The Eric Koester Creator Institute: Recent Episodes
Eric Koester
What happens when you show your work? Learn how and hear the stories of amazing creators -- authors, podcasters, event organizers and product builders -- who share how they created something awesome and where it led them next.
Have you found the writing style that suits you? Do you find it hard to focus with all the distractions that surround you every day? How will you tell your readers your identity through your writing? Are you prepared to show your ugly and vulnerable side? Or will you stay cooped up in your shell and hide?
Roy Choi is the person who can answer these fascinating questions. As someone who had gone through difficult and darkest moments of his life, he was able to transcribe his life-experiences in the memoir “L.A Son.”
In this episode, you’ll learn…
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- How to find the perfect time to write.
- How your history shapes your writing style.
- What is Roy’s thought process when creating his craft.
Do you believe hard work pays off? Have you been in situations that test the strength of your mindset? When was the last time you believed in yourself? Do you doubt your capabilities and strengths? To help you find the right attitude and strengthen your commitment, Matt Thomas sets a great example for us, by sharing what works for him.
Matt Thomas is a renowned World Champion in Chess boxing, a hybrid sport of alternating rounds on boxing and chess. He is also the founder of Brawl for a Cause, a non-profit organization to support various charities. In my talk with Matt, we dived into having the right mindset and its correlation to success and the significance of commitment to his boxing journey.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
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- The importance of choosing courage over comfort
- Why it’s important to know your ego
- Why we reframe ourselves
- How to not lose sight of your reason
What does it take to succeed at a big project? How do you write that book, or start that podcast, or put on that huge event that is sure to take your career to the next level? Moreover, how can we ensure that we remain focused in our increasingly distracting and technologically-focused world, where our attention and time are perhaps the most important assets to have?
Cal Newport is the perfect person to answer these questions. As a professor at Georgetown and an author, Cal has deeply researched what makes someone successful through his books such as “Deep Work” or “Digital Minimalism.” He’s one of the world’s experts at helping people who are ambitious and want to do challenging things.
In this episode, you’ll learn...
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- How intense focus for manageable lengths of time is a superpower
- The necessity of being intentional about your use of technology
- The methods needed to prepare to do something difficult
- The importance of doing relentless diligent work on a small number of projects
- The ways to avoid distracting yourself with countless technological distractions
How can you manifest your technological creativity? What ups and downs should you tread to achieve your ambitions? What plans should an upstart implement for his/her dreams? What does the future have in store for us? Furthermore, is humanity even prepared for the next big thing? Or will the next big thing will forever be shelved and left undiscovered?
Tyler Hayes seems to be on a life mission to answer these compelling questions. As the CEO of AtomLimbs, Tyler has the knowledge and insights as to what the future is all about for upstart creators and his company’s drive to transform lives, literally.
In this episode you’ll learn...
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- How to build up your expertise
- How to navigate setbacks
- The most optimal way to fund your project as a tech developer
- The value of having an audience
What does it take to write a book? How can you gain confidence when publishing your work? Furthermore, how can you become more authentic when it comes to your writing style? And how can you ensure you remain focused in this increasingly distracting and technologically-focused world, where attention and time are perhaps the most important assets?
Chuck Palahniuk is the person to answer these questions. He is an American freelance journalist and novelist who describes his work as transgressional fiction. Among many books that he published, the one that especially stands out is an award-winning novel "Fight Club," which also was made into a film of the same name, starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
- What it takes to become a capital W writer
- How to develop your research process
- How to get a positive mindset in writing and publishing your book
We all want that dream job, the one that fulfills our passions, eases our financial worries, and feels more like play than work. But with everyone vying for a similar dream, how do we ensure our name sticks out from the endless pile of applicants? With the ideal version of what our career path and life should look like in the back of our head, how do we not just hope to one day get there, but instead, take tangible steps to creating it?
Today’s guest, Kate Johnson, is a career specialist and recruiter with a passion for people. Her first-hand experience in high-level companies such as Duke University and Hyundai Motor Group has given her an inside perspective to the innerworkings of the workplace and workplace diversification. Through her work and book, Pull Yourself Together, she has made it her personal goal to help fellow dreamers and high achievers break through the workplace, personal, and organizational barriers between them and the life they want. In a world that is simultaneously evolving and stuck in the past, Kate helps us navigate the changing workplace atmosphere and catalyze change in our own lives.
In this episode you’ll learn...
- The need to be nimble and open with expectations
- Why you are your own biggest asset
- The role of mindset in personal marketing and outreach
- The importance of genuine connection
How does it feel to be unnoticed? How do you catch someone’s attention? Have you been in a situation where your name influences the future of your work? What should you do to keep yourself in momentum and never lose sight? From being unknown to a world-renowned author, Riley Sager discusses the things that work best for him.
Riley Sager is a former journalist, editor, and graphic designer turned into an award-winning author. As someone who tasted the bitterness of what means to be faded in obscurity, Riley Sager is a pseudonym brought into the world that changed his life from an unknown to a sought-after author. Known for his work “Final Girls” applauded by the legend author, Stephen King, Riley is bound to take the world into a massive storm. In my talk with Riley, we dived into his arduous path to international success and the different aspects that an upstart author should understand.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
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- How Riley changed his life from obscurity to fame
- How to build your character and the process of development
- How long it takes to build a book and not lose momentum
- The things that you should learn as an upstart author
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses when you start your journey as an author is a must, but never lose sight of knowing yourself. It is equally important to understand the undercurrents that surround you as you start your tumultuous path to publishing your first book.
How can you reach YOUR level of success? Charlie Hoehn is here to share his journey forging his own path in life. He’s the author of “Recession Proof Graduate: How to Land the Job You Want by Doing Free Work,” which The Tim Ferriss Show called “Just epic for anyone starting out, or reinventing themselves.” Other works include “Play for a Living,” and “Play It Away: A Workaholic's Cure for Anxiety,” which Tony Robbins called “The cure to your stress!”
