Unconventional Life – Podcast, Blog, Live Events

Category: Business

The Slow-Hustle: Why Every Entrepreneur Needs To Slow Down In Order To Speed Up

If you’re an entrepreneur, chances are you’ve experienced the “hustle.”

Popularized by entrepreneur icons like Tim Ferriss and Marie Forleo, the hustle says you need to work relentlessly, obsessively, with unparalleled drive and insatiable and hunger for your goal. You should be “on” 24 hours a day, restless, raging, and unwilling to stop for anything or anyone.

To an outsider, it may sound crazy–absurd even. A work ethic like that couldn’t possibly be healthy or productive long-term. But within the entrepreneur community, it’s a mandate. A mantra. A mindset that determines whether you make or break it.

Subscription to the hustle mentality can be alluring. It promises to set you on the fast-track to success with a magnetic compulsion towards greatness.

But according to one entrepreneur, the hustle is not the definitive shortcut to success–at least not as a standalone strategy.

Meet Peter Awad, 4-time serial entrepreneur and founder of The Slow Hustle, a podcast that features successful entrepreneurs who are intentionally slowing down the pace of their business and their lives. Despite challenging the #1 rule of entrepreneurship, they’re uncovering deeper profits than ever, in terms of both revenue and personal fulfillment.

I caught up with Awad about his unique take on the hustle on this week’s episode of Unconventional Life, “Why Slowing Down Is The Key To Speeding Things Up In Your Business.”

For Awad, slowing things down hasn’t always been his approach. Growing up in Florida, he worked long hours in his parents’ Egyptian grocery store and adopted their work ethic of sweat and tears.

“I’d see my dad dancing in the kitchen, so excited because it was such a great day. Then the next day he would talk to my mom and say he wasn’t sure if he was going to make it,” Awad says.

Awad adapted to the unpredictability of business by working harder than anyone else he knew. By age 15, he saved enough money to purchase a car–though he wasn’t yet eligible for a license. In mechanical engineering school, he launched a business from his dining room selling car parts on ebay that he would operate from midnight to four in the morning “because that’s the only time [he] had.”

It’s hard to imagine anyone more dedicated to the hustle than Awad was. He was the textbook definition of a hustler… Yet he “was miserable.” He had attained success in business, but his personal life felt empty. He would return home to his wife and four kids feeling drained from the day.

It was from this place of having simultaneously everything and nothing that Awad realized what was really important to him. “I realized I would rather have the freedom and time to do the things I want to do,” he says.

Thus, the “slow hustle” was born. To Awad, it means approaching life with a sense of presence and attunement, slowing down to drink in the moments that really matter. Now, he has the energy to sustain fulfilling businesses and relationships that last a lifetime.

Below, Awad shares how you can master the slow hustle with 3 tips that will power up your business for the long run.

1. Do “batches” of focused work.Don’t keep multiple business related tabs open all day that will constantly draw from your attention. This can make you feel like you are “working all day” when in fact, you are distracted, unfocused, and unengaged. Instead, have one tab open at one time so you can hone in on that task. You might commit to answering as many emails as you can in 25 minutes, for example. You’ll be amazed by how much more productive you are and how much time this frees up for you to do what you really want to be doing.

2. Break down your goal into daily bite-sized chunks. When we set out to achieve a lofty goal, it can seem either overwhelming and obtainable, or manageable in a matter of time–depending on how you look at it. Awad recommends you break down your goal into small steps you feel confident you can accomplish each day so you don’t give up and burn out. With the right strategy, even the biggest feats are attainable. “At 12 years old I figured out what the car would cost and knew how much money I would need to make every single day to get there… and I got there,” Awad says.

3. Establish a clear distinction between “on” and “off.” Drop the mentality that you need to be available for work 100% of the time. This is unsustainable and you will inevitably feel overworked and exhausted. Instead, set up a designated time for work versus play in your life. Be willing to compartmentalize rather than overlap so you can be present to what matters most, when it matters. Awad has created a bracelet with a setting for “slow” and “hustle” to remind him when he is on and off the court. “I wear it on hustle all day long, but before I enter the house, I turn it on slow. It’s my visual cue that I need to leave everything at the door–don’t bring in the struggle of the day. I turn it off to actually be there and hear my kids,” he says.

Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to my newsletter for powerful tools to create a life that inspires you.

March 1, 2018
Aligning Your Values With Your Work: Creating Social Change Through Entrepreneurism

In a world plagued by climate change, food and water shortages, surging populations, and social injustice, we can no longer afford business as usual.

The damaging business models of the past, which prioritized short-term gains and growth at the expense of sustainability, are coming to an end—and consumers are making sure of it.

A recent study published in Fox Business showed that more than 90% of consumers are likely to switch to brands that support a good cause, and boycott companies that engage in irresponsible business practices.

In today’s Information Age, the veil behind corporate operations has lifted. “Information about a given company’s environmental record and labor practices is readily available—and readily tweeted and retweeted. Companies must pay careful attention to what their customers do and say,” says TIME.

On all fronts, companies are being held accountable to a higher level of social responsibility. So what does this mean for the future of business?

One millennial put it quite simply when she quit her job that didn’t measure up to her standards of integrity: businesses stuck in the past are getting left behind.

Meet Lauren Andrews, CEO of The Foundation, an online program that teaches entrepreneurs how to start a business, even if they have “no idea, no special skills, or limited cash to get started.” Andrews says The Foundation is part of the next generation of businesses that are leading with social change.

I spoke with Andrews about how entrepreneurs can make business a force for good on this week’s episode of Unconventional Life, “Why Starting A Business Is The Fastest Route For Social Change.”

Sometimes, the call to action can arrive in unexpected ways. In 2014, Andrews was on track to get a Ph.D. and in need of new a job after her former one, working second in command at a nonprofit, displayed a lack of alignment with her personal values.

Her search led her to Craigslist, where she found an unusual job posting. “I came across the most sketchy Craigslist ad you’ve ever seen,” Andrews says. “For whatever reason I applied… and within 5 minutes I had Andy’s credit card information and his keys and was hired as his personal assistant.”

Andrews is referring to Andy Drish, a cofounder of The Foundation alongside Dane Maxwell. Maxwell launched The Foundation from his parents’ garage with $123 to his name, with the company four years later generating revenue in the millions.

Little did Andrews know, but the opportunity would actually prove to be her calling to something much, much greater.

In just two years, Andrews plowed through the ranks of personal assistant, human resourcer, event planner, financier… all the way up to CEO. She says she was driven by The Foundation’s commitment to make a difference in the world by empowering people to create meaningful businesses.

“I very quickly saw that what The Foundation was doing and what so many millennial entrepreneur businesses are doing is that they’re creating social change. They’re able to create good in the world. Entrepreneurialism is what I believe to be the most effective and expedited source and venue for social change,” Andrews remarks.

What does it take for a business to become a force for positive change? Below, Andrews shares the best of The Foundation’s principles that you can apply to your business or startup today.

1. Act in community. Assembling a motivated team that shares your company’s values is key. You should be able to trust and depend on the people you work with, not just to build a company but to build each other. “When entrepreneurs come together we’re able to make a huge difference in the world,” Andrews says. Consider organizing team-building events to foster cohesion and community in your workplace.

2. Create a culture of freedom. The best employees don’t need to be micromanaged; they thrive in environments that encourage them to come up with creative solutions and contribute their unique voice. Equally important is the freedom to design a lifestyle around work that inspires employees to put forth their best effort. Andrews says “having the kind of freedom in your life where you have total control and don’t have to go into work for 8 hours to do only 4 hours of work” was key to her commitment to The Foundation’s success.

3. Host events that matter. Making events a signature part of your business is a way to gain massive exposure and stand out from the crowd, all while bringing people together and providing value. Enlist influential people as speakers, facilitate live breakthroughs, and gather at a destination location for a truly unforgettable experience. The Foundation has been hosting live events annually since 2012 that have since grown to be a trademark of the company, attracting hundreds of new and veteran entrepreneurs from around the world. Check out their upcoming event in Las Vegas, “The Foundation Experience,” to see what goes into creating a world-class event.

Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to my newsletter for powerful tools to create a life that inspires you.

March 1, 2018
The Art Of Instagram: 5 Tips To Build A Powerful Brand And Following

A picture was once worth a thousand words, but now it may be worth a thousand followers, thanks to the photo-sharing app Instagram, which Facebook acquired for $1 billion.

The social media platform allows users to archive their photos to the effect of digital storyboards that others can engage with through likes, comments, and follows.

According to The Independent, “followers represent social capital, which has an influence on monetary capital.” In other words, having a popular Instagram account can translate into status and cash.

But with over 500 million monthly active users on Instagram, how are you supposed to stand out?

If you’re like most and have been trying to gain followers with no success (the average account has 150 followers), here to help is Instagram consultant Crystal Schreiner, a brand mentor with and founder of the company Beauty Everywhere, which teaches people “how to become a walking media company.”

Schreiner shares her recipe for impact on Instagram on this week’s episode of Unconventional Life, “Instagram 101: How To Build A Profitable Profile.”

Schreiner’s expertise stems from her work with Hollywood music video directors and New York runway photographers.

She landed her first internship shooting for a former Vogue editor while studying advertising in college. “I knew I wanted to go to New York, so I emailed hundreds of fashion editors. Vogue’s former editor replied, and I asked to shoot at fashion week… She said yes,” Schreiner recalls.

In Hollywood, Schreiner learned how stars were created on camera by “creating a storyline through visual elements in the videos.” The experience would prove invaluable for her Instagram career later on, where imagery and video are the building blocks of a personal brand.

“Every brand needs a personality — a brand is human, is a person,” Schreiner says. “I teach people how to break down their story into pictures like a visual story board. Every single picture tells part of a story and the story creates a personality that’s entertaining.”

It’s through the tactful weaving of aesthetics, design, vision, and story, that Schreiner is able to create profiles that stand out… and cash in.

When an Instagram account has a significant amount of followers, it can become a powerful source of revenue. Some of the most common ways to monetize an account include obtaining sponsorships with advertising companies, selling top-liked photos, and referring traffic to your personal brand.

Below, Schreiner shares her best tips for building a successful Instagram account, whether you’re starting from scratch or are improving on an existing profile.

1. Showcase your signature style.Having a unique look that allows others to recognize you is essential. Your visual appearance is the first aspect of your profile that others notice, so what do you want your outfit, your stance, and your attitude to say about you? It’s important to construct a style that reflects your personality and develop it through each of your photos. If you’re feeling stuck, finding inspiration from others you admire is a great place to start.

2. Tell your story. Your story is the personal element of your profile that tells your followers who you are and what you stand for. You’ll want to be real and relatable, because that’s what people connect to most. Plus-sized model Iskra Lawrence is a particularly great example of this: she shares her story candidly and openly to her 2.3 million followers. Schreiner says, “you can think of Instagram like a narrative as if you’re writing the story of your life… think about how each picture adds to the last.

3. Engage with your followers. Connect to your followers by responding to their comments, thanking them, and leaving notes on their photos. If someone is particularly active on your page, you might consider following them back. It can be difficult to keep up with so many notifications, but making an effort to engage with at least a few people each day makes a massive difference and makes your followers feel like they know you and you care.

4. Market yourself. Identify who your target audience is and find out how you can connect with them. Searching hashtags related to your niche is a great way to find users who might be interested in your content. Find out who these users follow, and consider reaching out to them if they’re on the same mission as you — collaboration can help you cross-promote and get more exposure. Finally, caption your photos with popular hashtags to help people in your community find you.

5. Be consistent. “If you want momentum, you have to post every single day. You need to be seen and be putting yourself out there,” Schreiner advises. You should be posting to Instagram at least once daily, and posting three times a day can help you grow even faster.

Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to my newsletter for powerful tools to create a life that inspires you.

March 1, 2018
How To Become A Better Risk-Taker, From ‘Fail Better’ TEDx Speaker Lindy Norris

I recently read that 96% of businesses will fail within the first 10 years. But for such a universal occurrence, it’s surprising to me that failure has such a bad rap.

We’re often made to feel ashamed, embarrassed, or regretful of our mistakes and believe we must do everything in our power to ensure they don’t happen again.

The truth is, most of us aren’t willing to fail because the stakes are just too high. Failing could mean we get fired, lose thousands on an investment, jeopardize a relationship, or let others down.

By avoiding failure, you are missing out on the powerful teachings it has to offer. There’s a goldmine of bravery, resilience, and growth beneath failure, but only for those daring enough to dig.

But what if there was a way to fail that allowed us to access its riches with none of the risk?

One woman says there is. Meet Lindy Norris, a speaker and growth catalyst most-known for her Ted Talk “Fail Better,” where she exposes the hidden treasures of failure. She’s also a Marketing Magazine 30 Under 30 honoree and the founder of the nonprofit Athena Leadership.

Norris shares how to become a student in failure’s classroom on the latest episode of Unconventional Life, “How To Heal Your Relationship To Failure Forever.”

Norris’ first major run-in with failure took place when she moved across the continent from Canada to San Francisco to pursue an MBA program. After spending just a few days in the program, she realized it wasn’t right for her and decided to head home empty-handed.

Back in Canada, she found herself confused, disappointed, and unclear what to do next. All of the effort she put into applying for her MBA had seemingly been a complete waste.

To add insult to injury, she did the same thing a second time by trying to go back for a different MBA with no success. But rather than pity herself, Norris did something unexpected: she looked deeper into the failure and opened herself up to its teachings.

What she learned was that she was destined for something different. The deeper she inquired, the more clear became her calling to spread awareness about failure to the world — beginning with her Ted Talk about failing better.

“Look at [failure] from a development perspective, figure out how you can develop resilience through it and come closer to what you really want to do,” she says.

Norris’ willingness to confront her setbacks has molded her into a fearless risk-taker with an appetite for failure. Now, she’s dedicated her life’s work to creating the same results for others.

“It’s okay to change your mind, it’s okay to follow what really fulfills you, what your passions are… there’s points when we realize that what we originally envisioned for ourselves isn’t what we want to do anymore. That’s totally okay — changing your business, changing your mind, deciding to take a different direction is totally okay,” Norris says.

Below, check out the different ways you can make failure your friend without having to risk it all. By flexing your failure muscle, you’ll become more adept at learning from mistakes and more confident to take risks that can benefit you.

1. Ask for a 10% discount one day where you usually buy your morning coffee. It seems like a simple thing to ask, but it’s bound to make you (and the cashier) feel a bit uncomfortable. By asking, there’s a lot more to gain than just a few cents — you’ll reach a higher threshold of confidence and overcome a significant social barrier. Remember, the worst they can say is no.

2. Sit next to someone on a non-crowded bus, train, or subway. We tend to leave plenty of extra room between ourselves and strangers, especially when there’s no shortage of space. Are you bold enough to do it anyways and reclaim friendliness for creepiness? (Bonus points for striking up a conversation).

3. Publicly state your biggest goal. Tell as many friends and family members about it as you can, and be 100% honest. By sharing your biggest goal, you risk a very painful and very public failure. You’ll be challenged to be accountable for your goals and to make peace with the possibility of missing the mark.

4. Share something personal to your social network. Facebook is a great outlet — but what if you don’t get any likes? The benefit is you’ll learn to share openly without attachment to how people receive it. Sharing for the sake of sharing, because it’s important to you, is a huge win.

5. Speak up to your boss about something you don’t like. Many of us try to suck up to our bosses and pretend things are fine because they have power over us. This time, dare to speak up about something that’s bothering you to reclaim your voice. If you are the boss, try giving totally honest feedback to an employee.

Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to my newsletter for powerful tools to create a life that inspires you.

March 1, 2018
Back To Basics: The Keep-It-Simple-Strategy For Starting A Winning Business

It seems today that just about everyone’s got a different approach to business. Some say you should focus on one-upping your competition, while others say it’s best to be original, while still others recommend reinventing the wheel and forgetting about competition altogether.

Trying to navigate all these different tactics can be extremely overwhelming, especially because of the intense pressure to get it right… or else suffer a hit in your business.

“In a business environment that is changing faster and becoming more uncertain and complex almost by the day, it’s never been more important to choose the right approach to strategy,” says the Harvard Business Review.

So how exactly are you supposed to sort through all the information and decide which strategy is best for you?

One successful businessman says his winning strategy is sticking to the basics — the simple principles that have stood the test of time.

Meet Brent Underwood, founding partner of Brass Check, a creative advisory firm that has produced and marketed content for major clients likeGoogle GOOGL -1.19%, American Apparel, and Tony Robbins. He’s also the founder of the #1 rated hostel in America, HK Austin.

Underwood shares how he’s made it happen using classic techniques on this week’s episode of Unconventional Life, “Why The Business Basics Are Your Best Bet.”

Underwood graduated from Columbia University at the age of 23, the youngest graduate student in his class. During a college study abroad trip, he says he discovered a passion for traveling that would serve as the inspiration for him to later create his own hostel.

“I love traveling, I love interacting with people, and the hostel’s a way to travel—it was a way for me to backpack all around the world. I was exposed to so many different perspectives and the excitement of traveling,” Underwood says.

By 2014, he had stayed in over 150 hostels in 30 countries. A seasoned expert, he decided it was time to open up his own hostel.

Underwood recalls having little startup capital to fund the project — but that didn’t stop him. Instead, he stuck to the timeless principle of making due with what he had and pouring money into what mattered most.

He says he forewent serving breakfast to guests in exchange for purchasing high-end mattresses—which guests have been raving about ever since. “Everything else—the atmosphere, the common room, the location, the book collection, the guests, the reviews—was secondary, and, to some extent, outside our control. But if we could make at least the beds an unforgettable experience, we knew we would be putting money on a sure bet,” Underwood says.

Today, HK Austin is the highest-rated hostel in America, which Underwood credits to his application of simple, sound business advice. Below, he shares three tips you can use in your own practice to replicate his success.

1. Hire faster than you think you need to. As a business owner, it can be difficult to let go of things getting done “your way” and delegating responsibility to others. After all, things might not be completed to your standards, and quality could suffer. But trying to do everything yourself is a sure path to destruction, Underwood says. Your skills are needed to run the business, and you can’t do that while you’re focused on all the nitty-gritty details. Hire employees to take care of the small stuff, train them to do their jobs well, and commit yourself to what really matters.

2. Look no further than your own community. It can be tempting to want to solve a problem or provide value on a massive scale—which is why so many businesses try to serve a worldwide market. The problem is, they find themselves disconnected from the world’s needs, only able to speculate or approximate because of the vast size and distance, and as a result end up serving no one. Underwood says he conquered this problem by serving his local community in Austin, TX, home of the HK Austin. This allowed him to oversee important matters such as adhering to city building codes and tailoring the guest experience. Hone into your own city because you know its needs best of all.

3. Cut the distractions and focus on the actual product. So many business owners believe they have to have every aspect of their business perfect—from their business cards, to their website, to their logo, to their social media accounts. What they don’t realize is that this is actually a massive distraction from their actualproduct. Focusing on how manyTwitter TWTR +1.72% followers your business has, who might never become actual customers, doesn’t produce profits at the end of the day. The best businesses are the ones that strive to make their products and customer experience the very best they can be. Focus on your product first and foremost, and the smaller details will take care of themselves.

Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to my newsletter for powerful tools to create a life that inspires you.

March 1, 2018