Gary Szenderski is an author, speaker, teacher, and branding specialist. He specializes in helping people and organizations to navigate change, and frequently speaks and writes on the topic of emerging brands, personal branding, and companies in transition. Gary is an award-winning writer, author of the Book of Szen, often quoted marketing expert, and recipient of the Distinguished Instructor Award from the University of California in Irvine where he teaches branding.
Quotes To Remember:
“We should always start our songs on a positive note.”
“If you can’t change it, embrace it.”
“We have to deal with [past issues] head on.”
What You’ll Learn:
—How to discover what you want
—How to live in the moment and become more aware of what’s going on
—How to stay positive
—How to avoid hinging your happiness on expectations
—How to avoid distractions
—How to open the intake valve to your happiness
Key Links From The Show:
Gary’s email address: gary@bookofszen.com
Recommended Books:
The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Beauty: The Invisible Embrace by John O’Donohue
Hamilton Perkins is the founder and CEO of Hamilton Perkins Collection, a brand that focuses on creating affordable designer bags that look good, perform well, and make a difference. With a sea of options, HPC sets itself apart with the level of care it puts into each product. Hamilton sees philanthropy and giving as an essential part of running a business today.
Quotes To Remember:
“We started because we couldn’t find what we were looking for from other brands, so we decided to do it ourselves.”
“It’s taking a personal need or a pain point and turning that into a solution.”
“A lot of the time it comes down to just getting started earlier.”
What You’ll Learn:
—How to attract employees that share your vision
—How to leverage crowdfunding
—How to get your products to spread through word of mouth
Key Links from The Show:
Recommended Books from The Show:
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard
Nitin Chhoda is an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. penniless in 2002. He started by delivering pizza, sleeping in his car, and not having enough money to afford winter clothing. However, his hustling mentality allowed him to transcend the grip of poverty to become a licensed physical therapist, entrepreneur, author, and public speaker. Now he owns and runs several multi-million dollar companies with over 30 employees worldwide.
Quotes To Remember:
“Going for zero to $100,000 is all about hustle”
“As an entrepreneur, be prepared to deal with crazy stuff”
“I view money as a vehicle”
“Resilience is a direct function of how much struggle you have been through”
“The right people, hiring the right people is crucial for going from point A to point B….Find and hire the right people, and your professional stature, your emotional capability and your long-term potential as an entrepreneur will significantly increase if you’re around the right people”
What You’ll Learn
—How to develop resilience
—How to get the right people on your team
—Creating proper systems that will help your business grow massively
—The habits of successful entrepreneurs
Key Links from The Show:
Total Activation -- Nitin’s Site.
Recommended Books from the Show:
Total Activation by Nitin Chhoda
Influence by Robert Cialdini
No Man’s Land by Doug Tatum
Outrageous Advertising by Bill Glazer
Jonathan David Lewis is an engaging and authoritative speaker who shares how to survive and thrive in today’s uncertain world. He is the author of several books including Brand VS Wild which will be the focus of this episode. In addition to writing books, Jonathan has also written several articles on places like Forbes, DigiDay, and Advertising Age where he explores that factors that lead to stalled growth and the principles proven to help companies navigate the ambiguities and dangers of the brand wilderness.
Quotes To Remember:
“The task in front of us as business people is…get comfortable…with an uncomfortable amount of risk in every decision.”
“Who are you going to disappoint?” (you can’t please everyone)
“Always enter the danger.”
What You’ll Learn
—How to anticipate and deal with disruption
—How to stay focused on your goals
—How to move forward in your business
—The pathway to resilience
Key Links from The Show:
Brand VS Wild -- Jonathan's Book
Recommended Books from The Show:
Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni
The Connected Company by Dave Gray
Power Branding by Steve Mckee
The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb