The Traveling Cup Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mark W. Guay - Entrepreneur, Podcaster, Educator
Welcome to the Traveling Cup Podcast. This is the podcast dedicated to your life on purpose — bringing you interviews with entrepreneurs, writers, and think-tanks who share their story on purpose and tips to have greater impact in your life’s work.
“I learned that people’s opinions of me didn’t matter and that wasn’t a reflection of who I was.” @iwearyourshirt
“You don’t get what you don’t ask for.” @iwearyourshirt
“Define your own metrics of success.” @iwearyourshirt
On the show with me today is Jason Zook. You may know him better as Jason Sadler, Jason Headsetsdotcom and Jason SurfrApp.
Jason is the founder of iwearyourshirt.com and honestly, one of the most creative people that I’ve met when it comes to making money outside the typical 9-5. In fact, having to work the 9-5 is one of Jason’s greatest fears, I’ve learned.
What I love most about Jason is that he decided early on his life that instead of trying to fit in, he would embrace and unleash the fact that he thinks differently. And the truth is, most people struggle so hard to fit in and in doing so, repress themselves to live under someone else’s definition of normal.
He’s a big fan of Skittles, a car junkie and has a platonic crush on Elon Musk, which, for those of you who have been listening for a while, you know I do too.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Embracing your inner weirdo
- “Identify the things that you don’t want to be doing and remove them.”
- BuyMyFuture.com
- Boost creativity by disconnecting from social media
- Give yourself space
- Write every day – even when what you’re writing doesn’t make sense
- Control, freedom and flexibility
- Not being attached to money
- Having conversations with like-minded folks and not having conversations with people who are self-limiting
- Making money in an unconventional way
- Crushing on Elon Musk
Links:
- BuyMyFuture.com
- Find Jason on Twitter @iwearyourshirt
- Purple Cow by Seth Godin
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“Don’t go necessarily for big media; go for your readers.” @RyanBiddulph
“When you’re doing something for a sustained period of time, then it feels crappy, where you don’t feel energized, you’re doing it wrong.” @RyanBiddulph
My friend Shannon introduced me to this guy months ago and I’ve been reading his work; I even did a little bit of traveling because of him and he helped guide me in the surfing adventure I was looking for.
On the show today we have Ryan Biddulph. He is the brilliant man behind Blogging From Paradise. Ryan helps people retire to a life of island hopping through smart blogging, and I’m really excited to talk about smart blogging because it’s something that I’ve been working on my strategy as well.
We’re going to dive deep into the jungle of blogging. We’re going to explore Ryan’s writing strategies, and of course, we’re going to learn how Ryan has connected the dots between school, his passion and of course, what the world needs.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Mentorship with Darren Rowse, ProBlogger
- Going towards the most freeing, fulfilling direction
- Blogging tip: Just keep churning out content
- Putting all your energy into giving
- Why blog and how to cut through the noise
- Blogging tip: Be authentic.
- Blogging for large media sites vs having a personal blog
- “Don’t go necessarily for big media; go for your readers.”
- Creating – no matter what. Form that creative habit.
- Learning about what you’re capable of
Links:
- Blogging From Paradise
- Find Ryan on Twitter @RyanBiddulph and Facebook
- Trustedhousesitters.com and housecarers.com
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“Coconut oil is medicine.”
On the show with me today is a good friend of mine, Tyson Adams. This is Tyson’s second time coming on The Traveling Cup. On Episode 33, we dove into everything about his amazing philanthropic startup, Jhai Coffee House. It’s one of my favorite episodes because it talks about one of my obsessions – coffee.
He started the world’s first coffee shop in Laos that gives back 100% to its community. So far, they’ve constructed 9 clean water wells, sent 4,000 kids in 35 schools and gave access to clean water and hygiene education.
They’ve built a café that acts as a social business which educates the farmers in the community about specialty coffee, and a coffee warehouse which has been wonderful in providing infrastructure for the farmers to basically maximize the earning potential of their coffee.
Tyson is here with me today to talk about his latest venture with Zuddha Coconut Oil, and this is a unique turn in Tyson’s entrepreneurial path, and I’m really excited to talk about how Tyson connected these dots.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Tyson’s journey from Jhai Coffee House to Zuddha Coconut Oil
- Benefits of coconut oil
- What makes Zuddha Coconut Oil different?
- Is it truly virgin?
- What do you use coconut oil for?
- Oil pulling
- Coconut oil and breastfeeding
- MCT oils
- Crowdfunding tip: Keep your video short!
- Giving back to the community
Links:
- Zuddha Coconut Oil on Indiegogo
- Holy Coco Nuts! Lose Weight, Feel Great with Coconut Oil by Tyson Adams
- Jhai Coffee House website and Facebook
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“How do you live within these massive limitations? How do you live when you don’t know how much energy you have from one day to the next?”
“Monetize your mission, monetize your passion, and then take those steps forward.”
“If you can extract wisdom from each and every situation, then it’s not a negative thing – it’s an empowering thing.”
On the show with me today I have Sarah and Aaron Sanchez, two really special guests whom my wife and I had the honor of meeting at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York.
You guys have heard me talk about my stay at Omega Institute for the Living Well With Lyme Disease Conference already, but you’re going to get an insider’s look here with two very special people that I’ve met there.
Aaron and Sarah are the hosts of the podcast, LymeVoice, where they focus on the path from Lyme Disease to wellness.
For those who have been following The Traveling Cup for a while, you know that I’ve talked a bit about my wife’s struggle with Lyme Disease, so this is an especially meaningful conversation that we’re going to have with Aaron and Sarah, and I’m really honored to have them in this episode.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Learning financial intelligence
- What is Lyme Disease?
- Lyme Disease symptoms
- Incorporating Lyme into their life’s work
- How to stay positive and empowered – be intentional
- Surrounding oneself with positivity
- How to support your partner through chronic illness
- Redefining success
- “It’s okay to struggle. It means you’re IN the fight.”
- “Turn your crap into fertilizer.”
Links:
- Why Can’t I Get Better by Richard Horowitz, M.D. (Lyme Disease resource)
- Envita Medical Center
- Under Our Skin (Documentary)
- How To Survive A Plague
- LymeVoice Facebook group
- aaronlsanchez@gmail.com (Aaron’s email)
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“When you follow your dream, when you follow your passion, really nothing can stop you.” @DreamNipotence
“As you start to become aware of what it is that you value most…you can start to use that as a measuring stick for making your decisions.” @DreamNipotence
On the show with me today is Jo Caragh. After 17 years as a communications operator for 911 for the Toronto Police, Jo left to follow her gut feeling, which is I think something that everyone listening to this podcast could relate to.
And there was something more that she wanted to be doing. At 911, she honed her skills as an expert communicator, developing the tools to effectively connect with people to achieve the best possible outcome. She brings her experiences as a trainer, a mentor supervisor and creator of an award-winning communications program.
Check out ChooseDreams.ca to learn more about Jo and her work and her concept of Dream Nipotence.
On this Coffee Chat:
- A shoutout to Jennifer Hough
- How mentors can help you step into something bigger and figuring out your path
- Jo’s definition of “Intelligence of the Heart”
- Do you feel like you need to give some service back to the world?
- What is Dream Nipotence?
- Tapping into the intelligence of the heart
- Starting a dream journal
- How self-aware are you?
- How do you choose the right path?
- There is no right or wrong choice
Links:
- ChooseDreams.ca
- HeartMath Institute
- International Association for the Study of Dreams
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“Don’t ever give up hope. Continue to fight, because you never know what’s going to happen in front of you; you never know what plan is meant for you.” @JhansonSteel
“No – don’t accept the negative statistics…you fight until you can’t fight anymore.” @JhansonSteel
“With anything in life, if you are truly passionate about it, you’re gonna give it every bit of energy that you have to see this goes forward.” @JhansonSteel
On the show with me today I have the real man of steel, JJ Hanson, joining us. Now JJ’s story is one you will never forget, and I’m really excited to dig into his new line of work, with his new nonprofit, or helping the nonprofit Voices Against Brain Cancer.
JJ’s a US Marine and brain cancer survivor who advocates for policy changes on behalf of patients. He recently approached the New York State Department of Health to officially declare May 27th as New York State Grey Day, where people wear the color grey to help promote brain cancer awareness.
And this is awesome – he just completed a Spartan race. In short, I’m super excited to have JJ join us today.
On this Coffee Chat:
- JJ’s Spartan race experience
- Lessons and virtues JJ learned from his family
- “When people see you do that and they see you working harder to try and make something happen, then they’re going to build off of that strength, and it makes you feel better when you see them resulting in a positive way from what you just did.”
- JJ’s fight against cancer
- Keeping the right perspective in the midst of challenges
- “There are so many great things in this world for you to do; there are so many great things in this world for you to see and be a part of. Why wait?”
- How JJ started working with Voices Against Brain Cancer
- ADVICE: Just reach out.
- Using video to create a conversation around your advocacy
- Other initiatives JJ is working on
- Focusing on priorities
Links:
- Check out JJ’s personal story over at com
- Follow JJ on Twitter, @JhansonSteel and Facebook
- Voices Against Brain Cancer and @VABC
- Email jjhanson@voicesagainstbraincancer.org
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“We have to realize that we have many of the solutions in our hands.” @thelongestswim
“Looking at the bigger picture and what we are doing for the next generation, I think, is the most important thing.” @thelongestswim
“It’s not the big things that make the world change; I think it’s the little things that you aggregate and the power of numbers.” @thelongestswim
On the show with me today is Ben Lecomte. For those of you who have been listening for a while, you know that I’ve devoted my life’s work to have real, meaningful impact and to live my life intentionally. For that reason, Ben is a huge role model for anyone who wants to go big and make huge impact.
Ben is a long-distance swimmer who will be swimming across the Pacific Ocean, from Tokyo to San Francisco. It’s actually not just to go for a swim – it’s part of this incredible global movement, a global effort to re-think sustainability.
This is the perfect example of how someone can take their passion and apply it to have incredible impact in the world.
So what can we do as individuals and as a collective to make our world and our oceans as healthy as they can be for our children and future generations?
Check out Ben’s herculean work over at TheLongestSwim.com and his Indiegogo campaign, which just launched so that we could help send him off on his swim from Tokyo to San Francisco.
On this Coffee Chat:
- What Ben learned from his mentors – his father and adventurer, Gerard d'Aboville
- Pushing limits and not being afraid of taking big risks
- Using one’s passion to make a difference
- Bringing attention to sustainability
- “We have problems right now with our environment…but at the same time, we have to realize that we have many of the solutions in our hands.”
- The Longest Swim
- Being mindful of how much waste we create and recycle
- Small things you can do that can have worldwide impact
- How Ben trained for The Longest Swim
Links:
- Ben’s Twitter, @thelongestswim, Facebook and Website
- Check out Ben’s Indiegogo campaign!
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“When you want to be extraordinary, that’s within the confines of being normal.” @bhaesa
“I’ve always believed that no matter what situation you find yourself in, until you learn something from it, you can’t escape it.” @bhaesa
Let’s go over the pond to England, where Bhavani Esapathi helps people find their purpose through adversities that come in their life.
She founded what’s called Chronically Driven, which is a digital social innovation hub that empowers those with chronically debilitating illnesses, helping them connect and share their story with the world.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Learning from a mentor: respecting other people’s beliefs and opinions.
- Success isn’t dictated by your educational background
- Successful entrepreneurs desire to learn more
- How Chronically Driven brings invisible disabilities to the forefront of mainstream media
- Positively affecting others’ lives through your work
- ADVICE: Be persistent in the good work that you’re doing, even if you don’t ‘see’ anything happening.
- Finding work that suits you and your lifestyle
- Managing your energy – what you spend time on
- Pro tip: Make a list of tasks that only take 5 minutes to complete
Links:
- Bhavani’s Twitter, @bhaesa and website, Chronically Driven
- http://www.bhaesa.com/
- You can also find Bhavani on Medium
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“You got to do what you love.” @JeffreySlayter
“You only have so much life, so whatever you can do to create your own thing, get out and do it.” @JeffreySlayter
“That’s what it’s like as an entrepreneur – you have no idea if it’s going to work out and just put yourself out there and trust.” @JeffreySlayter
Let’s fly all the way over to Australia where Jeffrey Slayter now calls home. Jeffrey’s got a really unique background. Born in Hawaii into a family of entrepreneurs, Jeffrey eats, breathes and sleeps entrepreneurship, especially when he’s not surfing.
There’s so much I can say about this guy, but in short, he started up a bunch of businesses that have not only done a whole lot of good in the world – kudos to that – but also made quite a bit of money as well – double kudos to that.
His purpose-driven mission has brought him on the stage with Sir Richard Branson, Tim Ferriss, Tony Robbins – I mean, there’s so much that we could talk about today on the show.
Let’s have fun and dive into what’s got Jeffrey fired up lately.
It’s time to get real and vulnerable with Jeffrey Slayter – unplugged.
To learn about Jeffrey’s latest project, head over to http://www.thegrandinitiative.com/
On this Coffee Chat:
- “No matter what, persistence, in the end, will win.”
- Creating something out of nothing
- Ideas are a dime a dozen, but execution is everything.
- Anyone can become an entrepreneur
- Finding what you’re here to do, not what the world is telling you to do
- Having a daily routine – eating healthy food, listening to podcasts
- Jeffrey’s Ayahuasca experience
- What Ayahuasca can do for your business (and your personal life)
- The future of conscious enterprise
- “I’ve learned how little I actually know, and I’m okay with it.”
