In general, politics is a topic that people are really engaged in or they want to keep away from it with a 10 foot pole. Personally for me, I’m a bit of a junkie. And in fact, the shows that I tend to listen to engage in political satire. They don’t take themselves too seriously.
I love that because it’s such a break from the norm. Because when you think of politics today, you often think of this side vs that side. One side is right while the other side is wrong. One side is Trump and on the other side you have the Pelosi lead Democrats.
This wasn’t always the case.
Today’s guest, Andrew Heaton, is someone I started listening to sometime last year in his last podcast called There’s Something Off with Andrew Heaton. That particular show concluded this past summer and since then he’s been busy building his own show entitled The Political Orphanage. (He also has a new show called Alienating the Audience , Sci-Fi based show, which we’ll talk a bit about in the interview.)
Listen in as Andy and I get a chance to find out from Andrew what his process has been as he’s been building his new platform. And what he can share with other creators in regards to getting on the national stage.
Enjoy!
SPECIFICALLY, YOU’LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT:
How does Andrew connect at a different level with his audience than most political commentators? 10:38
Are politicians in DC the same people behind the scenes versus what we see in the news and media? 14:11
What’s Andrew’s advice for a student to set themself up to work in Washington DC? 17:08
What are some action steps he recommends to creatives, such as podcasters, who are in the hunt to get on a larger stage? 23:11
How does he go about getting guests on his podcasts? 35:49
Is there a certain way Andrew recommends to grow a contact list? 41:01
What business lessons has he learned through his experiences as a standup comic? 56:50
How has “always saying yes” affected him as a podcaster? 59:37
What’s Andrew looking forward to in the New Year? 1:02:12
Which book, film, and song would Andrew add to the National Curriculum? 1:04:47
What’s Andrew do when he becomes overwhelmed or unfocused? 1:07:32
What’s a topic that would be found in a handbook for entrepreneurs if Andrew wrote it? 1:10:33
Is there something he wished was still a thing? 1:12:12
What’s the secret to achieving personal freedom? 1:12:45
Thanks so much for joining us again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.
Also, please leave an honest review for The AoL Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremelyhelpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and we read each and every one of them.
If you have any questions feel free to email them over via the email mentioned in the show or by our contact form.
https://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AoL-165-social.png6281200JChttp://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NI-Web-Logo8.20165.pngJC2020-01-05 14:23:532020-01-05 14:24:03Andrew Heaton – Creating Opportunities through Political Satire: Using Your Unique Talents, Interests, and Experiences to Fulfill Your Mission (AoL 165)
It’s September 12th again. The day after 9/11. How are you feeling? What’s on the top of your mind? Business plans? Getting out of your day job on time? Lots of things going on, I’m sure.
Let’s slow down a little bit. Let me ask you a question.
Did you have the chance to watch any of the memorial services for 9/11 yesterday? Why or why not?
I did – and here’s what I got to share with you.
Remembering 9/11
Since the World One Trade Center has been finished, I’ve noticed that every year they read the names of the victims of 9/11. They might have been doing it longer than that, but I didn’t realize it because I was too busy. With college and then with work after I graduated.
Why did I watch? I didn’t lose anyone in the tower. Heck, I don’t know if I knew anyone that was affected by it at the time it happened.
So why did I watch? I guess the simple answer is that I wanted to remember. Remember where I was and what was going through our minds at the time.
When I was growing up, before that point, I didn’t know what it was like to be witness of a life changing event.
My mom had always been able to tell me very vividly about her whereabouts for the assassination of JFK. Similarly, she could remember where she was for other “world shattering” events including the Challenger explosion, when she heard of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, and others.
While I’m sure everyone here in the United States can remember where they were at in their lives at that point (if they were alive), I know that not everyone gets the chance to reflect on that day. As mentioned, I didn’t for several years.
Remembering 9/12
For most folks, 9/11 isn’t a holiday. Nor is it a celebration. However, I believe that it needs to be remembered and reflected on annually. Not because of the event itself. But what happened the day after.
Just as Texans and the rest of America drove to aid the victims of recent hurricane Harley and the upcoming storm Irma this past week, so did people on 9/12. Local fire and police departments as well as everyday people from all corners of the country went to go help as much as they could.
The acts of 9/11 made us come together and act as one.
In 2009, Glenn Beck created the 9/12 Project to reflect upon those selfless actions and who we were at that point in history. Because it seemed that we had too easily forgotten those times.
