The Create Your Life Series is for Self-starters looking to live life on their own terms. Join award winning entrepreneur, author and speaker Kevin Y. Brown as he shares the Strategies Behind the Successes of today’s Trailblazers by uncovering experiences, daily habits and defining moments of high achievers from around the world. Learn more at cylseries.com
Episodes
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019
Episode Summary
Dennis Kimbro shares many rich stories from the thousands of interviews he has done over the last 25 years while conducting research on how black Americans earn their wealth, and what stops those who don’t. He speaks about his life philosophies, how he hopes to see the world change and how he uses his energy and his work to give back to younger black Americans.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Dennis Kimbro
Dr. Dennis Kimbro is an author and a world renowned professor at Clark Atlanta University. He has spent his career interviewing people to glean as many success stories as possible from successful Americans of color. He earned a doctorate from Northwestern University where he studied wealth and poverty in underdeveloped nations. He is the author of five books, including Kevin’s personal favorite: “What Makes the Great Great.” He is a recipient of the Dale Carnegie Personal Achievement Award and In 2005, the National Black MBA Association presented him with the 2005 H. Naylor Fitzhugh award, recognizing him as one of the top professors in the nation.
Insights From the Episode
- How to think about and organize your goals
- Strategies for thinking about what is important to you
- How millionaires build wealth by focusing on their financial legacy
- How to use the internet to change the world
- How saving your money and being selfless with your savings can lead to wealth
- Strategies for incorporating mindfulness into all your actions
- The secret to life in 3 hard questions
- How to keep growing every day
Quotes From the Show
- “You talk about humble and gratitude, that’s the foundation for everything I’ve done.” - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156
- “I never wanted to write a book. What I wanted to do was start a movement.” - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156
- On interviewing and observing millionaires of color: “They know that the underlying theme of this is like a relay race. A relay race isn’t won or lost on how fast the runners can advance. A relay race is won or lost on how capable one runner passes the baton from one to the next. Their relay race isn’t just creating wealth, but also using their life as a model to show black america a way out. - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156
- “A burning desire is an inner flame that cannot be extinguished. You will use the criticism, you will use the laughter, you will use their ridicule to propel you forward.” - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156
- “Service is the price you pay for the space you occupy.” - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156, quoting Muhammad Ali
- “All entrepreneurs do is solve problems. Solve a little problem, make a little money. Solve a big problem, and you make bank on bank.” - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156
- “Don’t find somebody that you can spend your life with, find somebody you can’t live without.” - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156
- “The biggest mistake that you will make in your life is to think that something outside of you will bring you happiness.” - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156
- Use your life in service of others, because money is not the bottom line. Love is the bottom line. - Dennis Kimbro, Create Your Life Series, #156
- On what the world would miss if Kevin Y weren’t around: “They would miss the inspiration.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #156
- “If someone is on the path to trying to achieve something then I’m all in. I genuinely love to see people win. It inspires me, because I believe in – I call it friendly competition. I want to see you go as high as you can so that I can have something to aspire to be.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #156
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman
- Lead the Field by Earl Nightingale
Favorite Quote
- “Before you stand before your students today, never forget: A poor teacher complains. A good teacher explains. An excellent teacher demonstrates, but a great teacher inspires.” - W.E.B. Dubois
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Dream big dreams because they do come true
- Believe in yourself when no one else will
- Focus on serving others.
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Dennis Kimbro
www.instagram.com/drdenniskimbro
http://www.denniskimbro.com
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Feb 05, 2019
Tuesday Feb 05, 2019
Episode Summary
Brandon shares his experience and knowledge as an American businessman who has been running his business abroad for five years. He talks about the biggest challenges and the biggest things he has gained from his travels.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Brandon Inniss
Brandon Inniss is the founder and owner of Construction Clean Partners, a national business that connects construction cleaning companies with highly profitable jobs. For the last five years, Brandon has been running his company while traveling abroad, making him quite the digital nomad and someone whose brain we wanted to pick.
