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Latest Episodes:

010: Amanda Bucci | Tripling Your Instagram Followers Mar 26, 2018

Show notes

Amanda Bucci is a lifestyle entrepreneur and social media influencer with over half a million Instagram followers and 200,000 YouTube subscribers. Through her posts, podcast, and coaching, she helps others develop their minds, hearts, online businesses, and health.

We’re going to learn how Amanda transitioned from educator to influencer, building a social media following through the perfect combination of consistency, transparency, education, and authenticity (the “secret sauce” to her success).

In This Conversation We Cover:

[5:15] How Amanda became who she is today
[15:00] When Amanda realized she could do more (and what she did to make it happen)
[21:15] Tactical strategies for Instagram
[33:10] The 5% rule for crafting your CTA on social media
[35:00] Being “you” all the time when you’re constantly being recorded
[41:40] Using #hashtags as supplements on Instagram
[47:10] Amanda’s technology & processes
[54:00] Leveraging outsourcing to scale
[57:10] How living in front of the camera affects Amanda’s life
[1:00:00] Behind-the-scenes look at the process of getting a sponsor
[1:03:00] Amanda’s focus in 2018
[1:05:00] Amanda’s mentors
[1:07:00] The biggest challenge that Amanda faced in 2017 (and how she overcame it)
[1:14:30] How Amanda is maximizing her play hard time

Amanda’s Instagram Tactics & the “Turkey Sandwich” Post

Before Amanda posts something to Instagram or YouTube, she asks herself a few questions…

How is this going to help my ideal client? “If it’s not adding value to anybody, it’s not worth posting.”
How are you translating your authentic personality (i.e. who your best friends know you as) to social media? “Is it You As Fuck? It has to scream you, and it has to scream your niche.”

On Instagram, “captions are everything,” and a good post is like a Turkey Sandwich:

Your bread is your hook. The first sentence of your caption has to make them excited about reading the rest of your caption.
The next piece is the cheese. Why do people want to read this? Add flavor to the story or message behind the caption. “If you can get people to say ‘Me too,’ that’s the best because then they’re going to keep reading.”
The turkey is the meat of the post. Maybe a relatable story, or anything else your reader can get invested in.
The other slice of bread is your call to action. If you don’t have any CTA in your post, you’re losing out on potential engagement. “Asking questions is probably the best way to get engagement on your post… a question that excites people to answer.”

Every CTA can’t be a hard sell for your products. Amanda follows the 5% rule:

5% of the time you can do a hard sell for your product (ideal for product launches)
20% of the time you can ask them to sign up for or download something for free
75% should be free value for your audience, using questions (or your preferred technique) to build engagement

Amanda’s Top 3 Editing Apps:

Instagram! Not necessarily the default filters, but you have a lot of options to create your own.
Facetune for editing images.
PicFrame to create side-by-side images

Being “You” Online

Being on camera, or on mic, is hard, even when you do it all the time. You have to be the most energetic, excited version of yourself, without being inauthentic.

When you have to record or perform online, but you don’t feel like your highest self, that means it’s time for self-care.

This may be meditating, journaling, or talking to somebody – anything that will help you relax and get in the zone.

The more you share online, the more your confidence will build and the easier this process will become. And it’s okay to start small and build up a foundational audience, even using a private account (that’s what Amanda did)!

Social Media & Sponsors

Social media influencers offer a great opportunity for brands to advertise directly to a very niche audience. But the sponsors that you represent will also have a direct impact on the way other people perceive your brand.

For that reason, it’s important that any sponsors align with your brand and add value to your audience.

Plus, you should be excited and passionate about working with them! Amanda likes to reach out to brands that appeal to her.

When reaching out to a current sponsor, she said: “Hi, I’ve been using your products for a few months now and I love them. I would be really interested in potentially applying to be one of your sponsored athletes. Let me know if there’s a process that I can go through in order to apply.”

You don’t want to show up entitled, assuming your audience will get you the job. Instead, focus on how you can help the sponsor, not how they can help you.

Resources:

Learn more at amandabucci.com
Connect with Amanda: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Listen to Bucci Radio

009: Avoiding Relationship Groundhog Day | Fri-Date WIth The Wifey Mar 23, 2018

Show notes

Today’s Topic: Avoiding Relationship Groundhog Day by Creating a Dream Line

Do you remember Groundhog Day, the hilarious Bill Murray movie about a man who wakes up to live the same day, every day?

Too many people are living life just like this – they wake up, brush their teeth, come home, feed the kid, read a story, go to bed, and then wake up and do it all over again.

It’s easy to fall into that trap, but it’s not a great place to be.

Kim and I fell into this trap at one point, too, but we were able to climb out of it using one of Tim Ferriss’ tools: The Dream Line. It’s all about finding what you want to have, be, and do over the next six months.

Tim Ferriss says, “Dreamlining focuses on activities that will fill the vacuum created when work is removed. Living like a millionaire requires doing interesting things and not just owning enviable things.”

Here’s a few tips on how to use this tool in your own life:

Come up with what you want to have and what those things realistically cost (e.g. an Aston Martin is about $1,700 / month). What is the Total Monthly Income you will need to have those things?
Play Stupid Idea Time, an important (and fun) part of the dreaming together process. When you create the stupid idea time parameters, it will give you the freedom to say something that may be viewed as “stupid,” which may be just what you need to get out of a rut. (Thanks, Madam Secretary, for the idea.)
If you’re anything like me, you’re fascinated by, and constantly consuming more information about, personal development… and if you’re anything like me, you implement way less than you learn. Kim, on the other hand, is a great implementer – and that’s who you want to learn from. Personal development within a relationship is really important, but it only works if you implement it – together! Our advice is to narrow your focus to no more than three things that you want to implement at any given time, master them, and then start over.

Resources:

I’d love your feedback on the show, and to show my thanks I’m raffling away a ticket to Lewis Howes’ next event, every week. Click here to review the podcast and leave a 5-star Review.
Want to try Organifi Gold Superfood Powder? Use discount code "WORKHARDPLAYHARD" for 20% off at organifishop.com

008: Predicting Divorce With Amazing Accuracy | The Robb Review Mar 21, 2018

Show notes

Today’s Topic: How to Avoid Divorce

John Gottman can predict, with 99.9% accuracy, if a couple will get divorced by spending just two minutes with them.

How does he know?

Gottman knows to look for The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:

Criticism - When you start being critical about your partner.
Contempt - Criticism can escalate into contempt; the eye roll personified.
Defensiveness - If you don’t repair that contempt, defensiveness will grow.
Stonewalling - Finally, you will essentially become numb to your partner’s reactions and when you communicate to them. According to Gottman’s research, if you get to this point, you have a 99.9% chance of divorce in the next two years.

Okay, now that you know what the Four Horsemen are, and knowing is half the battle after all, are you dealing with any of them?

If you are, I’ve found that these strategies have really improved my relationship:

When you’re in criticism, try to complain without blaming (which isn’t easy to do!)
When you feel contempt, you want to build a culture of appreciation. So when you start rolling your eyes, instead choose to appreciate everything that you love about your partner.
If you are defensive, you want to take responsibility for it.
When you find yourself stonewalling, take a break – give yourself 20 minutes and

Resources:

Learn more from The Gottman Institute: Gottman.com
Read: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver
Want to try Organifi Gold Superfood Powder? Use discount code "WORKHARDPLAYHARD" for 20% off at organifishop.com

I’d love your feedback on the show, and to show my thanks I’m raffling away a ticket to Lewis Howes’ next event, every week. Click here to review the podcast and leave a 5-star Review.

007: Jen Esquer | The Master of Mobility Mar 19, 2018

Show notes

As I get older, I’m always looking for ways to create more movement in my body, and today we’re talking to the mobility expert: Jen Esquer (AKA Doc Jen). She is the physical therapist who created The Mobility Method, an incredibly successful program that helps people relieve pain, prevent injury, and optimize movement in just 10 minutes a day.

