Byron Reese Believes Technology Will Bring About A New Golden Age Of Humanity

Fascinated about how things worked and technology from a young age, today’s guest, Byron Reese, makes you question, are you a machine?

Byron Reese, Gigaom

Byron Reese, Gigaom

Fascinated about how things worked and technology from a young age, today’s guest, Byron Reese, makes you question, are you a machine? Today, he puts his fascination into good use as the CEO and publisher of Gigaom, an industry-leading technology research company. Bryon is also an award-winning public speaker and author of “The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity.”

Byron grew up in Austin, TX and became an entrepreneur at the young age of 12. He did not have entrepreneurship in his family background, but that wouldn’t stop Byron from becoming a great success today. As a futurist, a forward thinker, Byron helps you think about the good that artificial intelligence has to offer and where we are going in this age of technology. Listen in to hear more about Byron:

  • Growing up

  • Rice University

  • Starting his first company with a can of spray paint

  • Starting Knowingly

  • Santa Mail

  • Talking about Gigaom and AI

  • Are you a machine?

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“450 businesses is a lot. How do you think about playing the long game vs a short one, when it comes to sticking with something for so long?”

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“What are We in the end?”

Links from this episode:

Listen to this episode now: 


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Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

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Matt Mandell Is Automating Businesses So They Can Focus On Higher Priorities

Starting out young, today’s guest, Matt Mandell, created his first company at the age of 12. Matt grew up with a supportive family full of entrepreneurs, so Matt was very comfortable with entrepreneurship from the start. He attended college in DC, where he spent the next several years developing multiple companies that were selective to college students.

Matt Mandell, GAM Payments

Matt Mandell, GAM Payments

Starting out young, today’s guest, Matt Mandell, created his first company at the age of 12. Matt grew up with a supportive family full of entrepreneurs, so Matt was very comfortable with entrepreneurship from the start. He attended college in DC, where he spent the next several years developing multiple companies that were selective to college students.

Matt is well known for his serial entrepreneurship and has spoken all across the nation teaching students how to become entrepreneurs themselves. He has been publicized multiple times, including New York Times, has helped start up multiple companies, and now is a managing partner with GAM Payments, a payment solution provider for mid-market companies. Interviewing Matt showed that there are different ways to look at being a leader that really make you think. Tune in to hear more:

  • Growing up in an Entrepreneurial Family

  • Creating his first business at the age of 12

  • College experiences in DC

  • The many businesses Matt created while in College

  • Mentoring at Founder Institute

  • Automation and Efficiency

  • Investing in companies instead of creating them

  • Meaning and reasoning for GAM Payments

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“How do you realize when automation is necessary or when you should just do the small task yourself?

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“If something goes wrong, it is my fault for not setting up the correct system and process for my team”

Links from this episode:

Listen to this episode now: 


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Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

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Dr. Dileep Rao Teaches How to Create Wealth and Keep It

Entrepreneur, investor, public speaker and author are a few titles that Dr. Dileep Rao is known for. He came from India to America in 1973 for his education, and has been a success ever since. While obtaining his PhD, he started working for an Adventure Capital firm one summer that ended up changing his life. He since then has helped invest in hundreds of businesses, which includes four businesses he started himself.

Dr. Dileep Rao, Author of “Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained”

Dr. Dileep Rao, Author of “Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained”

Entrepreneur, investor, public speaker and author are a few titles that Dr. Dileep Rao is known for. He came from India to America in 1973 for his education, and has been a success ever since. While obtaining his PhD, he started working for an Adventure Capital firm one summer that ended up changing his life. He since then has helped invest in hundreds of businesses, which includes four businesses he started himself. He is now a professor at the Florida International University and has been awarded numerous awards for teaching.

Dr. Dileep Rao is now a nationally acclaimed author, writing “Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained”. He was able to study many successful entrepreneurs in his time, and he came up with 7 steps that all successful entrepreneurs seemed to follow. His book dives deep into his findings. Learn more about Dr. Dileep in this episode!