Insights From the Episode
- How to handle your taxes while living abroad
- Strategies for managing your time while running a business abroad
- The secret to quickly picking up new languages
- Strategies for vetting cities around the globe before you settle there
- The real secret to networking: go global
Quotes From the Show
- On the number one thing Brandon has learned abroad: “How brainwashed Americans are. We all really think the same, because we are all engulfed in the same energy frequency.” - Brandon Inniss, Create Your Life Series, #155
- On building a global network of friends: “I can go stay with friends in many countries. When you’re abroad and you’re doing similar things, you create bonds with people quicker.” - Brandon Inniss, Create Your Life Series, #155
- “You learn the most when you are in a new environment and when you’re around new culture.” - Brandon Inniss, Create Your Life Series, #155
- “I used to think that money was everything. I still think it’s important to have money to be comfortable and have less stress in our society, so I still think it’s important but I don’t think I should be doing things I don’t like.” - Brandon Inniss, Create Your Life Series, #155
- “I let fear and comfortability hold me back, so I’m happy to be out of that.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #155
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- The 4-hour workweek by Timothy Ferriss
Favorite Quote
- Brandon’s motto: “Find a way or make one.”
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Time freedom
- Location freedom
- Financial freedom
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Brandon Innis
www.facebook.com/brandon.inniss
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Jan 29, 2019
Tuesday Jan 29, 2019
Episode Summary
Rana talks transparently about her foray into podcasting, what helped her gain an audience and what her strategies where for growth. She speaks insightfully about her own hangups and fears, shedding light on challenges many entrepreneurs face in a humorous and honest way.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Rana Campbell
Rana Campbell is the host of the Dreams in Drive podcast, a show for creatives and lifestyle entrepreneurs who want to take their dreams out of park and put them in drive. She is a graduate of Princeton, where she studied sociology. She also owns her own marketing consultancy and by day, works in marketing for an e-commerce fulfillment center. She has always had a passion for storytelling, so she is dovetailing that with her background in sociology and marketing to create great podcasts.
Insights From the Episode
- The secret to using research skills to get where you want to go
- Strategies for achieving growth early on in podcasting
- How to use social media effectively to grow your audience
- Strategies for settling up interviews with superstars
- Secrets to goal setting that doesn’t overwhelm you
Quotes From the Show
- “That’s how I kind of got into the media world is because there was no place for me so I created my own place.” - Rana Campbell, Create Your Life Series, #154
- “I want to say I always had the entrepreneurial spirit, but it wasn’t until I was kind of forced to put that into action when I realized that okay I think I got what it takes.” - Rana Campbell, Create Your Life Series, #154
- “If you can research and you can figure it out, you can do anything.” - Rana Campbell, Create Your Life Series, #154
- “I’m very good at figuring out what my schedule is, figuring out what my goal is, and then minimizing distractions.” - Rana Campbell, Create Your Life Series, #154
- “When you have guests on your show you’re able to leverage the audience of your guests in order to grow.” - Rana Campbell, Create Your Life Series, #154
- “The biggest struggle in a lot of people’s journeys isn’t the tactical logistical things, it’s those inner things, like convincing yourself that you’re worthy of it and not being scared of failure.” - Rana Campbell, Create Your Life Series, #154
- “Nobody is going to show up for you if you don’t show up for yourself.” - Rana Campbell, Create Your Life Series, #154
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson
Favorite Quote
- “Jump and build your wings on the way down.” - Olori Swank, celebrity stylist
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Know who you are
- Be a student of research
- Be consistent - show up every day.
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Rana Campbell
www.instagram.com/dreamsindrive
https://twitter.com/dreamsindrive
www.facebook.com/dreamsindrive
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
Episode Summary
Ilbert and Jean talk about their business venture, Garcon Couture, a luxury menswear line that is taking New York by storm. In just two years, the two are making strides into the upper echelons of New York’s fashion clientele. The two talk about how to work as a team and keep things authentic in the face of rapid success.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Ilbert Sanchez and Jean G. Francillion
Ilbert Sanchez and Jean G. Francillion are the co-founders of Garcon Couture, a luxury menswear line based in New York City and Miami. The two met in college at SUNY Cobleskill. Ilbert, was born in Honduras, he’s known for his design work and leads the business side of the venture. Jean, born in Haiti, comes to Garcon Couture from over a decade in the fashion industry and is the leader on the tailoring and fitting side of things.