In this episode you’ll discover:
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- How to get organized
- How to be more disciplined and achieve your goal
- How to encourage others
- How to push yourself until you get what you’ve always wanted
In my conversation with Charlie, we dive into how can we overcome rejections in our lives. And this is the thing about being unconventional: conventional wisdom never works.
Vishen Lakhiani is an author, Malaysian entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. He is the co-founder and chief executive of Mindvalley, Silva Method's vocal proponent, and the author of two books: “The Code of the Extraordinary Mind” as well as “The Buddha and the Badass.” Today, Vishen Lakhiani takes us through how we demonstrate how we learn through writing a book.In this episode, you will learn...
- How to get people to read your book
- How to get the courage to shift jobs or studies
- What is an altered state of mind
- How to overcome imposter syndrome
A human being is capable of extraordinary things. We have an extraordinary capacity to evolve, develop, discover, love, and solve challenges. In this episode, you will discover why Vishen Lakhiani believes that the world lies in raising human consciousness. We get to learn how an altered state of mind brings us to a more productive and enjoyable life.
Success is not always easy to achieve, so how do you fulfill YOUR progress towards success? How will you use criticism to fuel your progress? How will you embrace the gateless method of success? We are lucky to have Terri Trespicio with us to guide us on cultivating our passion towards success.Terri Trespicio is an award-winning writer, speaker, and brand ambassador and she was named by HubSpot as one of the “Top 18 female speakers who are killing it”. She cultivated her way through her passion and rising through her way to success. In this episode you’ll learn.
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- Cultivating your passion through your progress
- Using criticism to your advantage
- Knowing the real path to success
Do you have what it takes to take your career to the next level? Do you have ideas for a magazine, a book, or a podcast but aren’t sure if it’s going to be big? Anybody can create a best-selling book or a successful article but how about you? Do you have what it takes to present your vision and go against unpredictability? On keeping your connection with the audience, Jason Feifer takes us through the things that made him successful.Jason Feifer is the editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, and he fought his way up to be the person he is now. He was previously an editor for Fast Company, Men’s Health, Maxim, and Boston, and he co-wrote the novel "Mr. Nice Guy" with his wife. He is also a speaker who focuses on inspiring the crowd to embrace change and to think boldly. In my talk with Jason, we find out how your ideas and relationship building become the foundation of successIn this episode, you’ll learn…
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- How to connect with your audience - How to manage book marketing - The importance of building relationships - What mindset you should have to be resilient - Going to the opportunity instead of waiting for the opportunity
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Everyone has skills and ideas but how can we use them to make our dreams a reality? A lot of times, we are overwhelmed by unpredictability and we choose to stay in our comfort zone but that will lead us to nowhere. For us to be successful, we need to stop waiting for the opportunity and take risks.
Alt. Rejection, Commitment and Empathy: On Creating With Jason StarrIs talent key for becoming a good writer, or is grit more important? Why should you understand what Hannibal Lecter was missing and what does it have to do with empathy? On creating ordinary characters in extraordinary situations and staying true to yourself while remaining open to feedback. Jason Starr takes us through his creative process by simply talking about what he already knows.Jason Starr is New York Times bestselling crime author and a comics & graphic novelist who worked on different graphic novels and comics including Batman, The Punisher, Ant Man and Gotham. Jason excels in creating characters that are relatable, even when they have a dark side to them. In my talk with Jason, we find out what’s key to creating antiheroes and how he keeps on creating them. In this episode you’ll learn...
- Why getting used to rejection is important for writers
- How to keep creating even when it gets tough
- Why it’s important to understand your characters
- How to avoid discouragement and stay true to yourself
Every beginning is tough and choosing a writer career path brings many challenges with it. Rejection, doubt and discouragement are all part of it. Learning how to develop a thick skin, while staying empathetic; staying true to yourself, while also acknowledging feedback is how creators thrive in their careers.
Victorian romances, moody vampires, enemies to lovers...its all been done before. So how do creatives come up with new stories to tell? The best ones don’t create something completely new, they take bits and pieces from pre-existing works and add their own authenticity to it. As creator Austin Kleon puts it, “you can always find something to steal”, or in other words, you can always find something from a pre-existing work to use in your own. The key is to Steal Like an Artist by putting your own unique spin on it. Austin Kleon is a creative specialist and New York Times bestselling author. His books aim to help people navigate the creative climate present in today’s world by teaching them how to Steal Like an Artist. He emphasizes the need to Keep Going in the face of adversity and Show Your Work! by recording even the seemingly mundane elements of life and the world around you. As a creator for creatives, Austin brings a unique voice to the world of creative careers. Companies from Pixar to Google have been influenced by his words and ability to combine creativity and authenticity in its rawest form. In this episode you’ll learn...
- How to Steal Like an Artist
- The unique power of recording your creative journey and sharing it
- The importance of authenticity and frequency in creativity
- How to think about your ‘verbs’ instead of your ‘nouns’
If you’ve sold 70 million copies of your books, is it really possible to still have “bad pages” in your writing? Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket is one of the modern masters of young readers literature. His novels have had world-wide success and continue to serve as the magnum opus of his genre. As a creator, Daniel encourages us to ask ourselves “do I enjoy spending time with pen and paper?” Through the exploration of this question and more, we take a deep dive into the beautiful chaos, wacky mind and deep loneliness of life as a writer and creator.Daniel Handler is the author of several books and other creative works. He is a incredible writer and contributor in his own right, but also to the world of authorship and literature as a whole. More commonly known by his pen name, Lemony Snicket, Daniel is the author and unique voice behind the children’s novels A Series of Unfortunate Events. His books have sold millions of copies world-wide and are translated into more than 40 languages. He has watched his characters come to life through movie, tv show, and stage adaptations of his works in which he has had the pleasure of working with several renowned personalities, including Neil Patrick Harris and Jim Carrey. In this episode you’ll learn...
