Unconventional Life – Podcast, Blog, Live Events

Category: Business

  • Ep405: Building an Empire Out of Passion: Insights from the Legendary Music Executive, Speaker, Author and Entrepreneur Mr. Mathew Knowles

    Ep405: Building an Empire Out of Passion: Insights from the Legendary Music Executive, Speaker, Author and Entrepreneur Mr. Mathew Knowles

    In the dynamic world of sales, marketing, and entertainment, few names resonate with as much authority and influence as Mr. Knowles.

    Renowned not only as the father of Beyoncé, one of the most iconic performers of our time, but also as a visionary leader and entrepreneur, Mr. Knowles has built an empire that spans multiple industries and continents. His story is one of resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

     

    A Humble Beginning

    Mathew Knowles‘ journey began in the small town of Gadsden, Alabama, where he grew up on a dirt road during the 1950s. It was a time of intense segregation, and he, who integrated local schools, faced significant racism and adversity.

    Despite these challenges, he was instilled with a deep sense of purpose and ambition by his parents, who were second-generation entrepreneurs. This upbringing not only provided him with a resilient mindset but also fueled his dreams of achieving greatness beyond the confines of his environment.

     

    Corporate Climb and Early Success

    Before venturing into the music industry, Mr. Knowles carved out a successful career in corporate America. He worked with Xerox Medical Systems, quickly ascending to become the top global salesperson—a position he held for multiple years.

    His efforts at Xerox led to initiatives that saw the company recognized as the number one workplace for minority professionals by Forbes, long before diversity became a focal point in corporate culture. Mr. Knowles also held notable positions at Philips Medical Systems and Johnson & Johnson, further honing his skills in sales and marketing.

     

    The Entrepreneurial Leap

    In the early 1980s, Mr. Knowles, along with his former wife Tina Knowles-Lawson, launched “Headliners,” a beauty salon in Houston that quickly became one of the largest in the region. This venture was a precursor to his later success in the music industry.

    Taking a significant risk, he left his corporate career to manage Destiny’s Child, then an emerging girl group that included his daughter Beyoncé. This bold move was underpinned by his passion for music and a keen understanding of brand development and marketing.

     

    Building an Empire

    Mr. Knowles’ acumen as a manager and branding expert became evident as he navigated Destiny’s Child to international stardom. He later managed other major acts, including Solange and Earth, Wind & Fire, and established Music World Music, an independent label that sold over 450 million records.

    His efforts in the industry were not limited to music; he also played a crucial role in marketing campaigns for global brands like Pepsi, L’Oréal, and Samsung. His work with House of Deréon Apparel, co-founded with Beyoncé and Tina Knowles-Lawson, culminated in a $75 million acquisition, showcasing his versatility and business savvy.

     

    Passion-Driven Success

    Throughout his career, Mr. Knowles has adhered to a philosophy that prioritizes passion and continuous learning. He believes in the importance of pursuing what one loves, as this passion naturally leads to hard work and success.

    “Find your passion,” he often advises, “because it will bring joy and drive you to be the best in your field.”

    Mr. Knowles also emphasizes the value of education and adaptability. Despite his extensive experience, he returned to academia to deepen his understanding of music and business, earning an MBA and a Ph.D. He has also completed executive programs at Harvard, underscoring his belief in lifelong learning.

     

    Inspiration and Legacy

    Today, Mr. Knowles is a sought-after speaker and educator, holding professorships at Pepperdine University and the London College of Creative Media. He continues to inspire through his motivational talks, often sharing his experiences as a cancer survivor and advocate for early detection.

    His contributions to literature include several influential books, such as The DNA of Achievers: 10 Traits of Highly Successful Professionals, where he delves into the traits that drive success, offering lessons on leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal development.

    While Mr. Knowles is not actively producing music, his legacy in the industry continues through his work in education and mentorship. He remains involved in the entertainment world through Music World Music Film & Television, LLC, which develops projects for both film and television. His role as a speaker, educator, and consultant also keeps him engaged in shaping the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs, ensuring his impact and influence endure.

     

    Book Mr. Knowles to Speak

    Experience the wisdom and expertise of a legendary music executive and visionary entrepreneur. Book Mr. Mathew Knowles to inspire and elevate your event. Visit mathewknowles.com to secure your date today!

     

    More of Mr. Knowles:

  • Ep302: Commitment to Radical Truth with New York Time Best-Selling Author and Political Activist Marianne Williamson

    Ep302: Commitment to Radical Truth with New York Time Best-Selling Author and Political Activist Marianne Williamson

    Ever since the COVID pandemic forced us into our homes levels of fear and anxiety seem to have doubled in the past year, paired with the negativity of news and social media, it seems like the world is the closest to ending it has ever been.

    It is easy to be crushed by hopelessness, but for the author, spiritual thought leader and political activist Marianne Williamson, as long as there is life, there is always hope

    “I believe in the possibility of infinite possibility.”