Links:
- Jeffrey’s Twitter, @JeffreySlayter and website
- The Initiative
- http://freehumanityevent.com/
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“The most important thing that I learned is that luck plays a huge factor in everything.” @rogerwu99
“Being humble is probably the most important characteristic – whether you’re an employee, whether you’re an entrepreneur, whether you’re a rockstar – whoever you are.” @rogerwu99
Let’s meander between New York and California where Roger Wu divides his time. Roger is an entrepreneur and the founder of Cooperatize – an advertising platform that guarantees placements and at the same time will save publishing.
Roger’s special talent? Using story to captivate and make lasting impressions.
You may also recognize Roger as the bodyguard for the Prime Minister of Micronesia in the movie Zoolander.
On this Coffee Chat:
- A shoutout to Roger’s father, who was also an entrepreneur
- Preparation is everything
- How he ended up in Zoolander
- Making viral YouTube videos
- Roger’s vlogging tip: Do something different
- “Nothing really can truly go viral from one guy sitting in a room, unless he has help doing it.”
- What form of advertising best suits your product
- Content marketing
- The power of a story
- What Roger is learning right now
Links:
- Give Roger a shoutout on Twitter, @rogerwu99 and http://rogerwu.com/
- Cooperatize
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“There’s no way to succeed without failure. Failure is the only teacher of business” @meronbareket
“If we push ourselves to the limit of what we can do, our limits will expand, we will become better and we’ll see results.” @meronbareket
Let’s fly over to Israel – that’s right, Israel – where Meron Bareket helps inspire innovation like none other.
For those who don’t know Meron, he is the founder of Podcast Incubator – a social hub to help podcasters accelerate their show and connect with others in the world. He’s also the voice behind Inspiring Innovation, a business podcast that helps, well, inspire innovation.
Meron’s mission is simple: he helps others create freedom through entrepreneurship.
Get your podcast starter kit at http://podcastincubator.com/travelingcup
On this Coffee Chat:
- A shoutout to Ralph Quintero of Happy Someone!
- Mentors helping pave your way to success
- Whose problem are you going to solve?
- Standing out doesn’t have to be “different”
- It’s not about you – it’s about your audience
- Giving your audience knowledge and understanding will set you apart
- “Do something instead of stopping because you’re afraid to start.”
- Transitioning from working 9-5 to having a business
- Podcasting and sponsorship
- Paying attention to what you can help people with
- Trusting your gut
- How Podcast Incubator started out
- ADVICE: Don’t be an entrepreneur if you’re not willing to fail!
- Being surrounded by the right people
Links:
- Connect with Meron on Twitter @meronbareket
- Check out Meron’s podcast, Inspiring Innovation at his website, http://meronbareket.com/
- Meet Meron at the Podcast Movement from July 31st to August 2nd
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“Life is better when you are doing what makes you happy.” @neuronsaway
“Our imagination is our most powerful tool.” @neuronsaway
“Imagination, although undermined and thought that it’s only relative to children, is actually one of the building blocks of who we are and how we grow as a human race.” @neuronsaway
Sally Safadi, the creator of Neurons Away and a book that lately I’ve been obsessed with called Fill In The Space, joins us on The Traveling Cup today.
She’s an Acro yogi, and when she’s not practicing Acro Yoga, she helps curve creativity and inspire innovation with unconventional tasks.
We’ll be diving into how she wrote her book and the impact that it’s having right now.
On this Coffee Chat:
- A shoutout to Sally’s fifth grade teacher, Mr. Crump
- Sally’s book, Fill In The Space, which stimulates the use of the imagination and creativity.
- Imagination as one of the building blocks of who we are
- “We have this innate power to imagine and to create, but we don’t necessarily have the tools and the platforms to exercise these.”
- Questions that we don’t usually ask ourselves
- Not taking life too seriously
- The balance between creative freedom and structure
- How each page in her book stimulates a different part of your brain
- Investing in yourself
- What Sally is learning right now in her business
- The power of Imagination
Links:
- Sally’s Website, Neurons Away and Twitter @neuronsaway
- Fill In The Space by Sally Safadi, an interactive book of infinite creation
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“Realize that your problems are not uncommon at all.” @laviniaiosub
Let’s fly all the way over to Bali, Indonesia where we’re getting to chat with Lavinia Iosub who is with Project Getaway. A big shout out to my friend Shannon who introduced us!
Looking at Project Getaway – it just looks perfect. I’m really excited to hear the story of how she got it started, why she’s doing it, how she got to Bali all the way over from Romania.
Project Getaway is a 30-day event for entrepreneurs and digital nomads that come from all over the world. They come together in Bali and they network, develop their business ideas and live the adventure of a lifetime in this paradise.
It’s basically an incubator, a conference, a retreat, a network gathering and a working holiday all in one.
Let’s fly all the way over to Bali, Indonesia where we’re getting to chat with Lavinia Iosub who is with Project Getaway. A big shout out to my friend Shannon who introduced us!
Looking at Project Getaway – it just looks perfect. I’m really excited to hear the story of how she got it started, why she’s doing it, how she got to Bali all the way over from Romania.
Project Getaway is a 30-day event for entrepreneurs and digital nomads that come from all over the world. They come together in Bali and they network, develop their business ideas and live the adventure of a lifetime in this paradise.
It’s basically an incubator, a conference, a retreat, a network gathering and a working holiday all in one.
On this Coffee Chat:
· How Lavinia quit her career in banking and started traveling
· What makes Bali an amazing travel destination
· Workation = work + vacation
· Project Getaway as a nonprofit
· What happens during Project Getaway?
· Having the opportunity to learn from different entrepreneurs
· The challenges of being a digital nomad
· The benefits of working with and learning from like-minded individuals
Links:
· Project Getaway
· Livit
· Email Lavinia at lavinia@projectgetaway.net
· Twitter: @projectgetaway and @laviniaiosub
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“There’s a difference between watching your life go by from the sidelines and just jumping right in and being a full participant in it.” @robertdomingo
Joining us in this episode of The Traveling Cup is Robert Domingo. Robert is the creator of Mid-Life Round-the-World – one man’s journey of preparing for, embarking on and returning from a mid-life round-the-world trip.
We are going to dive into his journey of how he came to go on traveling around the world, his passion for storytelling and balancing passion and practicality.
Traveling was something he’s always dreamed of but wasn’t able to do, being stuck in a job he just couldn’t quit. His blog tells his story of how he was able to do finally it and the stories and adventures he went through while traveling.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Finding the courage to let go of things that hold you back
- Taking risks and handling doubts
- On traveling: “The worst case scenario when I come back is that I’ve gotten to see the world.”
- How you can make the most out of your experience after traveling
- Having a portable lifestyle business
- Helping others fulfill their wanderlust
- The balance between passion and practicality
- How do you differentiate yourself from other entrepreneurs?
- Getting over shyness and making connections
Links:
- Robert’s website, http://midliferoundtheworld.com/ and Twitter, @robertdomingo
“The highest will and the highest purpose that any of us can assign ourselves to is finding our own happiness” @larendeeroos
“The level of happiness and inner peace a person carries is not directly proportional to the size of their bank account.” @dawndcoach
Join me in New York City where Larendee Roos and Dawn Doherty help executives maximize their leadership potential, all the way down to their spirit. They are the leaders of spirit-based business. That’s right – spirit-based business. Something I haven’t heard of very much before but after learning about it from Larendee, I love it.
We’ll be diving into what a spirit-based business is all about and finding happiness and peace in your own business.
On this Coffee Chat:
- A shoutout to Ken Woolley, a serial entrepreneur
- The importance of mentorship in finding your purpose
- The meaning of “relaxing into happiness”
- What is a spirit-based business?
- Transforming your life to transform your business
- Finding your purpose and helping others discover theirs
- How to deal with thought clusters or conditioned ways of thinking that are not serving you to move forward
- How to attract people with similar goals
- The secret to attaining sustainable wealth
- The three questions you should be asking yourself
- Finding what inspires and energizes you every day
- Developing the trust muscle in business
Links:
- Larendee and Dawn’s Spirit Based Business
- Find them on Twitter @larendeeroos and @dawndcoach
- The Future of Work with Ayelet Baron
- Thrive by Arianna Huffington (Amazon)
Send your tweets over to @MarkWGuay and tell us how you are relaxing into happiness!
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“How far do you really want to go? How fast do you really want to go? Are you prepared for it?” @TylerBel
“You can fall and you can fail, but that’s part of life, and the best part is when you do, you learn so many lessons.” @TylerBel
“There aren’t limits if you don’t believe it to be so.” @TylerBel
Let’s fly over to Portland, Oregon where vagabond Tyler Bel calls home. Tyler Bel is incredible! Just one look at her impressive resumé and you’ll be amazed. I like to think of her as the Peter Pan of an entrepreneur, because she creates fantastical companies that help push people’s dreams to a whole new reality.
We’ll be diving into the story of how TINSEL started out, the importance of mentorship, Tyler’s take on success and many more.
Among other work, Tyler is the founder of TINSEL, which is a cool acronym, which means There Is No Sky Experience and Lifestyle. She acts as a facilitator to not only tell a brand’s story, but also act as a business development hub and intermediary to high-profile companies and influential change-makers.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Mentorship
- Tyler’s story on how TINSEL started out
- The difference between people who find success and those who don’t
- The importance of having the right strategy and mindset in business
- Having a growth mindset vs a limited mindset
- How to choose a mentor
- Who do you surround yourself with?
- Tyler’s tips on how to develop a growth mindset
- The importance of conviction
- How Tyler chose her passion for change
- Identifying what you’re good at and making money through it
- Practicing gratitude, mindfulness and silence
Links:
- Tyler’s Twitter @tylerbel and @ThereIsNoSky, Facebook
- Skype with Tyler: tyler.bel
- ThereIsNoSky (website)
- ProjectYourself
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“At some point, you have to realize that you can’t really make things ideal and you can’t always rewrite and reedit and make it nicer.” @Ani_LifeProb
“When I’m writing, I’m not really thinking about whether the book will be selling or not, whether people will like it or not” @Ani_LifeProb
“If you have a dream or you want to do something with your life, just go ahead and DO IT and TRY IT. You may fail, but it will be worth it even if you do.” @Ani_LifeProb
Let’s fly over to Armenia where Ani Alexander joins us on the coffee chat today to share her story of finding greater purpose in her work – which, by the way, she is the first podcaster in Armenia. That is awesome.
She will be sharing her story, how she got started and her journey through podcasting and writing.
Ani is a storyteller, an Amazon best-selling author and of course, the first podcaster in Armenia.
Perhaps like Ani, you have a story inside of yourself that you want to share but haven’t had the chance to do it yet, or something is just holding you back.
For many, the idea of becoming an author is beautifully terrifying. Ani helps ease the journey to make this dream a reality.
On this Coffee Chat:
- How Ani left her corporate job, became an Amazon best-selling author and went into podcasting
- Overcoming roadblocks
- Learn how Ani launched her podcast in just three weeks
- Write 2B Read, a podcast that aims to serve writers and entrepreneurs
- How to make money off of fiction
- ADVICE for authors: Find out how you can have a steady, loyal audience.
- Authors – should you stick to just one genre?
- Self-publishing vs traditional publishing
- Practical writing tips
- Great SEO and awful writing vs great writing with minimal to no SEO
- How to handle criticism
Links:
- Ani Alexander’s website
- Ani Alexander’s Twitter, @Ani_LifeProb
- Ani’s Podcast, Write 2B Read
- Books by Ani Alexander
- Publish My Book Today
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“Go out there and prove yourself.” @erin_gee
“I think that we just need to take risks as creative people, as people who want to make a difference.” @erin_gee
“If you feel like you need to do something, you just do it.” @erin_gee
Erin Gee joins us on The Traveling Cup today. She is an Ottawa-based writer who is a public servant by day and a community-focused do-gooder by night. She’s kind of like Batwoman – I love it.
She’s here to talk about her work, what inspires her, how she really loves peanut butter cookies, and of course her new website, The Unconventional.
Erin is a writer and eater and a high-five expert. She is a regular contributor to Ford magazine and Startup Canada and has also been published by the Huffington Post Canada and Canadian Government Executive Magazine.
On this Coffee Chat:
- How Erin aims to push the creative edges of government
- How to bring about innovation in a slowly-changing system like the government.
- What makes an inspiring workplace? A place where good ideas are encouraged and talked about.
- Fresh Off The Boat and breaking stereotypes
- How Erin maintains her focus to get things done
- How writing helps clear the mind and produce quality work
- Erin’s new website, The Unconventional
- Controlling your hustle through delegation
- Good vs bad stress
- Giving back to the community – putting purpose over profit
Links:
- Erin’s website, http://erin-gee.ca/ and Twitter, @erin_gee
- 750 Words
- 99U, the thinktank for Behance.
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“What is ‘freedom’ to everybody around the world and how can we allow more people to have it?” @nataliesisson
“First of all, what’s your vision for life? What do you really want out of it? What’s your perfect day look like?” @nataliesisson
“You have to absolutely, 100%, go after this vision – for what you want out of life – and DO IT.” @nataliesisson
Before there were all these awesome bloggers and podcasters out there, there was a woman who helped start it all. One day, she packed her suitcase with the aim to work from home and build her business around her life instead of how mainstream work forces people to build their lives around work – so she started up the lifestyle business.
Natalie Sisson joins us on the coffee chat today to talk about freedom, how she started her business and her newest venture, The Right2Freedom.
Today we’re going to talk about her story of finding purpose and then of course what’s been going on lately with her vagabonding and the outback in Oceania.
