Lessons from a Quitter

Latest Episodes:

10 lessons I've learned from podcasting for 1 year Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

Happy one year anniversary! It has officially been a year since I started this podcast and I've learned so much both through doing the podcast and from the conversations I've had with guests. This episode is also a special one because I have compiled all of those important lessons in order to share them with you! I hope you enjoy them and I hope you feel as inspired as I do. And in case you don't have time to listen to the full episode, we've also compiled everything into a blog post!

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How Josh Zloof quit the corporate world to disrupt the coffee industry with Sudden Coffee Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

What would you do if you started a company and it failed? What if you started multiple companies and they failed? Most people would stop. So many of us take those experiences personally and create a narrative about what it says about our abilities. That's what I love about Josh's story! After going through some successes and even more failures, Josh Zloof didn't give up on his entrepreneurial dreams. Instead, he realized that he simply needed to get intentional about his values, acquire the skills he lacked, and create a well-balanced support system. Josh made a conscious decision that his next company would make one billion people happy. And that is exactly what he is on the road to accomplish. Josh is the co-founder and CEO of Sudden Coffee, a company focused on producing single origin, specialty grade, instant coffee (delivered right to your door). To date, Sudden Coffee has raised over $3.3 million dollars and served over 100,000 happy customers. In addition to making people happy, Sudden Coffee has been featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine, and GQ. Josh's journey shows that you don't have to give up at the first, or second, or even the 5th sign of failure. What you need most in those moments is to take a step back, reassess, and try again.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

Why not succeeding at first isn't a reflection on who you are as a person.
The importance of being clear on your values.
Why you should create a support system that will help you succeed.
And so much more!

Where to find Josh:

Website: https://www.suddencoffee.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suddencoffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suddencoffee

Resources Mentioned:

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How Elle Drouin quit the financial industry and took entrepreneurship head on Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

How often do you stop yourself from doing something new because you don't feel prepared/good/experienced enough for it? While planning out your next step might help ease your nerves, sometimes the next step is to throw that plan out the window and dive in head first. You can plan all you want, but in the end, you'll never be able to predict what might come from taking that leap of faith. When today's guest, Elle Drouin took a leap in her career, it later evolved into not one but multiple new business ventures. But before Elle took that leap, her story started off in a similar way as our past guests. She was originally working in a traditional office job as a financial adviser. But it was when she decided to start a lifestyle blog as a creative outlet that her path began to take a different turn. This blog eventually led her to other opportunities such as moving to New York to take over a social media position she had no prior experience in other than what she had done through her blog. From that point on, her path evolved into an ongoing journey of one new venture leading to another. Currently, Elle is a product stylist stylist, photographer, dog mom of an internet famous pup (Mochi), and host of the Revenue on Repeat Summit. She not only uses her photography skills to shoot photos for the Styled Stock Society, a stylish stock photography membership for women entrepreneurs, but she also shoots all the photos for her famous pup's Instagram account! (Seriously, so cute). I love Elle's story because she took a leap of faith into a job that she didn't have any formal experience in. She could have come up with a million reasons why she wasn't experienced enough for the position but she went ahead and did it anyway. This is an incredibly important lesson for anyone listening, you don't have to be an expert, or really know what you're doing, in order to take that next step. You really never know what will come up as a result of following that new idea or saying yes to that opportunity despite how prepared (or unprepared) you may feel.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

Why it's important to put yourself out there because you never know where it'll lead.
Why it's okay to pivot careers (even multiple times).
How everything you need/want to learn is at your fingertips.
And so much more!