Jen believes that, with the right information, everyone has the power to affect change in their body. Unfortunately, she can only work with so many people in person, so she created The Mobility Method to make optimizing your body more accessible – for anyone, anywhere, with almost any budget.

In This Conversation We Cover:

[2:30] Jen’s trip to Guatemala with Pencils of Promise
[5:00] Leaving private practice to create something bigger
[7:45] How your sphere of influence helps you grow (or holds you back)
[9:00] Getting Insta-famous
[15:00] The neurological side of breathwork & how to breathe
[22:40] How Jen creates & shares her incredibly high-quality Instagram content
[33:50] Collaborating with other creators
[38:45] Why Jen decided to create The Mobility Method
[43:00] The difference between stretching and activating
[48:00] Jen’s tips for a successful product launch (and mistakes to avoid)
[53:30] Dealing with the challenges of putting yourself out there on the internet (especially as a medical professional)
[1:04:30] Jen’s struggle with her evening and morning routine

Your Sphere of Influence

Like Jen, I decided I didn’t want to be physically tied to my business and set out to live a bigger life. I recruited the best minds on the planet to help me maximize every area of my life.

Because when you surround yourself with people who are constantly growing, when you see what’s possible just around the corner, you are driven to grow and achieve more.

Finding an Audience Online (and Becoming Insta-famous)

A few years ago, Jen had a sizeable audience, a few hundred thousand followers – and then she released an educational video that blew up and received over one million views.

As a result, Jen gained 40,000 new followers, and she’s been continuing to grow ever since.

What was the key ingredients to her success? It’s not unique, but it is critical: consistency over everything.

Since grad school, Jen has been sharing posts about fitness and, gradually, building her following. When she eventually introduced more educational content, consistency was once again what kept bringing in a new audience of people.

The viral video wasn’t planned, and there was nothing special about it compared to her other educational videos – but because she was consistently creating valuable content, she was creating more opportunities for a home run success.

Jen’s Content Creation Process for Instagram

In addition to consistency, Jen also creates some of the highest quality content I’ve ever seen in the wellness space. Here’s how she does it:

Jen shoots all of the video on her iPhone.
She then imports those clips into a video editing app called Splice, which allows her to keep the videos vertical for IG.
If she wants to add more effects on top of the video, such as arrows or text to add clarity, she uses Vont.
Then Jen finds an appropriate, eye-catching image (usually related to anatomy) and adds her video title and tag (@DocJenFit) onto the image using the app Fonto.
Finally, Jen uses the app Pic Stitch to put the photo next to the video, split screen style.

“I think of Instagram like a billboard. If you’re not attracting attention in the couple seconds when somebody is scrolling through, then you’re going to lose them.”

Jen batches this process to create a whole week’s worth of videos at once. She generally shoots five at a time, which actually only takes about 30 minutes because each video is only one minute long.

Something that may shock the avid Instagrammers out there: Jen gave up on hashtags! She’s experimented a lot, and what she’s found is that it takes too much time and it has almost no impact on the traction of her videos.

However, Jen has had some success with creating her own hashtags (#DocJenFit or #DocJenFlows) and encouraging people to follow them so that they don’t miss anything, even if the IG algorithm doesn’t surface that video to them.

When you break it down, the three most important things for any content on Instagram are creating something immediately eye-catching, sharing something of genuine value, and doing so consistently.

Anything else, even the best hashtag game, won’t help if you aren’t accomplishing those three things.

The Mobility Method

The impetus for creating The Mobility Method was actually the viral video that made Jen Insta-famous (in my words). It was about mobility, opening your body up, and stretching, and Jen realized that that’s what a lot of people really wanted to see.

Plus, Jen is passionate about the importance of mobility for everyone. It’s a prerequisite for anyone who wants to re-introduce exercise and training, or those looking to combat chronic pain.

If that wasn’t enough, Jen did more due diligence: she asked her followers in an Instagram Live and sent out a survey. Overwhelmingly, people said they wanted to see more about mobility.

“You have to be very connected to what you’re creating.”

