you won’t perform or be your best until you stop fighting how you’re wired and learn how to work with it, not against it.
[14:05] When pursuing an entrepreneurial career, fill your team with people who can balance your weaknesses with their strengths.
[17:30] Teams with psychological safety, where mistakes are something to grow from, are the most successful. It’s the growth mindset.
[19:40] Daily, recognize how you might assume something about others’ thinking.
[21:06] Balancing instruction versus providing wiggle room is crucial to Kirsten’s success as a manager and leader. Taking breaks to journal allows her to take a moment where the pressure is off, and ideas can freely flow.
[26:27] Assuming the person in front of you means the best, wants to learn, and can bring something to the table is putting the best foot forward. Every person has value.
[28:49] The Ocean Accelerator taught Kirsten and her partner to raise institutional capital with intelligent, experienced investors who can improve her company in ways that aren’t just about the money.
[32:24] Her current influential voices include her co-founder, and they’ve worked together to improve where they let go of the reigns a bit and let their people shine.
[36:06] Culture is about more than lunches. It’s the relationships and being proud of the work.
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Jerzy lives by his own philosophy, and that is “Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.” It’s a simple, easily applicable mantra to for all of us to live by. As somewhat of a Renaissance Man in his post Olympic life, Jerzy dabbles in a lot of different areas to truly embrace his philosophy on life.
His passion is infectious and you can’t help but be inspired by his message, his story and his constant pursuit of becoming better. His interests and knowledge range from elite fitness coaching, to writing poetry and Greek philosophy.
Jerzy joins the podcast to reflect on how constantly challenging ourselves to find success by making hard choices, leads to a better, easier life.
Timeline
13:15 What really shapes us? Challenges and “hard choices”.
20:15 What is the timeline for excellence? What commitment do we need to make to achieve excellence? There’s no instant fix.
28:00 The importance of aspirational figures to help guide us through the hard choices. Who do we look for when we want to grow?
34:00 Here we discuss how you can show what you are, not just say it.
35:00 What is measurable goal setting? Make challenges, but challenges that are doable!
43:45 What is being “life flexible” and why it is important? How does an athletic quality apply to life too?
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Corbett Barr’s career spanned from helping Fortune 500 companies to becoming an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley to life-changing events in Mexico that changed his life. For Barr, pursuing a new career in the internet world is about audience-first, genuine connection, and creation.
From blogging, Barr found a way to represent himself online, without social media and bosses dictating how and where he should promote his work. So much of the world has changed since the invention of the web. With assets mostly digital, reinventing yourself and creating the right type of audience and brand is easier and quicker than ever. Authentic presentation and a carefully crafted web presence can show an audience who you are and why to offer their support.
Check out more at https://corbettbarr.com or https://fizzle.co/.
TIMELINE:
[06:10] Barr discusses life vs. career & how you can create a job that works around your life
[09:45] Overcoming the challenges of audience-first entrepreneurship. Communication is key. You’ll know you have a market for your product and can change things before release. Gives you momentum.
[16:08] Finding your voice through media.
[19:38] Barr introduces Fizzle, a training library for entrepreneurs.
[22:00] The reset in 2021- Barr talks about digital baggage and relearning the world of the internet in the modern day by creating some distance from social media.
[26:33] How independent creation and action can work differently and own the relationship with your customer rather than big organizations relying on ads.
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Greg McKeown joins to discuss the idea that pursuing less actually produces more– or put simply, “Essentialism”. He outlines the framework of this philosophy with the tenets, “Explore, Eliminate, Execute”, and dives into how they can positively affect your personal, spiritual, and vocational life. Listen to the whole interview with Greg McKeown for a deep dive into the life-changing philosophy of Essentialism on this episode of Converge. You'll also get a sneak peak into McKweon's book Effortless.
https://gregmckeown.com/
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The Meaning of Work
Before the time of remote jobs, work was two things: the place you go, and the things you do. When working remote grew in popularity, Sam saw a need for meeting those individuals want for inspiration and community. The issue with this was that what works for some doesn't work for others. For some, a coffee shop environment is the perfect setting, but sometimes, there is a need for something quieter or calmer.