- How to ask the right questions around your creativity
- How loneliness is an integral part of the creative tradition
- The humble beginnings of Lemony Snicket
- What it means to build your own canon as a creative
- Daniel’s unique process of going from notes and ideas to written chapters
Is there value in what I do? Where do I get my inspiration from? How do I achieve my goals? How can I inspire others? What do I really want in life? These simple self-assessment questions are often the most difficult to ponder. But your responses will determine your journey to where you truly desire. Let David Meltzer inspire you to see your value as you set your goals toward your success.David is the Co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing. He is the host of the top entrepreneur podcast, The Playbook, and the executive producer of Entrepreneur’s #1 digital business show, Elevator Pitch. A three-time international best-selling author, his book, Game-Time Decision Making, was a #1 new release. He has been recognized by Variety Magazine as their Sports Humanitarian of the Year and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. David is a value-based speaker that regularly talks at the world’s biggest business, sports, technology, and motivational events.In this episode, you’ll learn…
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- How you can love the pain you love, pleasure in loving the journey, and creating value as you go
- How to be a Master learner
- How you can build a community
- Finding the tribe that will follow you on your mission
Understanding value is so important. Taking inventory of values is essential. Seeking, finding the light, the love, and the lessons are finding the value in anything. Right suffering is a process to find the light, the love, and lessons of value.
What sparks your interest? Do you often pursue your interest till the very end? Have you been to situations that warrant you to change your way of thinking? Are you decisive enough to share your pain and resilient enough to bear the criticisms? As someone who has been at the digital age's infancy stage, Taryn Southern shares how she committed to her aspirations till the end.Taryn Southern is an American artist, comedian, filmmaker, singer-songwriter, and tech enthusiast. Recognized with her work on the sci-fi documentary “I AM HUMAN” that narrates human brain implants’ future and created the first AI-composed album, she sets the world ablaze with her creative and out-of-the-norm perspective in digital technology. In my talk with Taryn, she emphasized creativity, challenging the unknown, and the importance of resiliency in a world where everything seems directed.In this episode, you’ll learn…
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- The importance of authenticity to your passion
- How to share your life struggles with utmost confidence
- The significance of challenges to temper yourself
- Why curiosity is often the key to future endeavors
- How stories resonate with the general audience
Taking the first step is one of the most significant challenges to conquer. The moment you allow someone to backseat the way you deal with life, you already lose in the game of life. Grasp your life at your own hands and never waver on the faith that you believed. Life is never a race; take everything one step at a time.
Do you sometimes have trouble seeing that different angle or perspective to see the bigger picture? Do you find yourself often procrastinating ? What makes you authentic? Mario Armstrong is with us today to dispense wisdom and secrets to overcome these challenges you face in your creative process. Mario Armstrong is from Baltimore and attended the University of Maryland then went to DC to carve out his name for himself as a digital guru. With his struggles and experience he is the perfect person to get advice about being productive and discovering your passion.In this episode you will learn.
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- Having the clarity to get your bigger picture.
- Key to overcoming procrastination and working towards resiliency.
- Using your passion to find out what makes you authentic.
Let’s talk about tapping into your creative side to write. It’s tough. It’s overwhelming. There are many emotional roller-coasters. Finishing a book (more so than publishing it) is worth the exhilaration.Named “one of the most influential designers working today” by Graphic Design USA, Debbie Millman is an author, educator, brand strategist and host of the podcast “Design Matters.” In the 11 years since the show’s inception, it has garnered over a million downloads per year, has interviewed more than 250 design luminaries and cultural commentators, a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, and designated as one of the best podcasts in 2015 by iTunes. Debbie is the author of six books, including two collections of interviews that have extended the ethos and editorial vision of Design Matters to the printed page: How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer and Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits. In my conversation with Debbie, she walks with us through her own process of writing.In this episode you will learn…
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- Moving past that first step.
- Designing a book and creation experience.
- Moving past the initial hurt of criticism and consider that feedback is meant to be constructive to improve your work
Are you ready to tell the world about the story of your life? A creative mind will produce a creative product but how long will your creativity last? Are you taking care of your mental health? How will you prepare yourself for the challenges that a typical writer will encounter?Arianna Huffington is the exact person we are looking for who can answer these fascinating questions. As a Co-Founder of the Huffington Post, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global, who authored more than 15 books, Arianna is a veteran in the literary world. She is driven and passionate about moving the hearts and minds of her readers to make the best experience possible.In this episode, you will learn…
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- The mental implications of the pandemic
- How to avoid burnout as a writer
- The different ways to write your draft
- How to avoid distraction when you are writing
Have you ever fallen into despair? Completely clueless and ignorant of how to deal with the villains inside you? How can you navigate around the inner demons that have accumulated over time? In this technology-driven world, can you still tap into that laser-focused attention and completely extricate yourself from worldly distractions?Jim Kwik is the person that can answer these thought-provoking questions. As a Brain Coach, Host of the Kwik Brain Podcast and an Author, Jim created his masterpiece “Limitless” filled with the keys to unlock things hidden in us. In this episode, you’ll learn…
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- How to leverage adversities to propel personal growth.
- The importance of interpersonal skills to our life
- The impact of technology on our cognitive abilities
- How to navigate distractions brought by technology
It's easy to put your ideas out there -- we're one click away from posting a tweet, sharing a video or publishing a blog post. But in a world where it's so easy to create content, how do you create the depth to make your voice count. On this episode we go inside Ross Baird's journey to make 'Arguments with Integrity.' As he shared, good ideas don't always win; but shared ideas will. Hear how he intentionally used his venture firm and his book to build a community behind some powerful shared ideas he's convinced will change the world.