It being Glenn and the polarizing person he was at the time (he has since apologized for his actions during that time), I don’t think he was able to reach those that needed to hear the message.
While I feel that his heart was in the right place, I think the 9/12 Project missed the mark for most people.
The Grocery Store Method of Reasoning
However, he did manage to get my attention. My mom followed him quite a bit – however, I tended to focus more on business type stuff at the time.
Upon hearing this message, though, I did start thinking it was necessary to become more involved in my community. I think it was due to this that I eventually became a member of the Freemasons.
However, not everything he said applied to me, and I think this is where a lot of people have hang-ups in today’s world.
Just because someone says something which doesn’t agree with you, it doesn’t mean that other things that they’re talking about are false or that they’re completely unagreeable.
In fact, most people have more things in common than we don’t have – regardless of where they are in life.
Just as if you were getting groceries, it’s your job to NOT take everything you see at face value. Just because something sounds good, doesn’t mean you should include it in your thought process.
On that same note, simply because something might not agree with you, it doesn’t mean it’s not true or good for you (just like broccoli!).
It’s up to us to see the context of where the message is coming from. And what’s great is that the more Truth we know, the easier it is for us to make a decision based on the context AND message.
Finding Truth in the 9/12 Project – Refocusing on the Important Things
So let’s look real quick on what Glenn said about the 9/12 Project. First, he has 9 key principles that we should follow if we were to be a part of the project. Knowing that he’s a pretty spiritual (and religious) dude, I wasn’t surprised to find references to God.
If we take that into context and actually see what he’s saying AND not take it personal (One of the Four Agreements), what can we pull from his message? What the heck is he really saying?
Let’s take a look.
America is good.
Yeah, I’d say so. I mean, again, after seeing us come together for the victims of recent hurricanes – I think we’re good. Now, the government, on the other hand… that’s another story, but I think Americans are good as a people.
I believe in God and He is the center of my life.
So here’s my take on religion – it’s not for everybody. Most people that it’s not for – they say that religious types don’t practice what they preach. I don’t personally know BAD Christians. Do they exist? Sure. But there’s bad versions of every group out there.
I think this is where most stereotypes come from. But, because they exist doesn’t necessarily make them “normal”.
So let’s talk straight normal person to normal person here.
Perhaps Glenn could have said “I have a core set of principles and I act on those principles on a consistent basis. My life is based on those principles.” to make it a little more all inclusive. In that frame, I think many of us would agree that we have core principles which we use to define our lives.
I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
Yes, of course. Lying to yourself and others ultimately only screws things up. Truth is pure. While some people might get upset at it, that doesn’t mean it’s any less-true. Big word of advice – start seeking the Truth. Listen to all sides of the story and make up your own mind – not what one particular media source tells you to think.
The Family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
This is another of those points that could have worded a bit better. Instead, it could have read “My spouse and I care for and are responsible for the actions, values, and beliefs of our family. Not the government.”
This I agree with because I don’t think it’s the government’s job to make things “fair”. I’ve never seen the government build up any one group. I’ve only seen them tear down others when one group is crying the loudest. That’s the opposite of being fair in my book.
If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
Totally true. There’s also no guarantee that starting points are the same. And what’s ironic, is that I’ve seen more people go from broke to being wealthy, than I’ve seen middle class becoming wealthy. Gary V is a great example – so are a ton of online business folks – AND people I’ve had on the podcast.
I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
Yes – totally agree with this. See above. But I think it’s also our own responsibility to know when to be charitable. That’s not something that society teaches. In fact, I’d say that it teaches the opposite most of the time. Every day people are inundated with the idea that it’s them vs the World. It indirectly promotes the scarcity mindset – not an abundant one.
It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
Agree. That’s the whole point of protection of free speech and ability to bear arms. While that allows for some very hate filled rhetoric, it also allows for well intentioned speech at the same time. The reason that we can bear arms is that if Washington ever becomes so removed from the people that it’s us against them (or some other apocalyptic situation), then we have the permission of the founders to have our own militias. If you don’t support Americans keeping firearms, then it comes across that you 100% believe the government is never going to turn on you. Which moves onto…
The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
Yes, 100%. Even when it comes to taxes and other “governmental” stuff. We technically should have the power to determine what we’re being taxed. However, Washington thinks they’re better than us, so therefore, they vote things into place that shouldn’t have happened if they were doing their job in the first place.