Jen also nailed the landing on her product launch, and her first tip for anyone who wants to launch and market their product online is reading this book: Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula To Sell Almost Anything Online, Build A Business You Love, And Live The Life Of Your Dreams by Jeff Walker.

Walker goes through the sequence of creating the mindset behind the product that you’re about to release, strategies for promotion, and building an email list.

Resources:

Learn more at docjenfit.com
Check out The Mobility Method
Connect with Jen on Instagram: @DocJenFit
Launch by Jeff Walker
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
Ascension Leadership Academy

I’d love your feedback on the show, and to show my thanks I’m raffling away a ticket to Lewis Howes’ next event, every week. Click here to review the podcast and leave a 5-star Review.

006: How Kim and I Work Together Without Killing Each Other | Fri-Date With The Wifey Mar 16, 2018

Show notes

Kim and I have been working and playing together for 14 years (very long years, she says), and we’ve come up with a few strategies that have helped us not kill each other in the process. At the end of every week, we’ll be sitting down for a short Fri-Date, where we’ll share our tips and tricks with all of you.

Today’s topic: What lights you up, lights me up.

Kim and I attended one of Tony Robbins’ Date with Destiny events, and he taught us a few things that we’ve been practicing ever since.

To start, you have to understand that there are three levels of relationships:

It’s all about me and my needs.
You take care of your needs, I’ll take care of my needs, and then maybe we’ll meet up.
What lights you up, lights me up.

In the third, highest level of relationships, your partner’s needs are your needs – and it’s a totally different way of looking at things.

This practice is rooted in The Law of Reciprocity: the idea that when you do something for someone else, they will be more inclined to do something for you.

On the flip side of this, it’s also important to address anything that might be dimming your light. Even if it’s just a bad attitude after a long day of work, talking about these issues early and directly will prevent any more significant problems from bubbling up.

And when you’re busy working hard and playing hard, especially if you have children, you will have to be more intentional about actively scheduling time for those conversations (maybe every Friday on your podcast?).

Resources:

I’d love your feedback on the show, and to show my thanks I’m raffling away a ticket to Lewis Howes’ next event, every week. Click here to review the podcast and leave a 5-star Review.

005: The One Thing I Do Every Morning To Create Clarity | The Robb Review Mar 14, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the first Robb Review! Every Wednesday, I’ll share something that I’m experimenting with in my personal life or my business life, and then I’ll give you the tips, tricks, and strategies that I’ve learned.

Today’s Topic: The Morning Pages

Morning Pages is a process created by Julia Cameron. Although it was originally intended to help with writer’s block, the practice can help anyone gain clarity.

The process is simple: as soon as you get up (and pour your morning beverage), just grab some paper and start writing. Whatever you’re thinking about – good or bad, silly or serious – write it down, and keep writing until you fill up three pages.

The goal is to wipe the slate clean, clear your cache, and generally shake the dust out of the carpet that is your brain.

I try to do this Monday through Friday, and when I don’t, I really notice the difference. It’s the best, most reliable way I know to start your day with a clear head.

If you get stuck, or you are mulling over a problem, write these three questions at the top of the page:

What would it look like if it were easy?
What would it look like if it were fun?
What would it look like if it were elegant?

Those three prompts will help you look at whatever you are writing about from three entirely different perspectives.

Resources:

I’d love your feedback on the show, and to show my thanks I’m raffling away a ticket to Lewis Howes’ next event, every week. Click here to review the podcast and leave a 5-star Review.

Need a way to wind your day down (that doesn’t leave your head foggy in the morning)? I’ve been using Organifi Gold Superfood Powder, and I’m able to get you 20% off by using the discount code “WORKHARDPLAYHARD” at organifishop.com

004: Drew Canole | The Art Of Creating A (Mostly) Hands-Off Business That Serves Your Life Mar 12, 2018

Show notes

Drew Canole is a rockstar in the world of fitness, nutrition, and mindset. He is the Founder of Organifi, an organic line of superfoods, and the Chief Inspiration Officer of FitLifeTV, a lifestyle brand founded on the principle that demonstration of positive change has the power to start a revolution.

