The Ikonns

https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/

Your Relationship with Your Body Aug 13, 2019

It’s truly rare to find someone who has a perfect relationship with their own body. It seems it’s something we all have to work hard on. In today’s episode Alex and Mimi explore some ideas about how we can start connecting with and treating our bodies much better.

Just like in our episode on Relationship With Money where we explore what money really means to us, we are looking at what our bodies mean to us… And it should be a LOT. Our bodies are EVERYTHING, they come with us everyday on our journey through life. Whether it’s over working or suffering a hangover, our bodies are sure to ask us “PLEASE don’t do that again”.

We suffer from back pain from sitting at a computer all day, sleep terrible from when we’ve been looking at our phone screens too long, pass out when we don’t eat or get obese when we eat too much. We’ve all heard it before - our body is our temple. After this episode we hope you’re inspired to start treating it as such, because the rewards are incredible when you and your body are in sync.

Often, it’s times when we feel we’ve lost touch with both our emotional and physical health, that we spiral into abusing our bodies. Which can seem counter intuitive. Sury we’d like to do good things to make our bodies feel better. But no that’s when we reach for a pizza or stay up way too late leaving us tired the next day. And all of this follows a few small habits that starts to stack on top of each other. Bad habits become you. This is why Alex and Mimi have their morning and night time routines available for everyone on YouTube

Morning Routine

Night Routine

The good news is that things can get better and habits like these are easily changed one step at a time. Let’s start with the pillows of a healthy body.

Food & drink
Movement
Exercise
Rest

Food:It’s the biggest illusion that it’s expensive to eat healthy, most people that say that are often spending twice as much on junk food or alcohol. eating healthy can be cheap.Use Mimi’s method for not overeating… be much more conscious when you’re full. Don’t eat until the plate is empty, listen to what your body is telling you.The food we eat affects our gut bacteria - also known as our microbiome. Ever heard the saying think with your gut. Well, science shows us we have neurons in our gut too and they heavily affect how our brain works. So be careful if you’re fuelling the good bacteria or the bad bacteria.Movement: Sitting all day is the worst. It’s recommended that every 1 or 2 hours we should be on our feet and walking around for a few moments to get the blood flowing around our bodies.It’s amazing what a small walk can do to improve you thoughts and keep you trim, many of history's greats like Einstein were known for solving some of the greatest problems in the world, by walking.Try a standing desk or even get more fancier by using a treadmill desk.

Exercise:

Mimi recommends aiming for 30 mins 3 times a week, something that will get you sweating and get your heart going.

Alex likes the 7 minute workout for convenience, lets face it everyone has 7 minutes available, since consistency is key, this should be a habit you start today.

Another app you might try is Sweat

Rest:

Seems counter intuitive that rest could make you look and feel better, our fast paced world has made it seem shameful to want a lay in, but sleep is essential.

Ask anyone who trains at the gym regularly and they will say their days when they’re not working out are just as important for muscle growth and body developments.

Try black out blinds and using blue light blocking devices or apps to help restore your circadian rhythm and introduce the sleep hormone melatonin.

It’s incredible to notice but it can’t just be coincidence that whenever we do something good for our bodies, it just so happens it’s (for the most part) better for the environment too. From riding a bike to work instead of driving or eating less meat and packaged foods, when we adopt these powerful habits into our lifestyle we can change the world, not just ourselves.

We advise that after listening you take stock of all of these things.. jot them down in your 5-Minute Journal Ask yourself; what is my relationship with my own body and what am I doing to make this relationship better. Trust us, your body will thank you later

Books mentioned:

Your Body keeps The Score - Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by van der Kolk M.D., Bessel

https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode50

Building Our Lives and Businesses | Interview with Aaron Alexander Aug 08, 2019

Today we have a very special episode – the tables have turned and now it’s time for us, Alex and Mimi, to go deep and unpack our life journey. Interviewed by Aaron Alexander from Align podcast, we talk about entrepreneurial lifestyle, meaningful work, healthy relationships and life fulfilment. Tune in now and discover how we have been able to design our dream life.

https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode49

Reality of Moving Countries with Naila Abbasova Aug 06, 2019

In today’s episode we chat with our long-time friend Naila Abbasova, a beautiful human being who goes after her dream life and wanders the world looking for meaningful life-transformative adventures. In this episode, we unpack Naila’s life journey and discover the reality of moving countries and secrets of staying joyful, optimistic and excited about life.

Naila Abbasova is a great example of being a “regular” person, working on a “regular” job, and then risking it all to move to London, find the dream job at Google, open a business and enjoy life to the maximum. Tune in now and join us in this very open, honest and vulnerable conversation.

Similar to Mimi, Naila was born and raised in Baku, Azerbaijan. At the age of 16, Naila and her family moved to Canada leaving everything behind. This huge step into the unknown future had a fundamental impact on her. As Naila arrived to Canada being a 16-year-old young girl brimming with confidence and inner power, she knew that this was her golden ticket to life.

“I have this obsession for standing out and being remembered. Nowadays, I want to be remembered for being happy, being the kindest person to anyone I have worked with, to be empathetic and make other people feel comfortable” – Naila

Being proactive and applying for multiple scholarships, Naila got the best university experience. Pursuing her obsession to be remembered for something big, she participated in different student organisations and travelled a lot around Europe. By that time, she became a real experiences catcher with innate desire to explore, to go out of the comfort zone and to bring joy to everything she does.

At the age of 25, Naila made a drastic decision to move to London. Stepping into what looked like a dream path after graduating from the university, Naila soon found everything that used to excite her becoming dull. After spending one week in Portugal surfing and doing yoga, Naila managed to find the peace of her body and mind. Looking at the calm waves of the ocean, she felt that she needed to move to Europe and escape the robotic lifestyle of Toronto. The next day she applied for her UK visa.

“When you move to a whole new different life, give yourself time to get adjusted to your new reality and let go the preconceptions of what you thought your life would be, and then start building something new without judging” – Naila

With survival mode kicked in to the highest, Naila moved to London, got the job at Selfridges and found a charming tiny flat few steps away from Regent’s Park. However, the reality of moving to a new country was tough, especially when it was her first experience of living alone. Dealing with loneliness, adjusting to the new realities and accepting the things she didn’t know, Naila realised that it was only her responsibility to program her life for the better.

Naila came to London with a genuine belief that everything would work out. And it did. Now, working at Google, designing her own clothing line and having endless meaningful experiences of observing the beauty of life and nature, Naila and her husband have finally found their comfort place in the city that never stops. Answering the question of how to stay excited and joyful about life, Naila advises to ask yourself whether you want to waste your precious time by being upset.

“On bad days I just have an “adult” conversation with myself and answer 2 very simple questions: Is it worth my attention? What is the worst that could happen at that point? And by going through the worst case scenarios I just move on from that. You need to understand that you have a choice whether to be happy or not, and eventually everything that happens is your choice and your responsibility only” – Naila

Here is what else we have talked about:

Programming your mind for the better
How to squeeze most of every experience
Why childhood is a huge part of one’s personality and how it reflects on one’s adulthood
How to get a scholarship
How being honest, transparent and vulnerable during the job interview will help you get your dream job
How to change the mindset of “I’m not going to get it” to “I will do my best and go for it”
How to negotiate to get your dream apartment
Why it is so important to be very precise with your desires
How commuting to work can push you to change your life
Reaching out for help during the most difficult times
Being proactive in building meaningful and deep relationships
Overcoming fear of being judged by people you love
The power of networking

https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode48

Can Money Buy You Happiness? Aug 01, 2019

In today’s episode, Alex and Mimi talk about a very controversial, yet so essential and important topic – Can money buy you happiness? Coming from experience of having nothing and now being able to live in abundance, Mimi and Alex reflect on their life journey, questioning how money has played a part in their happiness.

As one study has showed, money can buy you happiness up to a certain degree of an income – let’s say, 75.000 USD/year –, but what happens after that? Does money really affect your happiness? Does it make a difference to your wellbeing, life, mindset, personality? Tune in now and you’ll find out that and so much more life wisdom in this very deep episode.

Both Mimi and Alex have come from very humble beginnings, growing up with a concept that money will solve all the problems and buy them happiness. Years later, after starting Luxy Hair business that brought them 1 million US dollar revenue in the first year and made them financially free, Mimi and Alex understood – paradoxically, money couldn’t buy them happiness.

“Being more comfortable with spending and realising how to properly spend money and not just blow it, mindlessly spending it on material goods, I realize that money can in a way amplify your happiness. I don’t know if it can buy you happiness, but it can definitely add to your experiences and bring you joy”. – Mimi

After years of reflection about themselves and observation of what really brings them joy, Alex and Mimi discovered that happiness comes from buying experiences – not material things, and not only for yourself, but most importantly, for people you love and care about. And here’s the lesson the Ikonns family want you to take away: ultimately, the whole meaning of life is about creating, giving and sharing unique and beautiful experiences with your community.

Have you ever wondered why people pay premium to go and watch live events, music festivals, sports games? Why? Because of the desire to share the experience, “Because there is something very tribal in our DNA about doing that and having that tribe experience” Alex explains. So, going back to the question does money buy you happiness – it doesn’t, but if you spend it on establishing new relationships, building your community, creating, giving and amplifying experiences, then it makes you feel happier.

The mindset Mimi and Alex have is always asking themselves what really makes them happy, so that they spend money accordingly. They spend a lot of money on experiences for themselves, their family, friends, people they love, travelling, good food, rent. For them, the material possessions are the last on the list.

Obviously, there is nothing wrong with possessing lovely material things. It’s important to understand that the whole concept of how money can bring you happiness is highly specialised for each person. The decisions Alex and Mimi make come from a personal understanding of what makes them happy and how they want to live their life day to day.

“The most important thing to ask yourself is: What brings me the most happiness? And I’m really grateful for being able to design my life in a way where I choose to live, work and commute” – Alex

Here is some practical advice that can help you feel happier:

Know yourself and discover what activities and things really bring you joy and happiness.
Figure out if the place/city you are living in really makes you happy.
Use your money to build social relationships.
Create experiences for people you love, create wonderful moments together. And remember, by planning an experience you actually live an anticipation of happiness.
Audit your spendings of the last year and see what brought you more happiness: material things or experiences.

And just a kind reminder: Mimi and Alex are not here to judge, they are here to help you create awareness of what can help you bring closer to happiness and your dream life. Going through these conversations, thoughts, exercises and being honest with yourself, you are able to know yourself better and understand what is really important to you.

Here is what else we talk about in this episode:

Difference between how money can bring you happiness if you are an extrovert or an introvert
How sharing experiences with other people can intensify your happiness
Why so many people gravitate towards the idea to be in a community
How your lifestyle impacts your level of happiness
Does material things bring you joy
Sustainable aspect of consumerism
Difference between high quality timeless products vs. fast fashion trends
How the concept Pay Per Use will help you justify your purchases
How to audit yourself, your spendings and your level of happiness. Show Notes https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode47

Corporate to Entrepreneur with Richard Turnbull of The Restored Jul 30, 2019

Today’s episode is a deep dive into inspiring journey of a British entrepreneur and manager leader, Richard Turnbull. Driven by the passion of solving problems and making a real difference in other people’s lives, Richard founded The Restored, the most effective solution that builds a solid foundation of good health, based on sleep, nutrition, movement and mindset.

Inspired by Tim Ferris, Richard Branson and Tony Robbins, Richard’s story is like a manual for young entrepreneurs and artists brimming with business ideas, those striving for purpose, and wanting to deliver unique value. So, make sure to listen attentively and take notes.

Since childhood, Richard was inspired to create something incredible, something that is bigger than himself. After graduating from the University of Reading with a business degree, he got a “safe” corporate job in a prestigious firm, and soon found himself taking the path that was getting him further and further from what originally inspired him. In his mid-twenties, Richard and his wife Naomi took a career break and did a-round-the-world trip to have enough space and time to think what they actually wanted to do in their lives. And he found the answer – to be an entrepreneur.

“There is no idea that’s going to work effectively and long term that isn’t something that you’re personally struggling with. People who want to create business just need constantly listen to themselves and detect what they aren’t happy with, what they wish to see different. That is your chance, that is your opportunity.” - Mimi

He went back to London, found a job in a start-up team and gained exciting practical experience. But his two children changed everything. Around this time, Richard began struggling with sleep and realised that he wasn’t delivering enough value in his work. He got a “stable” (in theory) job, but found himself feeling so tired and broken. So, he took action.

Richard started doing some entrepreneurial things in the evenings, which was a real sanity blessing. Being a big fan of modelling what other people had already done, he realised that his purpose is to solve problems. While struggling with back pain, Richard came up with the idea of creating a seat cushion. Thinking of how to turn this idea into an actual business, he found his mentor while surfing on Tim Ferriss blog. After coaching and starting to sell his products on Amazon for the European market, in just over a year, Richard’s business took off.

“A secure job is an illusion. You can fail doing something you are not passionate about and loose all the securities. So, why not go after the things that you are passionate about and make it succeed?” - Richard

Despite the huge success in his business, Richard didn’t quit his job. He had a deep and unconscious fear that he couldn’t sustain his family if he would leave the “safe” job, because there is always a risk that all this success can stop tomorrow. After doing Tony Robbins exercises and facing his real limiting beliefs, Richard realized that safe job is an illusion and it’s impossible to avoid risks completely. Instead, there is always a way how to mitigate risks. So, he created a 6-months-living-expenses rainy day fund and decided to go after the thing that he was – and still is – passionate about: creating incredible things that can really bring the difference in people’s lives, working with an amazing dream team and delivering a unique value.

Here is what else we talk about:

3 types of entrepreneurship
Importance of standing out and doing something interesting
How having role models can help you design your own business model
How parenting transforms your life
The role of perfect timing and luck in the entrepreneurial game
Vital importance of identifying your niche market
How to reach out to people and give them unique value
The power of mentoring and coaching
Finding your limiting beliefs

Why 20% of effort will govern 80% of your resultsShow Notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode46

Fully Raw Episode with Fully Raw Kristina Jul 23, 2019

In today’s episode we chat with Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram – AKA, Fully Raw Kristina – as she takes us on her emotional and spiritually transformational life journey of being a fully raw vegan for the past 14 years. Kristina is an extremely vibrant, service-oriented and passionate human being, whose glowing energy and health speak for themselves.