If you want to live a life of freedom, check out http://suitcaseentrepreneur.com/ Visit http://suitcaseentrepreneur.com/freedom/ and grab your Freedom Starter Kit for FREE.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Natalie’s story about how she found her life’s purpose
- The story behind “The Suitcase Entrepreneur”
- Natalie’s newest venture – the Right2Freedom.
- The Freedom Plan – a 10-week program that takes people through three key stages for living a free life.
- Building a profitable business out of the lifestyle that you want.
- The importance of planning and focus
- Natalie’s morning routine
- How to keep innovation alive in your business
- Tips on how to start your venture in a saturated market
- How to determine which pain points to monetize
- Painkillers vs vitamins
- Time-saving strategies for entrepreneurs – say YES to the right things
- The importance of connecting with the right people, like-minded people
- Mapping out your perfect day
Links:
- Natalie’s website, The Suitcase Entrepreneur
- The Freedom Plan
- The Right2Freedom website
- Natalie Sisson on Twitter, @nataliesisson and @suitcasepreneur
- A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
- DotCom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online by Russell Brunson
I would love to hear what your perfect day looks like, so if you have 5-10 minutes go ahead and write down your perfect day and email it to myself and Natalie ;)
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“With all the (social media) platforms that are out there, see which one you enjoy, but also where your audience is.” @socialdiva
“Have fun, do what you love, take breaks, move this needle forward so as not to burn out as an entrepreneur.” @socialdiva
Let’s hop on over to Silicon Alley of New York City where social diva, Peg Samuel, hangs out. An adjunct professor at New York University, Peg is a proven leader in online branding and digital strategy and helps give social media makeovers.
In this interview, we’ll be talking about the different social media platforms, marketing and Periscope, a live video streaming app for iOS and Android. We’ll also be digging a little bit into surfing + yoga – how fun is that!
She was a key part in the 2012 London Olympics social media strategy and is the founder of socialdivamedia.com. Her specialty? Fashion and wellness brands.
On this Coffee Chat:
- The conversation that helped Peg have deeper purpose in her work
- How Peg went from social diva to being a professor in NYU
- How Peg started out at the Weather Channel
- How Peg got the nickname Social Diva
- Periscope, a live video streaming app for iOS and Android
- ADVICE: “With all the (social media) platforms that are out there, see which one you enjoy, but also where your audience is.”
- Periscope and marketing
- The power of media and how we can use social media tools to get it out there
- Using hashtags – do they help your business?
- Social media scheduling and pre-writing content
Links:
- Social Diva’s website http://socialdivamedia.com/
- Periscope https://www.periscope.tv/
- Find Peg Samuel on Twitter and Periscope, @socialdiva
A lot of gold nuggets in this interview! Share with us your biggest takeaway below.
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“It’s interesting how negative reinforcement can actually have some very positive end results.” @starrpmc
“You have to love your work. That should matter more than compensation.” @starrpmc
Billy Starr joins us on the show today to talk about how he started the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). He is the Pan-Mass Challenge founder and executive director and we’re going to learn all about that and how he got into doing that – it’s really cool.
The Pan-Mass Challenge is a 190-mile bike-a-thon. Today, it has raised a total of – get this – $455 million, for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since 1980, and that is a little bit before I was born, so that’s awesome. In 2015, they aim to raise another $45 million.
We’ll also be diving into PMC’s role in cancer research. Billy is actually the first guest of the show who’s using an endurance sport to raise money for cancer.
The PMC will be on August 1st and 2nd, 2015. You can catch the live televised opening ceremonies on WBZTV.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Billy’s personal story on how he started PMC
- How athletes can contribute to a higher purpose
- How PMC grew organically through word-of-mouth and unapologetic fundraising
- PMC as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that’s 100% committed to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- PMC’s role in keeping Dana-Farber the leading institute for cancer research
- PMC’s fundraising strategies
- The importance of volunteers
- Virtual cyclists
- How they keep it relevant at PMC
- ADVICE for fundraisers: recognize the highs and lows and get your community to work with you.
Links:
- Pan-Mass Challenge
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Billy’s Twitter @starrpmc
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“It wasn’t necessarily about the money I made or the money I didn’t make; it was about what I learned from the experience.” @chrisspurvey
“If you bring value to people, then you can be really successful in selling.” @chrisspurvey
“Sales is not something to be feared. It’s bringing value to your consumers, bringing value to customers.” @chrisspurvey
Today we’re going to hop over to the easternmost part of North America where Chris Spurvey spends most of his time, and we’re going to talk about sales.
We’ll be diving into Chris’ story on how he got started, his journey with sales and tips on how today’s entrepreneurs should sell.
A Newfoundland native, Chris has had a long career in the world of sales. As a vice president in a highly profitable business, Chris knows how to make a sale and has learned the key tactics to help convert a fan of your work into a happy customer.
You can get early access to his upcoming book by visiting www.chrisspurvey.com/thetravelingcup
On this Coffee Chat:
- How Chris went from marketing to sales – going back to his entrepreneurial roots
- The struggle with society’s preconceived notion of sales.
- Sales = serving and delivering value
- What led Chris down this road with sales
- How Chris started out in a network marketing company
- The experience of having your first sale
- How Chris maintains his focus – having a vision and staying true to that vision?
- Chris’ new podcast, It’s Time To Sell
- How resetting your life can get rid of many limiting beliefs
- Chris’ advice for those who want to be a full-time entrepreneur
- ADVICE: What’s your story? Be authentic and put it out there
- What is “success”?
- What people are doing wrong in sales
- How do you move towards a close?
- The best sales people are actually more introverted, or ambiverts
- Chris’ advice for sales people
- Being confident in the value you provide
- How to determine product pricing
- Chris’ advice for millennials – don’t wait until things are perfect
Links:
- Chris’ website, ChrisSpurvey.com
- Follow Chris on Twitter, @chrisspurvey
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- Mach II With Your Hair On Fire: The Art of Vision & Self-Motivation by Richard B. Brooke
- To Sell Is Human by Dan Pink
(Psst: Email me a screenshot of you leaving an iTunes review of the podcast and I’ll send you a copy of Michael’s book. Ends June 1st)
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“A lot of people won’t make a change if they feel lukewarm; it’s really when they’re miserable that they step into the unknown and lose that fear.” @Ash_Stahl
“You’re in charge of your life. You get to do whatever you want.” @Ash_Stahl
Today, we’ll fly over to Santa Monica, California to chat with Ashley Stahl, a career coach for Generation Y.
In this coffee chat we will talk about how Ashley got into the career coaching business and the importance of mentorship and networking in establishing your career.
Ashley is a keynote speaker, a writer for Forbes and a Top99Under33 Foreign Policy Leader. She also used to work in the Pentagon – how awesome is that! In short, Ashley is a go-to expert on helping millenials land a dream job or become the entrepreneurial boss for themselves.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Ashley’s beautiful story on finding purpose. From working at the Pentagon to being a Career Coach – here’s Ashley’s beautiful story…
- “What made me take the leap…is that I realized I was more scared of what my life would look like if I didn’t take that leap.”
- The importance of having mentors and how they can affect your life.
- “Having a mentor was what really translated into all the shifts that I was able to make.”
- A shoutout to Colonel John Garrett.
- Building a community.
- Networking as friendship, connection, an authentic opportunity to enrich your life.
- What helps Ashley maintain her focus – surrounding herself with people who aren’t threatened by other people’s success.
- Networking is just as feasible over a cup of coffee as it is over the phone.
- Career advice: don’t bend to the workforce – make the workforce bend to you.
- “Whatever makes you light up is what you’re going to do best, and that’s what the workforce needs.”
- The Dream Job Intensive – online modules about job hunting.
- How do you know what your dream job is, really? (Truth is, you already know)
- “At the end of the day, the world only makes way for people who know where they’re headed.”
- The strategy of clarity and focus and networking from far away.
- Clarity comes from engagement – not from thought.
- The best strategy to land a job is not through resumés – it’s through networking.
- Ashley’s thoughts on college.
Links:
- Access Ashley’s Free Career Success Kit on http://ashleystahl.com/
- Follow Ashley Stahl on Twitter @Ash_Stahl and Facebook
- UberConference
- Memberium
(Psst: Email me a screenshot of you leaving an iTunes review of the podcast and I’ll send you a copy of Michael’s book. Ends June 1st)
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“The money can be in your checking account in 3 or 4 days – it’s amazing!” @LendingMemo
“You can only help people as much as you’ve helped yourself. You can only lead somebody as far as you’ve gone yourself.” @LendingMemo
Simon Cunningham joins us on the coffee chat today to talk about Social Responsible Investing through peer-to-peer (P2P) lending and how it helps people get out of debt.
We’ll be talking a lot about how to get the most out of P2P lending and how to be a socially responsible investor.
Simon is the owner of LendingMemo.com and he’s creating an awesome, interesting mission that explains how this is the first time in history that Americans can borrow and lend on a larger scale.
On this Coffee Chat:
- What influenced Simon to get into peer-to-peer lending
- How Lending Memo was born
- Socially responsible investing (SRIs) and the tradeoffs between performance and altruism
- Which should take priority – the mission or the returns?
- How not to get into the rabbit-hole of determining the truth behind companies’ corporate social responsibility statements.
- Simon’s mantra for investing: “Keep it simple.”
- Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending helps people get out of debt
- The brilliant idea of fractionalized loans
- P2P lending is like crowdsourcing a loan
- How Simon came up with the idea of P2P lending
- P2P lending gives investors access to a great return
- How you can receive money from P2P lending in just 3-4 days
- Simon’s advice: “Don’t put 100% of your assets in ANY single investment.”
- In general, to have positive returns in P2P lending, you need 200 borrowers to have a balanced, diversified account
- How to make sure you’re a socially responsible investor
- Simon’s opinion on B corps (benefit corporations)
- Simon’s overall opinion on debt – is it OK to be comfortable with it or should you stay out of it as much as possible?
Links:
- Check out Simon’s company at Lending Memo
- Simon’s Twitter @LendingMemo
- Lending Club, Prosper and Lend Academy (formerly SocialLending.net)
- What3words
(Psst: Email me a screenshot of you leaving an iTunes review of the podcast and I’ll send you a copy of Michael’s book. Ends June 1st)
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“The passions I have, the things I want to do in my life, I can actually do that and get PAID for it.”
“It doesn't matter what your job title is, where you live, where you are, because we’re all online.”
Duncan Gough joins us on the chat today to share his really unique story. After his spaceship crashed on his alien planet, he dove into his love for coding and co-founded Somewhere, the visual platform for sharing your work.
We’ll be diving into how Duncan got into coding and Somewhere’s role in the future of work.
Aside from being a founder of Somewhere, Duncan was also a part of The Nethernet, an online game which players passively participated in while browsing web pages.
On this Coffee Chat:
- How Duncan began to learn how to code
- How he maintains his focus when the Internet is a distraction
- His story on making an impact and creating something not just for himself but for others
- How they gamified Internet browsing with The Nethernet
- Why it’s sometimes better to collaborate with people
- The future of work
- Somewhere being a platform where people can share about their work and what they’re currently doing – a visual CV
- How Somewhere can give some helpful career advice for those wanting to know which of their interests are worth pursuing, gain real insights on what others are doing and provide some helpful resources to figure out what they want to do
- Somewhere can find what other people are doing and get inspiration from them.
- Duncan’s definition of the Impostor Syndrome
- Finding the thing that you’re interested in and then finding a way to make that work.
Links:
- Make Art, Make Money: Lessons from Jim Henson on Fueling Your Creative Career by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens.
- Philip K. Dick's science fiction books
- Annabel by Kathleen Winter
(Psst: Email me a screenshot of you leaving an iTunes review of the podcast and I’ll send you a copy of Michael’s book. Ends June 1st)
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
“When you’re committed to plan A you no longer need a plan B."
Shannon Hernandez joins me on the podcast today to share her story of transforming education. Shannon is a former teacher of 15 years who wrote an expose' about her trials as a teacher and has gone on to create The Writing Whisperer and the Transforming Public Education Podcast.
She’s an education reform activist who follows the yogic lifestyle, dives into vegetarian and vegan cooking, and often writes for The Huffington Post about the healing power of journaling, and the importance of self-care and self-reflection.
We dive deep into her story of reinventing herself and the three key decisions she made before taking the leap into entrepreneurship.
On this Coffee Chat:
-
Why Shannon left her job as a public school teacher and reinvented herself
-
Smart content marketing
- Thinking long-term and making decisions short-term
- What to do when when you have a bad boss
- Building a freelancing portfolio
Links:
- My Final 40 Days
- The Writing Whisperer
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
Michael Sanders joins us on the coffee chat today to share his story and the evolution of his latest project, Ayahuasca: An Executive’s Enlightenment.
We’ll also dive into Michael’s tips to unlock your full potential and find enlightenment. We may also talk about Michael’s serious dancing skills as well.
A bit more about Michael: He is a partner and Vice President in renewable energy and technology startup SunMoon Energy and the Vice President at ClearMedia.tv advertising agency.
You can preorder a copy of his book here and help him crowd fund to life! (non-affiliate link)
On this Coffee Chat:
- Why Ayahuasca is referred to as a female entity
- Michael gives a shout out to Sunmoon Energy
- Michael shares his experience w/ Ayahuasca
- Michael gives a shout out to Pulse Adventure Tours
- How Ayahuasca differs from LSD, the psychedelic Steve Jobs said was one of the most important experiences in his life
- How to decide if an experience w/ Ayahuasca is for you
- How Ayahuasca has helped Michael have more impact in his work
- Why Michael is using crowd-funding to kickstart his memoir
- How meditation enhanced Michael’s confidence
- Ayahuasca: What it is and why it empowered Michael
- Why Michael is crowdfunding the publication
(Psst: Email me a screenshot of you leaving an iTunes review of the podcast and I’ll send you a copy of Michael’s book. Ends June 1st)
P.S. Are you on the mailing list?