What revolution? Well, Drew aims to inspire and motivate others to search deep within themselves to create prosperous, healthy, and enriching lifestyles because he believes that when you improve one life – even your own – you improve the world.

I spent a weekend with Drew before we sat down to record this episode, and he absolutely blew my mind – especially with his spiritual mindset. There are a lot of good business people out there, but I don't think I’ve ever met another entrepreneur with such strong spiritual qualities.

In This Conversation We Cover:

[2:30] Three questions that Drew asked attendees at the conference we both attended.
[5:50] How only drinking Green Drinks for seven days led to a multi-million company.
[12:00] How Drew leveraged video to create a massive following (over 4 million people), and why he’d use Facebook Live if he had to do it again today.
[13:00] Being a Guide versus being a Guru.
[16:30] The key ingredients to a good Facebook Live.
[21:40] Shifting away from being ego-driven.
[23:30] How VR and AR will change video content in the future.
[25:30] The importance of having an avatar for your business or brand.
[27:05] Why Drew isn’t even on the org. chart in his business.
[28:40] How Drew “elevates and delegates.”
[32:10] Drew’s hiring process.
[33:50] Drew’s ONE Thing (and his plan to make it happen).
[35:50] Why Drew “dates” his employees.
[38:30] What “segment intending” is and why Drew does it.
[42:25] Practicing the abundance mindset and getting to a true, authentic state of abundance.
[49:00] How Drew uses the law of reciprocity.
[53:40] The dark periods of Drew’s business and what he did to get himself out of it.

The ‘Why’ Behind Drew’s Questions

What would you do if you have 10 minutes to live?
What would you do if you have 10 days to live?
What would you do if you have 10 years to live?

Drew is a firm believer that if you can change yourself, you can change the world… but in order to change yourself, you have to stop the world.

When you meditate on these questions, it pulls you outside of you and you become an observer of yourself. This exercise aims to silence your mind enough for you to realize whether or not you’re doing what’s truly important.

If you really sit with yourself and consider these questions, it can shock you into being super present and aware of what’s next – and from that place, you can create and manifest your future.

Leveraging Video to Create a Following

Drew has successfully leveraged video to create a massive following, the vanguard of his FitLife revolution. He primarily used YouTube, but that isn’t what he’d suggest someone else do today.

In today’s social media landscape, Facebook Live videos are a much better way of getting social engagement than a YouTube video on a young account. “I’ve made over 1,000 videos on YouTube, and then I look at the traffic that it’s generating to my website, and it’s dismal compared to what a Facebook Live could do.”

Of course, it never hurts to do both!

Drew’s key ingredients for a good Facebook Live:

Be yourself.
Get grounded and “cement yourself to your Why.”
- Why are you doing this?
- What do you want to hear from people after this Facebook Live?
- What do you want them to see?
- What do you want them to feel in their body?
- What’s one word that you want them to experience as they’re watching this?

Guide VS Guru

Drew thinks “there’s way too many gurus out there,” and I’m inclined to agree. Everywhere you look, there’s someone else popping up who wants you to follow them so that they can change the planet.

Drew believes that it’s much more empowering for people to see someone else is on the journey with them. “I’m not separate from them. I’m here to hold their hand. I’m here to walk with them. I’m here to tell them what I’m learning. I’m here to share vulnerably, when I make mistakes in my health, diet, mindset, and even relationships.”

That vulnerability is one of the distinguishing factors between a Guide and a Guru.

What is Segment Intending?

Segment intending is the ability to stop your immediate reactive response (e.g. What am I going to do next?) and focus on what you’d like to create over the next 10 minutes.

Slow down and meditate on the question, “What do I want to create over the next 10 minutes?” What do you want that to feel like, and what do you want it to look like?

“Intention rules the world. So if you can set powerful intentions for your day, you can literally see the whole movie screen of your life start to shift… Everything will start to change because your intention is ruling the day.”

So stopping a few times throughout the day to practice intention will give you a new perspective on how to operate, and the type of energy you can have in these individual moments “without living life like it’s Groundhog Day.”

