Are you ready to go on an adventure? Let’s journey to find what fuels you and how to actually pursue it on The Struggle Isn’t Real Podcast. Entrepreneur, Speaker, and Investor – Codie Sanchez takes you on a weekly journey asking questions of elite achievers, strivers and doers that would be wildly inappropriate at a dinner party. Our goal each week is to remind ourselves that you were not put here to live an ordinary life, you were meant for something more. So we learn from those who have built before us how to reach for our extraordinary. Find out more on www.codiesanchez.com. Were you put here to live an ordinary life? To be common? My answer is unequivocally, NO. You were meant to follow your adventure.
There are two ways to sell anything in life 1) whale hunting 2) daily casting. Most people spend their lives doing the latter. Why? Because hunting big fish is scary. What happens if you don't catch it? Am I going to starve? It seems so much safer to play in the shallows and go after the small fish. The problem is that the fishing is best where the fewest go. Thus this interview is about how to fish in the depths in order to turn the strategic work you are doing into major cash flow. Listen in for this specific actionable plan with Latina Bloggers Connect.
CHOOSING PARTNERS TO GO THROUGH TIME WITH IS CRITICAL FOR NEW BUSINESS OWNERS. SO I'M THRILLED TO PARTNER WITH CHASE INK TO HELP LATINOS DO JUST THAT.
In partnership with Chase Ink, I’ll be going live from the Connecting Minds Conference – a partnership between Chase Ink and the Houston Chamber of Conference - on August 29th at 11:30am CT (make sure to tune in on all my SM) to talk about strategic partnerships in your business.
So what is this partnership all about? Well, they say we stand on the shoulders of giants. I think we stand on the shoulders of small business owners. The backbone of American innovation is made up of the millions of YOU, innovators, entrepreneurs and risk takers. You are the lifeblood. Then I ruminate on this statistic. In the last year 86% of new businesses were created by mi gente, Latinos. That’s $1.4 trillion that fellow Sanchez’s are putting into our economy. #adelante. The tough truth, however, is that one-in-three businesses doesn’t make it past the first year. What to do about it? Well, I believe that is largely due to the lack of professional networks had by business owners and the difficulty they have in accessing capital. So I am particularly excited to partner with Chase Ink and head down to the Connecting Minds event.
“Your network determines your net-worth.”
Think of Chase Ink as a business tool that can help build small businesses through access to broad business services through Chase for Business. From Chase Ink credit cards (which allow small business owners to use points in a way to seriously drive their bottom line), to the resources they have for business owners and Latinos, there are some pretty cool stories. Like one barber, Rich Mendoza of Filthy Rich Barbershop (love that name!), who used his 60,000 Chase Ink points to throw up a huge topiary mustache on the store front, to reel in more mustache-primping man clients. While, David and Emily Ojobaro of Squeezed Online turned their 60,000 Chase Ink points into a pop up DIY juice bar. Sounds lovely!
I’m ready to hear more about what else they have going on. We’re going to put our proverbial money where our mouths are and take some action. We’ll be speaking with Nely Galan, media-mogul, Emmy winner, entrepreneur and author of Self Made, the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and business owners around the area about building up your business network. The truth is, we all rise by lifting others. So if you are a business owner, a Latino, a curious potential entrepreneur, I want to hear from you and I want to chat with Chase Ink and everyone at the conference about your N-E-E-D-S.
Other Connecting Minds panelists include:
· Lupe Murillo – CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
· Cesar Guerra – Chase Business Bankin
“How do you as a small business make yourselves part of the small % who thrive and survive?”
What do you want to hear about? What has been your experience with building a professional network? I want to bring back some answers and solutions for you. What do you want to know about building businesses, growing your relationship base,/ and accessing capital for your business?
Comment below and I will have the experts answer your questions. Or tell me on Instagram @codiesanchez or Twitter @codie_sanchez.
Also – let your voice be heard! Use #ChaseNegocios for their answers and give them a follow at the sites below. Lets show them what happens when small businesses and Latino-owned businesses come together.