Local Influences
One reason that Deskpass is different from all other coworking companies or environments is that their spaces are run by local members. For instance, in Breckenridge CO, the space may be more Colorado themed whereas in downtown Chicago, a space may be more industry specific such as finance or law.
The differences in the spaces create variety that matches what the member needs in that day or moment. Additionally, this variety creates an environment that is a melting pot of people. It creates a community of people working just as hard as you are, but every person there is different with different ideas and different perspectives. Not many other working environments are as adaptable as coworking spaces are.
Timeline:
[02:09] What is Deskpass? What is coworking?
[04:16] The meaning of the word work.
[05:22] "...and what I see is your relationship to your office and your workplace changing from a place I go every day to an ecosystem."
[05:47] The need for work environments that meet you where you are with what you need.
[6:16] How can humans better gain work-life balance? What role does coworking play in this?
[06:48] People use Deskpass and coworking places as a way to be less lonely.
[08:02] The benefits of variety of workspace with the flexibility that the variety offers.
[09:43] Deskpass coworking environments are run by members of the local community.
[10:18] "You don't have to commit; you can get what you're looking for when you need it."
[10:39] You can go from sitting at home alone to a room full of interesting people who are already connected to you in a way
[12:06] With the Deskpass membership, it is able to match the mood you're in that day.
[12:31] You don't have to interact with somebody, but just being in an environment that inspires them by being surrounded by people who are working just as hard as them.
[13:20] It is not just about avoiding a negative of loneliness, but also moving towards a positive of inspiration.
[17:15] Giving yourself flexibility of work environments and locations when you need it is where most productivity is earned.
[22:16] Having ownership over there you spend your day.
[23:04] Asking if the five-year lease on a building makes sense for you and your business.
[26:55] How to use Deskpass's free membership trial.
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Time
Many entrepreneurs always find themselves plugged in with no way to disconnect. For some, they want to look at their business and say I owned this business not work for it. For others, they simply want more freedom within their work at their business. No matter which category you fall into, Trainual can help you make the best use of your time within business.
What does Trainual do?
The step between you doing something yourself and delegating it to someone else to grow your business is being able to document, write down, and provide the instructions of what you do. Trainual is a system that helps you do this with adaptability to your type of business and what your business does.
You may be saying that you don't know how to do this or that you don't have time, but the invested time now will save you time and grow your business long term. Is everything that you're doing now truly the best use of your time? Do you and your employees daily tasks align with your respective job descriptions? Do you find yourself constantly putting out fires without being able to even identify why these problems happen? Investing into your systems can be influential in saving time for yourself and growing your business.
If you are interested in learning more, you can find information at https://trainual.com/ or by searching @ChrisRonzio on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Timeline:
[02:38] "Build your business around your life instead of your life around your business. "
[04:14] "Could I detach and treat the business like a business I own instead of one I work at?"
[04:40] What does Trainual solve for business owners?
[05:01] The step between you doing it yourself and delegating it to someone else to grow your business.
[06:16] The business actually operates on rules you've put into place
[08:35] The traditional objections companies give to investing into their systems.
[10:11] How the idea of working on your business not for your business and how it does/doesn't relate.
[10:56] It is a strategic initiative that can give you the freedom that you crave.
[12:52] What is the best use of your time? How can you bring the most value to your company?
[13:01] For someone constantly in firefighting mode and reactive mode, what can you do to evaluate this issue?
[13:26] You have to identify a starting point to be able to make progress.
[15:14] An easy way to identify and define your responsibilities.
[17:15] Ask yourself what of these responsibilities do I actually need to be doing? What can be delegated?
[18:38] What an informal outline of responsibilities does.
[23:55] The process and importance of enrolling more than just the leader.
[25:01] Outline reason for analyzing your systems.
[26:31] Start with what will give you the biggest ROI.
[30:02] It is about building a structure around your foundations that already exist.
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Mission
When it comes to finding your mission as a business, it is more than just what you're delivering. It involves finding something that is bigger than what you're delivering. Your mission needs to be something that motivates people, makes them feel good about what they're doing, and realize the bigger picture of their role in your business.
