Couple planning their zero-based budget together in their kitchen

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If you’re like most Americans, your top financial priority is to save more money, whether you’re running a business or a household with kids and teens. That means if you haven’t already, you’ll want to adopt an effective savings strategy. Instead of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-create-a-budget/">creating a traditional budget</a>, many individuals are opting for an old-school method called “zero-based budgeting.” It can be an effective financial planning strategy for personal or business use.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zero-based-budgeting-defined-nbsp">Zero-Based Budgeting Defined&nbsp;</h2>



Zero-based budgeting is a sum-total <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/financial-basics/">approach to finances</a> that requires all expenses to be justified and approved in each new budget period or year, starting from zero. In a nutshell, it assigns a job to every single dollar of your monthly income based on necessity rather than budget history. Using this method, your income minus expenses will equal zero.







Zero-based budgeting is not a new concept. It rose to popularity in the 1970s when President Jimmy Carter promised to use it to balance the federal budget. However, as economic conditions improved, the zero-based model fell out of style. It started to slowly regain popularity around the time of the 2008 recession and is <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acfi.12884" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">now commonly used</a> for personal finances. 



If a zero-based strategy sounds like your speed, then buckle up! It requires more upkeep than a traditional budget, but it also has huge potential for saving. How does a zero-based budget work? Explore more, plus pros and cons of zero-based budgeting and how it can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-it-pays-to-understand-your-money-mindset/">change your financial trajectory</a>, in the details below.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-zero-based-budgeting-work">How Does Zero-Based Budgeting Work?</h2>



As an idea, zero-based budgeting is simple. It is a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/best-financial-management-tools/">financial management too</a>l that is built from the ground up, starting at zero. After the budget is set, its user must allocate all income to expenses, savings or debt payoff. Maintaining a zero-based budget is more complex than most traditional budgets, but the potential for savings is much higher.



For zero-based budgeting to work, its subscribers must be utterly committed to accountability. If you’re not ready to assign a purpose to every dollar you spend, this budget isn’t for you. However, if you’re interested in taking ownership over your <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com//how-to-set-financial-goals">financial goals</a> through discipline, this approach can get you there.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-get-started-nbsp">How to Get Started&nbsp;</h3>



To get started, list out all your income sources. Then identify all your expenses, such as rent or mortgage, credit card payments, groceries, medical bills, entertainment, subscriptions, etc. Next, organize your expenses into more general categories like needs, wants, savings and debt repayment. Your savings, for example, might include money for vacations, home renovations and retirement.&nbsp;



Then allocate each dollar into a specific category, knowing you have the flexibility to move money around in the budget if you plan ahead. For example, if you want to set aside $100 in a retirement fund monthly, but you are at zero dollars in your budget before reaching this category, you could take $100 from your eating out expense and move it to savings.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zero-based-budgeting-vs-traditional-budgeting">Zero-Based Budgeting vs. Traditional Budgeting</h3>



It’s important to understand what makes a budget a zero-based budget. When people sit down to make <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-manage-your-money/">traditional budgets</a> (also called incremental budgets), they typically start by listing out their current expenses or by building from the previous year’s budget. These approaches can be problematic because they don’t require the budgeter to ask whether historical expenses are actually necessary to maintain.&nbsp;



In contrast, when someone sits down to make a zero-based budget, they start by calculating their projected income for the year. With that number in mind, they design expense categories and assign a dollar amount to each. If an expense doesn’t fit within their budget, then it’s cut. All spending must be justified.&nbsp;



Whereas traditional budgets allow unused income to sit in a checking account, a zero-based budget does not. A zero-based strategy requires every dollar of income to be spent or reallocated. That means if you use this system, you won’t be left wondering where all your money went.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Traditional Budgeting&nbsp;</td><td>Zero-Based Budgeting</td></tr><tr><td>Simple preparation&nbsp;</td><td>Complex preparation</td></tr><tr><td>Based on the previous year’s budget</td><td>Start from scratch each year</td></tr><tr><td>Based on previous expense levels</td><td>Requires justifying new expenditures</td></tr><tr><td>Cost accounting-oriented</td><td>Decision-oriented</td></tr><tr><td>Justification is not typically required</td><td>Cost and benefit justification is required</td></tr><tr><td>Some money is accounted for and can sit in a bank account without being allocated for a specific category</td><td>Every single dollar is accounted for and placed in a budget category</td></tr><tr><td>Allows for inefficiencies in how money is being spent</td><td>Exposes inefficiencies</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zero-based-budgeting-example">Zero-Based Budgeting Example</h3>



Let’s take a look at a basic example to illustrate how this financial strategy works. Here's how someone with a monthly income of $6,000 might create a zero-based budget:



Income



Full-time job: $5,000



Side hustle: $1,000



Expenses:



Needs



Rent: $3,000



Groceries: $500



Utilities: $200



Transportation: $250



Health Insurance: $400



Debt Payments



Credit Card: $200



Wants



Restaurants: $300



Other entertainment: $200



Hobbies: $100



Gym membership: $100



Clothing: $150



Massage: $100



Subscriptions: $100



Savings



Emergency Fund: $100



Investments: $300



Total Expenses/Savings: $6,000



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-zero-based-budgeting">Advantages of Zero-Based Budgeting</h2>



Adopting a zero-based strategy allows you to design your own financial destiny. Instead of waiting to see what you can and can’t afford, you can decide what you want to afford. The zero-based strategy offers many potential benefits, including the following:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Insight: The zero-based model requires you to take a detailed look at your cash flow. If you do this budget correctly, you’ll come face-to-face with your spending habits. </li>



<li>Intentionality: When you need to be able to justify every expense, you learn how to be more intentional. You’ll have to decide whether a single purchase is worth throwing off your budget and compromising your financial goals. </li>



<li>Efficiency: This budget will expose inefficiencies and obsolete processes. Are you getting charged an avoidable bank fee or still paying for a subscription you never use? This money management strategy helps you address these charges and avoid them. </li>



<li>Agency: When you use zero-based budgeting, you’re steering the ship. Current expenses don’t dictate spending habits; <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/personal-goals-to-set-for-yourself">your goals</a> and decisions do. </li>



<li>Responsibility: There’s no room to shift blame in the zero-based model. You made the budget, and your decisions will make it succeed or fail. </li>



<li>Savings: When you don’t have a plan for your extra income, it’s amazing how quickly it slips away. In a zero-based system, money you may have spent on a dozen little purchases can accumulate to substantial savings. </li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disadvantages-of-zero-based-budgeting">Disadvantages of Zero-Based Budgeting</h2>



Before you start designing your zero-based budget, you should know it’s not for everyone. For people who thrive with a lot of structure and discipline, it can be highly beneficial. For other individuals, it can be challenging. As with any other money allocation system, zero-based budgeting has its flaws. What is a disadvantage of zero-based budgeting? Here are some of its <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352554815_A_Critical_Analysis_of_the_Zero-Based_Budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential downsides</a>: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Time: Depending on your finances, maintaining this budget—or even setting it up—can eat up a lot of time. If you can’t commit to regular accounting sessions, it may not work. </li>



<li>Incompatibility: This budget doesn’t play well with unpredictable income. If you’re a freelancer or work on commission, zero-based budgeting may be impossible.</li>



<li>Rigidity: Whereas traditional budgets primarily serve to monitor spending, zero-based strategies assign an objective to every dollar of income. That means there’s no room for  unjustified spending. For some people, that level of rigidity can be stressful. </li>



<li>Variability: Your definition of a need may not be like everyone else’s. For example, you may classify a massage as a monthly need, whereas others may see it as frivolous spending. A highly subjective budget won’t produce ideal results for all individuals. </li>
</ul>



While zero-based budgeting can be beneficial for businesses as well, there are some downsides. For example, it can be resource-intensive and there is a risk of the funds being manipulated and higher budgets being awarded to some departments over others.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-zero-based-budgeting-right-for-you">Is Zero-Based Budgeting Right for You?</h2>



There are clear zero-based budgeting advantages and disadvantages, and there’s no shame in saying you’re not ready for a zero-based budget. It isn’t ideal for everyone. Luckily, it’s not your only option. There’s more than one way to create a budget and save for the future. You may want to explore alternatives like the <a href="https://sfs.mit.edu/manage-your-money/budgeting/50-20-30-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">50/20/30 strategy</a>, priority-based budgeting, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mint-app-review/">budgeting apps</a>, or the “pay yourself first” budget. You can also start slow by dedicating a percentage of each paycheck to savings. 



The key to spending responsibly and controlling your finances is finding a system that works for you. When you assume full responsibility for your finances, a funny thing starts to happen. You begin to embrace your personal agency, and that confidence can ripple out through every area of your life. Instead of things happening to you, you make informed choices that have foreseeable consequences—and that’s a freeing way to live.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-your-finances-work-for-you-nbsp">Making Your Finances Work for You&nbsp;</h2>



There’s no denying that people who budget are more likely to create wealth and experience financial security than people who don’t. You’ve now learned what is a zero-based budget and why it is important. Zero-based budgeting can help you better manage your finances, both at home and at work, by determining exactly how each dollar is spent. With this approach, you will always know what is being saved and spent, so you can find peace of mind while building a better future.&nbsp;



This article was updated May 2025. Photo by wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com

Sandi Schwartz

Exactly what is zero-based budgeting and how can it work for you? Discover the benefits of this money management strategy today.

For zero-based budgeting to work, its subscribers must be utterly committed to accountability. Learn more about this budgeting method in our latest. | SUCCESS

What Is Zero-Based Budgeting and How Does It Work?

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What Is Zero-Based Budgeting? A Simple Guide | SUCCESS

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Rae Fitzgerald is a freelance writer, fly-fishing enthusiast and musician on the Austin, TX-label Keeled Scales. She received her BFA in Creative Writing from Truman State University.

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Rae Fitzgerald

Alitzah and Brandon Stinson, owners of Ivory Paper Co

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Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

Even in the digital era, this couple believes paper planners lead to productivity.



Alitzah and Brandon Stinson, the operators and owners of <a href="https://www.ivorypaperco.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ivory Paper Co</a>, offer gorgeous organizational products with a modern twist. Their boutique paper company specializes in creating planners, journals, stationery and more to assist entrepreneurs, self-starters and go-getters in their quest to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/11-strategies-for-managing-stress/">manage the many stressors</a> of the COVID era. We asked them how they manage it all together.



<h2 id="h-what-gives-ivory-paper-co-planners-a-competitive-edge">What gives Ivory Paper Co planners a competitive edge?</h2>



Alitzah &amp; Brandon: With so many planner companies and new ones popping up each day, we have found that our in-house manufacturing is what sets Ivory Paper Co apart. We make every single planner to order, which allows our customers to personalize their order just for them. Our customers put their names on their front covers, and even get to choose their start date. If you were to shop from many of our competitors, they have only two start dates: one in January and another in July or August. If you want to purchase outside of that window, you get stuck either waiting months to use your planner or with a planner that has a ton of wasted pages. We have completely eliminated that issue by having two planner start dates for every single month, which our customers absolutely love.



<h2>Do you use your own planners?</h2>



Alitzah: Of course! I use the <a href="https://www.ivorypaperco.com/all-in-one-planner" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">All-In-One Planner</a>. This was the first and only planner we had when we started Ivory Paper Co, and it is still our bestselling planner to date. I love this planner because it allows me to plan my months, weeks and days all in one place. Brandon quickly became a planner convert after starting Ivory Paper Co with me, and he uses the <a href="https://www.ivorypaperco.com/ultimate-weekly-planner" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ultimate Weekly Planner</a>.



<h2>Do you ever feel nervous about running a stationery business in an increasingly paperless world?</h2>



Alitzah &amp; Brandon: Not at all. As the world evolves and tech expands, people are wanting to disconnect more than ever <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-happened-when-i-ditched-technology-for-7-days/">from their devices</a>. You see this in tech through tracking screen time and expanding “do not disturb” settings. Tech brings a ton of good to the world, but it also causes people <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-youre-always-distracted-from-the-task-at-hand/">to be easily distracted</a>. If a person wants to disconnect, accomplish more <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/joshua-beckers-new-book-explores-everyday-distractions-becoming-a-lifestyle-and-how-to-refocus-on-the-things-that-matter/">and eliminate distractions</a>, then paper planners will always help the user achieve their goals. We feel confident that people will continue to choose paper planners even as the world becomes increasingly digital.



<h2>What’s been the biggest challenge with Ivory Paper Co so far?</h2>



Alitzah &amp; Brandon: The greatest challenge was during the COVID pandemic. In December 2020, we experienced massive growth, and scaling for the growth through the pandemic was the hardest challenge. Managing scaling is challenging in general, but when you add the specific challenges that 2020 brought—like supply shortages, hiring and shipping carrier delays—it made an already difficult time even tougher, which led to fulfillment delays for our production team. We learned that you need to build redundancy into your entire fulfillment system to be prepared for the worst-case scenarios, such as a pandemic. Since 2020, we have worked alongside our team to adapt our production workflow to be able to scale up as needed.



<h2>Are there any perks to working together?</h2>



Alitzah: There are a ton of perks: the midday pep talks paired with a hug, eating lunch together and, of course, the occasional dance party. We aren’t joking. We dance a lot at the Pink House—what we call our warehouse and manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. Proof can be found on our social media platforms!



That being said, running a business with your family or partner can be challenging. Brandon and I have learned to truly trust each other and not micromanage. Brandon manages all of the marketing along with our creative teams, which includes design and product development. I handle the administrative side of the business, the face of the brand and run our entire production floor.



<h2>How do you get back into an inspired headspace when you’re feeling burned out?</h2>



Alitzah: This can be so tough, especially in the startup phase. Luckily, Brandon and I have a great foundation. We have always <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/take-control-of-your-relationships/">prioritized family time</a>. Spending time with our two daughters truly helps keep us centered. Children are so innocent, and whether we’ve had the best or worst day, they are consistent in their playful, uplifting spirit. We also give ourselves time to rest. When we feel burned out, we try to listen to our bodies and take a step back—maybe a day off or a work-free weekend <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/on-your-mark-get-set-recharge/">to refuel our tanks</a> for the week ahead.



<h2>Have your children learned anything from watching you run Ivory Paper Co together?</h2>



Alitzah &amp; Brandon: We really hope our daughters learn the power of hard work. We hope they see through our example that, if they work hard in pursuit of their goals, they can accomplish so much.



<h2>What’s one value you bring to every business pursuit?</h2>



Alitzah &amp; Brandon: Gratitude. We have included gratitude into every single Ivory Paper Co planner and included a letter regarding gratitude in every planner in our 22-piece collection at Target. We have <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/practicing-gratitude/">found that practicing gratitude</a> has allowed us to become better, happier people. Stressing about the past or worrying about the future only takes away from the experience of truly living. For us, practicing gratitude is a way to center ourselves and live in the moment.&nbsp;



This article originally appeared in the March/April 2023 <a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-mar-apr-2023-lewis-howes.html">issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>. Photo courtesy of Alitzah &amp; Brandon Stinson

Alitzah and Brandon Stinson, owners of Ivory Paper Co, share the value of gratitude and hard work, finding inspiration, and more.

Alitzah and Brandon Stinson, owners of Ivory Paper Co, share the value of gratitude and hard work, finding inspiration, and more. | SUCCESS

Alitzah and Brandon Stinson on Refueling Inspiration, Increasing Productivity and the Value of Gratitude

Ivory Paper Co Owners on the Value of Gratitude | SUCCESS

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In the context of global aid, profit feels like a dirty word. But are they really so incompatible? Not to Evelyn Castle, who spent a decade working in Africa’s health sector—namely Nigeria—before shifting her focus to impact investing.



“I think of impact investing as the future of charity work,” Castle says. “Charity is not effective, and people with a lot more credentials than me have written books about why aid is not going to have a sustainable impact.”



For those unfamiliar with the concept, <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/impact-investing.asp#:~:text=Impact%20investing%20is%20a%20general,serve%20society%20as%20a%20whole." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impact investing</a> is exactly what it sounds like: an investment strategy that aims to produce social or environmental benefits in addition to financial gains. In contrast to traditional investment strategies, profit is not the primary driver in the decision-making process, but rather one of many considerations.



Impact investing should also not be confused with aid, as its ability to generate market-rate returns in a socially responsible way incentivises continued growth. Impact investments take many forms, but Castle’s approach is focused on providing entrepreneurs with <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-3-female-black-angels-are-working-to-close-the-racial-funding-gap/">access to capital</a> rather than grants.



