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    The Business of Being Yourself, with Andy Frisella - MFCEO11

    enAugust 18, 2015

    Podcast Summary

    • Emphasizing the importance of producing high-quality workStrive for excellence, acknowledge mistakes, and continually improve to deliver the best content for your audience.

      Producing high-quality work and holding yourself to the highest standards is crucial for success, whether it's for a podcast or any other brand. If you put out subpar work, don't be afraid to acknowledge it and make improvements. The MFCEO project, a podcast about business and life, emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and striving for excellence. The hosts, Andy Fracello, Vaughn Kohler, and Ben Newman, believe that listeners deserve the best, and they aren't afraid to go back and re-record episodes if necessary. The content of the podcast compounds on each other, so it's beneficial to start from the beginning and listen through. Find all the podcasts and related resources at themfceo.com.

    • Being authentic is crucial for building strong relationships and creating a loyal customer baseAuthenticity is essential for building trust and creating meaningful impact in both personal and professional life. Embrace your unique strengths and talents, and let your true self shine through.

      Authenticity is crucial in both business and personal life. Wearing a disguise, whether it's a pair of questionable fashion trends or trying to be someone else, can hinder trust and hinder success. Being true to oneself and understanding one's values and identity is essential for building strong relationships and creating a loyal customer base. Authenticity is the foundation for creating something meaningful and impactful. Additionally, being comfortable with who you are allows you to focus on your unique strengths and talents, rather than trying to meet someone else's standards. So, embrace your authentic self and let it shine through in all aspects of your life.

    • Being yourself: Strive to be the best versionStrive to be authentic, inspiring trust and admiration, a journey of effort and self-reflection, influencing societal expectations, examples: Trump, Oprah, important goal

      Being yourself doesn't mean hiding behind excuses or being a "total fucking idiot." Instead, it means striving to be the best version of yourself. Authenticity and self-awareness go hand-in-hand, and it's a journey that requires effort and self-reflection. People who are authentic inspire trust and admiration, and they often defy societal expectations. The speaker uses examples like Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey to illustrate this point. The road to authenticity may be challenging, as we are often influenced by external pressures to conform. But ultimately, being true to yourself is a worthwhile goal. As the speaker notes, "it's something that people don't realize how important it truly is to become yourself."

    • Stay true to yourself for authentic connectionsBeing authentic builds genuine connections, even if it means losing some potential audience. Embrace who you are and stay true to your brand.

      Being authentic and true to yourself is key to connecting with your audience. The speaker shares his personal experience of trying to tone down his voice to please everyone, only to discover that his most popular posts were the ones where he spoke honestly. He emphasizes that everyone is unique and should not try to be someone else. The speaker also mentions the importance of staying true to your brand and not watering it down to appeal to everyone. He encourages embracing who you are, even if it means losing some potential audience, as the most effective way to build a genuine connection with those who resonate with you.

    • The importance of being authenticBeing true to oneself fosters deeper connections and a greater sense of happiness. Embrace unique qualities, even if unconventional, for personal growth and fulfillment.

      Being authentic is essential for both drawing people in and finding happiness in life. During a conversation with an old and wise mentor, the importance of being true to oneself became clear. Authenticity is necessary for building a successful brand, business, or personal life, as people can sense when someone is being insincere. Moreover, not being authentic can lead to feelings of unhappiness and fraudulence. Embracing one's unique qualities and quirks, even if they may be unconventional, is crucial for personal growth and fulfillment. Life is too short to go through it pretending to be someone else. Embrace who you are, and own it, even if it means explaining yourself to others. Authenticity fosters deeper connections and a greater sense of happiness.

    • Being true to oneself and promoting unityEmbrace your true self, make harmless jokes, and focus on reducing racial tensions for a more united and happier society.

      Being true to oneself is the key to success and happiness in life, as well as fostering unity and love among people, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds. The speaker shared a personal experience with a sensitive nature and emphasized the importance of humor and joking, which should not be limited by race or ethnicity. He criticized the current societal focus on negative racial issues and the inability to make harmless jokes, which he believes is counterproductive to promoting unity and understanding among different races. The speaker admired comedian Dave Chappelle for his ability to make jokes about all races, which were true and funny because of their truth. He encouraged people to focus on being better human beings and reducing racial tensions, rather than fueling them.

    • The Power of AuthenticityAuthenticity leads to stronger relationships, increased self-confidence, and a more fulfilling life by accepting reality, focusing on self-awareness, self-acceptance, and expressing oneself honestly.