For having a mission driven organization, it starts with the executive level commitment that expands to all employees and then further outside of the company itself. Do you and your employees know your mission statement?
The Bottom LineFor Ryan, there are two types of bottom lines. There is the traditional one of being profitable at the end of the day, and then there is the double bottom line. In the double bottom line, the earnings function beyond increasing net income and roll into accomplishing a worthy cause. Ryan wanted to work in such a way that he was able to do good while also doing well in business.
When buying businesses, they looked at measuring not just profit but also impact. One obstacle they faced was making it clear to potential sellers that they are not just a private equity firm, but that they are here for the long haul. Cojourn strives to continue the legacy that already exists in the company. Oil Stop is one of their biggest examples of how this process looks for them when it comes to buying and keeping a company.
The Long GameRyan advises playing the long game in all aspects. In business, it can be so easy to make short-term decisions without applying or having a long-term vision. Without that long-term vision, there is no patience to see where the company will go when the mission of your bran is truly bought into by all employees.
Timeline:[01:25] Investing for the long haul.
[01:35] Ryan and his business partner, Nick Parisi, shared an interest in improving on companies so that they can exist well beyond the current generation of leaders.
[03:38] "... felt like that was not to the fulfillment of who I was or what I was meant to do."
[04:11] Captivated by the idea of corporate giving and trying to figure out a way you could do good while you do well.
[05:16] The process and experiences of Ryan stepping out for the first time as an entrepreneur at almost 40.
[06:03] The traditional bottom line and the double bottom line.
[06:44] What if we measured not just profit but impact?
[09:55] Searching for both meaning and entrepreneurialism.
[10:55] How can business make the world a better place?
[12:53] When buying a business, a goal is to continue the legacy and what has already been started.
[14:31] When buying or selling a business, how do you build trust?
[15:54] Lead with listening and come in with humility.
[17:03] The process of Cojourn buying Oil Stop.
[19:18] The importance of starting a conversations.
[20:14] Business requires more than a good first impression. It goes into creating a longer view.
[22:27] There will be obstacles along the way.
[22:50] 1. What is a mission driven organization? 2. What is proof of a mission driven organization?
[26:17] Coordinated effort around a particular kind of mission.
[26:50] Having a mission driven organization starts with an executive level commitment that then expands to the brand as a whole.
[29:44] Do you and your employees know your mission statement?
[33:12] None of it is easy, but every bit of it is critical.
[33:18] Mission of helping create enduring success for people who have sacrificed so much.
[34:40] The importance of the long game in business.
[35:08] 1. Taking care of your people and finding people that are a fit.
[35:23] 2. Find your mission.
[36:07] 3. Talk about your mission continuously.
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Tension Between Challenge and Support
Jeremie discusses with us how there is a time when you need challenge, but there is also a time when you need support. As a leader and an individual, it can be hard finding that balance point between the two. When you find it, you're able to create an intentional transfer of knowledge, wisdom, and skills. In there, you have to find the balance between served and leading to be able to both challenge and support others.
The Five Circles of Influence
The fives circles of influence are ourself, family, team, organization, and community. To be successful in these areas, you have to start with yourself. It looks like beginning to audit and evaluate your choices. Something as simple as choosing water over soda can be a step towards creating the you you want to be. Before you can move past yourself to others, you have to examine how others see your interactions with them. Do they know that you're for them, did they see that you're against them, or do they believe that you're for yourself?
Intentional Living
Most of the world lives accidentally. They make choices without evaluating what the outcome is to more than just themselves. Sometimes, you have to look at a situation and do unto someone else what they would want done to themselves. The way Jeremie explains that is through sharing about a coach who talks with his players. Sure, the coach doesn't want or need a hug in that situation, but that doesn't mean that the player doesn't. Being intentional can look like evaluating the situation in a way that makes others see that you are for them and for their success. As a leader, it looks like leading but serving at the same time through intentional actions.
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Feeling Alive
Living and being alive is more than just existing. The two ways to die are not really living or by killing yourself taking too many risks. There is a balance to living in the tension point between order and chaos. When you feel alive, that is when you find freedom.
