Resources:

-3-Day Crypto and Blockchain Online Summit Hosted by Jules: http://www.cryptosummitonline.com/

3 Key Points:

1. Blockchain technology has exciting potential for our future with a host of applications beyond digital currency.
2. “Alt” coins, or Alternative cryptocurrency coins like TRON, Ripple, and Xarum are gaining traction in the crypto market and deserve your consideration in your investment portfolio.
3. Big businesses like McDonalds, Microsoft, eBay, and Expedia, plus governments like Dubai and Switzerland are backing Bitcoin and beginning to accept cryptocurrency as legitimate forms of payment.

To be completely honest, conversations about finances and investments usually tend to put me to sleep. But for some reason, all of this buzz about cryptocurrency really has my attention.

Some call cryptocurrency the “digital gold rush,” magnetizing thousands around the world to invest in digital currencies like Bitcoin and other alternative coins and tokens. Although skeptics have their concerns, there’s no denying cryptocurrency has an exponential growth trend that appears to be steadily rising.

For millennials, cryptocurrency could be the investment opportunity of a lifetime. Not to mention, it’s ushering in a tidal wave of technological innovation.

The biggest barrier to entry for most? Decoding all of that tech jargon.

It’s about time someone explained cryptocurrency to you in a language you can actually understand.

That’s why I’ve just launched  one of the world’s first online crypto and blockchain summits, where 21 industry-leading experts will be sharing everything you need to know about cryptocurrency over the course of three days.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, I spoke with a cryptocurrency geek who’s done all of the heavy lifting for you. Meet Michael Graziano, the founder of Global Degree, one of the largest online communities for millennial travelers worldwide. He’s racing to become the youngest North American male to visit all 193 countries in the world, documenting all of his adventures online. Across his social channels, and including collaborations with Discovery Channel and MTV, Graziano has a combined reach of 50M+.

“I’ve been to over 100 different countries and seen all different types of economies, people, and ways of life. Some of these countries’ databases are incredibly inefficient and outdated. Can you imagine what the world will look like when everyone’s on one database?” Graziano says.

Enter the blockchain.

If you don’t yet know what that is, don’t sweat it—below, I’ve transcribed my Q&A with Graziano where he breaks down the fundamentals of cryptocurrency, blockchain, and more, so you can finally get up to speed on everything crypto.

Q: What is blockchain?

A: “A blockchain is a global online database that anyone, anywhere, with an internet connection, can use. The cool thing is traditional databases are owned by a central authority like banks, companies, or governments, but blockchain isn’t owned by anyone. It has a peer-to-peer network looking after it, so cheating the system is nearly impossible.

Blockchain stores information permanently across a network of personal computers, which decentralizes, distributes, and records it onto a public ledger that anyone can see. The transactions are verified by miners, who maintain the ledger. These bundles of records on personal computers are called blocks. Each block has a timestamp, and a form to a previous block, forming a chronological chain.”

Q: What is Bitcoin?

A: “Bitcoin is blockchain’s first and most widely known application.. People send Bitcoin freely to each other, and blockchain comes in to verify that only one person claims to own each coin at one time.”

Q: How are businesses and governments reacting to cryptocurrency?

A: “Big players like eBay, Microsoft, Expedia, McDonald’s and Subway are all starting to accept Bitcoin and other digital currencies. The Swiss government is accepting Bitcoin for tax payments. Dubai has announced that they want to become the world’s first ‘blockchain city.’ These are major statements from major economies… all of this is happening so fast and I expect these changes to really amplify in 2018.”

Q: What will change in the future with everyone using these blockchain technologies?

A: “When it all boils down, blockchain allows us all to share a single source of truth. Take the sharing economy, for example, which has given rise to Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, etc. These companies have profited on the idea of a sharing economy, but instead of sharing, they’ve acquired or eliminated competitors and collected all the profits. Where blockchain could step in is to create a public marketplace where people can share cars, homes, or whatever, with no intermediary.

Another application is the recapturing of our identities. The most powerful asset of the digital age is data. Perhaps more valuable than money, land, or anything else you own. Everywhere you go and everything you do online is recorded. It creates a virtual you. But the biggest problem is that you don’t own the virtual you. It’s owned and exchanged by big companies like Google. Blockchain is one new technology that will allow you to have privacy and to monetize and control where your information goes.”

Q: So what are some of the top cryptocurrencies to look out for in 2018?

A: “I encourage people interested to do your research, but here are 5 projects that I think have a lot of potential: Skycoin, which has the ability to give each company or application their own blockchain, helping to combat high traffic and loading times with no transaction fees. Xaurum, the only cryptocurrency backed by gold, which provides intrinsic value and makes growth much more secure with less volatility. Stratis, a blockchain development platform that allows people to create custom uses for blockchains that haven’t even been thought of yet. Shift, another alternative blockchain that includes peer-to-peer storage, an uncensorable internet, and seamless monetization removing the need for third parties like Facebook or Youtube for content creators. Then there’s DOVU, which is embracing the emerging smart car industry where cars are predicted to generate up to 25GB of data per hour. With DOVU you can manage and sell your car’s data at your discretion in exchange for tokens.”

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace the advice of an investment advisor. Invest at your own risk.

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This article originally appeared on Forbes.com

I spent the past week with a group of world class entrepreneurs and an olympian gold medalist in rural Iceland. Surrounded by so much talent, I was in awe of how so many individuals are stepping up to lead and create change.

The rumors about our generation being entitled and lazy are far from the truth.

Millennials are successful—we make up 23% of the world’s millionaires.

We’re responsible for founding more businesses than any generation before us, and we’ve played a huge role in shifting the trend towards social impact.

What’s beneath our success?

I believe at the root of it is our commitment to turn inward and invest in ourselves while bringing awareness to our environment. Inner work is a key element to outer success. Which is why millennial millionaires like Airbnb’s founders Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joe Gebbia credit personal development as a significant factor to their growth.

Could personal development help propel you towards greater advancement in your career and income?

I spoke with one millennial who says it can. Meet Sydney Campos, a leading transformation mentor who supports young entrepreneurs with comprehensive holistic wellness, business strategy, and mindset mastery. She’s also a former NYC-agency ad & PR consultant, a certified yoga teacher and reiki energy healer, and an avid traveler who currently calls Ubud, Bali home base.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Campos takes us behind-the-scenes of her success.

Just one year ago, Campos was a typical millennial working as a consultant. She says her income surged when she decided to quit her job and launch her own practice, which, in the last few months alone, has netted $150k.

Let’s dive into Sydney’s world to see how the millionaire mind thinks.

You Are Worth What You Think You’re Worth

Psychologists have long known about the relationship between self-worth and money. What they find with those who tend to have more wealth is that these people also have a high sense of self-worth. In other words, net worth and self worth go hand-in-hand.

“The amount of money you are able to hold and receive is directly correlated to how you are feeling worthy in your life and the way you value your services. Worthy of receiving on all levels—not just money but worthy of receiving love and healthy, nourishing relationships. All these things that seemingly don’t feel connected to money are actually intrinsically related to the amount of money you are able to receive in your business,” Campos says.

To increase your sense of self-worth, Campos says it’s important to have self-awareness about the areas in your life where you’re not being a stand for yourself.

In 2015, 94% of millennials said they made a commitment to personal improvement, and would be willing to spend a significant portion of their income on developing themselves. Are you one of them?

Honor Your Own Boundaries

Holding personal boundaries around your time and energy is essential. We often don’t think twice about surrounding ourselves with people who drain us rather than replenish us. But if you’re aspiring to 7-figures, you’ll need to hold a much tighter container around how you give away your time and yourself—time is a precious resource and you need to be resourced to show up fully to your commitments.

Mark Zuckerberg says, “The question I ask myself most every day is ‘Am I doing the most important thing I could … I can help with, then I’m not going to feel good about how I’m spending my time.”

For a direct application, ask yourself, “What are the relationships in your life where you’re giving more of yourself than you’re getting in return?” Campos suggests.

Act In The Face Of Fear

While 64% of millennials say they can’t see themselves becoming a millionaire, I’d wager they still want to.

Campos says if she had listened to her self-limiting thoughts, she would have stayed in her old job and would never be earning what she is today.

“We’ve been conditioned to listen to our first-presenting thought which is usually rooted in a fear, a scarcity, a doubt, an old pattern, an old imprint,” Campos says. “Even if you’re afraid, even if you’re resistant, even if you’re not sure how things are going to work, you take the action anyways.”

Working for someone else could be an inhibitor to accumulating wealth quickly as a young person. 82% of women making $100k annually are self-made, earning money through direct sales.

