As a 28-year-old millennial I often feel old. When I look at the success I’ve had in the last 10 years founding multiple six and seven figure companies, speaking on many international stages, singing and performing spoken word for influential global thought leaders, I’ve realized that my age has never been a factor.

When I look at how many young people are starting companies or accumulating millions of followers, like 23-year-old viral content creator Julius Dein, or 26-year-old founder of the worldwide fitness program BBG Kayla Itsines, it seems the age of success keeps getting younger.

It is clear that age is no longer becoming a barrier to entry like how it used to be in our parents generation. Millennials are quickly becoming the majority today, comprising 53% of the workforce, and setting their own standards for success.

The truth I’ve seen is—the younger you are, the greater the advantage you have in terms of standing out.

I spoke with one 20-year-old who is living proof of it. Meet Manu Goswami, a serial tech entrepreneur and innovator, UN Youth Ambassador, TEDx speaker, and LinkedIn campus editor. He’s a former Gary Vaynerchuk employee and the COO and co-founder of Dunk, a sports media company with 10M followers across Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat that works with top brands like EA Sports, Nike Basketball, Warner Music, and Gatorade.

Goswami was awarded the UN’s Outstanding Youth Leadership Award and Plan Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 Award, among other notable titles.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Goswami shares about what it takes to create success at an early age and why you’re never too young to launch your career.

Below, learn some of the ways you can use your age to your advantage.

1. Successful People Want To Help You Out. “I got a meeting with Gary by emailing him every single day letting him know what I liked about his content that he posted… I bet you he didn’t care what this 19-year-old kid in Toronto thought of his content but he took note of the fact that I was engaging a dialogue and invited me to chat for 15 minutes,” Goswami says.

Goswami proves you don’t need to be ultra-successful to get a response from influential entrepreneurs and figureheads—you can just be a 19-year-old kid from Toronto who cares. Consider reaching out to those who you look up to and admire, because their insight can be invaluable. Even if they seem out of reach, they may surprise you, and in fact many will likely be willing to speak to you out of desire to help younger millennials

2. You’re At The Perfect Place To Build Good Habits. Goswami says he swears by a few daily practices to keep his mind in the right shape. First and foremost, start the day with an affirmation of gratitude. Rather than reaching for your smartphone before you get out of bed, like 46% of Americans do, take some time to deliberately check in with yourself and start your day on purpose. Goswami is also a huge fan of yoga, which has been shown to decrease stress and improve brain function.

3. You’re Directly Connected To Other Millennials. One of the advantages to being a millennial is that you don’t need to guess about what other millennials are currently finding relevant. While corporate companies have to dig for millennial trends and often miss the mark, you’re directly connected to and embedded within a network of other millennials.

Take a pulse for millennials and aim to stroke a chord of resonance with the collective. Take note of what others are finding interesting or relevant.

You might also consider striking up an engaging online conversation, like Goswami did with his “Let’s Get Honest Campaign” on LinkedIn, which encouraged millennials to talk openly about their vulnerabilities. “I noticed people were scared to talk about their failures,” he said.

4. You Have A Built-In Network. While you’re still young, you have access to built-in networking opportunities where meeting people is effortless. Goswami says one of the best places to take advantage of this is college campuses, and the best part is you don’t even need to be a student of the college; Goswami met his co-founder, a non-student, the University of Toronto. Look for an individual who has a complementary skillset to your own and whom you will be able to work well with long-term.

You might also consider attending events that bring diverse groups of people together in one place. That’s why I created my signature 5-day international business accelerators with my company Unconventional Life—I wanted to provide a space for collaboration.

5. You Can Provide Value To Others. You can easily create a win-win for someone to share their knowledge with you by offering to expose them to your millennial audience or publishing an article about what they share. Many people will be happy to connect with you because they want to get plugged into an audience of younger people. “Every transaction you go into you should provide as much value as you can. If you see every relationship you’re making in your professional life as a value exchange, you’ll be much better off,” Goswami says.

Enjoyed this post? Check out more of my tools to create a life by your own design.

This article originally appeared on Forbes.com

While most of us are worried about how many Twitter followers we have, or whether or not we should get the new tesla, or swipe right on Bumble, one millennial I spoke with has had a few other things on his mind.

Meet Daniel Wallock, a 21-year-old college student at Sarah Lawrence College who was born with a rare heart condition called dextrocardia, which means his heart is on the right side of his body. Dextrocardia affects just 1% of the population.

Throughout his life, Wallock has undergone several open-heart surgeries and lived with the reality that any given day could be his last.

“I really didn’t think I’d live past high school,” he says. “I was really convinced that there was no possibility I’d have life beyond that. For me it’s always been every single day, I feel sort of intense urgency.”