Named as one of the most influential people in Health and Fitness, Kristina’s story is compelling, powerful and so inspirational – from weight loss to preventing diabetes, founding the largest co-op for fresh produce in the USA and starting a massive movement of raw vegan lifestyle. It is not just about commitment to eat raw fruits and vegetables, it is about conscious choice to rebuild yourself completely, live the best of your life and go deep with yourself. In this episode, Kristina is not afraid to share her vulnerabilities and past traumas. For her, there is a lot of bravery in being vulnerable and sharing her own story. In fact, this completely raw conversation is a true healing and therapy for every soul.

Born and raised in a multicultural household with a Lebanese mother and an Ecuadorian father, Kristina’s childhood protagonist was Birdie (Berta), an angelic, passionate and most caring woman who took care of Kristina since the day she was born until she left for college. By serendipity and choice, Birdie raised her as if she were her own daughter, that provoked a deep misunderstanding and disconnection from Kristina’s mother. It took years (and a special course of Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg) to reveal her pain and overcome struggles with relationships with her mother, which now are prospering.

At the age of 18, Kristina was struggling of Type 2 Diabetes (Hyperglycemic) because of having an unhealthy diet based on Lebanese traditional cuisine (basically, olive oil everywhere and zero fresh fruits or vegetables). Now imagine that you are 18, you are always (and most probably forever) sick, your weight loses extremely and you are just out of the hospital. When a stranger approaches you in Whole Foods and offers you to go completely raw vegan and eat peaches for 2 weeks in a row, what would you do? Well, Kristina opened to this dramatic change in her diet and completely healed her body from Diabetes in one year and a half by eating a fully raw diet. Since then, July 15th of 2005, she never looked back.

"After 6 months of doing this, I felt better every single day, and I NEVER, never came back. Eventually I felt liberated. "

However, Texas and Kristina’s family were not prepared for something completely different like raw veganism. Struggling with society’s criticism and misconceptions, Kristina felt so inspired by the healing power of raw food that in 2007 she ended up opening her own grocery cooperative, Rawfully Organic, at different locations in the Houston area. For stable 11 years, Rawfully Organic served 50,000 people and became the largest co-op for fresh produce in the USA. By the time she had to close Rawfully Organic doors in 2017, Kristina has already started her YouTube Channel – that now is a massive platform for inspiration and learning – where she shared her knowledge and basic raw recipes.

After being completely lost and traumatised by Rawfully Organic closure, Kristina started her own journey, the journey of finding herself, trying new things, sharing and being of service. Now she is coaching people on how to start, heal and maintain a raw vegan diet and hosts retreats in beautiful destinations like Bali or Costa Rica to help people learn about raw food lifestyle, how to do yoga, meditation and go on adventures. What FullyRawKristina does is basically emerges people into this new world and provides Tony Robbins-style raw food coaching for re-educating yourself and taking responsibility of your health.

"I have never had an overnight success in my life. It’s always been a slow, steady growth and work. The most important thing you can do is to be consistent with your message and continue creating. I am still preaching the same thing I was preaching 11 years ago."

An artist, expert in health science and one of the largest raw vegan digital influencers, Kristina points out that the majority of people who decide to go for raw vegan lifestyle seek physical benefits: loose weight or get younger. But, what she has learned through the years is that if you come to this important life transformation with wrong reason, you are not going to last. “You have to be truly dedicated and consistent”, she insists. For Kristina, vegan lifestyle is more than an ethical choice to make a conscious commitment not to consume animals, this is a lifestyle that brings a lot of beauty to your life.

Here are 5 sustainable tips on how to adopt this lifestyle:

Start with one fully raw vegan meal a day.
Make sure you eat enough – there is a significant volume difference. Raw food is higher in water content, but lower in calories, which means you do have to eat more to sustain yourself.
Learn how to feel good, be happy doing this and connect back to yourself.
What you do should come from love, passion and willingness to learn more.
Remember that even if you do this lifestyle, you have to be compassionate and not judge others.

Here is what we talk about:

– How having an honest conversation can help you change your relationships with parents

– How to set a healthy example for your kids

– Why pills will not heal your disease

– Struggling with society’s misunderstanding and criticism

– Why so many people stay away from eating fruits and vegetables

– How fears and mindset of money prevent people from creating abundance in their lives

– Why it is essential to find balance in life and create a space for yourself in business

– Why it is so important to support local organic farmers

– Organic produce difference between farmer’s market and grocery shops

– Big corporations VS. small businesses

– Top mistakes in becoming raw vegan

– How re-educating yourself brings unique life experience

https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode45

Caterpillar to a Butterfly - Karl Lokko Jul 16, 2019

In today’s episode we chat with one of the UK’s most inspiring people, former gang leader and u-turned public speaker, poet, musician and rehabilitation leader - Karl Lokko. Whether it’s visiting Necker Island with Richard Branson or attending the Royal wedding, Karl’s remarkable journey is a far cry from his Brixton Badlands past.

Karl is one of the UK’s most connected under 30 year olds, he now holds a platform for true change, helping thousands of youth to escape the gang culture on the very dangerous streets of South London. As a former gang leader himself, life hasn’t always been so easy. Infact his u-turn is nothing less than truly breathtaking. And his journey to get to where he is now, even more jaw dropping!From the age 12, Karl found himself on the wrong side of the tracks when his bicycle was stolen a few too many times. In his defense he formed his own gang of misfits, something Brixton wasn’t short of. A product of the Windrush generation decades before him, he was used to seeing displacement all around him. Which gave everyone and anyone a reason to fight.

“There’s a reason for rage, they so won’t that scare you straight? Well, If what you’re doing is because you are already scared, that is going to fuel your rage” - Karl [17:35]

Unfortunately the violence didn’t stay on a scrappy playground level for long. By the age of 14 he had already witnessed his friends being shot, been shot at himself and carried his own knife wounds as battle scars. Scars that he held as a trophy to go with the ‘strike them before they strike you’ mindset that permeated both his gang and the culture that followed - with or against him.

“There’s a lack of remorse, everyone can feel our pain ‘cause I’m feeling it, everyone else becomes fair game” - Karl [16:00]

But his story isn’t only one of a bleak distraught childhood, in today’s episode you’ll hear the remarkable story of how Karl turned his back on the violence and literally earned himself a seat at the table with some of the world’s most powerful and influential people. Karl now heads up a charitable organisation that transforms gang members into respectable citizens, helping them see life outside of gangs. Or as Alex calls it, his “love gang” - “goosebumps” as Mimi puts it.

“I was inspired by bible stories of sheppard boys throwing rocks at political, economical and cultural giants called Goliath. Those emails were my stones and i had to throw them out there” - Karl [47.30]

We are truly honoured to talk with Karl. His giant heart, kind nature and switched on intelligence shines light on what you can do if you really put your mind to making a positive change, both in your life and others.

We talk about:

The disaffected difference between class and race that still exists in society today
How gangs and street violence are a product of circumstance
Anxieties can lead to displacement
Your enemy is also a person, how to look into their eyes and see from another perspective
The only real enemy is yourself and your choice in how you react to situations
Why the only answer to the problem we face is love
How you can form your own love gang
Why we should be turning societies liabilities into assets and help displaced people find a purpose
Going behind enemy lines with an open heart, walking the path to a ceasefire
Finding a support system in the most influential people in the world
How speaking with confidence puts you at the same table as powerful people

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Karl, you can find out more about him here:

Karllokko.com

https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode43

Butterfly Effect - Youtube video by Karl Lokko

Alex and Mimi AMA | Passion vs Purpose, Women Empowerment, Climate Change, and more Jul 12, 2019

Today we are connecting with you again through another exciting ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode. We take your recorded questions that you’ve submitted on our website and we go deep and get totally honest with our answers.

We felt truly energized by your questions, not to mention that we recorded them through our new, super professional microphones for even better sound quality. This week we are answering 4 extremely important, interesting and diverse questions.

Here’s what you guys asked:

How to win the battle with passion, is passion important to grow your business?
Where would you recommend to live and why – Portugal, France or Italy?
How to deal with environmental anxiety?
How can women obtain self value, other than in superficial things?

How to win the battle with passion?

It might sound surprising, but if you want to grow your business – you need to forget about your passion. You need to understand the main differences between passion and purpose. The first step is to always find the purpose, why are you doing this? Knowing the purpose of your business is what makes the difference and gets you results.

Next to purpose there is a need for consistency. In this episode you’ll hear more about the formula we use called QVCA – Quality. Value. Consistency. Authenticity.

“When you are creating content, you have to break it down, it needs to mirror, not your passion but what people care about, and that is the value you’re giving.” – Alex

Where would you recommend to live and why – Portugal, France or Italy?

Moving abroad is always a big step in life. To make sure you are choosing the right country, you need to make sure about your requirements and the possibilities of being there are aligned. Mimi shares her experience with all three countries – the affordable and great vibe of Lisbon, the romantic but more expensive beauty of Paris and the always refreshing adventure of Italy.

Living abroad is a great thing, however, get ready for the challenges you might face.

“Putting yourself out there, being challenged will make you grow.” - Alex

How to deal with environmental anxiety?

The environment is something we care a lot about. We do understand the limit of our planet and want to secure that our daughter Alexa will grow up with less environmental challenges than us. Even though the topic can be very upsetting, we do see that things are improving. What we all need to understand is; that every single person can make a difference. Start to shop at farmers markets, reduce the use of single use plastic as much as you can, buy only when you really need something, or maybe eat less meat – every small step counts.

What it is important to remember, is that it is OK to be imperfect. Getting more sustainable will be hard in the beginning, but it is totally fine to make little mistakes from time to time. The most significant thing is that you are trying and doing the best within your circumstances.

“There are so many ways to become mindful about changes we can create. Most importantly becoming aware and taking responsibility. Getting people into your community and create change. Nobody else can do this.” - Mimi

How can women obtain self value, other than in superficial things?

The way we look is the outside shell of a beautiful and diverse person inside. Sexy does not mean the look – being sexy means to be confident by yourself. When you find your confidence, you are becoming more attractive for people around you.

Mimi’s book: The Bingo theory can help you to find the right balance between your feminine and masculine side. If we balance it well, we will grow and become the best version of ourselves.

What is your vision of powerful person? By answering this question to ourselves we remove ourselves of the stereotype of women or men – we are all equal, with the same purpose, to love and be loved, and live better lives while helping others do the same.

“Being comfortable in your skin that is to me a vision of every woman. A strong woman, who can carry herself in confidence.” Mimi

Books and resources from this episode:

Abundance - The Future Is Better Than You Think (Exponential Technology Series) By Steven Kotler

Bingo Theory - A revolutionary guide to love, life, and relationships. By Mimi Ikonn

Becoming the Minimalist Baker with Dana and John Shultz Jul 09, 2019

Today on The Ikonns, we have one the most fun couples we know, Dana and John Shultz from the infamous blog - The Minimalist Baker. Dana and John have been running this hugely successful blog since 2012, putting out quick simple recipes 3 times a week, non stop for 7 years.

Just like looking in the mirror of Alex and Mimi’s life, Dana and John have followed a very similar but also as unique of a journey, to get to where they are now. Which is running a hugely successful and highly creative platform that allows freedom and flexibility in their lives whilst helping others.

They both come from very humble beginnings, a few miles apart from each other, in tiny villages of around 3000 inhabitants or less, in Texas U.S. Eventually meeting each other while studying in the only slightly bigger city of Wichita. Alex and Mimi dive into the Shultz’s romance story, one that nearly didn’t exist as John was, at first, stuck in the dreaded friend-zone.

As their studies drew close to an end and they realised they wanted more to life, ripping off the bandaid and piercing their comfort bubble they decided to get married and the very next day they moved to Portland.

When they arrived they stumbled upon Portland’s creative scene, finding a community that would show them just how different life could be. This is where the couple would catch the buzz of the exciting and rewarding world that is entrepreneurship and would pave the way for their new careers.

“I used to think it would be cool to meet all these cool and interesting people, until I realised it’s much better to GO DO cool and interesting things, as you get good at what you’re interested in you start to become surrounded by cool and interesting people” - John [14:40]

Unfortunately their move was badly timed and coincided with the recession, making it very difficult for either of them to find work. This came as a blessing in disguise as it forced Dana to get creative, allowing her to find the world of blogging. She set up a lifestyle blog and John found yet another job that he hated. After not too long they returned back to Texas and John went back to studying Law even though he didn’t want to become a lawyer; as he says

“Law school is the most expensive way to find out you don’t want to become a lawyer”.

“Starting a business together was one of our best decisions for our relationship, it forces you to have difficult conversations. This gave us a better way to communicate with each other outside of work hours and strengthened our relationship” - John [41.22]

So after years of not channeling what they really wanted and falling short of their pipe dreams, they decided to visualise what they wanted and picture themselves 20 years on. They made solid plans on how to achieve their goals and set about making them happen. This started with taking stock of what was working and what wasn’t. This would mean a rebrand for Dana’s blog, now focusing on quick simple recipes - 10 ingredients or less and all prepared in one bowl.

John set about using all his geekiness to develop the perfect site, with consistency and true effort, The Minimalist Baker would prove to be a recipe for success.

Here’s what we chatted about in this episode:

What’s it like to founder a company with your partner and work together as a couple every day
How to get out of the difficult friend zone, for John and Alex
Why women should take the lead sometimes
Ripping off the bandaid and bursting your comfort bubble
The correct way to make connections in a new city
How to earn money through creativity, even during a recession
Another dropout lawyer story
Use your skills to get hired and use the money to fund your own thing
Stop thinking about the money and think about the happiness
Turning a problem into a niche marketing strategy
How to budget a bootstrapped business
Cutting your expenses to lengthen the runway for success
How to be just as happy with nothing by doing exactly what you want to do

Power of Letting Go to Change Your Life - Alex & Mimi Jul 04, 2019

In today’s episode Alex and Mimi chat about a concept that has proven itself time and time again, throughout both their business and personal lives. May you might want to sing along like in the Disney movie Frozen, as we are going to be discussing - Letting Go.

Whether it’s waiting for a friend to reply to your important message, asking someone out on a date, to sending a business proposal to client or applying to go to University / College. We’ve all felt the fear of losing out on the one thing we’ve been dreaming about. Often a thought that we’ve put so much energy behind can have us attached greatly to the outcome and even more often this leads to disappointment. We see it in depressed people or people who hold low value of themselves, disappointment seems to be everywhere these days. Too much of this is wrapped up in misread expectations and clinging on too hard to your desires. Maybe you lost your partner or your job and you just can’t seem to;

‘LET IT ALL GO’

“You might fail at this at first and that is Ok, you have to keep getting up and doing it because eventually it will work out” - Alex [9:00]

Alex and Mimi share how they’ve had to overcome this time and time again, from negotiating the sale of Luxy hair to walking away from relationships that were not good for them. Mimi shares her Vipassana story and how she learnt the importance of equanimity:

Equanimity - noun

calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation.