12 Values of the 9/12 Project
Honestly, all the values that he put in the list are those that Lewis Howes, Tony Robbins, or someone similar (I can get you a long list if you really want one!) would have said helped them get to where they are today – especially if they’re God fearing folks.
So, I’ve made it a point to make sure that I have these values as much as possible. However, there might have been a little bit of tweak on some for better wording.
After looking at these values, do you believe that anyone who has achieved greatness in their life doesn’t practice them regularly? I mean, when I think of Lewis Howe’s show and the people he’s talked to – all of these words come to mind.
Action Steps
After seeing these principles and values of the 9/12 project, I hope you can understand why I feel I need to respect those that we lost on 9/11. We should also appreciate how we came together to deal with it all. Personally, I feel if I can reconnect to those feelings, it helps keep me anchored to who I see myself as.
Also, it’s especially touching to see some of the kids of these folks read off the victim’s names. Lots of these folks (some near my age) have made their lives better as a contribution to their lost parent, family member, or friend.
I can only think that our true friends and family would want the best for us. And because of that, I think it’s on our shoulders to live up to some certain standards in life. If not those of the 9/12 Project, then something else.
I just think the 9/12 Project is a good place to start. A lot of people can relate to it – even if they don’t care too much for its creator.
What are some key principles and values that you have? Let me know below.
https://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Remembering-9-11-Refocusing-on-the-Important-Things2.jpg800800JChttp://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NI-Web-Logo8.20165.pngJC2017-09-12 13:36:592017-09-12 13:50:18Remembering 9/11: Refocusing on the More Important Things
Last week we discussed how Millennials should and can become the next Greatest Generation.
Our generation is full of leaders. It’s just a matter of realizing whether you are one or… a victim.
Whether you’re part of the Hero Generation or the Lost Generation.
If you’re part of the Hero Generation and see yourself as a leader, then you’re going to have to build a following. You can’t be a leader if no one is following you!
So how do you build that following?
In today’s post we’re going to talk about that a bit. And hopefully, once you’re done with this post, you’ll have a little more idea of how to communicate more with other future leaders.
The Past Can Teach Us So Much
Last week I talked a bit about how the Greatest Generation is all about principles vs ego. They sacrificed themselves for the greater good.
Whether it was for their families or for their country, in their heart, they knew their sacrifice was worth it.
This past weekend I was watching CBS Sunday Morning and there was a very pertinent story to all of this.
It was a story of a community coming together to put together an old B-29… to preserve history and give a tribute to those in their community who had done so much for the country.
If that isn’t a feel good story, I don’t know what is.
Find More Context by Seeking More Answers
If you had seen this video on Facebook or YouTube, there’s a number of things you could have done after viewing it. Many folks will watch this and think “Awww!” or “Cool.” and go on with life – continuing on with whatever they were doing or maybe watching another YouTube video.
If you’re like me, that video might actually stick with you a bit more. You might have wanted to get more context about it.
You might have wanted to find out more about the project and how it came together. Maybe find out more about how they pulled the B-29 out of desert, or maybe learn more about Witchita being a capital for producing the aircraft.
These are all big questions.
They’re all forms of “How was this done? If I was wanting to do something like this, how would WE do this?”.
Because really, from the it’s very beginning, the story of Doc, the B-29, was a product of a community.
Leaders are always asking questions that come in the form of “How can I get a group of people to do a certain activity? How can I call them into performing a certain action?
Connection is a Big Deal For Millennials
Comradery and a sense of being connected and contributing to the planet and having vulnerable intimate contexts to be celebrated and creative in is empowering for young leaders and people in general.
Can I also like be alone at times? Is that okay or do I not fit in? If you’re a millennial you couldn’t possibly enjoy solitude. What about the moments that I’m sitting on a mountain or swimming down the river alone. Appreciating life.
I have no interest in community. I’m not gonna be like “Oh thank goodness.” I have no interest in being part of a community without context, and also just because I want to be part of a community doesn’t mean I want it to define me. But then again maybe I’m just special.
When I was in college, I was part of several student run organizations. I got to see up close how much community and volunteerism meant to our generation.
If you’re identifying yourself as a leader, then you’re going to have to learn how to influence others.
In my last post I mentioned that you could study up on creating influence by reading books by John Maxwell. If you took that advice and clicked the link on the last post, you probably realized that there were TONS of books to read.