Ross developed the Village Capital concept in 2009, and has led the development of programs worldwide. He's the author of The Innovation Blind Spot: Why We Back the Wrong Ideas—and What to Do About It (includes forward by Steve Case).
Before launching Village Capital, he worked with First Light Ventures, a seed fund focused on impact investments. Prior to First Light, Ross worked on the development of four education-related start-up ventures: the Indian School Finance Company in Hyderabad, India, the National College Advising Corps in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and two ventures using technology to promote civic participation. He has a MPhil from the University of Oxford, where he was a Marshall Scholar, and a BA from the University of Virginia, where he was a Truman Scholar and a Jefferson Scholar.
"There are three steps to mastering your internal triggers and becoming an indistractable author. We have to reimagine the task, reimagine the trigger, and reimagine our temperament."
Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. The M.I.T. Technology Review dubbed Nir, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.”
Nir founded two tech companies since 2003 and has taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. He is the author of the bestselling book, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life.
In addition to blogging at NirAndFar.com, Nir’s writing has been featured in The Harvard Business Review, TechCrunch, and Psychology Today.
Nir is also an active investor in habit-forming technologies. Some of his past investments include Eventbrite (NYSE:EB), Refresh.io (acquired by LinkedIn), Worklife (acquired by Cisco), Product Hunt, Marco Polo, Presence Learning, 7 Cups, Pana, Kahoot!, Byte Foods, FocusMate, and Anchor.fm (acquired by Spotify).
Nir attended The Stanford Graduate School of Business and Emory University.
"It's painful to watch yourself on camera or listen to yourself interview someone on a podcast... but it's the single best way to get better."
Jason Nellis had dreams of stardom on the big screen as a theatre major in college... but it took a little while (and many twists along the way) to land him on the screen as the host of Unboxed TV and head of marketing at Packagd. His career in tech began as a bit of an accident when he got his first job at Hulu long before people really knew that it would be THE Hulu and then to his own agency as an entrepreneur.
Along the way, Jason became the ultimate "learner" - but he learned by doing:
- Launching a podcast
- Helping create and run a conference
- Developing a new daily video show
- Even helping me develop my first 'book' class
On our fun conversation we talk about the power of "learning out loud" -- trying things, getting it out there for feedback and improving. And I loved hearing how he got past the 'I hate watching myself' and 'I hate listening to myself' to learn how to improve his performances.
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein
"I realized I learn differently."
Dale Stephens has already had an incredible journey in his 20s, dropping out of elementary school (it's a great story), dropping out of college, becoming a Thiel Fellowship winner, launching a company, raising millions in venture capital and writing a book along the way.
You may look at that and think: "He's unique" or "That's not something I could do."
But the interesting thing about Dale is his belief that all of us learn differently, and we just need to find the best way for each of us whether that's how we learn in traditional colleges or universities, how to learn on our own through new methods or how we dive into experiences that'll open our eyes in new and surprising ways.
Creation events are just another way to learn -- and in our conversation we talk about the power of 'meaty' and 'meaningful' experiences like books, podcasts, events, and others to really force us to learn and level up. Link to full episode in the comments.
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In my today's podcast you have the chance to hear story of Alana Muller - a networking coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynoter and lecturer.
Like she would say - she loves to connect with people around the world and to share stories on topics such as networking, entrepreneurship and women in business. She has been a contributor to Forbes, The Huffington Post, CNBC and other publications and was a featured speaker at TEDxOverlandPark.
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein #CNBC #forbes #huffingtonpost #TEDx
"Do things with no right answer."
Tina Seelig is an award winning Stanford University professor, serial author and speaker focused of creativity. And for her this "problem" was one that she didn't truly discover until she was a doctoral student working in the field of Neuroscience. Like most of us, she'd been learning how to find the right answer - and excelled at each step of the way.
But she quickly realized that the most powerful way to learn is when things don't have a right answer. Discovering is where we are the most vulnerable and experience the most growth.
In this intriguing discussion, Tina shares her insights and experiences teaching creativity (yes it can be taught and learned) and offers a unique look into the emerging science of creativity, discovery and learning. She offers a powerful framework to unlock our creativity - something that had me pondering for days after our chat.
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein
What are you waiting on?
Jeff Morris Jr. is one of the top voices on building products as the director of product revenue at Tinder and investing in them through his own VC fund. But less than five years ago he couldn't get high potential startup companies to give him a second look.
So he decided he'd learn to code through a General Assembly program.Only issue was the program didn't start for a few months... so he needed something to do. He thought he'd put this extra time to work and try to build a few things without knowing how to code. Over the next two months, those little mini-experiments resulted in him launching three #1 rated products on Product Hunt. Oh and he never wound up taking that coding bootcamp.
On our fascinating conversation (as you'll hear, I am a huge huge fan of him), Jeff and I talk about our time together at Zaarly, Inc, his transition through the startup ecosystem and how through it all he's found a way to create his own path rather than waiting for someone to give him permission.
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein #tinder #dating #app #venturecaptiral #vc
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I royally screwed up the start of my interview with Scott Gerber. Thankfully he's a friend and a nice enough guy that he used it as a teaching lesson.
My gaffe? I called him "the ultimate networker."
He politely corrected me... "Does anyone want to be known as networker?"
And he's right. On our fascinating conversation we dive into the very question -- how you can build real connection and collaboration today, something Scott has done with The Community Company. Today more than ever before it's about rising above the noise, being authentic and trying to judge your 'network' on the number of people who'd really go to bat for you based on what you've done together, not how many tweets they retweeted.
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein #networking
Startup Weekend legitimately changed my life.