      Authenticity is essential for personal and professional growth. Being real and down-to-earth with oneself and others is the foundation of authenticity. Emulating others may provide influences but trying to be a carbon copy will not lead to greatness or success. Authenticity is important in business as well, where many companies try to imitate leaders instead of being original. However, being authentic means not taking oneself too seriously and being open to the fact that not everyone will agree with what we say or do. To become more authentic, one must accept this reality and focus on being true to oneself. Authenticity starts with self-awareness, self-acceptance, and expressing oneself honestly. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the rewards are worth it. Authenticity leads to stronger relationships, increased self-confidence, and a more fulfilling life.

    • Focus on pleasing authentic audienceAuthenticity is earned by doing right, being good, and continuously improving. Mistakes are inevitable, but owning them and learning from them builds a dedicated following.

      Being authentic in business means focusing on pleasing and connecting with the audience that resonates with your brand, rather than trying to please everyone. Living with a clear conscience and taking responsibility for mistakes are essential in developing an authentic voice. Authenticity is earned through doing the right thing, being a good person, and continuously improving. Mistakes are inevitable, but owning them and learning from them is crucial. By focusing on authenticity and living with integrity, businesses can build a dedicated and passionate following.

    • Owning up to mistakesAdmit mistakes, learn from them, apologize if needed, and take steps to make things right to gain respect and productivity

      Making mistakes is a natural part of life, and it's important to own up to them and take responsibility for fixing them. Passive language and making excuses can make a bad situation worse. Being authentic and owning your mistakes can lead to respect and success. Additionally, having clear core values can help guide your actions and decisions. When faced with mistakes, it's crucial to learn from them, apologize if necessary, and take steps to make things right. By doing so, you'll gain respect from others and be more productive in your personal and professional life.

    • Core values guide decisions and foster authenticityIdentifying and embracing core values helps navigate business decisions, build relationships, and create a strong foundation for personal and business growth.

      Having clear and authentic core values is essential for both personal and business growth. Core values act as a compass, guiding decisions, and helping to stay true to who you are. They foster authenticity, build positive relationships, and create a sense of belonging for customers and employees. By living and breathing your core values, you can make authentic decisions, improve your business, and deal effectively with critics. Don't just copy core values from others, but identify and embrace the ones that resonate with you. They will help you navigate difficult business decisions, provide a sense of direction, and create a strong foundation for your business and personal brand.

    • Understanding core values and audience is key to handling criticismStay true to your values and understand your audience to handle criticism effectively, focusing on passionate followers.

      Having a clear understanding of your core values and who you're trying to serve is crucial for handling criticism and dealing with haters. Being self-aware and recognizing the difference between constructive criticism and trolls is essential. It's natural to get emotionally invested in your work, but staying true to your values and understanding your audience will help you stay authentic and focused. Harley-Davidson is an excellent example of a company that understands its base and stays true to its values, even when faced with ideas that don't align with its brand. Remember, not everyone will like what you stand for, but focusing on the passionate followers who do will help you make a bigger impact.

    • Stay true to your core audienceBusinesses should focus on their dedicated customer base, seek feedback, and remain authentic to build trust, loyalty, and a strong brand culture.

      Businesses should prioritize their core audience and remain true to their brand instead of trying to appeal to everyone indiscriminately. Harley-Davidson serves as an excellent example of a company that has built a passionate following by staying authentic to its base. By doing so, Harley-Davidson has created trust, loyalty, and a strong culture around its brand, insulating it from competition. Businesses should focus on their dedicated customer base and seek their feedback to improve, rather than relying on opinions from those outside their core audience. The Dollar Beard Club is a current example of a company that is successfully implementing this strategy by catering to its niche audience of beard enthusiasts.

    • Authentic Connection: Embracing Unique IdentityAuthentic brands connect with their audience by acknowledging and celebrating shared experiences. Dollar Beard Club's humorous commercials and embracing of bearded men's unique identity built a strong following.

      Companies that connect with their audience authentically and embrace their unique identity can build a strong following. The speaker shares his experience with the Dollar Beard Club, a company that caters to bearded men and has gained popularity through humorous and relatable commercials. He explains that there's an unspoken bond among bearded men, and acknowledging and celebrating this shared experience builds "beard respect." The speaker admires the company's authenticity and encourages graphic designers to create a logo that incorporates a person's face and beard. He also shares a quote from Margaret Thatcher about consensus and the importance of standing for something, even if not everyone agrees. The speaker concludes that authenticity and staying true to one's base are essential for building a successful brand.

