Your First Million

Latest Episodes:

1 solid hour of strategy for Backstage Crowd syndicate members Jun 20, 2020

Show notes

Grab a pen and paper to take notes! Here’s more context on the new BackstageCrowd.com investment syndicate that I have launched with my team. Great for anyone who has questions beyond our Q&A episode, who wants to think through investment strategy within the syndicate, or who is curious about our first deal. Accredited and non-accredited, inquire within!

44. Swati Mylavarapu - Moonshot Investor Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

Finding small gems, investing in them, building teams, getting other like-minded supporters involved, combining the right ingredients for growth… that’s what Swati has done her entire career.

For starters, she invested in herself, getting degrees at Oxford and Harvard as a Rhodes scholar. She learned how great teams and companies are built from the inside at start-ups Quid & Square. Most recently, she learned how capital supports and amplifies entrepreneurs as a partner at KPCB.

Music by Jeff Kaale (1, 2, 3, 4)

Introducing BackstageCrowd.com - an investing syndicate Jun 13, 2020

Show notes

Hear the June 12 virtual Q&A about our new investing syndicate, BackstageCrowd.com.

43. Blended Designs - How Black representation turned into $1m in backpack sales Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

Casey Kelley launched Blended Designs in 2017 after her son told her “I want a bag with my face on it.” Using her background in consumer insights and analytics, she did the research and confirmed that there was a lack of Black representation in school gear. Today, Blended Designs specializes in printing children of color on backpacks, but the product line has expanded into so much more.

In this episode, we talk about the landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision, how Blended Designs stays innovative, and the future of the company.

I’m really looking forward to hear what you think - leave a message... just keep in mind that the recording cuts you off at 1 minute: https://anchor.fm/yfm/message

And thank you Purple for sponsoring the show!

Highlights

12:38 Casey tells me what makes Blended Design backpacks special

15:57 We talk about the COVID-19 masks protests and our observations as Black women

17:25 Casey talks about how Blended Designs earned their first million by listening to their customers

20:41 I ask her how the company pivoted during COVID-19 to make their second (!) million

22:40 Casey tells me what she was doing before Blended Designs and how her son inspired the business

25:30 She explains the importance of protecting intellectual property

28:53 I ask her about the future of Blended Designs

31:56 Casey Kelley tells me (unprompted) what she thinks about my book It’s About Damn Time as someone who primarily enjoys fiction books

Links

Blendeddesigns.com

Credits

Music by Jeff Kaale (1, 2, 3, 4)

1 year anniversary! + response to my last episode Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

June 8, 2019 I hit publish on my first episode of Your First Million. Hear about some behind the scenes thoughts on the first year of episodes and production🙌🏾

Who I was referring to in last night's viral tweet... Jun 04, 2020

Show notes

My opinion is you should listen to the whole episode or not at all...

Get $19,000 worth of business courses for $100 this week only Jun 01, 2020

Show notes

This episode is me selling you something. Only listen if you want $19,000 worth of online business courses for $100. Happens once per year and is insanely valuable. Get my fast track course + 70+ other business courses for $100 June 1 - 8. It’s ridiculous. Listen to the episode and visit itsaboutdamntime.com/bundle for all the info.

42. T-Boz! From the best-selling U.S. girlgroup of all time, TLC (w/special guest @Janine) May 28, 2020

Show notes

Over 85 million albums sold. Record-breaking tours. A career that spans 3 decades. T-Boz from the best-selling U.S. girl group TLC graced us with her (online) presence in this amazing interview. We talk about staying true to yourself, how to do smart business, and speaking publicly about her health. Plus, I ask T-Boz something I’ve wondered for 20 years, and it leads to an unexpected realization.

Special thanks to my brother Alfred ‘Rook’ Hamilton for creating the opportunity for this interview, and @Janine for co-hosting.

Did you enjoy this episode as much as I did? Leave me a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yfm/message

Highlights

14:30 T-Boz describes how to stay true to your sound and yourself in the music industry
18:10 Janine asks T-Boz how she balances discussions about social injustices with positive content on her social media
23:17 She addresses her choice to be public about living with sickle cell
27:08 I ask T-Boz about being the top selling girl group in America, what touring is like now, and whether she’d consider a residency
31:32 Does she feel she’s been taken advantage of in business deals?
37:39 What do she want underestimated entrepreneurs to take away?
41:26 Will Destiny’s Child and TLC face off on Verzuz?
48:10 I ask about how she got OutKast signed
49:55 T-Boz tells us about her company TLCBD and the benefits she’s seen from testing and using the products over the past few years

Links

Tionnewellness.com

Instagram: @therealtboz

Announcing the 8-week IADT mastermind (free!) May 26, 2020

Show notes

itsaboutdamntime.com/vip

41. Chase Jarvis: What Richard Branson, a near-death experience, and missing out on $1B has taught him May 23, 2020

Show notes

Chase Jarvis disappointed a lot of people when he decided to become a photographer. While he’s still taking pictures today, he’s also the founder of CreativeLive, a platform for all kinds of creators, innovators, and hustlers to learn from each other. And he’s also the author of Creative Calling: Establish a Daily Practice, Infuse Your World with Meaning, and Succeed in Work + Life.

We talk about his choice to pursue photography, his near-death experience, and why he so passionately encourages people to create: “You don’t have to see the whole staircase. You just have to see the first couple steps.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Leave me a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yfm/message

Highlights

6:07 Chase talks about what it meant to “summon the courage to disappoint nearly everyone in his life.”
14:54 “The people we end up celebrating in our culture are the people who are willing to stand out.”
15:45 He tells me how he went from wanting to be a professional soccer player to a doctor to a photographer
18:12 I ask him what he means by “Right now is the riskiest time to play it safe”
24:41 Chase tells me how he became friends with Richard Branson
29:56 He describes his near-death experience that pushed him to build his legacy
38:30 Chase reflects on his shift from the world of photography to technology with his app The Best Camera
43:29 Does he feel fulfilled with his work?

Links

CreativeLive.com

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @ChaseJarvis

Arlan’s Photos