Unconventional Life – Podcast, Blog, Live Events

Category: Business

The ‘How’ and ‘Why’ of Launching a Social Impact Business
Josh Shukhman is the founder of Social Change Nation, a platform and podcast that empowers change-hungry entrepreneurs with the resources they need to create a profitable and impactful business. To date, he has hosted over one hundred episodes featuring interviews with successful entrepreneurs whose businesses are making a difference.

In Josh’s episode you’ll learn:
- The foundation of any social impact business.
- How to restore purpose and alignment to your life through service.
- Tips to plug into an uplifting support network.
Plus, Josh is giving 3 lucky listeners 6 month access to his membership program, The Impact Business Hub, which contains tons of invaluable content for social impact entrepreneurs. The winners will also gain access to The Impact Business Hub private Facebook group where they can connect with other likeminded doers.

Key takeaways from Josh’s episode:

1. Social Impact is the New Normal. In the past, companies that had a cause were the exception. But today, 87% of consumers will choose social responsible brands over their competitors, while 75% will refuse to buy from a brand who counteracts an issue they care about. If you’re thinking about launching a business or you have an existing one, integrating a social cause is virtually a requirement. Not only will it help distinguish you from competitors but it will improve consumers’ perception of you while making a tangible difference in a world that needs your help.

2. It Starts With Your “Why.” Josh says what makes or breaks a successful social impact business is the reason they’re doing what they’re doing. Those whose ‘why’ involves personal or material gain (for example, using your social mission as a marketing ploy) almost always burn out, while those who have a genuine, heartfelt interest in the cause they’re targeting are the ones who last.

Searching for your big ‘why’? Josh recommends you reflect on what angers you. “Look at the social problems that really piss you off,” he says. Where do you see injustice in the world? What group of marginalized people do you wish you could help? Anger can be the powerful fuel that inspires you to take action and sustains your cause.

3. Community Helps. Starting a social change business can feel like an uphill battle. But it’s easier with community. Josh recommends you surround yourself with likeminded others who also have a high value on service and impact. Better yet, immerse yourself in a community of doers who are actually actioning upon these values via entrepreneurship. There are tons of Facebook groups open to the public centered around this cause. With community, you will be able to endure the dips and be successful.

If you haven’t already, make sure you check out Josh’s podcast, The Dollar and a Difference Show.
April 26, 2018
Leading Business From Intuition
Emily Rosen is the director of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, an online education and certification program centered around a healthy relationship to food, body, and self. She is also the founder of Secret Keepers, an up-and-coming jewelry line.

In Emily’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Tips to build an engaged online community (the heart of your brand).
- How to strengthen your intuition.
- How to find the blessings in your hardships.
Key lessons from Emily’s episode:

1. The Same Rules of Community Apply Online. Emily says, “Online, the platforms change, the algorithms change, but the actual core underpinnings are always the same. Attention is our #1 commoddity. From there it’s usually educating, informing, and connecting. If you moved into a new neighborhood you would go knock on people’s doors, introduce yourself, and offer something of value like banana bread, or you would host a party and then you would give them a taste of who you are and offer them something so they had a good experience. It’s the same thing online.”

How does this look in practice online? Offer something of value to your community when they join—a free resource like a guide or discount code. Check in on your customers every once in a while. A well-intentioned “we haven’t heard from you in awhile, is everything ok?” or “just checking in, how are you?” message can really make people feel important. Treat your community members as living, breathing, human beings. Attend to their needs online like you would in real life. Be hospitable, warm, and inviting. Be a good host.

2. Connect to Your Intuition Through Your Breath. Are you seeking to connect more deeply to your intuition? Don’t underestimate the wisdom that lies in your body.

“Breathe into your belly,” Emily says. “The breath pattern of anxiety and stress is that upper register short breath, and from that place, you’re not going to make as clean decisions, you’re going to make survival-based decisions; you don’t have access to that higher knowing.”

3. Honor Your Journey. After years of battling an eating disorder, Emily’s work at the Institute for the Psychology of Eating is a defining moment in her journey. It is a testament to the personal work she has done to overcome one of her life’s greatest hardships. It brings her journey full-circle in that she can now give the gift to others that she herself needed to receive most.

Doing this can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things in life. If you struggle to find meaning in your work, ask yourself, how can I honor my journey? What have you personally struggled with? What thing did you go through that you wish nobody else in life would ever have to go through? In helping others in the way we needed help most, we vicariously help ourselves.
April 17, 2018
Startup Life: What It Takes to Be Successful in Tech
Kushal Ghimire is a successful serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Assignmate, an app that helps students connect with tutors worldwide.

In this episode 125, Kushal and Jules dive into the world of tech startups. Kushal brings a unique lens because he’s helping pioneer the new wave of startup culture in Nepal, which was virtually nonexistent until recent years.

You’ll learn:
- Tips to develop an app from the drawing board to production.
- How to find and enroll investors to fund your app.
- Daily practices to keep yourself focused, motivated, and productive at work.
Key lessons from this episode:

1. Persevere. Kushal and his team brought Assignmate to life in spite of countless setbacks. Based out of Nepal, they endured frequent 18-hour “blackout” periods with no electricity or wifi. While they could have used this as justification to give up on their dreams, instead they used it as a testament to their strength. They didn’t give up; they persevered. The lesson? Don’t make obstacles your excuse, make them part of your testimony.

2. Emulate Your Role Models. Kushal modeled his app off of Uber. He was inspired by the success Uber had using the simple principle of making others’ lives easier. Identify which companies in your industry are at the top and study what sets them apart. Emulate this and make it your own.