    An author of 14 books, 4 of which are New York Times bestsellers, Marianne is a passionate believer in the power greater than what we see. Some may call it God, Source, or Divine Intelligence, for Marianne this all centres around the same principle: Love.

    “When our lives are dedicated to love, that’s when we are doing our best to remove the unforgiveness, the blame, the negativity— all those forms of lovelessness that stand like walls in front of our love. When we allow those walls to dissolve something happens.”

    Passionately, she advocates that people should live a life that is not disconnected from spiritual practice, and a centring routine in the morning is essential in creating change around.

    “If we only look at worldly happenings, we are in trouble. Ultimately, the problem is in a deep level of our humanity.”

    For her, meditation, prayer and other forms of connecting to the Divine or Greater Power are no different from going to the gym; it’s simply an activity to build our mental and emotional muscles.

    “… that gives you the strength to remain still—the strength not to move but to just be there, at which point you become like a magnet in the universe in your presence,” she says, “and less obstruction to the same plan that turns the acorn into the Oaktree or the bud into the blossom.”

    Her faith and commitment to love led Marianne to pursue a career in politics. She believes that to love means also to act and to not just be on the sidelines. In 2014, she ran as an independent to fill a seat in California’s 33rd Congressional District, and in 2020, she ran for the Democratic nomination for president.

    She made headlines for advocating Reparations for slavery and resolving racial injustice but her spiritual verbiage proved too radical for the Democrats and she had to pull out following criticism of her mental state and sanity. She referred to this as ‘Character Assassination’ often done on women to keep them quiet—a modern-day version of Witch Burning.

    Despite laying out a plan for the Government to pay out $500 million in Reparations, she pulled out of the race.

    “To be a radical truthteller at this time, doesn’t always get you applause, and it doesn’t get you applause from everybody,” Marianne shared with us.

    This however was not enough to stop Marianne as she continued to take action rooted in her devotion to the truth.

    She co-founded the non-profit organization Project Angel Food, and the advocacy group The Peace Alliance. And just last year, she started her Substack newsletter TRANSFORM where she shares, guides, and teaches spiritual practice as well as socio-political issues and events.

    Sharing a quote from the Course in Miracles, she says, “An idea grows stronger when it is shared. It’s the idea of creating a resonant field of energy because everybody is on the same page. I created this Substack for people who want to meditate in the morning and make waves in the afternoon.”

    With that, she encourages us to practice the morning of centring ourselves and taking action as well.

    More from Marianne:

  • Ep301: Believing in the 1% Chance with Women Empower X CEO and Inspirational Speaker Alexa Carlin

    Ep301: Believing in the 1% Chance with Women Empower X CEO and Inspirational Speaker Alexa Carlin

    When you’ve been dealt a bad hand in life and your chances of success add up to 1%, most of us settle for an alternative, but for Women Empower X CEO Alexa Carlin, failure is guaranteed for those who do not try.

    Whether it’s about working towards an impossible goal or surviving a near-death experience, Alexa knows what it’s like to hang on to that 1%. For her, the odds stacked against you are stepping stones that set you up for success.

    “I am a big believer that you need to put yourself in that small 1% chance because you deserve that.”

    From the early age of 17, she had a passion for turning dreams into reality and bringing out the true potential in people. Her work ethic and dedication to the grind originate from the lessons she learned after her recovery.

    After being diagnosed with a bacterial infection that left her with 24 hours to live, she was sent into a medically induced coma. Having been this close to death with a slim chance to survive, the experience left her with a firm belief that you should never let a chance slip away. To her, fate only accounts for half the job, and taking control over what you can, both physically and mentally, is paramount in making your big break.

    “Hope is not a strategy and you can’t control someone else’s opinion about you, but you can control how much you prepare, how knowledgeable you are, and how confident you feel.”

    But how does one “take control”? Alexa makes it a point that all control starts from within by becoming in-tune with your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

    She doesn’t expect us to learn how to take control immediately, it did take her a long time to really grasp the concept herself, but she does emphasize the importance of taking the time to understand what is and isn’t in your hands, ultimately taking responsibility for your life and your future.

    “You have to be consciously aware of the thoughts that you think, and understand that we’re all human and you’re not going to be perfect all the time. I have to remind myself to recognize where these feelings are coming from.”

    One lucky listener will be receiving a signed copy of Alexa’s new book, Adaptable.

    More from Alexa:

  • Ep300: Book Writing and Branding with Entrepreneur and Author Technologist Scott Turman

    Ep300: Book Writing and Branding with Entrepreneur and Author Technologist Scott Turman

    When you wanna make it big, you need to make a memorable impression on the world; give the audience an introduction that really marks your presence. Branding is the name of the game, and for author and tech entrepreneur Scott Turman, there’s no better way to put your brand in the spotlight than getting published.