Resources:

Connect with Drew: Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram
Get inspired & motivated at FitLife.tv
Get your Green Juice at Organifi.com
The Science of Getting Rich: Discover the Secrets to Wealth by Wallace D. Wattles

I’d love your feedback on the show, and to show my thanks I’m raffling away a ticket to Lewis Howes’ next event, every week. Click here to review the podcast and leave a 5-star Review.

003: Mike Zeller | Reverse Engineering Success In Business & In Life Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

Mike Zeller is a business architect – as in – he interprets people’s motivations and desires to help turn businesses into perfect convergences of their founder’s skill sets, values and ambitions. He helps businesses work on strategy to achieve a model that lets them work hard and play hard!

Strategy, ideation, architecting and connection.

In This Conversation We Cover:

[2:12] Mike explains his ‘cocktail party’ description of what he does.
[4:15] Mike runs through his active businesses, from fashion to real estate and augmented reality. His interests range far and wide.
[7:15] Mike explains how he keeps focus with so many different businesses to balance, and he thinks it comes down to being a ‘creator’ who just gets bored with one thing at a time!
[9:23] Rob outlines the 5 different personality tests that Mike had him take in one brainstorm session, and Mike explains how a range of tests gives the best picture of a person and their business and ultimately helps founders and entrepreneurs play to their strengths.
[12:43] Rob reflects on some of the learnings that Mike helped him revolutionize his life and work.
[14:47] Giving everyone a role to live their genius: Mike outlines the concept that a project only needs to be at 80% at any given time as in Dan Sullivan’s book, “The 80% Approach.” Rob shares how this worked for him at his chiropractic practice.
[20:09] Mike explains how the top 4% of a company brings in 64% of a company’s revenue and how you can apply the 80:20 principle over and over to grow a partnership.
[22:40] Mike explains the process for and how he takes his clients on a ‘hero’s journey’, creating a narrative journey for clients as well as helping them find their avatar and ‘ideate’ on this. - [27:54] Mike tells Rob about his experience of Tony Robbins Platinum Partnership, taking the risk and doubling his net worth and income. His experience of moving into environments beyond his comfort zone helped him see himself entirely differently, shifting his mindset, actions and decisions.
[31:30] Masterminds, learning from different thinkers, a book a week, working out, meditation. These are Mike’s secrets towards being in the top 1%. Leaders are readers!
[34:59] Mike explains strategy, structure, systems, and support and how they can play into a company’s limitations and potential, in addition to the mindset of the company owner. He explains how changing that can change everything.
[36:46] Rob explains the journey he went on when being interviewed for his professional bio and his experience, first hand, with the genius of Mike’s team. They chat about Mike’s natural aptitude for finding the best people to make his team amazing. It all starts with creating an inspiring vision from the job description and the 6 questions he always asks. He also shares his job description for an executive assistant which CEOs and recruiters have used hundreds of times as a template.
[42:52] Mike explains some of the harder times in his business growth journey and how he worked through them. He used prayer and habits that fed his mind to work through the difficult times. He also shares the things he’s working on as a leader.
[46:44] PLAY HARD Mike took a mini sabbatical to Argentina in 2010 and loved the break from the norm, but most of all enjoys the mental space that travel permits, allowing room for epiphanies and the billionaire mindset to flourish.
[49:36] Mike explains what he loves about life, culture and creative energy in LA, the pattern-breaking benefits of traveling, and the importance of play and fun!
[51:54] Fear of heights? Mike tackled his by skydiving and being told to just ‘loosen up bro’ by his tandem jumper!
[53:57] Mike shares his recommendations for what to read, watch, and see.

Mike’s 5 Top Reads

4 Hour Workweek
Power of Full Engagement
War of Art
The 80% Approach
Blue Ocean Strategy

Resources:

The 5 personality tests that Rob took part in:
Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey”
The G.E. Six Sigma Process
The 80% Approach by Dan Sullivan
80:20 Sales & Marketing by Perry Marshall
The Tony Robbins Priming Exercise & Platinum Partnership
Email Mike at mike@mikezeller.com
Apply to join Mike’s Mastermind at Risingstarsmastermind.com

002: Chris Harder | How Thinking BIG Brought Him From Broke To Multiple 7 Figures Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

Chris Harder is an entrepreneur, business strategist and philanthropist. He’s also the host of the "For the Love of Money” podcast. He and Rob talk about zero to hero, cultivating a millionaire mindset and running with the right tribe for success.

