THE SHUT UP SHOW

Helping lone entrepreneurs shut up and make sh*t happen

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Building a Body of Work and Meaningful Life with Pam Slim – Episode 76

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Pam Slim is the author of the new book Body of Work, and is one of the most inspiring people I know. I met Pam in 2006 when she tried to leave a comment to win a copy of my book–on an old TypePad blog I had–but couldn’t because my e-mail address was wrong. YIKES! After being friends online for a long time, I finally met Pam live at World Domination Summit–one of the highlights of my time at WDS2013. In today’s episode, we got to talk to her about being a coach, what she’s afraid of, and so much more in this interview. So much learning from Pam Slim, for us. And now, for you.

~ Phil

 

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)
Listen to the podcast

Share Some Shut Up Love –> Creating a body of work that we’re really proud of is our life’s work. @PamSlim on #shutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

  • Pam has been coaching early stage entrepreneurs for the last 8 years.
  • Prior to starting her own endeavor, Pam offered consulting inside corporations such as Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard and Charles Schwab coaching thousands of executives, managers and employees.
  • Pam has been an entrepreneur for 17 years and started working at the age of 12.
  • Pam’s first job was washing dishes for an ice cream shop.
  • Pam’s favorite ice cream is mocha chip on a sugar cone rolled in almonds.
  • Pam’s blog, Escape from Cubicle Nation, is one of the top career and marketing blogs on the web.
  • Pam’s book, Pam’s book Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur won Best Small Business/Entrepreneur Book of 2009.

Defining Shut Up Moment:

I’ve worked since I was 12. I have always enjoyed what I have done work-wise in different work modes. When I start to get bored is when I start to make a shift and do something else.

I was not in a healthy relationship at all in my 20’s. It was very scary and very confining. I have this one favorite place in the world, Phoenix Lake. When I finally decided I wanted to leave the relationship, I got this vision of going to this lake. I went to the lake after a therapist visit and I had this spiritual epiphany. I could feel this energy and pace and music in my head as I walked around the lake. I saw this one spot–that I envisioned in my head–and as soon as I saw that spot in person, I just burst into tears. I felt this indescribable experience. It pushed me forward. It was clearly the moment I made the break. Walking through that experience gave me incredible courage of being in control of my destiny and wanting to do more with my life. It was after that, I quit my job to start my business.

Shut Up Tips:

What spurred the new book idea is the light and dark side of the force. It’s a VERY simplistic view that entrepreneurship is the “light” and corporate world is “dark.” And it’s not right. – Pam

Creating a body of work that we’re really proud of is our life’s work. It’s not the things we create, but also the environment we create. What kind of environment do you want? – Pam

We forget the most important and juicy part: what are you actually creating? Who really cares what work mode you have? Choose a mode that supports you, that reduces your stress, and gives you the most opportunities to create what you want to create. – Pam

You can’t create meaning or innovate in your life without having fear. – Pam

Navigating uncertainty, creating opportunity is a very critical thing. – Pam

What’s cool about a bootstrapping approach is you need to make sure there is value and viability in your business model. That’s a good thing. – Pam

I don’t do any new endeavor without thinking, “who do I know who’s way smarter than I am in this field” to help me make decisions? – Pam

We are all equal. Nobody is higher or lower than another. Many problems come when we begin to segment. It’s not helpful. – Pam

What is your own definition of success and you’re own way of being you? – Pam

The edges are sexy, but they are scary as hell. You can be successful in the middle. The biggest lesson we all can take, life in the middle. How can you take your story and weave that through everything you do? – Phil

You want to design your own journey, your own craft and body of work based on what actually gives you meaning and pleasure. Contribute what you want to contribute. – Pam

My own definition of success is enjoying my life while I’m living it. To enjoy it means I have to be learning and pushing myself to be growing. – Pam

How are you designing something that’s really made for you that will allow you to build the kinds of things you want to build as a legacy? – Pam

Pam Recommends:

Body of Work comes out on December 31st, 2013! For the book promo, freebies and your chance to win a day of consulting and coaching with Pam, go to PamelaSlim.com/bodyofwork.

Find Pam:

Pam blogs at EscapeFromCubicleNation.com where you can get more of her awesomesauce!

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AJ Leon Helps Us Define Our Moments So They Don’t Define Us – Episode 10

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How do you go from being an insanely successful financial executive in Manhattan, with a six-figure salary and corner office, to quitting your job four days before your wedding because the thought of becoming that guy for the rest of your life scares the crap out of you? AJ Leon, the emperor of awesomesauce and king of misfits, took time out of his uber busy schedule to chat with Phil and me about how that was his narrative in 2007. Over five years later, it is no more.

