wds2013

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

December 31, 2013 By Berni

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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From Foe to Friend: Jia Jiang’s Love Story with Rejection – Episode 19

July 31, 2013 By Berni

Jia Jiang stole the stage recently at World Domination Summit when he got up in front of 3000 entrepreneurs to talk about how his failed startup took him from a downward spiral of depression to finding hope through 100 Days of Rejection Therapy. After being rejected for funding that would have taken his business app startup to launch, Jia went on a personal journey to develop his rejection muscle as he continued searching for investors. Little did he know that in his pursuit to befriend rejection, the project would take on a life of its own and end up inspiring millions of people all over the world.

Watch and listen as Jia shares how he wanted to build software, but instead made an impact on the universe through his love story with rejection.

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

Share Some Shut Up Love –> Winning isn’t about getting a yes or no. It’s having the courage to ask for what you want. – @JiaJiang #shutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

After meeting Bill Gates in China as a teenager, Jia moved to the U.S. to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur.
Jia has made his way on the stages of numerous venues that include Jeff Probst Show, TEDxAustin, and World Domination Summit.
Jia became a YouTube sensation after his “Rejection Therapy Day 3: Ask for Olympic Symbol Donuts” video went viral (5.1 million views to-date).
Speaking of which, Jia commented that Berni’s hair looks like the Olympic torch.

Defining Shut Up Moment:

I feel there’s a purpose for everything. I came to this country at 16 years old, which landed me in rural Louisiana. I had a lot of social rejection because I was very shy and my language skills were not that good. My host family then stole all of the money I brought with me. When you’re a teenager, you don’t understand why bad things happen to you. As an adult, you learn to understand why they happen and what true love really is. I see the world as it is. But I haven’t lost that innocence about wanting to have a better world.

Shut Up Tips:

Miracles are not supposed to end without real impact. – Jia

This is bigger than having a cool idea. It’s about finding a market. Finding a need. And fulfilling that need. By chance I stumbled upon this huge need. Not just entrepreneurs, but all humans have fear. If I can help people handle fear with my story, I feel I’ve made my mark as an entrepreneur. – Jia

I depended on blind faith and was rejected. That rejection taught me to not give up. When I see something very negative now, instead of running away from it I think “let’s dance with it, play games with it, blow it up and see how negative it really is.” Then it turns out not to be negative after all. It becomes positive, really. – Jia

Rejection is just other people’s opinions of you. We all have opinions and we are more than willing to give them out for free. So why should I take it objectively? – Jia

A lot of things are possible if you’d just go out and ask. – Jia

Sometimes in the journey of even wanting rejection, we get accepted. We learn we are better than we thought we were. Even if we think we’re failing, we’re moving forward. – Phil

You can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. – Steve Jobs (via Berni)

I was a pretty failed business owner one day and the next day an internet sensation pursued by so many people. But it doesn’t matter, I’m still the same person. Just because somebody has an opinion about you doesn’t mean it carries weight about who you are. – Jia

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. – Steve Jobs (via Jia)

Focus on what you can control, not what you can’t. – Jia

Jia Recommends:

100 Days of Rejection Therapy

Jackie, the shift supervisor at Krispy Kreme, transformed donuts into the Olympic symbol and touched Jia’s life with unrelenting hope and faith in human kindness.

Find Jia:

Jia’s website and blog: Fearbuster.com

Jia on Twitter

Jia’s YouTube Channel

Dominating Your World & Making the Best of the Decision You Have – Episode 14

July 11, 2013 By Berni

Imagine how different your life would be if you never took action. If you never chose yourself. Things would be very different, for better or worse. But in the process, you might not have ever stumbled upon this blog. If Phil and I didn’t choose ourselves to start this show, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

Watch and listen as Phil takes us through the shut up moments he experienced this past weekend after he attended the World Domination Summit in Portland, for the first time, where his life and business has been changed forever.

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)

Listen to the show (coming soon)

Share Some Shut Up Love –> We have to fix shit in our life before we can fix shit in our business. Until the two converge, we struggle. @philgerb

Fun Facts:

World Domination Summit 2013 had 3000 attendees, which is 10 times the size it started with in 2011.
WDS was sold out in 7 minutes. Phil did not have a ticket to attend the conference until months later after snagging a spot from a person in Berni’s network who couldn’t attend and had to sell her tickets.
Before attending WDS, Phil had never taken a vacation before.
Amy Clover, a former guest and good friend, stood on stage to address an audience she once sat in to talk about the epic movement she started after attending WDS last year.

Defining Shut Up Moment:

Donald Miller was the last keynote speaker at WDS. He talked about imagining three circles. The inner circle is Self. The next circle is Shame. Your Personality is the crust that prevents people from getting at your self. My big take away is really thinking what I’m shameful about. What if I’m not the identity I’m projecting. What if these yellow glasses are a really mask preventing me from being seen. And instead of giving me sight, they’re a mask that prevent others from seeing in. – Phil

Shut Up Tips:

Receiving is the act of embracing someone else’s gift. Who the hell do I think I am that I should deny someone the joy of giving me their gift? What kind of arrogant ass do I think I am? -Phil

Sometimes we get gummed up in the big picture of changing the world. You’re not gonna change the whole world. You’re gonna change your world. -Phil

The genesis of this show was that we as solopreneurs needed a platform like this, which we didn’t feel existed. So we chose ourselves and built it. – Berni

Imagine if we never chose ourselves, we never took action, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. That’s why for me I decide to choose myself every day. – Berni

When I’m gripped with fear and have a dilemma, I just choose. I don’t let destiny or fate pick me. I make a choice and I move in the direction I want to because I want to have control over what path I want to be on that will lead me along my journey. If the journey twists and turns, that’s totally cool, but I have a choice to get back on the path if I veer off. – Berni

We have to release the outcome and just enjoy the journey. Enjoy taking the wrong step. – Phil

When we talk about success, we’re not talking about money or time. We are talking about being able to do more of what you love. The freedom to choose what you want to do every day. That’s success. – Phil

Phil Recommends:

Mitch Joel, the author of CTRL ALT Delete, recently wrote a post about taking your life back without unplugging from technology.

Donald Miller, the author of Blue Like Jazz and Storyline, talks about how to take the next step.

Find WDS:

World Domination Summit website.

Join the WDS conversation on Twitter at #wds2013.

Photo credit: brittreints