"she accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity"

composure, calmness, calm, level-headedness, self-possession, self-control, even-temperedness, coolness, cool-headedness, presence of mind.

“I understand you really want this and it’s your desire, but because you want this so badly, it’s probably not going to work” - Alex [8:00]

Whether it’s someone bullying you or you’re simply not happy with your job or relationship, or looking to find the perfect place to live, there’s so much you can take away from this episode.

Here’s what we get into:

Attachment is most obvious during challenging times
The truth can hurt sometimes but it’s that pain is your bodies way of showing you to change
The importance of meditation and a still mind during times of conflict
Conflict can be with yourself not just with others
How desperation seeps into your interactions, how to communicate your intentions
Sometimes you have to face losing it all to get your dream life
Outcome dependency reduces your negotiating powers
Letting go isn’t an instant strategy, it’s a mindset that takes time to become effective
Only you can set your real value

Letting Go - The Pathway of Surrender by Dr. Hawkins

Linchpin - Are You Indispensable?

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode41

100,000,000+ App Downloads with Denys Zhadanov, VP of Marketing Readdle Jul 02, 2019

Today’s episode is a classic tale of rags to riches, with Denys Zhadanov, VP of Marketing at Readdle. Readle is a successful app company with over 100 million downloads and a legacy that extends beyond the launch in the App Store, all the way back to the beginning of iPhone.

Having only just turned 30, he is so young given his accomplishments and his early adoption as one of the first creators of Apps, some that have gone on to inspire the technology we take for granted today.

We dive into Denys humble beginnings, raised in a small village in the Ukraine, his father worked as a communications engineer for the KGB and moved around from country to country until it’s collapse in 1991. He gathered huge inspiration from his mother's determination to accomplish something great, as she went from consulting farmers to becoming governor of the region where they lived. This would set him and his brother up with the right mindset for creating their business later in life.

In 1998, him and his brother got their first pc and got to work almost immediately, geeking out on the potential of this new technology and learning to code, by the time the first iPhone dropped in 2007, they’d be one of the first people in the Ukraine to own one and set about making it easier for others to use it, by offering a cloud based solution for things that the iPhone couldn’t do as standard. All the things our phones now do off the shelf but back then didn’t, including apps similar to what we see in DropBox and Google Docs now. Their creativity earned them a prize place on the front page of the App Store on the day of its launch, and as a personal invite directly from Apple, they have been a huge help in the Readdle’s success. In the first few months they had 60,000 downloads and made their first $20,000, which they invested straight back into the company. Bootstrapping their way to the staggering success they’ve achieved today.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

From a shared room in Odessa to becoming a Silicon Valley tech giant
Hard work, intelligence and a whole lot of good luck and good timing
How positivity and high energy keeps connected with the right people
Redesigning how we email with Spark Email app
Innovating fast is the only way to stay ahead, the real David and Goliath story.
How to become an early innovator that inspires industry leaders like google and apple.
The correct way to think about the future - with 100 life goals.
People will share when you offer something with real value
Why it’s much harder to find peoples problems than most think.
How you can accomplish half of your life goals in 1 single year!
The correct way to cold approach a business connection

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Denys, you can find out more about him here:

Denzhadanov.com

Readdle.com/

Denys’s Instagram

Readdle Instagram

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode40

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Create Bliss in Life and Business with Marcia Kilgore Jun 25, 2019

This episode should come with a WARNING, you’ll probably learn more here about how to run successful businesses than ever before... and this was a delight to record too. That’s because today we are talking Marcia Kilgore, the super successful serial entrepreneur of brands like Bliss Spa, Bliss Labs, Soap & Glory, Fit Flop and the revolutionary new Beauty Pie. We can clearly see she is doing everything right. We find out what?

Originally from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, she grew up with very humble beginnings. She and her sisters suffered a sad loss of her father around the age of 11, causing the family to further struggle. But her mum instilled the rule of never complaining - about anything! She’d boldly explain “There are people out in the world that have no legs and have it way harder than you”.

With this her mum instilled the practice of gratitude and a friend of the family also brought her attention to the importance of discipline, when he introduced her to his gym. So from an early age, these life lessons kept her feet planted safely on the ground.

“By the time you turn 18 you are your own thoughts, grab a book and take responsibility for them” - Marcia [57:28]

She applied to Study in New York when she was 16, and on arriving in the US her plans fell through, so she found herself on the streets of NYC needing to earn money fast. Already being a regular at the gym, she used her previous bodybuilding competition experience to land herself a personal training role at a fairly prolific gym, which put her in front of many minor celebrities. Including her clients Douglas Keeve and his then partner Isaac Mizrahi of fashion fame. This opened the door to access super models who she’d eventually practice her new hobby on, having recently trained in facial therapy.Word spread fast and at the heart of it was Marcia’s politeness, kindness, warm and friendly service. She sums it up by saying it’s all about delivering the goods and being positive. Oh and the details, people come because of the smallest details. She write personal thank you notes for every client she had.

“It’s up to you to deliver the goods, don’t be half assed about anything, be full assed. Did you ever had a hair colourist call you the next day and ask how your hair is doing? Well if you did, do you think you’d every go elsewhere ever again?” - Marcia [32:55]

She quickly went from a small one room studio with film stars like Uma Thurman sitting and waiting in the halls, to a 3 room studio, then a 10 room and finally a 24 room studio with a booked up schedule 18 months in advance. They’d always be cultural icons like Oprah Winfry, Madonna, Calvin klein and Courtney Love, amongst many more, as regular clients. Then after a decade of building this business from the ground up she sold a stake in the company to french company LVMH, which allowed her to expand into skincare products, creating Bliss labs. Countless skincare products later, under a few different umbrellas like Soap & Glory, Soaper Dooper, Marcia shares her secrets to getting your products stocked on premium shelves, from Harvey Nichols to Douglas and around the world.Her’s what else we chat about:

Taking responsibility for your own mindset and actions

The power of reframing - “you say she’s not interested, I say she was on vacation and missed it”

How business is not just about the details, business is THE details

Hobbies can grow into big businesses very fast

The markup of most beauty brands and not putting the customer first

The value revolution in her new company Beauty Pie

Avoid defensiveness at all costs

The early bad experiences that shaped Marcia’s entire business strategy.

You can find out more about Marcia here:

Beautypie.com

Books here:

The Work… of Byron Katie, An Introduction.

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode39

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

How We Work Together as a Couple Jun 20, 2019

It’s important to note that this lifestyle won’t be for everyone. For most people, at 8am they go their different ways, off to a different job, eat lunch with different friends and rejoin their partner come 6pm when it’s time for dinner. The idea of talking shop with their partner in bed can be a huge turn off. Keep work in its place and keep the loved ones as far away from it. It’s just never been the case with Alex and Mimi.

“If you don’t have a common vision, I’m not sure how you can do anything in life, never mind be in a relationship together” - Mimi [7:20]

The ikonns met while working in a bank, so their working relationship far extends their loving relationship. Luckily they’ve found that working together is not only easier but actually proves more productive.

Since starting their first business together, they’ve coincidentally both pulled in the same direction towards a shared goal, each taking on their own challenges with their own unique skills and both have thriving with different strengths. For Mimi she wouldn’t do so well, if she had fulfil an operations manager role, but for Alex, he can be passionate about making sure the business wheels are well greased. Yet Mimi loves to be creative and in front of the camera, often creating the vision and lens through which direction the business is seen. This is harmony for them.

I don’t need to do anything, I GET to do things, It’s a complete mindset shift. When you GET to do things you appreciate them more and your work comes from a different place” - Mimi [11:40]

Even though they both work so smoothly together, it’s also important to note, they both take responsibility for their own self growth and managing what they bring to the table. It’s important that they aren’t relying on their partners to get their own job done. Alex recalls how in the beginning he was working 2 jobs in the business, both his own role and being Mimi’s video editor. This caused friction after a while because he couldn’t focus on the tasks he was meant to be doing. This is a huge lesson to learn. Find your strengths and what you bring to the table, do that and get someone else to do the rest. Another big takeaway we just shined the light on is transparency in relationships and in business. It was so important for Alex to communicate that the video work wasn’t his job, same when the couple chose to stop working from home and get an office elsewhere. Sometimes there’s distractions in business especially if you have a baby in the same room… So communication is key towards growth and navigating the inevitable business challenges.

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode38

Live the Adventure with Louis Cole Jun 18, 2019

Today’s episode is a true adventure, because we are interviewing a true adventurer. We’ve had Louis Coles from the infamous YouTube Vlog ‘Fun For Louis’, around for Dinner. Having visited 85+ countries, Louis is a true free spirit and he holds saint like wisdom, gained from his inspiring round the world adventures. And today he’s going so share his incredible journey with us.

Growing up in Surrey, UK, his teacher parents allowed him to imagine. They gave him the gift of creativity and fostered the idea of being and thinking different. You only have to see this picture of his teenage bedroom to notice the extent of his parents believing in the power of imagination and play.

I think imagination is on the decline for kids today, all the technology we have available to us steals it away. Feeding my imagination when I was growing up allowed me to think differently and outside the box as an adult - Louis [7:29]

Never a fan of prepackaged holiday resorts, the Coles family would drive to the South of France for vacation allowing Louis to soak up culture from an early age. He was inspired by a month long trip they spent in Indonesia and Malaysia, knowing from that moment, travel would become a big part of his life. Briefly working an office job between his college gap year, he got insight into the adult life he knew he didn’t want. Seeing his aged 50+ colleagues trapped in their 9-5 for years on end and also recalling his childhood lessons to always think different, Louis knew the office life wasn’t for him. He had a calling for something much bigger.

The more travelled I became, the broader my perspective of the world, religion, purpose and culture became. Travel is literally the antidote to ignorance - Louis [20:50]

So he bought a mini bus and set about travelling and documenting his life. Along the way helping helping the youths of london to get off the streets with community project work. During YouTubes infancy Louis experimented with different ways to use the platform. After a few bizarre ideas like eating live spiders and frogs on camera, he settled on documenting his adventures and now as veteran of the Vlogging world, he has 2 million subscribers.

Today we chat about:

The true meaning of purpose and finding it through spirituality
Religion without the dogma and the rules
Why you should always be trying to be a good human being
The campaign for love and social justice
Adopting homeless people and giving a struggling person their life back
Travel kills ignorance - the best travel motto for life
Driving 9000 miles around the USA and driving from London to Beijing
The anxious trap of having to blog everyday and the importance of slowing down a little.
Your end path will inevitably go through a few route changes

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Louis, you can find out more about him here:

funforlouismap.com

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

What is your WHY? AMA with Alex and Mimi Jun 13, 2019

Today we have another exciting ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode in which we take your recorded questions that you’ve submitted to our website and we go deep and get totally honest with our answers.

Today we felt truly alive as the questions were some of the best we’ve been asked, and an added bonus of it being the first time we’ve recorded an AMA from our office - so we hope you love this as much as we did recording it. This week there is only 3 questions but they are super important questions we should be investigating for ourselves.

Here’s what you guys asked:

Is there a higher purpose behind what you do, that gives you meaning?
How do you stay so positive when you think about the future?
How do you deal with the frustration of not feeling good enough?

Is there a higher purpose behind what you do that gives you meaning?

This really should be the single most important question to ask ourselves when we’ve done writing in our journal each morning. Focus on your WHY!?! For those of you who know us, you’ll already know we absolutely love Simon Sinek’s work, his book ‘Start With Why’ is so important to us and is a must read for everyone. Getting to the bottom of your ‘why’ will have you thriving in business and in life. Wash away the things that don’t matter and focus on fulfilling your purpose.

For Alex it’s getting in touch with his inner being, realising the importance of LESS DOING and more EXPERIENCING everything. He reflects on selling the business and how that wasn’t fulfilling their sense of purpose anymore. Sometimes it can be as much about getting rid of things that are not your ‘why’.

“Life happens with or without us to a certain degree, our whole lifetime is just a speck, just a moment of time. That is why I have gratitude for myself and for life. With that I have a sense of purpose” - Alex [5.40]

For Mimi she is more proactive in looking for purpose. She has to be giving value every minute of her day, she feels empty without doing this. Her inner purpose is knowing that she’s helping others find happiness and living a healthier life.

“If you want to change the world, first you have to change yourself”

How do you stay so positive when you think about the future?

Mimi reminds us that we are not always positive, everyone has their moments of feeling down. It’s more important that you realise in the moment that you have a choice of which mood you choose. How do you want to start your day? Will you carry that negativity through out your morning or will you choose to reframe and find positivity in the moment. For Alex this is practice. It’s like a muscle, it has to be trained. The more you look for it, the more it starts to show up everywhere you go. Before you know it - everyday has its positive moments. This is why we built the 5 minute journal, so we could reinforce those moments constantly and be reminded of the precious moments we’d otherwise choose to ignore.

“How can I contribute to the productiveness and positivity in the world, well, I can see the potential and the positivity around me and make it a conscious choice to do so, then others will follow that energy and also feel positive” - Mimi [12:40]

How do you deal with the frustration of not feeling good enough?

When people derive their self value from accomplishments, accumulating and owning stuff; this only leads to disappointment. Often in life we fail or things break or we lose what is most precious to us. These should not be our defining moments. Here only lies frustration. Instead we need to find value in ourselves for who we are and the love we can share. It doesn’t matter if we are skinny one minute and overweight the next. Rich and then lose it all like a game of Monopoly or find love and then it’s gone....

Finding happiness in ourselves for no other reason than ‘we are who we are’ is the only way to stop being disappointed in yourself. There’s no need to be frustrated. Just try your best and everyday try that little bit more. There’s no need to sprint a mile when you can casually walk all day.

“The only person you’re competing against is yourself” - Alex [ 20:30]

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode36

Money, Drugs, and Life Transformation with Brian Rose of London Real Jun 11, 2019

Today we have one of our favorite episodes so far, we’re totally excited to be speaking with our good friend and podcast veteran Brian Rose of London Real. We dive into the lessons learned from Brian’s 8 years of podcasting. From the drugs and a near death experience to being mentored in a castle and finding a sense of purpose.

His show is the archetype of podcasting. Before Youtube was big and before people knew what a podcast was, Brian took inspiration from other early podcast adopters like Joe Rogan and set about crafting his own original style of interviewing. He knew he wanted to provide value in people’s lives, in the same way his life had changed from being engaged in inspiring long format conversations. Brian’s vision would be realized in 2011 when he launched London Real and he went on to pioneer this media through its early days up to what it has become today.