·         Coming to America for Education

·         Working for his first Adventure Capital Firm

·         Helping Fund hundreds of companies

·         His experience writing his book “Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained”

·         The 7 steps for Entrepreneurs

·         Where growth opportunities are at

·         What Dr. Dileep is doing today

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“Where do you see the future of venture capital going next?”

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“Numbers help you monitor where you are going”

Links from this episode:

·         Dr. Dileep’s website

·         Amazon

·         Founder Institute

·         Audible

Listen to this episode now: 


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Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

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Greg Alterman is Making Life Simpler with Gender Neutral Everyday Products

Today’s guest grew up with Entrepreneurial spirit surrounding him. All of the men in Greg Alterman’s family for generations owned and operated one of the largest grocery stores chains in the South since the early 1900’s.

Greg Alterman, m/f people

Greg Alterman, m/f people

Today’s guest grew up with Entrepreneurial spirit surrounding him. All of the men in Greg Alterman’s family for generations owned and operated one of the largest grocery stores chains in the South since the early 1900’s. With all the entrepreneurial passion within him, he started his first successful shirt business while attending college at the University of Florida. Alternate Apparel successfully grew until he sold the company for $60 million dollars nearly 30 years later.

In 2015 Greg suffered from a brain hemorrhage that would change his life forever. During his recovery, he noticed that vibrant colors and clutter really were bothersome to his sight which lead him to create his newest business endeavor, m/f people. Alterman wanted to company that didn’t market towards one sex or the other. m/f people focuses on sleek and simple designs for skin care products as well as apparel. Listen in to hear more of Greg’s amazing journey!

  • Family Owned business that started on the side of the road in the early 1900’s

  • Greg’s Entrepreneurial spirit from early on

  • Going to college on a Golf Scholarship

  • What Greg did to create income once his scholarship was no longer there

  • Alternative Apparel

  • Selling a company for $60 million dollars

  • How Brain surgery changed his life

  • His vision behind m/f people

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“How do you stick to the grind for so long?”

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“Listen to your own gut instinct.”

Links from this episode:

Listen to this episode now: 


The A-List

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If you are already a member of the A-list then you can easily access your bonus content from right here! 

Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

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NASA's Parker Solar Probe Launch: A Historic Interview To Touch The Sun

NASA made history on August 12, 2018, launching the Parker Solar Probe; their first ever mission to touch the sun. Luckily, I was invited by NASA to come down to Cape Canaveral to have a front row seat to the rocket launch! While there, I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing Felipe Ruiz, who is the Deputy Lead Mechanical Engineer from John’s Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

Parker Solar Probe: Credit - Jon Reino Photography

Parker Solar Probe: Credit - Jon Reino Photography

NASA made history on August 12, 2018, launching the Parker Solar Probe; their first ever mission to touch the sun. Luckily, I was invited by NASA to come down to Cape Canaveral to have a front row seat to the rocket launch!

This was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity that I am proud to say I was able to witness with my own two eyes. While there, I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing Felipe Ruiz, who is the Deputy Lead Mechanical Engineer from John’s Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. He helped directly build the Parker Solar Probe and was kind enough to share his personal journey contributing to such an important advancement in human civilization.

The Parker Solar Probe will use seven gravity assist Venus flybys over the next seven years to slowly shrink its orbit around the sun. This will bring the Parker Solar Probe as close as 3.83 million miles to the center of the sun. On the probe’s closest orbit, it will be seven times closer than any spacecraft before it. Eventually becoming the fastest human-made object in existence, at 430,000 mph relative to the sun. The spacecraft will transmit its first science observations in December.

Listen to this episode now: 


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Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

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Alex Batdorf Is Teaching Female Entrepreneurs How To Get Shit Done

Did you know that only 17% of all startups have a female founder? Well we are lucky enough to have a female founder on our show today, Alex Batdorf. Alex is a business coach, co-founder of Zip Fit, a company that delivers a perfect fit denim for every body and now the creator of a YouTube series called Get Sh!t Done.