Stream and subscribe to my podcast on iTunes click here.
Want to hear a podcast about how to find your why and passion? — Listen to my broadcast on Girl Power Hour Radio. Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want, and then executing.
Get Access Weekly
Weekly ideas, interviews, tips and tricks to design your life.
Email Address
Sign Up
No spam, just good stuff.
Thank you!
I'm A Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur: What Are you?
Aug 14, 2016
Show notes
I Think You Should Question Everything - Especially Me
“I think in life we all were put here to figure out what exactly our unique talents are and then spend every ounce of ourselves in sharing them with the world. ”
— Codie Sanchez
Questions:
1. What do you do?
As Marie Forleo says, I'm a multi-passionate entrepreneur. What does that mean? I head a fashion styling company called ThreadsRefined, which is sort of like having your own personal celebrity stylist or Rachel Zoe on speed dial. We link top fashion experts with people like me, who hate shopping. I head an investment sales group in Latin America selling investments to large institutions and finally, my biggest passion of late, I write, podcast, blog and speak on all things life hacking, business building and lifestyle design right here.
2. What led you do to what you do?
I think in life we all were put here to figure out what exactly our unique talents are and then spend every ounce of ourselves in sharing them with the world. Life to me is an opportunity to voraciously learn, grow and then help others do the same, it's part of the responsibility we get for each day we are allowed to keep breathing. So my life has been in search of my why; from building an international finance business, to a fashion styling company, to traveling the world while doing it, to now helping share what I've learned.
3. What is, if you have one, your daily routine?
I'm a sucker for a process. I wake up in the morning at 6:00 each morning, start with meditation outside for 10 minutes using the Calm app (mosquitos be damned), drink a cup of coffee with coconut oil in it, and then dive into a quick 5 minute journal post followed by 3 hours of deep work. After that I let the day take me from meeting to meeting and email to email but after my strategic work is done.
4. Tell us about your latest project.
My current passion project is really www.codiesanchez.com and a little pen to paper I am putting on why the struggle isn't in fact real. What keeps astounding me is when people say things like, that's life, it's a grind, the struggle is real; I think just the opposite. My first question is always, what if it was easy? Then I go from there. I try not to overcomplicate things, to leverage those who know more than I do and to question the status quo. Doing that has led to some pretty incredible adventures for me from hiking Patagonia, Machu Picchu, surfing in Puerto Escondido, visiting Ankgor Wat and the great wall to learning archery and getting an MBA from Georgetown all while working.
5. What’s next on the horizon?
My podcast, The Struggle Isn't Real, is live on iTunes, and Stitcher soon which I'm thrilled about. It is about forgetting everything you've been told is possible, redefining the 9-5, and taking advantage of the entrepreneurs and innovators who have come before you.
6. What advice do you have for people aspiring to do what you do?
Ask for what you want. Always. Full period, stop. You'll be surprised what happens.
Proustian Questionnaire: -
Your favorite virtue. Persistance.
Your favorite vice. Selfishness.
Your favorite occupation. Curious cats of all kinds.
Your favorite pastime. Running or skateboarding while listening to a podcast (or really ridiculous gangster rap).
Your chief characteristic. Relentlessly and unabashedly curious.
Your idea of happiness. Me, beachside, sunset, stimulating conversation, on top of a surfboard after a full day mentally and physically.
Your favorite name. I love Joaquin, it's my grandfathers name. - If not you, who would you be? Honestly, I'm living the life I want to be living. It's far from perfect but I am really curious to see where it leads.
What's in your handbag? Too much crap. But my favorite items are a mophie phone charger, wireless head phones and I'm lost without my ipad.
What is your present state of mind? It's Sunday, I'm watching the sun set, thinking about life while answering all these questions, drinking a delicious Malbec. I'm pretty d*mn chill.
Your favorite motto. Money isn't the ultimate goal. The goal is freedom. To work on what you want, when you want and where you want, with whom you want.
