Unconventional Life – Podcast, Blog, Live Events

Author: Jules Schroeder

  • Ep293: Turning Words into Wealth with Author Trainer Aurora Winter, MBA

    Ep293: Turning Words into Wealth with Author Trainer Aurora Winter, MBA

    It is said that there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you, which is why award-winning author and writing coach Aurora Winter has made it her life’s work to help people realize the value of what they have to say.

    Her natural vibrancy and lively personality gave her a natural edge in the entertainment industry where she spent most of her quirks and conquests. In seeing that all that the reputation she had gained and the relationships she had made was built on a foundation of excellent communication, it was during this time when she understood the value of her stories.

    “What I’ve noticed about the most successful people is always rooted in communication—they have a way of sharing stories.”

    But after spending time falling in love, getting into all sorts of businesses, and “schmoozing with celebrities”, Aurora decided that it was well about time she doubled down on what she felt was her calling.

    After a few years of diligent studying in Italy, she took her chances, and with a small email list of over 12,000 people, capitalized on her expertise and influence to pursue a career in writing.

    “I share that story because no matter what I’m going through, what you’re going through, what our listeners may be going through, there is a way through,” Aurora emphasizes, “If you have a big enough reason why.”

    Now a celebrated figure among authors and entertainers alike, Aurora reminds us that success follows those who are willing to take the risks of a path less travelled. To her, it is important to lead your own life and write your story the way you want it.

    “The most successful people—at least what I would define as success—their intention is of high integrity and not just to line their pockets.”

    More from Aurora:

  • Ep292: Building an International Community with Panion Founder Melanie Aronson

    Ep292: Building an International Community with Panion Founder Melanie Aronson

    It’s on how to build and run your own community online or offline. People often said that curiosity leads us down new paths, but for film director Melanie Aronson, curiosity made her take a hard left from a career in film and into the world of entrepreneurship.

    Living an international life and hopping from place to place, the newness of it all was a familiar feeling to Melanie as she was an enthusiast of the world’s uncertainties. The challenge of immersing herself in the unknown, combined with her natural fascination for new experiences different communities had to offer, became the life-blood of her work as a documentarian.

    “My mom used to tell me my whole life ‘nothing’s ever simple with you’” she said, jokingly, “For me, it’s exciting when there’s something new to solve.”

    It was this same passion for the community that lead her to pivot from film-making to app making, as she is now the founder of Panion, a platform for finding and building groups of like-minded people even in the most unruly places.

    Panion is a community management platform that provides an empathy-driven framework for creating safe and inclusive spaces of connection both online and offline.

    “I was really interested in understanding people’s experiences to people migrating was, coming from very different backgrounds and cultures, I wanted to understand what that process was like.”

    The effort and compassion that was put into her simple project have come a long way from its original purpose. Initially a tool for organization and meetups, it has become a full-fledged community-building platform. Despite the hardship and developments caused by the pandemic, Panion and Melanie’s goal still remains the same; making a safe space for people to find each other.

    “I think the hardest part of my journey was realizing that in order for this to be successful I had to recognize myself as a leader,” she says, “I have to do something, and then be able to actually look at myself and identify with that.”

    Concluding her story, she leaves us with one last message. Melanie reminds us that living an unconventional life could just happen out of nowhere and that the journey to growth is better when shared.

     

    More from Melanie:

  • Ep291: The Way of the Wanderer with Virtual Nomad Kach Medina of 2 Monkeys Travel

    Ep291: The Way of the Wanderer with Virtual Nomad Kach Medina of 2 Monkeys Travel


     

    It is often said that “success is a journey, not a destination.” This can’t be truer for the travel vlogger and nomadic influencer Kach Medina

    Her chronicle of over 140 different adventures started in the small country of the Philippines where the young Kach had already envisioned what she would do for the rest of her life; her knack for adventure made her the modern explorer that she is today.

    “I really wanted to become a diplomat so I could have a stronger passport, and I already knew when I was young that I wanted to travel the world. I envisioned this when I was seven, talking to my grandfather.”

    In 2013, Kach headed off backpacking to Southeast Asia. From there, she flew to different countries to explore more. In late 2014, having embraced a nomadic lifestyle, she began travel blogging on a full-time basis. Then after four years of adventure travelling followed by two years of sailing the Caribbean, she moved and bought a stone house villa in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, in 2019 to start a new expat life.

    Even during her time abroad, Kach never stopped looking for new horizons. She went from office jobs to teaching, jumping from one career to another. And even after several mishaps in life, love, and a car crash that left her immobile for months, she had one unwavering dream that kept her going: To travel the world.