In This Conversation We Cover:

[3:02] Chris starts out by sharing a low point in his life. He and his wife were low, broke and out of shape, so he addressed his habits, priorities and social behavior to get the life he wanted.
[5:57] Chris shares the point at which he realised he didn’t have the life he thought or wanted, and started to ask important questions. It began at a Landmark Forum course. He then chose to read 30 books in 30 days and found the focus to take a good situation to great. He also explained how his wife Lori was excelling and how he had to keep up!
[9:30] “Good to great” Chris shares how he is stepping up from good to great in every way.
[10:48] Chris explains how his wife tricked him into a yoga retreat in Costa Rica, taking him outside his comfort zone and causing him to re-address his ideas, challenge the judgements he was making and just give things a chance!
[19:42] Rob thinks Chris is the most positive person he knows, but how did he come across those beliefs? We go back 11 years to understand the journey Chris went on to re-framing himself after the tragic death of a former colleague. These days, Chris aims to be happy all the time and chooses to face each day with this attitude.
[25:54] Rob quizzes Chris on the biggest challenges in his ‘money mindset’, including his work towards a sense of abundance and childhood influences around money and finance.
[28:18] How to break out of the middle class landscape? Don’t take advice from your middle-class friends and family, says Chris. He also shares his thoughts on how unuseful it is to take advice from unhappy people and why it’s a mistake to let ego control your financial future.
[31:40] Being a giver: Chris remembers the giving nature of his parents and how this has shaped his drive to share and give back to his community. He and Rob discuss how parenting can influence a generous nature in children.
[33:27] To listen or to lecture? Removing the ego from a response or listening act helps us discover the answers inside of us.
[35:02] Chris is frank about the decisions that people make which prevent them from living their dreams. Not thinking big enough, running with the wrong tribe, and having habits that hold you back.
[37:38] Surrounding yourself with thinkers, that adjust your perspective, opens up new possibilities to what your mind can be.
[37:00] Love is a verb: Chris shares his take on love and marriage and how the ongoing effort to make things work is a mutual project. Then he explains how his financial worth went from six figures to zero at the time of the recession, and how he pulled himself back out, with a little help from family, as well as, how he learned a lot about himself and his values.
[48:41] Chris explains how he’s applying the Fun, Easy, Elegant solution in everyday life, from the little things to big decisions.
[51:06] From holidays to cutoff times for business calls, Chris shares his non-negotiables for being the best version of himself.
[53:34] Chris takes your questions.
[59:01] Rob shoots some rapid fire questions at Chris for his top recommendations and ideas right now.

Resources:

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker (This was a game changing book for Chris and his wife Lori)
You Are a Badass at Making Money - Jen Sincero
Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
Conversations with God - Neale Donald Walsch

001: Darren White | From Backpacker to $80 Million Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

Rob kicks off the Work Hard Play Hard podcast chatting in the heat of the African sun with an old chiropractic friend about how he turned his passion for wellness into a hundred million dollar company. Dr. Darren White, CEO of Aduro, Inc. (and Rob’s best friend), talks about how traveling as a shy young man equipped him with the integrity, confidence, and curiosity to do great in business. Hear how Darren founded a string of chiropractic offices, then transitioned without experience or training, to develop an $80 million company, rated #482 in Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing private companies in the USA. Today, Aduro, Inc. is changing the way employees and employers think about health. Rob and Darren discuss the mistakes, surprises, and adventures that allowed him to explore opportunities that he could not have imagined in private practice, as well as, uncover the hacks and tips that help him make the most of every minute.

In This Conversation We Cover:

[03:17] Darren explains the atmosphere that motivated him to start out as a chiropractor versus a traditional medical doctor, when he opted for the mindset of promoting good health rather than managing poor health.
[05:00] Darren talks about his decision to take time out from his degree to see the world, rather than succumbing to peer group pressure by graduating at the same time.
[08:30] Darren chats about how he approached traveling on a dime, and how he tackled unisex group showers and new acquaintances as a shy young man!
[12:54] Rob and Darren talk about the commonalities between traveling while navigating the business world, particularly his passion for overcoming obstacles and persevering in challenging situations.
[18:00] Darren explains how he learned to ration resources in unpredictable environments and his determination for great rewards, while utilizing those same attributes in his business and life. And he recounts a few failures, surprises and learning opportunities along the way!
[23:00] Darren explains how he and his wife fell in love with Vietnam and how he came to terms with his status as an American while discovering a deep respect for the Vietnamese people and their culture.
[25:30] Darren describes the experience of ‘re-entry’ to American culture and his resistance to stay in one place.
[27:50] Darren gets into how he built Aduro, Inc., which began as a marketing company linked to his chiropractic, wellness centers in Seattle and this grew into a hugely successful business which helps large employers manage employee wellbeing. At the core of all his success in business was Darren’s ethic of promoting good health.
[31:00] What’s in a name? Quite a lot, actually. Best to have those attorneys on hand to get the basics right from the outset. Darren shares some smart advice on trademarking.
[34:58] Darren tells us how he and his wife, Toni, created an accidental company, then gathered the experience, staff, and customers along the way. We hear how a leap of faith from their first mentor gave them the chance to learn and exceed expectations while building relationships that last.
[39:50] Hotels, not Hospitals: Darren explains how he scaled up Aduro, INC by recruiting sales and design teams in the first instance and why emotion and brand were so important to his business proposition.
[43:25] The Blind leading the Blind: As their business took off, Darren and his team of contributors had to build and learn as they went. This often meant learning, doing and leading all at the same stage, which was challenging but gave him a real motivational kick.
[46:36] Darren explains how recruiting his former VP of Operations and Client Services cost him some work up front, but paid off ten times over in building and training an awesome culture.
[48:58] Darren explains how he regularly holds ‘offsites’ for strategic planning to guide the team for the year and how spending time away with key staff can strengthen essential personal relationships and friendships. He also talks about how avoiding a focus on ‘rules’ generally attracts a team of people who make smart decisions and bring strong ethics.
[53:00] It’s not always an easy ride. Darren explains how major setbacks have tested him, but learning from partners has allowed him to stay afloat and ultimately made the company stronger. He takes us through his ‘levers’ for managing crisis, how this has helped him innovate, and also explains how his traveling experiences have formed his strategy for tackling problems.
[61:00] Darren explains how successful behavior is intuitive. He talks about how observing competent people working unconsciously, can teach hidden lessons about the secrets to their success – those that they’re not even aware of!
[63:38] Finding the right mindset for your tasks is essential in business and gives purpose to each step along the way: success lurks just beyond what you can see, so faith is a key player in achieving long-term goals.
[66:30] One person’s success is different to another. Darren explains the importance of individuality in discovering your version of success: your compass, your confidence, your journey.
[69:16] Planning pays off: Darren explains how he maps his thoughts, inspirations and ideas into themes and goals, then turns them into productive projects.
[71:49] Darren tells us how he’s working pleasure and energy into every moment, finding it in everything from the manner of dress to inspiring objects and people, even a razor his brother crafted for him! Darren’s attitude is about adding ritual and importance to the small things to help power the big ones in his life!
[75:39] We want what we can’t have: Darren shares how an abundance mindset freed him from the hoarding, scarcity mindset he grew up with and showed him self-worth that wasn’t dependent on material things. (Daniel Priestley – The Entrepreneur Revolution)
[79:06] Darren explains how mastermind groups have helped him move to the next level again and again and to step across industries that can benefit from his own offering.
[81:50] Darren tells us about a new acquaintance who has inspired him to put his core values at the heart of every day in a big way and achieve amazing things on a grand scale.
[87:08] We all need to work on something, and Darren confesses how he loves a Saturday morning lie-in and a lazy start to the weekend!