Things haven’t always fallen into place though. Today we chat with Brian about his dark past, drug abuse and overdoses, leaving California, dropping out of his engineering studies in Boston and becoming a Wall Street banker. Then once he got there, the money never satisfied him and how the aggressive lifestyle forced him to disconnect from society.

‘All the dark holes inside Brian, Brian the kid, all the dark things just weren't going away even though I was earning 100,000’s of dollars’ - Brian Rose [12:30]

One day, the intense lifestyle took its toll and it was time for him to clean up his act. Moving to London would give a chance at a new life away from what he describes as a “shameful past”.

Within the first few weeks of arriving on British turf, he quickly realized he had nothing to do with his time and had to throw himself into something to avoid his addictive tendencies. He found a great mentor while studying martial arts, also allowing him to adopt new traits like accountability, confidence and discipline that shaped Brian and gave him the grounding he needed to start making the podcast.

“I nearly had to die to get here, everyday I walk through the graveyard thinking what would these bodies have done different if they had the chance to live life over, then I think about what my obituary is going to say, that really pushes me forward” - Brian Rose [40:00]

Brian has interviewed some amazing people in his time hosting one of the longest running podcasts, but in this episode the table is flipped and we get to explore his remarkable life, all the ups and downs and everything in between.

Here’s what else we get into:

How to create your own huge life transformation
Finding your own sense of purpose
Everyone ones shares a baseline, we all want the same things in life
Comfort leads to transparency
Transcendental meditation is like holding a mirror up to your real self
Coming back from the brink of destruction makes you stronger then ever before
Money, cocaine, heroin, prostitutes - leaving Wall Street for a new life
Relax, all good things will come in good time
Why taking more risks is the only way to the top
False expectations appearing as fear - Dan Pena’s mantra that puts fear in its place

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode35

Random Fun Questions with Alex and Mimi Jun 06, 2019

Today we’ve got a bit of a spontaneous and fun episode as Alex and Mimi answer a wide variety of ‘questions that nobody ever really asks’.

Have you ever wondered how the Ikonn name originated, who Alex’s perfect dinner party guests would be or how Mimi deals with the choice between an aisle or window seat? Get to know them more and see if they get to know each other better in the process as they answer a whole bunch of questions such as:

Did you have a nickname growing up?
What is your favourite childhood TV show?
How do you relieve stress?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled off?
If you could get back any article of clothing you once wore, what would it be?
If you could play any instrument which would you play?
If you could live in one city for the rest of your life where would you live?
Do you sleep with your door open or closed?
Do you still watch cartoons?
When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone?
What was your favourite concert of all time?
Do you believe in ghosts?
Who would you like to see in concert?
Have you ever won a contest?

We hope you enjoyed this episode as much as us and we appreciate you for listening! As always we would love to hear from you! Head on over to our website at www.ikonns.com and submit a question. Ask anything from a wide variety of topics, business to relationships... so feel free to ask away!

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode34

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Overcoming All Odds to Success with Susie Ma of Tropic Skincare Jun 04, 2019

Today we’re honoured to welcome Susie Ma, Tropic Skincare founder, to the Ikonns Podcast. Appearing on the iconic Forbes 30 under 30’s 2018 list, Susie often left us in awe as she spoke to us about her compelling career story and how her entrepreneurial spirit was carved out by her experiences in childhood.

Born in Shanghai under the one child policy, Susie describes the stark contrasts she faced in early childhood moving from China to Australia and then finally settling in the U.K. After seeing her mother struggle as a market seller in London’s Greenwich Market, Susie’s desire to gain a better life for herself and her mother led to her starting her own business.

“We were in this horrible trap, and I just thought my mum can’t physically do any more work, she’s working the maximum hours that her body can physically handle, it’s up to me now” – Susie Ma

Susie founded Tropic Skincare when she was 15 years old, pursuing the only goal to help her mother out. After creating first home-made skin care products packed in jam jars and originated from her Chinese origins and experiencing some initial success, Susie tells us how her company – the fastest-growing skincare company in the U.K. – was born from her appearance on BBC’s television series The Apprentice in 2011 and how Alan Sugar firing her was also a blessing in disguise.

“Have that vision, believe that you can do it, but you have to be prepared to work damn hard at it” – Susie Ma

We’re sure you’ll experience the same goose bumps we did as Susie’s motivational spirit shines through in every word she speaks!

Here’s what else we talk about:

The building blocks needed for creating your vision
Building an honest business with a hands on approach
Being risk averse and building organically
Learning lessons from your peers
The infinite purpose of your business

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Susie Ma, you can find out more about her here:

Tropicskincare.com

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode33

How to Have Deep and Meaningful Relationships in Your Life May 30, 2019

In todays episode, Alex and Mimi discuss what it means to go deep both with yourself and others and how doing so can enrich your relationships.

When facing challenges and conflicts throughout our lives, we have a choice, do we stay in the comfort and familiarity of the shallows or do we go out and explore the depths and face the challenges that can help us evolve?

“The true wealth and gifts lie in the depths of our soul and the souls of other people that we come across” – Mimi Ikonn

Admittedly an extrovert, Mimi discusses the challenges she faced at a silent meditation retreat and how facing her fear of listening to the heart led to an important lesson. Alex discusses the significance of maintaining the ability to self reflect in an age of social media and instant gratification.

“The moments of nothing are where you actually have that space to reflect and get to know yourself a little deeper” – Alex Ikonn

Placing honesty over the guarantee of happiness can lead to a healthier relationship, and whilst this honesty may be upsetting or challenging at first, transparency can be an important communicative tool that helps us avoid a build up of negative feelings towards each other over time.

We all have our different paths in life but one thing that we all have in common is having to face challenges along the way. Building healthy and fulfilling relationships can be difficult at times, but those that are built on core principles of honesty and vulnerability can help them stand the test of time!

Here’s what else we discuss today:

Two steps to a meaningful relationship
The fear of loss and how it can stop people from evolving
How social media provides shots of dopamine comparative to gambling
Not being afraid to ruffle some feathers
Conflict can be a wake up call and gift in building your relationships
You never stop learning
Social media can be a helpful tool for discourse

We would love to hear from you! Head on over to our website at www.ikonns.com and submit a question. Ask anything from a wide variety of topics, business to relationships... so feel free to ask away!

Resources from today's episode here:

Lazo Freeman – Body, Mind, Soul Transformation podcast.

Insight timer – meditation app.

Tara Brach – Meditation Podcaster

The Case of Doing for Doing Nothing - New York Times article.

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode32

Body, Mind, Soul Transformation with Lazo Freeman May 23, 2019

In this episode Alex and Mimi chat with the good friend and regular visitor to the Ikonn household, but a first time guest on the show, Lazo Freeman. Lazo is so inspirational to us and a fantastic transformational healer that you need to listen to. He has infinite wisdom that we love.

Born in Iraq to a mix of both Kurdish and Arab parents, Lazo tells of his difficult and challenging first few years in life, having crossed mountain borders on the back of a donkey - to fleeing Saddam's soldiers on their uncles murder charges - to spending weeks in a romanian prison. Laza’s start to life was anything normal by our western standards.

Finally he ended up in the UK, where he was excelling in chemistry classes and studied Biomedical engineering at UCL in London. After a short time he realised there was more to life than lectures and decided to train in body transformation. Making a connection to his desire of helping others. Although quitting an engineering degree was a big deal for his family, small things like this no longer bothered him. After all, life could be a lot worse than living in London.

“Inherently i can be very lazy, but all of a sudden i just shift and I end up performing on higher level” - Lazo [9:30]

After witnessing only 50% of clients transforming he quickly realised that exercise wasn’t the key. That he needed to look deep into the psychology and mindset that makes for a deeper, more solid transformation. He hit upon a working formula, that the decisions we take are not intellectual and that most decisions, especially successful ones are rooted in emotion. Unfortunately, a lot of the negative things in life, especially things that hold us back are also rooted in emotion. So Lazo set about finding ways to clear out the soul, including shifting both current and past life traumas and toxins.

“Our highest quality vibrational thought is one that is conducive of our greater good” - Lazo [36:48]Lazo shares his 3 crying styles:

Positive tears - Crying because you’re happy.
Negative tears - Crying because you’re upset.
Neutral tears from the soul - These are the type he urges you to regularly find.

He combines this with meditation and the correct way of breathing using the Wim Hof technique from your diaphragm instead of shallow throat parasympathetic breathing. He even guides us through his own inspirational, truly amazing meditation. Practice this and we are sure you’ll be impressed.

“We all have different perceptions, what else are we not seeing because humans don’t have the senses or aren’t tuned into it? The process is like cleaning a mirror and seeing a deeper picture” - Lazo [26:00]

Here’s what else we get into:

Healing is all about unlearning
Alpha and Beta consciousness - which is critical and which is trance like
Intuition is your real tutor
Journalling opens your heart
Consciousness is like playing music that is in tune with the universe
Opening your heart is a treasure chest
Early experiences and cleaning out trauma.
Finding the signs that your body is telling you, you’re off path

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Lazo, you can find out more about him here:

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode31

Future of Education with Dr. Rhonda Lenton, President of York University May 21, 2019

In today’s episode Alex and Mimi chat Dr. Rhonda Lenton President and Vice-Chancellor of York University. As the global work environment shifts to new technologies with bigger demands, our education also needs a reboot. Hear Rhonda’s thoughts on the future of formal education.Rhonda was a first generation student of her family, even though her parents never went to university, they made it a priority for her and her twin, to get a great education. She studied sociology which gave her a great grounding in how people think. And during the time of the second wave of feminism, she found momentum in activism, which compelled her interest in equality and social justice. This has been a thread throughout her entire career in academia. Firmly believing that every student should have a right to a good education, leading to work possibilities at the top regardless of gender, race or wealth.

“Resilience from an early age is a character i’d encourage parents to pay close attention to” - Rhonda [21:42]

The demands on students leaving college with a degree and entering the workplace, isn’t the simple path it once was. She should know, given that York is the 5th leading University in Canada and ranked 26th in the world on educational impact. Yet still she finds students struggling with the transition. This challenge is now her challenge.

“You can’t change uncertainty, all you can do is figure out a way to function in a world full of it”

- Rhonda [20:50]

Rather than giving up, she’s yet again, battling for something she believes in. That formal education still has its place, it just needs to adapt like the world around it that is moving so quickly. She says that education needs to be more fluid, flexible and work with businesses and nonprofits to gear students and companies up for inevitable future change.

Few errors in life are things you can’t bounce back from” - Rhonda [23:20]

She’s working with giant companies like Shopify to create a new “flipped classroom” approach to learning. Giving students more vocational and work based learning opportunities, with tutors acting more like facilitators to overcome learning boundaries and resulting career difficulties. Less about boring lectures, It’s been her goal to find emerging needs in the job market and stay current when it comes to providing curriculum.

Come join Alex and Mimi’s university and learn these things in this episode:

The difficulties of studying and working part or full time. Why the 2 don’t no longer need to be conflicting.
Masculine and feminine energy in an high profile workplace, how should I behave at the top?
Strength vs vulnerability, even academia needs to be authentic
Overcome uncertainty by being agile
Do our parents solve too many problems for us, can we cope with the modern world ourselves?
Having a commitment for lifelong learning, education doesn’t finish at school
Cultivate creativity and enquiry in your education and mostly make it enjoyable
Stop trying to rush the process, study when you need to study, work when you need to work. It’s all learning in the end.
Environmental concerns and sustainability is becoming the biggest concern for students

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Dr. Rhonda Lenton , you can find out more about her here:

Blank.com

Linked in

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode30

How to Embrace Change in Your Life May 16, 2019

As parents, seeing Alexa grow and develop so quickly, like others Alex and Mimi have seen the true magnitude of change. But to some people, change isn’t always welcomed so easily, some people fear change. Change can be a huge deal. This is the topic of today’s episode.

For the most part we don’t remember our early lives, but it’s in those moments seeing a baby grow into a child and develop a character and soul of their own, that you can truly appreciate how change is happening. Much faster than you could ever imagine.

“A lot of people leave comments on our videos, saying please don’t change… like that’s a bad thing” - Mimi Ikonn [4:00]

In meeting with an old friend Mimi asked ‘so what’s new’? She was shocked at the reply she was given ‘oh, nothing new’. Maybe for some of us we aren’t mindful that change is happening all the time, whether we perceive it or not, But things change, ALL THE TIME.

Change can be a good thing, but a lot of us naturally fear it. When we know change is coming it’s like being confronted with the flip of a coin. Will it land on the good side or the bad? So many chose to not flip the coin, avoid it as much as possible, staying right where they are. Safe and sound. In their comfort bubble.

“Paint a picture of where you’re going and know your journey, give yourself a roadmap to your goals” - Alex Ikonn [16:35]

Again it’s about reframing. Change could be giving yourself a chance at a new career and finding a new passion. Others might say ‘I got fired and lost my job’. Which in Alex’s case, is true, this actually happened. Proof of the importance of embracing change. He was so happy to be working in banking and would have probably stayed there forever had he not been fired. Lucky that wasn’t to be and life forced his hand and he got to choose a better life.

Understandably there are evolutionary reasons and our trible nature at play here, that we need to be aware of. Also the story we tell ourselves keeps us firmly rooted to the spot. Think about how many times you’ve said out loud ‘oh, i just don’t do that’ or ‘oh that is not me’? While often having never tried.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us” - Marianne Williamson.

The process of transformation and trying something new is DIFFICULT, unfortunately it’s a challenge that a lot of people aren’t willing to work through by choice. After returning from their first trip to france, Mimi realised this. She set about completely renovating their home. Days and weeks of living in the mess reflected her own internal struggles at the time with mental health issues she was going through. renovating wasn’t going to be easily fixed in 1 day. Fortunately hard work and persistence paid off and the apartment looked as beautiful as she’d imagined. Eventually all the internal mentality hard work also paid off too. Remember not all change happens quickly and is usually a work in progress.

Here’s what we talk about today:

From getting your heart broken to losing your job, there’s always a brighter side.
Embrace change, use it to your advantage
The only way to enjoy life is to not fear the change that is always happening
Change at the speed of light, like Moores law, everything is getting quicker
Be perceptive and mindful of what changes are happening around you
People’s capacity to grow and adapt is one of life’s remarkable wonders
Getting to the good is often through a VERY MESSY journey
How to stop creating comfortable habits of staying the same
Journalling, creating your goals and a road map to them
Change leads to a better stronger you

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode29

Your Relationship with Money May 14, 2019

In today’s episode Alex and Mimi explore what many would say is the most important thing in life... MONEY!! But does having more of it make you happy or do we just need to create an abundance mindset? What’s your relationship with money, we’ll find out in this episode.

Both Alex and Mimi have come from very poor upbringings. Even though Mimi would describe her family growing up as middle class, the middle class Azerbaijan is way below the lower class in the US or Europe. Alex’s family life was very similar growing up in the Soviet Union, they both lived in 1 bedroom apartments where their parents would sleep on the sofa, while all the kids would share a bedroom. Bargain hunting and penny counting was the only way to simply put a meal on the table. This is a very deep episode that explores the mindset shift that you have to undertake if you want to go from not having any money to what to do when you finally get some. And every step in between. Foodbank’s to Kensington.

“Money wants to go to people who have a need to do something with it, people who put their money to work rather than consuming” - Alex Ikonn [37:30]

The main lesson Alex and Mimi want you to take away from this, is moving your mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance. We all know of situations where people have lost friends or even family member from a dispute over a relatively small amount of cash. Clinging onto every penny won’t get you anywhere in life. Similarly, we know that when we feel full and our basic needs are met, our mental energy and focus is available to be put to work and attract more money and opportunities into our lives.

Now this doesn’t mean you should go out and max your credit cards, if you even have a credit card, nor should even contemplate a payday loan. Negative compound interest is your worst enemy and will hold you in debt for a long time. Remember that spending future money is still money you will have to earn at some point. If you can’t pay it back today, there’s a good chance you’ll find it difficult to pay it back tomorrow. The good thing is compound interest works the other way too. So paying off your debt and then saving can gain you some great interest over time.

“You affirm and reaffirm to yourself everyday what you manifest” - Mimi Ikonn [20:50]

Back to the abundance part… this really is a game of reframing the conversation you tell yourself. Are you regularly saying:

A - ‘I couldn’t ever do that, I can’t afford it’

Or are you saying

B - ‘I choose to invest my money elsewhere, spending to fulfill a specific purpose’.

Are you saying you are ‘broke’? This genuinely means you feel you are broken. Let’s be clear, we don’t believe you are broken! You should be saying ‘You are working on fixing your financial future by actionally taking steps in the right direction’.

Do you see and feel the difference in these two ways of talking to yourself? If so this is only the start.What we also cover in this episode:

How do your parents talk about money? This shapes your own financial values
Don’t believe you’re saving if at the same time you’re in debt
Valuing your own worth and developing the idea of feeling full
How to not lose relationships over money
When is it a good time to rent or buy, why it’s better to rent in a big city
How the richest people are less consumers than you think
Become an investor in yourself and reap the rewards
Visualisation and putting in the hard work
Being wealthy is living in your means and not spending more than you earn
Money and energy, it’s all about a transfer from one form to the other.

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode28

AMA with Alex and Mimi- Relationships, Fears, Travel May 09, 2019

Hey guys and girls, we’re back with another ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode. We are going to be answering your questions again. Keep them coming because this is one of our favourite ways to interact with you!

Here are the 5 questions that were asked this week:

How to overcome my fears of everyday life, what happens if I’m in an earthquake? [1:03]
How to stick to a decision, when your head says one thing and your heart wants something else? [13:23]
What have been the most important life changing books Alex and Mimi have read? [20:37]
How do you know if you’re lowering your standards? [27:24]
Enough with the hard questions, which is best - Positano vs Mallorca? [34:29]

These are some super exciting questions that really got us thinking. Alex and Mimi discuss their thoughts and experiences around the questions you sent in. Let’s start!

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode27

Living a Colourful Life with Vanessa Branson May 07, 2019

Alex and Mimi are joined today by an important guest and great friend, Vanessa Branson.

Vanessa is the founder of Marrakech Biennale, a cutting-edge contemporary Visual Art, Literature, and Film festival in Morocco. She is the owner of Eilean Shona, a tidal island near Loch Moidart, in Scotland, She is also the owner of El Fenn a luxurious hotel in the heart of Marrakech, a trustee of the British Moroccan Society and a trustee for the Virgin Unite, a charitable arm of Virgin. If you’ve not guessed it yet, she is also the sister of the Infamous Richard Branson.

Show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode26

Balancing Your Masculine and Feminine Energy - Bingo Theory Apr 30, 2019

In this episode Alex and Mimi have a long overdue talk about Mimi’s book The Bingo Theory. In this in depth conversation you’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about the amazing and life changing power that is masculine and feminine polarity.

There is a common misconception when we talk about men and women. Growing up, girls play with dolls and boys play with cars, boys wear blue and girls wear pink. Then we get to our teenage years and feel confronted with an identification crisis.

As a guy, am I masculine enough?

As girl, am I feminine enough?

As we get into our teens and find sexuality this confusion goes into overdrive, Girls start playing hard to get, hoping that the guys persistence might show real character. Guys go to the gym and pump muscles in hopes they can out matcho the next guy and get the girl. Games, back and forth the courtship goes, like a scene from a David Attenborough wildlife documentary.

By the time you’ve hit your mid 20’s, you’re still stuck with the same kind of partner that you’ve always found yourself with. You’re stuck in the wrong type of relationship that always makes you unhappy. This is because you need to learn about Bingo Theory!

Mimi first got the idea while chatting to friends who all thought Alex was a great partner and wanted their very own Alex of their own. Mimi instinctively knew this wouldn’t be a perfect match for them either, and decided to look into why and what makes the 2 Ikonns such a great fit. The answer is they both compliment each other and fill areas, character traits and behaviours that one or the other might be lacking. Like a Ying Yang.

Men are often thought of as having masculine energy and women more feminine. What Bingo theory explores is a revolutionary idea that this old myth doesn’t have to be true. In truth both sexs have both; men carry some female energy and women carry some masculine energy. The trick is firstly finding your own balance that works for you and then finding a counterpart energy in a partner. Someone that carries the exact opposite.

Masculine energy being; logic driven, math orientated, grounded, sceptical, decisive.

Feminine energy; emotionally driven, caring, creative, artistic, intuitive, stress free.

You’ve heard it on the show countless times, Authenticity is the key. You have to find your place on this polarity scale if you ever expect the world to see your true authenticity. Finding the RIGHT partner should be easy once you have found consciousness in this area of yourself.

Here’s what we get into on today’s show:

There are 4 types of polarity & energy types, not only 2
Everyone, both male and female have both masculine and feminine behaviours.
Stop thinking why am i not enough, start realising it’s fine to be who you truly are
Finding balancing, and knowing when to push more into the opposite polarity
When you surround yourself with people of the same energy, the more it is amplified.
Too much of the same energy makes you not empathetic and none understanding of others.
How this works in friendships and workplaces
How to tell which polarity is someone’s dominant energy
Beware that too much relying on your dominant energy is not a good thing.

Show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode25

Ultimate Travel Guide - How We Plan and Book Travel Apr 25, 2019

Have you wondered on how we plan and book our travel? Find amazing places to stay around the world? In this episode, we reveal our secrets on how we do this.

In this episode we share 10+ years of their travel lifestyle and give you insights from their very best curated experiences.

We all know that feeling of getting off a plane for the first time, arriving at our destination, being so hungry and tired, we literally blow a bunch of our trips budget in a tourist trap restaurant in the cities main square, just to fuel our desperation.

The No.1 tip any traveller should hold to, is prior planning. Alex researches the heck out of every detail before he even book the flights. Infact, the flights aren’t the first thing he looks for.

It’s essential to find the right place in the right location, that is at the heart of your interests.

Are you looking for a beach holiday, a city break or something in nature. All of these options come with their own unique requirements, and planning is the only way to maximise your experience whatever your interests are.

“Travel is the way to self discovery, each time you do it, you know more about what you like, what suits you and what your tastes are” - Alex Ikonn [11:00]

Alex and Mimi share all the tools and secrets they use to make every trip like a dream experience. And you can do it too.

You’ll hear this and much more:

How exploring your own city for new experiences that you didn’t know were there, can be just as fun, rewarding and cheaper than travel
Why you should set your expectations before you go? Be realistic.
Budget Vs Luxury, when is it time to drop the lower quality option?
From maps to flights, hotels and restaurants, Google should be your first choice tool for travel.
Get a clear idea of the location before you choose by pinning your findings to Maps and Pinterest
Visualise your surroundings in advance with street view.
Prepackaged vacations are fine if you want a lazy, no pressure vacation, but they don’t maximise your possibilities.
How staying with a host can be much more rewarding than getting your own place
It can be cheaper than an hotel if you split the cost and rent a villa
Find the worst reviews, don’t only read the good ones. Check if there is going to be issues you don’t want to deal with
Never trust Trip Advisor, find your own curated referrals. Blogs are your friend.
Use a business account to collect fly points
Price matching and cross check every option
Check airlines directly, some of the cheapest flights aren’t on comparison sites, same with hotels
The last minute myth.

Where to stay tools:

Our top 3 Luxury curated stays:

Flight finder tools:

Overcoming Your Entitlement for Success Apr 18, 2019

After 8 years of receiving employment applications throughout all of Alex and Mimi’s businesses, by far the most common unattractive trait that fails most applicants is ENTITLEMENT.

“The fact of having a right to something. The amount to which a person has a right. The belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.” - Dictionary

It seems like it’s becoming more and more common these days, it’s certainly known as being a millennial thing...and even more known as a generation Z thing. Maybe it’s the glitz and glamour portrayed so easily and available on social media, maybe we’ve been told too many times in the self-help community that we DESERVE it and maybe our parents fostered that ideal from an early age a little too much.

Well, we explore what entitlement means to us and why it turns us off when we see it in people.

“Instead of talking about how amazing you are - nobody cares about that, talk about what you’re going to bring to the table, how are you going to take the position to the next level and be specific” - Mimi Ikonn [14:05]

So why do some people deserve special treatment? We certainly see it a lot living in London. We are on the doorstep of royalty, people with born privilege and born into wealth. There is certainly a lot of aristocracy with quite important titles that can be highly demanding and ooze entitlement, it can be sad to see especially when they value themselves higher without putting in the real work to really deserve it.

Actions speak louder than words, if you want to known for something, first you have to do the work. - Mimi Ikonn [33:40]

Alex shares about working in a company, where at the time he felt he deserved an equity share. His over entitlement led to him losing that opportunity, had he just played the long game and continued giving instead of asking, he may have very well earned it eventually. But faith and trust was displaced through that entitlement issue.

We also get into:

How social media acts like a portal to someone else’s reality
Believing anything is possible comes with very strict guidelines
Realising the hard work instead discussing the vacation time
Being humbled by your beliefs rather than being demanding
How being mindful and hard working and having gratitude, are the cure
Avoiding bragging and learn from others

“Dreamers who don’t work hard and hard workers who don’t dream don’t get anything in life, but dreamers who have both, with faith can do anything they set their minds to” - Unknown

Show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode23

Healing Health Journey with Yalda Alaoui Apr 16, 2019

In today’s episode we are talking with our friend Yalda Alaoui from EatBurnSleep.com. We chat about the incredible journey she’s been on and how she healed her body into remission after suffering from a near terminal immunity condition. She shares her challenges and paves a path for other to follow by optimising these 3 simple things:

Eating right
Sleeping right
Exercising right

“Yeah..we’ve heard it all before a 1000 times”, BUT Yalda’s story is living proof of how drastic life can become when you don’t take these 3 things into consideration.

“It’s only when we are at our worst that we look for problems to the solution, I’m teaching people that prevention is a much better approach” - Yalda - [38:45]

Born to both Morocan and Iranian Parents, Yalda moved to France when she was 12 and immediately started having dietary issues, the junk food that she was now regularly eating, was a stark difference from what she’d grown up with back in Morocco.

At 15 years of age she found an interest in economics, finding a subject and a lens through which she could understand and see the world with. This led her to studying at the London School of Economics and EDHEC Business School. And was soon followed by a very stressful job working on a trading floor in capital marketing. The unhealthy eating and a stressful job, along with a failed pregnancy then signaled to her immune system to finally shut down. In 2007 she developed two life threatening auto-immune diseases:

Ulcerative Colitis
Auto-Immune Haemolytic Anemia

The latter causing her hemoglobin measurement to fall to 4 (usually reserved only for patients in a coma). After being admitted to hospital, countless blood transfusions later, the doctors struggled to get to the bottom of the underlying cause. This pushed Yalda into extensively researching health for herself. A ten-year recovery lead her to sharing her knowledge, making a full career change and a full recovery. She eventually got to the route corse while searching for ways to ease her chronic inflammation, by cutting out all foods and starting again like a baby. She Added 1 food at a time, narrowing her eating options to only foods that didn’t cause her problems. This was only the start…

Here’s what we get into on this episode:

What is your microbiome and how to avoid destroying your gut health?
60% of you neurotransmitters are in your gut? So let your belly think for you!
What is leaky gut and what happens when your body tries to fight back?
The importance of walking everyday.
What happens when your body’s natural defense doesn’t know how to turn itself off?
How stress plays a role in your immune system?
The benefits of collagen powder and bone broth.
Why lifting light weights are more important than the big heavy ones.
Fermented foods, the most common in the healthiest longest living societies.
The Vegan Myth - Why not all meats are unhealthy, just the processed ones.
Why we should be choosing whole foods and dropping dairy / wheat / nightshades?

Eatburnsleep.com

Instagram.com

Youtube

Show Notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode22

Best Advice We've Ever Been Given - AMA with Alex and Mimi Apr 11, 2019

This one of our favourite ways to interact with you, our lovely audience, today we are answering your questions that you’ve sent in to us, again.

Here are the 5 questions that were asked this week:

Should I drop out of university if I’m not feeling it? [0:48]
What should I do next now I’ve finished my studies? [12:19]
How do I overcome resistance when creating? [21:52]
How do I overcome social awkwardness while I’m developing my career? [28:15]
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? [37:35]

These are some super exciting questions that really got us thinking. Alex and Mimi discuss their thoughts and experiences around the questions you sent in. Let’s start!

Should I drop out of university if I’m not feeling it?

Mimi drops out of college on 3rd semester
What does school mean to employers interviewing for new positions
Investing in yourself by saving yourself from huge amounts of debt
Being excited about what your studying is the only way to learn
Parents usually want status disguised as a college education
Possibilities for the education system to embrace the changes in society
Building relationships is the best thing about college

School doesn’t prepare you for a lot of things we need in life, like communication and selling yourself, these are the important things, you’re always selling yourself or an idea” - Mimi - [14:22]

What should I do next now I’ve finished my studies?