How do you Adorn Differently? Heading a fashion company this is something I put some thought into. I love supporting boutiques and local Dallas stores first of all and that certainly includes Wendistry. I love wearing brands that mean something, from people that align with my values. Everything I put on says something about me and how I live, I like that message to be thoughtful and strategic.
Get Access Weekly
Weekly ideas, interviews, tips and tricks to design your life.
Like a story right out of the pages of our innermost diary, Christina’s tale is one we’ve all played out in our minds. What if we just quit our jobs, sold it all, and traveled the world? What if we did that thing that calls to us like a siren song? Christina Fabritz CEO & Founder of Flyburds, perpetual wander luster, reformed corporate exec, and 30 something, did just that. My favorite part of this interview is how relatable her story is for us all. From her Office Space like moment of almost losing it in her last company’s break room, to her wondering if she could do it, to the fact that it wasn’t some gut wrenching wake up call that hit her, it was a dirty coffee pot. This millennial version of Maureen Wheeler (Founder of Lonely Planet), shares what she does when fear tries to paralyze her, how she managed to fund her trip of more than 365 days, how she hasn’t paid rent in over a year, to the tools that changed the way she traveled. I hope you enjoy this authentic, soul searching interview from someone just like me and you, who forfeited the white picket fence and chose to take flight.
Her go to travel tools:
Triposo - Your own personal walking guide in any city, any time.
Lonely Planet - Her go to for all things travel related from recommendations, to hotels and everything in between.
Flyburds - If Lonely Planet, Cosmo and Reddit had a travel related love child focused on the fairer sex.
DUFL– Imagine never having a suitcase to lug around ever again. For business travel especially, they send you a duffle, you send them your clothes, they dry clean and have them prepped and ready at all your destinations. **We both haven't used this one but we are dying to!**
Want to hear another podcast about how to find your why and passion? — Listen to my broadcast on Girl Power Hour Radio. Here I talk 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.
Get Access
To just the best stuff, straight to you, every week.
Email Address
Sign Up
We respect your privacy so we ain't about spam.
Thank you!
Monday Slay Time... (One Post, 5 Goodies)
Jul 25, 2016
Show notes
Here is your Monday Slay, 5 tips for making this week a game changer.
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.””
— Tony Robbins
Scheduling is a b*tch isn't it? Calendly makes life a little easier. Simply sign up (it's free). It links to your calendar and you can send anyone you are meeting with your availability, set auto reminders, notifications etc. Don't underestimate the time we lose emailing back and forth scheduling. Multiply your Client/Subscriber List-LeadPages, think if you could mass text your clients an auto signup button, buy more hours button, or join our email list button all to their phone. Then when they click it sends them to an epic landing page. Boom baby, that is Leadpages. What I'm Reading - Oldie but a goodie, "Awaken the Giant Within," by Tony Robbins. He is the master of interventions and life changes. Read it bit by bit like a workbook, and see what happens. Quote I am ruminating on, "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." - Tony Robbins. Best Money I've Spent - The wireless mouse, if you use a laptop, or travel often this will save you mountains of time and is a steal at $7.99. What do you think of Monday Slay? If you dig it please forward to a friend to sign up! I'd love to hear what you want more of, shout out to me on twitter @codie_sanchez. Thank you for going on this journey with me! Codie P.S. — Don't know where to start, but know you want to change something? In this post, I talk about how to become an expert in anything with small, easy steps to start you on your path. P.S.S. - There are no sponsorships for any items I recommend, and I only ever recommend something I use. Instead of sales stuff, just great stuff.
Enter your email to get my tips and tricks to your inbox every week. Brief, unconvential and relevant.
Email Address
Sign Up
No spam ever, just greatness. We never share emails either, that's just rude.
Thank you!