“There is a role for aid in health emergencies and things like that,” Castle says. “But if you’re looking at really making a change and having a sustainable impact in creating successful, self-reliant countries, doing that through entrepreneurship, I think, is the way to do it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-economics-of-public-health">The Economics of Public Health</h2>



When it comes to facilitating health care for an entire country, executives are every bit as crucial as practitioners, especially during public health crises. After co-founding <a href="https://www.ehealthafrica.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eHealth Africa</a> (eHA) in 2009, Castle oversaw fundraising efforts that drew in $250 million over a 10-year period. Her initiatives played an instrumental role in eradicating polio from Nigeria and containing Ebola in West Africa.



Castle also co-founded <a href="https://www.eha.ng/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EHA Clinics</a>, a network of primary health care providers in Nigeria. At eHA and EHA Clinics, she realized that infrastructure, security, human resources and corruption issues presented distinct challenges for all Nigerian entrepreneurs, but women faced an additional set of obstacles.



“Speaking as a female founder, we have different kinds of challenges when it comes to accessing money,” Castle explains. “Most women really don’t like taking out loans or going to access financing… we generally don’t talk ourselves up very much.”



Castle came to the conclusion that the most effective way to improve Nigeria’s health care system was by helping local entrepreneurs secure funding. With that mission, she founded <a href="https://eha.ventures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eha Impact Ventures</a> in 2021. Her company operates with the specific goal of supporting women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Spending Gap: Why Fund Women?</h2>



Without a clear understanding of how gender roles affect spending, Castle’s decision to primarily fund women’s ventures may seem arbitrary. It’s not.



“We know where women put their money,” Castle explains. “When women have money, they invest it in health care and education for their children and their communities and taking care of their parents… all of this burden that women take on is making their community a better place.”



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Don’t make the mistake of thinking that this trend is specific to Nigeria or to Africa, Castle warns: The economic burden of womanhood is a reality everywhere, including the U.S. However, Nigeria presents a unique opportunity for wealth distribution because it has one of the smallest entrepreneurship gaps between men and women in the world.



“If they have money, all of these things can actually improve,” Castle says. “Anything that we can do to help women get access to capital, I think it just means the world is going to turn into a better place.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success Depends on Access to Capital</h2>



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/new-entrepreneurs-heres-how-to-get-your-business-started-on-the-right-foot/">Starting a business</a> is rarely free; most entrepreneurs need seed money, investors, partners or other sources of funding to get going. The ability to secure financing is another area in which <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-women-are-rising-in-business/">women are at a distinct disadvantage</a>, if for no other reason than socialization.



“I mean, you have to go out and say that you are absolutely amazing in order to convince somebody to give you money,” Castle explains. “And yeah, we generally downplay our success or the opportunities that are involved in the business.”



To address this, the team at eha Impact Ventures coaches female entrepreneurs on how to confidently ask for funding without conflating self-assuredness with maleness. Castle doesn’t think women need to act like men in order to be successful; rather, they need to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/women-doubt-yourself-less/">find their confidence</a> and understand the financial opportunities available to them.



“What we want to be is kind of like that first investor… to help women scale up and, ideally, support them in getting their next round of funding from a bigger investor,” she says.



Whether eha Impact Ventures chooses to partner with a female entrepreneur typically comes down to a project’s potential for job creation. Because the ultimate goal is to give women access to funds and boost the local economy, the sector matters less than how many paying positions a particular business will create. To that end, eha Impact Ventures prioritizes larger projects over individual sellers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Building a Self-Sustaining Model</h2>



The difference between giving money and providing access to capital may seem like a small distinction, but it’s a crucial one.



“What I see a lot of aid evolving into is how we can support entrepreneurs in those countries to be self-sustainable so they can improve their health systems and can improve their education systems in a way that is right for them,” Castle says. “I mean, that’s not giving out grants—that’s giving out access to capital that is not exploitative to those companies or to the countries themselves.”



Although some impact investors prioritize returns, that’s not really Castle’s goal with eha Impact Ventures. At least for right now, she’s happy just making her money back, but that doesn’t mean investments in African companies aren’t profitable.



“You can definitely get great returns on companies in Africa,” she says. “It just depends on what type of risk you’re willing to take and what countries you’re investing in.”







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eha Impact Ventures works primarily with groups of individuals to develop small funds that are then invested in women-owned companies in Nigeria. Although investment opportunities are currently limited to friends and family, Castle plans on expanding it.



“We need people who really understand our vision and can give us that flexibility to say, ‘OK, we want to raise $100,000 that we’re going to put in these three companies, and then we’ll report on it,’” she explains. “We want to start doing things where we can open it up to people who can invest smaller amounts of money or donate smaller amounts of money, but we’re not quite there yet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Empowerment is a Mutually Beneficial Arrangement</h2>



Make no mistake—Castle isn’t on a rescue mission. Her ventures in Nigeria are very much business opportunities, but they’re also not solely driven by profit. And that’s the beauty of impact investing: It can be <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/is-your-money-working-for-you/">a mutually beneficial arrangement</a>.



“We were able to make successful businesses, and now what we want to do is be able to help other Nigerian women make successful businesses, because they have the ability to do that and are already doing it,” she says. “It’s just ridiculous that there’s no access to capital.”



And that’s really how Castle sees her role in eha Impact Ventures: a facilitator of introductions, someone who knows how to access capital. She is acutely aware of the fact that Nigerian women will continue entrepreneurship with or without funding, and that’s the idea that drives her.



“They’re not as much in the workplace as women in America, so we have this idea that women in America are more empowered, I guess,” Castle reasons. “So, then you kind of think, Oh, well, it makes sense that they wouldn’t have access to capital or that there isn’t as much access to capital for them, but no, that’s wrong.”



The reality is that there are more women doing entrepreneurial activities in Nigeria than in the U.S.—just with less access to capital. For now.



This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-nov-dec-2022-sophia-bush-and-nia-batts.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">November/December 2022</a> issue of SUCCESS magazine. Photos by&nbsp;©Babb Photo

Evelyn Castle operates with the specific goal of supporting women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Evelyn Castle operates with the specific goal of supporting women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises. | SUCCESS

Impact Investor Evelyn Castle Finds Opportunity in Equity-Driven Ventures

Evelyn Castle: Driving Equity Through Impact Investing

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Do You Want to Increase Your Influence? According to Bestselling Author René Rodriguez, It All Starts with Thoughtful Storytelling

Brilliant Thoughts

Brilliant Thoughts Archives

Brilliant Thoughts Archives | SUCCESS

Have you ever struggled to effectively communicate an idea or to make an impression during a job interview? Have you ever completely bombed a sales pitch?&nbsp;



If so, you’re not alone; almost every entrepreneur has faced similar challenges. However, successful leaders learn how to overcome the barriers to their influence. Doing so requires you to do more than <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-8-ways-to-master-the-art-of-communication/">adjust your communication style</a>; it demands a deep dive into the unconscious drivers of your behavior and your hidden beliefs.



For most people, this call to action may seem daunting. Luckily, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and best-selling author René Rodriguez has already done the legwork. In his most recent book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3TuK4Wx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amplify Your Influence</a>, Rodriguez reveals how entrepreneurs can use self-discovery to improve their communication and increase their influence.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discover-your-hidden-drivers">Discover your hidden drivers.</h2>



We like to think we understand <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-simple-ways-to-find-motivation-in-your-everyday-life/">what motivates us</a>, and why we behave the way we do. Rodriguez says it’s not so simple. Rather than consciously making decisions, he believes we act according to certain hidden drivers, which makes behavior modification a challenge.&nbsp;



“Most people look at how behavior drives results, and so when we want to get new results, we try to change behavior, which is the biggest mistake,” he explains in a recent interview with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts’</a> editor Tristan Ahumada. “Because how do we typically respond to behavior change—acceptance or resistance? Resistance.”



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/the-neuroscience-behind-effective-leadership-with/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="The Neuroscience Behind Effective Leadership with Rene Rodriguez"></iframe>



As much as we wish that we could just change our behavior and get different results, all we end up doing is triggering resistance. Rodriguez says that if you want a different outcome, you have to address the deep-seated ideas informing your actions.



“What drives our behaviors are our beliefs,” he says. “If we were to pinch and zoom in and expand on that concept of beliefs, there's a whole world of study that the foundation of this book is around, which is the idea that what I believe drives my behavior.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-develop-your-inner-storyteller">Develop your inner storyteller.</h2>



In a highly commoditized world, setting yourself apart isn’t easy. To Rodriguez, the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/everyone-has-a-story-heres-how-to-make-yours-resonate/">ability to tell your story</a> in a compelling way is the key to building trust and connection with others.



“What I tell people is that the best speakers are the best storytellers, and the best storytellers are also the most reflective on their own life,” he says. “They're also very present and mindful, and what I mean by that, and I'm not saying this isn't a mindfulness exercise, is paying attention to all the things that happen.”



Personal storytelling isn’t about having an exceptional life, and it doesn’t require embellishment. It only requires you to dig deep into your values and experiences to reveal the meaning that’s already there.&nbsp;



“This is about uncovering what already exists,” he explains. “And if you can put words to it, and then draw the connection of where I started to what I do now, once those two connect, you feel the magic word of ‘purpose.’”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-control-the-narrative-with-intentional-framing">Control the narrative with intentional framing.</h2>



Rodriguez asks Ahumada what words come to mind when he thinks about a used car salesman, to which Ahumada responds, “sleazy.” Rodriguez says that’s the word that most people say (unless they have a positive personal relationship with someone in that line of work). It all depends on their personal experiences.&nbsp;



“We have to deal with the reality that when we say our profession, we're triggering frames of reference that we're not in control of,” he explains. “If I speak without a frame, I force my listener to construct the reality based on their frame of reference, which I have no control over and no insight into.”



Rodriguez says this not to pick on used car salesmen, but to illustrate how people have a preconceived notion of the type of person you are based on your career. One way to combat this is to lead with a personal, value-driven story about how you got to where you are.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deliver-a-message-that-has-value">Deliver a message that has value.</h2>



People who are constantly telling stories tend to have a polarizing effect on us: We either love them for their storytelling abilities or dislike them for taking up so much space.&nbsp;



“The one that we love has a message and a moral and a value at the end for me; it teaches me something, gives me something,” he explains. “The one that we hate is the one that just talks for the sake of talking and there's no punch line.”



Rodriguez’ point is that you can’t just ramble endlessly and expect to build trust and connection. To truly <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-use-your-influence-as-a-leader/">lead and influence others</a>, you need to share stories that offer listeners value, whether in the form of information, insight or entertainment.&nbsp;



After you’ve framed the narrative and conveyed a valuable message, you still need to contextualize it. This last step is what Rodriguez calls “the tie down,” and it is driven by your influence objective—the thing you’re trying to accomplish. In essence, the tie down is why your life experiences and values are relevant, and how they’ve prepared you to succeed in the goals at-hand.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Rodriguez believes that when we remember to frame our narrative, deliver a valuable message and tie it down, we stand the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/master-these-5-attributes-to-successfully-influence-others/">best chance of influencing others</a>. That’s because true influence isn’t about manipulation or coercion; it’s about presenting yourself in a way that cuts through preconceived notions and opens the door for connection and collaboration.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.meetrene.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visit Rodriguez’ website</a> to learn about upcoming live and virtual events, where to find his podcast and how to order <a href="https://amzn.to/3TuK4Wx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amplify Your Influence</a>.



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

René Rodriguez reveals how entrepreneurs can use self-discovery to improve their communication and increase their influence.

René Rodriguez reveals how entrepreneurs can use self-discovery to improve their communication and increase their influence. | SUCCESS

Increasing Influence: Thoughtful Storytelling with René Rodriguez

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/69-Rene-Rodriguez-s.com_.jpg

A Healthy Business Starts with You: How Brian Littlefield Transformed Himself to Achieve His Entrepreneurial Dreams

It’s a lesson that every adult inevitably learns: Life doesn’t turn out exactly how you thought it would. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though—the unpredictable nature of existence challenges us to grow and adapt, and sometimes, it opens doors we never dreamed of entering.&nbsp;



At least that’s been the case for entrepreneur and sports medicine guru Brian Littlefield. His passion for physical fitness, jiu jitsu and business inform his life choices today, but high school was a different story. He’s the first to admit that as a young man, he only had two things on his mind: cars and girls.&nbsp;



Through a winding <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-steps-to-discover-your-true-self/">path of self-discovery</a>, he found a way to channel his enthusiasm into a successful, sustainable career. As the co-founder and chief product officer (CPO) of <a href="https://originmaine.com/nutrition/jocko-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jocko Fuel</a>, Littlefield combines nutraceutical expertise with entrepreneurial savvy to provide athletes with products that keep them in tip-top shape.&nbsp;



In a recent interview with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host Tristan Ahumada, Littlefield shares the business insights he’s gleaned on his journey and the process that led him to a life he never imagined.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/keep-your-business-in-tip-top-shape-with-brian-lit/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Keep Your Business In Tip-Top Shape with Brian Littlefield"></iframe>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-be-open-to-transformation-nbsp">Be open to transformation.&nbsp;</h2>



If you met Littlefield today, you’d know he was a man devoted to physical fitness and self-betterment. However, that wasn’t always the case.



“I'm not genetically gifted in the sense that I can eat whatever I want, never work out and have six-pack abs—that's just not who I am,” he tells Ahumada. “So I kind of blew up, you know, in high school, and then really bad in college.”&nbsp;



It wasn’t that Littlefield wasn’t athletic; sports came easy to everyone in his family. But like many young people, he didn’t see fitness as a priority. He remembers moving into an apartment right next to a 24-hour McDonald’s during his freshman year of college—a coincidence that he took advantage of frequently. His interest in cars persisted throughout college, eventually leading him to a premier motorsports school in Ohio, where his lifestyle wasn’t any cleaner.&nbsp;



“In that period, I was traveling, working on a race team, eating shitty food, you know, living in shitty hotels,” says Littlefield. “I realized I just turned my hobby and my passion into something that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-to-do-when-your-passion-isnt-enough/">I'm not really enjoying anymore</a>.”



Littlefield had outgrown his obsession with motorsports, a realization that was only solidified by his inability to stay physically healthy in that lifestyle. Ready for the next stage of life, he opened himself up to transformation.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accept-that-everything-s-a-process-nbsp">Accept that everything’s a process.&nbsp;</h2>



As Littlefield contemplated next steps, he remembered how his family always thought he’d pursue engineering or medicine. Science had always come easy to him, but that wasn’t the only career path that piqued his interest.&nbsp;



“I had always been drawn to business by my father,” he explains to Ahumada. “He was a multiple-time failed entrepreneur… Many, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/your-business-failed-whats-next/">many businesses failed</a>, but he never stopped trying.”



Littlefield says that he inherited his entrepreneurial spirit from his father, but he got his work ethic and drive from his mother, a woman he describes as an “absolute grinder.” As he reflected on the skills passed down from his parents, he started going to the gym with a new friend. One day his workout partner gifted him an old nutraceutical book, which he immediately found fascinating.&nbsp;



“This is when I was still doing the automotive program, and I would get done with my classwork… and I would get home and be up all night,” he says. “I'd be up all night reading about nutraceuticals and vitamins and nutrients and these phytochemicals and even different diet plans and workout plans… I had no idea why; I just really enjoyed it.”



Around this time, Littlefield discovered Brazilian jiu jitsu, a practice that would eventually become a life-long passion. He loved the way it not only challenged him physically, but also psychologically, a sort of “human chess.” Simultaneously, his thirst for nutritional and nutraceutical knowledge only increased, as did his desire to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-steps-to-go-from-idea-to-entrepreneur/">become an entrepreneur</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dare-to-make-new-partnerships-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp">Dare to make new partnerships.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



Within a couple of years, Littlefield had become so good at jiu jitsu that he began traveling to compete, and started coaching and teaching private lessons. In addition to physical training, he would also help friends and clients explore supplement options.&nbsp;



“I started to kind of curate these fitness diets and nutraceutical plans for people,” he says. “And then I went to the guy who owned the gym at the time, who I started training jiu jitsu under, and I was like, ‘Hey, dude, we have this plaza on a four lane road, you know, lots of traffic… Let's open up a supplement store, let's do it.’”