I’m sure some of them might have seemed interesting, but where do you get started? Which one is for the novice? Which one is a good intermediate option… and so on?
I have several recommendations – and I could tell you which one would make more sense for your particular situation. But I don’t know you – yet. (Feel free to say hi on Twitter!)
But there’s definitely an underlying thing you MUST know when reaching out to Millennials.
As adults, believe it or not, we are not egocentric. We’re all about helping each other while helping ourselves. That’s why the Sharing Economy has blossomed as much as it has.
But why is that?
Just like the Greatest Generation, it’s part of who we are.
The Pendulum Theory – We’re Now a We Society
Our millennial generation – which the Hero Generation is a part of – is part of a larger 40 year cycle.
One can think of his cycle through the movements of a Pendulum – going back and forth between two extremes. The We and the Me.
We are currently heading towards the We extreme. We know this because for the longest time, people took refuge in having things simply to have them.
The Boomer generation is/was all about collections. Having certain things meant having certain status. It was all about Me.
You can’t blame them, though. Many of them and their parents came from a time of forced scarcity. While minimalism is something that many millennials subscribe to, it is a form of scarcity – and there lies yet another example of this cycle.
Anyhow, here’s some resources to further educate yourself on the movement of the Pendulum:
Michael Drew, Pendulum co-author, on TEDx:
Pendulum co-author Roy Williams on Glenn Beck (pt 1):
Pendulum co-author Roy Williams on Glenn Beck (pt 2):
Other Examples of the Ever Moving Pendulum
In Roy’s conversation with Glenn linked above, one of the things that he gets a chance to show towards the end of the conversation is how he’d change one of his most famous commercials from the late 80’s.
It’s really fascinating to see how you can do that.
Here’s a few more of his examples in how things have changed in popularity over the years:
This brings us to…
How Donald Trump Got Elected As President
One thing that has definitely been on many people’s minds since last week is the results of the election. Many people thought Hillary was going to win. But now they’re having to come to terms with Donald Trump becoming our next president.
Currently there’s tons of protests against the results – and it’s easy to understand. Trump is a prime example of the Me side of the pendulum swing.
Millennials who are completely “We” are going to fight that tooth and nail. Especially if they took what he said during the campaign litterally.
However, those same millennials are forgetting how he actually campaigned. He campaigned as part of being in the We. His slogan was “Make America Great Again”, and that completely spoke to those who feel like they’ve been forgotten for the last 8 years. He got elected not because what he was supposed to represent, but because of what could be representing. His supporters took the words he said seriously, not literally.
And if those numbers aren’t enough for you, here’s what Trump means to many of his supporters from around the country:
Action Steps:
So, what to take from all of this?
Understand that whatever marketing tactics you learned about in 2006 don’t apply anymore.
If you really want to connect with millennials, think and talk to them as if you’re coming from a place where everyone needs to fight the good fight. They want camaraderie. They want to feel other people are with them. So it doesn’t make sense to focus on making one person stand above everyone else.
Make people feel like they’re part of something larger than what they already. If you can do that as if you’re starting a “movement”, you’ll have more success with that than not.
BONUS: If you want to check out the entire hour and a half footage of Doc, the B29 getting off the ground for the first time, here’s that footage.
https://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Generational-Marketing-How-to-Connect-with-Millennials.jpg800800JChttp://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NI-Web-Logo8.20165.pngJC2016-11-15 12:22:042016-11-15 14:34:14Generational Marketing: How to Connect with Millennials
Today is Election Day 2016. If you’re yet to vote today, vote your conscience.
“But what if I really vehemently despise one candidate and feel that I have to vote for the other major party to help make sure they don’t get in office?”
Well, that’s totally your decision. If you don’t like either major party’s nomination like I did, then it’s ok to vote 3rd party.
Either way, this is quite possibly the last election that the Boomers are going to have candidates in. And that means that a lot of us non-Boomers are going to have to step it up.
That means Gen X’ers just as much as it means Millennials.
So, for this week’s post, I thought it’d be important to look to the future and discuss how Millennials can set themselves up to be leaders in the years to come.
Who are Millennials, Really?
Over this past weekend, I found myself going to the 40th wedding anniversary of my neighbors from my hometown.
40 years – wow. For any marriage to make it that long anymore seems to be almost unusual.
Which is unfortunate.