Monday Slay Time... (One Post, 5 Goodies)
Jul 19, 2016
Show notes
““Life is a gift and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” ”
— Tony Robbins
Inspiration: Check out Avicii's new album, Stories, what a pioneer. He blends music from Zac Brown Band, Coldplay, and Wyclef John, all to amazing beats. The songs are perfect for running, background work music, or if you are like me, living room dance parties. He is a great example of another human who is not one dimensional. His industry says you are dance music only, Avicii says no, I am all music. Favorite App-Way of Life. If you believe, like I do, that life is the small things repeated, this app may actually change your life. Too much? I don't know. It is the ultimate daily habit builder. Want to work out every day? Read nightly? Learn Spanish? Track it in the app with great graphics, trends, %'s and statistics. After 21 days see the magic happen. What I'm Reading - Everything I can on Pokemon Go. Anything that can become the #1 app on iTunes 1 week after launching is worth understanding. I've been researching VR and AR pretty consistently and believe with AI it is going to change our world. Quote I am ruminating on, "Life is a gift and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back, by becoming more." - Tony Robbins. Find Me In - NYC this week. I'm doing SoulCycle . Have you tried it? It's like a motivational face kick. Then I'll be gaining it all back by eating at Sushi of Gari. Haven't been? Go to the sushi bar - you're welcome in advance. What recs do you have for me? What do you think of Monday Slay? If you dig it, please forward to a friend to sign up! I'd love to hear what you want more of, shout out to me on twitter @codie_sanchez. Thank you for reading, our tribe is growing my friends! Codie P.S. — Check out my new video (scroll to the bottom here) did you know 163 million americans admit to not liking their jobs? How can we have so much freedom but hate what we spend the most time on? P.S.S. - A little FYI, none of the items I mention are sponsored and I only ever recommend something I use. No sales stuff, just great stuff.
How To Become An Expert In Anything
Jul 10, 2016
Show notes
Note: My articles often contain links to companies I invest/have stake in, or am an affiliate for, meaning we get a commission at no cost to you. I never promote anything I haven't used, or invested in, but since my tagline is to question everything, good to start here! Please see my disclosure page for more.
“Money isn’t the goal. The goal is to work where you want, when you want, and on what you want. - ”
— Codie Sanchez
Most people go after opportunities the traditional way. They want to get paid, get rich and get noticed but they do it wildly inefficiently. If you want to be in a certain industry you go interview at companies that are related, you major in it in college, you talk to people about how to get into the industry or you go get specialized degrees that cost you thousands (aka our giant college debt problem in the US). Let me show you why you are working much harder than you need to. Instead of going after jobs, let the jobs/opportunities come to you. How do you do that? You become an expert in your space. You get paid to be an influencer. This is not a get rich quick idea, this is you leveraging your unique skill and passion to a profitable and sustainable end. Think you don't have what it takes? In this episode with Girl Power Hour Radio, I talk about the five steps you can take right now to know more, in one week, than 99.9% of the population knows on your subject matter.
I hope you enjoy it!
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments. Also I'd love to hear your stories on how you get paid to be an expert now!
Four Steps To Never Having to Interview Again
Can you imagine, never interviewing again? Never job hunting or checking in on employers. Sound like a too good to be true late night tv ad? It’s not. It’s simply bringing opportunities to you, instead of searching for opportunities. How? You become an expert. You build your personal brand, define your space, and create niche. There is extreme power in this. It allows opportunities to flow to you instead of you chasing them. No more interviews instead, people who want you will have to prove to you that they are someone YOU want to work with. Imagine interviewing companies instead of the other way around. That is what it means to be an expert.
Now you might say, that sounds amazing but how? Isn’t becoming an expert difficult?
This is when the little voice in our head creeps in telling us, but wait a second, I’m not an expert? Who am I to share my ideas? I’m too young, too inexperienced, I don’t know enough? What if I fail?
Stop it. As one of my influencers said to me, “Next time the devil tries to feed you nerves – you tell him you didn’t ask his opinion. You close your eyes and listen to your heart beat. Remember you’re supposed to be where you are and feel doubt wash away.” So start with quieting that internal hater.
This step is critical, because often fear is what stops us from taking the one step that will change it all. Click here to listen to real life examples of people doing just that! Now that we have kicked fear to the curb, the honest truth is that becoming an expert is nowhere near as difficult as we are told. Don’t even think about going back to school, put down the self help book, forget spending years toiling as an intern. This is something you can do on the side while still cashing your pay check. I’m going to break down exactly how to do it.