Insights From the Episode
- Secret elements to a strong business partnership
- How to navigate negative feedback and keep moving forward
- Strategies to manage your time better as an entrepreneur
- How to give your clients an unforgettable experience
Quotes From the Show
- “When it comes to us and our Caribbean roots, it’s just working hard, and finding ways and finding alternatives to take things to the next level.” - Ilbert Sanchez, Create Your Life Series, #153
- “He’s way different than I am and I’m way different than he is, but it comes together in a perfect form and it works.” - Jean Francillion, Create Your Life Series, #153
- “I’ve removed so much negativity from my life. Those people that aren’t good for you but that are around, I’ve removed a lot of them.” - Ilbert Sanchez, Create Your Life Series, #153
- “I know what I want and whoever is not willing to help me get there or will downgrade me and things like that, they’re not in my life.” - Jean Francillion, Create Your Life Series, #153
- “Me and Ilbert can definitely tell who wants to be around just for the show and who wants to work.” - Jean Francillion, Create Your Life Series, #153
- “We want to make sure that once you walk through that door, that experience is like no other.” - Ilbert Sanchez, Create Your Life Series, #153
- “I’ve learned what things aren’t important and what things are, and that has helped the growth of the company, because I’m more focused now.” - Ilbert Sanchez, Create Your Life Series, #153
- Ilbert on the pros of entrepreneurship: “That feeling is amazing though, that feeling is like no other. Especially – I used to work in corporate America – That feeling is just unmatched: running your own company, you’re your own boss, so you have so much control of things.” - Ilbert Sanchez, Create Your Life Series, #153
- “The support in my family is extremely important, and that would have taken a toll on me had it went a different way, but because I’ve had their support, that has given me so much drive and push and motivation.” - Ilbert Sanchez, Create Your Life Series, #153
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- Ilbert Sanchez: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Jean G. Francillion: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber
Favorite Quote
- Ilbert Sanchez “F*** it let the fish burn, red or blue pill you live and you learn.” - Jay-Z
- Jean G. Francillion's motto: Live life to the fullest
Keys to Create Your Best Life
Ilbert Sanchez
- Put yourself first
- Be authentic with who you are and who you want to become
- Set goals and be very optimistic about all of the goals you’re setting
Jean G. Francillion
- Be organized and set your goals
- Have a team
- Believe in yourself
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Ilbert Sanchez and Jean G Francillion
www.instagram.com/garconcouture
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Jan 15, 2019
Tuesday Jan 15, 2019
Episode Summary
Jennifer takes listeners through the journey of transitioning from working as a corporate lawyer to founding a business she’s super passionate about. She talks about her process of getting out of her own way to start the business, and how important it was for her to have a solid business partner, a strong network of people and strong female role models leading the way.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Jennifer Lambert
Jennifer Lambert is the co-founder and COO of Swivel Beauty, an app that connects women of color with hair stylists and hair stylists with clients seeking their services. The business empowers women of color by moving toward a world where it’s just as easy for women of color to find talented, affordable and skilled stylists as it is for women of any other ethnicity. She is also a Harvard-trained lawyer, specializing in general corporate mergers and acquisitions as well as cyber security law before leaving to start Swivel.