Together they formed Vital Sports Nutrition, a supplement store in Lima, Ohio. In addition to gaining experience as an entrepreneur, Littlefield began to dig deep into the products’ formulas. He found that many of the ingredient combinations didn’t work together as well as they could, so, naturally, he began experimenting with his own formulas and found success in creating more synergistic products.&nbsp;



Around the same time, Littlefield made a trip to visit family in Maine. Determined to maintain his jiu jitsu practice while traveling, he found himself in a rural dojo, where he met Pete Roberts, the founder of the sporting goods manufacturing store, <a href="https://originmaine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Origin USA</a>.&nbsp;



Inspired by the company’s commitment to U.S.-based manufacturing, Littlefield found himself drawn to the Origin enterprise, and within a couple years, he was living in Maine and working as the company’s chief operating officer (COO). This prepared him for the endeavor that would finally combine his love for business, fitness and nutraceuticals: co-founding Jocko Fuel, a signature line of nutritional products.&nbsp;



Origin soon entered into a partnership with Jocko Fuel, selling high-quality products formulated by Littlefield. Although partnerships aren’t always easy, he attributes much of his success to working alongside others with the same vision.&nbsp;



“Partnerships are tough—100%, they're tough—especially if you are someone who kind of likes to have things your own way,” he concludes. “Whether quickly or not quickly, you will learn if you want to find success, you have to be receptive to other people's ideas and processes…You've got to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-key-qualities-of-a-good-team-player/">be a team player</a> and be able to put the mission and the company and the brand before your personal needs.”&nbsp;



To learn more about Littlefield’s work or to reach out online, visit his <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-littlefield-52933450/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn profile</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brian_origin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram page</a>. You can order <a href="https://originmaine.com/nutrition/jocko-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jocko Fuel’s premium, signature products</a> via their website. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

As the co-founder and chief product officer (CPO) of Jocko Fuel, Littlefield combines nutraceutical expertise with entrepreneurial savvy to provide athletes with products that keep them in tip-top shape. 

As the co-founder and chief product officer (CPO) of Jocko Fuel, Littlefield combines nutraceutical expertise with entrepreneurial savvy to provide athletes with products that keep them in tip-top shape.  | SUCCESS

You First: Brian Littlefield's Transformation for Business Success

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Reaching Beyond the Stars: Why You Should Strive for Audacious Goals with Chris Do

Lifestyle

Lifestyle Archives

Elevate your lifestyle for success and happiness

What is the driving force in your life, that one ultimate goal that propels you? If you don’t know the answer to that question, it may be time to find out. To that end, there’s no better teacher than Emmy Award-winning designer and entrepreneur Chris Do. In his recently published book, <a href="https://thefutur.com/team/chris-do" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pocket Full of Do</a>, he reflects on the philosophy and lessons that propelled his success.



Do has managed to do what most artists only dream about: make a profitable, long-lasting career out of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/daring-to-dream-finding-the-courage-to-follow-your-own-path/">doing what he loves</a>. After serving as chief strategist and CEO of <a href="https://blind.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blind</a>—a successful brand strategy design consultancy—he founded <a href="https://thefutur.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Futur</a>, an online educational platform with one big, hairy, audacious goal.&nbsp;



“I want to teach a billion people how to make a living doing what they love,” Chris Do tells <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host and editor Tristan Ahumada in a recent interview. You read that correctly—a billion people. However, even if Do never achieves it, the goal will have served its purpose. That’s because to him, setting a larger-than-life goal isn’t about accomplishment—it’s about gaining momentum.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/checkmate-strategic-steps-to-seize-your-goals-with/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Checkmate: Strategic Steps to Seize Your Goals with Chris Do"></iframe>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understand-when-it-s-time-to-break-from-tradition">Understand when it’s time to break from tradition.</h2>



At a young age, Do discovered the tremendous joy of drawing. Despite his obvious affinity for art, he didn’t associate his creativity with a potential career path. As a first-generation immigrant from Vietnam, Do’s identity came with certain expectations, especially when it pertained to his career.&nbsp;



“This is kind of what you're supposed to do: be a doctor, lawyer, scientist, engineer, that kind of thing,” explains Do. “It's not until much later on in life that I realized there are many <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-you-can-put-yourself-on-a-new-career-path/">other things you can do</a> that are more aligned with what you want to do in the world; the thing that you're uniquely qualified to do versus a more traditional path.”



It wasn’t until his senior year of high school that his perspective began to change. He got the opportunity to work at a silkscreen shop, which he gladly accepted, and fell in love with the work. That was no shocker, though; the real surprise was when he learned that professional designers could make upwards of $100,000 per year. That knowledge shifted his life’s trajectory.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-don-t-be-afraid-of-stepping-into-the-limelight-nbsp">Don’t be afraid of stepping into the limelight.&nbsp;</h2>



With a successful artistry experience under his belt, Do decided to attend ArtCenter College of Design, where he received a design degree. His next move was to start <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/new-entrepreneurs-heres-how-to-get-your-business-started-on-the-right-foot/">his own design consulting agency</a>, Blind, which produced commercials and music videos. In light of the company’s success, his friend suggested they start making YouTube content, to which Do reluctantly agreed.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“So, I’m a behind-the-camera talent, not an in-front-of-camera talent,” explains Do. “I direct, I produce, I tell people what to do, but I’m not the person in front of the camera.”



However, his friend didn’t give him a choice, and explained that the only way they were moving forward with YouTube content was with Do in front of the camera. Do went all-in, and couldn’t be happier with the result: After overcoming his camera-shy nature, he began running the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/thefuturishere" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Futur YouTube channel</a> like a pro, sharing his secrets with nearly two million subscribers.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-say-yes-to-a-big-hairy-audacious-goal-nbsp">Say ‘yes’ to a big, hairy, audacious goal.&nbsp;</h2>



When you reflect on Do’s success, there are some obvious throughlines—the most significant of which may be his pattern of saying yes to new, daunting projects. From <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/a-new-book-explores-how-embracing-uncertainty-helps-you-develop-a-growth-mindset/">embracing the uncertainty</a> of a self-curated career to refusing to let his introversion inhibit his online presence, Do’s courage may be the lifeblood of his accomplishments.&nbsp;



“I believe in setting really massive, big, hairy, audacious goals that you probably won't be able to achieve in your lifetime,” he says. “Just make sure that the decisions you're making, the actions that you're taking, move toward that direction.”



To Do, part of pursuing a bigger-than-life goal is knowing when you’re thinking too small. To that end, he is constantly course-correcting. He evaluates every action by asking if it moves him closer or farther away from his goal of teaching a billion people how to do what they love. He says that more often than not, thinking too small only takes him further away.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-good-or-get-out">Get good or get out.</h2>



A <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-ways-to-use-competition-to-your-advantage/">self-described competitive person</a>, Do isn’t interested in doing anything half-heartedly. Recently, he’s taken his appetite for excellence to social media, diving headfirst into platforms that he admittedly doesn’t fully understand.&nbsp;



“I'm super analytical—I post things, I measure,” he tells Ahumada. “I try not to get too emotionally attached to anything. Like maybe this works, maybe it doesn't… I'm just looking for data points, and I'll just keep iterating on an idea.”



You can learn more about Chris Do, his course offerings and tools by visiting <a href="https://thefutur.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Futur website</a>. Order his new book, Pocket Full of Do, <a href="https://thefutur.com/team/chris-do" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.  



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

“I want to teach a billion people how to make a living doing what they love,” Chris Do tells Brilliant Thoughts’ host and editor Tristan Ahumada in a recent interview.

“I want to teach a billion people how to make a living doing what they love,” Chris Do tells Brilliant Thoughts’ host and editor Tristan Ahumada in a recent interview. | SUCCESS

Audacious Goals: Reaching Beyond the Stars with Chris Do

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Escaping the Wheel of Loneliness: How Squad Is Shifting the Social Media Landscape by Choosing Maintenance over Discovery 

Relationships

Relationships Archives

Relationships | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

If you’re a millennial, there’s a good chance you remember Myspace in its heyday.&nbsp;



In the mid-2000s, there was no talk of algorithms or echo chambers—just the drama of ever-changing top-friends lists, glitchy on-page media players and the constant struggle to out-curate friends. Even Facebook, the controversial colossus, felt personal and full of choice in its infancy. Perhaps most notably, the app was actually enjoyable.&nbsp;



The 2022 social media landscape looks a little different. What began as exhilarating is now compulsory to many users, and checking feeds doesn’t yield the same joy as it used to. Although most platforms claim to promote conversation and exchange, researchers say that they <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/magazine/viral-world/isolation-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increasingly cultivate isolation</a>.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/a-new-way-to-be-social-with-isa-watson/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="A New Way to Be Social with Isa Watson"></iframe>



Isa Watson is changing that. A chemist-turned-social-scientist, Watson is using her tech prowess to build the next generation’s social tool: a voice-only app called <a href="https://www.withyoursquad.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Squad</a>. Through thoughtful design and relentless experimentation, she is determined to give us a social media platform that actually delivers on its promise to bring us closer.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-highlight-reel-of-loneliness">A highlight reel of loneliness</h2>



Have you ever felt worse about yourself after scrolling through Instagram? We’ve all been there.&nbsp;



It’s easy to forget that all your friends’ filtered photos don’t reveal the whole picture. Many platforms, and perhaps Instagram in particular, reflect a skewed version of reality by incentivizing users to only post highlights and completely omit the mundane, less desirable aspects of daily life.&nbsp;



“So social media was created, let’s say 10 years ago, with the purpose of ‘connecting with others,’ but what it morphed into was this <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-9-tips-for-making-a-mark-that-lasts/">personal branding tool</a>,” explains Watson in a recent interview with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts’</a> host and editor Tristan Ahumada. “It became this highlight reel that just amplified the loneliness that we were already experiencing.”&nbsp;



Watson is speaking from not only research but also from personal experience. After her father died, she spiraled into unprecedented loneliness and depression, which Instagram only exacerbated. Although her social media accounts showed the world a popular person with many friends, she craved <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-ways-to-start-connecting-with-people/">more meaningful connections</a>. She wasn’t the only one.&nbsp;



“When I started to actually talk about that, my experience with that, I realized that I was far from the only person that was experiencing this,” says Watson. “And so it became clear to me that social media was at an inflection point, where we were moving away from wanting to stunt online and posture for likes all day, to actually wanting to experience joy in our everyday friendships, but in a fun and easy way.”&nbsp;



This realization inspired her to start developing an alternative.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-misguided-social-intentions">Misguided social intentions</h2>



So how did social media get so off track? Wasn’t its original mission to connect people? Watson isn’t so sure.&nbsp;



“The thing with social media platforms is that when you're venture-backed and you're so focused on growing at all costs, then you're just growing, growing, growing without a lot of intentionality around the habits that you're creating,” she explains.&nbsp;



Her assertion isn’t just supposition. As a high-profile executive who handled multibillion-dollar initiatives at JP Morgan Chase, Watson is acutely aware of how funding influences development. And although she too has to pursue funding, she is committed to taking her cues from Squad users, which has changed the trajectory of the platform.&nbsp;



“When Squad was first created, it was to help people get together offline, so it was about finding groups of people in your locale to hang out with or go to events with,” she explains. “We were positioning Squad as more of a discovery tool to find the friends that you want to hang out with and want to experience life with.”



However, through user interviews and app analytics, Watson’s team found that most people weren’t pursuing new friends; they were trying to create deeper connections with their existing ones. As a result, Watson’s development team moved away from discovery and toward maintenance, searching for ways <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/beyond-first-impressions-6-ways-to-deepen-your-connections/">users could deepen connections</a> with their existing friends.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taking-connections-deeper-not-wider">Taking connections deeper, not wider</h2>



“As a human today, we are inundated with discovery tools,” says Watson. “I can find 300 million people on Twitter, a billion people on Facebook, but what I learned was that we were kind of neglecting our actual relationships for the sake of being able to say I met this new person, I did this new thing.”



The result, according to Watson, is that we live in a perpetual state of exhaustion. However, there is another way.&nbsp;



“Ninety percent of social media users are complete lurkers, they don't engage with any content and just consume the content,” she says. “So they're not going to show up as their true authentic selves in that static group chat where it is a fixed, finite set of members.”



With Squad, users can engage in up to 12 one-on-one relationships. Here’s how it works: When you invite someone into your squad, you also join their squad. However, you don’t see or interact with the other people in their squad—only those in yours. The result is that every user has a group of 12 people dynamically built around them.&nbsp;



“It's the only system right now that exists that is truly, truly participatory because you have to in order to build your squad,” she says.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-escaping-the-doom-scroll">Escaping the doom scroll</h2>



“If Michael Jordan compared his full career to Kobe Bryant's highlight reel, he would feel really shitty about himself,” says Watson. “That's just facts.”



Watson isn’t saying that social media is all bad; it undeniably has its benefits. However, for people who tend to feel as though they are not enough, overconsumption can be extremely detrimental to mental health. She offers traditional social media users three easy ways to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/12-steps-to-breaking-smartphone-addiction/">escape the doom scroll</a>:&nbsp;



<ol>
<li>Elevate your state of awareness. Take notice when social media usage affects your mood and be cognizant of the way it influences your perception of reality.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Take advantage of the right features. If you’re going to use big social media platforms, make sure you’re utilizing the ones that actually allow for conversation, like direct messaging.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Practice separation. Heavy social media users may feel a lot of anxiety when they don’t have their phones, but time away is critical to stay grounded. Watson encourages people to stay off of social media for the first hour after they wake up and the last hour before they go to bed.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



Or, if you’re sick of your current apps, give Squad a shot. As a privately curated platform, it has no public feed; the only stream you see is the conversation between you and your cohort, which disappears 24 hours later. Squad is currently moving toward becoming a voice-only platform, which Watson believes will cut down on miscommunication and add an additional level of authenticity.&nbsp;



“We are evolving Squad into kind of an audio world-building tool,” Watson explains. “Building in those kinds of customer reactions from our friends, building in the vibes via music and allowing people to customize their world in a very auditory way, that's fun and easy. That's where Squad is heading.”



But ultimately, the thing that makes Squad different from other platforms is the emphasis it places on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/maintaining-friendships-is-hard-heres-why-its-crucial-for-your-well-being/">nurturing the relationships</a> you already have. Rather than the compulsive search for more novel, exhilarating interactions, this app provides a safe place to give and receive the care we all desperately need right now.&nbsp;



“A true friendship is one where you pour in and receive,” she explains. “When you're in discovery mode all the time, all you're doing is pouring out because people don't know you well enough to pour into you.”



Visit <a href="https://www.isawatson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watson’s website</a> to learn more about her work, publications and research. You can <a href="https://www.withyoursquad.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sign up for Squad here</a> and start experiencing a more intimate, connected relationship with your loved ones today. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Through thoughtful design and relentless experimentation, she is determined to give us a social media platform that actually delivers on its promise to bring us closer. 

Through thoughtful design and relentless experimentation, she is determined to give us a social media platform that actually delivers on its promise to bring us closer.  | SUCCESS

Shifting Social Media: Squad's Approach to Escape Loneliness

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/65-Isa-Watson-scom-web.jpg

#Trending: 6 Ways to Maximize Your Reach on the Most Popular Social Media Platforms

We get it—not everyone enjoys social media, and that’s ok. Regardless of how you feel about it, there’s no denying the reality: It’s far-and-away the best tool to disseminate your content to a larger audience. For entrepreneurs, that kind of exposure can’t be beat.



However, grasping the importance of social media isn’t most people’s problem—their struggle is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-tips-to-set-up-your-social-media-for-success-in-2022/">how to wield it effectively</a>. And who can blame them? With constantly shifting algorithms and emerging trends and tools, busy professionals simply don’t have the time to experiment.&nbsp;



Luckily, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ editor and host Tristan Ahumada can save you some time. In a recent episode, Ahumada shares his tips for taking advantage of the internet’s most popular social media platforms and their audiences. Buckle up!



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/sharpen-your-social-media-strategy/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Sharpen Your Social Media Strategy"></iframe>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-facebook-a-network-for-storytellers">1. Facebook: A network for storytellers</h2>



In the past decade, Facebook has transformed from a place to stay connected with friends to a platform wrought with conflict and scandal. However, it is still a valuable tool if you embrace it for what it really is: a place <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/everyone-has-a-story-heres-how-to-make-yours-resonate/">to tell your story</a>.



“This is how people have communicated through thousands of years—their stories,” explains Ahumada. “Tell me a story, relate to me, tell me a little bit about you, maybe about somebody else, but tell me a story. That's the opportunity you have with Facebook.”&nbsp;



But where on this massive platform should you be telling stories and sharing content? The answer might surprise you. According to Ahumada, you’ll find your biggest opportunity with Facebook Groups, which now account for one of every five posts on your feed. Sharing reels is a great way to interact within a group, but ultimately, posts need to be focused on furthering a narrative and building relationships.&nbsp;



“If you don't belong to one, go find one, and if you haven't created one, that's where I want you to think about story,” he says. “The thing that's going to make people come back is how you communicate with them within the group.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-instagram-a-glimpse-into-your-life">2. Instagram: A glimpse into your life</h2>



Once home to an endless feed of sunset and food photos, Instagram is now a destination for daily updates via stories. Like other platforms, live videos perform very well, as do short clips. Reels (edited videos up to 60 seconds long) perform even better, as long as they aren’t branded with the TikTok logo.&nbsp;



“It's different than when you go on Facebook, where the feed and groups dominate—over here it’s the stories and reels that dominate,” Ahumada explains. “This is why I'm saying three to five reels daily, 10 stories daily and then one to two lives weekly.”



If you’re like most ordinary people, you might be thinking, My life’s not interesting enough to post that many updates each day! But here’s the thing: Updates don’t have to be revelatory to keep your followers’ attention. People just want a genuine glimpse into your daily life.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-youtube-where-content-retains-value">3. Youtube: Where content retains value</h2>



“Even though people gravitate to TikTok, I still think the biggest opportunity we all have is with YouTube,” says Ahumada. You read that right—YouTube is Ahumada’s first choice when it comes to social media networks.



Before you object, remember: YouTube is in the Google family. That means anytime you enter a query into the internet’s ruling search engine, a YouTube video is likely to be high in the search results. Plus, videos you upload to your channel never disappear or stop gaining likes, meaning their value only increases.



“YouTube is really a place people go to search how to do something or why something is happening, almost like an explanation or a guide,” he says. “Think of what you do for a living, what you sell… if you don't sell anything, then what can you provide?”&nbsp;



Ahumada isn’t suggesting that YouTubers without a tangible product shouldn’t use YouTube, but they do need to be <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/square/2020/12/04/5-ways-to-engage-consumers-on-social-media/?sh=263d52b4b3f4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">offering something of value</a>. This is true for all social media platforms.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-tiktok-your-best-shot-for-going-viral">4. TikTok: Your best shot for going viral</h2>



If you use TikTok, you know just how addictive this app can be. With an endless stream of videos curated by a surprisingly intuitive algorithm, this social media platform hooks people of all ages. However, its scope is narrow.



“If you've chosen TikTok as a place to be, I mean, there's not much you can do on TikTok,” says Ahumada. “It's just short video stories or lives—that's it.”



Despite its limitations, TikTok offers its users something incredible: the chance to go viral very quickly, faster than any other social media platform. To take advantage of this opportunity, Ahumada suggests posting three to five times daily with alternating content.



“Tell me the story behind this, connect with me through being funny,” he suggests. “Give me the emotions, go through the facts of something, the feeling, have something and make it fun… the three Fs—those are your opportunities.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-linkedin-where-the-pros-go">5. LinkedIn: Where the pros go</h2>



LinkedIn may not be glamorous, but for many professionals, it’s <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-tips-for-successful-online-networking/">the best place to network</a>.



“LinkedIn is probably, I don't know, the ugly stepchild, and yet, it's so amazing,” Ahumada jokes. “I am now doing almost one live a day on LinkedIn, and I love it.”



Unlike other social media platforms, LinkedIn users are generally looking for business content, which is perfect for entrepreneurs searching for in-roads. By subscribing to LinkedIn Sales Navigator, users can take advantage of sales and prospecting tools, as well as valuable analytics.&nbsp;



“The point is, it gives you so many tools that a lot of people don't use,” explains Ahumada.&nbsp;



The platform also has a newsletter tool that gives people who enjoy writing <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/social-media-blackouts-prove-the-lasting-importance-of-the-newsletter-marketing-heres-how-to-build-a-strategy-worth-opening/">another chance to connect</a> with their audience. If video is your social media go-to, look out for the LinkedIn reel, which Ahumada says is being tested right now on a limited number of accounts.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-twitter-a-surprising-new-frontier-nbsp">6. Twitter: A surprising new frontier&nbsp;</h2>



Compared to media-driven social platforms, Twitter may seem a little pedestrian. However, the home of quippy one-liners and multi-tweet rants could play an important role in diversifying social media offerings for that very reason. Instead of following the reels trend, Twitter is working on a new feature called Spaces, which will allow users to conduct live audio conversations.&nbsp;



“I think the opportunity we have with Twitter is to come and take a look at social media with a new set of eyes,” concludes Ahumada. “So pay attention to Twitter because I think that it may be next year's future opportunity as it keeps growing.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bottom-line">The bottom line</h2>



It’s clear that algorithms across platforms now dramatically favor organic content, meaning content produced directly in the app. However, not just any content gains traction; it needs to be original and compelling. Just like successful entrepreneurship, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/tiktok-is-here-to-stay-is-your-brand-ready/">an effective social media presence</a> requires you to always be giving value. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Facebook has transformed from a place to stay connected with friends to a platform wrought with conflict and scandal. However, it is still a valuable tool if you embrace it for what it really is: a place to tell your story.

Facebook has transformed from a place to stay connected with friends to a platform wrought with conflict and scandal. However, it is still a valuable tool if you embrace it for what it really is: a place to tell your story. | SUCCESS

#Trending: Maximize Reach on Popular Social Media Platforms

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sharpen-Your-Social-Media-Strategy.jpg

The Opportunity of Uncertainty: 4 Ways to Thrive Amid Inevitable Change with Susannah Furr

Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

The COVID-19 pandemic reminded the world how quickly and drastically things can change. Amid life’s constantly shifting circumstances, it can feel like the only thing you can really count on is relentless uncertainty—which isn’t a comforting thought to most people.&nbsp;



For entrepreneurs, the unpredictable nature of existence presents uniquely frustrating challenges. After all, how do you make costly business decisions without accurate projections? In their newest book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3cKyOEr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Upside of Uncertainty</a>, entrepreneurs Susannah Furr and her husband, Nathan Furr, explain that while uncertainty is inevitable, it’s not without its upsides.



“We realized uncertainty is something that happens to us all, and it attacks us on a very fundamental human level of like, ‘Am I okay? Am I going to be okay?’” explains Susannah Furr in a recent interview with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ editor and host, Tristan Ahumada. “<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-embrace-uncertainty/">Uncertainty needs to be dealt</a> with first as an individual. So before you can lead a team, you need to know how to navigate it yourself.” 



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Luckily, no one needs to navigate the unknown alone. Drawing on questions that Nathan encountered while earning his doctorate from the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, Upside delves into four <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-tips-for-dealing-with-uncertainty/">tools for combatting uncertainty</a>: reframe, prime, do and sustain. Each category contains multiple strategies that when thoughtfully and consistently applied, do more than teach survival—they teach you how to thrive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-reframe-the-way-you-re-thinking-nbsp">1. Reframe the way you’re thinking.&nbsp;</h2>



Before you can tackle any problem, you have to thoroughly understand the issue. To truly grasp the situation, you have to acknowledge any biases that may be coloring your perspective. That’s why the first tool in the reframe category is framing, a concept in psychology that suggests humans are loss-averse and gain-seeking.



“Anything that feels like a loss we are wired to run from and avoid, and uncertainty always kind of shows up in this loss,” explains Furr. “When we know humans are wired in this way, then we can just kind of step back and go, ‘Okay, I'm human, what I’m doing is normal,’ and then you can start thinking about the other possibilities.”&nbsp;



Another notable tool in the reframe category (which has nine in total) is aplomb, a French word that means stability, composure and confidence. Furr says that despite tremendous success, most visionaries have struggled to maintain aplomb when faced with their own perceived failures.&nbsp;



“Basically, the tool of aplomb is kind of like going rogue on your self doubt, looking at it and trusting that if you're in a role in your company, or even if you are the one sole person trying to push an idea forward, you're there for a reason,” she says. “People have believed in you before, so <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-overcome-self-doubt-and-become-the-hero-of-your-story/">get out of your own way</a> and start thinking, ‘Okay, what can I do today to push this forward?’”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-prime-yourself-for-a-better-outcome-nbsp">2. Prime yourself for a better outcome.&nbsp;</h2>



Are you willing to do the prep work? When combined with reframing, the ability to prime—to prepare for what’s coming—can make uncertainty a lot less daunting. Although it takes time, priming can reveal more possibilities for success and ensure you have a high-quality finished product.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“When you think about priming a room, like with paint, or priming a pump, it's kind of this really important step so that you really are happy with the outcome,” says Furr. “Preparing is done when you really take some time to have more self-knowledge, so we encourage getting comfortable with your own risk profile.”



Of course, not everyone worries about the same things, so Furr recommends developing a personal risk profile to pinpoint your fears and likelihoods. It involves charting your current and past decisions to better understand where you feel comfortable taking chances, which, at least to Furr, is a necessity for accomplishing something novel.&nbsp;



“Obviously, there are risks you shouldn't take, but sometimes we hold ourselves back because it's a risk that we have an aversion for,” she says. “And if we can just push ourselves a little, we can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-truths-about-taking-and-not-taking-risks/">increase our risk ability</a> in that area.”&nbsp;



Another effective priming tool is a technique that many entrepreneurs, business owners and CEOs already do: uncertainty balancing. Furr explains that an uncertainty balancer may embrace routine in small areas of their life, such as ordering the exact same coffee every morning, to balance out the high-risk decision-making in their work life. This technique offers its user an increased feeling of control and safety, as well as a comforting ritual.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-do-according-to-your-values-nbsp">3. Do according to your values.&nbsp;</h2>



“There is no pause button for the world—it's going to move on without us and impact us a great deal,” says Furr.&nbsp;



Luckily, Upside offers plenty of tools for learning how to act in times where you don’t have all the answers. The key is to observe what’s happening in real time and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-art-of-problem-solving-4-creative-strategies-to-tackle-your-biggest-obstacles/">activate or unlock the solution</a> using creativity.&nbsp;



“It gets us started way quicker, and we don't have to have all these resources; we can just be like, ‘Okay, what's happening here?,’” she explains. “It's a creative thing, so we kind of need to trust that we could have some good ideas and be creative.”&nbsp;



Ahumada asks Furr how people can take better actions during uncertainty, or whether it’s just about making any kind of move.&nbsp;



“That was the last little tidbit that I needed to add, which is this idea that if we take action based on our values, rather than goals that lie outside of us, we will not fail,” she says. “At the end of the day, if you haven't traded in something that matters to you to get there, there's a lot of peace in that.”&nbsp;



With values and actions aligned, you’ll never feel regret over the things you’ve done to reach your goal. That’s a powerful advantage.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-sustain-yourself-for-the-long-haul-nbsp">4. Sustain yourself for the long haul.&nbsp;</h2>



Sustain is the fourth tool set that the Furrs write about in The Upside of Uncertainty, and it’s all about ways to keep yourself going when confronted with obstacles.&nbsp;



“Sustained tools are for when we get knocked off the horse, when something goes wrong, when our uncertainty journey all of a sudden takes a horrible turn,” says Furr. “We have to practice these, and we can get better… It's like a muscle.”



The sustain category contains three components: emotional hygiene, meaning the ability to shift your perspective from pessimism to learned optimism; reality check, which is the ability to look truthfully at your situation; and magic, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-ways-to-practice-gratitude-to-help-you-grow/">the act of embracing gratitude</a> in serendipitous moments. After your dreams have taken flight, developing sustained tools can help you keep them in the air.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.uncertaintypossibility.com/">Visit the Furrs’ website</a> to learn more about the UP Community and where you can pre-order The Upside of Uncertainty.&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Susannah Furr. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

For entrepreneurs, the unpredictable nature of existence presents uniquely frustrating challenges. After all, how do you make costly business decisions without accurate projections? In their newest book, The Upside of Uncertainty, entrepreneurs Susannah Furr and her husband, Nathan Furr, explain that while uncertainty is inevitable, it’s not without its upsides.

For entrepreneurs, the unpredictable nature of existence presents uniquely frustrating challenges. After all, how do you make costly business decisions without accurate projections? In their newest book, The Upside of Uncertainty, entrepreneurs Susannah Furr and her husband, Nathan Furr, explain that while uncertainty is inevitable, it’s not without its upsides. | SUCCESS

Thriving in Uncertainty: 4 Strategies for Embracing Change

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Brilliant-Thoughts-Podcast-S.com-Thumbnails-2.jpg

All Successful Leaders Have This Type of Intelligence in Common, According to Psychologist Adam Bandelli

Let’s be honest: When you think about what defines a CEO or business leader, empathy and openness probably aren’t the first traits that come to mind. In fact, you probably imagine the opposite—an almost Machiavellian, win-at-any-cost attitude. Although this outlook may yield short-term results, psychologist and author Dr. Adam Bandelli says that it’s actually the ability to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-key-to-building-healthy-relationships/">build relationships with others</a> that enables long-term leadership success.



“So what we found in the research was that Machiavellian leaders are really good at getting short-term goals done, maybe for a quarter or for six months… but that’s not going to work in the long-term,” explains Bandelli in a recent conversation with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ editor and host Tristan Ahumada. “Relationally intelligent leaders, on the other hand… because the focus is on building strong, long-term relationships, this idea of intentionality and authenticity is there.”



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/become-a-better-leader-with-dr-adam-bandelli/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Become a Better Leader with Dr. Adam Bandelli"></iframe>



In his new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3yljkhB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Relational Intelligence</a>, Bandelli explains how developing strong interpersonal bonds—rather than embracing rugged individualism—helps leaders achieve positive outcomes. Drawing on years of research and personal experience, he outlines the essential skills that will teach you how to build life-changing relationships:&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-emotional-intelligence-isn-t-enough-nbsp">Why emotional intelligence isn’t enough.&nbsp;</h2>



If you’ve never heard of relational intelligence before, you may be thinking it’s the same as <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-need-emotional-intelligence-to-succeed/">emotional intelligence</a> (EQ). Although both are important, they differ in key ways. Whereas EQ is the ability to understand and manage emotions, relational intelligence is the ability to connect and form strong, lasting relationships. And unlike EQ, it can’t be faked.&nbsp;



“When you think about EQ, it can be used for good or negative purposes,” Bandelli explains. “You can use emotions to elicit inspiration and motivate others, but you can also use emotions to manipulate people, to trigger things like fear or anxiety.”



Relational intelligence can’t be used to negative ends because its very purpose is to bring out the best in people. According to Bandelli, this type of understanding—not EQ—is what ultimately separates a Machiavellian leader from an inspirational one.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-want-relational-intelligence-master-these-5-skills-nbsp">Want relational intelligence? Master these 5 skills.&nbsp;</h2>



Business people and entrepreneurs have historically measured success potential by a person’s raw intellect, or IQ. In 1995, psychologist Daniel Goleman published a book called <a href="https://amzn.to/3HPFrkk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emotional Intelligence</a>, which argued that EQ may actually be more essential to achievement. Bandelli, who was in college when he read this book, found Goleman’s ideas fascinating.&nbsp;



“That started me down the road of understanding and unpacking what EQ is and then into my master's thesis,” he explains. “When I did my dissertation in 2006, almost 20 years ago, I knew that there were other skills that great leaders practiced beyond just emotions, things like developing trust [and] embracing diversity.”



In his dissertation, Bandelli identified five skills that are critical to relational intelligence, which he details in his recently published book. They are more than just concepts to Bandelli—they are tools he continually hones and applies to his professional and personal relationships.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-establish-rapport">1. Establish rapport.</h3>



To establish rapport, you have to create an initial positive connection with people. A big part of this is understanding yourself because people need to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/identifying-your-purpose-and-values-how-to-go-beyond-happiness/">know their own values</a>, strengths and blindspots in order to have authentic interactions with others. Another key precursor to establishing rapport is challenging your assumptions and prejudices.



“For people to really connect with others, you have to look past the way you were raised, or what you were told about black people or Asian people or white people or gay people or straight people,” Bandelli explains. “You have to be able to say, ‘Okay, whoever I'm interacting with is a unique individual, they're not in a category.’”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-make-an-intentional-effort-to-understand-others">2. Make an intentional effort to understand others.</h3>



Understanding another person, their unique experiences and their motivations <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-speak-well-and-listen-better/">starts with listening</a>, which most people struggle to do well.



“People are always trying to—I don't want to say prove themselves—but they want to show what they have versus take a step back and ask questions and understand the person sitting on the other side of the table,” Bandelli says. “I think another foundational piece is that most people don't think with intentionality around relationships.”