But first who am I to tell you any of this? I don’t proclaim to have it all figured out or be Sheryl Sandberg Jr, far from it, I love four letter words and crop tops WAY too much. I’m a millennial with all the typical trappings, but what I will admit is that I keep jumping over hurdles that others tell me are impossible, enjoying life with experiences that most people wait for retirement to do, and getting access and income far exceeding the norm. I’ve been a Latina journalist covering human trafficking in Mexico, a finance exec consulting with global pensions, a speaker talking about marketing to hundreds, a podcast host on The Struggle Isn’t Real, a startup CEO of ThreadsRefined on the Today Show, and a leader managing a global team in two businesses before the age of 30.
Now I think all of us struggle with sharing our inner badass, especially at Latino’s it just feels lack a like of humility. It’s funnier to talk down about our selves, isn’t it? So I share all of this not to tout how incredible I think I am, in fact I’m ridiculously normal, but to say that everything I have achieved is deliciously feasible. I’m convinced we can do infinitely more than we think we are capable. So if you are stuffed in a cubicle, trying to find what your “purpose” is, or just interested in how to have your cake and eat it too, you are in the right place.
So let’s get you started:
Step One: So you’re going to become an expert. What in? Don’t let this daunt you, whatever you choose does not need to be engraved on your tombstone.
Here’s how to find yours. What can you do for hours and get lost in? Have you had that feeling before where you are so engaged that time fades? When my fingers stroke a keyboard, there is a silence that takes over. So ask yourself, what is yours? Write down the last time you felt like that? Don’t panic if you can’t remember, allow yourself some time to ruminate. Most critically, be honest. It most likely wasn’t the last time you were building houses for the homeless, this is about you not your ego. Flush it out until you get 3-5 times that felt so delectably right.
Step Two: Paint the landscape
Who are the players in your new world? That means open excel right now, create a spreadsheet with 5 tabs 1) Experts 2) Conferences 3) Groups 4) Blogs 5) Books. Each one of these tabs you will fill up with 5 of the top centers of influence in your area to contact them, join them, and read them. Once you’re done you are legitimately more educated on your subject than 99% of the population. Congratulations.
Step 3: Create a Pitch
Don’t agonize. For everything that we have discussed done is better than perfect. You can do everything I just talked about in a coffee fueled weekend. Now get together a little pitch and a media kit. What does that mean? This means you need an email template to send to your top experts. Your goal? You want to help them, guest blog post, speak at conferences, be on podcasts, join the board, volunteer. Whatever it takes to get your name out. If you want mine tweet me at @codie_sanchez.
Step 4: Pound the proverbial pavement. Finally, pitching time.
This is a numbers game so try to collect no’s like people collect medals, every no gets you closer to someone who will say yes. I like using google drive so that I can share my list with my assistants for them update real time. So I create another tab, this one is just to track all my calls, emails and run in’s. I count the number of no’s like the stereotypical man counts the notches in his bed post, with pride.
That is it, four steps to expertise. Sometimes the simplest process is the best one.
Sign upfor more strategies on designing your ideal life and tune in for examples and real life strategies to help your dreams become a reality!
Get Access Every Week
Enter your email to get my tips and tricks to your inbox every week. Brief, unconvential and relevant.
Email Address
Sign Up
No spam ever, just greatness. We never share emails either. That's just rude.
Thank you!
Codie Sanchez
Cannacurious? Here's our contrarians' guide to investing and getting a career into cannabis, or find out more information below:
This article is presented for informational purposes only, is an opinion, and is not intended to recommend any investment, and is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase an interest in any current or future investment vehicle managed or sponsored by Entourage Effect Capital, LLC or its affiliates. Any such solicitation of an offer to purchase an interest will be made by a definitive private placement memorandum or other offering document.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
CEO of ThreadsRefined Codie Sanchez Baker and CEO of Art of Style Ashley Boucher talk how to build your empire one greenback at a time.