Insights From the Episode
- Secrets behind asking for help
- Strategies for growing your brand
- Tips for vetting your partners
- Tips for becoming the founder of a business
- Strategies for navigating the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship
- Strategies for pinning down your business priorities
Quotes From the Show
- On working in corporate law: “I would be there five nights in a row until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning and just be like what if I was doing something for myself?” - Jennifer Lambert, Create Your Life Series, #152
- On the absence of beauty tech products geared toward women of color: “We saw this huge opportunity in the existing products that were out there.” - Jennifer Lambert, Create Your Life Series, #152
- On staying motivated when Swivel first launched: “The soulessness of corporate law and the excitement and opportunity of starting a new venture: That alone was fuel to keep the fire going for a while.” - Jennifer Lambert, Create Your Life Series, #152
- “I’m being more aware of wellness and making some time for myself each day.” - Jennifer Lambert, Create Your Life Series, #152
- “The secret is you’re never really ready, you just have to do it.” - Jennifer Lambert, Create Your Life Series, #152
- “I try to live in a way that I’m leaving positive residue on people.” - Jennifer Lambert, Create Your Life Series, #152
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Favorite Quote
- “People won’t remember what you said, but they’ll remember how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Get over the stuff that’s preventing you from accepting yourself
- Do the things that you want to do even if they’re scary
- Get out of your own way
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Jennifer Lambert
www.instagram.com/swivelbeauty - shoot them a DM
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Jan 08, 2019
Tuesday Jan 08, 2019
Episode Summary
Toya takes us through her journey of rising through the ranks at Patchwerk and talks honestly about what she has learned along the way. She offers amazing insights into the music industry and advice for young women seeking a similar career path.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Toya Brown
Toya Brown is the studio manager at Patchwerk Recording Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. She has worked at Patchwerk for over 11 years, and has been in the music industry for even more than that, securing several internships throughout her time in college, including with MTV and Universal Group. She is currently working on a new project, Toya in my pocket, which is a mobile personal assistant application. She has extensive experience in marketing, administration and project management, among many other things.
Insights From the Episode
- How internships can lead to other opportunities
- How determination and perseverance can make you stand out
- How to avoid burnout by giving yourself a vacation or just a change of scenery
- Strategies for young women hoping to get into the music industry
- Secrets to becoming more self aware
Quotes From the Show
- “There’s no way I’m gonna turn down MTV twice.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “Doing the jobs that other people didn’t want to do really pushed me to the next level.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “I’ve never treated anybody as less than I, no matter how far I progressed.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “The power of relationships and networking is what is taking people and keeping people in their businesses for a long time.”- Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “Be passive and aggressive: aggressive because it’s a tough industry and it’s easy to be taken advantage of but be passive because you don’t want to do bad business or give off bad vibes.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “Be firm in your own beliefs; be confident in your conviction.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “Creative people were my heros when I was younger, now real people are my heros. I see so much fraud and negativity in people. I see how people treat other people and it brings me down a lot, so when I can find somebody who is a genuine person, somebody who gives back, somebody who has positive energy – those are my heros.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “I feel like I’m able to get more accomplished by facing my fears.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “If anybody doesn't want to work their shift, send me your hours, I will work all of your hours for you and that’s what I did, I worked all of the hours for everybody who didn’t want to work their hours.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “When you continue to work you learn how to do everything.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “You gotta be firm in your own beliefs and you gotta be confident in your conviction.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “Make money but don't let money control you.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “Don’t go to jail but do what you want to do.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
- “A lot of time when there's no expectation, that’s where the opportunity lies.” - Toya Brown, Create Your Life Series, #151
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- Life and Def by Russell Simmons
Favorite Quote
- “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” - George Addair
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Do whatever makes you happy
- Create a healthy work life balance
- Be smart: make good decisions, make money, but don’t let it control you
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Toya Brown
toya.brown@gmail.com or toya@pathwerk.com
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Jan 01, 2019
Tuesday Jan 01, 2019
Episode Summary
Mark goes deep detailing his entrepreneurial journey and the many insights he has picked up along the way. He talks about how his past work experiences facilitated his success as an entrepreneur and takes listeners through his meticulous and thorough thought processes.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Mark Smukler
Mark Smukler is the co-founder and CEO of Bixby, a tech company that works with real estate professionals to improve their relationship with their tenants and the living experience of the tenants. Bixby created a cloud-based app to facilitate more efficient and sustainable relationships between tenants and property managers. His past experience includes work as a business consultant and web developer.