Personally, I think it’s awesome that they’ve stuck together. So often, anymore, you hear that when the kids leave, the parents end up going their separate ways because they realize that they’re both different people than who they were when they were married.
Especially if they were married in their 20’s. In today’s world, many people aren’t considered real adults until after the age of 25. (I mean, there’s got to be a reason why the Obama administration decided that it would be ok for kids to be able to use their parents’ insurance until the age of 26, right?)
In this couple’s case, despite the fact that he’s a good 20 years older than her, I think a good reason that they have stuck together is that the husband was about as young as you could be in being part of the Greatest Generation. The generation that grew up during World War 2.
Also, I know that the wife’s parents had stuck it out over the years as well. In fact, they were so close that when one passed away, it wasn’t much longer that the other followed.
I had a great aunt and uncle that were the same way. They passed within a year or two of each other.
It’s hard to tell if that affection has rubbed off on younger generations. But one thing is certain, that generation rarely divorced.
Why?
While Millennials don’t understand what the word Socialism means, they reject the idea of it.
Well, maybe because they were in tune with themselves enough to know what they were looking for when they picked a spouse. Or maybe they had principles that didn’t allow them to divorce.
Millennials are Actually Pretty Conservative
Whatever the reason is, most members of the Greatest Generation were pretty conservative in their beliefs compared to their kids and their kids’ kids.
Interestingly enough, us Millennials might behave more like the Greatest Generation than many think. They fought socialism in World War 2 and studies are starting to show that while many Millennials don’t really understand what it is, we don’t like the idea of what it really means either.
I mean, it makes sense. So many of us are embracing simpler lifestyles. Having companies like Apple, Uber, Google, and Tesla around have given us that ability. Can you imagine those companies being run by the government? Ha!
We’re Trained About Participation More than Winning:
When other generations talk about millennials, we’re often referred to those head in the air, good-for-nothings that think they are entitled to things without working for them. They continue to say that we don’t take responsibility for our actions in what we do or do not do.
Many times they’re right.
But here’s the truth – they, our parents and educators, made us this way. They taught us what it meant to be unique and shoot for the stars. That anything was achievable.
But they also rewarded us for putting in very little work. For many of us school was fairly easy – just show up and you’ll get a C. Do the least amount of work you can do and get good at taking tests and you’ll get a higher grade.
For many, sports were even easier. In the past, people got rewarded for winning. We were the first generation where you started hearing about participation trophies. Whether or not you trained hard to actually win or did very little didn’t matter. We got rewarded for just showing up.
Some of Us Learned the Hard Way
College (or the military) was the first real learning curve for many of us. It was the first time that many of us had to learn how to really work hard to move up. But even that has gotten worse as I found out as a graduate instructor (and Maria has found out as a higher ranking soldier).
Whether we were doing something to win it or just to feel good about ourselves, Millennials have learned that participation counts. Limiting our growth potential in the world after graduation has made many buck the system. The difference is how we’ve responded.
Those Millennials that continue to spin their wheels looking for the easy reward are part of the Lost Generation. One book that they might need to read is “Who Moved My Cheese?“.
Those of us who are trying to figure out how to win are part of the next Hero Generation.
The Hero Generation
The Hero Generation is one of four generations that come and go throughout time. The other three being the Artist, Prophet, and Nomad generations. They are responses due to 4 types of events that happen in every cycle called Turnings. I first learned of these turnings when I saw a documentary a year or so ago called Generation Zero, which was released in 2010.
If you want to find out more about the four turnings or their associated archetypes, you can do so in Wikipedia here. If you want to go deeper, the two books that the authors Neil Howe and William Strauss are most well known for are here:
If you want a Crib Notes version, here’s a video for that:
Signs of Heroism
Now, if we really are this Hero Generation, would there not be signs that we’re trying to save this world that is falling apart around us?
I think there is. I think it’s this growing boom of creatives that are starting businesses and sustainable social enterprises.
As I said, Millennials don’t know how to wait to be successful. Those who have played the game to win are going to keep winning.
They are replacing the old employee and non-profit mentality. Both of these mentalities were popular but never sustainable. A company could fire an employee at any time. A non-profit could eventually lose their funding.
In fact, I remember a episode of Home Improvement where they made a joke about Tim’s brother who called himself an entrepreneur.
Most small businesses and social enterprises are designed to be self reliant. This means that no one person can control the livelihood of another.