    Being the co-founder of BrightRay Publishing, Scott and his team have helped millionaires, artists, and promising talents pull the stories out of their heads and onto the page. He makes it a point that success is always worth publishing and that getting the word out is best done “by the book”.

    “Typically, as a creative, maybe you’re just trying to get that word out, a book is a fantastic way of doing that,” Scott says.

    Scott understands the difficulties of book writing, but through experience and working with his team, he shares with us a formula that eases that first step of making a best seller.

    What is the point of this book?

    Throughout his work with the BrightRay company, Scott and his team have worked with millionaires, organization leaders and various artists. He mentions that despite their different stories the purpose of the book needs to be established; they may fall into different categories, but each one has a reason for publishing their story.

    The Chapter Outline

    Oftentimes, having little direction is better than having none at all. It can be overwhelming to view ourselves writing a book, so Scott encourages us to establish an outline before the writing process can begin.

    Here, he and his team, functioning as consultants, guide their interviewee or subject from start, middle and finish. It is yet to be written but the idea that the work could be accomplished is getting clearer and clearer.

    One Chapter a Week

    Once the main point of the book has been established and the outline laid out, writing can truly begin. Here we shift our focus to—instead of writing a great book—we will pour our heart out to writing the best sentence, paragraph and chapter, then repeating it again the next week.

    It is often at this stage that a lot of us lose motivation since it can be exhausting to write creatively on a daily basis, which is why doing it with a team of people like Scott’s makes sticking to the task a lot easier.

    And finally, before leaving the show, Scott emphasizes that even when your book gets published, your story doesn’t end there. The whole appeal of becoming an author is to elevate your brand and endorse yourself to the world.

    “Personal branding, in my opinion, is the act of shaping how people experience you.”

    More From Scott:

  • Ep299: Curating a Purpose-Driven Life While Making a Positive Impact on the Go with Entrepreneur and Travel Maverick Mike Savas

    Ep299: Curating a Purpose-Driven Life While Making a Positive Impact on the Go with Entrepreneur and Travel Maverick Mike Savas

    Often, we are told that contentment brings happiness but if we are not careful with preserving that drive within ourselves, contentment could lead to stagnation, and for Entrepreneur and Positivity Influencer Michael Savas, that drive means everything.

    First establishing his roots as a Tour Director, Savas had a taste of what it was like to travel and hop from place to place. Working in the Music and concert industry, he has had the chance to tour the globe with the likes of Oprah, Guns N Roses, Queen + Adam Lambert, Michael Buble, Genesis, Cat Stevens, Britney Spears, Coldplay, WWE and so many others. For someone who’s passionate about travel, you’d think this was enough to quench his craving for life, but Savas knew there was a way to make it better.

    “I always thought that I’d get paid to travel,” he said, “that’s what I kept telling myself… for a while I was a Tour Director, meaning I took people on their vacations around the world having nothing to do with rock n’ roll. I realized that was an entertaining job, but it wasn’t something that met my personal marker of success—travel, makes more money to make a bigger impact on people and communities.”
    After having spent time employed and on the road, Savas set up a checklist that all needed to line up before he could live the lifestyle he has now. He shares with us these indicators that led him to pursue a more exciting and fulfilling purpose.

    Time

    This is our most valuable resource as you can never get it back. Having time to pursue your passion, on top of making a living—having a job or running a business—is your first priority.

    In his current project, Month in the Making where he learns 12 skills in 12 months in 12 countries, Savas describes it as a project that’s 15 years in the making since his past efforts have been made to prepare him for this undertaking.

    Think about where you are now, and what you can do to prepare yourself for that future lifestyle you are dreaming of.

    Resources

    Savas describes this as primarily money, and knowledge. We not only need to know where to get money but also how to spend it in a way that is meaningful to our passion. Like many others, Savas was also broke in his 20s and partially in debt, but he found jobs in fields that involved travel and this broadened his understanding of that field.

    Autonomy

    Savas noted that autonomy is different from freedom, as he says that “Having boundaries and obstacles is what makes life interesting.” He adds that autonomy means making our own decisions and being accountable for them.

    Having established his own business and platform, Savas found that he was able to set his own time schedule, set his own destination, and undertake projects that mattered to him.

    Health

    Lastly, Savas mentioned that this was an element that he had ignorantly missed until it was pointed out to him. He noted that over the break caused by COVID-19, he has been working on himself and maintaining an active lifestyle. Taking care of our health means giving ourselves more time, and broadening our knowledge, and having more autonomy since our physical body remains capable.

    Sharing his story with us Savas encourages listeners to pursue a life of travelling but also to make an impact on the lives of others.

    Michael is giving away airline miles with American Airlines to a lucky listener, having them pick any destination they’d like to go to, domestic or international flight!

    More from Michael:

    • YouTube: SavasONtheGo
    • Instagram: savasonthego
    • Website: savasonthgo.com
    • Month In The Making Episodes
    • Upcoming LoopCast Live Podcast Event