"You end up graduating not knowing what to do because you never had the chance to really explore your passions."
Jerry Mintz joins us on the coffee chat today to share his remarkable journey of transforming education. Jerry is the founder of AERO: Alternative Education Resource Organization which aims to celebrate and embrace a better future in education. Jerry pulls together education transformers from all over the world to share their successes and empower each other to redesign the education system.
On this Coffee Chat:
-
Why Jerry Mintz decided to spend his career transforming education
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How the school design is a failed system
-
The story behind EducationRevolution.org
-
How to inspire employees with organic curriculum
- Jerry’s thoughts on entrepreneurship
- Why entrepreneurs should homeschool their kids
- Homeschool = Building Entrepreneurship Skills
Today with me for a second time on The Traveling Cup to share the story of her new journey is Dorie Clark. I first had Dorie on the show all the way back on Ep. 23. Make sure you check it out here. There we talked about how millennials can reinvent themselves to launch a whole new career.
Now, she’s here to talk about how to find your breakthrough idea, build a following, and STAND OUT.
Dorie’s latest book, Stand Out, is my latest read. It’s chocked full of stories of entrepreneurs and regular ol’ Joes building a unique niche following and building their entrepreneurial legacy.
Doris’s one of my favorite writers. Why? Because she doesn’t lecture. She lets her stories stand for her evidence and establishes her claim with anecdotal evidence.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Why standing out is no longer optional
- How to find your breakthrough idea and build a following around it
- Why Dorie loves Tacos
- Developing you expert niche w/ @DorieClark
- Why you need to and how to do your own research
- Creating a framework for your idea
- Community…I mean a real community
- Putting though leadership into practice
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and *leaving a rating over at iTunes.*
“Some things just don’t work and it’s okay to say 'you know…that’s not for me and move on.'” On the call with me today is Matt Giovanisci. Matt is a Website wizard, podcast producer, music maker, video veteran, and fanboy of alliteration who is currently working on a coffee brand called Roasty. He helps people create “cool s" that matters using his recipe called Passion Mashin. Matt just returned from a road trip to Colorado and sits down at a coffee shop in Washington D.C. for our chat. The new trip inspired Matt for his new venture which he shares for the first-time on this interview. *Side note: Something happens on this episode that has never happened before in The Traveling Cup history. I hope it never happens again, but it was certainly a memory to remember.
On this coffee chat:
- From pool care to coffee site: How Matt creates niche sites
-
Creating epic video content
-
Tips to be authentic and stay true to your personality
- How to move beyond failure
- The story behind Roasty
- What happens to Matt in an alley in D.C.
- Building a lifestyle business
- Matt’s new thoughts on travel
“Whether it’s a microphone or whatever, you have the ability to get your voice out there." David Ralph joins us on the coffee chat to day to share his journey of connecting the dots. David runs the highly successful British podcast, Join Up Dots, where he decided to ditch the status quo of getting a regular job and construct a studio in his backyard garden to build his business.
On this Coffee Chat:
- How Parkinson’s Law influences your time
- Own back your time w/ David Ralph’s time- management skill
- What the finance world taught David
- Why David started Podcaster’s Mastery
- Working smarter, not harder
- How Steve Jobs and Oprah connected the dots
- Plan less, take action more
- Joinupdots.com
Leon Logothetis joins us on the podcast today to share his remarkable story behind The Kindness Diaries — his memoir of traveling the world on a vintage motorcycle with no money. How did Leon go all the way around the world? With the kindness of others. People were not allowed to give him money, though he relied on the kindness of others to offer him a place to stay, a meal to eat, and clothes for when the weather shifted to colder temperatures.
Check out his memoir here and stay connected with Leon here.
On this Coffee Chat:
- How a conversation with an educator inspired Leon
- The need for connection
- Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
- Kindness can fuel an extraordinary life
- From loneliness to world traveler, writer, and guest on The Today Show
- “What’s the point of living my life is I’m not helping someone else."
- The economics behind Leon’s vagabonding world travel
On the call with me today is Steve Pavlina. Since his days of creating computer games in the early 90’s, Steve has created free personal development and conscious living resources, with a focus on discovering your life purpose and summoning the courage to begin acting on it. I first heard of Steve’s work when hanging out with a friend of mine in the UK, Stephen Reed. He told me about Steve’s work and how his words have helped motivated and inspire thousands throughout the world.
Steve has a beautiful story of reinventing himself and is the Creator of Personal Development For Smart People.
On this chat:
-
How to not let finances control your emotions
-
What if I never succeed financially, could I have a meaningful and fulfilling life indefinitely?
-
What Steve learned from 5 years of failure
-
The benefits of volunteering. You’re helping others and the reciprocity of volunteering
-
“I try to follow what excites me and even scares me just a bit."
-
Listen to your intuition
-
How journaling helps you come in tune with your intuition
-
Project Hugfest
-
StevePavlina.com
On the chat with me today is Michael Roderick - the big fish behind Small Pond Enterprises. Michael is a former English teacher turned Broadway producer and now heads his own consulting firm. You’re probably wondering just how those dots connected and that’s what we talk about on the show.
We meander quite a bit in this conversation, especially about how to be a big fish in a small pond.
On this Coffee Chat:
- Why you need a mentor
- How to choose a mentor
- Why you should be a small fish in a BIG POND
- How Linchpin by Seth Godin inspired Michael to take the leap and have greater purpose in life
- The need to have a sense of agency
- How to find out what people will pay for
- Build the net before you leap
- Michael gives a shoutout to his mentor @KenDavenport, Broadway producer
- Dr. Robert Cialdini's Influence
- Why we say YES to things: “ Weapons of Influence"
- BE AUTHENTIC
- Don’t just choose one mentor
- Build a team of mentors like you would cast a Broadway show
- How a networking event can become a scavenger hunt
- Should you make your meet-up invite only?
“As a species, I don’t see limits as our issue. What I see as our issue is are we on the right growing edge?"
On the call with me today is Ali Alborzi. I first met Ali at the Omega Institute for a conference called “The Next Conversation” which focused on what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman in the world today.
Speakers like Diana Nyad and Ted Turner joined us in the conversation and I got to learn a lot about mindfulness, meditation, and living fully from Ali Alborzi.
Ali and his wife, Josie Maran (a former Maybelline cover girl), run Josie Maran Cosmetics with the aim to empower women throughout the world. Ali is a student of The Empowerment Institute which he references several times throughout the interview. David Gershon and Gail Straub have worked on this program for over thirty years and call it “a comprehensive blueprint for designing transformative social innovations and large-scale societal change."
Make sure to check out Imagine: the movement created by Ali and Josie to change the game around women’s empowerment in the developing world.
On this coffee chat:
- Tips to find your growing edge
- How to itemize and get clear on your goals
- How business life and personal life have to be one in the same
- The law of attraction
- Shoutout to Jean Kilbourne
- Staying mindful at work
-
How the Iranian Cultural Revolution of 1979 forced a dramatic shift in Ali’s future
-
The Empowerment Institute
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
“A lot of people would love to work for themselves, sure. Yet for whatever reason, they’re unable to either because of certain circumstances or because they’re afraid to take the leap.”
Lauren Bowling joins us on the coffee chat on purpose today. Lauren is a personal finance blogger and millennial home buyer, sass queen, puppy-lover and cola addict. She is the genius behind the website L Bee and The Money Tree.
Every year around the fall season, I typically do two things:
-
I go apple picking and drink lots of apple cider
-
I think about buying a home.
I haven’t bought a home yet and am not sure when I will, but my conversation with Lauren got me thinking a whole lot more about how to best use my money along with some solid advice on why I should buy a home.
I forgot who it was who said it and I think it was Jay-z, Einstein or Tony Robbins or perhaps it was all three: having money allows a person to do tremendous good in the world. In fact, it’s coming back to me. Jay-Z said, “I can’t help the poor when I’m poor.” Now, I don’t completely agree with that. There are plenty of people who do great things with little money, but having money allows a person to do more good (if he chooses to do so with his money which he should).
Which is why I’m happy to have Lauren on the show. She helps the many millennials who have found themselves with heaps of debt, mostly from college loans, and helps them get back on track with their spending.
Money is a tough topic to talk about in many circles, and in the social change world it’s even harder. When a for-purpose business gets launched, the world tends to put a microscope on it and evaluate just how “for purpose” it really is. The same goes for non-profits. Ironically, regular old businesses continue to do what they want with less public criticism.
On this coffee chat on purpose:
- Confessions of a shopaholic
- How to grow out of debt with a side hustle
- Tips for growing your money tree
- Lauren’s thoughts on what streams of income you should have
- Why real estate is still a good investment
- Tips for millennial home buyers
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
Mario Armstrong joins us on the coffee chat today to share his story. I first met Mario back at the Digital Diversity Conference in the New York Times building and have been a fan of his work for a LONG time. He recently launched the #NeverSettleClub which is a flux capacitor for motivation. If you don’t like to settle and have ambition like Steve Jobs, it’s the place for you.
You’ll recognize Mario as the tech genius who is often on The Today Show, especially around the holiday season. He’s a super tech geek that has built a super impressive brand for himself. What I think is most interesting about Mario’s work is that he is a crossover between traditional mass media like The Today Show and individual media channels like Youtube. He’s incredibly down-to-earth, kind and humble and I hope you get as much out of this interview as I did.
Thanks for joining me!
On this coffee chat on purpose:
- Mario gives a shout out to Calm.com
- “Meditation overall has changed my life” - says Mario
- How Mario uses the Pomodoro Technique
- Using Rainmaker to build a membership site
- What it means to rule #NeverSettle
- How Mario created #NeverSettleClub
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
“You have to run your job as a business. Your career really is your business. That’s why you have so much branding today."
Zorka Kovacevich joins us on the coffee chat today to share her story of flying high like Icarus and finding purpose. Zorka currently lives in NYC and is an event organizer and marketer who specializes in event-based, inbound, and Meet Up strategies
I found Zorka on a winter’s snowy day in a high-rise office space in central Manhattan in NYC. The weather howled outside as Zorka and I met comfortably over video Skype.
I first heard of Zorka when a group of my friends in NYC had convinced me to take the train into the city to attend a Linchpin event based on Seth Godin’s new book launch. A family emergency had kept me home that night and so the next day I heard from my friends what a great event I (unfortunately missed).
And for those who have read Linchpin…you know what I’m talking about? It’s one of the main books that started a new purpose in my life.
On this coffee chat:
- Tips for creating Meet Ups that inspire and grow a community
- The pros and cons of Meet Ups
- How Zorka juggles nearly 50 meet up groups
- Making money from Meet Ups
- The stress of just one purpose when the heart pulls in so many directions
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
Chris Samples joins us on the coffee chat today to share his story. Chris currently lives in Germany and is a transitioning army officer and entrepreneur. You’ll recognize his voice as the man behind The Journey of Success Podcast.
On this coffee chat on purpose:
- Tips for transitioning from one career to another
- How travel inspires a greater purpose
- How to create your own definition of success
- What the military has taught Chris about determination, the importance of a schedule, and goal setting
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend andleaving a rating over at iTunes.
“Courage is asking the question of how can you engage in the difficult and diverse conversations that you need to be having?" Erica Dhawan joins us on the coffee chat today to share the journey of her latest book, Get Big Things Done, The Power of Connectional Intelligence. Erica is the CEO of Cotential and teaches companies innovative strategies to create increasing value, tap next generation insights, deliver sustainable results and ensure future global competitiveness.
On this coffee chat:
- How to think BIG
-
- Broadening the way you get news
- Forge new connections
- Learning new skills to expand our schema
- Creating space and time to do the things that matter
- Connectional intelligence: what it is and how to grow yours.
- Tips to connect intelligently
- The 5 Cs of connectional intelligence
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- Curiousity
- Courage
- Combination
- Community
- Combustion
- The Three Types of Connectors
-
- Thinkers
- Enablers
- Connection Executors
- Growing your curiosity
- How a Pumpkin Started a BIG Revolution
getbigthingsdone
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
“It’s about finding those unique life experiences that we all have and asking how it can become our unfair advantage. ”
Scott Oldford joins us on the coffee chat today. Scott helps companies magnify their unfair advantage using strategy, marketing, and technology. He is the voice behind The Executive Minute podcast and the Limitless Business Podcast and lives in the furthest possible point of North America in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Scott has been named a top 20 under 20 innovator, has found massive debt, paid it back, and now continues to push the creative envelope.
On this coffee chat:
-
Building trust and cameraderie with your community
-
Why you shouldn’t be afraid of debt and how to grow out of it
-
A secret Scott shares on how to 10x your marketing dollars
-
How to identify your unfair advantage
-
What to say “yes” to and learning to say “no”
-
Why you need to build a team and delegate. Focus on one or two parts of your business.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
“It’s hard to get people motivated, but it's easy to change their direction with a first step.” Today’s coffee chat is all about habits: forming better habits and breaking the bad ones. Sharing his genus on the call today is Elan Marko. He’s a Toronto-based entrepreneur, rock climber, musician and the voice behind the Business Basecamp Podcast. On this coffee chat:
- The power of writing out your thoughts.