And it’s also what the AoL Podcast is all about. Finding and talking with those individuals who have made the switch to lead their own career and finding out how they made the leap.
One such Millennial that displays our form of Heroism is Dane Maxwell, who my co-host Daniel and I got to interview in session 56.
Leadership is Learnable
Many of those who have taken this leap are considered experts in their field.
Whether it’s deserved or not, experts are looked at as leaders. This makes sense, though, right? Experts can lead others to the answers they’re looking for. So many times we call them thought leaders.
And what really is leadership?
As defined by John Maxwell, leadership is Influence.
Because of this, he has always said that leadership can be taught. So if you find yourself having problems influencing others, then perhaps it’s time to start learning about influence and leadership. John’s work would be a great place to start.
What Type of Leader are You?
Being an expert or Thought Leader, like John, isn’t the only way to lead people. Maybe you’re not interested in becoming the next guru in a particular field of study. There’s still something that you can lead in.
There’s three other types of leaders:
Courageous Leaders
Inspirational Leaders
Servant Leaders
Courageous Leaders
These are people who set an example by pursuing a vision in the face of considerable opposition and risk. Typically, they’re known to have strong convictions about their mission (purpose), vision (long-term goals), and values (right and wrong). They usually set the example by speaking up for their core beliefs and fight for their values, even when their stand is unpopular.
Many people compare Donald Trump to an anti-Ronald Reagan. While Reagan’s actions usually brought people together towards a common goal, many folks believe that during his campaign, Donald did the exact opposite.
Ronald was an example of an inspirational leader. He promoted change by being able to look forward to the future and help others commit to ideas and ideals.
Yet another example is MLK, Jr.. Like Reagan, he was able to envision a future and unify others behind him for that future.
Servant Leaders
This is the example of leadership that so many of us know and hear about. Usually these are the types of individuals who are discussed on the evening news for going out of their way to do something.
Typically, these folks become leaders by asking “How can I help?” and then following through.
There here have been some really big names over the years that might give you a visual.
Mother Teresa, Oprah with Harpo Inc., and Eleanor Roosevelt’s work in human rights.
Generally these people ask for very little if nothing in return – but, as you can tell, get plenty of publicity.
Who Are You Going to Lead?
Now with all of these examples of leaders, you might be wondering how you can set forth on your own journey of becoming a leader.
It’s actually fairly simple. Ask yourself which of those 4 types truly fit you the most.
For me, as an example, I’ve always seen myself as a teacher. So I’m a natural fit for being a thought leader.
But at the same time, I’ve always thought that I might get into politics somehow, and now that I’m 35 – I feel that I might just have enough experience to start looking at that a bit more seriously.
It’s ok to be more than one of these 4 types – in fact, most leaders are. But you can always tell if someone is better at one than the next.
Action Steps:
Now that we’ve looked at why Millennials are perfect to be leaders, you might be wondering how exactly you’re supposed to figure out what type of leadership role you want to be a part of.
If you have no idea, just go be around extracurricular groups of people that discuss things you have some sort of interest in.
Maybe you’re in a good sized town. If that’s the case, there should be some meetup groups near you that you can attend. If you’re in a small town, then perhaps you can join the local Rotary Club or perhaps get involved with the Masonic Lodge. Many leaders have been involved with both of these during our country’s history.
Once you find something that you think you enjoy being a part of, start applying for leadership roles within that organization. Start low and work your way up – unless you think you’re qualified to start at a higher level.
Other than that, all I have to say is get out there and meet people. If you think you might want to run for political office one day, start small and work your way up there too.
https://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/The-Millennial-Leader-How-the-US-Will-Prevail-Beyond-the-2016-Election.jpg800800JChttp://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NI-Web-Logo8.20165.pngJC2016-11-08 16:05:142016-11-08 17:01:13The Millennial Leader: How the US Will Prevail Beyond the 2016 Election
This week I’m going to be releasing a very special interview of myself and Daniel’s. The guest is Dane Maxwell, formerly known as the guy who has helped numerous people build their own SaaS (Software as a Service) based businesses through a program called “The Foundation”.
If you’re not familiar with Dane, check him out on one of Pat’s “early” podcasts via this link. This interview was a game changer (and still is!) for many online entrepreneurs.
The election process is something that a lot of people take for granted. But in the US, we shouldn’t ever forget how many people have fought for what we have today.