Freedom is the actual experience of being alive and being untethered by concepts of reality. The path to freedom is to realize that there is something inside you advocating for freedom. It is your story.
Addiction to Intensity
For years, Jeff created chaos whenever he got too comfortable. For him, the ability to calm the chaos gave him control over his life. He felt an addiction to intensity in going from extreme order to extreme disorder. The way that Jeff overcame this was by seeking healthy ways to create memorable and meaningful experiences rather than deliberately creating chaos.
Leaving the Familiar
Jeff left the familiar whenever he started his adventure of building a personal brand around himself and his ideas. He categorizes an adventure as doing something different from normal actions or processes.
When you leave the familiar, you go into the unknown to discover something about yourself. There are many depictions of this in movies, but it occurs within our lives as well. Every time you try something different you are experiencing a moment to learn something new about yourself.
The Gift of Your Story
The gift is the thing that you learn or acquire as a result of struggle. The thing is, the gift is not for you. It is for those around you. The gift is a way to share and impart knowledge upon your community. Through sharing your story, you are able to share the transformation that occurred within your life.
Timeline:
[03:42] Jeff spent about 7 years telling other people's stories and ideas until realized he had a story of his own.
[04:46] Finding a means by which you not only tell success stories but also hard stories with struggles.
[05:42] The characteristics of a good story.
[06:17] Jeff's tendency to create chaos.
se e[07:36] The experience of being alive.
[08:00] Seeking healthy ways to create meaningful and memorable experiences because stories are just our recollection of those experiences.
[08:15] Everyday goal of living.
[08:48] When you can walk through life and actually perceive things, you're awake, you're alive, and you're there."
[09:11] When stories do their job, they help us make sense of the story we're living in right now.
[09:51] How do you stay awake and present in the midst of the narrative in which we are living?
[10:02] All humans crave a sense of liveliness.
[10:22] "The experience of feeling alive is freedom."
[13:13] What is the point of life?
[17:17] The two ways to die.
[17:45] Experience all that there is to experience.
[19:25] How do you live in the tension points between order and chaos?
[20:04] Addiction to Intensity and the aftermath of the intensity,
[21:37] Leaving the familiar.
[26:22] When we are isolated from community, what must we ask ourselves?
[27:32] You have to choose to leave comfort. It is a choice.
[27:41] Chaos is newness.
[29:22] "An adventure is just anytime you do something other than what you've normally done."
[29:56] The gift that comes from our experiences.
[30:53] What do we do with the gift?
[35:38] Path to freedom.
[38:26] Find a way to experience life free from all your thoughts around it.
[39:07] "My thoughts about reality are not reality."
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The Start of Speaking
When it comes to speaking, the only thing between you and to chance to share your voice is learning how the industry works. Grant spent a lot of time questioning and following speakers to acquire the knowledge that he then applied to his life. Do not disqualify yourself before even starting the process. There is a big misconception that to be a speaker, you need an energetic, external, and charismatic personality. Through his years of speaking, Grant has seen that that is not true. There are many succesful speakers, like him, that have more internal personalities. Don’t believe in the misconception of there being a one size fits all description of a successful speaker.
I found my voice, now what?
As a full-time speaker, Grant often hears the same questions from those standing where he stood a few years ago: 1. How do I find gigs? 2. How much should I charge when I find a gig? 3. How does the speaking world even work? No matter if you want to speak just a bit on the side or if you want to become a full time speaker, those questions are important to answer. In his book, he explains how to demystify what it takes to get someone to not only want you to come speak, but also to pay you for your time. Their book lays out a five step framework to finding and booking gigs. The acronym SPEAK is an easier way to remember their process for this.
Evaluating Yourself as an Individual
There comes a time when you must decide what kind of speaker you want to become. Grant advises to focus on one thing, and by doing so, you become an expert on that topic. Through that, you get the ability to charge a premium on the thing at which you’re really good. Many speakers try to become all things to all people, but that makes it to where you can become mediocre at all things instead of amazing at one thing. One way that Grant personally pursued this was by acknowledging that he was a great speaker, but that did not make him a great author. Through this notion, he was able to successfully collaborate with Jeff Goins.