Alex Bartdorf, Creator of the Get Sh!t Done YouTube Series

Alex Bartdorf, Creator of the Get Sh!t Done YouTube Series

Did you know that only 17% of all startups have a female founder? Well, we are lucky enough to have a female founder on our show today, Alex Batdorf. Alex is a business coach, co-founder of Zip Fit, a company that delivers a perfect fit denim for every body and now the creator of a YouTube series called Get Sh!t Done. This series focuses on helping female entrepreneurs maintain a balance between pursuing purpose and profit.

Growing up in Seattle, Alex had a lot of family support; they always told her the sky was the limit. She was never that kid that knew she would be an entrepreneur, she just knew she wanted to impact the world. Moving to Chicago for her undergrad degree was a big culture shock for her, but taught her a lot. After getting her Sociology degree and seeing all the entrepreneurs from her classes she realized the potential she had to become the great entrepreneur she is today. Tune in for more!

  • Growing up in Seattle

  • Culture shock moving to Chicago

  • How Sociology influences her as a founder

  • The story of starting ZipFit

  • The ins and outs of finding investors

  • Her new Youtube series, Get Shit Done

  • How she is helping other Female Entrepreneurs

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“How do you know when it is time for a change, and when you recognize it, how do you push it forward?”

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“You have to give yourself oxygen first… if you don’t have oxygen for yourself, nothing else can work.”

Links from this episode:


The A-List

Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

If you are already a member of the A-list then you can easily access your bonus content from right here! 

Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Ambition Today Episode Sponsors:

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Mitch Wainer: Bringing an Infectious Energy to the Marketing World

We are exploring the marketing world on today’s episode, with our special guest, Mitch Wainer. He is the creative marketing leader with many accomplishments such as Co-Founding Digital Ocean and being the Chief Marketing Officer at Clubhouse, a project management platform for software teams that provide the perfect balance of simplicity and structure. Mitch is an active advisor and speaker on entrepreneurship and growth marketing to the startup community

Mitch Wainer, Chief Marketing Officer at Clubhouse

Mitch Wainer, Chief Marketing Officer at Clubhouse

We are exploring the marketing world on today’s episode, with our special guest, Mitch Wainer. He is the creative marketing leader with many accomplishments such as Co-Founding Digital Ocean and being the Chief Marketing Officer at Clubhouse, a project management platform for software teams that provide the perfect balance of simplicity and structure. Mitch is an active advisor and speaker on entrepreneurship and growth marketing to the startup community

Mitch grew up with a great family support system, that he feels is an important part in his entrepreneurial success. He graduated with a degree in Marketing from Northeastern. Short after graduating college, he found himself sitting in board meetings with seasoned professionals, trying to convince them that Facebook and Social Media is the way of the future. Listen in to find out more about Mitch and his success

  • High school and college years

  • Family Support System

  • Teaching himself how to build websites

  • Mitch’s first start out of college

  • Being a part of the Ask Jason podcast

  • Co-founding Digital Ocean

  • Mitch’s role at Clubhouse

  • Marketing then compared to marketing now

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“Do you travel often, how important is travel for you, how do you balance time for those new experiences and get shit done as a founder?”

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“The support system around you is a key ingredient to being successful”

Links from this episode:

  •  Listen to this episode now: 


The A-List

Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

If you are already a member of the A-list then you can easily access your bonus content from right here! 

Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Ambition Today Episode Sponsors:

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Brian Pasalich Is Setting The Foundation For Financial Health And Wellbeing

Growing up in an immigrant family, Brian Pasalich lived in Chicago, Croatia and even a small town in Montana all by the age of 13, which has allowed Pasalich to have a deeper understanding of the different walks of life that people face. This combined with a passion for helping people led him to his career in financial planning. He is the founder of Foundational as well as the Vice President of MassMutual.

