Maverick Family Freedom (and more adventures)

July 7, 2013 by [email protected] Leave a Comment

I just got back from the Maverick Family Freedom event. It’s my second year in a row attending and working with the kids there, and I have to say it’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done all year.

This year, in addition to the younger kids setting up their mini-businesses and selling goods throughout the July 4th Celebration, we worked with the older kids (14+) to setup an information product. Within just a few days, they were able to put the product together (including audio and video recording and editing), write the copy, put up a sales letter, a delivery page, designed a logo, setup their social media platforms, and even make their first few sales!

You can check out the product and more of their story here, and support them by buying, liking, or sharing if you feel so inclined 😉

Giving kids entrepreneurial education at this age is priceless, but giving them an actual experience where they setup a business on the fly with some guidance and virtually zero budget, and see them make money with it right away, is a life changing experience for them. They are forever tainted with the entrepreneurial spirit (if they weren’t already from their crazy entrepreneur parents!) and now have the confidence, the skills, and more importantly the belief that they can actually setup a virtual business quickly.

Here’s 3 of the team of 4 working hard on the launch:

And here’s all the Maverick Parents with their kids:

For me, this experience strongly re-affirmed my deep passion for young entrepreneurship, for opening young minds to the possibilities of their own potential and guiding them through the initial hurdles. Every time I hang out with Mavericks is an incredible experience for me, but this has been by far the most fulfilling week of my year.

All of my own anxieties and challenges even seemed to melt away as I worked with this young team. Beyond that, it made me realize (something I’ve known for some time, but easy to forget) that often times the best way to work through your own stress is to make a significant impact for others.

After this week, I know I’ll be putting even more energy and focus than ever before into building support systems and networks for young entrepreneurs at all levels, and eventually a unique incubator. Helping others grow to new heights and open new possibilities can always be profitable and highly leveraged, but the best part is making a difference with every single hour of work and energy that I put into it. This is what I’m doing with my life, and I’m damn excited about it.

Also, we went kayaking, some of the families did water sports (wake boarding, water skiing, etc), and we watched an epic fireworks show from a big military ship in the Port of Charleston.

As I write this, I’m sitting on my friend Adam Summers’ deck in Baltimore. Even just being around Adam’s family and his beautiful home has further re-inspired my entrepreneurial energy. Aside from being one of the country’s best plastic surgeons, Adam is one of those genius entrepreneurs who perfectly balances the creative right brain with the technical left brain, and seems to have mastered both. I have a lot to learn from him.

I’ll be here for another week or so, hanging out with Yanik a bit and then attending a Russell Brunson Mastermind with my business partner Paul Hoffman and some other friends from the Internet marketing world.

By the way, shameless plug: I’ve been working with Paul to market Sculptations. It’s another huge passion of mine, as it marries inspiring music with meditation with personal development; all things that have changed my life in one way or another. I recommend downloading and checking out the free tracks on the site.

Other Adventures:

I know I really have to post more often! Since my last post about my experiences in Asia, I’ve been on a few trips with some really great experiences and transformations. So here’s a quick summary:

Canada

I went to Canada for the first time to celebrate my good friends’ Larry and Perry’s Birthdays. Nothing overly special on this trip, but it was a really fun time with good friends and my first time to the country.

Chicago

Maverick Multiplier Retreat in Chicago: this was epic! Both in terms of the content, the fun, and the transformational experiences. Even more so: the incredible people. I mean it, I think Mavericks are some of the best people on Earth.

Activities included powerful business sessions, Maverick Roller Derby, A Zombie Bar Crawl (really), boating, hotseat and mastermind sessions with startups and non-profits, and seeing the future of 3D technology. Here’s a quick recap video:

My biggest takeaway from the content at Chicago was this:

Austin

After that, I went to Austin with Ally. Ally helped out with event coordination at the Amazing Selling Machine event there (which Sophia managed – Sophia runs an awesome unique company called Maverick Events), while I hung out with all my Austin friends, and was again reminded of how excited I am to move there.

And with that, the big news: I am moving to Austin! Finally. We actually signed the lease and are officially moving in on September 4th. We found a really cool spot where the background goes directly into the greenbelt (the biggest nature reserve in Austin).

Upcoming…

More big news! I am going to attend Eben Pagan’s Accelerate Program in Chicago at the end of this month. I’m super stoked for it. It’s one of the best high level entrepreneur training events in the nation, and I was fortunate enough to win one of the young entrepreneur scholarship tickets (worth $7500 or so), and I know this event will be transformational for my life and business.

After that, I’ll likely drop by RSD World Summit in Vegas. And no, I’m not trying to ‘learn pick up’ but my friend Nick Kho (Papa) runs the company and I actually think their content can be pretty awesome for overall personal development.

What’s NEXT?

And finally, I’m working closely with my mentor Yanik Silver on a new project, where we’ll be creating a tight network of successful young entrepreneurs and helping them accelerate their businesses and live more fulfilling lives through deep peer-to-peer connections, high level ‘Maverick Mentorship,’ and priceless content, events, and experiences.