Campos recommends getting out of your comfort zone and into action. Create a concrete plan to save more, launch a business, or get a mentor—anything you know will shatter stagnicity and hold you accountable to your goals.

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

This article originally appeared on Forbes.com

In the world of freelancing, many of us are all too familiar with the pressure to hustle, pay bills, and “make it.”

I remember a time in my early twenties when I was struggling and would take almost any gig I could get just to make ends meet. On any given day I would be website coding, coaching clients, making marketing funnels, or finding tenants for rental properties.

Currently, one in three US workers are freelancing, with that number projected to rise to one in two by 2020.

The flexible hours, no boss or office, and no fixed wage are just a few of the perks that have attracted so many to freelancing. Not to mention, 61% of freelancers say they’re happier now than they were as an employee.

But freelancing, like anything, has its pitfalls—and it’s essential to be aware of them if you want to succeed.

That’s why I spoke to an expert about what it takes to be successful as a freelancer. He’s built quite the reputation for himself in a particularly competitive field.

Meet Jeff Toyne, a Canadian-born composer who has worked on major film productions like Nine Eleven, the new release starring Whoopi Goldberg and Charlie Sheen; DirecTV’s Rogue, My Little Pony The Movie, and various titles for Lifetime, Hallmark, and The Discovery Channel.Toyne is no stranger to the hustle. As a composer, he says he’s interacted with occasionally needing to do what he had to in order to “keep the lights on,” especially before he caught his first big break.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Toyne shares strategies for navigating the challenges of freelancing, which, in spite of being risky, can also be incredibly rewarding—because there’s no substitute for doing what you love.

Below, read Toyne’s 5 mistakes to avoid for playing the field as a freelancer.

1. Don’t wait until your portfolio is perfect. Toyne says a major stumbling block of his was believing he didn’t have a shot until his demo was flawless. “I had just got out of school, and I was trying to perfect it for these filmmakers. It took me a year before I got in touch with them, and when I finally did they said,’It’s a shame didn’t have your number. We were making a movie but we didn’t have your number so we got someone else to do it,’” Toyne recalls.

Don’t let opportunities pass you by because you don’t yet feel ready. You might be surprised by someone’s willingness to work with you, even if you don’t have all of your materials the way you’d like them to be. Instead, seize the moment and pursue opportunities that may feel even a few steps out of your league. This approach can actually help you build your portfolio in the process.

2. Don’t be a snob about the gigs you accept. Let’s face it—with freelancing, you don’t always have your work lined out for you. There’s no built-in sense of security. But that’s part of the thrill.

Occasionally, you may have to accept jobs that aren’t your first choice, but will help you gain relevant experience and lay the foundation for getting better jobs later on. “Until your big break comes and connects you to this random opportunity, there’s all sorts of things you can do to keep the lights on and work close to what you want to be doing in the meantime,” says Toyne. “It’s possible to do work that may not be the exact job you want to do but it’s in the industry you want to do. It’s a way to keep your skills sharp. There is no ‘path;’ you need to put yourself out there for different opportunities.”

3. Don’t forget to outsource. Don’t waste your time fumbling with tasks you don’t specialize in. Instead, do some independent contracting of your own, and hire somebody else to do it for you. You’ll become more efficient and have more time to dedicate yourself to your craft.

Toyne says social media is a headache for him, so he outsources it. “I’m busy writing the music, but I want people to know what I’m doing so I have somebody help me get the word out.

4. Don’t underestimate the power of relationships. As a freelancer, you might find you’re not directly connected to the people in a project who could really elevate you. For Toyne, he says he’ll spend weeks composing the post-production scores for a film but won’t see the actors or director face-to-face until the red carpet.

If this is the case, you’ll need to put in extra effort to make yourself known and nurture those connections. Don’t be passive or assume they’ll happen on their own; take initiative. “You want to interact and socialize with the people you’re working with… they are a great source of leads,” Toyne recommends.

5. Don’t try to do it all alone. It can be invaluable to get in community with others like you. You can learn what others are doing that’s working and potentially collaborate on projects that are mutually beneficial. Plus, as a freelancer, you may be missing the fact that you don’t have built-in coworkers or an office populated with people. Socialization is key, so make sure to join groups and guilds that put you in touch with others like you. Toyne says he’s a member of a composer’s guild and a director’s guild in Canada.

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