Quadruple Down on What’s Working — ASAP

Podcast Summary

• Perspectives on Adversity: Approach adversity with a growth mindset, recognizing that every experience can contribute to personal and professional development. Our worth is not determined by external factors, but rather by our beliefs and actions.

  Adversity can either crumble us or serve as a foundation for our success. Gary Vaynerchuk shared this perspective during his conversations with Kixxrdomus and Cablito on his podcast, DailyVee. Kixxrdomus discussed how his past financial struggles have contributed to his current success, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes instead of dwelling on them. Meanwhile, Cablito, a musician, shared how she has positioned herself in the market to be valued for her worth. Perspective plays a significant role in how we deal with adversity. Some people may see difficult situations as insurmountable obstacles, while others may view them as opportunities for growth. Gary was fascinated by this concept, using the analogy of two people kissing or a glass of champagne to illustrate the different perspectives. He also shared his own experiences with being criticized and how he tries to understand the perspective of those who criticize him. Ultimately, the takeaway is to approach adversity with a growth mindset, recognizing that every experience, good or bad, can contribute to our personal and professional development. It's important to remember that our worth is not determined by external factors, but rather by our own beliefs and actions. By focusing on these principles, we can turn adversity into a foundation for success.

• Diverse backgrounds and experiences shape creative expression: Unique perspectives lead to innovative analogies and art, influenced by language and culture.

  Unique perspectives and experiences shape creative expression, leading to diverse analogies and art. The speaker, who thinks in Russian and is not well-read, shared how her unconventional thinking results in unique analogies. She observed the same in the artist she admired, who is Spanish, and wondered if her language influences her creativity. They met recently, and the speaker was impressed by the artist's New York show and the audience's response. The speaker shared her approach to discovering new artists by reading comments before listening to their music, which she attributes to humility. During her own speaking engagements, she adjusts her delivery based on the audience's reaction, emphasizing the importance of understanding the crowd. Overall, the conversation highlighted the significance of diverse backgrounds and experiences in shaping creative expression and audience engagement.

• Building a solid foundation for success in the arts: Focus on action, humility, learning, and effective resource utilization to create value and establish worth in the arts market

  Creating value and establishing worth in the market requires action, not just self-proclaimed belief. The speaker admires the interviewee's approach to building leverage by putting in the work and utilizing resources effectively, even without a substantial budget. The artist's humility and willingness to learn and improve, along with their talent, are key factors in their success. The speaker emphasizes the importance of avoiding entitlement and instead focusing on building a solid foundation for a career in the arts. It's important to remember that everything great takes time and that every artist should follow this blueprint to create value and establish their worth in the market.

• The importance of humility, gratitude, and focusing on growth: Jasmine Star shares how Gary Vaynerchuk's inspiration led to a successful business venture, emphasizing the importance of being yourself, building self-esteem without entitlement, and staying grounded and focused on growth.

  Humility and gratitude are essential for personal growth and success, while entitlement is a poison that can hinder progress. Jasmine Star, a forty-somethings alum, shared her experience of how Gary Vaynerchuk inspired her to start a new business venture, leading to a 7-figure revenue stream. She emphasized that it was not just about the business, but the empowerment to be herself. Star also highlighted the importance of building self-esteem without entitlement, which she attributed to her immigrant background and being raised by a loving mother. The speaker warned against the danger of entitled individuals, particularly the younger generation who live in privileged environments and express their opinions on social media without having accomplished anything. The community built around Star's business is currently growing, with plans to reach 10,000 members by the end of 2018. Overall, the conversation underscores the importance of staying grounded, being grateful, and focusing on growth rather than entitlement.

• Exploring Partnerships for a Social Curator App: When considering expanding a business, it's essential to evaluate potential partnerships carefully to ensure a synergistic relationship and avoid spreading resources too thin.

  Identifying and catering to the primary demands of an audience can be a challenging decision for a business. In the discussed scenario, the desire for a social curator app with organizational features led to the question of whether to develop a new app or partner with an existing one. The speaker considered the potential of creating a half-baked app or quadrupling down on the current business model. Ultimately, they decided to explore potential partnerships with existing apps in the space, recognizing the importance of being thoughtful about what one is good at and what may not come naturally. The process involved extensive research and reaching out to potential partners, with the goal of finding a synergistic relationship. Although the initial preferred partner was not as enthusiastic, the experience provided valuable insights for further exploration in the app space.

• Define unique value proposition and understand competition before partnerships: Explore potential partnerships with a clear value proposition, understand competition, prioritize face-to-face interactions, and consider acquiring lesser-known competitors for valuable technology or intellectual property.

  When considering potential business partnerships or collaborations, it's important to clearly define your unique value proposition and understand your competition before engaging in discussions. The speaker shared their experience of reaching out to six other apps in their space and discovering that they had a unique approach to content creation that had gained organic traction with users. Despite the potential efficiency of virtual meetings, the speaker emphasized the importance of face-to-face interactions when entering into a partnership. They also highlighted the importance of exploring the bottom of the market and considering acquiring lesser-known competitors that may have valuable technology or intellectual property. Ultimately, the speaker encouraged a proactive and exploratory approach to business growth, emphasizing the abundance of opportunities and the importance of differentiating oneself in the market.

• Discovering potential in top players: Recognize top players' potential and impact, and remember to give back to help the next generation succeed.

  Sometimes, the underdogs may have great potential, but it's the top players who have the leverage and the resources to make things happen. The speaker shared a personal story about discovering Gary Vaynerchuk's business meeting through an Instagram live and feeling like she was part of it. She was so inspired that she ended up buying a large investment in the product they were discussing, and later donated it to a organization that helps young entrepreneurs. This experience brought her back to her childhood memories of her father, an immigrant who worked multiple jobs to buy his children their first pair of nice shoes. The speaker's story highlights the importance of recognizing the potential of top players and the impact they can have, while also remembering the importance of giving back and helping the next generation succeed.