Following your curiosity, let that be your guiding path
Once you’ve found an idea, for results you need to commit to it
There’s 1000’s of people trying for the same position, what can you do to stand out?
Using your youth as time for experimentation
Play risky while you have nothing to lose
Entrepreneurship is sexy but not for everyone

While your in your 20’s, that’s not a time to play safe, that’s a time to be shooting for your dreams” - Alex - [18:19]

How do I overcome resistance when creating?

Getting out of your own way is the only way to start creating
The perfectionist myth that stops people in their tracks
Are you impacting people’s lives in positive way with the content you make
The people who keep going are really the only people creating the best stuff
Even the best have their insecurities
Create a higher purpose around your content creation
Do it for yourself not validation

“It’s sort of like having a treasure, you can keep it to yourself, keep it inside, or you can share it with the world, like giving a gift” - Mimi [25:10]

How do I overcome social awkwardness as I’m developing in my career?

Going that extra mile will make people feel special
Not every social situation is black and white, be intuitive with interactions
Become fascinated and inquisitive with people in general
Don’t take it personally when people don’t want to chat
Create a vision for yourself for inspiration and how/where you want to be
Be yourself and be PRESENT when talking to someone

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Persistence is genius in disguise for Alex
Nike’s JUST DO IT is winning for Mimi
Virtual mentorship, soaking up information from everywhere
Don’t be delusional, but keep going, even when you don’t feel like!
Small steps at a time

“It’s not because I’m smarter, it’s not because I’m better, it’s because i just do it” - Mimi [41:50]

Our Observations of Living in North America Vs. Europe Apr 04, 2019

Fresh off the plane, in today’s episode Alex and Mimi chat about their observations, having just spent 3 weeks in North America. What are the main differences between North America Vs. Europe.

“Americans take ice cream soooo seriously, how do you even choose?” - Mimi Ikonn - 22:00

The USA is the land of plenty, everything is BIGGER! There is more of EVERYTHING. From credit cards to what’s on your plate, either in a restaurant or baked at home in a tiny oven.

Alex chats about a friend who moved from London to California, just so his Billion Dollar dream could be recognised. Meanwhile, Mimi gets chatted up in the supermarket over what breakfast cereal does she like.

“The cities in Europe are designed in a way to get you walking, to move, to be active and mindful”

- Alex Ikonn - 18:47

Having travelled to many places and lived on both sides of the Atlantic, Mimi and Alex have great insight into just how different the 2 cultures can be. Here’s what they get into;

How people spend their money, which culture has the most consumer driven society?
Do you have a billionaire mindset or are you being conservative with your cash?
Where do Alex and Mimi get approached the most?
Who speaks the loudest, who is most respectful?
Public transport Vs owning a car.
Food portions, even a salad in the US is enough to feed an entire family.
What’s in your kitchen? We want some Patatas Bravas! Yum!
How to notice disruptive industries when you realise something is missing in a culture?
The empowerment of youth through social media.

We didn’t want this episode to be political so please, don’t take offence if you live in one of these countries. We haven’t meant to choose a favourite here, since we love both - EQUALLY! These are just some generalised observations from spending a lot of time in both places.

“I like to find differences, it gives color to life, as long as people live in peace and harmony” Mimi Ikonn - 33:30

Actually, we know there’s something for everyone in both places, but it’s not until you explore the world that you really see for yourself where YOU fit in. We really encourage you to travel and see the world for yourself, maybe your expectations and realisations will be completely different to ours but you only know if you go find out. Explore - with love and an open heart!

Find resources mentioned in the show here:

Greta Thunberg (Twitter) - The 16yr/o Swedish climate change activist,
Pepper Pig (YouTube) - Peace and harmony for all the world.

How to Create Your Dream Business on Your Commute to Work with Nate Checketts, Founder of Rhone. Apr 02, 2019

Growing up in a big family in the North-East USA, Nate Checketts always knew he wanted to create something innovative, but back then there wasn’t even a word being used for he wanted to do. He first thought he might be an inventor, but it was clear from pushing around his red-cart lemonade stand from an early age, that he also loved to sell. He’d sell anything if he could. It was inevitable he’d soon be walking the path of entrepreneurship. He tinkered around with a few failing ideas on the side of his full time job running sponsorship strategies for the NFL. One day his regular practice of journaling shed some deep understanding of what he had to do in life. While not feeling fulfilled in his role, he wrote;

“I want to lead a company that really matters, side note - that doesn’t necessarily mean I have to cure cancer”

At the same time, a Lululemon christmas present from mom - for all the family, triggered an idea; men are at a point of identity crisis right now, when it comes wearing clothes that make you feel good. This same kind of approach that was working predominantly in female branding, could be marketed at guys too. He and a few family members (having received a gift they weren’t too thrilled about) spotted the gap in the market for great quality activewear specifically for men. And NOT just a brand that is targeted purely at the athletic type, but one that could speak to every normal guy out there. The concept became even deeper when they decided to target men who want to achieve more, dads wishing to be better parents, guys open to self growth, men wishing to find purpose and work harder. Not just how good you are crossfit or how many miles you could run. They crafted something that was missing, clothes that are as comfortable as sweatpants but smart enough to wear on Wall Street.

“Everyone should feel tall, proud, and inspired, that’s when we decided to innovate, educate and inform our community that we was building. We needed to speak to the individual, other brands just weren't”

Story telling became a big part of their business startup using instagram and other social media platforms, NOT the little things like logo, name and email address, all these things that didn’t really mean much. They stood by a unique ethos; If all your clothes in the closet are clean, which ones are you picking out first - They wanted to be that brand!

Here’s what we get into on this episode.

Taking the risk of dropping out of your full time job for something that is uncertain
Not waiting on the idea or product being perfect before starting
How two near fatal incidents nearly put the breaks on Rhone
Turning what could have been a disaster into 100% commitment.
The importance of focus
Viewing yourself as unemployable
Hiring people as crazy as yourself
Getting comfortable with chaos
The differences between seed investment and bootstrapping
Being proud of what you do and letting the world see it

“To be successful you need have a succession of great years, To have great years you have to think about how you can have great days, you can do that with the 5-minute journal”

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Nate Checketts , you can find out more about him here:

Find books and resources mentioned here:

4-Hour Work Week - Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
Let My People Go Surfing - The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard
Convertible Note - Wikipedia description

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode18

Alex and Mimi play Husband and Wife Tag. Mar 28, 2019

In this Episode Mimi and Alex revisit the golden vault again with this special audio version of a very popular video, originally published on YouTube.

They go head to head, 15 rounds in a game of relationship tag with quick fire questions, sharing each other’s best and worst. How much do this entrepreneur couple know each other?

You’ll hear all the juice behind this relationship; From Mimi’s messy habits leaving hers socks everywhere, to Alex being stuck in his airpods and not listening properly. To romantic gestures and affectionate smooches, favourite traits and first opinions

Hear what they can’t live without... or what they wish they could live without - “that red lipstick”

“Stress Is The Biggest Killer - I Love MY Airpods”

What was the last argument they had, What was the last text message they sent to each other and WHO WEARS THE PANTS IN THIS RELATIONSHIP?

Hear all this and so much more.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Alex & Mimi

Mimiikonn.com

Alexikonn.com

Instagram.com/mimiikonn/

Intelligentchange.com - The Five Minute Journal

Full Show Notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode17

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Life of a Travel Influencer with Aggie Lal Mar 26, 2019

In today’s episode Alex and Mimi are talking with a special guest Aggie Lal, AKA ‘Travel In Her Shoes’ successful Instagram and YouTube travel blogger.

Growing up in Warsaw, Poland Aggie was dreaming to travel the world, absorb different cultures and see amazing places. At 18 years old she made a life-changing step and moved to Australia alone to study English. At the same time she was working as a waitress, saving up every dollar to live out her travelling dreams. During her stay she had a major car accident, and even though it was very painful working with a broken arm, she pooled her money alongside her insurance compensation, to helped fund her journey.

After finishing her university studies, 25 years old Aggie and her ex-boyfriend found a 40 year old sailboat on eBay and bought it for $10,000. After fixing it up in Mexico, painting it blue and giving her a pretty sea name, the couple dared to sail the Pacific ocean without any previous experience. During the year of sailing, spending 185 days on the actual boat Aggie found her truth self.

“Success without fulfilment is the ultimate failure. Most people believe that when they reach a certain point in their careers, that they will instantly become fulfilled” - Tony Robbins

At the beginning of this journey Aggie was driven by curiosity and ego. But this changed while on the water. Thanks to the close connection to the nature, a near-death experience and meeting people of different cultures Aggie found herself appreciating life and respecting nature more than she could have ever dreamed of.

After a year on the ocean Aggie and Chris ended their journey in front of the Sydney Opera House. Thrilled by her memories during her time on the ocean and wanting to share, Aggie started to use Instagram. Her very first posts were interviews with different women from countries she’d visited. But when she got more reaction on her outfit she had to rethink why she was there.

“Creating trust with the audience is the first step before posting heavy content.” - Aggie

It was 2015 she embraced the social media platforms that she’d lost touch with whilst on her travels. After a very successful video on Vine with 6 million viewers, her Instagram account started to grow to nearly 1 million followers, just by being authentic in herself and sharing her travels.

During the podcast we will also learn:

Why authenticity is the key for success on social media
How and why to prepare for possible failure
How to start business step by step
what to do if you’re staring into a wave of death
Why having the right mindset is important
Why living your truth self is the only way to live
How keeping daily routine helps in self growth

“The most attractive thing to a human being is to seeing another human in a flow state, being effortless in what they do.” - Aggie

Hope you enjoyed this today’s episode with Aggie, you can find out more about her here:

Travelinhershoes.com/

Find Books and resources from this episode here:

Get The Edge - Tony Robbins
The Talent Code - Greatness Isn't Born, It's Grown, Here's How by Daniel Coyle
Alter Ego Effect - The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life by Todd Herman
The Artists Way - A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity Julia Cameron
5 minute Journal by Intelligent Change

Answering Your Questions By Alex and Mimi - [The Ikonns, EP.15] Mar 21, 2019

We were happy to see you guys had sent in more great questions, Alex & Mimi give you some real deep answers… Again! We love these episodes where we get to interact with you.Here are 5 questions we were asked that we had to share our thoughts on:

How do you learn to love people unconditionally, even when you don’t know them?
What are you excited about when you wake up in the morning?
Having gone through an internal mindset shift, how do you persevere if you’re not seeing an external change around you?
How to pick a new place to live and what about leaving my friends and family behind?
How do i stop hating myself?

Wow these are all great questions, If you heard your voice on this today’s show, we appreciate your vulnerability and love you dearly for sharing.

How do you learn to love people unconditionally, even when you don’t know them?

Mimi shares her technique for seeing the best in everyone. She says “to find love in others you must find love in yourself”, “the more acceptance I find with myself, the more I can extend that to other people”. It’s possible to find love in the strangest places, even if people have done truly bad things, she says “it’s usually those people that need love the most”.

Other things mentioned that might help is meditation. Especially metta meditation, which is a practice of sending love and positive energy out to the world at moments when you feel your best.

What are you excited about when you wake up in the morning?

Alex loves this question, his morning is something that he is really passionate about, so what gets him excited? He says - “waking up… that is what gets me excited”. This is where both Alex and Mimi’s gratitude practice intersect with their morning routine. The are both thankful for life and what they have; health, eachother, Alexa and many more things. Life is precious and they celebrate their waking moments knowing that.

Having gone through an internal mindset shift, how do you persevere if you’re not seeing an external change around you?

Mimi tells us that it’s all just a matter of time. It’s like going to a gym for the first time and expecting a six-pack the next week after or planting a tree and expecting to pick an apple from it straight away. This is a lifelong adventure of developing yourself. Alex likens this to being your own inner farmer. Underneath the topsoil, there is a seed that has taken root, you can’t see it yet but something yummy is going to happen very soon. Keep watering your seeds, fertilizing your soil and be patient. Every small step is actually a big step when compounded over a huge amount of time. Remember you and the people in your environment may have already grown much more than you’re giving yourself credit for.

How to pick a new place to live and what about leaving my friends and family behind?

Most people like to stay in one place with their family and friends, that’s where it’s comfortable. Others like the idea of being global citizens. What’s more important is not to sit around wondering, or worse regret that you never expanded past your comfort bubble if this something you want to do.

The people that travel or live in different places tend to absorb culture from around them and expand the most has people. But that’s not for everyone. Make the choice for yourself and also make sure to put a process in place for keeping in touch with your family and friends.

“It’s like having a big pot of soup...

living in and experiencing other cultures is like adding flavours to your soup” - Mimi Ikonn

How do i stop hating myself?

This is a deep one. The first step is being ready in yourself to make the mindset change. You can’t begin to make the change without acknowledging that this is YOUR TIME to take CONTROL over this. Reaching out and speaking to someone is the first step. So thank you Peter.

Realise that you hold the blueprint to your own happiness and feelings about yourself, now let’s start changing that negative story that you keep telling yourself. One small step at a time. A hack here is to start practicing gratitude.

Recognize the importance of being thankful for you, give respect to yourself for all the things that are going right in your life. Maybe you have your health, maybe you have a good job, a bed to sleep in at night, you’ve eaten a meal within recent hours. All these small things can be your foundation to realising things aren’t as bad as they seem, because someone out there doesn’t have these.

Yourself, you’re perfect as you are and if you want to be something better, well GREAT, that’s what we can & should all aim for. But start by loving where you’re at, not hoping that one day you might love yourself if only you could change yourself. stop comparing yourself to where you could be if you had a magic button. Love yourself now. We love you and so does other people.

Writing your thoughts down in your 5-minute journal and practicing some of our mentioned techniques, we hope, will give you a glimpse and positive motion towards an answer.

Wooohooo! We appreciate you so much. Glad we had a chance to chat with you. If you’d like to have your question in our next Q&A’s please head over to https://www.ikonns.com and press the red recording button on the home page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Find Books and resources from this episode here:

Vipassana Meditation
Metta Meditation
Get The Edge - Tony Robbins
Bingo Theory - A revolutionary guide to love, life, and relationships by Mimi Ikonn
The Charge - Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive by Brendon Burchard

A Life Changing Conversation with Jim Kwik - [The Ikonns, EP.14] Mar 19, 2019

Jim Quick is one of our smartest friends and is one of the world’s leading learning experts and brain coaches. He regularly works with A-list celebrities, movie stars and learns people - how to learn more effectively.