Yes, a single weekend did that. (I did just happened to do many many of these weekend events because I loved the experience so much). The experience was powerful because of the people and community I met. Startup Weekend let me truly collaborate with people who changed my entire trajectory - Scott Case, Shane Mac, T. A. McCann, Brad Feld, Bo Fishback, Ian Hunter, Greg Gottesman, Steve Case, Mary Grove, Nick Seguin, Adam Hofmann, Franck Nouyrigat and many more.
At the center of the experience was a way to create and build something with others - in a safe, collaborative & educational way. And for me it's what actually inspired my goal to teach through creation (like books, podcasts and more).
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein
In this conversation, I chat with Marc Nager who lead the charge to transform entrepreneurship around the globe by building Startup Weekend into the force it is today. We talk about why creating something together is at the core of this DNA. (Full conversation linked in the comments.)
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Tiffany Norwood is a global serial entrepreneur with a career spanning 30 years, seven start-ups, two IPOs and a patent. In her 20s, she raised $670 million to fund a global satellite radio start-up called WorldSpace, within a couple of years XM Radio was born and still exists today as part of Sirius XM.
Tiffany is considered one of the pioneers of digital broadcasting. She personally did some of the first ever digital content licensing deals in the 1990s with Michael Bloomberg (Bloomberg News) and Phil Kent (CNN). Also, she was an early collaborator with the Fraunhofer Institute and their MP3 and MP4 technologies, spending many nights at their labs in Germany more than 20 years ago. Check out her story!
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein
"I basically wrote a children's book so my kids could meet Elon Musk."
Evan Loomis is the definition of an entrepreneur in everything he does. From founding multiple companies, investing in emerging startups and being a leading voice in Austin's startup scene, he's committed to the entrepreneurial life.
When his kids began to get old enough to read bedtime stories, Evan realized that there weren't enough stories of real people that could inspire his children. And in particular he found there weren't any stories about entrepreneurs to teach his kids to dream bigger.
So he decided to write one about Elon Musk, the ultimate big-dreamer. "Elon Musk: This Is a Book About Rockets" has received tons of praise and excitement from parents, plus gave him a project to collaborate on with his kids. Hear how it turned out to be WAY more work than he thought, what Elon said (or didn't) and what he learned along the way. Find the link to our conversation below.
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On today's show I talked with Katherine Waldock - she's an Assistant Professor of Finance at the McDonough School of Business and holds a courtesy joint appointment with the Georgetown Law Center. She and Luigi Zingales are co-hosts of Capitalisn't, a podcast about what's working (and what isn't working) in capitalist societies. She received a Ph.D. in Finance from the NYU Stern School of Business and a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University.
Her primary research interests are in corporate bankruptcy, law and finance, small businesses, and financial institutions. Also, Kate has worked as an intern for Lehman Brothers Inc. and the Office of Financial Research, and as a consultant to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Her writing has been featured in the Huffington Post and WalletHub.
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein
On today's episode of the Creator Institute podcast, let me introduce you to Brian Wong - the co-founder and CEO of Kiip (pronounced “keep”), a category-creating mobile rewards network that is redefining mobile advertising through an innovative platform that leverages “moments of achievement” in games and apps to simultaneously benefit users, developers and advertisers.
Backed by American Express, Interpublic Group, Hummer Winblad, Relay Ventures, True Ventures, Verizon Ventures, and others, the company has raised $15.4 million in funding to date. Kiip has been listed by Forbes as one of the 4 Hot Online Ad Companies to Watch, Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World, and been named to the Dow Jones FasTech50 List. Hear his story!
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein
What do you do if your boss tells you "no" -- no you can't launch a podcast or book or video show on your own time?
For Aaron Watson, his first step in being told "no" that he couldn't launch his podcast (well actually he said "no, and we can revisit in 3 years) was to go out to his car and scream.
But from there, he stepped back, refocused and built a new plan that has led him to become a dynamic force in media and content through his agency Piper Creative, his own podcast and his Going Deep annual conference.
On this conversation we look at the emerging craft of Podcasting, particularly through the lens of a 20-something building his own voice, and he shares some of his core takeaways when life doesn't turn out the way you'd planned. Link to the full episode in the comments.
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein
What's your hedge? How can you be more strategic about covering your downside?
For Justin Nguyen, on the surface he looks like a gigantic risk taker. But dig a little deeper and you'll see its quite the opposite. He's leveraged the 'strategic hedge' to build his own path.
Today he's become one of the top voices on LinkedIn, runs his own firm and produces content on his podcast and beyond.
So why does hedging often get a negative impression?
Justin joined me on the podcast to chat about his own path and how he's leveraged content creation to convince himself (and his parents) that what looks like the risky path is the right path. It's a fun conversation and big thanks to him for sharing his story. Full episode linked in the comments.
creatorinstitute #entrepreneur #content #podbean #podcast #spotify #itunes #podcasting #soundcloud #youtube #podcasts #stitcher #podcastlife #applepodcasts #radio #podcaster #radioshow #radiopersonality #googleplay #podcasters #music #tunein
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Harry Campbell -- CEO of Durrie Vision and Author for Get-Real Leadership/Culture -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
Harry S. Campbell has raised nearly $750,000 for cancer research.
When his wife was diagnosed with brain cancer, Harry felt helpless. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to help.
So he decided to raise money to support cancer research -- and took stock of how best to do it. He decided he could raise money for cancer research organizations by giving speeches -- and if he had a book people would pay him more. So he wrote a book -- not about the cancer -- but about what he knew: authentically leading high performing people across his time a multiple billion dollar companies.
He's donated every penny from the book and speeches to cancer research raising nearly $750,000. Having this important reason for writing a book about leadership pushed him to write a better book, to share the message further and to continue to "support" both his wife and the cause near to them both.