Bandelli says it’s easy to put people in roles—whether it’s as a drinking buddy, coworker or family member—and neglect to intentionally grow the relationship. It’s essential to always be building trust, strengthening connections and helping others become the best versions of themselves.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-embrace-diversity">3. Embrace diversity.</h3>



With a Christian mother, Muslim father and several Jewish relatives, Bandelli learned early on that exposure to diversity teaches people how to be compassionate and accepting of those who are different from them.&nbsp;



“Growing up, there were weekends where I was with my father in the mosque, and then there were weekends where I was with my mother in the church,” he recounts. “It just gave me a broad understanding that people think and value and believe in different things, and that's okay—you can still embrace their humanity.”&nbsp;



For people who grew up in a mentality of prejudice, Bandelli suggests exposure through travel. The more cultures you experience, the easier it is to accept that individual differences are natural and should be celebrated.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-develop-trust">4. Develop trust.</h3>



If you don’t know how you’re wired, you can’t build trust with another person. In a section of his book called “Know Thyself,” Bandelli argues that you need to examine the good, the bad and the ugly within yourself before building an authentic relationship.&nbsp;



“Your ability to understand that then opens the door for you to develop trust in other people, you know,” he says. “We view trust, or we define it in the model, as <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-lead-with-vulnerability-and-why-its-important/">the ability to be vulnerable</a> and take a risk to be exposed to the actions and behaviors of others.”



The underlying aspects of trust, which Bandelli calls the “five Cs,” are competency, commitment, consistency, character and courage. The best leaders foster all of them in their relationships with team members.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-cultivate-influence">5. Cultivate influence.</h3>



Before you cultivate influence, you need to examine your motivations: Are you trying to manipulate and control or inspire? The latter requires real care and intentionality.&nbsp;



“If you want to create the best performance and raise financial profitability, help your people do what they do the best way,” says Bandelli. “You really have to think about putting people and culture first, rather than driving results or getting the sale or trying to meet the short-term goal.”



Having a positive, meaningful impact on others is the best way for leaders to give value to their team and get results from their performances. Through inspiring leaders to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-put-your-employees-well-being-first/">prioritize individuals’ well-being</a> over productivity, Bandelli is helping entrepreneurs create a more compassionate and profitable workplace.



<a href="http://www.bandelliandassociates.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visit Bandelli’s website</a> to learn more about his research and publications, as well as to explore his many leadership development offerings. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Developing strong interpersonal bonds—rather than embracing rugged individualism—helps leaders achieve positive outcomes.

Developing strong interpersonal bonds—rather than embracing rugged individualism—helps leaders achieve positive outcomes. | SUCCESS

Leadership Intelligence: Psychologist Adam Bandelli's Insight

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Odds of Success: From Casinos to Wall Street, Kamal Gupta Harnessed the Power of Calculated Risk to Win Big

Let’s be real: Most gambling stories don’t have happy endings. Fortunately, Kamal Gupta’s story does. From counting cards at the blackjack table to trading on Wall Street, Gupta has enjoyed a fantastic journey, albeit a surprising one, that he never could have anticipated.&nbsp;



“People who show up on Wall Street have dreamt all their lives of working on Wall Street, that's what they've always wanted,” he explains to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts’</a> host and editor Tristan Ahumada in a recent interview. “Whereas in my case, I actually took a vow a few years before that I [would] never work on Wall Street.”



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/beat-the-odds-with-kamal-gupta/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Beat the Odds with Kamal Gupta"></iframe>



When Ahumada asks why he made this vow, Gupta explains that to him, Wall Street was a den of thieves, full of swindlers that resembled corrupt characters like Gordon Gekko. He believed the industry’s culture viewed greed as a good thing, an idea he just couldn’t get behind.&nbsp;



Despite his initial reluctance, Gupta ended up <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/change-is-growth-3-tips-for-embracing-new-opportunities/">taking a chance</a> that changed his life trajectory. In his new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3ugukvf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Play It Right</a>, he details how his love for numbers, taking calculated risks and fighting against unfairness led him to unprecedented success in the world of finance, which he refers to as “the largest casino in the world.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-don-t-be-afraid-to-apply-your-skillset-somewhere-new-nbsp">Don’t be afraid to apply your skillset somewhere new.&nbsp;</h2>



Gupta assumed he would spend his whole life traveling the world and playing cards, but through a random series of events, he found himself interviewing for a job at Lehman Brothers. Instead of asking him about his trading experience (of which he had none), they asked him to figure out which card was missing from a deck—in just 18 seconds. To their astonishment, he did.&nbsp;



When playing blackjack, Gupta used an advanced card counting technique that helped him make split-second decisions based on probability. He used the same skills to determine the deck’s missing card, and although it resulted in a job offer, he wasn’t totally sure <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-upskill-yourself-to-earn-more-money/">how his talents would translate</a>.



“On my first day at Lehman Brothers, I did not know the most basic thing about the finance of bonds,” he shares. “I didn't know the most basic elements of bond math. All that had to be taught to me on day one, and of course, I made a fool of myself.”



In addition to performing poorly at Lehman Brothers, Gupta was also miserable. He hated the industry and struggled to find his groove. He eventually <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/quitting-isnt-the-enemy-weve-been-told-it-is-heres-how-to-know-when-the-time-is-right/">decided to leave</a>, and it was during this hiatus that he began to formulate a new plan.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-find-an-advantageous-strategy-and-don-t-deviate-nbsp">Find an advantageous strategy and don’t deviate.&nbsp;</h2>



When Gupta returned to Wall Street, he was determined to use the same strategy he did at the blackjack table: Find a way to take calculated risks and attract better odds.



“Taking calculated risks in financial markets and casinos is captured in just one facet of the game, which is that the odds have to be in your favor,” he explains. “If the odds are not in your favor, the longer you play the game, the greater the probability that you will lose.”



And as you might have guessed, Gupta isn’t the losing type. It took him seven years to figure out how to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-types-of-competitive-advantages-and-how-to-develop-yours/">find a consistent advantage</a> on Wall Street, but once he established a strategy that worked, he stuck to it.&nbsp;



“While managing money for the largest hedge funds in the world, I never deviated from it for even a single moment, for like 20 years,” he says. “That's a very long time to follow the exact same strategy, day after day, you know, week after week, month after month.”



Over time, his persistence paid off. In an incredible run of successes, Gupta had 103 consecutive months of positive returns while managing money at large hedge funds. Though his peers encouraged him to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-truths-about-taking-and-not-taking-risks/">take bigger risks</a>, he refused and always chose to play it right with his carefully formulated methodology.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-win-with-a-purpose-nbsp">Win with a purpose.&nbsp;</h2>



“Fighting against unfairness—like virtually everything in my life has been defined by that, from when I was in high school to when I was in college to battling the casinos,” he says. “I thought it was incredibly unfair that casinos sometimes threw out and sometimes even beat up card counters.”&nbsp;



Gupta is no exception. He’s been kicked out of several casinos and has had to sweet-talk his way out of some bad situations. When he is discovered at one of his regular casinos, the people he’s developed a rapport with feel betrayed, like they’d been tricked by an old friend. Gupta doesn’t see it that way. He views casino blackjack as a war in which any tactic is fair game.&nbsp;



“On numerous occasions, I had to take all sorts of evasive measures to not get picked up, from alternate identities to fake names to stealing my own chips to make it appear I was losing more or winning less,” he recounts. “In some ways, it wasn't fun trying to figure out creative ways to keep playing, but then I decided to make a cat and mouse game out of it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-move-forward-with-an-indomitable-spirit-nbsp">Move forward with an indomitable spirit.&nbsp;</h2>



Ahumada says that Gupta’s life belongs on the big screen, and he’s not the first person to think that. They joke about whether Hollywood or Bollywood will acquire the movie rights first, to which Gupta says probably Bollywood. Although he spent the first 23 years of his life in India, he is surprised by how well his book has been received there, mostly because it seems like a distinctly American tale.&nbsp;



“The U.S. was this land of possibility for me, which is why I came here, and at least in my case, America's reputation has turned out to be richly deserved,” he says. “I mean, where else can somebody come to study computer science, become a professional gambler, end up on Wall Street and then <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/there-is-power-in-writing-your-personal-story-heres-how-to-start/">write a book about it</a>?”



Gupta defines his two guiding principles as adhering to calculated risk and fighting unfairness, but there’s another subtle thread to his success story: the power of an indomitable spirit. Through trial and error, calculations and analysis, Gupta has ensured that no matter what he tries, the odds are bound to end up in his favor.&nbsp;



Order Play It Right: The Remarkable Story of a Gambler Who Beat the Odds on Wall Street through <a href="https://www.kamalguptawrites.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gupta’s website</a> and Amazon, or pick it up at a major book retailer near you. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

In his new book, Play It Right, he details how his love for numbers, taking calculated risks and fighting against unfairness led him to unprecedented success in the world of finance, which he refers to as “the largest casino in the world.” 

In his new book, Play It Right, he details how his love for numbers, taking calculated risks and fighting against unfairness led him to unprecedented success in the world of finance, which he refers to as “the largest casino in the world.”  | SUCCESS

Calculated Risk: Kamal Gupta's Success in Casinos & Wall Street

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7 Tips for Transforming Passion into Profit on Social Media with Sean Cannell

In 2003, Sean Cannell started shooting videos for his local youth group using a Canon HV30 with mini DV tapes. Watching the videos required a VHS player and projector—a retro pairing you’d be hard-pressed to find now. He could never have imagined that his passion for creating videos would someday translate into a career as a wildly successful YouTuber.&nbsp;



That isn’t to say the years in between have been easy. In 2009 he came up against several crises, each of which would have been an acceptable reason to give up on his passion. First, the recession hit and he was overleveraged financially, then his church was embroiled in an embezzlement scandal. Finally, his wife became unexplainably ill and required hospitalization. Amid the fear and grief, he somehow found a way to press forward.&nbsp;



“I've heard it said that if you're going through hell, keep going,” he shares in a recent conversation with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host and editor Tristan Ahumada. “I think the key is if you're in the shadow of death, that's not where you want to set up camp, you gotta keep going.”&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/finding-your-social-marketing-edge-with-sean-canne/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Finding Your Social Marketing Edge with Sean Cannell"></iframe>



Cannell’s current life is a testament to the power of perseverance. He started <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/THiNKmediaTV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Think Media</a>, a podcast and YouTube channel with more than two million followers, and recently published the second edition of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/YouTube-Secrets-Ultimate-Following-Influencer/dp/1544511817" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube Secrets</a>, a book he co-authored with Benji Travis. His life is fuller than it’s ever been, but he recognizes it could have gone very differently.&nbsp;



Now Cannell makes it his mission to uplift other content creators by sharing his expertise. Of the many tips he divulges during his interview with Ahumada, seven stand out from the rest:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-find-your-mortality-motivation">1. Find your mortality motivation</h2>



No one wants to think about death all the time, but there’s a reason Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You Were Dying” exists—the realization of your impermanence makes you understand how precious life really is. This concept is called mortality motivation, and it’s what Cannell began to experience when his wife (who has thankfully recovered) was so ill in the hospital.



“It shifts your perspective and you start saying, ‘Man, am I really living all-in?’” he explains. “Tomorrow’s not guaranteed.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Through the turmoil of his wife’s sickness, he decided to be all-in with his passion, with his effort, with everything. His attitude and the success he’s experienced as a result is why he can now sit on the other side, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/bethany-motas-3-rules-to-thrive-long-term-as-a-digital-content-creator/">encouraging other creators</a> to keep going.&nbsp;



“What we do today is we teach others how to monetize their passion, reach more people with their message and build their business with the power of online video and YouTube,” he says. “And the fire hasn't stopped.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-identify-your-ideal-path-to-success-nbsp">2. Identify your ideal path to success&nbsp;</h2>



Cannell isn’t oblivious of the fact that some people struggle to find their path, especially when they’re interested in so many different things. In fact, he remembers being torn between his work as a pastor and a video creator. Identifying the following “three Ps” helped him narrow it down:&nbsp;



<ol>
<li>Passion. It’s essential to pick a project you’re passionate about, but many people have more than one. In these instances, Cannell suggests picking five to 10 and writing them down for further evaluation.</li>



<li>Proficiency. Cannell says that “proficiency speaks to what others see in you,” meaning the thing you’re known for or have the most knowledge about. You want to choose a path that is intuitive to your skill set.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Profit. Even if you’re passionate about and proficient at something, if it can’t be monetized, it won’t lead to the ideal level of success. Before choosing a path, Cannell suggests identifying its total addressable market or potential for profit.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



Ultimately, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/daring-to-dream-finding-the-courage-to-follow-your-own-path/">the path you choose</a> should be the one that most strongly aligns with all three, according to Cannell. That’s the process by which he decided to go all-in on video creation.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-reconcile-your-callings">3. Reconcile your callings</h2>



At times, Cannell feels strange about being a pastor who chose to focus on his YouTube career. However, he’s found a way to integrate his faith with his passion for video production.



“It was actually around 2008, before everything came crashing down, that God really stirred in my heart a call to the marketplace,” he explains. “But in a lot of ways, I feel that once a pastor, always a pastor.”



Cannell continues his spiritual caretaking through nurturing and praying for his team, as well as his viewers. In doing so, he’s been able to reconcile his two strongest callings, which is why many of his followers affectionately refer to him as “the YouTube pastor.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-build-on-solid-ground-nbsp">4. Build on solid ground&nbsp;</h2>



“The mission of our company is actually to teach business and marketing from a biblical perspective, so the word of God is actually the foundation,” he says. “My hope is to help 10,000 purpose-driven people not just figure out how to make a living on YouTube, but also really figure out how to make a difference and share messages that matter.”



Although faith is Cannell’s foundation, he doesn’t believe it needs to be everybody’s. He does believe that people seeking a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2020/02/14/is-being-a-social-media-influencer-a-real-career/?sh=49342f56195d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">career in social media</a> should build on something more solid than fame and money, such as ethics or character. He says that making his faith his foundation is what’s allowed him to keep the fire burning for Think Media.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-evaluate-your-relationship-with-ambition-nbsp">5. Evaluate your relationship with ambition&nbsp;</h2>



Although the meat of Cannell’s mission is about helping thoughtful creators figure out <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-craft-compelling-messages-online-and-win-new-customers/">how to share their messages</a>, that’s not the entirety of it. He says that the final line of his purpose statement should say, “and to experience that success without losing their soul.”



“I don't want my business or my YouTube channel to get bigger than my character because I don't want to be crushed by success,” he says. “I also don’t want to be afraid of success, so it's a line to walk.”&nbsp;



Cannell says that it’s hard to see young creators, especially on TikTok, blow up before they’re able to handle success. He encourages anyone building a fan base on social media to take an honest assessment of their relationship with ambition before diving too deep.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-think-of-social-media-as-a-tool">6. Think of social media as a tool</h2>



Although he agrees that social media has the potential for destruction, he doesn’t agree with some critics’ stance that it’s evil. To him, social media is a tool, much like money. They both have the potential to do tremendous good or harm.&nbsp;



Needless to say, Cannell has figured out how to make <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-tips-to-set-up-your-social-media-for-success-in-2022/">social media work for him</a>. He says one of his main strategies is to “work smarter, not harder” by repurposing video podcasts for multiple platforms. Ahumada asks if he would change primary platforms or strategies if he were just starting his journey today.



“If I was to start today… YouTube would be home base because it’s the only place where your content lives forever,” he explains. “Yes, there's incredible organic and viral growth on TikTok, but I would argue the quality of the viewership there is nowhere near what a YouTube audience is.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-find-your-clarity">7. Find your clarity</h2>



Finally, Cannell emphasizes the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-need-clarity-to-achieve-your-goals/">importance of clarity</a>. At the end of the day, everyone—regardless of career or life path—needs to answer for themselves why they’re doing it.&nbsp;



“I would do some market research and think about what it is you love,” he says. “Of course <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/to-lead-is-to-serve-others/">you should serve others</a>, but one of the reasons it's cool to do an interview show is because it puts you in a situation where you're constantly learning, where you're constantly getting to build your network and connect with other people.”



For Cannell, that’s what everything seems to be about: harnessing passion, faith and ingenuity to bring more value to others.&nbsp;



You can find additional social media insights, YouTube strategies, courses and speaking events when you visit <a href="https://www.seancannell.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cannell’s website</a>. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

At times, Cannell feels strange about being a pastor who chose to focus on his YouTube career. However, he’s found a way to integrate his faith with his passion for video production.