Brian Pasalich, Founder of Foundational

Brian Pasalich, Founder of Foundational

Growing up in an immigrant family, Brian Pasalich lived in Chicago, Croatia and even a small town in Montana all by the age of 13, which allowed him to have a deeper understanding of the different walks of life that people face. This combined with a passion for helping people led him to his career in financial planning. He is now the founder of Foundational, a consumer-mindset driven platform for financial health and wellbeing

Since a young age, Brian’s passion has been helping others. In his career, he has been a volunteer EMT, a flight paramedic with the Army Reserve, serving on two SWAT teams, and a civilian flight paramedic for a trauma center. He majored in Microbiology at the University of Montana before finding his passion for helping people through financial planning and serving as a Mentor with Founder Institute. Listen in to find out about Brian’s unique experiences and how it has helped him help others:

  • Being a SWAT flight paramedic
  • Majoring in Microbiology at University of MT
  • How his failing business was the best thing that happened to him
  • Creating Foundational.co
  • Being a part of MassMutual team
  • Mentoring at Founder Institute New York
  • Being on the board for Marriage Equality
  • Staying active in the LGBT community
  • How health and fitness is a major part of his life

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“Why does family matter, and how do you balance your personal life with your work life?

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“Name one goal you can accomplish without money”

Links from this episode:

 

 Listen to this episode now: 


The A-List

Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

If you are already a member of the A-list then you can easily access your bonus content from right here! 

Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

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Matt Britton Is Changing The Face Of Consumer Intelligence For The Millennial Generation With Suzy

As a serial entrepreneur, Matt Britton has successfully acquired and sold many companies at the perfect time. He is most known for his important role in creating MRY (Mr. Youth) and Suzy.

Matt Britton, Found of Suzy

Matt Britton, Found of Suzy

As a serial entrepreneur, Matt Britton has successfully acquired and sold many companies at the perfect time. He is most known for his important role in creating MRY (Mr. Youth) and Suzy. MRY is a digital and social media marketing agency that helps companies market to the youth, which is tomorrow’s future leaders. His latest venture, Suzy, is a consumer intelligence platform which helps bring the voice of real consumers directly to brands.

Now known as America’s leading expert on the Millennial Generation, Britton’s entrepreneurial spirit all started because of parties believe it or not. He ran 5 to 7 parties a week, and local businesses started to take notice. They would ask him to advertise their business during the parties, which led him to create his first business venue, Magma Group. This was just the beginning for Britton, listen to hear more of his great story:   

  • How Magma Group came about
  • The meaning behind “Magma”
  • Creating MRY, Mr. Youth
  • How MRY got Microsoft as their customer
  • How Suzy was developed
  • His book, “Youth Nation”
  • Being a serial entrepreneur
  • Being an investor

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“You have started several companies over the years, what is being a serial entrepreneur mean to you?.”

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“Ninety-nine percent of decisions made in business have no data behind it”

Links from this episode:

 

 Listen to this episode now: 


The A-List

Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

If you are already a member of the A-list then you can easily access your bonus content from right here! 

Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Ambition Today Episode Sponsors:

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Adam Tishman, Bringing Customization To Your Sleep

Do you have to be an expert on a product in order to become a successful entrepreneur? Let’s ask today's guest, Adam Tishman. He is a New Yorker through and through, growing up in Manhattan helped his independence from a young age before becoming the co-founder of Helix Sleep.

Adam Tishman, Co-Founder of Helix Sleep

Adam Tishman, Co-Founder of Helix Sleep

Do you have to be an expert on a product in order to become a successful entrepreneur? Let’s ask today's guest, Adam Tishman. Tishman is a New Yorker through and through, growing up in Manhattan helped his independence from a young age. He received his Bachelors Degree at Princeton in History before he decided to pursue an MBA where he met his co-founders of Helix Sleep.

Tishman knew he wanted to be a successful entrepreneur one day, however, he never thought it would be in mattresses. Knowing that mattress buying was confusing, expensive and hard for a lot of consumers, Tishman and his co-founders knew there had to be a better way. Listen for more details on how they have developed an amazing product, and what lead to Tishman's success:

  • Born and raised in NY
  • Growing up with a metro card
  • Obtaining a BA at Princeton
  • Tishman’s early on careers
  • Meeting his co-founders
  • How Helix Sleep came about
  • The research behind Helix
  • How sleep is innovative and necessary
  • The meaning behind the name “Helix”

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
As an entrepreneur: How important is sleep to you?