Unfortunately, the powers that are in control in society – especially the media and the federal government – have led many of us to believe we’re only capable of what others say we are.
If you look at both sides of presidential ticket, one side says we need more protection from all the bad things in the world, while the other one says that we need protection from all the challenges that we might face in the world.
Either way you look at it, the Federal Government is trying to tell us we need more of it in our lives.
In return they’ll give us liberty to live a peaceful life and just keep doing what we’re doing.
But is it really so simple?
We’re All Stones Treated as Bricks
I recently heard an analogy about how the world is trying to make us copies of each other. Like we’re being made into bricks to be the infrastructure of this society. We all conform into a certain code of conduct.
And we do. Especially those of us who are products of higher forms of formal education.
It’s what our school system trains us to be. Teach to the test, not the individual.
Sure this is fair treatment, but is it the best treatment?
I don’t think so. Not everyone is the same naturally.
Instead of bricks, we’re more like stones. Some of us are big, some are small. Some have weird angles and yet others are made of different materials.
You can still build with stones… but not as easily as you can with bricks.
It’s easy to understand why working with brick might be more preferable by a craftsman (or in the real world, the top 1% of the top 1%). They want the easiest way to build something that has a strong structure.
But value of the end result isn’t going to be as high as if stones were used.
With bricks, you just place each one on top of each other until you have the form you want and put a roof on it. With stones, you have to strategically think about how each stone fits into the building.
Like Glenn, when I see a stone house, I admire the work that went into it.
Can You Be a Stone once You’ve been Trained as a Brick?
When it comes to people, I believe so. We’re never truly bricks. We’re just treated that way.
That’s really what New Inceptions is all about. Helping people who think they’re bricks “refind” their uniqueness. Their own perfect spot in the world.
When it comes to finding your spot, Dane wants us all to know about our individual worth and value. We are valued for who we are and our contributions to helping others.
You might have heard that he’s becoming a musician to get that message out. Further than he could with The Foundation.
His songs are meant to help people feel loved and appreciated for who they are. Here’s a glimpse:
But yes, it takes a lot of work to find what makes you unique and realize you’re a stone.
Exercising Your Personal Freedom
Here’s the deal. You, like me, or even Dane, are not defined by your past.
We don’t have to always be the person that everyone sees us as.
Perhaps society and your education would make you believe otherwise, but really your future does not rely on who you’ve been or what you currently think of myself.
Heck, just yesterday Maria let me know of a guy who killed himself over the pressures of what was going on in his life. From what I understand, he turned to alcohol and other means of blocking out the pain. And eventually it got to him. You really have to feel for his family and the grief that he caused them.
But yet, I’m sure he felt stuck.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
As Sandra Bellamy said in session 50 of the podcast, you need to embrace your quirkiness. Or as I would simply put it, you need to exercise your personal freedom.
How do you do that?
Well, besides what Sandra suggests, I’d become familiar familiar with the 5 Obstacles of Personal Freedom. Start with health because you can’t really help people if you don’t have the energy to.
With it being October of 2016, I want to make sure you’re aware of the fifth one.
You need to know what liberties are currently granted to you in your country. Essentially these are the rules that you have to play by.
If you’re like me, you’ll want to fight to keep things as free as they are. The more liberties governments gives their people, it’s usually done through taking away something else that we weren’t aware of.
Remember that the Constitution is all about what powers the government has – not what liberties it gives us. The government should work for us, not the other way around.
And currently it’s looking more and more like we’re bricks working for it.
Personal Liberty is the “playing field” that the outside world gives us. Personal Freedom is the freedom you give yourself to be the natural you in that space.
Familiarize yourself with which candidates talk about giving you more freedom. Not necessarily those who talk about “being fair”. Brick makers are usually the ones who talk about strong “education” and treating each other as “equals”.
With the internet, you can educate yourself. Educate yourself to be the best version of you and not what formal education teaches you is “important”.
Also, we shouldn’t judge people by what their demographics are. We should judge them based on their character and their actions – if at all. No one person is inherently better than the next.
Not a person who owns 16 profitable businesses or a person who has a spark of a dream.