At times, Cannell feels strange about being a pastor who chose to focus on his YouTube career. However, he’s found a way to integrate his faith with his passion for video production. | SUCCESS

Transforming Passion into Profit: 7 Tips from Sean Cannell

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Curiosity, Community and Passion: Essential Ingredients for Success with Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Lou Ignarro

If your 13-year-old’s favorite pastime is building bombs and fireworks, you might be a little (or a lot) concerned. You may start to worry about budding behavioral issues or the state of their mental health. Just remember this: Your child’s bizarre interests may indicate a highly creative, scientific mind rather than an issue that needs fixing.&nbsp;



“I made my first firecracker, which was successful, and then I graduated from there and made a larger, more powerful firecracker,” explains Nobel Prize winner Dr. Lou Ignarro lightheartedly in his recent conversation with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host Tristan Ahumada. “And my passion for that kind of chemistry never waned, never disappeared.”&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/winning-the-nobel-prize-with-dr-lou-ignarro/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Winning the Nobel Prize with Dr. Lou Ignarro"></iframe>



Now retired, Ignarro recently published a book called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dr-NO-Discovery-Nobel-Viagra-ebook/dp/B09M6557Z3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. NO: The Discovery That Led to a Nobel Prize and Viagra</a>. It details not only his critical research into nitric oxide and how it led to the development of many pharmaceuticals, including Viagra, but also the critical insights he gleaned along his journey.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-curiosity-fuels-discovery">Curiosity fuels discovery.</h2>



“Even though I have been retired from my basic scientific research for about six or seven years, the curiosity never leaves me,” says Ignarro. “I'm always saying to myself, ‘Oh, darn it, if I had an active laboratory again, this is what I would do,’ and every day I <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-practices-to-come-up-with-new-ideas/">come up with a new idea</a>.”



Throughout his career as a pharmacologist, Ignarro <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-should-follow-your-curiosity/">was unyieldingly curious</a>, hungry for understanding. He was forever breaking things down to study their constituent parts and how those parts affected the whole. He says that more than anyone, his father encouraged his young scientific mind by allowing him to experiment with building explosives, despite his mother’s legitimate safety concerns.



“He would always tell me, ‘Son, you know, I want you to grow up to be somebody, I do not want you to be a laborer or a carpenter, like me,’” Ignarro tells Ahumada. “So, you know, my dad just wanted me to excel, so he encouraged me to excel and begged me not to get my mother upset.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-advancement-takes-a-village">Scientific advancement takes a village.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



During their interview, Ahumada points out that Ignarro seemed to rely much more heavily on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-reasons-community-over-competition-is-good-for-business/">community involvement and input</a> during his career than many entrepreneurs seem to do. He asks why the scientific community is more open to sharing ideas and progress than the larger business community.&nbsp;



“Science has to be shared by everyone, and that's why it's so important when people do science that they publish it in good journals that other scientists can read,” Ignarro explains. “We see if what other people have discovered can play a role in our work, maybe can help us understand something else… no one person can do it alone.”



The importance of collective learning and shared knowledge isn’t just one of Ignarro’s values—it’s the groundwork by which he (and scientists from every field of study) were able to make important advancements. In fact, it was through studying nitroglycerin, a drug that’s been used for roughly 150 years, that he discovered nitric oxide (NO).&nbsp;



For nearly 100 years before the discovery of NO, scientists knew that nitroglycerin acted as a vasodilator (a medication that opened the blood vessels), which is why doctors commonly prescribed it to patients with angina. However, the mechanism by which nitroglycerin dilated blood vessels was unknown until Ignarro’s laboratory figured it out: Nitroglycerin converts to NO in the arteries, making NO the actual vasodilator. But he didn’t stop there.&nbsp;



“We showed in 1986 that our arteries actually produce this chemical, nitric oxide, the same nitric oxide that the drug nitroglycerin, if you take it, is converted to in the arteries,” he explains. “It was a first-time discovery that humans can produce nitric oxide, and they produce it for the purpose of protecting the cardiovascular system… that's the reason I was invited to Stockholm.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-company-you-keep-impacts-your-trajectory">The company you keep impacts your trajectory.&nbsp;</h2>



Ignarro was not the first of his colleagues to be awarded the Nobel Prize. In fact, he watched seven other researchers receive it first, and he celebrated their accomplishments. However, he believes that important, award-winning work is never truly done alone.&nbsp;



“There's not been a single discovery that got the award and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine that was done by a single person who did everything by himself,” he says. “I did not do it myself, no way.”



This revelation leads Ahumada to ask about the significance of who someone surrounds themself with, and Ignarro is quick to say <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/positive-influencers/">the company you keep</a> is highly important. Not only did his peers encourage him, but they also shared their research and laboratories. His work may not have been possible if the scientific community didn’t share resources.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-passion-is-the-precursor">Passion is the precursor.&nbsp;</h2>



A thirst for knowledge and access to a supportive community are incalculably valuable in any pursuit. However, the ultimate <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/do-you-have-to-be-passionate-about-your-job/">precursor to success is passion</a>. Without that, Ignarro is doubtful that a person can reach their ultimate goals.&nbsp;



“If you don't have that passion to do a specific thing where you're not motivated, then it's much more difficult to be successful, and it may be worthwhile looking at something else,” he concludes. “But if you believe in what you're doing, and you believe that there's an answer out there, then you just have to go after it and you must never never give up.”&nbsp;



Learn more about how Dr. Ignarro’s work on nitric oxide revolutionized pharmacology by <a href="https://www.drignarro.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visiting his website today</a>. You can order his latest book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dr-NO-Discovery-Nobel-Viagra-ebook/dp/B09M6557Z3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. NO</a>, through Amazon or Barnes &amp; Noble.

Throughout his career as a pharmacologist, Ignarro was unyieldingly curious, hungry for understanding. He was forever breaking things down to study their constituent parts and how those parts affected the whole. He says that more than anyone, his father encouraged his young scientific mind by allowing him to experiment with building explosives, despite his mother’s legitimate safety concerns.

Throughout his career as a pharmacologist, Ignarro was unyieldingly curious, hungry for understanding. He was forever breaking things down to study their constituent parts and how those parts affected the whole. He says that more than anyone, his father encouraged his young scientific mind by allowing him to experiment with building explosives, despite his mother’s legitimate safety concerns. | SUCCESS

Success Ingredients: Curiosity, Community, Passion

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Why Balance Is the Essential Precursor to Fulfillment with Touré Roberts

There’s a big theme common among most of the entrepreneurs and business owners who’ve graced the Brilliant Thoughts’ podcast: the importance of finding your rhythm. Although ritual, repetition and sustained practice are all undeniably important, author Touré Roberts says that balance is even more essential.&nbsp;



“It takes a certain rhythm and flow to get the type of breakthroughs you want in any area of your life, and that's wonderful,” explains Roberts in a recent conversation with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host Tristan Ahumada. “The only thing is, sometimes when you get locked into a rhythm you miss the scenery, and it's the scenery that ultimately undergirds your life, which feeds you energy and gives you everything that you need.”



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/the-secrets-of-balance-with-tour-roberts/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="The Secrets of Balance with Touré Roberts"></iframe>



If you’ve been living on autopilot, feeling unbalanced or struggling to connect with those most important to you, it’s time to read Roberts’ latest book, <a href="https://www.thebalancebook.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Balance</a>. A refreshing take on entrepreneurship, Balance reminds us that no endeavor, business or relationship is as successful as it could be until we love ourselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-every-person-has-two-different-bests-nbsp">Every person has two different bests.&nbsp;</h2>



Each person has two bests: one based on where they are currently at and one based on when they are balanced. To illustrate this concept, Roberts explains how when he was about halfway through writing Balance, he sent the manuscript to his agent. To his surprise and disappointment, she said it wasn’t his best work, to which he was initially defensive.&nbsp;



“But she was right,” Roberts admits to Ahumada. “She had seen me when I was at the top of my game, when I was aligned, when I was in my flow, and so she was right—that wasn't my best now, it was the best based on where I was.”&nbsp;



To manifest his best, Roberts knew he needed to reset, to stop and rest. This was a painful insight at first, because we live in a culture that says stopping means <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-find-freedom-from-toxic-hustle-culture/">you’re not being productive</a>. However, the reality is that if you stop and give yourself what you actually need, you’ll be even more productive.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balance-isn-t-an-action-it-s-a-place-nbsp">Balance isn’t an action—it’s a place.&nbsp;</h2>



Most people believe that balance is a discipline, but Roberts doesn’t agree. To him, it’s a state of being, a place where his thoughts, body and spirit are rejuvenated. It’s also a place of abundance from which everything you touch will thrive.&nbsp;



“I like to put it this way: You can do all things well, but you just can't do all things well at the same time,” he says. “If you're in this state of balance, then you will be sensitive enough to know what to pour into and when to pour into it.”&nbsp;



Entrepreneurs typically worry about whether they’ll be able to get something started, not whether they’ll be able to stop it once it’s going. This can present a huge challenge to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-keys-to-achieving-balance-in-life/">finding and maintaining balance</a>.&nbsp;



“I've discovered that what is more difficult, oftentimes, than getting off the ground is actually stopping and slowing down,” says Roberts. “It takes faith, you have to believe that you can stop and your world will not come crashing down, particularly if you're stopping for the right reasons, like family and marriage.”



But how do you develop that kind of guiding faith? It starts with <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-steps-to-discover-your-true-self/">getting to know yourself</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identify-your-deep-seeded-needs-and-desires-nbsp">Identify your deep-seeded needs and desires.&nbsp;</h2>



Soul awareness is self-awareness that is taken a step further. Rather than the awareness of our actions, it is understanding our deepest needs and desires. Roberts believes that if you don’t know what your soul desires, you’re going to try to satisfy your spirit’s longings with surface-level things, which never works. To learn what you truly want, you need to silence the noise.&nbsp;



“Life is so noisy, and the problem is that noisy has become normal,” says Roberts. “And stillness feels weird.”&nbsp;



When silence and stillness are uncomfortable, many people rush to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-keys-to-eliminating-distractions/">fill their free time with distraction</a>, whether in the form of technology, work, social activities or pathological busyness. However, settling into that calm, quiet place is exactly how you start getting to know the full, authentic you.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-don-t-let-the-noise-of-night-tell-you-who-you-are-nbsp-nbsp">Don’t let the noise of night tell you who you are.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



Noise isn’t always external. Sometimes the loudest noise comes from within, in the form of unwanted negative self-talk. Roberts says that one of the most harmful lies our inner voice tells us is that we’re not enough. For people prone to anxiety and worry, these thoughts are generally more prevalent at night.&nbsp;



“None of us can keep a negative, self-defeating thought from coming our way,” says Roberts. “But we can take control over the thoughts that we allow to stay, to remain.”



In other words, you may not be able to stop negative self-talk from popping up in your mind as you try to relax, but you can choose not to ruminate on certain thoughts. For Roberts, one of the most effective ways to counteract harmful thought patterns is by <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-be-your-own-cheerleader/">feeding his self-acceptance</a> with affirming “I am” statements.&nbsp;



“I don't go to sleep at night without affirming myself into a place of gratitude, into a place of self value, giving myself a head start on the onslaught of negative thoughts that may attempt to come at night,” he explains. “You have to make a habit of telling yourself who you are before the noise of night does it for you.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understand-that-being-alone-is-a-blessing-not-a-curse-nbsp">Understand that being alone is a blessing, not a curse.&nbsp;</h2>



The word “alone” is derived from the Middle English words “all oon,” meaning “all one.” Although there’s nothing inherently negative in this meaning, we tend to pity people who we see sitting by themselves and feel compelled to invite them into the larger group. Roberts thinks our distaste for alone time poses some distinct challenges.&nbsp;



“There are certain things that can only happen for you and in you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/unlocking-the-power-of-solitude/">when you are alone</a>,” says Roberts. “I believe it starts with perspective, and the other thing is curiosity… being curious about you, believing that there is something uniquely, inherently beautiful in you, and that it has to do with what you like and what you enjoy, your passion and your thoughts.”&nbsp;



When we look at ourselves with wonder and fascination, we start to understand who we really are, becoming our true, full selves. We accept that we’re more than our current situation and start to believe life has better things in store for us.&nbsp;



“I believe that when you become all of yourself, you're better positioned to give yourself to a new career, to a new entrepreneurial pursuit or to a new individual, but you have to know who you are,” says Roberts. “Be comfortable with who you are and become all of who you are: all oon, all one.”



Learn more about Roberts, where to buy his books and how to attend upcoming speaking events when you visit <a href="https://www.thebalancebook.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Balance Book website</a>.&nbsp;



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

If you’ve been living on autopilot, feeling unbalanced or struggling to connect with those most important to you, it’s time to read Roberts’ latest book, Balance.

If you’ve been living on autopilot, feeling unbalanced or struggling to connect with those most important to you, it’s time to read Roberts’ latest book, Balance. | SUCCESS

Balance: The Precursor to Fulfillment with Touré Roberts

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Relentless Rest: Why Entrepreneurs Need to Learn How to Chill with Tony Horton

Longevity &amp; Performance

Longevity &amp; Performance Archives

Longevity &amp; Performance | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

If you’re into fitness culture, you’ve almost certainly heard of elite trainer and motivational speaker Tony Horton. In addition to working with superstars like Bruce Springstein, Tom Petty, Annie Lennox, Stevie Nicks and Billy Idol, he is the creator of Power 90 Extreme (P90X), a wildly popular home exercise regimen.&nbsp;



It’s no exaggeration to say that Horton has enjoyed tremendous success in life, perhaps enough for several lifetimes. Although the 64-year-old is quick to admit that luck played a role, he says it isn’t quite that simple.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Luck is opportunity meeting readiness,” explains Horton in a recent interview with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/bs/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts’</a> host Tristan Ahumada. “And early on when I was unlucky, these opportunities came, but I screwed up, blew it.”



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/learning-when-to-chill-out-with-tony-horton/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Learning When to Chill Out with Tony Horton"></iframe>



There have been times in Horton’s life when exercise wasn’t the cure-all, but the lessons he’s gleaned on his journey to become a world-famous fitness guru have continued to serve him. And some of the most important are disarmingly simple, like <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2021/08/12/11-ways-professionals-can-relax-and-recharge-when-traveling-isnt-an-option/?sh=18c89740598f">learning when to chill out</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-be-receptive-to-transformation-nbsp">Be receptive to transformation.&nbsp;</h2>



If you met Tony Horton in high school, you’d never imagine that he would become one of the most influential fitness gurus in the country. A self-described “nonathlete,” he was more interested in drinking beer and hanging out than working out. All that changed in 1980 when he moved to California to become an actor and was unexpectedly swept up in the exploding gym scene.



When he started acting, his agent told him flat out—you’re too out of shape. He made a commitment to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-create-an-exercise-routine-that-doesnt-suck/">start working out</a> and eating healthy, a lifestyle shift that led him to a revelatory realization: Unlike the high from drugs and alcohol, the euphoric effects of physical exercise didn’t cause a huge crash.&nbsp;



“A lot of people are using sex, drugs and rock and roll to try to get these little temporary highs, and then the downfall is just too tremendous,” he says. “But if you exercise, which means you're earning it, it's like, I'm not using a source outside of myself… I am the source.”&nbsp;



After years of missing out on opportunities because he was hungover, depressed or tired, Horton <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-change-your-habits/">decided to make a change</a>. That transformation allowed him to become the trainer of Hollywood movie executive Harlan Goodman, who would eventually connect him with Tom Petty. This introduction would open the floodgates to a sea of other celebrity clients and push Horton to work from pre-dawn to night.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-listen-to-the-wisdom-of-your-body">Listen to the wisdom of your body.</h2>



We all have those years where <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-daily-habits-to-build-your-resilience/">everything seems to go wrong</a>, and for Horton, that year was 2017. Despite the enormous popularity of P90X, he was struggling to negotiate a fair contract with his fitness and media company, Beachbody. Around the same time, the Las Vegas shooting happened, and his friends were among the people in attendance. The day after, Tom Petty died.&nbsp;



Amid these challenging situations, Horton’s physical health started to suffer. He developed Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which occurs when shingles develop in the ear and damage facial nerves, often causing Bell’s Palsy. He developed a ringing in his ears and started having problems with his vision, sense of smell, taste and balance—all critical faculties, especially when your livelihood depends on optimal physical performance.



At this point, Horton couldn’t work out, couldn’t travel, could barely walk. Anxious that he wouldn’t improve, he sank into a deep depression. As his health continued to spiral, he realized that overwork and physical, emotional and mental stress were <a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body">inhibiting him from recovering</a>. So just like he had done when he first moved to California, he decided to make a big change.



“Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain and illness seemed appropriate, because sometimes you're in such pain and agony that all you have is your breath,” he tells Ahumada. “What happens is that you have to learn how to relax more, you have to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-speak-well-and-listen-better/">learn how to listen</a>.”



With meditation, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-ways-you-can-use-mindfulness/">breathing and relaxation</a>, Horton began to slowly improve. Now, he doesn’t take for granted the regenerative power of rest and integrates it into his daily routine.



“Last night after the workout, I jumped in the pool, which was icy cold, and then I got in the jacuzzi with Epsom salt baths,” he recounts. “That's how I have to do that, whereas before, I would just work out hard and drink a shake, go about my day… now I have to do all these extra things.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-let-the-pendulum-swing-in-both-directions-nbsp-nbsp">Let the pendulum swing in both directions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



At some point, all <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-ways-to-overcome-entrepreneurial-anxiety/">entrepreneurs face challenges</a>, and many face failure. Horton doesn’t shy away from this truth, but embraces it as a marker of resilience.&nbsp;



“I have 23 failed businesses, you know, from mouth guards to home delivery food services to shoe insoles,” he says. “Tenacity is a snail in a hurricane… my whole thing was just continuing to show up and learn how and when to chill out.”&nbsp;



Entrepreneurs and ambitious self-starters have the tendency to burn the candle at both ends, a drive that Horton both relates to and admires. However, he recognizes that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-keys-to-achieving-balance-in-life/">a lack of balance</a> can make people more vulnerable to anger, depression and even sickness.&nbsp;



“The pendulum swings in both directions, at least it's supposed to, but if we don't allow it to, something’s gonna break, right?” he asks Ahumada. “Some physical, mental and emotional issues are gonna pop up.”&nbsp;



The good news is that intentionality, balance and rest can help prevent a lot of these issues. That’s why Horton advocates for focusing on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-should-focus-on-what-you-can-control/">the things you can control</a>: the food you eat, the way you interact with your body and your mind’s focus. To him, these things make up the essence of who we are as people and the foundation on which we build out our lives.&nbsp;



Interested in learning more about Tony Horton? <a href="https://www.tonyhortonlife.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visit his website</a> to tour his many product lines, events, fitness programs and more. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

If you met Tony Horton in high school, you’d never imagine that he would become one of the most influential fitness gurus in the country.

If you met Tony Horton in high school, you’d never imagine that he would become one of the most influential fitness gurus in the country. | SUCCESS

Chilling Entrepreneurship: Embracing Rest with Tony Horton

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Bigger than Business: How to Unlock Deeper Purpose with Ranjay Gulati

Like many business experts, Harvard professor Ranjay Gulati has dedicated his life to understanding how companies grow. His conclusions, however, are by no means typical.&nbsp;



In his lifelong endeavor to understand the mechanics of business growth, Gulati found that the most successful companies share at least one key element: purpose. In his newest book, <a href="https://ranjaygulati.com/books-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deep Purpose</a>, Gulati details why having prosocial goals is crucial to success, an idea he was initially hesitant to embrace.&nbsp;



“If you told me five years ago, ‘Ranjay, I have a crystal ball, and you are going to write a book about purpose,’ I would have said, ‘Tristan, you're crazy,’” laughs Gulati in a recent conversation with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host Tristan Ahumada. “Not a chance, zero, because to me this purpose stuff in business was like smoke and mirrors.”



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Initially skeptical of companies that claimed to be driven by a desire to help others, Gulati found it hard to believe that businesses weren’t just virtue signaling. Now he understands that deep purpose not only exists within certain companies, but also plays a foundational role in their achievements.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-role-should-companies-play-in-society-nbsp">What role should companies play in society?&nbsp;</h2>



When the Boston bombings happened in 2013, Gulati was teaching at Harvard. He felt it was necessary to talk about the event with his students, a conversation that ended up being the unlikely catalyst for his journey into purpose.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“We started a conversation about the tragedy, but then we turned into a conversation about the role of business in addressing more fundamental issues of society,” says Gulati. “To understand—what is the role of business and do businesses have a purpose?”



To answer his question, he went to his friend Larry Fink, an influential investor and the CEO of BlackRock, who was instrumental in many entrepreneurs' adoption of meaning <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-tips-for-building-and-growing-a-purpose-driven-business/">into their business frameworks</a>. In talking with Fink, Gulati started to notice a trend: When small companies grew tremendously in size, their CEOs often expressed a lost sense of purpose.&nbsp;



With his interest piqued, Gulati started conducting interviews with CEOs and business leaders, thinking he would write some sort of expose. He discovered that within the context of a company, purpose can mean a variety of things. Yet, unlike how culture <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-maintain-your-company-culture-past-the-startup-stage/">dictates a company’s dos and don’ts</a>, purpose should serve to answer just one question: Why do we exist? Unfortunately, a company’s purported intentions aren’t always the reality.



Gulati divides purpose into three different categories: criminal activity, hobby and win-win. He uses the example of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes to illustrate how greed can masquerade as altruism, and explains how other companies will only adopt purpose as a side hobby, not as part of the main business. The third type of purpose, win-win, is the intersection where a company finds a way to benefit society while still remaining profitable.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-purpose-is-essential-to-performance-nbsp">Purpose is essential to performance.&nbsp;</h2>



A company’s performance is crucial to its viability, but it shouldn’t be confused with purpose, although the two are largely inextricable.&nbsp;



“A lot of people talk about performance and purpose,” explains Gulati. “That ‘and’ word is highly confusing because when you put ‘and’ between the two, you're implying that purpose is anything besides performance, it's additive to performance.”&nbsp;



He says the right word to separate the two terms is ‘with’—performance with purpose. Every company needs to have a strategy based on the pertinent market variables, as well as a way to effectively implement that strategy. However, planning and implementing are difficult to do if you don’t have a foundational understanding of why your company exists.&nbsp;



Gulati describes purpose as a compass of sorts, an orienting framework that shows where a company is headed and why. It doesn’t need to be overly complex; it can simply outline a company’s goals and perceived duties to society. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-big-stretch-discovering-your-dreams-purpose/">Purpose statements</a> are useful in turning a set of words into an actionable goal.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caring-leadership-offers-a-competitive-advantage-nbsp">Caring leadership offers a competitive advantage.&nbsp;</h2>



Researchers have long understood that people who feel like <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/jay-shetty-the-power-of-purpose/">they have purpose</a> live longer, happier lives than those who don’t. They are more productive at work, more inspired, more loyal and less likely to quit. Unfortunately, that’s not the experience that most workers in our society have.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“We have designed work in a way where we think of human beings as like a coin operated monkey,” says Gulati. “And I think in spite of 50 years of research showing that, yes, human beings want pay for performance… they want more than that.”



Although we tend to think of work as a necessary evil, Gulati says it doesn’t have to be that way. By aligning goals with the needs of its employees and consumers, businesses can create deep purpose organizations that benefit everyone, not just the stakeholders. He says these organizations are marked by at least two core principles: a profound sense of responsibility and a mutual trust between company and individual.&nbsp;



“To really unlock their personal purpose, you need to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-ways-to-practice-radical-kindness-with-your-employees/">demonstrate that you care</a> about not just them as a worker bee, but as a person,” he explains. “How am I going to help you live to your fullest potential, how am I going to establish that rapport of trust where you know that I have your well-being at heart?”



When entrepreneurs make it their mission to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-put-your-employees-well-being-first/">enhance the lives of their employees</a> and consumers, they indirectly improve their company. The key is learning how to be supportive and challenging to their team at the same time, which takes practice. Although a boss’ support for their workers isn’t unconditional, it should have the same care and concern for well-being that marks any personal relationship.



“When you unlock purpose in somebody, you create inspired work,” concludes Gulati. Adding value to others’ lives continues to be one of the most mutually beneficial and constructive ways that entrepreneurs can improve individual lives, communities and the world.



Find Gulati’s work, including books, research and speaking events, by <a href="https://ranjaygulati.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visiting his website</a>. Reach out to him online via <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjay-gulati/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/RanjayGulati" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>. 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

When the Boston bombings happened in 2013, Gulati was teaching at Harvard. He felt it was necessary to talk about the event with his students, a conversation that ended up being the unlikely catalyst for his journey into purpose. 

When the Boston bombings happened in 2013, Gulati was teaching at Harvard. He felt it was necessary to talk about the event with his students, a conversation that ended up being the unlikely catalyst for his journey into purpose.  | SUCCESS

Unlocking Deeper Purpose: Insights with Ranjay Gulati

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Changing the World: Why True Innovators Need Upheaval with Roger Martin

Future of Work

Future of Work Archives

Future of Work | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

You may have heard that the smartest people will say “I don’t know” a lot. One plausible explanation is that they realize that the answers to many questions are impossible to know for sure. That attitude may seem self-defeating to some, but to Roger Martin, business innovator and professor emeritus at Toronto University, it has distinct advantages.&nbsp;



“Why come to the conclusion that the way we're thinking about this business problem is right,” he poses to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host Tristan Ahumada. “And you must use that way, when there is lurking out there a better way… a newer way to think about it?”



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/btpod-220422-rogermartin/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Finding Fresh Approaches with Roger Martin"></iframe>



When you believe an answer to be unequivocally true, you are closed off to possibilities. In his most recent book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3OUWHbf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A New Way to Think</a>, Martin explores how this narrow mindset limits a person’s ability to create new solutions for business problems. He delves into falsification, a way of thinking that says there are no right answers—just better ones and worse ones.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-make-innovation-a-habit-nbsp-nbsp">Make innovation a habit.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



Entrepreneurs don’t become successful by maintaining the status quo; they find new, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-art-of-problem-solving-4-creative-strategies-to-tackle-your-biggest-obstacles/">better ways to solve problems</a>. To differentiate themselves from the competition, they need to move away from the expected process. Unfortunately, that isn’t a message that most business people receive in school or at work.&nbsp;



“I think we often were taught to think about the artifact… about financial statements… about how much shareholder value we'll produce… about what the product should look like,” says Martin. “We're taught a heck of a lot less in the world of business about how you actually get stuff done, how you make stuff happen.”&nbsp;



If you want to change the world, you have to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-change-your-habits/">address your deep-seated habits</a>, the automatic responses that your subconscious mind feeds you. Martin says that through deeply ingrained routines, the subconscious mind drives us to maintain tried-and-true methods of action instead of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-create-habit-chains/">exploring new, potentially risky ones</a>. The solution? Make a habit of innovating.&nbsp;



As you might imagine, training your mind to innovate isn’t always easy—it can be extremely uncomfortable at first. Anything that is exceptional is harder to implement because the subconscious questions the action so strongly: Why are we trying something new when we already know what works? That’s why it’s so important to believe you may not have all the best answers; there may be better ones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stay-in-constant-motion-nbsp">Stay in constant motion.&nbsp;</h2>



“Disruption happens wildly disproportionately to people who are not moving forward,” explains Martin. What he means by this is that companies who fail to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-keys-to-a-successful-business/">constantly reimagine their products</a> will be targeted by disrupters. However, it’s much harder for disrupters to hit a moving target, or a company that is never complacent.&nbsp;



Imagine you want to break Procter &amp; Gamble’s hold on the detergent industry by making a product that rivals their liquid Tide. You successfully create a new liquid detergent that works better and is cheaper, and it has real potential to siphon off a lot of their business. But then they announce a new liquid-free detergent that comes in pods, and all of a sudden your product is basically obsolete.&nbsp;



“My argument to all companies is to be in motion,” Martin explains. “And if you're in motion, chances are, you're not going to have a clear kind of disruption happening.”



Even though Procter &amp; Gamble already had a wildly successful product, they didn’t stop innovating, which is exactly why the disruption didn’t work. Conversely, that’s also why would-be disrupters should target companies who consistently maintain the status quo, rarely revisiting their process.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-destroy-the-model-nbsp">Destroy the model.&nbsp;</h2>



Whether you’re defending a business or trying to subvert it, you need to question the currently used models. Although you can use an existing model as a foundation to build upon, Martin says there’s another way that may be even more effective.&nbsp;



“I always ask the question, ‘Is there a different model of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-makes-good-customer-service/">meeting the customers' needs</a>?’” says Martin. “And, you know, I think there often is because… those who are prospering from the model are often very reluctant to destroy the model.”&nbsp;



Ahumada suggests TikTok and Tesla are good examples of breaking the model, to which Martin absolutely agrees. He says the key is to refuse to play the existing company’s game. Another benefit of choosing to start over rather than improve an existing model is that the subconscious isn’t screaming to keep things the same because you’re doing an entirely new thing.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lead-with-ethos-logos-and-pathos-nbsp">Lead with ethos, logos and pathos.&nbsp;</h2>



“This great book that almost nobody reads is The Art of Rhetoric, and it says… in order to create something new, be innovative, create something that doesn't now exist, you have to be persuasive, you have to imagine that possibility,” says Martin. “And then make the argument compelling enough to cause you to shift from what you're doing now to this new thing.”



The book he’s referring to is by Aristotle, a philosopher from whom Martin has gleaned many critical lessons. Among them is the idea that leaders need to harness ethos, logos and pathos in order to find success. Those three qualities will ultimately drive an entrepreneur’s ability to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-practices-to-come-up-with-new-ideas/">generate truly original ideas</a> and bring them to fruition.&nbsp;



He defines ethos as having the character that allows people to see you as credible and authentic and logos as the logical structure of an argument that allows you to be persuasive. Lastly, Martin says that pathos is the capacity to empathize with an audience, which is necessary if you want to have a large-scale effect.&nbsp;



“You've got to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-steps-to-craft-an-effective-message-for-your-business/">understand the audience</a> enough to be able to figure out what argument would be persuasive to them… and to have the sense of credibility and authenticity,” argues Martin. All three are essential qualities if a leader wants to be innovating, moving forward and reimagining the machine.&nbsp;



Find Martin’s latest books, speaking engagements and words of wisdom when you visit his website, <a href="https://rogerlmartin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rogerlmartin.com</a>.&nbsp;



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

In his most recent book, A New Way to Think, Martin explores how this narrow mindset limits a person’s ability to create new solutions for business problems.

In his most recent book, A New Way to Think, Martin explores how this narrow mindset limits a person’s ability to create new solutions for business problems. | SUCCESS

Upheaval for Innovation: Changing the World with Roger Martin

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How do you inspire an unmotivated son? You send him on a treasure hunt, of course! In a special solo episode, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host Tristan Ahumada recounts a parable that forever changed his perspective on life, teaching him seven powerful lessons in the process.&nbsp;



The story centers around a very wise man who, despite his efforts, can’t seem to motivate his son to take charge of his life. The father ends up sending his son on a faux treasure hunt that takes him far away from their village. After a two-year journey the son returns home, and instead of being upset with his father for lying about the treasure, he thanks him for the many lessons and life experiences he had along the way.