3. Be a Leader. If you don’t know of anyone doing what you want to do, don’t let that stop you. You don’t need to wait for other people to lead the way; you can be a leader and a pioneer. Nepal lacked a tech startup scene, so what did Kushal do? He bought a ticket to the US, immersed himself in the startup scene there, and brought it back home. He saw an opening and decided to initiate action and fill it. Take decisive action and be the one to generate new possibilities.

4. Create a Daily Practice and Stick to It. It’s essential to have a daily self-care practice, ritual, or routine that helps keep you in the best physical and mental state to be effective. Kushal says he wakes up early everyday and works out first thing in the morning. What sparks your creativity, elevates your mood, and energizes you? Whether it’s an exercise routine, a walk in nature, a soak in the tub, or a drink from your favorite smoothie joint, make a list of actions that are vital to your well-being and be sure to do some of them daily so you can do your best work.

5. Utilize Your Resources. Reading books, listening to podcasts, watching vlogs, attending free webinars, and the like are great tools to accelerate your growth. Immersing yourself in these resources can be beneficial simply for the sake of being in the “atmosphere” of powerful people. Mindset, energy, and belief systems are contagious. Surround yourself with successful and uplifting and you will invariably adopt some of their habits and success-oriented outlooks on life.
April 9, 2018
How To Start An Online Business With Bluehost

In this post, you will learn everything you need to know about starting an online business from the ground up, even if you have no prior business experience! Starting an online business has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me, allowing me to travel full-time and work from anywhere in the world where there is wifi. I love having the freedom to set my own hours and the fulfillment that comes from earning a living doing what I love most. With the step-by-step instructions I share in this article, you’ll be able to start your own business today!

If you’re ready to launch your own online business, the very first thing you’ll need to do is decide on a hosting service to host your website.

I personally use Bluehost, and I’ve had excellent experience with them.

I’ve negotiated with them an exclusive discount you can use if you sign up with them using this link here. For just $2.75 a month—less than the price of a cup of coffee!—you can get your own website up and running, which is where you will open up shop and begin making sales. Plus, if you use my link to sign up you will get your domain absolutely free with a 12-month or longer hosting plan. I highly recommend signing up for a minimum 12-month hosting plan, because you’ll pay a much lower monthly rate than you would otherwise.

While there’s many other web hosting providers out there, I use Bluehost because I feel it’s the best one on the market.. I personally own over a dozen different domains that I’ve used to sell all kinds of products, and I’ve experimented with many different hosting services, only to switch all of them over to Bluehost.

March 15, 2018
How To Use Your Digital Footprint To Advance Your Career

In today’s world, your social media presence is essential. The content you share represents who you are and what you stand for—it is your digital footprint.

With one google search of your name prospective clients, employers, and co-workers can get a snapshot of your history. 93% of employers say they use this snapshot to screen their applicants and 35% eliminate candidates for consideration based on what they find.

Surveys show employers check LinkedIn as the most popular channel (96%), followed by Facebook (56%), Twitter (41%) and Instagram (7%).

It’s a common misconception that you should only focus on your social media presence if you want to be an influencer. In many cases having no online presence can hinder your chances for employment or future collaborations even further.

Knowing how to cultivate an online presence that works in your favor is key. So how do you make your social media presence stand out?

One Influencer says it’s all about being committed to empowering others and inspiring positive change.

Meet Rob Fajardo, a 23-year-old thought leader and the founder of Leave Normal Behind, a community, content, and events hub dedicated to empowering others to become their best version through meaningful contribution. Fajardo is on a mission to help purpose-driven messages scale—he’s an advisor for Fownders, a NJ-based social impact accelerator—as well as a contributing author to Rise Up Champion.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Fajardo shares how you can create content that will help you advance your career by owning your digital output.

Be Authentic. 91% of Millennials want those they follow on social media to be authentic. Employers are no different—they want to populate their company with individuals who are in alignment with their company mission. In being authentic, you allow others to connect with you and feel like they know the real you. People can’t connect to a false image of you—they want to see your flaws, your mistakes, your humanity.

This builds trust, however, it’s important to be mindful of the impressions your photos give off. First impressions are powerful and any incriminating photos can do damage. “It’s all about vulnerability and transparency, showcasing who you are authentically to the world. That’s what gets people to connect with you,” Fajardo says.

Be Proactive. In 2017, it’s basically a requirement to have an online presence. Having no online presence can make recruiters wary, so it’s important to own your online presence by actively creating it. Whether it’s through your LinkedIn profile, a personal website, or writing articles for publications, be proactive in posting content frequently to your platforms and making sure it represents who you are and what you stand for. Personal websites can be a great way to showcase your credentials and skills to prospective employers while also allowing you to create a sphere of influence.

Your Life As Content. Creating content and living your everyday life don’t have to be separate. Content creation is a great way to position yourself as an expert for future collaborations and career advancements.

Don’t waste time trying to plan an elaborate content schedule with pre-populated ideas. That can get overwhelming and inhibit you from being in action. Instead, let your content emerge spontaneously by sharing your day-to-day activities and opinions. “Have a thought or an opinion? Take 30 seconds to a minute to formulate it and film yourself,” Fajardo says. “Repurpose the things you’re already doing and share it as content on different platforms.”

Take A Stand. Use social platforms as a way to get your thoughts and opinions about matters you care about out into the world. If there’s a cause that’s particularly important to you, be a vocal advocate about it. When you take a stance, and post about something consistently, you demonstrate your ability to be a force for a cause. In the process you also show future employers causes you care about which helps them know if you are a good fit for their culture.

Rob says, “If I’m not actively helping I’m indirectly hurting.” How can you use your voice to make the world a better place? What’s experiences have you learned something from that others need to hear? In being a voice for positive change, you establish a reputation for yourself that shows others you are committed to help.

This article was originally published on Forbes

March 7, 2018