It's a powerful lesson about why we create -- for Harry it was to showcase his commitment to his spouse, to raise money for something he cared about and spread his message. You really can win with Generosity.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Sarah Peck -- founder and CEO of Startup Pregnant, a media company documenting the stories of women's leadership across family and work -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
As they say, it's not the destination... but the journey.
For Sarah Peck, she thought her destination was publishing a book -- a project she undertook with her typical gusto -- but along the way she learned that the conversations she was having with other ambitious women were just too good not to share. As she thought long and hard about what to do with it, she leapt and launched Startup Pregnant, a podcast designed to build a community of women sharing their stories of pregnancy, motherhood and balancing it all in startup, innovative and high ambition jobs.
My conversation with Sarah came as she was evaluating her own path -- she decided to take her passion project of the podcast and work to turn it into a business venture. And not to be outdone, she was doing this while pregnant (and as the journey continued with another small human in her home). The thoughtfulness of Sarah's own thinking and evaluation is something each of us can learn from -- it's certainly not easy to change what we think we are doing especially when it's to an area we know very little about.
But that constant sense of re-evaluation and alignment is what has made her succeed along the many twists and turns. It's a fun conversation and really dives deeply into why sometimes we need to change the medium to best align to our message.
Does making a choice mean you close the door on the choice you don't make?
That fear of making the wrong choice can hold many of us back researchers say -- described as the paradox of choice. But Greg Gottesman offers a perspective that says quite the opposite: making a choice -- and always staying curious regardless of that choice -- can actually open MORE doors than you imagined.
I've had the good fortune to know Greg for the better part of a decade, and yet in our conversation I realized that my personal experiences with him -- seeing him operate as a partner at one of the top venture capital investment firms, launch a pet company at a weekend hackathon that has gone on to become a unicorn, and to leave venture full time to start a startup studio creating multiple startups under one umbrella -- is just a microcosm of Greg's history. He's always been one to jump into an experience and commit fully, but to be aware of the unique opportunities that it presents. He's operated in top law firms, top investment banking, venture capital and now startups. And we share how much of that interest may have been spurred early in his career while a college student who published a book about -- college.
It's a fascinating conversation that offered the opportunity to look at the power of curiosity to open more doors than you ever thought possible.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Allen Gannett -- founder and CEO of Track Maven which was acquired in 2018 and the author of the critically acclaimed book the Creative Curve -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
How did you market your book?
According to Allen Gannett, he basically didn't. Allen realized that today most people don't really respond to marketing. Sure, it's helped people recognize him, trust him and see him as credible. But when it came to actually selling copies of his book... well, as he admits in our conversation, that was all about creating one-on-one relationships with the thousands of people who'd eventually go on to buy his book.
Many of us wrongly believe that posting on social media or doing advertising will get people to act. However, research has proven time and time again that while these sorts of actions can make us more likely to purchase or engage, there isn't anything quite like the human touch to drive action. And as Allen shares throughout this unique and engaging episode recorded the week of his book launch, a marketing maven who runs one of the largest social media analytics companies, recognized that our ability to connect with humans is rarely one to many... but one on one.
Allen is the founder and CEO of Track Maven which was acquired in 2018 and the author of the critically acclaimed book the Creative Curve. Plus he's a friend I'm proud to have had many rounds of breakfasts with in the startup ecosystem.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Jessica Carson -- founder of Wired This Way and the creator of the Colorful Cortex -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
How do you go from just creating content to creating content that drives impact?
Jessica Carson was wrestling with that very question -- she was a frequent blogger, had robust relationships in the community and was active in the speaking circuit. But she hadn't had that breakthrough... her inflection point.
Many of us struggle to find out how to stand out in a world where more and more people are contributing to the dialogue. The secret may be right in front of us: showcasing our depth. In researching some of the most successful 20-somethings, we found that over 80% of them created something taht enabled them to highlight their depth -- typically something that took them 6-12 months to complete.
On this episode we'll talk to Jessica about her 'inflection' moment when she created and released her "Disruptors Series", an 8-part article series that pulled together some of the core research and insights she'd been thinking, speaking and blogging about for the past several years. It was in that moment to step back, invest in something more substantive that would showcase her depth that things began to really explode.
Jessica is the founder of Wired This Way, a community of innovators focused on finding balance, resilience, and alignment as an entrepreneurial spirit and has a forthcoming book detailing her insights on the psychology of creators.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Evan Baehr -- founder of Able Lending, author of Get Backed and professor of Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
Should I find a co-author or a co-host for my project? It's a common question and on the surface seems like it should obviously be a good idea. Work with someone, divide the contribution, provide accountability and extend your reach. But as Evan Baehr shares, co-authoring a book is probably a lot like cofounding a startup venture... or even a bit like a marriage.
That's not to say you shouldn't work on a project with someone else, but a big part of the project is ensuring your at the same point, have the same goals and are both willing to make the shared contribution. On this conversation we chat about Evan's path as a creator and dive into his experiences of co-authoring a book with Evan Loomis (the "other" Evan as Baehr told me).
Evan Baehr is a serial founder of technology companies, venture investor and advisor, best-selling author, and university professor. Baehr is currently the Founder/CEO of Teneo, a national leadership organization, author of Get Backed from Harvard Business Press, professor of marketing at the University of Texas, and cohost of the podcast Our American Experiment.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Gini Dietrich -- one of the nationals preeminent voices in public relations and publicity, the creator of the Spin Suck site and community and the author of "Spin Sucks" -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
How do you balance transparency and marketing? Or can you?
David Perell has begun championing the 'Naked Brands', brands that are transparent, are founded by social media influencers, and prize on-going communication with fans and customers.
Gini Dietrich is a public relations guru and she says you can actually balance the two, and describes the power in being transparent AS a marketing tactic and strategy. She took aim at the very industry that was her livelihood -- public relations -- first by launching a blog called Spin Sucks followed by a book of the same name. Attacking the industry as fixated on spin and marketing over transparency? Feels like a recipe for getting shunned by that industry.