Wallock’s unique perspective has driven him to start his career early—and fearlessly. He taught himself marketing in his early teens, and since has consulted high-profile clients like BMW Ventures, Amazon Studios, and the American Heart Association. Not to mention, he’s also a published author and an honoree of Inc.’s Top 8 Marketers to Follow in 2017.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Wallock shares his story and gives millennial listeners a few of his top-performing strategies for creating create rapid results in their business, which you can read in the section below.

If you’re looking to kick your career into gear, the horsepower this young cardiac patient brings will help you.

Master The Art Of Cold Outreach.

As a mere 21-year-old, Wallock has a spiffy rolodex of contacts including figureheads like Neil Patel and Arianna Huffington. How’d he do it?

You wouldn’t believe it, but Wallock says it was a product of cold outreach. If your cold emails aren’t converting, consider the following strategies.

#1 Use Multi-Channel Engagement. Touch base with your target on every platform they use. A quick tweet here, an in-depth comment there, and frequent likes and shares will do the trick. “In my experience, eventually they’ll intro themselves to you because you are always in front of them,” Wallock says.

The key is to add value for the other person without having been asked. Study their recent posts and see what’s relevant to them. In one case, Wallock marketed a Forbes editor’s recent article and it blew up on several popular sites as a case study, benefiting Wallock with both marketing exposure and a new relationship.

#2 Don’t Expect Instant Gratification. According to Wallock, a little investment goes a long way. “I think people underestimate the power of the nurturing process. People want the relationship right now. Nobody knows who you are and they don’t just wanna give something to you.” Commit to dedicating time and energy to properly nurture the relationship in its early stages and it will pay off down the road.

#3 Quality Over Quantity. If your cold emails don’t typically yield results, consider this quick fix. ”Don’t send 50-100 with the same template. Send 25 custom emails and it will outperform,” says Wallock. Plus, don’t be over-the-top when you first initiate contact. The last thing you want to do is ask the other person for a favor or try to sell them something straight off the bat. Instead, gauge their interest by offering value or suggesting to get on a 15-20 minute call.

Case Studies Are Your Best Friend.

Results speak louder than words. Nowadays, 9 out of 10 people are consulting online product reviews and posts on social networks before making a purchasing decision.

Don’t underestimate the power of social influence—Wallock says you’d be wise to use it to your advantage.

Have Others Vouch For You. 92% of consumers trust recommendations from others, even people they don’t know, over branded content. Consider asking influencers to publish a review of your product on their blog or social media account. Encourage them to be objective and to disclose that they are working with you to their audiences, because data shows consumers rate being genuine as an important factor in brand-sponsored content.

“Some brands are doing paid posts with other people’s testimonials on Facebook, and it’s working really well,” Wallock says.

Enjoyed this post? Check out more of my tools to create a life by your own design.

This article originally appeared on Forbes.com

After I had my quarter-life crisis, I put so much pressure on myself to create a business that would leave a mark on the world. I threw dart after dart, willing to try anything to make a profit and a difference. I spent many late nights at my computer feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and—despite all my effort—making very little progress.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was thinking too big. To make a dent in the world, not every idea has to be elaborate, complex, and innovative.

Some of the most impactful businesses today are based on the simplest of concepts.

Take it from one co-founder whose back-to-basics business is solving a global health issue. His “magic” business idea? Soap.

Meet David Simnick, the co-founder and CEO of SoapBox, a personal care company on a mission to empower consumers to change the world through everyday purchases. For every bar of soap purchased, SoapBox donates one bar of soap to communities in need in over 60 different countries worldwide.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Simnick shares his step-by-step process behind developing SoapBox, from the days of brewing homemade batches in his college apartment, to ultimately donating over 2.5 units worldwide.

Below, read Simnick’s tips for launching your own product-based business.

1. Position Yourself As Unique. When coming up with the idea for your product, it’s important to consider how you will differentiate yourself from what’s already out there. What is unique or better about your product? Do you offer a more natural and sustainable way of producing an in-demand item? Do you offer higher quality at lower price points? Is there a hero story behind your company?

“Our unique selling proposition was about the mission,” says Simnick. “The mission is the reason why we started SoapBox. Great brands have authenticity and have a story and stand for something more than just, this is a great product. So why’s your product matter?”

2. Consider Giving Back. Giving back can help you gain. When choosing between two brands of equal quality and equal price, 90% of US shoppers are likely to purchase a cause-branded product. If you decide to align your company with a cause, Simnick says to make sure your donation model is significant and relevant. Give away a portion of profits that will make consumers feel good about supporting you. Communicate in simple terms how their dollars are translating to a brighter outlook. And finally, select a cause related to your product, like a buy-one-give-one of the same item. “Don’t plant trees if you’re selling potato chips,” Simnick jokes.