The son explains that as he traveled toward the treasure, he was thrown into many new situations, expanding his awareness; however, he missed a lot of opportunities for reflection. On the journey home, he was able to be more present, able to notice the changing seasons and fellow travelers around him in a way he hadn’t before.&nbsp;



There’s a lot to glean from this parable, but to Ahumada, it is essentially a story about mindfulness. After reflecting on the most important takeaways, he organized them into a list of helpful suggestions called “the mindful seven.”&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/the-mindful-7/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="The Mindful 7"></iframe>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-monitor-your-self-talk-nbsp">1. Monitor your self-talk.&nbsp;</h2>



Self-talk is the conversation you have with yourself, your internal monologue. It’s an important voice to be aware of because it reflects your mindset. If you're telling yourself things like “that was stupid,” “everyone’s against me,” or “I can’t take it anymore,” you will unconsciously act those realities out in order to prove yourself right.&nbsp;



“It's that self-talk, whether it's positive or negative, that determines how we live our life and how we show up on a daily basis,” explains Ahumada. “Because what we continually tell ourselves is what we project, what we focus on.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Family, friends and colleagues tend to know when you’re experiencing inner turmoil; they instinctively stay away. That’s because we create our lives from the inside out, so when negativity bubbles up to the surface, it’s an indication that it runs much deeper. If you want to be more mindful in general, you have to start by noticing <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-be-your-own-cheerleader/">the way you talk to yourself</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-think-about-how-you-use-the-spoken-word-nbsp">2. Think about how you use the spoken word.&nbsp;</h2>



The words that you use, and the tonality in which you use them, matters. Even more than self-talk, the way we approach the spoken language has a tremendous impact on the people around us. It can be used to communicate and uplift or to tear down. To Ahumada, the key is to make a habit of talking about the good things going on in your life rather than complaining by default.&nbsp;



“Now I'm not saying hey, look at toxic positivity where everything looks amazing,” says Ahumada. “We're talking about you deciding what to focus on in your day.”&nbsp;



We all experience fear, anger and sadness—it’s part of being human. We are all subject to situations outside of our control. However, Ahumada wants us to remember that we can control how we choose to respond to those situations, as well as the things we focus on. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-should-focus-on-what-you-can-control/">Choosing not to dwell</a> on things outside of your control begins to encourage the mindset of abundance.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-make-time-for-daily-reflection">3. Make time for daily reflection.</h2>



Intentional contemplation is the key to becoming aware of what’s really happening in your life. Making time for daily reflection will allow you to shift from a fixed mindset, which is quick to accept defeat and reject criticism, into a growth mindset, which embraces challenges and sees effort as the path to mastery. You won’t know which one you’re using unless you take time to reflect on your day.&nbsp;



“All it takes is five minutes at the end of the day to look back and think, ‘How did I treat people?’” says Ahumada. “And that's where you begin to change right through that reflection, that's key; that's where growth happens.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-always-be-learning-and-unlearning-nbsp">4. Always be learning and unlearning.&nbsp;</h2>



If you want to grow, it’s not enough to just gather new information; you need to constantly be challenging your assumptions about what you know to be true or right. To Ahumada, exposure to more people, whether in person or on the internet, is the best way to do that.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“There are so many things like this podcast, YouTube videos, audio, books that create the environment that you want to live in,” he says. “Surround yourself with those people that can help your mindset grow.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-practice-the-things-you-re-afraid-to-do-nbsp">5. Practice the things you’re afraid to do.&nbsp;</h2>



If there’s something you’ve been wanting to do but are afraid to get started, that’s a pretty good sign you need to be working your way up to it. Growth doesn’t arise out of comfortable, certain situations; it happens when we test ourselves, challenge perspectives and conquer fear.&nbsp;



Working through something uncomfortable helps <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/marie-forleo-cant-vs-wont-mindset/">challenge the limiting beliefs</a> that are holding you back. It doesn’t happen when you just do it once, though; it’s essential to be constantly practicing whatever you’re trying to improve, whether it’s self-talk, reflection or something totally different. Just like you should always be learning and unlearning, you should always be practicing the new lessons to solidify them into habit.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-prioritize-the-big-three-nbsp">6. Prioritize the big three.&nbsp;</h2>



Especially in Western culture, people tend to think about the mind and body as separate, almost distinct entities. Ahumada says that it’s all you—your mind, body, spirit and emotions. These aspects of personhood are actually inextricably connected and constantly affecting each other. Together, they comprise the self, which should be everyone’s number one priority.&nbsp;



Number two of the big three is family, which Ahumada recognizes looks different to everyone. It could be your pets, your parents, your siblings, your friends, your partner or whoever else brings goodness into your life. Part of being human is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-ways-to-build-lasting-relationships/">having and maintaining relationships</a> because other people have a profound effect on your well-being.&nbsp;



After self and family, Ahumada says you need to be taking care of your business, whatever that looks like. It could be a side hustle, writing a book or a steady job; the type of business isn’t important, only that you make it a priority.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-follow-a-routine-nbsp">7. Follow a routine.&nbsp;</h2>



You have the power to design and implement a routine for self-betterment. Following a routine is the practice of <a href="https://hbr.org/2020/11/make-mindfulness-a-habit" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">making mindfulness a habit</a>, and it ties the previous six together seamlessly. A disciplined routine doesn’t just create freedom, but also greater awareness, which is ultimately what mindfulness is all about: noticing thoughts, actions, feelings and sensations.&nbsp;



“Scientists don't fully understand the brain, it's so complicated, and they're not even close to figuring it out,” says Ahumada. “The one thing they do know, though, is that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-change-your-habits/">you can change habits</a>, is that you can change yourself by changing what you input.”



At the end of the day, you’re the only person in charge of your growth. The good news is that you can do it—you are totally capable of navigating your own ship, especially when you embrace the mindful seven.



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

After reflecting on the most important takeaways, he organized them into a list of helpful suggestions called “the mindful seven.” 

After reflecting on the most important takeaways, he organized them into a list of helpful suggestions called “the mindful seven.”  | SUCCESS

The Mindful Seven with Tristan Ahumada

The Mindful Seven with Tristan Ahumada | SUCCESS

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How Uncertainty Fuels Innovation with Square Co-Founder Jim McKelvey

Glass-blowing isn’t a hobby we generally associate with billionaires, but then again, Jim McKelvey isn’t your average tech tycoon. He learned some of his most valuable lessons about timing, process and innovation in his glass-blowing studio, concepts that would guide him to eventually co-found the company Square.&nbsp;



McKelvey recalls attending a 10-day glassblowing course, studying under a master in the field. Despite 15 years of practice, he was unable to create basic forms with any real consistency. He used his one allotted question for the entire course to ask the teacher how to do a basic technique, expecting him to demonstrate. Instead, the master talked McKelvey through the entire process, giving step-by-step directions. This led to a major realization.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/innovating-innovation-with-jim-mckelvey/embed?style=artwork" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Innovating Innovation with Jim McKelvey"></iframe>



“The technique that I had been using was the correct technique, but I wasn't getting the timing right,” McKelvey explains to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host Tristan Ahumada in a revelatory new interview. “And it was this lightbulb moment in my life because I realized that just like in the studio, there were many other places in my life where I was doing the right thing, but I was doing it at the wrong time.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-right-timing-often-feels-wrong-nbsp">The right timing often feels wrong.&nbsp;</h2>



Like glass designs that spend too much or too little time in the kiln, even brilliant inventions can be thwarted by poor timing. Unfortunately, timing isn’t exactly something most people are taught to gauge, and we tend to feel the most comfortable and confident when moving in the same direction as the rest of the herd. As a result, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/daring-to-dream-finding-the-courage-to-follow-your-own-path/">pursuing a distinctive path</a>, even if it’s the right one, can feel daunting.&nbsp;



“Oftentimes, we ignore timing, just because it’s a hard question to answer,” McKelvey says. “And if you’re doing something innovative, almost always the right time feels too early.”



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-tips-for-dealing-with-uncertainty/">To combat the uncertainty</a> of timing, many people want a checklist to follow, a formula that assures them they’re on the right path. In fact, that’s exactly what McKelvey’s first publishers asked for when he submitted the finished manuscript of <a href="https://amzn.to/3uKlwi2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Innovation Stack</a>, a checklist of five to seven well-defined steps. McKelvey had to explain that there was no roadmap to problems that had never been solved before.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-true-innovation-is-a-last-resort-nbsp">True innovation is a last resort.&nbsp;</h2>



Many people have the desire to innovate but don’t know what that looks like. At a basic level, they should start with doing what they love and are good at, working toward a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/16-ways-to-hone-your-problem-solving-skills/">problem they can realistically solve</a>. Still, many people ask McKelvey <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-essential-habits-to-become-a-next-level-entrepreneur/">how to become an entrepreneur</a>.&nbsp;



“I think entrepreneurship is a dead concept,” McKelvey says. “The original meaning of the word ‘entrepreneur’ meant somebody who was doing something that everyone else thought was crazy… Today, entrepreneur just means anyone who starts a company.”



He feels the same way about innovation, saying people use it as a “dessert topic” to be sprinkled on all of their actions for extra flavor. This casual treatment of the word does a great disservice to people who actually find themselves with no other option but to innovate. In those moments, they will feel unqualified, and if they’re trying to do something that’s never been done before, they will be. However, that shouldn’t be a deterrent.&nbsp;



“Look, you're not qualified, you are absolutely not qualified to do something the first time, no human is,” assures McKelvey. “All human progress is made initially by an unqualified individual.”



That being said, McKelvey doesn’t support innovation for its own sake; he believes that reinventing the wheel should be the last resort. If anyone has already solved the problem that you’re working on, you should learn the solution from them. It’s only when people find themselves at the edge of human knowledge that innovation is the appropriate next step. He wrote The Innovation Stack for people who find themselves on the other side of that line, unsure how to move forward.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-normal-people-transform-the-world-nbsp-nbsp">Normal people transform the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



McKelvey says that at some point in life, everyone finds themselves standing on a precipice, that edge of humanity that no one’s crossed yet. Choosing whether or not to cross is an individual choice, and there’s no right or wrong answer. However, it’s a mistake to think that only heroes make the leap.



“Everybody I studied in the book, everybody I've profiled, myself included, we're just normal folk who end up in weird situations, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/9-ways-to-improve-your-perseverance-skills/">and then we don't quit</a> for some reason,” he explains. “But that's the story that nobody ever tells you—it's an everyman story.”



The people who transform the world don’t have superpowers. They aren’t fearless and certain. They are normal people, distinguishable only by a will to survive and a willingness to go first.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-build-a-hover-car-paint-it-metallic-sparkle-pink-nbsp">If you build a hover car, paint it metallic sparkle pink.&nbsp;</h2>



When McKelvey was inventing the Square reader, he found himself torn between aesthetic and functionality. He prototyped two readers: a smaller, cuter one that didn’t always get a clean card read and a larger, less cute one that performed way better. When he demonstrated both to people, he noticed a strange effect.&nbsp;



“If I made them use the big one, they were sort of like, okay, it reads the credit,” he remembers. “But if I got them to use the little one, they'd be like, what the hell just happened? Show me that again!”&nbsp;



He says that people were mesmerized by the small, roughly one-inch wide early Square reader, and reacted as if it were a magic trick. They couldn’t believe something so small could read a credit card, and even though it utilized the same ground-breaking approach as the larger one, people strongly preferred the smaller Square.&nbsp;



If you’ve never invented anything new, you might assume that brand new products and ideas automatically get a lot of attention. McKelvey says this is not the case at all.&nbsp;



“[For instance] you could invent a hover car,” he explains. “This thing could levitate 10 inches off the ground, never touch the ground, and I guarantee you could drive it around the city all day, and nobody would stop.”&nbsp;



People won’t notice even the most revolutionary technology if it doesn’t look exciting. That’s why it’s essential to create designs that stand out, even shock people. In a final word on the subject, McKelvey leaves listeners with this advice:&nbsp;



“If you build a hover car, paint it metallic sparkle pink.” 



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Like glass designs that spend too much or too little time in the kiln, even brilliant inventions can be thwarted by poor timing.

Like glass designs that spend too much or too little time in the kiln, even brilliant inventions can be thwarted by poor timing. | SUCCESS

Embracing Uncertainty: Jim McKelvey on How It Drives Innovation

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Growing Your Business with Referrals: How Generosity Inspires Reciprocity with Michael Maher

How do you show your appreciation for an entrepreneur who goes the extra mile to help you out, even when there’s nothing in it for them? Thank you cards are undoubtedly a classic, but nothing expresses gratitude quite like a referral, the veritable love language of business owners worldwide.&nbsp;



When you refer a friend to a boutique salon, marketing firm or body shop, you’re not just helping that business generate income—you’re saying you believe in its ability to replicate a quality service or product, so much so that you’re willing to stake a social connection on it. If your friend also has a positive experience, they’ll appreciate your recommendation, and all three parties will have benefited. That’s powerful.



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Most entrepreneurs instinctively understand this symbiotic process; the problem is that they just can’t seem to get it started. If you struggle to get referrals, it’s time to revitalize your business relationships through better communication. According to bestselling author and real estate phenomenon Michael Maher, that process starts with service and self-mastery.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-the-relationship-moving">Get the relationship moving.</h2>



“What is a relationship?” poses Maher in his recent interview with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-thoughts-with-tristan-ahumada/id1562886870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brilliant Thoughts</a>’ host Tristan Ahumada. “It’s simply a value exchange, in my opinion… and we need to go first.”



To illustrate his point, Maher asks Ahumada to think about two people on a teeter totter. If both people are sitting there not moving, it’s not very fun. Now imagine they’re throwing a heavy bag of gold back and forth. Each time they throw value, they move the teeter totter up and down, creating an enjoyable, mutually beneficial experience.&nbsp;



“When you’ve got that dynamic relationship, opportunities are going to come, referrals are going to happen and the relationship is going to flourish,” Maher explains. However, someone has to be willing to get the process started by giving value first.&nbsp;



In his highly acclaimed book <a href="https://amzn.to/3En3MMQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Seven Levels of Communication</a>, Maher explains how approaching each relationship with a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/giving-kindness-what-a-wonderful-world/">spirit of generosity</a> ultimately benefits the giver as much as the receiver. These ideas are more than theories; they are the tried-and-true lessons that earned Maher the title of North America’s most referred real estate professional.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-embrace-a-service-mindset-nbsp">Embrace a service mindset.&nbsp;</h2>



Too often, entrepreneurs approach an opportunity looking to get something from it, a mindset that Maher says is all wrong. Instead of expecting to receive, people should step into a situation with the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/serve-others-to-get-all-you-want/">desire to provide a service</a> or value to others. He says this perspective has benefited countless relationships and even facilitated his introduction to Tony Robbins.&nbsp;



Maher recounts attending an event in Las Vegas that Tony Robbins was speaking at and feeling as though he should have been invited to speak at it as well. When he saw the event’s curator walking past him, instead of focusing on what he could get out of the situation, he offered his service.&nbsp;



“I’m here to help,” he said to the event coordinator. “I will literally get water for the speakers, whatever you need me to do, I’m here to help.”&nbsp;



With no idea who Maher was, the curator initially declined his offer, but upon realizing who he was, sent someone to escort him to the green room. A fan of his work, he wanted to know why Maher hadn’t revealed his identity, to which Maher responded he “didn’t think mattered.” As a result of that interaction, Maher found himself speaking at and emceeing the same event the following year, an opportunity that most likely wouldn’t have happened had he not offered to help.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-put-your-oxygen-mask-on-first-nbsp">Put your oxygen mask on first.&nbsp;</h2>



As with many service-oriented people, Maher has <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-prevent-burnout/">experienced the burnout</a> that comes from putting everyone else first. This was especially true at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he felt compelled to step up and put extra care into his community, which he calls the Generosity Generation.&nbsp;



“I was born for this,” he remembers thinking after giving a crisis response 101 presentation on Zoom, March 20, 2020—one week after the stay-at-home mandate went into effect. “All the stuff I’ve been doing all my life was so that people would have somebody to follow, look up to and act as a guide at this time.”



Although Maher was grateful for the opportunity to provide extra care during those terrifying months, it wasn’t long before he stopped taking care of himself. He gained weight and felt exhausted. Eventually, he realized he would need to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-simple-self-care-questions-to-address-burnout-before-you-well-burn-out/">take care of himself first</a> in order to keep serving, a reality he likens to a parent putting on their oxygen mask first.&nbsp;



These days, Maher doesn’t have that problem. When he’s tempted to neglect himself, he remembers the acronym FLY, which stands for “first love yourself.” This concept is key to self-mastery, one of the three pillars underpinning The Seven Levels of Communication. With more energy for himself, Maher can care for his community without sacrificing his health.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-energized">Get energized.</h2>



Just like relationships are a value exchange, life is largely an energy exchange. Maher says that if you pay attention, you’ll start to notice the people, situations and environments that give you energy, and perhaps more importantly, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-shouldnt-invest-all-your-energy-in-small-things/">the ones that drain it</a>. Avoiding the things that make you feel drained and running toward those that provide energy is a key part in creating reciprocal relationships.&nbsp;



In his own life, Maher knows he feels best when putting his family first. To get there, he had to change certain behaviors, like spending every Sunday watching football, sometimes catching as many as 10 games from multiple screens. Now, his family spends “Son-days” together, a time they use to prepare for the week ahead. He calls this ritual of looking forward SWEET: schedule, weather, eating plan, exercise plan, together.&nbsp;



The level of intentionality he brings to family time not only energizes and sets him up for success, but also fosters more love within his family unit. By giving more value to his family, he adds to the momentum of generosity-driven mutuality.&nbsp;



“What happens when you’re always giving value is the universe starts to conspire for your success, the reciprocity kicks in,” he says. “If you’re always giving value, you’re always going to be in relationships.”



Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Most entrepreneurs instinctively understand this symbiotic process; the problem is that they just can’t seem to get it started. If you struggle to get referrals, it’s time to revitalize your business relationships through better communication.

Most entrepreneurs instinctively understand this symbiotic process; the problem is that they just can’t seem to get it started. If you struggle to get referrals, it’s time to revitalize your business relationships through better communication. | SUCCESS

Generosity and Business Growth: Michael Maher on Referrals

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