We’re looking for the NEXT Generation of Maverick Entrepreneurs. If you’re a young entrepreneur 25 and under and you already have your own business running, looking to get to the NEXT Level in business, happiness, and impact, then this might be for you. Stay tuned, or Facebook message me to stay in touch.

This is the most exciting thing I’ve worked on in my life to date, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading, and as always I really appreciate your comments and questions!

My Trip to Asia

April 5, 2013 by [email protected] 1 Comment

[Written first week of April – published late!]

I’ve spent the last two weeks in Asia. I was primarily there for my Purpose Inspired Marketing team retreat, but I also explored a lot around Malaysia and the Philippines, experiencing new cultures, foods, and adventures. It was a really transformational (and fun) trip for me.

I want to share some of my experiences and lessons with you. If you have any questions, please comment below!

Countries visited

Malaysia
Philippines (Boracay, Manila, and Tagaytay)
Singapore (around airport only)
Tokyo (inside airport only)

Experiences

Future Music Festival Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (saw Gangham style live)

Toured MindValley officies
(then we had Vishen, Kristina, and other cool MindValley people over our place for drinks)

Went shopping in Chinatown Malaysia

Team retreat in Boracay in one of the most beautiful Villas available there

Mountain Biking with John (crossed goal off list)

Explored different areas of Manila (Chinatown, walked on Intramuros Wall – old spanish war fort, Tagaytay, and more)
Different forms of transportation (tricycle pedicabs, WW2 jeeps as public bus)

Ate a duck embryo (also tried some other new foods like Octopus, Malaysian food, Filipino food and more… but the duck embryo was by far the most unique)

Island hopping and snorkeling off a boat (and drank from a fresh coconut that we bought from a passing salesman on a boat… there was also one selling ice cream!)… we then watched the sunset on the boat ride back from the last beach we visited. It was beautiful!

Visited employees’ homes (thanks to Marvin and Leah and their families for opening up their homes and inviting us)
Learned to ride motorcycle (Thanks Marc!)

Ate traditional Filipino food in a traditional way by hand off a banana leaf (except I used two hands to eat instead of just one!) … Leah’s mother in law cooked a wonderful meal for us and we ate with their family.

Visited the volcano area at Tagaytay and zip-lined

Karaoke rap with Leah and her family and Marvin

Lessons Learned

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and the team bonding was invaluable.
Coming back, I have a much deeper appreciation for everything I have living in the US, but also a much stronger desire to explore more cultures outside of our own as soon as possible.
While the Philippines is rather developed and I really enjoyed it (and plan on living there for about six months), it’s also noticeably a 3rd world country. Seeing the happiness and strong values in their lives, despite living in what most US Citizens would consider significant poverty, is really inspiring to the human spirit.

I’ve determined that happiness definitely does not depend on your absolute conditions – that there’s always something more and always something less than where you are – and that it’s almost entirely a matter of internal, rather than external, circumstances that creates your happiness.

Also, visiting MindValley was really inspiring in terms of building a company culture and designing a really cool office. I love what Vishen has done there and pull a lot of inspiration from everything they do.

I’m happy to be home – but also can’t wait for my next international exploration and mind opening experience. And also eager to come back to the Philippines and hang out with my team and new friends again, as well as explore the other islands, and eventually the rest of Asia, in an extended trip.

—-

And of course, a HUGE thank you to Nick Kho, CEO of Real Social Dynamics, and a great friend and mentor, for making this trip happen 🙂

Creation

February 9, 2013 by [email protected] Leave a Comment

[Note: I initially wrote this as a journal entry. Really quickly. It just came through me. Then I decided to share it – it was never intended as a public post. I normally don’t share this stuff.]

I feel like I’ve almost been caged by my business. Like I haven’t let myself fully discover my true self. Or even feel a lot of the emotions that I want to feel. I’ve been so run down with the day to day, the management, the money, the operations, the people, the projects, the clients, the growth, the stress, the payroll, the technology… everything… that I often forget what it’s all about. About the Freedom. The Passion. The Purpose. It’s about Creation. But creation doesn’t come from a boggled might and a heavy heart.

Creation comes from a free mind and a light heart. From an open internal world, not one that’s constantly so filled with ‘busy-ness’ that it doesn’t have any space for real creativity. If I’m going to create something incredible, I need the mental and spiritual ‘space’ to do so.

That means I have to remove myself from operations… from the day to day. I have to trust good people to create good results. My job isn’t to be ‘productive’ so much as it is to be creative – not to produce, but to create. There’s a difference. A huge difference.

Every once in awhile I remember this. It might even last a day, or two, or three at the most. Especially when I travel. But mostly, I go back to work and get myself caught in the same cycle. A cycle of work and productivity, a cycle of reactivity, of dealing with issues, of trying to growing, of keeping people happy… all of this is good. But I don’t want ‘good’ – I want transformational. Not just transformational for me, but transformational for the world.

Not just for those around me. Not just for my clients. But for the fucking world.

I have something inside of me to bring to the world. Something that will change the way we live.

The good news is: I know it’s there. I know it’s powerful.

The problem: I have no clue what it is… yet.