Insights From the Episode
- How to vet your potential future employees
- The secret to sticking through the first six months of your startup
- How to use your past experiences to propel current success
- Secrets about the endurance it takes to start your own company
- Insights on the different skill sets needed for a founder vs a CEO
- Success hacks for startups
- How to build a great team
Quotes From the Show
- “Entrepreneurship is building something from nothing.” - Mark Smukler, Create Your Life Series, #150
- “Just because you’re passionate about travel or music doesn’t mean you’re the right person to start a business in that industry.” - Mark Smukler, Create Your Life Series, #150
- “It’s really tough to start a company, not to mention starting it on your own.” - Mark Smukler, Create Your Life Series, #150
- “We’re not hanging around playing ping pong all day. We’re not playing ping pong at all.” - Mark Smukler, Create Your Life Series, #150
- “The best no is a quick no.” - Mark Smukler, Create Your Life Series, #150
- “Not only do I not want to celebrate success by myself, but I’m also not likely to find success by myself.” - Mark Smukler, Create Your Life Series, #150
- “You don’t learn the skills and processes of starting a company in your curriculum at school.” - Mark Smukler, Create Your Life Series, #150
- “Feed your ambition...It will be worth it only when you’re doing what you want to do.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #150
- “On those days when it’s no for breakfast, no for lunch, no for dinner its having a call and somebody saying you are doing a great job don’t give up” - Mark Smukler, Create Your Life Series, #150
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
Favorite Quote
- “Everything will be okay in the end, and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” - attributed to various people throughout history, this quote may have originated as an Indian proverb, maybe from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In contemporary writing, it has been attributed to Brazilian writers Paulo Coelho and Fernando Sabino and more recently, it is often attributed to John Lennon.
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Believe in yourself
- Find a community that can support you
- Don’t stop until you’ve reached your goal
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Mark Smukler
Bixby
Livebixby.co – property managers can take a free tour of the app and access free app trials; tenants can download and use the app even if their property management company doesn’t use Bixby to send rent checks easier and access discounts from their favorite brands.
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Dec 25, 2018
Tuesday Dec 25, 2018
Episode Summary
Kevin and Todd share a view from the inside, transparently talking about what is working and what they’re hoping to improve upon in their respective businesses. They share strategies for getting their first clients and how to stand out in their industries.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Todd Wahnish
Todd Wahnish, the founder and CEO of Clever Era, a business that helps bootstrapped entrepreneurs build businesses. He works with people even if they have no idea, no capital and no technical ability, offering personalized consulting to help businesses get started and achieve the growth they seek.
Insights From the Episode
- Strategies for reeling in your first few clients
- Tips for defining who your ideal client is
- Secrets to working with customers willing to pay a higher price point
- Strategies for developing a sense of community with your clients
- Secrets on authenticity and how it can lead you to success
Quotes From the Show
- “It’s really not about the money at the end of the day. It’s about having somebody use the thing that you built and seeing the results that they get.” - Todd Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #149
- “If you’re competing for editing, you’re competing on a downward pricing spiral. The moment that you become more than just an editing service, the floodgates will open.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #149
- “There is a tendency to believe that when you charge more for a service that your customer or client will be very hands on, and what ends up happening is the opposite.” - Todd Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #149
- “The thing that drives us and makes Podcast Laundry unique, is the fact that I’ve actually taken a live radio show, turned it into a podcast and then got it nationally syndicated.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #149
- “It’s the relationships and the way that you treat people that are going to make a difference.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #149
- “If you’re doing something and someone is paying you for it, then that is the validation.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #149
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Todd Wahnish
https://www.instagram.com/wahnish
https://www.facebook.com/todd.wahnish
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Dec 18, 2018
Tuesday Dec 18, 2018
Episode Summary
Colin Morgan shares his experience running a successful business. From finding sponsors for his podcast to creating goal setting strategies, following his passion has helped Colin advance as an entrepreneur.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Colin Morgan
Colin Morgan went from professional golfer to finding his passion as an entrepreneur. As an expert in helping leaders create meaningful messages for their organizations, his business, Plan 2 Profit, offers solutions to visionary business leaders. His podcast, The Daily Grind, examines the behaviors and habits that make people success across a diverse spectrum of fields.
Insights From the Episode
- Secret lessons to learn about why businesses fail.
- Secrets for finding sponsors for your podcast.
- Colin shares his two tips for finding sponsors specific to your business.
- How to use your passion to drown out the negativity.
- How coaches and mentors create accountability.
- Strategies for increasing productivity through interval computer-use.