- Have conversations with yourself
- Shout out to Chris Guillebeau
- The systematic approach to habit hacking
- The 5-minute journal
- What happens when you do something not for money and just for good
- Document your time and take back your schedule
“Feel the pain, but don’t let that stop you from having greater wisdom, more love, and more compassion.”
Dr. Paul Coleman joins me on the coffee chat today to share his story along with the ideas behind his latest book, Finding Peace When Your Heart is in Pieces.
Dr. Coleman is a pyschologist local to my hometown in the Hudson Valley. He has appeared on pretty much every major news channel over his career. You name it, Oprah, Geraldo — he’s been there.
A lot of my life’s work is in helping people discover their unique genius and be remarkable in their own way. Taking the leap and being who you really want to be takes a lot of guts. Often times, taking the leap means taking chances and when you take chances there is the high likelihood of failing. But remember, failing forward as David Kelley told me is good. Failing by itself sucks. With Dr. Coleman’s help, we can learn how to overcome a failure, in our personal or professional lives, and become empowered when we suffer a loss.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
“When climbing the ladder of success, make sure it’s leaning against the right building." - Raghunath
A few days ago I lifted myself into a wobbly handstand as sweat dripped down my face in a yoga workshop. And for those who have been following, one of my yearly goals is to hold a handstand for five seconds without assistance. In front of the yoga class, stood my guest on the show Raghunath. To say I’m really excited to share his story on purpose with you would be the understatement of my year so far. I first met Raghunath a bit after I began practicing yoga and have following his work ever since. Although, many of you may have listened also listened to his music like I did as a kid. Were you into the punk rock scene? To be completely honest, during the workshop I struggled with ego because I wanted to be able to hold a handstand like he could. He would float into handstand as easy as skipping down the street. And hey…what can I say? I’m a competitive guy. I’ll let him tell you his story, but to start off — some of you may know the ex-punk ex-monk Raghunath (or Ray of Today) as Ray Cappo, the singer of the insanely popular band Youth of Today. On the chat, Raghunath shares: * How to handle the fulcrum of success * Where to lean your ladder when climbing the ladder of success * Tips to find your true calling. You know…the one that shakes your soul and brings tears to your eyes * Food for the soul
Stay connected with Raghunath and perhaps one day we’ll be practicing handstand next to each other at Super Soul Farm. After all, my handstand still needs quite a bit of work! * Main website * Yoga teacher training * His audio course
Namaste :)
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
I hope you’re all enjoying the January sun even though my friends who live in the New York area are shivering indoors during this polar vortex. During this time of the year, I find myself staying in doors more than usual which, for me, is a rarity. As a child, I would be outdoors all day playing hockey or walking through the woods. I just crave nature. And while I do love the winter snow, when icicles freeze on my eyelids, I would rather wrap myself in a blanket with a hot cup of coffee.
Even though I’m indoors more, what I don’t like to do is waste my time on social media — scrolling through news feeds and realizing an hour later that I just wasted an hour of my life.
So, today on the podcast I have Mark Babbitt joining us to share his story of finding purpose along with tips he has for having tremendous impact with social media. He’s the owner of Youtern.com and the co-author of A World Gone Social: How Companies Must Adapt to Survive.
Here’s a few things we talk about:
- How the words “Nobody builds relationships anymore” fueled his life’s purpose
- Social media is the digital handshake
- Tips for social media drama queens and trolls
- Tips to schedule out social media time and not get sucked into the vacuum (a.k.a. Digital Nicotine)
- The testimonial economy
- The power of implied trust and how to maintain it
I hope you enjoy this coffee chat on purpose and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it. Say hi on email or tweet me @markwguay.
If you get value out of this podcast, please share it with a friend and leave a review by clicking this link.
I appreciate you and the work you do to create a better tomorrow.
Cheers,
Mark
So, about a couple weeks ago I was at a Charity Water fundraising event and bumped into this really cool guy with a creatively designed t-shirt. He ended up being a volunteer for the event, helping out people like me to navigate through the space and learn about the many people that make Charity : Water such a successful non-profit.
The guy turned out to be Darwin Dion and when I learned about his for-purpose mission to make the fashion world a bit more generous, I asked him to come on the show.
He has such an uplifting spirit and creative drive, so I’m excited to share his story with you. We’ll dive into his background then meander through how he has navigated the for-purpose for profit pendulum with his for-purpose for-profit company, Panda Sal.
This show is brought to you by my Charity : Water birthday campaign. I’m turning the big 3 - 0 and would love for you to celebrate with me. Instead of gifts this year, I would much rather prefer a donation to Charity : Water where 100% of the proceeds go to the cause. To learn more about how they keep up the 100% percent model, you can listen to The Traveling Cup episode 46 where Scott Harrison shares it with us.
There’s children in this world who spend hours each day walking to get dirty water and want to go to school. Let’s give them the gift of clean water so that they become students and grow into the remarkable adults they’re destined to be.
To donate, just click here.
Thanks so much for listening! I appreciate you and your gift to this world.
So, about a couple months ago I sat down to dinner in restaurant in the middle of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic on a TOMS Giving Trip. I was surrounded by a pack of truly brilliant and caring people and indulging in some seriously delicious Dominican food. If any of you have had Mangu, you know what I’m talking about. Joining us on the coffee chat today is one of the pack, Mark Brasier.
Mark’s been in business for a long time, working in sales and consulting with companies interested in starting up a for-purpose backbone.
So take sip of your favorite coffee brew and enjoy the episode. Afterward, come say hi on Twitter @markwguay.
Oh yeah, and how could I forget to share this beautiful image! Check out Mark’s Movember mustache!
Free Give Away of Seth Godin’s New Book
I’m giving away 4 free copies of Seth Godin's new book to raise money for Charity : Water and celebrate my 30th birthday. Just share a picture of a glass of water and complete this sentence: "Water is __”. Most creative entries and photos win the price.
Just make sure to tag me @markwguay and @charitywater on when you post!
Here’s a link to my birthday campaign if you wish to contribute (or share with your friends!)
Not too long ago, Ren zig-zagged through the harrowing streets of India on a rickshaw race. She meandered through communities that have little to no connection to the modern world and are full of brilliant artisans who possessed stories Jack London would salivate at the chance to write. After the race, Ren knew she had to create a company that told these stories and shared the beautiful work prepared by the artisans.
So Matter Prints was born.
Free Give Away of Seth Godin’s New Book
I’m turning 30 this year on January 10th and I would love for you to help me celebrate. In place of any gifts this year, I’m asking my family and friends (that’s you!) to help me raise money for Charity : Water. For those on our super-awesome email list, you’ll be receiving an email with more of the story.
Seth Godin just put out a new book and, as of right now, you can’t get a copy because they are sold out. But I got us a few and I’d love to send you one!
I’m giving away not 3, but 4 free copies and will choose the remarkable winner by Jan 10th. To get a copy, all you need to do is share my Charity : Water birthday campaign on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and tag me in the post.
To make it easy for you, here’s a link you can just click to tweet it out.
There’s children in need who can’t go to school because they spend all day walking to get dirty water. That’s ridiculous! Let’s change that so they can grow into the remarkable adults they’re destined to be.
Thanks so much for joining me on this ride. I appreciate you and your gift to this world.
Cheers,
Mark
Hey Changemakers!
It's the holiday season here in New York and while this is one of the best times of the year to show your love for others, it's also a time that has us carefully balancing the checkbook (okay, so I haven't written a check in years but you get the point). This episode is to help you become your own CFO and have control of your money so that you can have more impact in your life.
J.D. Roth joins us on the coffee chat today to share his journey of how he became a financial expert after finding himself in debt. Many of you know J.D. as the founder of Get Rich Slowly which he started in 2007. It's an incredible blog on all things finance that helps you reach financial freedom.
We talk about his story then dive into tips he has for your to become your own CFO. Like what he has to say? Then check out the unconventional guide he and Chris Guillebeau put together called "Get Rich Slowly". You can use this link here.
*It's an affiliate link and so a portion of the cost would go to help continue the work I'm doing here at The Traveling Cup.
So take sip of your favorite coffee brew and enjoy the episode. Afterward, come say hi on Twitter @markwguay.
Cheers!
Mark
Hey Changemakers,
Gabriela Pereira joins us on the coffee chat today to share her journey into business and writing. She is the founder of the DIY-MFA and is a New York City based writer and activist.
Pause: This is episode 50....five...zero...(high fives welcome). I am in awe and so honored to have you as a listener. When I first started The Traveling Cup about a year ago, I just wanted to continue a conversation I had with a former student about how to live a life full of purpose and world-wide impact. I can’t believe I have been able to bring you 50 episodes and I look forward to bringing you more.
Back to our main feature:
I'm really excited to bring Gabriela on the show to share the story of how she started the DIY-MFA along with tips she has for you to become the stellar writer you want to be. After all, we're all writers now.
Gabriela has such a way with words that as soon as I left the call, I listened to the interview again as I ate my lunch. This is one of my favorite interviews yet on the show and after you listen, you'll see why. We all have an innate reservoir of creativity and Gabriela helps us tap into it.
Here's my favorite line from the interview:
Gabriela: "Everyone is born with this innate ability. This drive. To make you want to achieve things that you can't do yet."
So take sip of your favorite coffee brew, soak in the conversation and enjoy the episode. Afterward, come say hi on Twitter (@diymfa and @markwguay).
P.S. Major thanks (salute) to Leanne Sowul (@sowulwords) for the introduction to Gabriela. I absolutely love the art of connection. It's a beautiful world we live in ladies and gents.
Cheers!
David joins us on the coffee chat today to share his journey in the social media marketing world. He is the founder of Spark Media Solutions and the author of the book "Hazardous to Your Social Media Health: 50 Previously Condoned Behaviors We No Longer Recommend".
Pick up a free copy of his book with this link here.
So take sip of your favorite coffee brew and enjoy the episode. Afterward, come say hi on Twitter @markwguay.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
It's time we talk about money. Have you ever dreamed of financial freedom so that you can have more impact and only do the work you love to do?
Then this episode is for you.
Joining us today on the coffee chat to share her story of finding purpose is Jaime Tardy -- the brilliant mind behind The Eventual Millionaire.
Jaime interviews and shares the stories of some of the most profitable people in our time, helping to deconstruct any illusion of grandeur and share with you the simple tools they use to build their wealth so that you can have more impact in your work.
She's helped many change-makers build their American dream regardless of one's socio-economic background and she's here now to share her brilliance with us.
So take sip of your favorite coffee brew and enjoy the episode. Afterward, come say hi on Twitter @markwguay and check out the show notes at thetravelingcup.com.
Cheers!
P.S. Thank you for the kind emails regarding the Giving Trip to the Dominican Republic. It was a life-changing trip and I am excited to share pictures with you all once they go public. I apologize for taking a week off from the podcast and am really excited to get things rolling again.
With only $50 in his pocket, Dr. Nido Qubein emigrated to the U.S. from Jordan with nothing short of a big hairy audacious dream. Now, a lifetime later, he is the president of High Point University, Chairman of the Great Harvest Bread Company, an author, and business consultant. He joins us on the call today to share his story with you.
We talk first about how he discovered his purpose and how religion speeds his intrinsic motivation engine.
Then, we dive deep into advice for the underdog.
In Malcolm Gladwell's latest book, David and Goliath, he shares stories of where change-making underdogs throughout history have persevered and won over the Goliaths of the world.
Dr. Qubein is living evidence of this and we dissect the strategies he used to share the message with you. Of course, all of this all started with some beautiful advice from his mother: "If you want to be a great person, you must first walk hand-in-hand with great people."
Quick Note: I will be unplugging for a week as I join TOMS on a Giving Trip to the Dominican Republic. I'm super stoked to join them in providing goods to children in need and to learn from the students.
Thank you so much for tuning in and joining me here at The Traveling Cup. I appreciate you and will be back the week after and have some incredible interviews lined up for the next few weeks.
In the words of Dr. Qubein, "As long as you're going to think, think BIG".
Want to help spread The Traveling Cup message? Share this link with friends so they can sign up via email and I'll also give them an e-guide I wrote on writing tips.
Cheers!
Mark
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
Not too long ago, Scott sat in a limo w/ a bottle of fine liquor, a Rolex and an armful of women. Major companies paid him mountains of cash just to be seen with their product in hand. From afar, it looked to many like he had it made and he couldn't be happier.
After one long night of partying, he had an awakening. He needed a change. He needed to have impact in world -- impact that would grow beyond filling his wallet.
Many of you know who I'm talking about. And for those who don't, buckle in and enjoy this interview with Scott Harrison from Charity : Water.
We begin our chat deep in the throngs of Scott's pivotal career shift and then he shares the intimate workings of his non-profit, Charity : Water.
He shares how he maintains the 100% model, how he pushed through fear of failure, and how he transitioned from the see-saw life of party promoting to start one of the most successful non-profits of our time.
Scott is an idol of mine and I'm honored to bring you this episode.
Enter my challenge to you: My 30th birthday is quickly approaching (it's January 10th). I will be donating my birthday to help raise funds for Charity : Water. I challenge you to join me. Are you in? Hit reply and tell me your birthday.
So take a sip of your favorite coffee brew and enjoy the episode. Afterward, come say hi on Twitter @markwguay.
Cheers!
Mark
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
(read the transcript)
Welcome to The Traveling Cup. This is the podcast dedicated to coffee-loving entrepreneurs who are building a better tomorrow. This show interviews game-changers who are here to help you build your for-purpose business and have greater impact in your work.
Joining us on the call today is the alien of extraordinary ability, Murray Newlands. Murray advises startups in San Francisco and is a contributor to Entrepreneur, Inc and has been featured in Forbes among other publications. All of whom have labeled Murray as a key marketing influencer.