    “When I finally found my mission, that’s when I decided that no matter what is happening externally, I just have to keep going.” She explains,” I just have to keep reminding myself that even though bad things come if I could just make my mission on a daily basis happen, I could surpass them.”

    Paving the way with every article she posts, Kach is now a devoted writer and wandering enthusiast who has made it her life’s mission to spread the joys of travelling. She makes it a point that the journey isn’t about the best spots or the most expensive food a country can offer; it’s about the act of finding yourself lost in new experiences.

    “My mission is to make one person happier every day. if I do that, I feel like I am still alive.”

     

    More of Kach:

  • Ep290: The Right to be Published with The Author Incubator President, Dr Angela Lauria

    Ep290: The Right to be Published with The Author Incubator President, Dr Angela Lauria

    Everyone has a story they want to tell, and the author-writing coach Dr Angela Lauria has helped thousands of aspiring authors to take those stories and share them with the world.

    Dr Angela E. Lauria is the founder of The Author Incubator™ and creator of the Difference Process™ for writing a book that matters. The Author Incubator was ranked #275 on the Inc. 500 fastest growing companies and #60 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Entrepreneur 360. Dr Angela won the Stevie Award’s Coach/Mentor of the Year Award and her program, The Author’s Way was named Coaching Program of the Year and was named, by Entrepreneur Magazine, as one of the top 10 most inspiring entrepreneurs to watch – one of only 2 women on the list.

    She knew at an early age that her destiny was written on paper and printed in leatherback. She was a natural bookworm, finding a second home in the library and a calling to write and be read. Her love for literature lead Angela to devote her time to publishing and helping marginalized authors speak their minds.

    “A lot of my work is just really helping women, LGBT folks, and people of colour, step into their authority in getting their message out there.”

    To Angela, being an author doesn’t just take vision, but action as well. She points out how a lot of her students wait for a “right time” before pursuing a career in writing and how she has helped them take the first step towards making a profit from their published work by helping them realize that “they have the authority; they just don’t have the clarity necessary to see it and claim it.”

    “You have to become the person who wrote the book before you write.”

    Angela also tells us how the changing times call for a new generation of writers; those who are dedicated to their craft and are willing to make a difference with the stories they have to tell. She makes it a point that the market looks for two types of authors; those who have mastery and the ones who want to become even better at it.

    Today, Angela and her team at the Author Incubator have helped aspiring authors turn their published work into a profitable revenue model with the same idea in mind; building mastery and forming a structure of commitment.

    “Number one, you’re not ready to write a book yet if you haven’t already done it, and then number two, if you’re not committed to continuing. That commitment to wanting to get better, that’s what I’m looking for.”

    More from Angela:

  • Ep289: Managing Relentless Creativity with Musician Entrepreneur A/J Jackson

    Ep289: Managing Relentless Creativity with Musician Entrepreneur A/J Jackson

    They say creativity doesn’t run out; the more you use, the more you have. This is especially true for musician and entrepreneur AJ Jackson.

    AJ started his career as the vocalist for Saint Motel, bringing new sounds and their own reinvention of music to the world. This led to their band gaining traction in the indie-pop scene. But AJ’s creativity didn’t stop there. He found himself in the movie-making industry and, somehow, even starting-up his own eyewear company, AVIEW. Like a comet through the sky, AJ doesn’t seem to have a stop button when it comes to bringing his ideas to life.

    “I always kind of have a restlessness,” AJ describes, “And the best way to scratch that itch, is to create.”

    AJ explains that his drive for reinvention is “like this constant feeling that we’re not there yet—I’m not there yet.” Further explaining that it is a blessing and a curse to be full of creativity, but emphasizing that the success of his pursuits all started from a crazy idea.

    “I would love to just turn that off, and just be content, but there is definitely a part of me that’s like, ‘they will not allow that’.”

    He also talks about his band and how their long-term bond has helped keep him grounded. Serving as both anchor and wheel when he comes up with something new.

    “Part of the benefit of having a band and being with like-minded guys who you’ve grown up with is that every step of the way, we can share it together.”

    When asked how he manages to keep his thoughts under control and navigate his passion towards achieving his goals, he points out that a fresh perspective and a few deep breathes make all the difference when things get too overwhelming.

    “Sometimes it definitely feels overwhelming and it’s like you just wanna give up. But you just have to be outside of yourself for a second,” he explains, “and realizes what you’re trying to accomplish is actually very small, very manageable, and very doable.”

    Finally, AJ leaves us with a little reminder to focus on what we can control and the things that are out of are hands shouldn’t distract us from our original goal.

    More From AJ and Saint Motel:

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