Evaluating Your Speaking
When it comes to evaluating a speech, there are three important factors to consider: you the speaker, the audience, and the environment. As the speaker, you must ask yourself if you did your part in being prepared or if you went through the motions. Being prepared or not prepared can play a large role in the success of a speech. Ultimately, if the audience is not ready to receive your speech, no amount of preparation can resolve that issue. The environment also plays a huge role in the success of a speech. For instance, the power going out can definitely impact what occurs.
If you are interested in learning more, take Grant’s free marketing course at grantbaldwin.com . His book, The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building your Platform, is also available on Amazon.
Timeline:
[01:29] Do you ever wonder if your voice could be heard?
[02:23] Building a platform where professional speaking is part of what you are able to do.
[02:31] Grant gives advice on more than just being a professional speaker, but also includes becoming better at pitching ideas.
[04:22] The timeline of granting learning how to become a speaker.
[04:47] How Grant evaluated moving past wanting to speak more by questioning how to find gigs, decide what to speak about, and how much to charge.
[05:32] Once a professional speaker, what Grant heard from listeners.
[06:23] “Speaking is a great way to build a business, and a great way to make an impact.
[07:10] Are you wondering how to figure out your voice?
[09:26] The process of Jeff Goins and Grant Baldwin joining together for the purpose of writing a book.
[11:11] Just because you have one skill set does not mean that you have all other skill sets.
[12:18] Ask yourself, “How can I collaborate?”
[14:26] The importance of different personality types in speaking.
[16:32] There is not a one size fits all description of a successful speaker.
[16:55] A common mistake speakers make.
[18:23] Becoming a steakhouse over a buffet.
[20:25] The big challenge for entrepreneurs: making a decision
[21:37] Why making a choice can actually make your life simpler.
[24:17] Overcoming a “swing and a miss” in speaking.
[26:31] Unexpected moment of success for Grant in a moment of adversity.
[27:13] The roles of the speaker, audience, and environment
[29:06] Accepting that as a speaker, sometimes thing are just out of your control.
[32:59] "Speaking is about inviting people to have an opportunity to be able to stand and deliver in any given moment.
[34:01] The audience wants you, the speaker, to succeed.
[34:32] “Speaking is a shared experience with you and the audience.
[36:28] Speaking is more than just the finished process, it also entails falling in love with the craft of speaking.
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Your Story
Each of us has a story to share that starts at birth and goes into this very moment. Both consciously and unconsciously, we push parts of our stories aside. We do this because we find them either uncomfortable, painful, or so overwhelming that we cannot deal with them in that moment. Andy’s background in trauma and abuse helps him to help people understand why their trauma is causing this push. People are often afraid of looking back simply because they are scared of what they will find. Pouring into and being excited about work is a vulnerable process when trauma is present within our lives, and that is something Andy has researched and studied.
Psychological SafetyPsychological safety is when team members feel safe to take risks and to be vulnerable with one another. This doesn’t mean that the workplace needs to be nice, but instead it means being willing to take risks with a sense of curiosity and empathy rather than judgement. Without that feeling of safety, there is less openness in the workplace impeding open development. The workplace is not set up to fully deal with people’s emotional issues, but there are some ways that a business can be more effective in facilitating a community that respects mental health. One way is through developing a culture that recognizes that healthy people produce healthy companies. Businesses need to pour into both the emotional and mental healthy of employees to help employees perform to the best of their abilities.
TraumaWhen trauma presents itself, disconnection from ourselves, others, and our work can occur. Andy touches on why this is important to note and how it can impede our progress in business. When we have unresolved trauma our ability to communicate what we think and feel is greatly limited. Then, when we do experience emotions we do not want to feel, it can be easy to push them down. The problem with that is it turns to burnout which turns to depression. Unresolved trauma can cause the part of our brain that deals with making choices, balancing emotions, being focused, and communication to deactivate. When this occurs, we cannot perform well in business.