Where to find Elle:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elledrouin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mochiandthecity/
Website: https://styledstocksociety.com/
Website: https://elledrouin.com/

Resources Mentioned:

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All your financial questions about quitting answered by Erin Lowry from Broke Millennial Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

If financial worries are holding you back from pursuing a new path, this episode is for you. I've found that whether it's through Instagram DMs, Facebook polls, etc., the number one thing that keeps people stuck is worrying about money. While those fears are valid, there are ways to deal with them. Hopefully, today's guest might be able to ease your worries and give you a little more confidence in taking the leap. Erin Lowry is the author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Broke Millennial Takes On Investing: A Beginner's Guide To Leveling Up Your Money. Her first book was named by MarketWatch as one of the best money books of 2017. Erin has also appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, CNBC, Fox & Friends among many other outlets. I loved this episode and Erin's take on finances because she makes things like loans and student debt easy to understand. She is full of knowledge and has the practical tips that we all need in order to face our financial worries. The best part? Erin's example of how to establish yourself as an expert and create a career around a topic you love. Erin doesn't come from a background in the financial industry. It was through creating her own blog around these topics that interested her that she created her career today.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

Why it's important to know your numbers (student loans, investing, 401k, etc).
How every little bit you earn helps pay off your loans.
The importance of starting a side hustle you love.
And so much more!

Where to find Erin:

Website: https://brokemillennial.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokemillennialblog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrokeMillennial
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y34m9m94
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y2ts3ld9

Resources Mentioned:

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How Chef Jenny Dorsey quit her MBA program to create social change through food Jun 18, 2019

Show notes

You can pursue a traditional career and yet still approach it in a unique way, making it your own, and that is the basis for today's interview. Prior to crafting her own career path, Jenny Dorsey was a management consultant in the fashion industry and went on to become the youngest MBA candidate in Columbia Business School. But it was then during a sabbatical between leaving her job and moving onto business school that she decided to enroll in cooking school. At the time, cooking was nothing more than a hobby and something she pursued purely out of her passion for food. Once she went back to her original path of business school, she realized something had changed and it no longer aligned with her. This lead to her final decision to pursue food instead. Throughout her journey in the culinary world, she worked both traditional and un-traditional kitchen jobs that eventually lead her to where she is today. Currently, Jenny is a professional chef, author, and artist specializing in multi-platform fusing food with social good. She uses cooking as a way to facilitate conversations about topics like race, privilege, and politics. She leads a nonprofit studio, Studio ATAO, is the co-host of Why Food? podcast on Heritage Radio Network, and runs a popular popup series named Wednesdays. Jenny's story is so inspiring because she could have easily taken the traditional route with her cooking career. She could have become a chef and considered that the end goal, but she didn't. Instead, she found a way to think outside of the box and combine all of her passions into a fulfilling career.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

How there are many ways to do something.
That it's normal to feel panicked when you don't know where your path is headed.
Why you shouldn't do something just because you're good at it.
How Jenny combines food and conversations about social topics.
And so much more!

Where to find Jenny:

Website: https://www.jennydorsey.co/
Website: https://www.studioatao.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjennydorsey/
Podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/why-food

Resources Mentioned:

LFAQ Facebook Group

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How blogging helped Leslie Samuel get and then quit his dream career Jun 11, 2019

Show notes

It's hard not to smile while listening to today's guest talk about his journey and you'll see why. Leslie's story is something we can all learn so much from. Through determination and a genuine love of teaching biology, he managed to land himself his dream job as a biology professor without getting a Ph.D! Crazy, right? So many of us are stuck believing that we have to go the traditional route to pursue the things we love, but that really isn't the case anymore. Before Leslie landed his dream job, he started out as a high school teacher with a huge love for science and biology. Coincidently, in 2008, he also stumbled upon a way to make money online through blogging. He used his newfound skills to create a blog, Interactive Biology, where he taught Biology the way he wanted. He would make interactive, high-energy videos illustrating various concepts like how an action potential works. It was this very blog that ultimately landed him his dream job. By chance, he had received an email one day about an open teaching position in a doctoral program. Was he qualified? Absolutely not. Did it stop him from applying? Not even in the slightest. Leslie interviewed for the job and made it very clear that he wasn't qualified, but he showed them his blog that was evidence of his knowledge and teaching style. Within an hour of leaving that interview, he received a phone call saying he got the job. Leslie's story is living proof that you don't have to do everything the traditional route. You can feel (and be) unqualified for the job or position that you want, but if you truly love something enough and you put in the work, the opportunities will come! But the best part of Leslie's story is the fact that blogging opened up a whole new world of impact for him. He realized how many lives he was changing by teaching other people how to grow and monetize their blogs. He ultimately decided to leave his dream job as a professor to focus exclusively on his latest blog, Become A Blogger, where he is taking on the mission of "Changing The World One Blog At A Time."