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“As you build your business, it is not just product at the end of the day, it is also the vision that you have and the story that you tell.”

Links from this episode:

 

 Listen to this episode now: 


The A-List

Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

If you are already a member of the A-list then you can easily access your bonus content from right here! 

Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Ambition Today Episode Sponsors:

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Allen Saakyan's Simulation, Discussing The Future Of Humanity

We are proud to have Allen Saakyan on our show today. Not only do I get the pleasure of interviewing him, I had the privilege of being interviewed for his podcast, Simulation, as well!

Allen Saakyan, Simulation

Allen Saakyan, Simulation

We are proud to have Allen Saakyan on our show today. Not only do I get the pleasure of interviewing him, but I also had the privilege of being interviewed for his podcast, Simulation, as well! This episode will be a little different as we go back and forth asking questions for both of our podcasts, you won’t want to miss it!

Growing up, Allen knew he was destined to take a different path. He was always curious, which drove him to wonder why so many people always took the same path. His quest became to figure out how could he help people desire to take their own path? Fast forward, and now he is the successful founder of Simulation, a podcast that facilitates humanity’s most thought-provoking questions.  He also is the host of World’s Fair, a festival with mind-blowing technology and futuristic talks. Listen in to hear more about:

  • Allen's meaning of Simulation
  • How people are working to make the world a better place
  • Why mentorship is so crucial
  • How Allen is working to bring back the iconic World’s Fair
  • The need to talk about the future and why it is important
  • What is the most beautiful thing in the world

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“Value is determined by a person's passion to change the world and make it a better place”

Links from this episode:

 

Listen to this episode now: 


The A-List

Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

If you are already a member of the A-list then you can easily access your bonus content from right here! 

Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Ambition Today Episode Sponsors:

Founder Institute

WeWork

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Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer On Truly Knowing Your Customer

A successful entrepreneur, speaker, and father of 7, Wes Schaeffer is the person you seek when you want to generate more sales. Wes Schaeffer is a marketing strategist and is known as The Sales Whisperer. He grew up in Houston, TX, served in the Air Force, graduated from A&M and became a successful salesman.

Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer

Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer

A successful entrepreneur, TED speaker, and father of seven, Wes Schaeffer is the person you seek when you want to generate more sales. Wes Schaeffer is a marketing strategist and is best known as The Sales Whisperer. He grew up in Houston, TX, served in the Air Force, graduated from A&M and became a successful salesman.

Although he had the income and personal life he wanted, he wasn’t happy with his job, which is when he became decided to become the Sales Whisperer. Wes's analogy of being a sales whisperer came to him after some inspiration from the dog whisperer. Some dogs have behavior issues but the reality is that their trainers don’t have the proper training to enable them to be successful pets. Just like how sales leaders come to him with lack of training and sometimes incorrect sales tactics, it is Wes’ job to help them learn a better and more efficient way. Listen to our podcast to hear more about Wes’ insights!

  • Growing up in Houston and life in the U.S. Air Force
  • Knowing when to switch gears
  • The start of his career and transition to entrepreneurship
  • Common sales leadership do's and do not's
  • How he started The Sales Whisperer
  • Breaking down Wes' Ted Talk
  • Maintaining work-life balance with a big family

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
How do you maintain work-life balance to ensure you get time with your family?

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice:
Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“If you have seven priorities, you have none.”

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The A-List

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Thank you for listening! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

Transcript:

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Gabe Zichermann's Onward Helps You Achieve Tech-Life Balance

Author, public speaker, and entrepreneur are just a few great titles for today’s guest, Gabe Zichermann. He is the CEO and Founder of Onward, a company that helps you achieve tech-life balance.

Gabe Zichermann, Gamification

Gabe Zichermann, Gamification

Author, public speaker, and entrepreneur are just a few great titles for today’s guest, Gabe Zichermann. He is the CEO and Founder of Onward, a company that helps you achieve tech-life balance. Gabe is also known for his expertise on the topic of Gamification. Having written three books, “The Gamification Revolution”, “Gamification by Design” and “Game-Based Marketing”. 