In the WorkplaceNot all business fosters an environment that values mental health, and so one question discussed is "What do you do in a culture that does not support you?". One thing that Andy suggest is acknowledging that you are not an asset to be leveraged and your worth is not in how you perform. Practicing mindfulness is about observing your emotions and observing your depression, anxiety, and when you are critical of yourself. This can be difficult in a toxic work environment. If you are interested in more tips and tricks for guidance on these stations, reach out to Andy Mauer.
Timeline[03:32] Background of Andy and how he transitioned his business out of a clinical setting.
[05:10] Charity Mauer and he experiences in the business field.
[06:32] The larger the gap between personal brand and mental health, the more people will lose time with themselves. When that time is lost, people start to develop rates of depression, anxiety, and burnout.
[06:44] The high need for a polished image in this business.
[07:00] The fear that drives creatives causes them to be constantly be running towards or away from from something.
[08:05] 95% of our behavior is subconscious. Why does this matter?
[08:33] Your story is a combination of thoughts, memories, feelings, and relationships from birth to now.
[10:38] Psychological safety in the workplace.
[11:20] What is the number one thing that drives success in teams in business?
[12:51] Active disengagement.
[13:18] Why do people find themselves at work and anting to do a good job yet disengaged?
[13:55] External factors vs internal factors in engagement.
[15:11] Why people are afraid to make progress in business.
[16:14] Trauma is about disconnection from ourselves, others, and our work.
[16:27] “Trauma is an event or series of events that happen to use that we perceive as emotionally or physically harmful.”
[19:37] The outcome of pushing emotions down.
[20:32] How does trauma impact our performance or productivity?
[21:26] Unresolved trauma can limit our ability to communicate what we think and feel.
[22:25] As a business owner, why does my mental health and the mental health of my employees matter?
[25:47] Separating your sense of worth from your productivity.
[26:58] Practicing mindfulness.
[27:43] Importance of being with a company that supports where you want to be emotionally. -
Background
Josh is a full time researcher and author who started off at a big company analyzing if their online advertising was actually working. His research developed into putting together a strategy of determining what works for the company when it comes to things of the advertising nature. Josh’s job eventually changed to advising entrepreneurs and small businesses primarily during their early stages.
Early Stages of Entrepreneurship
For an entrepreneur, Josh says that the early stages of development are most important in that during this time, you are an explorer and adventurer. This time period entails feeling lost and alone looking for the your path or hydra. All of the information you find during this time can be used to determine your next step. One thing that is needing is also practical wisdom which is learning to act and do things in a way that gets you good results but is also practical, grounded, and impacts your life in a meaningful way.
Each of us must ask four questions:
What do I want? 2. Why do I want it? 3. How am I going about getting it? 4. Is there a more straightforward and less stressful way to do it?
Josh analyzes these questions through looking at not just complex ideas but particular purposes or ends. He asks himself, “How are people approaching it?” and “Is that approach constructive or not?” As a researcher, these questions form the basis for what he studies and how he applies the answers through his writings and advising.
How to Fight a Hydra
How To Fight a Hydra is about a protagonist attempting to defeat a monster and also survive the experience. This concept can be parallel into the same demons all entrepreneurs face when it comes to starting a business or chasing an idea. In his book, the protagonist does not just face a single stage victory, but multiple of varying levels of size and impact.
One of the biggest things Josh mentions is how to get from knowing nothing about something you want to do to being good at it to then getting the result the you want. The next thing to look at it is being able to do all of these things quickly and with as little frustration as possible. Each of these concepts are analyzed through the story of the protagonist in his book.
Timeline
[02:50] Josh’s work experiences and their influences on him today.
[05:02] What is the best, most effective, most useful way to think about a particular area of life?
[06:30] 1. How are people approaching this subject? 2. Is that approach constructive or not?
[09:30] Going from knowing nothing to achieving your goals.
[10:22] His research and writing is more than complex ideas.
[10:50] Practical Wisdom
[11:09] The four questions every entrepreneur must ask.
[13:18] Influential authors on Josh are those that have written "how to think about ____” books rather than solely entertainment books.
[16:25] Why is it important to know the “bugs” in our thinking processes?
[16:41] The three kinds of books out there are entertainment, how-to, and worldview.
[20:30] What is an active barrier we must each individually overcome?