But quite the opposite has happened as Dietrich has become one of the most powerful voices for a new type of publicity and public relations driven by a transparent and ongoing conversation. And it's worked.
On this episode we'll talk about how to re-think transparency as the marketing strategy in and of itself. Why more of us should be sharing what we're proud of, what we struggle with, how we need help and where we need support. That openness has led Spin Sucks to become the largest community of public relations professionals on the internet, and an example of why oftentimes it's the community that helps you create the book or the podcast, not the other way around.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Carl Schramm -- the author of "Burn the Business Plan" and a person the Economist named the "evangelist of entrepreneurship" -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
Are you curious? Researchers have found curiosity as a way to improve our self esteem, to increase our sense of purpose and even a way to learn faster.
And yet, Carl Schramm worries we're doing it lip service as more student choose STEM fields forsaking the humanities. Schramm should know as he spent a decade at the helm of Kauffman Foundation the world's largest entrepreneurship focused research institution. In fact, he believes we should shut down business schools as they've done less to make us more creative and curious than the rest.
Our conversation comes on the heels of the release of Carl's book "Burn the Business Plan" where he examines how to train people to think more entrepreneurial, how to build better businesses and most importantly how to be more curious.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Ryan McKee -- Emmy-Winning Producer at the Late Late Show with James Corden and the founder/editor of the Modest Proposal Magazine -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
Can you "fail forward"? Is it possible to fail at something and yet come out ahead?
For Ryan McKee, the failure of the comedy magazine he'd founded stung hard -- it never gained much traction outside of a few places and what momentum it created in his early comedy career was wiped away with a cross country move to New York City in 2008 at the height of the Great Recession. And yet, just a few years later with the experiences and failures in his back pocket, he's now a two time Emmy-Winning Producer at the Late Late Show with James Corden creating content that makes us laugh, smile and sometimes wonder "what is going on inside that crazy brain."
On the second part of our conversation, we'll discuss how to leverage failure -- much like Ryan did with the failure of Modest Proposal Magazine -- to build our own path and direction.
Can you "fail forward"? Is it possible to fail at something and yet come out ahead?
For Ryan McKee, the failure of the comedy magazine he'd founded stung hard -- it never gained much traction outside of a few places and what momentum it created in his early comedy career was wiped away with a cross country move to New York City in 2008 at the height of the Great Recession. And yet, just a few years later with the experiences and failures in his back pocket, he's now a two time Emmy-Winning Producer at the Late Late Show with James Corden creating content that makes us laugh, smile and sometimes wonder "what is going on inside that crazy brain."
On the first part of our conversation, we'll explore his decision to take a risk, pour his life savings into a magazine just as the digital age was rising and why despite the naysayers he 'went for it'.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Justin Lafazan -- founder and CEO of Next Gen Summit and the author of What Wakes You Up?: Designing Kick-Ass Lives Through Entrepreneurship -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
How do you build the largest network in the world of ambitious and successful 20-somethings? According to Next Gen Summit founder and CEO Justin Lafazan, you just ask questions.
Justin had a 'mid-life' crisis at 18 years old before beginning college, deferred his start and decided to go on a gap year. As he began mapping out what he'd do, he was advised he should try to create something... he was ambitious enough to start to create a book and a conference aimed at younger, ambitious, entrepreneurial people much like himself. And since then his life has been a whirlwind creating Next Gen Summit which counts thousands of the most successful teen- and 20-somethings in its ranks, hosts events and conferences across the country and inspires others. But at the very start of all of this was that decision to use a book to ask questions of people he admired -- a lesson Justin believes everyone should apply. As you'll hear from Justin, it's not necessarily about the finished product, but the process you go through to learn and meet amazing people.
What started as a gap year -- funny enough Justin still hasn't even graduated yet -- has led him on an epic adventure that in some ways is still just getting started. And hear how he continues to find excuses to have conversations with people he admires.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Alec Ross -- NY Times Bestselling Author of Industries of the Future, Senior Advisor for Innovation in the State Department and former candidate for Governor of Maryland -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
Observe. Take Notes. Review Your Notes. Hunt for Patterns. Share the Patterns.
This is the secret of learning out loud like Alec Ross, a NY Times Bestselling Author and former candidate for governor of Maryland. Yes, Ross had a super cool and unique job: he was the former Senior Advisor for Innovation for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the duration of her term as Secretary of State and through it traveled to every corner of the globe to learn and observe technology's impact in the Arab Spring, farming in India and natural disaster recovery in the Philippines. But he also was noting what he was seeing and looking for those patterns. Those patterns served as the basis for his book Industries of the Future, named 2016's book of the year by TriBeCa Film Festival's Disruptive Innovation Foundation.
While you may not be traveling the world and meeting with global dignitaries, we all can observe what's going on in our world, take notes as to what we're seeing, review those notes and find patterns that help us understand. Then -- and this is the secret -- share what you learn for feedback and further growth. It's the power of Learning Out Loud, and all of us can unlock it by observing and hunting for patterns to share.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Chris Luecke -- the creator and host of the Pubcast Worldwide podcast and the Manufacturing Happy Hour YouTube show -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
How do you feel about your job? For most people the "its complicated" status would probably be a good answer -- it's mostly good with some elements of not good, and a splash of 'there's something missing to make it better.' Chris Luecke was one of those people. He was early in his career and steadily advancing up the ranks of a large Fortune 500 company, but "I was missing that creative element from my job."
He contemplated graduate school -- and that probably would have been seen as the normal, logical, safe play. But he decided to do something that would end up enabling him to create his own MBA. In the span of a year, Chris launched a YouTube show featuring him drinking beer with his customers -AND- a podcast featuring him drinking beer at famous bars, breweries and festivals. (Notice a theme here?)