A lot of TTC listeners either live overseas or work between cultures, so the conversation today takes a deep look at how to effectively market your idea, product, or service across cultures.
We bring up empathy, or as anthropologists like to call it, cultural relativism. This is where you literally step into the shoes of those you are marketing towards, feel what they feel and care about what they care about. David Kelley talks about this too and calls it ethnographic interviewing: "The main tenet of design thinking is empathy for the people you're trying to design for."
I hope you enjoy this edition of The Traveling Cup with Murray Newlands, but more importantly, I hope you create something remarkable from it.
And once you do that, reach out to me and share it.
It's a beautiful day to be the change you want to see in the world.
Cheers,
Mark W. Guay
@markwguay
(read and share the transcript w/ your barista)
Joining us today on the coffee chat is the sultan of swat, the colossal of clout, the great bambino of smart passive income… Pat Flynn.
After the economy tanked and Pat got laid off from a well paying job he excelled in, Pat turned to the online business world to see what it's all about. And, ladies and gents -- just head over to smartpassiveincome.com to see all that Pat has been up to since and it's freaking incredible.
To use one of Pat's favorite words, I'm stoked to have him join us on The Traveling Cup. Pat shares specific tips for social entrepreneurs how they can create their own smart passive income and grow a social-purpose movement. Specifically, we really narrow in on how to identify a super-niche audience using the Pat's specially curated tactics.
If you've ever wondered how you can increase your passive-income profits to make more of an impact, then this is the episode for you.
So take sip of your favorite coffee brew and enjoy the episode. Afterward, come say hi on Twitter @markwguay.
Cheers!
P.S. I'm building up my birthday campaign to raise money for Charity : Water. Have an idea of how I can motivate people to donate?
P.P.S. I'm super stoked to head to the Dominican Republic w/ TOMS for a Giving Trip. If you're in the area and want to meet for coffee, let me know!
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
Today, my friends, is a beautiful day :)
(read the transcript here)
Several listeners have reached out to me asking me how to start a podcast and what are the pros and cons of podcasting.
So I reached out to none other than Jared Easley. In his latest book Jared shows readers how to build a podcast and community through meaningful collaboration. It's chock full of take-aways that I re-read whenever I find myself waiting in line or at the doctor's office (using my Kindle app).
Jared is the co-founder of the conference Podcast Movement and is the rock-and-roll voice behind Starve the Doubts -- a super inspiring podcast on how to squash fear and launch your idea forward.
Jared shares his specific thoughts for social entrepreneurs and change-makers (like you ;) on how podcasting can benefit your movement.
A bit of news on my end:
- I'm so excited to finally get to share the news that I'll be joining TOMS on a Giving Trip to the Dominican Republic. We'll be spending a week working with a local non-profit and distributing shoes (among other things) to families in need.
I feel honored and blessed to join them and excited to share the journey with you.
*If you're in the DR, let me know so we can possibly meet up for a damn fine cup of coffee.
- Like it or not, my 30th birthday is slowly approaching (it's January 10th). Last year I donated my 29th birthday to Charity : Water and I'm planning out how to exponentially grow my impact with this coming birthday. I'd love to raise enough money to provide a school with running water.
Have an idea on how I can raise the most money and raise the most awareness? Let me know. And, of course, if you'd like to help out, let me know that too!
Ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor having you in my life and I appreciate you. Like always, let me know what YOU are working on. Say hello on Twitter @markwguay or just hit "reply".
Thanks for joining me to be the change.
Cheers!
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
Joining us on the call today is a mentor of mine from way back to the teenage years, the man who taught me how to memorize lines and meander through the awkward years of adolescence.
And it all started when I was lucky enough to be in his leadership high school class.
Now, a decade later, Peter Herr shares many of the secrets he began to share back when I was in high school in his latest book, "10 Things We Should Teach You in High School and Usually Don't".
It just hit the shelves and he's here to share it with you. You can pick up your own personal copy here.
We talk about the process behind writing the book and then delve into a bit of the brilliant content he shares in the book.
You won't want to miss this one.
Like always, join our virtual coffee here on Facebook and share your thoughts. Ask questions. Share what you are working on and connect with other change-makers.
P.S. I'm currently planning out my Charity Water birthday campaign to bring water to schools in need. If you'd like to help, hit reply to this message and share your thoughts. Thanks!
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
Today, my friends, is a beautiful day :)
I recently joined a group of men at Omega Institute to be the first group of gents invited to the annual Power and Women Conference on women's leadership.
I've always been fascinated with cultural perceptions of "normal" and how we, as a culture, learn and teach what it means to be a man and what it means to be a women. If this topic fancies your interest, I wrote a more extensive article on it here.
So, how do we learn gender? It might surprise you that since the days of Madmen, advertisements have directly influenced cultural perceptions of normal, including how we define "beautiful".
Like it or not, content marketers and advertisers become teachers to the public. When I first learned this back in college, during the days of cinnamon buns and hot coffee for breakfast, I was immediately skeptical. But then I watched this video called Killing Us Softly.
To talk to us more about how our advertisements influence others, particularly the youth psyche, I reached out to the author, Jean Kilbourne.
I am honored to have Jean join us on the coffee chat today.
On today's show, we talk about gender and the role business plays in shaping the internal psyche -- In other words, how advertisements teach the public what the ideal man and the ideal woman is.
I hope you enjoy it, but more importantly, I hope it helps you continue to be remarkable.
Cheers!
Mark
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
I'm sitting here today with Dawn Hancock from Firebelly Design. The focus of today's chat is how a better design can increase your impact.
Dawn shares her unique story that led her to launch Firebelly Design and talks us through how she has built a business that embodies what she calls "good design for good reason."
She also runs an alternative MBA program called Firebelly University that helps prepare social entrepreneurs for taking their design idea to market.
Make sure to share your questions and thoughts on design over at our virtual coffee shop.
Cheers! I hope you all enjoyed national coffee day!
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
(click here for the transcript)
Have you ever asked yourself what it means exactly to be a change-maker? It's often easy to look at the past and see how change-makers pushed through fear. But, in the present, can be painfully difficult to push through fear when it's so much easier to sit comfortably. Not take a leap of faith. Not start an idea. Not question a boss.
Enter the linchpin -- a term that Seth Godin defined as a person that disrupts and pushes through fear to be the change-maker.
Seth joins us on the coffee chat today to talk about pushing through to reach a new creative potential. We touch on mindfulness and motivation then Seth welcomes a few listener questions.
His tips will help you continue to be remarkable and fly high without fear of having your wings melt.
He shares his thoughts on:
- Confidence from within without external affirmation
- How to manifest a dream through action
- Schooling and the current school system structure.
- The health care structure
- The globalization of goods and the go-local movements.
I'm honored to have him join us on the call today. For those who don't know Seth's work, I strongly suggest you subscribe to his daily blog. I find him to be a very Seussical writer that pleasantly critiques large-scale organizational thought and pushes us others to question.
He's been a long-time idol of mine and I'm sure he will be of yours if he isn't already.
Here's to you my friends.
Matter on!
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend andleaving a rating over at iTunes.
On the call, Nate and I chat about:
- Creating an education start-up
- What makes for a great website
- Should you learn to code?
- Using Wordpress over another website provider.
Connect w/ Nate here:
- @NateCooper
Like always, come say hi. If you are recreating your website, I’d love to hear what you are working on.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
My hope is that you can learn from Corey's story and use it to create your own quest.
On the call, Corey and I chat about:
- How to succeed with Kickstarter
- How storytelling can empower your audience
- Developing an international team to employ your startup
- The initial struggles Corey had in getting his idea off the ground
Connect w/ Corey here:
- DevelopingFilmmakers.org
What's neat about Corey's idea is that it would not be possible in any other time in history. Now that cameras are more affordable, he was able to mesh together what he learned from the Peace Corps model into his own idea of bringing storytelling to students worldwide.
So, that begs the question, how are you able to take a business model you are familiar with and mesh it to match something newly available in the world today? I call that pastiche entrepreneurship, where you blend together models that have worked with what's newly available in the present.
What's your pastiche entrepreneurial idea? Share it with us over at thetravelingcup.com
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes.
(click here for transcript)
Chris Guillebeau joins us on the show today to talk about this new book The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest that Will Bring Purpose to your Life.
On the call, Chris shares:
- How to live an unconventional life and break free from societal expectations to live the life you want to live
- Making an income and having tremendous impact
- The human history of the quest and why you need to journey
- How to go on a journey even if you don't leave the sofa
- Advice for recent graduates
Connect w/ Chris here:
- His blog
- @chrisguillebeau
Today The Traveling Cup is flying over to Singapore to talk with Solonia Teodros, the co-founder of The Change School. Solonia and her partner Grace Clapham have been doing so much good for the world it's incredible. In fact, they just won the prestigious Inspirational Leadership Award which was voted on by Richard Branson and Steve Wozniak. Now, if that's not a couple of elite judges, I don't know what is.
We talk about a lot of things on the show today, but mostly we focus on the transformation process -- what it takes to move from the stage of "I really want to do something different and make a greater impact in my work" to the concrete stage of "I'm actually doing what I love to do and am making a serious impact."
For those of you interested in starting up your own programs to help other change-makers achieve their greatness and live remarkable lives, Solonia shares how her and Grace went from ideation to creation. Solonia is beautifully honest and our hope is that you learn from what she is doing and emulate it.
You'll hear about fellowship-like retreats that focus on re-birthing a better you. These are not retreats where you sun on the beach, but rather, these are retreats where you dig deep within yourself to explore the why within yourself and create something remarkable from it. That said, this year's retreat is in Bali, so…that does sound like paradise to me no matter what.
All right, let's jump right into the episode. Make sure to subscribe to the show if you like what I'm bringing to you. You can find all this information and my free guide to help you write great content and connect with your tribe over at Thetravelingcup.com.
Connect with Solonia and Grace at:
- @SoloniaT
- TheChangeSchool.com
Like always, reach out to me and say by sending me a tweet at @markwguay.
Cheers to you for choosing to be the change you want to see in the world.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Today on the show, I have the honor of speaking with Rose George. She is the foremost thought leader on the problems in the shipping industry, shit, and the sanitation industry.
On this episode, we talk about:
- How Rose uses fiction to enhance her non-fiction writing
- Using story to enhance a non-fiction narrative
- The world of sanitation, its problems and what you can do to help fix it
- The shipping industry and the small fixes that could reverse its heavy environment impact on the world below sea level
Connect with Rose here:
- rosegeorge.com
- @rosegeorge3
I don't know about you, but every time I go number two, I'm going to have a lot more to think about. And I hope you join me on Nov. 19 for World Toilet Day as we all move forward to a better design for our everyday defecation. It's one of the simplest things that we all do and it's something that we could be doing better.
I hope you got as much out of that as I did and I'd love to hear what you think and what you are working on. Share your thoughts with me on Twitter @markwguay or over at mark@thetravelingcup.com.
Cheers!
P.S. If you want to strike, join my friend Matt Damon and I here.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On this episode, I have the honor of speaking with Tyson Adams, the creator of the first philanthropic coffee roaster called Jhai Coffeehouse. We get really dorky and talk about coffee for a bit and then Tyson shares the backstory of how we created one of the coolest coffee shops I've ever heard of.
To travel there, you'll have to hop on a plane and fly over to Laos, where after a bit of vagabonding Tyson set up shop and grew Jhai Coffeehouse into what it is today.
On this episode, we talk about:
-
Making a damn fine cup of coffee ( a la Twin Peaks)
-
Apps that help brew a perfect cup
- Using Indiegogo to fund a non-profit project
- Funding a life outside of a social-purpose project
- Creating passive income
- Creating a business that funds its own community projects
Connect with Tyson here:
- Jhai Coffeehouse
- @adamstyson
Thanks again for joining and here's to you in creating better tomorrows.
Cheers!
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Today on the show with me is Jennifer Fitzgerald to talk about Policy Genius. She's going to share how she started the company and then she answers a series of hard-pressed questions about insurance.
I really appreciate Jennifer for taking the time to talk with us. She really opens up and is extremely transparent about why she made the leap from corporate life and into the start-up world.
Also, insurance is something I personally ignored for the greater part of my life. Actually, I don't think I had insurance from the time I was 18-22. That's four years of not having any insurance and thankfully I was able to get insurance in my mid-20s or otherwise I'd have some large medical bills to take care of. I won't bore you with the whole story, but let's just say that racing triathlon on an extremely competitive level took my body through the ringer and I ended up in a lot of doctors ‘offices.
I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so health insurance has become a priority in my family.
Other than health insurance, I love the idea of being covered and Jennifer shares her expertise on just what type of insurance a change-maker might need and what insurance may be a waste of money.
I highly suggest you check out Policy Genius because it's free to check out and find a great deal on insurance that you actually need.
On the call Jennifer and I talk about:
- The thought process behind leaving the corporate world for a start-up venture
- How to use language that connects to your audience, especially how to bypass lawyer jargon
- The Who, What, Where, When and Why of Insurance for Change-Makers
Connect with Jennifer here:
-
Jennifer@policygenius.com
-
policygenius.com
- @policygenius
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Today I'm having a coffee chat with Ryan Honeyman, the thought leader behind the B-Corp movement. Don't know what that is? You'll hear about it on the show, but in short, it's essentially a movement for businesses to blend the best of both worlds, for-profit and non-profit. B stands for "benefit" and a B-corp is a company that stands for tremendous purpose and impact in making the world a better place, regardless of whether the company makes millions or just a small salary.