After suffering multiple brain injuries as a child, he was named the boy with the broken brain. So he had to do one thing to fix himself, he’d become the genie of learning, instead of a wishing for more wishes, he’d grant wishes to learn how to learn.

“That boy over there is the boy with the broken brain” - Jim’s school teacher

Having suffered a second traumatic accident as he woke from a coma to einstein's face on a mug of tea, he realised that we aren’t taught how to learn, that just like a super computer we need to learn how to program it. While struggling at college, Jim found a new perspective on his broken brain when a mentor turned him onto reading a book a week. This was the moment where his poor grades at school stopped getting into the way of his education.

“If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them” - Jim Kwik

His technique for memory development includes building a mind palace, which is a technique used by the ancient greek to remember long speeches and performances. To do this you have to implement 3 things:

Creativity - the brain learns by being an active creator, not a just consumer
Imagination - making the invisible - visible, so dream big!
Strategy - planning a route to get there.

Jim shares some valuable advice on why it’s important to build your memory, including; how the most successful people that get rewarded, ALWAYS remember people’s names. They know the secret; that nothing sounds sweeter to someone than hearing their own name. Try it yourself next time you’re in a coffee shop, but don’t be surprised if you end up getting a discount. People put trust in you when you use this fantastically simple technique.

Meet Jim’s M.O.M. And remember her…

Motivation - why would you want to remember anything, the importance of rewards.
Observation - it’s not retention that is the problem, it’s paying attention that matters.
Mechanics - The tools to remembering - diet, meditation, physical and mental exercise

Jim treats presence like giving a gift. To be present to someone’s words is like giving them a present. He says the best way to listen is to just be silent and stop thinking of how to add your own piece.

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood”

Stephen Covey - 7 Habits of Highly effective People

You’ll learn Jim’s 10 key tips to super learning and high performance brain function:

Good brain diet - treat what you read and information you consume as seriously as the food you put on your plate.
Killing Ants - “Auto Negative thoughts”, positive environments shape how we remember.
Movement - When the body moves, the brain grooves.
Brain nutrients - how eating an healthy diet can support brain function.
Positive peer group - surrounding yourself with 9 smart people, you’ll become the 10th.
Clean environment - a messy house = a messy mind.
Sleep - Consolidate your long and short term memories allowing your brain to learn.
Sleep - Clean the plaque from your brain. Clear that next day mind fog.
Sleep - Dreamers are creators, the best inventions started in the land of Zzzz’s.
Protect your brain - wear a helmet when riding a bike, avoid sleeping next to your phone.

Wow, Sleep snagged 3 out of 10 there, but Jim really does value sleep as a huge import role to brain health, reminding us that we dream for about 3 years of life. Imagine if you started to journal all your dreams, just how much creativity you could manifest. He shares the importance avoiding your phone for the first hour of your day, starting off small with better morning habits. He even recommends the 5-minute journal as a great way to get started in the morning.

“Technology is meant to be used, when we use technology out of habit or boredom, we have to ask which of us is being used, and who is the tool?” - Jim Kwik

There’s so much here in this interview, here’s what else we get into:

Starting out your day without being wired for distraction
Begin with the end in mind
Speed reading tips from someone who has read a book a day for 6 years
Stress management tools
How consistency compounds over time
Why self-love and self-care are not selfish
The importance of teaching what you learn as a way to learn better
Doing the difficult thing makes life easier
Collective consciousness
How your big life questions are probably someone else’s questions
What you practice in private becomes what you’re rewarded for in public
How knowledge in and of itself isn’t as life changing as you think

“If you fuel yourself on other people’s opinions, you’ll soon run out of gas” - Jim Kwik

Hope you enjoyed this today’s episode with Jim Kwik, you can find out more about him here:

Resources and books from this episode:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Powerful Lessons in Personal Changeby Stephen R. Covey

Power of Positive thinking - by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Mimi’s Morning Routine video

5 minute Journal by Intelligent Change

Mimi’s Instagram

Alex’s Instagram

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Overcome Fear to Live Your Best Life - [The Ikonns, EP.13] Mar 14, 2019

In this episode Alex and Mimi explore how to overcome and best use, the innate human emotion of fear.

This is one subject where Alex and Mimi really do differ, both realising their own fears, differently in their own lives. So let’s hear what’s so scary?

Mimi has a very creative imagination that sometimes takes her fears to irrational places, like her fear of flying and swimming in deep water, these are things she fears all the time.

“I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” - Mark Twain

Meanwhile, Alex’s finds his fear in spontaneous places having never given time to think over what actually scares him… Until it creeps upon him - like finding himself in front of an unfamiliar audience that he wasn’t expecting to be speaking to.

Alex explores the evolutionary aspects to our fear and why, as humans we are born to be afraid. Mimi concludes her stories with; whenever she overcomes fear, something good always comes from it. They both challenge the uncomfort we must go through, when talking about and facing our fears, stating the importance to do so, in order to truly grow.

Here’s how you can navigate your fear

Start with acknowledging your fear - respect that it’s there and we all suffer from it.
Talk about it - open up transparent dialogue with trusted friends and loved ones
Write it down - often seeing it on paper reveals just how small the fear can actually be
Integrate logic - moving from the creative right brain, to a more rational left brain might ease your fear
Rewarding yourself on the other side of overcoming fear, can soon have you loving life’s challenges
Do a firewalk - How to dance with your fear, realise anything is possible with Tony Robbins
Keep rowing - there’s no time for fear if your in the middle of the ocean - The Steven Shenley way of dealing with fear!
Recognise the difference between surface level fears and subconscious fears
The future of Alternative therapies like Hallucinogenic mushrooms and hypnotherapy

Books and resources mentioned in today’s show:

Episode: 8 - With Stephen Shanly, rowing the Atlantic Ocean

Tony Robbins - Dancing with your Fear

Tony Robbins - How to Face Your Fears

The Biology of Belief - Unleasing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles by Bruce Lipton

Hope you enjoyed this today’s episode, you can find out more about Alex and Mimi here:

Mimi’s Instagram

Alex’s Instagram

And here’s where you can find 5-minute journal by Intelligent Change

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Believing in Yourself with Valeria Lipovetsky - [The Ikonns, EP.12] Mar 12, 2019

Alex and Mimi talk to Valeria Lipovetsky about her journey as one of the fastest growing and engaging YouTube content creators who has grown to almost a million subscribers in less than 3 years. In this episode, Valeria shares amazing advice on life, business and relationships for you to implement into your dream life.

As a late starter to the blogging world Valeria talks about her first exposure to YouTube. How at first she battled her beliefs, that she might not be good enough and after spending her childhood trying purposefully to be invisible, she soon realised that no one ‘does her’ better than she does. Every voice can find an audience.

She takes us behind the mindset changes that needed to happen to become who she has become today, sharing stories of how her introversion shaped her into a better observer, who could step back at any moment and see a much deeper, bigger picture.

Her story is one of taking action for herself, finding her own voice and the best ways to communicate it with authenticity.

“I had to be that saviour, I had to be my own hero, no one is going to come save you” - Valeria

Here’s what we get into:

Mindset vs self-awareness - how taking power into your own hands stops the world from deciding on your behalf.
How copying others isn’t enough, that only your authentic self can win
We question does balance really exist?
Visions vs making an actual change - the need to be consistently taking action and judging yourself only on one simple question - ‘have you done your best’?
The importance of over communicating in relationships and some great tips on how to avoid slowly destroying a good one.
Blind motivation Vs contextualism - who should we be really learning from.
Dealing with haters.
Using ego and criticism as a mirror for growth.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Valeria Lipovetsky, you can find out more about her here:

Valerialipovetsky.com

Full Show notes at https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode12

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Answering Your Questions - [The Ikonns, EP.11] Mar 07, 2019

Welcome back to The Ikonns, That’s right we dropped the word ‘Experience’ but this episode will only be dropping one thing - Deep and thoughtful answers to your deep and thoughtful questions.

Here’s what we get into:

How to overcome the dark period of the life and find positivity
Why the 5-minute journal should become the part of your life
The real meaning of failures
What does it mean to belong somewhere
How to make parents with difference values and culture to support
How to get your authentic voice and create authentic content

If you heard your voice on this today’s show - wooohooo! We appreciate you so much. Glad we had a chance to chat with you. If you’d like to have your question in our next Q&A’s please head over to https://www.ikonns.com and press the red recording button on the home page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode, you can find out more about Alex and Mimi here:

Mimi’s Instagram

Alex’s Instagram

And here’s where you can find 5-minute journal by Intelligent Change

Full Show notes at https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode11 Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Selling Billions in Real Estate with Daniel Daggers - [The Ikonns, EP.10] Mar 05, 2019

In today’s episode Alex & Mimi share the mic with London’s most exclusive real estate agent, Daniel Daggers. Who recently sold “The most expensive terrace house in UK” for a breathtaking 130 million US dollars.

Alex and Mimi talk to Daniel about his journey from childhood, having a dream to be a professional football (soccer) player, up to current days where he only works with clients wishing to buy luxury properties over £10 million pounds.

Daniel’s dream was to become a professional football player. Growing up in a council house, his parents gave him a secure environment and saved up, sending him to a private school in Maida Vale. This was where Daniel soaked up the multicultural environment he was surrounded by, giving him a foundation to get on with everyone. An important step in becoming a ‘people person’ he would have to become later in life.

Daniel started his carrier when he was 17, while studying GNVQ in business. His school required 2 weeks experience in properties. Unfortunately at the time, and due to a broken collar bone, he had to seek other opportunities outside of football, so he started to work in a real estate company.

He started to develop his knowledge, experience and assets everyday. After 11 years in the company he realised he was dominating and doing things no-one else was doing. In 2007 when the credit crunch hit, he realised the target market that he needed to be working with in order to survive the market crash. During this year he joined Knight Frank real estate, where he chose to focus on 4-10 million pound properties.

He understands that business is much more than selling, and shares the importance to engage and create a bond with the customers through the right communication, emotions, trust and a personalised approach.

His success did not come automatically – he had to work hard and learn the ability to listen and observe. During his journey he took baby steps, built his confidence and created a business environment, where people want to do business with him.

“I love the journey more than the result. Do everything to the best of your ability.”- Daniel Daggers

Daniel also shares the importance of social media in real estate. Via his Instagram account @daniel_daggers, he tries to engage young people showing both the ups and down in business.

You’ll also learn:

How your upbringing can influence your future assets
How to define your clients
What are the patterns of ultra successful people
The importance of social media in business
How to become a better more genuine sales person
How to incorporate storytelling when selling properties
Daniel’s top negotiation tricks
How your environment influences your business
How his clients value efficiency and time.

Connect with Daniel Daggers online here:

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode, you can find out more about Alex and Mimi here:

Mimi’s Instagram

Alex’s Instagram

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Show Notes

Reacting to Your Assumptions About Us - [The Ikonns, EP.9] Feb 28, 2019

In this Episode Mimi and Alex revisit the golden vault with this special audio version of a very popular video, originally published on YouTube.

We had great feedback from you, a much loved episode by all, and since longer in-depth conversations are best suited to the podcast format - here it is, as requested, our Ikonn Couple Assumptions tag - In audio!

Alex and Mimi comment on all the regular assumptions that people have about their relationship together. Even an assumption about a new baby, that makes for a new discovery for at least one them. Super fun and exciting.

Here’s the assumptions and what you’ll hear;

Alex and Mimi don’t fight - The couple share how arguments can actually be a healthy thing in a relationship. They discuss the necessity to find a place on the same page as one another.

Alex does everything Mimi says - Mimi’s book Bingo Theory sheds some light on the importance of male / female dynamics and gender roles. Alex explains his respect for his own boundaries.

Having a Child has affected their relationship - A behind the scenes look at the hardest year in the couple’s relationship and the growth that came from it.

Mimi interrupts Alex a lot - Mimi’s battle to get a word in as Alex doesn’t stop talking.

Mimi is the boss - Alex’s way to present Mimi with options to decide upon, collaborative partners make the best partners.

They are still as in love as the day they met - They share how they are glad that they aren’t in the same place has when they met.

They are in their own little bubble - How living on bubble island has allowed them to expand without negative influence.

It must have been love at first sight - Being friends first created a healthy foundation for this relationship to blossom.

Mimi is a strict parent - bringing up a child with the same boundaries as you’d expect from anyone.

Divorce or separation thoughts - The importance of feeling like you’ve been heard and giving your partner the same opportunity.

Fighting in front of Alexa - The importance of pausing the conversation for a more appropriate moment.

You guys are perfect - Everyone has dirty laundry and uses the bathroom.

Mimi doesn’t snap at Alex - But does Alex snap at Mimi?

You’re only in it for the money - Is Mimi only into Alex for his money?

Alex wants a second child - They maybe a SURPRISE in store!

Alex isn’t allowed to go to the pub with his mates - What else isn’t he allowed to do?

Alex is possessive over Mimi - Mimi’s lessons on trust and respect.

You are kombucha both lovers - who isn’t!

You fight over the bed sheets - Alex gets lost in a king size bed.

Mimi Planned Alex’s proposal - How a budget European trip just felt like the right moment.

You love your followers - “Hello, my friends”

You have a lot of sex - Toooo SPICY!

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode, you can find out more about Alex and Mimi here:

Mimi’s Instagram

Alex’s Instagram

https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode8

Find Bingo Theory here: A revolutionary guide to love, life, and relationships.

Mimi’s Youtube channel: How To Have a Great Relationship

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Rowing the Atlantic Ocean Alone with Stephen Shanly - [The Ikonns, EP.7] Feb 26, 2019

In today’s episode Alex & Mimi are talking to their good friend Stephen Shanly, who believes that pushing your limits and trying new things are the key to seeing the world through a different lens.

Alex met Stephen a few years ago while competing in the Big Change Strive Challenge. Stephen’s level of endurance is off the charts.

He’s truly inspirational and it’s why we had to interview him!

Not many people would purposely choose to be stranded alone, in a one-man row boat, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. HE DID! And he climbed Mount Matterhorn with little previous climbing experience, along with paragliding down Mont Blanc whilst suffering a fear of heights.

“People will want to jump in your boat and go along for the ride, if they know you’re going to paddle like crazy to get where you’re going” - Stephen Shanly

We’ll hear Stephen’s story of how his failed App business lead him to crossing the Atlantic Ocean alone, in a small boat, setting a record crossing time of 41 days while risking his life. Currently his next challenge is to write a children’s book, even though he is dyslexic.