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

Why you should make a change in your life if you're unhappy.
Why you don't need to pursue things the traditional way.
How everyone has something they can share with other people.
How the technology today makes it easy to start a side hustle.
And so much more!

Where to find Leslie:

Website: Becomeablogger.com
Course: fromideatoblog.com

Resources Mentioned:

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How Kevin Ha from the Financial Panther paid off $87k in student loans and quit law with the help of the gig economy. Jun 04, 2019

Show notes

Can you imagine being able to pay off almost 90k in student loans in only 2.5 years? It may seem impossible, but it can be done! On today's episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Ha from The Financial Panther, a blog about financial independence and side hustling in the sharing and gig economy. Kevin was able to pay off his loans by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer, and it paid off, literally! In addition to paying off his loans, Kevin starting experimenting with the gig economy on his free time. He quickly learned that he could make a lot of money on the side doing things that he enjoyed. After 5 years of being an attorney and switching between three different jobs, he finally came to the conclusion that practicing law just wasn't the right fit. He just quit his job earlier this year after deciding to go all in on blogging and side hustling, which makes him the newest member of the #quitterclub. Now he pursues everything from Rover, to Post Mates, and beyond. I loved Kevin's story because he decided to push against societal expectations of what type of work is "acceptable". Not only that, Kevin shows us that it's possible to create a steady source of income by doing something (or many things) that bring you joy.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

How it's possible to create a steady income through side hustles.
Why it's important to learn about your finances.
Why you should push against societal expectations.
And so much more!

Where to find Kevin:

Website: https://financialpanther.com/
Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/you-dont-need-to-start-your-career-in-your-20s/
Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/lawyers-doctors-and-the-appeal-of-the-clear-career-path/
Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/monetize-life-get-paid-live/
Email: kevin@financialpanther.com

Resources Mentioned:

5 Steps To Figuring Out Your Calling PDF
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
The Simple Path To Wealth by J L Collins
Your Money Your Life by Vicky Robin
The Bogleheads' Guide To Investing by Taylor Larimore
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

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How Dona Bumgarner designed a business based on what she needed most May 28, 2019

Show notes

Today's episode is a perfect example of how to be intentional in your career. So often we do what we think we should be doing: working insane hours, building the biggest business possible, trying (and often failing) to balance life, etc. We go for the money or the title, even if that's not what we really want. Dona Bumgarner bucked that trend and is building the life, and career, that works for her and her family. Of course, it wasn't always like this. Dona started out in a position that many of us find ourselves in- climbing the corporate ladder. She was working at Apple for over 11 years and eventually landed herself in an upper management job at the company before quitting to pursue graduate school. But as she was starting school, she found out she was pregnant, which changed her priorities. She decided to leave school after one semester to become a full-time mom. Thankfully, she had saved up enough money to have a little bit of wiggle room before deciding what to do next, but not everything was smooth sailing. During this time period, she found herself struggling a bit when her life shifted from a conference room to a changing table. While this struggle led her to try multiple different careers, it ultimately helped her craft the career she wanted with intention. Through a coaching program, Dona realized that her passion was in helping other moms who have lost themselves in motherhood. She now works with other moms to help them unearth their passions and step back into their fierce, powerful selves, so they can live a life far bigger than just being Mom. However, she intentionally has kept her practice small, only working 10-15 hours a week, so that she can be the primary caretaker of her young daughter. Her decision to reject the pressure to build the biggest business possible in order to have the balance that she so deeply wants is inspiring and a great lesson for anyone on their quitting journey.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

Why it's okay to explore and try out different paths until you find the right fit.
The importance of being intentional about how you want your life to look and feel.
How it's normal to experience Imposter's Syndrome.
And so much more!