Quotes From the Show
- “You have to find heroes that are really going to motivate you to do things that you otherwise think you couldn’t.” - Colin Morgan, Create Your Life Series, 148
- “You have to create a really solid foundation of who you are. You need to get really self aware of who are and what you want.” - Colin Morgan, Create Your Life Series, 148
- “If you get comfortable… when you do face adversity, it’s very hard to overcome that adversity. But if you’re putting yourself into uncomfortable situations everyday, it’s easy to overcome that adversity.” - Colin Morgan, Create Your Life Series, 148
- “Make your haters your motivators.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, 148
- “Accountability is what’s going to push you forward.” - Colin Morgan, Create Your Life Series, 148
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
Favorite Quote
- “It’s impossible until someone else does it.” - Unknown
- “We all get butterflies. But our goal is to get those butterflies to fly in formation.” - Colin Morgan’s father
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Get clear on what you want
- Become really self aware of what you’re good at and what you’re not
- Find someone to help you accomplish your goals
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Colin Morgan
www.instagram.com/colinmorgan.dgp
www.instagram.com/dailygrindpodcast
www.facebook.com/colin.morgan.583
www.facebook.com/plan2profitgroup
www.facebook.com/dailygrindpodcast
www.linkedin.com/in/colin-morgan
www.linkedin.com/company/theplan2profitgroup
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Dec 11, 2018
Tuesday Dec 11, 2018
Episode Summary
Gregg shares his own journey to podcasting and strategies for others interested in starting their own show. He talks about how to get and keep listeners, how to build and protect your brand, and what it really takes to turn around in 10 years and see you’ve built the life you always dreamed of.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Gregg Clunis
Gregg Clunis is a lifelong entrepreneur and side-hustle master. He is the founder of Podsimply, a business marketing company that helps experts create high-performing podcasts. He is also the host of his own podcast, Tiny Leaps, Big Changes, that is being published as a book in January 2019. Gregg’s show was ranked in the top 100 self-help podcasts.
Insights From the Episode
- How side gigs can give you a real boost
- Secrets to the practical necessities involved in changing your life
- Strategies to asking for help in your life and your business
- Secrets to getting to 1 million downloads on your podcast
- How to deal with negative feedback
- Strategies to avoid burning out when you’re starting a podcast
Quotes From the Show
- On why Gregg started his show: “I wanted to create something that focused exclusively on that piece, the piece no one wants to talk about. The part where you have to grind for 10 years before it actually shows up and affects your life in a real way.” - Gregg Clunis, Create Your Life Series, #147
- “The reason I am where I am now is because of all these little decisions along the way that at the time, I thought didn’t matter.” - Gregg Clunis, Create Your Life Series, #147
- “I dive headfirst into pretty much everything.” - Gregg Clunis, Create Your Life Series, #147
- On standing out as you’re starting a podcast: “Be willing to do the thing no one else wants to do.” - Gregg Clunis, Create Your Life Series, #147
- On creating real connections with your listeners and making yourself accessible: “It will work if you’re willing to give your audience the time of day and not act like you’re above it in some way.” - Gregg Clunis, Create Your Life Series, #147
- The number one factor that has allowed Kevin to get to where he is now: “Ambition… the undying belief that I can do anything I put my mind to.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #147
- “Part of entrepreneurship is that we have success amnesia: we forget about the amazing things that we’ve done and that we’ve accomplished, so sometimes we need to look at where we started from.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #147
- “Even if you have thin skin and it hurts, fine. Keep doing it anyway and it won’t hurt anymore” - Gregg Clunis, Create Your Life Series, #147
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“Dont be afraid to go with the opportunities right in front of you, even if it doesnt necessarily match with what you’ve always plotted as your life’s path” - Gregg Clunis, Create Your Life Series, #147
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny
- The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage
Favorite Quote
- The statement Gregg uses to sign off at the end of each episode of his podcast: “All big changes come from the tiny leaps you take every day.”
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- It’s not going to happen fast (no such thing as overnight success)
- By the time you get to the point where you have created the life you want, your goal post will have moved, so take the time to look back and recognize what your initial goal was – give yourself some credit
- Don’t be afraid to change the path. Don’t turn down opportunities even if they don’t lead where you always planned to go
Stay Connected
Show Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
Gregg Clunis
Gregg’s ask: listen to any 2 episodes of his podcast, Tiny Leaps, Big Changes (available wherever you listen to podcasts), and then let him know what you think on Twitter, @greggclunis, or on Instagram, @greggclunis.
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)