3. Don’t Skimp On Quality. While the positioning of your product is important, it can only carry you so far. The majority of your customers will buy your product for the integrity of the product. Ask yourself, first and foremost, does your product speak for itself? Do you offer unmatched quality that your consumers can come to know and expect from your brand? “We said, we need to be the best personal care company, we need to make the best conditioner that’s gonna restore and moisturize hair. We need to make an amazing, fantastic product,” Simnick says.

4. Refine Your Product Before You Launch. When you feel ready to take your product to market, check your list twice—because once you’ve launched, you’ve virtually only got one shot to make an impression on consumers. Plus, making amendments can require a long and arduous process, such as getting a new patent. “Take the time to really get it right before you launch because it’s hard to change your brand, it’s hard to change your design, and it’s hard to change the ingredients once you get started in the marketplace. If I could go back in time I wish that we were more thoughtful from the get-go about how we designed and branded our products,” says Simnick.

5. Get Feedback. A quick hack to help you nail your product is to elicit feedback from others. “Come up with a minimum viable product and test it out on your friends and family. After you’ve won their approval, the question is, can you get strangers to love your product so much that they come back to buy it again and again?” Simnick suggests.

6. Go After The Right Distributors. Where you sell your product matters. 85% of consumers say they prefer shopping in physical stores to shopping online. If you can land a deal with a major distributor, you can greatly increase your visibility and profits. Seek out distributors who attract a high percentage of customers within your target demographic.

7. Don’t Give Up. Simnick says if you’re having trouble securing a distributor, don’t give up—instead, be persistent. “It wasn’t until begging, pleading, calling, emailing, and literally showing up unannounced in their lobby so many times that Whole Foods was like ok, you are a crazy soap salesman, we’ll let you have one store,” he relates.

Enjoyed this post? Check out more of my tools to create a life by your own design.

This article originally appeared on Forbes.com

Starting a business is easier said than done. While 66% of millennials say they want to become entrepreneurs, only 3.6% of all businesses are owned by someone under the age of 30.

Why aren’t millennials walking their talk? For starters, launching a business is notoriously risky. Nine out of ten startups fail, which, for prospective entrepreneurs, is a discouraging outlook.  In addition, many of us often don’t feel supported or understood by friends or family.

I remember when I was 22, graduating college and starting my first online business selling feather hair extensions. My dad thought it was too risky and begged me to get a real job.

What most people don’t realize about failed businesses, is that many of them are preventable. The fatal breakdowns in startups are classic—whether it’s a cash flow deficit, an ineffective marketing strategy, or a flawed management team.

I recently spoke with Lena Elkins, a Tel Aviv-based millennial business coach and the host of the Facebook group “Millennial Go Getters,” a community of 15,000+ entrepreneurs learning how to strategize profitable businesses and overcome the common mistakes most millennials make when starting a business online. Elkins is on a mission to empower millennials to build online businesses that afford them a lifestyle of freedom and flexibility.

On the Unconventional Life Podcast, Elkins shares her top success strategies for new entrepreneurs to get started on the path to a promising business right away.

1. You’re Having Trouble Signing Your First Client. Elkins says she was able to sign her first client by joining relevant Facebook groups in the Tel Aviv area related to online marketing. She posted in each of the groups a short description about who she was, what she was offering, why she was qualified, and how anyone interested in her services could reach her. “Essentially I said, ‘I’m new to this community, I’m a freelancer offering social media services, Im looking for my first set of clients, here’s my experience, call me,” Elkins recalls. “I got my first client that same afternoon.”

If you’re unsure of where to start, a powerful first action step is to join Facebook groups related to your niche and post about your offering. Be brief and to the point, and be sure to represent yourself authentically.

2. You Don’t Know How To Enroll Your Ideal Clients. Elkins says sending a short cold email to your ideal clients can be extremely effective in enrolling them to work with you. “Identify your dream clients, find them online, look at their websites. Identify a few problems they’re experiencing, find their contact info and send them an email.” In line one, start with a personalized complement to engage them. In the next line, gently criticize them with something like, “I was looking on your website and saw some things that could use some tweaking.” In line three, give them a free solution to resolve the problem. And finally, tell them if they have any more questions you would love to help. “I’ve probably gotten a 95% response rate,” Elkins says.

3. You Aren’t Befriending Those Who Are Ahead Of You. When you’re first starting out, you don’t yet have the experience to inform high impact decision-making. But luckily, you can turn to others who do to keep you from stumbling and guide you to take effective action. Elkins says, “Identify people who are already a few steps ahead of you in what you’re doing and reach out to them. See how you can help them and build a relationship with them.” Having a guide can be invaluable. If you can create a win-win for someone to play that role for you, you can benefit tremendously. An added bonus of making friends with someone who has influence, is that they may eventually give you the opportunity to speak to their audience, which can help you get more exposure and ultimately sign more clients.