And if I keep doing what I’m doing now – in the hustle – I’m afraid I won’t discover it. Or at least I won’t discover it soon enough. Not as soon as I want to. Not as soon as I could. And the sooner I discover it, the sooner I can create it – and bring it to the world. And build the team that helps me do it. And the longer I wait… well maybe I’m preparing. But maybe I’m scared. Maybe by the time I’m ready… it will be too late.

And what if I just go on a delusional soul search – what if what I’m looking for isn’t even there?

That’s where the incubator comes in. Maybe it’s not in me. Maybe I won’t be the one to create it per say – but rather co-create it. Maybe it’s in someone else’s mind and heart… and maybe it’s my job to discover it, help to co-create it, and bring it to the world. If that’s the case, I’ll find it through the incubator. And co-create a lot of other awesome ventures in the process, some of which may impact the world in ways I cannot possibly predict today.

But it’s that one discovery… I’ll just know it. And I’ll probably leave the incubator then. To pursue it with my co-creator. To give it my all. To give it my life.

So what am I waiting for? Time to make the leap…

Almost.

My 2012 In Review

December 31, 2012 by [email protected] Leave a Comment

The past year has been my best so far. It was crazy, productive, and unpredictable to say the least. Filled with travels, business struggles and successes, new relationships, life changing lessons, and unique adventures – it’s been unforgettable. But it’s also just the foundation for the rest of my life of freedom, passion, and purpose.

How it started:

I started 2012 with my best month to that point, doing about $6,000 in revenue that month. I set a goal to do $10,000 in February, and fell short of that goal by just a couple hundred dollars – but it was good enough for me. I felt like I had my first 5 figure month, and used that as momentum to do it every month since, building a 6 figure business in 2012. Given my goals at the time, this was exactly what I striving for. But now, it seems so minuscule in light of my new purpose-driven goals and vision for the coming years.

The best thing I did to start my year was fill out the scholarship for Underground … just a few hours before the deadline. I was accepted. I was excited. But I didn’t realize just how much that event would change my life.

At Underground, after meeting a ton of cool people and entrepreneurs I’ve been learning from for years online, I got to meet Yanik Silver. We found we both had a strong affinity for young entrepreneurs and for changing the world through entrepreneurship. It wasn’t long after that Yanik became my mentor – and I’d have to say getting involved with Maverick was the catalyst for so many of my unique life experiences this past year, and has created the foundation for the coming decades of impact.

I’ll have to dedicate another post to my unfolding ‘Maverick story’ and my love affair with the brand, the people, and the creation of the Maverick EcoVerse.

The Year In Review…

Trips and Travels:

Austin – Leverage Summit
DC – Underground Online Seminar 8
Daytona – vacation
Dallas – GKIC Superconference
Austin – Equity Investors Network
NYC – Maverick Dangerous Dinner + Multiplier day
Washington DC for Co-Creation Event
Park City for Maverick Family Freedom event, then Salt Lake City
NYC – Maverick Mayhem event at a haunted hotel
San Diego, OC, LA – vacation with friends
Las Vegas – vacation with friends + RSD World Summit
Austin – Maverick Multiplier Day + Dinner at John Paul Dejoria’s ranch + checking out apartments
Nashville – GKIC InfoSummit + jail (another post coming later on the ‘jail’ lol)
Maui – Nick and Amber’s wedding
Mexico – Maverick M3 Summit

My 3 Biggest Discoveries of 2012:

Putting the right people in the right seats (still working on it) including myself: Focus on leveraging personal strengths and passions vs. generic success principles
I’m here to co-create something game changing through entrepreneurship
Rejuvenation through unique experiences drives me forward

3 Most Memorable Experiences of 2012:

Mayan rituals in Mayan village
Intense mountain biking in Park City, Utah
Spending the night in Nashville County Jail

So many more to name, from hot air ballooning in Park City to watching the meteor shower in Maui and many more. It’s hard to choose a top 3.

My 3 Biggest Mistakes of 2012:

Taking on too many project and clients with too few resources. I was looking for my kryptonite and found it.
Undervaluing my own time and over-estimating others
Asking the Nashville bartender for water, then trusting the police there lol (another post, coming soon!)

However, I don’t really mind the mistakes, as they led me to today, and each has held an important lesson or experience for me.

With Tim Ferriss

I also met some really amazing people this past year. In addition to all the inspiring entrepreneurs in Maverick1000, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Tim Ferriss right here in Boston (I’ve been a long time fan, as Tim’s 4 Hour Work Week was a major source of education and inspiration for my current life), and John Paul Dejoria (found of Paul Mitchell Hair System, Patron Tequila, and more) at his ranch near Austin, TX.

Single best decision of 2012: filling out the scholarship application for Underground Online Seminar 8.

I’ll write another post in the next few days on my goals, upcoming plans, and what I’m most excited about for 2013.

To everyone who’s been there with me through this journey over the past year, thank you. I have such a big list of people to thank for making this past year possible.

To everyone who’s sticking with me or joining me for an even crazier ride for 2013, I look forward to an incredible journey with incredible people!