In this podcast, we explore what can drive a person to take on these remarkable challenges. What makes Stephen push so hard to achieve things, that seem almost impossible. After working to achieve his goals by the age of 30 and shouldering the disappointment of solely focusing on his career and material things. He realised a need to refocus his life.

He tells us that his main drivers are the new things he has never tried before. He is pushing himself over his limit by focusing on the very next steps in front of him. This mental direction helps him to win his challenges, continue and go further.

“Its amazing how much more you can do if you just re-calibrate or just say go again. There is almost no limit what we can achieve mentally.” – Steven Shelley

You’ll also learn

Where to find inspiration and how to focus on positive things
How focusing on the next step helps to reach your goal
Stephen’s climbing story of Matterhorn without previous experience
How is it to jump from Mont Blanc
Crossing the Atlantic ocean with a limited water supply and a broken seat.
How Stephen survived in the middle of ocean
How trying different things shape you as a person

Find Books and resources mentioned here:

Big Magic - Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eeyore The Donkey - Winnie The Pooh Bear - Walt Disney characters

Follow Stephen Shanly on Instagram and Twitter

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Overcoming self-doubt with Celest Pereira - [The Ikonns, EP.7] Feb 21, 2019

Today’s episode is a very special one, because Alex & Mimi are taking turns to share the mic, while interviewing their very good friend and favourite Yoga teacher - Celest Pereira.

Originally from Richards Bay in South Africa and immigrating to the UK 10+ years ago to study a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy. Celest is being labelled as one of the best Yoga teachers in London and is internationally recognised by big Activewear brands like lululemon.

Alex and Mimi investigate what makes this shy small town girl with packed out classes, so special.

“Celest is living proof of the concept of never judging a book by it’s cover, now I really know her, I can totally see how hard she must have worked to make this happen” - Mimi Ikonn

She applied for so many physiotherapy jobs on graduation but a bottleneck in the industry, with too little jobs and too many like minded graduates all scrambling for the same position, had he working 12 hour shifts at McDonalds. With massage therapy jobs available for her qualification, She was grateful for the odd substitute Yoga teaching job for a friends class.

After a month learning how to teach Yoga properly in India, she started gaining more interest in her own right and classes started to pick up in demand. But some people were not used to her own original take on the traditional dry boring Yoga class. Celest instead crafted her own fresh approach that has made for a much more enjoyable experience.

“The look on someone’s face when they get it, that smile, that connection. I love it, it’s like a drug” - Celest Pereira

She explains how it used to really upset her to see people leaving the class if they didn’t get it and found it easy to get caught up in the fuss, somethings that really didn’t matter. She soon found a change in her mindset after a long time trying to copy what other Yogi’s did. “All that chanting, sanskrit and chakras just never resonated with me”, she says. So she gave up the the focused, dry, quiet room for her favourite playlist and a more friendly, lively, relatable approach.

It was time for Celest to drop the ego that surrounds many Yoga instructors.

She is keen share the importance of ‘making students feel like you ACTUALLY CARE’. Also how she picked up some quick simple teaching tips from a martial arts class, siting other learning materials for developing her confidence too. She had real fear and anxiety about standing and speaking in front of a crowd, but the Tony Robbins course UPW (Unleash The Power Within) and Paul Mckenna hypnosis course Instant Confidence helped her on her way!

You’ll also learn

How a quick mirror visualisation trick can bring goosebump revelations
Why it’s important to be grateful for living in our time
How big cities can seem like the loneliest places
Why being desperate can fuel you
How important it is to accept every opportunity
Finding your own niche of people that give you energy
That don’t just step into authenticity
Take influences from outside of the usual
How darker clubland self kick started her need to always improve

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Celest, you can find out more about her here:

Celestpereira.com/

https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode7

Youtube.com

Find Books and resources mentioned here:

Unleash The Power Within - by Tony Robbins
Instant Confidence - by Paul McKenna Ph.D.

Lululemon - Activewear

The Truth about Mimi Ikonn - [The Ikonns, EP.6] Feb 19, 2019

The tables have turned and today it’s time for Alex to shine the spotlight on Mimi. Behind all that public social media presence, Who is the real Mimi…? And is that even her real name?

Originally a Caspian Sea girl from the city of Baku in the country of Azerbaijan. Mimi tells her story of how watching American movies as a child with her sister Leyla, made her want to jump in front of a camera.

After finding a painting recently, that she had once painted, depicting that very same scenario, (maybe on subconscious level) the world would have it - that’s where Mimi would end up. But it wasn’t always that obvious.

Early ideas of becoming a dancer, a model or even a pianist (If her mom would have her own way) would soon be thrown out of the window. Instead, frequently looking up to the sky and watching planes pass by, she turned to visualising herself travelling everywhere in the world.

When her family decided to immigrate to Canada, she felt as if she was walking right into her dreams as she boarded her very first airplane. But the cold shock of Winter in Canada awoke Mimi to reality that her dreams were not always going to be 100% as she imagined.

At the same time dealing with the school bullies that pushed her for a F.O.B (fresh off the boat) reaction, she quickly realised it was best to ignore them and spend some time soul searching for her real self. Albeit a new one.

“You have to protect and defend yourself, you have to observe your reactions to other peoples messages. If you learn, fine! If you learn nothing, move on, don’t attach yourself to something that isn’t your problem.” - Mimi Ikonn

While saving up for weeks at her first Job she decided it was time to change her name legally to one both her family and friends had been calling her for most of her life. A new name - a new start!

From here she tried a few jobs and bared the responsibility helping towards paying her parents mortgage, bills and even saved to buying her first car. Her story then takes us to meeting Alex, dropping out of college, working a dream job in image consulting and founding Luxy Hair.

In the second half of this story; Mimi explains how she was so used to operating in survival mode. So much so, that when she finally arrived at financial well being, she only found herself becoming severely depressed at the thought of it. Again, not all being quite as she’d imagined.

She takes us behind the mindset changes she needed to go through including visiting a 10 day meditation trip to a Vipassana Retreat. And how a specific incident with her guiding Monk changed her life forever!

“You can not run away from yourself, where are you gonna go? If there’s a problem we’ll call ambulance.” - The Real Voice of SANITY

You’ll learn:

What keeps Mimi going

Her passion for giving value to her audience

Why social media is important - and it’s not about money

Why she chooses to not post on her darker days

How staying humble gives her energy

How she can’t make a fake smile

Why money isn’t a motivator

Why she has to share everyday.

...And so much more.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode, you can find out more about Alex and Mimi here:

Mimi’s Instagram

Alex’s Instagram

You can find out more about Vipassana here: 10 Day Meditation Retreats

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Are you a perfectionist? Episode-5 Feb 14, 2019

In this episode Alex and Mimi do a deep dive into perfectionism. When is it good... or bad to be aiming for PERFECT.

Mimi finds that perfectionism, at least for creative people like herself, can hold her back. Forcing her to shelve projects she’s worked on, but are not good enough (...in her own mind)!

Alex argues the opposite. That it’s that very same desire to do better that spurs genuine excellence. The need to push through those moments when you wish to give in, often lead to a much better quality outcome. Mimi agrees. She even feels she’s had to work twice as hard because she didn’t feel exceptional at times.

“People say why are you improving on things that already work - Well, i completely respect those that do, because they are the ones pushing boundaries” - Alex Ikonn

Mimi explores her own past and looks into how labels imprinted on young people have an effect later in life, with a need to live up to those superimposed titles. She shares one of her favourite books on the subject of Fixed Vs. Growth Mindset By Carol Dweck.

They then go deeper with a concept from a favourite book - Linchpin by Seth Godin.

Perfectionism is a very ‘Lizzard-Brain’ part of our evolutionary biology. It’s one of our innate survival techniques, it’s imperative we avoid being ostracised or thrown out of our social group that we depend on. It’s this very concept the holds back from sharing when we feel things aren’t perfect.

“Screw it - Ship it - At some point you need to just get it out there” - Mimi Ikonn

There’s always going to be a gap between your starting skills and where you will end up, if you just keep creating. When you’re young your work isn’t the best. As you mature you grow taste and your work gets better. Alex shares a great video on the subject by Ira Glass. Instead of asking ‘does the publisher agree with this’, ‘what will people say?’ Just live by your own standard and then get it out there. The more you can move on to the next thing, the more you can develop taste and learn as you go.

“I built so many crap websites before i built a good one” - Alex Ikonn

Mimi shares one more book for your reading list Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, where a few choice words of what to spread on your sandwich... and then eating it, will surely get you pushing through your moments of doubt when perfectionism strikes.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Alex & Mimi

Mimiikonn.com

Alexikonn.com

Instagram.com/mimiikonn/

Find the inspirational books mentioned in this episode here:

Mindset - The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Linchpin - Are You Indispensable? By Seth Godin

Big Magic - Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Video about ‘The Gap’ by Ira Glass

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Show notes @ https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode5

From Assistant to CEO in 3 Years - Lulu Liang Interview Feb 12, 2019

Lulu always had her life painted out for her, a product of tiger parents, she was going to be a Doctor. More specifically an optometrist. And failure wasn’t an option.

When a bad grade at school threw her a curveball, she swapped paths for pursuing a MBA instead. She worked as a business consultant for a brief moment and quickly realised this wasn’t her dream either.

After stumbling across Mimi’s Morning Routines video, Lulu was inspired.

Then she did what no one expected of her, she opted for a pay drop and applied to work with Alex and Mimi as a social media customer service assistant. This was a bold brave move!

Alex quickly saw potential in her and during a sit down meal, the principles and importance of prior preparation was proved. The spark in Lulu’s eyes was seen and she blew Alex and Mimi away with her ideas.

Lulu tells us how she had an ambitious 3 month goal of excelling beyond her role, from operational assistant to manager, then to CEO without real prior experience of what she was getting herself into. And how her starting job title only made her push harder.

She shares techniques about;

Breaking the permission seeking role for an extreme ownership model.

Obsessive book reading and how Jack Canfield’s Success Principles shaped her the most.

Adding value is the main indicator of her success.

Not playing the victim card.

Always coming up with the solution by creating a motion of next steps.

Being humble and not expecting that she deserves everything handed to her, allows her to grow.

How having a curious mind and becoming an infinite learner keeps her in the game.

Her words of wisdom are beyond her age. We’ve loved chatting with her and learning how she’s developed processes that allowed Luxy to grow beyond our expectations, filling in the gaps we never knew that need filling. She’s an exceptional young woman.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Lulu, you can find out more about her and Luxy Hair here:

Luxyhair.com

Lululiang.com

Find the inspirational books Lulu mentioned here:

Success Principles - How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield

Scaling Up - How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't by Verne Harnish

Traction - Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman

Also the tools she likes use that gets her ahead:

Trello.com - Trello’s boards, lists, and cards enable you to organize and prioritize your projects in a fun, flexible and rewarding way.

Slack.com - Slack is a collaboration hub, where the right people and the right information come together, helping everyone get work done.

Zoom.us - The next generation enterprise phone system

Intelligentchange.com - The Five Minute Journal

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Show notes @ https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode4

How We Built, Scaled, and Sold Our Multi-Million Dollar Luxy Hair Business Feb 07, 2019

It’s easy to paint a picture of someone living their dream life and imagine it must have come easy, on a plate.

In this GIANT MUST LISTEN episode we find out the TRUE JOURNEY of what it takes to build a multi-million dollar business and then hand it over to someone else.

Alex and Mimi takes us behind the scenes and share their humble beginnings, ups, downs and everything in between. This is the journey you’re going to hear;

Meeting each other while working in a bank in Toronto, Canada.
Living together at Alex’s mom’s house.
Alex studying Business school at nights while working full-time at the bank
Mimi working many jobs and helping her family.
Mimi dropping out of College.
Alex getting fired and Mimi quitting the bank.
Building a credit score, using debt as an advantage.
How a near wedding disaster brought them a market opportunity.
Soaking up knowledge from working in other businesses.
Hiring the right employees and management that make business easier.
Living in other countries and becoming location independent.
Making money in your sleep.
How the 4 hour work week made sense... and when it didn’t.
Passion, growth and a founding members departure.
Depression, happiness and when realities start hitting.
Moving to London and operating a company from across the ocean.
Finally Living their dream life after persistence.
Building your company into an asset.
The decision to sell Luxy Hair.

All this and so much more.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode, you can find out more about Alex and Mimi here:

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Show notes @ https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode3

How To Create A Positive Mindset And Attitude In Life Feb 06, 2019

Alex is one of the most positive people we know, it’s well known that POSITIVITY is the Ikonn way.

Surrounding yourself with positivity can have a huge dramatic impact on your life, whether that be in your mental health, in relationships, how others see you... to striking the business deal you always dreamed of.

In this episode Mimi shines the spotlight on Alex to get to the root of why he’s so positive. We go deep and uncover 3 really important secrets that will put a smile on your face everyday.

Gratitude - We practice gratitude everyday. Writing down what we are thankful for gives us no end of positivity. We’ve all heard of singing in the shower, but how about trying out a shower of thankfulness?
Visualization - Because we journal everyday, we see exactly where we were before and we see exactly where we are going. The road map of our dreams. And this truly puts a smile on our faces.
Persistence - pushing through hard times and dealing with the odds that are stacked against you is like a building a muscle. And just like when you’ve had a workout, you feel really great once you’re done. The more you overcome life hardships, the more life doesn’t phase your emotional well being - leaving plenty of headspace for positivity

Here is some of the books that was mentioned in the show and have brought us great insights. Hope you get the chance to check these out.

Biology of Belief - Bruce Lipton - https://amzn.to/2GpCFVc

Success Principles by Jack Canfield - https://amzn.to/2tate4a

Get the Edge by Tony Robbins

Subtle art of not giving a Fck - Mark Manson

How do you measure your life? Article by Mark Manson - https://markmanson.net/measure-your-life

The Five Minute Journal by Intelligent Change - https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-five-minute-journal

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode, you can find out more about Alex and Mimi here:

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech

Show notes @ https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode2

Welcome - The Ikonn Experience, With Alex & Mimi Ikonn Jan 31, 2019

The Ikonn Experience is about creating and living your dream life. Join Alex and Mimi Ikonn as they discuss various life and business topics for creating a life of your dreams. They cover important topics such as life purpose, building a life that you love, relationships, entrepreneurship, spirituality, physical, mental and emotional health, parenting and much more. The podcast gives you unique insights into the life Alex and Mimi have created for themselves. Alex and Mimi also feature and interview other successful and established thinkers and voices from all around the world. The Ikonn Experience is designed to inspire you to live your own dream life.

Check out more from us

Mimiikonn.com