In this episode, AJ vulnerably takes us through his shut up moments. What led him to decide to take that audacious leap of faith without losing the love of his life and, most importantly, why he believed the view sleeping underneath The Brooklyn Bridge would look far more remarkable than the path he was on. It’s people like AJ that make the kind of work Phil and I do possible. We love AJ and know you will too.

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited) 
Listen to the podcast

Share Some Shut Up Love –> Most people would say connection is not scalable. I think the most beautiful things in life are not scalable. @ajleon via @_theshutupshow

Fun Facts:

  • AJ runs the coolest company on the planet with a team that’s “got his back.” Laverne and Shirley literally understand this.
  • AJ is the Chief Maker of Trouble at Misfit, Inc., a nomadic creative shop that specializes in changing the world.
  • His first company was a professional Shakespearean theatre company producing performances that were termed as “street Shakespeare.”
  • AJ majored in accounting, finance, and religious studies (yeah, because that was an obvious cluster of choices).
  • AJ is an artist, designer, writer, entrepreneur and humanitarian running a company from The Pegasus and his backpack.
  • AJ publishes a quarterly magazine that features artistic carriers of the Misfit flame all over the globe.

Defining Shut Up Moment:

AJ said it better than I could have ever put into other words:

When I left my job, it was an excruciating moment for me because I saw this 60-year-old version of myself looking back at me mourning the glory of a life that could have been. I realized I needed to make an audacious decision. I walked out of my job and career. Everything I’ve ever known. I felt glorious for about half a second and then realized I’m gonna get married in 4 days; I’ve got to call my fiance. Melissa and I have been together for a very long time. She knew me well before I derailed. I’ll never forget what she said to me. She was happy to have me back and said she would rather live with the real me under the Brooklyn bridge than an impersonation of me anywhere else.

AJ breaks down his shut up moments for us:

LIFE AS A NOVEL: When you look at your life as a story unraveling you start to see even the bad times as the times that are most interesting.  And even in those moments there’s a traditional side of you that say, “I’m fucked” and there’s this other side that says this is an adventure and I’m in the middle of it. This is going to be a great story to tell.

LIFE AS AN ART PROJECT: The day it really hit me I realized this is my life and it is my one and only. There are no encores. There are no redos. I don’t get another one. This is it. When you recognize this is not your practice life. This is all you have. Everything changes when you really get that because your choices become more urgent and that fear of “Am I gonna make it?” is much less relevant. This is my life. This is my art project. Seeking the things you want to do.

Shut Up Tips:

If you’re not selling information, then you transfer into a world where it’s not about the size of your list. You look at them as individuals and you connect to them as a person. I spend about 2 to 3 hours a day thanking everyone for subscribing to Pursuit of Everything. I want to know who’s here, who’s showing up, what they’re working on. – AJ

A lot of people would say connection is not scalable. I think the most beautiful things in life are not scalable. – AJ

If you don’t know what you’re building and “success comes knocking at your door” then the only way to go is towards the currents of growth for growth’s sake and that’s where most people go. I don’t think that’s necessarily right. I think you just have to know what you’re seeking out to build. – AJ

I try to look at fears that in the past would have had their foot on my throat and I just let them stand there; I try to not do that now. That dude was always afraid. I know there are people like that dude out there. That’s who I’m writing to. The 22-year-old version of myself. I’m telling that guy he doesn’t have to listen to everybody else and he has much more choices than he thinks he has. – AJ

You telling me to stop doing this is like telling me to cut off my left arm. – Berni

Recognize that you have this one life and things start to take care of themselves when you realize that. – AJ

I would have been “that guy” for the rest of my life. It’s a terrifying feeling having your life scripted and you don’t like the script. – AJ

It’s not about making the big leap sometimes. It’s about taking the baby steps towards something closer. – Phil

Each of us are living our own narrative. I can’t possibly give blanket advice. It’s ludicrous. – AJ

If you have to continue in your job because you have a family, you’ve got to pay those bills and want to take care of that, then the evening hours after work between 6 to 12 are absolutely essential for you to plan what to do next. Those hours are equivalent to The French Revolution being planned in Parisian bistros at midnight after people were getting off of work. I think the “what to do next” doesn’t have to generate revenue. – AJ

AJ Recommends:

The Good Misfit Project is an experiment in social and measurable philanthropy. In June 2013, 30 misfits will hold individual fund raisers in their communities to raise a total of $15,000 to build a windmill in Gambella for an entire village to complete its five-year journey towards sustainability.

To get involved, donate, or learn more, go to GoodMisfit.com. 

Find AJ:

AJ  is currently traveling around the entire world in 1,080 days and writes about his journey at the Pursuit of Everything.

Find AJ at @ajleon over on the Twitters.

 

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