Make sure to stay tuned for Ryan's B-Corp handbook which he will be releasing shortly to help guide us through establishing ourselves as a B-corp.
On the call, Ryan and I chat about:
- The benefits of a B-corp certification
- How to apply for a B-corp
- The origin of a B-corp
- Why Ryan chose to file as a B-corp
- Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream: Yum!
Connect w/ Ryan Here:
-
Email: ryan@honeymanconsulting.com
-
Twitter: @honeymanconsult
- (Free) B Impact Assessment: bimpactassessment.net
- More info on B Corps: bcorporation.net
Quick Note: Make sure to pick up a free copy of my new e-guide: Micro-Roasted Writing: The Change-Maker's Guide to Writing with Impact.
It's absolutely free at the moment, so make sure to pick up a copy.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. I hope you liked the new beginning to the show today. I like to change things up and want to bring what we love about coffee shops into The Traveling Cup to make it a virtual coffee shop. And one of those things is poetry. Quick and witty poetry that inspires us all to live remarkable lives.
I'd love for you to submit your poem for the show to be read aloud before the intro. You can also record your voice if you'd prefer. It should be about 20-30 seconds in length. Just send it over to mark@thetravelingcup.com with a sentence or two on why you wish to share the poem with The Traveling Cup change-makers.
On the call with me today to talk about the non-profit sector is Monisha Kapila. Monisha started up the company Proinspire and is a Harvard graduate thought leader in the non-profit sector. Her company aims to help young professionals become incredible leaders for non-profits. Today she's agreed to come on the show and talk about how she started up the company and take you through her journey.
On the call, Monisha and I talk about:
- The benefits of a non-profit for social entrepreneurs
- How she started up Proinspire
- Making money with a non-profit and how long before profit emerges
- How to apply to the Proinspire fellowship
Connect with Monisha here:
-
Proinspire.org
-
@proinspire
- @monishakapila
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On the show with me today is Cesar Kuriyama, the creator of One Second Every Day. Cesar spoke at TED back in 2012 and since then has been growing his One Second Every Day app.
On the call, Cesar and I talk about:
- How one small positive habit could lead to a ginormous benefit and change your life
- The philosophy behind mini-retirements (i.e. sabbaticals)
- How to create an app
- Using Kickstarter for seed funding
Connect with Cesar at:
- www.cesarkuriyama.com
That was positively one of my favorite conversations. After we ended the interview, Cesar and I went on to talk about video games and podcasts, along with some existential philosophy about living in the moment when the present in constantly changing.
I give so much credit to Cesar for taking the leap and taking a year off of work to explore a deeper purpose and understanding in life. The way he did it too is a way that I think a lot of Traveling Cuppers would understand: taking 2 years to live frugally to fund a nest egg savings account to live off of when you quit the job.
All right my friends, cheers to you and thanks for tuning in. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. We're doing things a little bit different here on the show for this episode just to change things up a bit. I asked my good friend Tim McDonald to join me on the show as a co-host and chat about the pros and cons of working from home.
I LOVE working from home, though I often go to a coffee-shop to work when I can and we talk about why being part of a community is so important.
FYI: If you work from home and are considering renting a space but don’t have money for your own studio, consider a cooperative working space. Scott Tillitt from episode 7 talks about how to find a great co-op to work in.
I hope you like this break from the normal structure. You can listen to a more in-depth conversation w/ Tim on episode 16 where we talked about how to build an online community (or a tribe as Seth Godin puts it).
Of course, I'd love to know what you think, so send me a tweet @markwguay or email at mark@thetravelingcup.com
Let me know what other topics you'd love for me to discuss with a cohost like Tim McDonald. If there's something you are currently struggling with, let me know and I'll bring an expert on the show to talk about it.
Keep up the world-changing work and high five from New York.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend andleaving a rating over at iTunes. On the call, Julian and I talk about:
- Vocal warmups
- The voice as an instrument
- Conscious listening and speaking
- Empowering relationships
Connect w/ Julian:
- JulianTreasure.com
- @Juliantreasure
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On the call with me today to talk about the health sector is Andre Blackman. He's a leading expert in the health field and has worked with clients like the Mayo Clinic, The CDC, along with creating Pulse and Signal. Because Andre has seen the ins and outs of the health tech industry, he's the perfect person to have the show to share with you trends, problems and solutions you can offer in the health sector.
On the call, Andre and I talk about:
- Social media strategy for health businesses
- How to make impact in the overly large and noisy health sector
- The Sustain or Die Manifesto
Connect with Andre here:
- Sustain or Die Manifesto
- @mindofandre
- @pulseandsignal
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend andleaving a rating over at iTunes. Today on the call I'll be chatting with Bobby Umar who you probably know by as the organizer of #pocchat or power of connection chat.
Bobby is a master connector and writes and leads workshops on the power of wandering and exploring your personal interests in life. And for people like me, I love talking about purpose and how the world we live in now allows us to create a living off of what we love.
On the call, Bobby and I talk about:
- Building a purpose-filled network
- How he created #PoCChat
- Work-life balance: How to be a successful entrepreneur and still be super dad
You can connect with Bobby at:
- @Raehanbobby
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Today I'll be talking with Berni Xiong, someone I've known for a long time, yet never had the chance to speak to. Berni is the shin-kicking life spark who ditched the corporate life do greater work that matters.
Berni runs the Shut Up Show and writes and consults for business leaders on perseverance and kicking fear to the curb.
I love Berni because she's brazen and doesn't hold back. Which, if you haven't noticed yet about me is something I'm really not. I have some deep-seeded opinions and beliefs, yet was raised by a mother who would wash my mouth out with soap if I swore and schooled by nuns at the private school my mother somehow found the tuition dollars to send me to.
So, now that I shared that with you…let's get back to the episode.
On the episode, we talk about:
- How to identify when fear is holding us back
- The many levels of motivation
- How to establish positive work and life habits
- How to start a revolution
Connect with Berni here:
- Bernixiong.com
- @bernixiong
Today I'll be chatting with Dorie Clark. Yes, the Dorie Clark. She's someone I truly admire and am honored to have her join us here at The Traveling Cup.
There are so many conversations I want to have with Dorie, and for this episode we focus on the golden nuggets from her book, Reinventing You. She even shares some of the most current finding in her soon to be released book: Stand Out.
On the episode, we talk about:
- The two types of reinventing yourself professionally
- Expensive and inexpensive ways to get 360 degree feedback
- How to build a stellar online presence
- Dorie's personal story of reinvention
Connect with Dorie here:
- Dorieclark.com
- @dorieclark
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Today I'll be chatting with Daniel Gulati who is a Venture Capitalist, writer for Harvard Business Review and co-author of the bookPassion and Purpose.
Daniel is from Austrailia and currently lives in New York City…and…and this is a big and, he is looking to hear from you. He is looking for the truly innovative ideas that he can help scale and bring to market. So, if that's you, which I think is probably is, listen on to learn what Daniel is looking for.
On the episode, we talk about:
- Daniel's tactical approach to writing
- What makes for a successful and scalable start-up model
- The research behind how purpose-driven business actually makes for better business
- Success stories
Connect with Daniel here:
- danielgulati@gmail.com
- @danielgulati
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend andleaving a rating over at iTunes. Want to have greater impact in your work, then join our group here.
On the episode, we talk about:
- Empathic trading
- The essentials of trading
- The culture of Wall Street
- How Rhoden started up Caricorps
- All things money and how Rhoden funds Caricorps
Connect with Rhoden here:
- @caricorps
- Caricorps.com
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On this episode, I chat with Tania Dakka about all things copywriting. She shares her story of how she came to start up BadAss'd Biz Ink: her copy writing company that has been featured on Chris Brogan's Owner Magazine.
I'm really excited to share Tania's writing tips with you. Writing is such a passion of mine and I love to hear how other writers master their craft. Tania shares tips for how you can use power words make your website pop and better engage your audience on social media.
On the call, she shares:
- 3 tips for writing stellar copy for social entrepreneurism that captivates your audience
- Her unique shower writing sessions
- How to better express your personality in your writing instead of sounding too business-like and watered down. No one likes a gray painting.
- Why Harley Davidson is the only bike you should own. I mean, I'm still thinking of getting a Vespa to motor around, but Tania may have convinced me otherwise.
Connect with Tania:
- TaniaDakka.com
- @TaniaDakka
I really enjoyed getting to chat with Tania. I think her message about being yourself in your writing can really help so many people who struggle to pop out and shovel through the noise of social media.
Michael Hyatt talks about this too on how to build your platform. So, think about this…next time you go to write, be who you really are. Tania is a badass. The girl rides a Harley and listens to Mudvayne for heaven's sake. You can't get more badass than that.
Am I a badass? Probably not. I drive a Honda Accord, am considering buying a Vespa and take out my stand up paddle board whenever I get the chance. Last time I checked, that doesn't make me a badass.
So, don't be afraid that people may leave once you start really being yourself in your writing. Find your inner freak like Chris Brogan would say and become who you are on the inside. You'll attract your diehard tribe.
So, go on and embrace your inner badass and let's do great work that creates a better tomorrow.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On the call Mike shares:
- 3 Tips to Become The Connected Professional
- How to Build a Brand Inside a Brand
- The Difference Between Building Up a Brand and Branding Oneself
- Why It's Important to Hangout Where Tribe Is
Connect with Mike here:
- Ambassadorbruny.com
- @ambassadorbruny
"There is no lack of knowledge out there…Just a shortage of asking for help" - Mark J. Carter
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On the call with me today, I interview Mark J. Carter, a Chicago-based inspiration of mine whose work brings storytelling back to the business world. We start the conversation off starting with storytelling, then shift to something I hold dear to my heart: the value of mentorship.
Mark actually helped me realize that podcasting can actually be a valuable mentorship tool. It allows me to connect with some truly amazing people who, learn from them, all while getting to share their message with you. Also, I love how podcasting as grown my ability to be a mentor by connecting people who can greatly benefit each other's work.
Have you ever met someone and then said, "Geez, he really needs to meet (fill in the blank)." It happens to me all the time and I love it. If this happens to you, go ahead and make these connections. We are, after all, living in the connection economy. If you remember what Joshua Klein said, he argued that your network is the most valuable asset you have today.
On the call Mark shares:
- 3 Tips for Social Entrepreneurs to Tell a Captivating Story
- How to Reach Out to Mentors
-
The Value of Connecting
-
His soon-to-be released new site
Connect with Mark here:
- Markjcarter.com
- @mjcarter
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. What’s Tim Reading?
Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril
Margaret Heffernan
On the show with me today we'll be joined with Tim McDonald- the leading thought leader on building communities and the current director of community at The Huffington Post.
As social entrepreneurs, a lot of us have a specific niche that we are working in or a broken system that we are trying to fix or just recreate. To do that, one of the most important things we need to do is build a thriving community that brings our people together and helps our community do better work and connect.
Seth Godin calls these communities Tribes. And, just in case you haven't heard that term before, it refers to the need to bring together your people, your community, your market in such a tight-knit way that you will be missed if you were to one day drop off the face of the earth. Make no mistake that these communities should be like family.
On the call Tim shares:
- 3 Tips to Build a Thriving Community for Your Niche Market
- How to Create Movements
- The Difference Between Networks and Communities
- Why Communities Matter in Business Today
Connect w/ Tim:
- @tamcdonald
- My Community Manager
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. What’s Todd Reading?
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder (Incerto)
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
This episode will focus on helping you build a legacy in your life, one full of meaning and impact. Not too long ago I sat down to write a life plan after reading a bit of Tony Robbins. I sat there in a hotel room in Portland, Maine as two feet of snow blanketed the city.
I've always wanted to live a meaningful life and really enjoyed getting to spend some time to concretize my life goals. It started with a bit of a morbid thought. I had to ask myself, "What do I want people to remember me for?" In other words, what did I want people to say about me at my funeral.
Talk about scary, right?
It started with an overarching goal and then I had to break it down into smaller steps to line up what I am doing today to match what I want to have done in my life.
Not much different from a long-range business plan. Start with what you want to see in one year, then break it down into quarters.
This is why I am so happy to be joined with Todd Henry. He has worked extensively with businesses and entrepreneurs to build a business around the legacy you want to leave in life.
On the call, Todd shares:
- The definition of "Dying Empty"
- What's up with finding your passion
- Building a structure to do your best work
- How to avoid burnout
- How to focus if you have a full-time job
- Developing daily rituals
Connect with Todd at:
- @toddhenry
- toddhenry.com
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. What’s Chris Reading?
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable
by Tim Grover
FYI: I'm reading Chris' new book, The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth.
On the show with me today we'll be joined with Chris Brogan - one of the most influential thought leaders in the new world of business. Chris believes in businesses that act human and man does he back up what he believes in.
It seems that everyone I meet brings up something that Chris Brogan mentioned either at a conference, in Owner magazine or one of his books. What I love about Chris is that he really gets entrepreneurs thinking and he gets people to believe in themselves.
His new book, The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth, is just what we have been waiting for. In this special release episode, Chris shares what we can expect when we read Freaks. The book focuses Entrepreneurship for Weirdos, Misfits, and World Dominators which is perfect for this show. As social entrepreneurs, you bend the preconception of business to focus on a for-purpose venture that creates a better tomorrow. Not only is this awesome, but it's also a rockin’ business model. And Chris helps show us how to do it.