But the results have been remarkable, helping Chris combine his passions, increase his exposure inside the company (yes all the way up to the company's CEO) and move from 'it's complicated' to 'I love what they let me do.' In this episode, we examine how Chris has designed his own 'MBA' that lets him explore his creative side, learn new hands on skills, and develop mastery for future opportunities (maybe a CMO one day). It's illustrative for many people who are at that transition point in their 20s or 30s where they aren't dissatisfied with their job or their work, but feel like something lacking -- and why most managers crave employees who take risks, try new things and build their own path like Chris has.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Diane Mulcahy -- the author of the Gig Economy and award-winning Babson professor -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
36% of the U.S. workforce has freelanced this year -- and it may offer one of the best ways to grow and manage your own career path.
According to author and Babson Professor Diane Mulcahy, the future is quickly becoming about developing a portfolio of work -- perhaps its a full-time job and something on the side to scratch our creative itch or perhaps its a freelance career made up of multiple clients and a variety of work. In our conversation we'll go deeper into how Diane is coaching MBAs and undergrads to re-think careers through the lens of building a portfolio of meaningful work, and how a new set of skills -- the creator skillset -- is critical as each of us makes that transition.
The New Yorker calls her book Gig Economy "part economic argument and part how-to guide." And in this episode we'll explore how you can reframe work through a portfolio approach and you can have more control, attain more financial flexibility and discover more meaningful work. BUT you might have to do something a little different than those around you.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Chris Voss -- former FBI Hostage Negotiator, the founder of Black Swan and the author of Wall Street Journal Bestseller Never Split the Difference -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
Every human interaction is a negotiation -- we just usually don't think of them that way. But what if you thought of these everyday human interactions as negotiations where your life literally depended on the outcome? Would you act differently? Would you listen to the demands? Chris Voss is the author of Never Split the Difference and worked in the FBI (and the police force) for over 20 years as a top hostage negotiator, working over 150 kidnappings (probably more but he says he lost count). He shares the power of empathy in every interaction as a way to re-think our engagements and get better outcomes. And he shares one of my favorite insights about the power of generosity on getting what we want -- why psychologically nearly all of us want to 'repay' the favors done for us. You'll learn how to think purposefully about each interaction to get what you want, when you want it without having to split the difference. Plus I learned what to do if I was ever taken hostage to dramatically improve my chances of making it out alive.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Joe Mechlinski -- the founder of SHIFT and the author of NY Times Bestseller Grow Regardless and new release Shift the Workplace -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
Do you have a chip on your shoulder? Researchers say that can a good thing -- some of the world's best like Tom Brady or Steve Jobs use their resentment to prove people wrong again and again. But it can also stop us in our tracks if we fixate on these insecurities. For Joe Mechlinski, he grew up in a rough part of Baltimore until a football scholarship landed him a Johns Hopkins with limited reading and writing skills. Just how does that guy wind up publishing a NY Times Bestseller that bumped 50 Shades of Grey from the top spot? That chip on his shoulder. Our discussion talks about how to use the insecurities and resentment we all have somewhere -- and continue to create things -- companies, books, podcasts, teams -- and grow. That "prove it" mentality comes when we decide to invest in creating things that others can judge for themselves, and how each of us can use our own chips for good.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Donna Khalife -- the founder and CEO of children's educational company Surprise Ride, author and Shark Tank alum -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
How do you decide? Experts say our decision-making process as either rational or emotional -- meaning we are carefully deliberate, or just act and go with our gut. For Donna Khalife her life was a series of rational, deliberate decisions that led her to the top Business School and job offers in Wall Street and Silicon Valley. And she took "none of the above", choosing a life following her passions that has led her to the hills of Hollywood, a top rated author and today a Shark Tank alum who's company Surprise Ride has raised millions after first being passed over by the Sharks. In the second part of our discussion, we'll explore her experiences as an entrepreneur -- how a chance opportunity to appear on Shark Tank forced her and her sister to find their way, overcome rejection and build the business that would make their parents proud. You'll understand how to prepare for your moment when the clock counts down, the lights go on and it's your chance to pitch in front of millions on a nationally televised stage.
How do you decide? Experts say our decision-making process as either rational or emotional -- meaning we are carefully deliberate, or just act and go with our gut. For Donna Khalife her life was a series of rational, deliberate decisions that led her to the top Business School and job offers in Wall Street and Silicon Valley. And she took "none of the above", choosing a life following her passions that has led her to the hills of Hollywood, a top rated author and today a Shark Tank alum who's company Surprise Ride has raised millions after first being passed over by the Sharks. In the first part of our discussion, you'll hear how Donna acted 'rationally emotional' by choosing to create her own path that in hindsight isn't all that risky or crazy -- and how you can do the same. It's a fascinating conversation showing the power of winning in the decision-making moment.
On this bonus "library" episode, you'll hear what Aneesh Chopra -- the founder and CEO of CareJourney and the country's first Chief Technology Officer under President Obama -- is reading, writing and thinking about creating next.
How can we convince people to bet on us? It happens all the time -- getting hired, landing an investment in our startup and even people the people who we convince to date or eventually marry us! For President Obama's first Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, he'd assumed politics was his path and ran for Lt. Governor of Virginia... but he lost. Hoping to break into startups, he soon realized he'd need to raise big bucks to attack the huge problems he saw in the health care sector. So what could a lifetime policy wonk and government bureaucrat do to get cofounders, VCs and employees to bet on him? Eric talks with Aneesh about his time in the White House -- including being coined "The Indian George Clooney" by John Stewart on the Daily Show -- and how sometimes what we create is often just as important as what we've done to get others to bet on us. Eric shows how making a bet on ourselves can help us learn where to go, and offer powerful evidence to others we hope to influence.