Now, get out there and meet some other stones!
https://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Are-you-a-Brick-or-a-Stone-Personal-Freedom-is-Your-Decision.jpg800800JChttp://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NI-Web-Logo8.20165.pngJC2016-10-04 15:29:392016-10-04 15:48:33Are you a Brick or a Stone? Personal Freedom is A Decision
We’ve all felt that feeling where, at the end of the day, you wish you felt better about the work that you’re doing. Perhaps you feel like you’re stuck in a rut. Maybe you want to pursue something else with your time? Make more impact on people.
How do you do that?
There’s so much to the answer of that simple questions.
Like the team at New Inceptions, Barrett Brooks, today’s guest, is all about helping people make an impact. He did it with his first business called Living for Monday, then went on to join Fizzle, and now he works with ConvertKit as their Brand Strategist and Community Builder.
In this chat with Barrett, we find out more about that transition to ConvertKit and what he looks forward to doing with them. We also got the opportunity to find out more about his time with Seth Godin, why he likes empowering others, and why he believes meaningful conversations are the basis for great relationships.
SPECIFICALLY, YOU’LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT:
How Barrett got involved with ConvertKit 8:00
What’s the people and culture at ConvertKit like? 11:28
Who is ConvertKit for? 13:48
What was Barrett’s time with Seth Godin like? 15:56
Knowing what he knows now about business, how would he have changed his business plan for his old business “Living for Mondays”. 23:13
How did Barrett get started with Fizzle.co? 26:17
What were things that made Barrett want to become an empowerer of others? 29:05
Where does he get his interest in politics and world events? 40:02
Why he believes that great relationships are built on deep conversations and connections. 45:16
Who does Barrett coach and how does he reach out to them? 47:26
His thoughts in how to get more people in deep and meaningful conversations. 52:01
Biggest 3 Influencers in Barrett’s Life 59:24
What he believed when he was 21 and now sees as bogus. 1:00:11
Who’s the most awe-inspiring person he’s met? 1:01:23
One thing under $100 that has changed his life. 1:02:37
Who comes to mind when he thinks of success? 1:03:10
Thanks so much for joining us again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.
Also, please leave an honest review for The AoL Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremelyhelpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and we read each and every one of them.
If you have any questions feel free to email them over via the email mentioned in the show or by our contact form.
Have you heard of The Foundation? The one educational program with Dane Maxwell teaching people how to build a SaaS based business? Perfect students are those who don’t have their own idea, money, or skills to make it work out on their own?
If you haven’t, go check it out!
If you have heard of it, you might have heard that the hardest problem that many Foundation students have is finding someone to work on the technical aspect of things. They don’t know where to look or how to vet those that they have found on a site like Upwork.
That’s where today’s guest, Matej Leban comes in.
Just like other students, Matej struggled with this part. Eventually, though, he figured out a way around it.
Today with SaaSBloom, he helps others do the same thing.
In this chat, we talk about that story and some tips he’s learned in making a profitable SaaS. We also discuss why a guy like him, who’s from Eastern Europe, would be interested in US Politics.
SPECIFICALLY, YOU’LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT:
Matej’s Experience Being a Mentor in the Foundation 8:52
What flipped his entrepreneurial switch. 11:21
Some tips that Matej has learned to successfully cold contact potential clients. 20:28
Where the idea for SaaSBloom came from 24:20
What Matej would use to create in the world. 32:54
Why Matej, who’s from Eastern Europe, has an interest in US Politics. 34:06
Sources that Matej follows to stay on top of World Events 48:50
What are 3 influencers that have influenced Matej to where he is today 55:21
One gift he likes giving the most. 57:43
One thing Matej believed when he was 28 years old, but doesn’t any longer. 58:19
If he was going to place an ad cost free into world, what would it be? 2:32
One thing under $100 that has changed his life. 3:54
When he thinks of success, who comes to mind? 1:04:58
Dane Maxwell gives a quick intro to The Foundation and SaaS:
Maxie Describes working with Matej:
Men Who Built America Trailer:
Glenn Beck and Penn Jillette talk about Penn’s book “Everyday is an Atheist Holiday! More Magical Tales”
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks so much for joining us again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.
Also, please leave an honest review for The AoL Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremelyhelpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and we read each and every one of them.
If you have any questions feel free to email them over via the email mentioned in the show or by our contact form.
https://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/AoL-Podcast-Logo-Master-Image-session53.jpg700700JChttp://www.newinceptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NI-Web-Logo8.20165.pngJC2016-09-15 16:41:502018-12-27 16:13:03Tips for Starting a SaaS Business and Exploring Current Events with Matej Leban (AoL 053)