    • Be authentic and true to yourselfEmbrace your core values, don't take yourself too seriously, and inspire passion in others through authenticity

      Being authentic and true to yourself is crucial for creating passion and connection with others. This means identifying your core values and living by them, not taking yourself or others too seriously, and being able to laugh at yourself. By embracing who you are, both personally and professionally, you can generate a strong culture and social media presence. Don't worry about those who aren't passionate about you – instead, focus on being authentic and creating passion in others. The example given was the strong culture and success of businesses in the industry that embrace authenticity and inspire passion in their customers. Additionally, there is a current trend of motivational podcasts that focus on self-improvement, but the unique value of this discussion lies in the emphasis on authenticity and being true to oneself.

    • Be true to yourself for personal happiness and professional successEmbrace your unique style, communicate consistently, stand for what you believe, express thoughts respectfully, and create a valuable, authentic self.

      Being authentic to yourself is crucial for both personal happiness and professional success. The speaker emphasizes that everyone has their unique style and it's essential to embrace it, even if it means missing out on certain opportunities. Authenticity is rare and valuable, making it a desirable trait in both personal and business relationships. It's important to stand for what you believe in and communicate it consistently. Being authentic doesn't mean being disrespectful or disruptive, but rather having the courage to express your thoughts and ideas, even if they differ from others. It's more valuable to be the person who respectfully voices their concerns or disagreements than someone who blindly agrees, potentially leading to costly mistakes. In essence, being authentic is about being true to yourself and creating a product - your unique self - that is in high demand.

    • Be authentic for successAuthenticity builds trust, leads to innovation, and creates loyal customers. Speak up, even if it's difficult, and find a job where your feedback is valued.

      Being authentic in the workplace creates value, builds trust, and leads to loyalty. The speaker encourages employees to express their thoughts and ideas, even if they differ from their bosses or management, as it can lead to improvement and innovation. Anonymous surveys are used by companies because employees may be too afraid to speak up otherwise. Authenticity creates repeat customers and the ability for word-of-mouth referrals. If you're not authentic and don't know who you are, it's important to take the time to figure it out. The speaker emphasizes that if you're not in a job where your feedback is valued, it may be time to find a new one. Overall, being authentic is effective and leads to success in both personal and professional life.

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    2:47: Interview: Janie Hoffman, Founder/CEO, Mamma Chia -- In an interview recorded at Mamma Chia headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., Hoffman spoke about her personal experience with chia and how it led the brand’s creation. She also discussed how she evaluated the opportunity for Mamma Chia, why pre-launch market research was critical to her first meeting with Whole Foods and the brand’s early development, and how she attracted Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman as an investor and advisor. Later, she explained why hiring experienced professionals who were not fully aligned with the company’s mission caused very serious problems and how the current staffing process resulted in a new president of Mamma Chia. Finally, Hoffman discussed industry competition, why she’s turned down offers to sell the company and why meditation is key to her “spiritual hygiene.”

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    Already an accomplished marketing executive when he launched the brand in 1996, Bello helped shape SoBe’s healthy halo and exotic vibe by infusing its drinks with trendy functional ingredients like ginseng and ginkgo biloba. However, he admits that SoBe was essentially “sugar water” packaged and designed to give consumers what they believed to be a healthier option.

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    Bello’s admission is part of an intriguing conversation included in this episode. In it, he expounded upon the development of SoBe, including early missteps and why coming of age during an era of “healthy hedonism” turned it into a top-seller.  He also chronicled his long career as a business executive and entrepreneur, which began with an ROTC scholarship and a tour of duty in the Vietnam War and included roles with General Foods and the NFL. Bello also explained why he accepted an offer to become chairman of Reed’s, a ginger-centric brand of craft sodas, and how he views its products as providing the kind of functional benefits that SoBe lacked.

    Show notes:

    2:42: Interview: John Bello, Co-Founder, SoBe/Chairman, Reed’s -- In an interview recorded at Reed’s headquarters in Norwalk, Conn., Bello recounted how his experience in the Navy provided a foundation for his business career and how he earned the nickname “Merchant of the Mekong Delta” during the Vietnam War. He also explained why working on the Sanka brand while at General Foods was his “first exposure to wellness,” and what he learned about branding and distribution while at PepsiCo. Later, he spoke about his experience as the vice president of marketing for NFL Properties and how it gave him his first taste of entrepreneurship and how a stint at AriZona paved the way for SoBe’s marketing strategy. He also explained why the initial concept for SoBe failed and how the brand’s embrace of “healthy hedonism” and timely distribution opportunities gave it a runway for success. Finally, he spoke about why he joined Reed’s and why he views its ginger beer brand as potentially filling a void in major beverage portfolios.

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