On the call Chris shares:
- 3 Tips for Social Entrepreneurs to Grow Our Inner Freak
- His Favorite Freak in History
- His Business Plan
Connect with Chris here:
- @chrisbrogan
- chrisbrogan.com
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On the call, Josh shares:
- 3 Tips for Building a Network
- The New Black Market
- Reputation Economics
- How to Look for and Work Within Negative Space
- The Value of High Quality Data
Connect with Josh here:
- Josh.is
- @joshuaklein
I can't wait to hear what you all are working on so please make sure to send me a message @markwguay on Twitter or email at mark@thetravelingcup.com.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Today on the show my guest, Carole Rowley, and I are going to be talking about stage presence and how to empower your voice, whether you're just meeting with a team to launch a new project or you're preparing for an upcoming keynote.
Personally, this is something really close to my heart and it's been a part of me my whole life. I grew up in acting and, as a teenager, I learned a lot about vocal projection, powerful body language, and grew an ability to gauge whether or not I had a connection with an audience.
In my career as a teacher, I'll never forget the first day I stood in front of 30 teenagers and the spotlight shone once again one me. Immediately, what I learned in acting classes came through once again.
Once I entered the business world, these same principles came showing up.
In just a few weeks, I am lucky to be attending an incredible conference called 99U and it's at conferences like these where I get to see some of the best speakers share their thoughts on the stage. If you've never seen someone like Seth Godin or Scott Harrison take the stage, you need to see them speak. They're such effective orators that the audience sits on the edge of their seats.
What I am excited most for, however, is that this conference is about perspiration. Once the speakers leave the stage, they'll be joining us for workshops where we all will be calling on our presentation and communication skills.
Which is why I'm thankful for my friend Carole Rowley to join me on the show today. She's an expert in stage performance and, after a successful music career where she toured the world with names like Mick Jagger, she's turned to sharing her expertise with people like you and me.
On the call, Carole shares:
- The secret to staying calm and focused in a time of crisis
- Breathing exercises to do before a keynote presentation
- Powerful postures for effective stage-presence
Connect with Carole here:
- Website: Carolerowley.com
- Email: Carole@carolerowley.com
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. What's Jeff reading? Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe Robert Lanza and Bob Berman
On this episode, I had the chance to chat with Jeff Power, founder behind the incredible coffee Pangeo Coffee.
Jeff has created an all new business model that he calls the "Adopt a Village" business plan. It's brilliant and I'm here to share his story with you.
On the call, Jeff shares:
- One essential tip for social entrepreneurs: Start with the heart and learn to listen to yourself
- The adopt a village business model
- Building a globally connected B2C experience
- The intricacies of starting up a coffee business
Stay connected with Jeff here:
-
@jeffpower
-
@pangeocoffee
-
pangeocoffee.com
Quick note: I would really appreciate it if you could head over to iTunes and leave an honest rating of the show. I really want to get this message out to as many people as possible and I can only do it with your help.
Please add in your thoughts by leaving a comment below. I love hearing your stories and learning about the amazing work that you do to create a better tomorrow.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On this episode, I had the chance to chat with Ayelet Baron, the thought leader behind the future of work. Her work is one-of-a-kind and delves into the future of work (what it will look like and what it will feel like) and shares her insights on how to be more productive with work hacks.
Our interview is a little bit longer than some others, so I won't waste any time before we jump into it. I know you'll love her 3 tips for work hacking and perhaps at the end of the episode, you'll have three words you'll be willing to share with me. You'll find out what I'm talking about and I hope you tweet me your 3 words @markwguay
On the call, Ayelet shares:
- How focus words will better drive your life
- 3 work-hacking tips for social entrepreneurs
- The future of work and building villages
- What to do if you want to leave the corporate lifestyle
- The skills you will need to succeed in the future of work
- and many more...
Stay connect with Ayelet here:
-
@ayeletb
-
http://ayeletbaron.com/
- Google Plus Community: Work Hackers
Quick note: I would really appreciate it if you could head over to iTunes and leave an honest rating of the show. I really want to get this message out to as many people as possible and I can only do it with your help.
Also, if you're a coffee fan like me, make sure you click on the "coffee-club" tab above to find out about a coffee of the month club that I am creating. I'm really excited about it and don't want to give away too many details, so make sure you sign up to learn more.
Like always, please add in your thoughts by leaving a comment below. I love hearing your stories and learning about the amazing work that you do to create a better tomorrow.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. What's Irene reading: Jeff Speck's Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time
On this episode, I have an amazing opportunity to share with you. I had the chance to chat with Irene Au, the thought leader behind mindful user-experience (UX) design.
If you don't know what UX is, just think of it as the thinking that goes into how your customer (user) will interact with your website, service, product on a holistic level.
To me, it's like taking a step back and looking at how everything interacts. It can mean anything from how long it takes a website to load to how many clicks it takes for a potential lead to make a purchase all the way to how you make the customer/user feel.
And "feel" is the key quality to look for. Rio did a good job of putting songs on an MP3 player, but Apple made you feel a connection to the iPod (don't' remember the Rio player? Yeah, me neither…Irene reminded me of it).
UX is what we all need to be thinking about and I am so honored, blessed, and thankful to share Irene's thoughts with you. I know so little and she knows so much.
On the call, Irene shares:
- What makes great UX and how to focus on mindful UX
- 3 businesses who have great UX: Google, Tesla, and Apple
- 3 UX tips for the social-entrepreneur, even if you have a shoestring budget
- How to create a culture of empowerment
- Her thoughts on the education sector and what you can do to create intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial projects in the education sector
- The incredible benefits of yoga and meditation and what it could mean for your own benefit ( I share my story with yoga too)
Stay connect with Irene here:
- @ireneau
- http://blog.ireneau.com/
Coffee Pair: Brown Water Coffee
What's Kelly reading? Tiny Beautiful Thingsby Cheryl Strayed
This week I have Kelly Kingman joining in the call today to share her story of entrepreneurship in graphic recording.
In a world that's becoming increasingly overcrowded, getting noticed has become like howling into the wind. Let's not forget how easy it has become to get quickly overwhelmed from all the content you find.
This morning, for instance, I woke up at 4:45AM to get a jumpstart on some writing I've been meaning to finish for an e-book I have been writing for a long time.
When I opened the computer and signed on, a friend tweeted me a Lifehacker article and the next thing I know, it's an hour later and I've ready twenty articles and am overwhelmed with all the information I took in. How much writing did I get done? None.
Kelly calls this the Information Overload Age.
And this is what her current work with KingmanInk revolved around. Helping speakers increase audience retention rates and helping you get your message out there in the world a whole lot easier.
For the budget-conscious start-up entrepreneur, check out http://visualbuzz101.com.
Kelly put together a whole bunch of helpful videos and learning material so that you can create your own graphic recordings and help grow your business.
I'm really excited to share this interview with you, so let me know what you think by leaving a comment on the show or sending me a message at mark@thetravelingcup.com.
On the chat, Kelly shares:
- The evolution of graphic recording and how it helps us retain and share information
-
3 golden-nugget tips for social-entrepreneurs
-
How a start-up social entrepreneur could benefit from Kelly's strategy with content creation
Find out more and connect with Kelly here:
- @kellykingman
- Kingmanink.com
- kelly@kingmanink.com
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. The focus on today's episode centers on cooperative working spaces and ways we as entrepreneurs could inspire each other to create great work - better work than if we were to work all alone all the time.
In the education world they call this constructivist learning with the idea that one person's weakness is another person's strength - and together as a team - we can all achieve a great brilliance and produce better work.
Trust me, I love being able to work on my own schedule and being able to roll out of bed, feed my cat Yoda before he bites me, turn on the percolator and get right to work if I have an idea in my head that keeps spinning like a hamster in a caged wheel.
But I also know that some of my greatest writing and ideas comes from talking with others that inspire me. To me, a cooperative working space is a lot like a mastermind group combined with the sharing of ideas we all used to love in college.
I am so honored to have my friend Scott Tillett on the show today. I've known Scott for a while since I moved into the Hudson Valley in New York and have always been in awe of his work. I first met Scott at a TEDx event he set up and since then quickly found out that Scott has such an eclectic background in social entrepreneurship that I had to have him on the show.
Luckily, he was able to sit down and chat with me while he was in his hometown of Beacon, NY.
On the episode, Scott shares:
- His favorite cup of coffee in Paris after he moved there post-9/11
- Why you may want to work in a cooperative working space
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What to look for when you look for a cooperative working space
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Social Venture Institute / Hudson Valley and a weekend retreat for emerging social entrepreneurs
You can reach out to Scott at:
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www.antidotecollective.org or www.beahivebzzz.com
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Scott's Twitter handle: @bluehwyflaneur
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@BEAHIVE
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scott@beahivebzzz.com
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. I'm so excited to have Kristin on the show with us today to share her insights on building learning paths and how to make sure you are learning the best information to help you achieve your goals. I am so honored that she really opens up and shares her background in the start-up world - sharing what she learned along the bumpy road of entrepreneurship.
Her and her team at Mentormob are creating a new kind of search engine that links users to learning path guidebooks, helping you learn pretty much anything.
That's the focus of this week's episode. Making sure that we are maximizing our learning. In a world where thousands of books are published every day and gazillion blog posts flood the internet, it's important to make sure you are not wasting your time and taking bad advice.
Let's also not forget how overwhelming a web search has become these days. You just can't trust the first page of a web search as much as you used to be able to and it's way to easy to have informational overload - leading to an epic fail and losing sight of a goal.
I love this kind of stuff, especially since I love to read, love to learn new things, but don't have any time to waste.
So, for any of my listeners who are in the midst of running a social enterprise or just taking their first sip into social entrepreneurship, let's find out how to maximize your learning and jump right into the episode.
On the episode, Kristin shares:
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What it's like to be in a tech-incubator
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The story behind The Kwagala Project
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What her and her team learned with starting up Mentormob
You can reach out to Kristin at:
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www.mentormob.com
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@KristinMMarie
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@mentormob
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kristin@mentormob.com
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Today on the show, fly with me over to sunny Arizona where I have with me one of the happiest people I have ever met, Pamela Slim. Perhaps her happiness makes sense because she is the author behind Escape from Cubicle Nation. Pamela leads people, perhaps like you, who want to escape what she called "corporate prison" and find the body of work that makes you feel alive.
Featured coffee: Bird House Blend from Bird Rock Coffee Roasters.
One thing I've realized after learning new languages and living abroad is what amazing gifts live inside all of us. @pamslim (Click to tweet!)
We go into some pretty in-depth conversation and chat about:
How we all need to keep our art tapped and running. This doesn't mean being an artist in the traditional sense and grabbing some absinthe and a canvas. It means having the ability to express yourself and grow as a being.
Don't be stifled in a cubicle. Open up your art and expand into the cognitive evolution. This means being open and vulnerably, reflective, and authentic.
The value of multiculturalism. As an advocate, Pam shares with us how she cleverly makes sure to have a wide range of demographics through her work. How else can one show the truly eclectic beauty of the global economic culture?
You can find out more about Pamela at:
Her blog
Body of Work Live Conference
Her current publications are:
Escape from Cubicle Nation
Body of Work: Finding the Thread that Ties your Story Together
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Many of you already know of my guest today, Jeff Goins, one of the leading thought-leaders on how we can use writing as a vehicle to reach an audience, exchange ideas and in doing so, create a better world.
I asked him to come on the show and share his story so that you can better learn how you can jump into the life you want to live. The one that makes you feel like you can't wait to wake up and continue your work. The one where work becomes synonymous with purpose. Where genius and purpose intersect.
The life where you smile more.
If you like what you hear, won't you tweet it out to the world? Click here to tweet.
During the show Jeff talks about...
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The In-Between and how we can live the life we want to live. You may be surprised by his advice. You may not need to move anywhere, but readjust your lens at how you look at the present.
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What it means to be a writer in the 21st century
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Hemingway, Walt Disney, and Coke Zero (while eating licorice, yum)
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How to slow down and resist the urge to always want the next big thing.
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The value of making a difference. Money is one small - very small - part of success. Having impact and making a positive difference in the world create far more meaning.
To find out more about Jeff:
Sign up for his blog (I did and it's amazingly useful)
Follow him on Twitter @jeffgoins
Pick up a copy of The In-Between and Wrecked
I'd love to hear from you and learn what you got out of the interview.
How has Jeff helped you and what are you going to do with his advice?
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Meet improv extraordinaire Lindsey Caplan. You can find her at LindseyCaplan.com or on Twitter @lindsey_caplan
In the show on "Tools for Navigating Business without a Script," she mentions:
"Yes, and…"- use this verbal tool in your professional and personal life to build on relationships and affirm your listeners that you are in fact listening to them.
Trusting your Instincts - a side effect of improv is learning to listen to your intuition or as Anne Lamott would say: "Listen to your broccoli and it will tell you how to eat it".
How the concept of play can enrich your work and personal life. Yes, start playing. It's not just for Google.
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. On this episode, I interview Jessica Mastors and we chat about dreamers and how dreaming is the only way to make true innovation. Her work helps dreamers achieve real success. One of her current initiatives is the 100 Dream Challenge, where she is helping 100 students make their dreams a reality.
It's easier than ever to dream and make things happen than ever before. Gutenberg would be jealous!
You can find out more about Jessica and her brilliant work at Earthhorn here: www.earthhorn.org.
Please leave your comments below and visit iTunes to leave a very friendly high rating. I really appreciate it!
Appreciate The Traveling Cup? Please consider sharing the podcast with a friend and leaving a rating over at iTunes. Sarah Jacob teaches us how tango can help you realize the present (pun intended) in life.
She shares her experience with traveling the world as a "tango gypsy", her morning ritual of 5 Tibetans, and what squirrels can teach us on our breaks at work.
Tune in and start dancing'