[21:00] You won’t know if something will or will not work until you do it.
[21:32] Factors that influence the success of something.
[25:27] Why are Josh’s writing based in behavioral and cognitive psychology?
[27:11] The protagonist in How to Fight a Hydra had multi-level victories.
[27:27] Experiences can change you.
[30:04] What is the most important time for an entrepreneur?
[30:54] Why am I feeling lost in this stage of starting a new business or chasing a goal?
[34:55] The importance of the ability to discern what opportunities are good for you.
[38:04] Differentiating between the different types of entertainments and their influences upon you.
[39:38] The easiest way to free up time in your life.
[40:00] “Is this improving my worldview, or is this primarily a diversion?"
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A Narrative many can relate to
Most people who read a business book are actually interested in business, making it a very segmented market. Chris wrote an inspirational business book- but in the fiction genre. Money Tree is a narrative about an individual named Jake; he has a lot of financial pressure even with a good job. Jake is a relatable character as he has a great work ethic and a decent job, but he is struggling under the weight of debt. Do you find yourself relating to Jake? This book isn’t about celebrities or very rich people, but instead it is about ordinary humans. Maybe you don’t find yourself interested in entrepreneurship, but maybe it is something you need to consider.
The types of ways to make a business
The first group for starting a business is the kind that entails capital and a lot of risk. Usually, you are unsure if this will pay off until after a long time. The second group involves investors and a lot of risk. Here is where people like Chris come in, the third way of starting a business- entrepreneurship. Most people in the third way group are people trying to earn money apart from their day job; some eventually want to quit, others want to pay off debt, and some just want to build a larger savings. Usually, this looks like small side projects until you can determine if they will work and to what scale.
To do this, you have to start where you are and with what you have. Imagine if someone hadn’t thought, “Wow, there has to be people just like me who really want a lightsaber?” There is in fact a market for Star Wars fans, and there is a market for something which you are passionate. Accidental entrepreneurship still has struggles, and often you find that a project doesn’t work out. When it doesn’t work out, the solution is to then take that knowledge and apply it to your next project. When it comes to going at business this third way, due to the low risk, you are able to keep trying and keep being creative.
Unconventional Business
Chris gave up a lot and changed many of his habits over the past few years, and one habit he picked up is saying, “Congratulations,” in a variety of situations. One example he gave is that when it come to losing a job, he has found sometimes it opens up individuals to share about their issues at the job and what they would rather have been doing. In life, there is so much you cannot control, but Chris encourages you to focus on the 1% that you can control. Another way to go about entrepreneurship is through curiosity, and sometimes that looks like trying to see what your expertise, skills, and passions can offer to the world. Whenever you figure that out, the next step is taking action. You cannot get anywhere without the follow up of action.
Timeline
[02:10] “Some obstacles are more doable than you think with a little bit of curiosity and a little bit of chutzpah."
[04:31] In a world of Covid, what can non-first responders and healthcare do? What do I have to offer, and how can I make myself available?
[06:58] C.S. Lewis mirror books were written to reach a broader market as was Money Tree
[08:32] What are the parameters of the first way to start a business?
[08:58] What makes the second way both different from the first?
[09:12] The large amount of risk in both way one and way two is what can deter so many.
[09:23] The third way of starting a business is the accidental entrepreneurs: ordinary people doing what they care about and have knowledge of simply by starting with a skill or passion that they already have.
[09:51] How does following the third way reduce a financial risk?
[12:21] The idea of creating business based habits
[13:51] Ask yourself what are the topics that people look to you to provide answers about.
[15:05] If you really want to accomplish something, you’ll work hard at it even it means writing multiple drafts of the same book.
[16:08] What do you do when something doesn’t pan out quite right?
[17:08] “Challenge is the value.”
[19:07] Stop saying sorry and instead, start saying, “Congratulations.”
[20:22] "If 99% of things are out of your control, what is the 1% in your control? What are you going to do about it?”
[20:56] Look at your skills and ask yourself what you can offer in an entrepreneur sense
[21:38] What are the four things you can do differently?
[22:07] Power of observation
[25:35] There is always room for growth.
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