Where to find Dona:

Website: http://www.nurturedmama.net
Podcast: http://www.nurturedmama.net/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurturedmama/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurturedmamablog/

Resources Mentioned:

http://www.nurturedmama.net/quitter

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You should never stop reevaluating your career choices: How Phil Black went from Navy Seal to Harvard Business School to Firefighter and more May 21, 2019

Show notes

The path that many of us have been brought up to follow usually goes a little something like this: take the right classes, get the good grades, get into the prestigious school, graduate, and then find a high paying job. We're taught that it is a linear path that you stick to and climb to the top. Well, in today's episode, Phil Black teaches us why you should buck that wisdom. Phil has one of the most interesting careers we've ever highlighted on this show. His story is a testament to following your curiosities and always re-evaluating what is most important. Among his many accomplishments, Phil played D1 collegiate basketball at Yale, worked as an investor at Goldman Sachs, was a Navy Seal Officer, went to Harvard Business School, is a firefighter, entrepreneur, father, and more. While it wasn't clear to him during his journey, he was gaining an incredibly useful skill: the ability to find his way into really competitive positions. This is, as Phil calls it, his "superpower" which later led him to create his current business venture, PrepWell Academy. The academy is an innovative approach to preparing high school students (and their parents) for the rigors of the college admissions process. His unique program is delivered online and focuses on the early preparation of students (freshman and sophomore year) interested in attending highly-selective colleges (e.g. Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.), military service academies (e.g. Naval Academy, West Point, etc.), and those seeking athletic or ROTC scholarships. Visit our website to enroll your child in one of our custom programs (Pathway, Ivy, Military, Athlete). Phil's story is mindblowing and is a real testament to the fact that we're allowed to start over not just once, but as many times as we want!

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

The process of how Phil reinvented himself multiple times.
The importance of evaluating (and re-evaluating) your life.
How Phil discovered his "superpower" and how it helped him build his current business.
How it's okay to never settle on the idea of pursuing one thing forever.
And so much more!

Where to find Phil:

Website:http://www.prepwellacademy.com/
Email: phil@prepwellacademy.com
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PrepWellAcademy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepwell_academy/
Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipablack

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Start Up Of You by Reid Hoffman
What Are You Waiting For? by Nickelback

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How Steve Chou of My Wife Quit Her Job blog created multiple 7-figure businesses while keeping his day job May 14, 2019

Show notes

One of the biggest excuses around starting a new venture is lack of time. We are obsessed with being busy (and telling everyone else how busy we are!). Well, on today's episode, Steve Chou debunks that excuse. Steve ran multiple 6- and 7-figure businesses while maintaining his career as an electrical engineer! The secret? Plan for the long game and prioritize your time. Steve's entrepreneurial journey began back in 2007 when his wife got pregnant and wanted to quit her job. He actually enjoyed his job as an electrical engineer but they weren't going to be able to live off of one salary in the Bay Area. So they had to come up with a business that could replace her income. Their potential plans ranged from opening a Kumon franchise to a creating meal prep company, and more. Eventually, they chose to start an online E-commerce business selling handkerchiefs, called Bumblebee Linens. Keep in mind that this was before everyone was selling on Amazon and there were a million tools like shopify. Through diving in head first with a limited set of skills, Steve began to put the pieces together through trial and error (even learning how to embroider). They ended up making over $100,000 in that first year. Because of their success, Steve began blogging about their experience at mywifequitherjob.com. Over the years, he added additional avenues to share what he's learned and teach others how to do the same. He eventually started a podcast, an online course, and a conference. He has since grown each of these platforms to 6- or 7-figure businesses. But the most amazing part of this journey is that Steve didn't leave his full-time job until 2016 - almost 10 years after the official launch of their E-commerce store! I got to talk to him about how he was able to accomplish so much while he was still working, why he kept his job when he was making so much money from his side income, and more! Steve's story is a great reminder that you can plan that first step forward as much as you want, but you'll never truly know what will happen until you take that leap- and it doesn't have to be a giant one either!

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

Why they chose to go the E-commerce route
How to make better use of your time
What it took to create their online businesses
How it cay pay off to play for the long game
Why you don't need to have everything figured out right away to take that first step
And so much more!

Where to find Steve:

Shop: https://bumblebeelinens.com
Blog: https://MyWifeQuitHerJob.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mywifequit
Online Course: https://profitableonlinestore.com/
Conference: http://sellerssummit.com/

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