Gabe grew up in Toronto with his two parents that immigrated from Hungary and Romania. He had a passion for games from a young age of 8 when he got his first computer, a Commodore VIC-20, and programmed his first computer game. After college, his first big success was Trimedia, which he sold in 2005. From there Gabe helped define the field of Gamification. In this episode, we get to discuss Gabe's full background, both the ups and downs of life, including: 

  • The power of games and their application to the rest of the world

  • What is "Gamification"

  • How to recognize when to change your life

  • Why it can be so important to take a step back

  • The importance of doing the self work as an entrepreneur

  • His success with building Trimedia

  • Growing his newest company Onward

  • The future of tech-life balance

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“On the topic of tech life balance, how do you recommend people keep themselves in check?”

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice Gabe Has Ever Learned:
Join the Ambition Today A-list to listen now!

Quote Of The Episode: 
“The most important thing is to understand who you are and what your strengths and weaknesses are, and be able to name it”

Links from this episode:

Listen to this episode now: 


Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

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Terry Young's Sparks & Honey Is Mapping Culture To Forecast The Future

From a small town in Western Kentucky to becoming an entrepreneur on Madison Ave, Terry Young joins us on this episode of Ambition Today. Terry is a successful advertising entrepreneur and the CEO of Sparks & Honey

Terry Young, CEO of Sparks & Honey

Terry Young, CEO of Sparks & Honey

From a small town in Western Kentucky to becoming an entrepreneur on Madison Ave, Terry Young joins us on this episode of Ambition Today. Terry is a successful advertising entrepreneur and the CEO of Sparks & Honey, a company identifying and mapping emerging cultural waves through the use of machine learning systems, algorithms, and human insight.

After earning his Master’s Degree in advertising, Terry started working in the digital advertising industry in 1995, when digital marketing was just getting started. A short two years later, he was running the company. Terry got the opportunity to live in China and help start-up initiatives while working for McKinsey. He also lived in Kazakhstan while in the Peace Corp where he helped small business shops with their financing and starting their businesses. Terry brings a great perspective on culture and new trends. On this episode, we also discuss:

  • Growing up in a small town in Kentucky

  • The impact of joining the Peace Corp

  • Rebuilding the traditional advertising model

  • The intersection of being gay and an entrepreneur.

  • How Sparks & Honey maps culture

  • Why predicting the future matters

  • Defining micro signals and macro trends

  • What is happening in the space industry

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
“How do you best recommend that people in organizations ride the waves in a trend?”

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice Terry Has Ever Learned:
Join the Ambition Today A-list to listen now!

Quote Of The Episode:
“I say to every person who was here … that has left, you are also leaving your shape and your mold on the company, because it is a reflection on them too.”

Links from this episode:

Listen to this episode now: 


Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

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Anthony Pompliano Is Going Full Tilt To Invest In World-Class Blockchain And Crypto Asset Ventures

Anthony Pompliano is the Managing Partner at Full Tilt Capital, an early stage venture capital firm. Full Tilt Capital now focuses exclusively on investing in world-class companies in the blockchain and crypto asset space. 

Anthony Pompliano, Managing Partner at Full Tilt Capital

Anthony Pompliano, Managing Partner at Full Tilt Capital

Anthony Pompliano is the Managing Partner at Full Tilt Capital, an early stage venture capital firm. Full Tilt Capital focuses exclusively on investing in world-class companies in the blockchain and crypto asset space. 

"Pomp" was raised in Raleigh, NC, and is one of the first south easterners that we have had on the Ambition Today podcast. He is the oldest brother of five and during his junior year of college, he was deployed to Iraq. During his deployment, he gained a unique perspective on life. His world traveling allowed him to learn about new cultures all around the world in order study human behavior. Once he returned from duty, he jumped into the world of Silicon Valley. He built two small technology businesses and worked for large tech companies like Facebook and Snapchat before starting Full Tilt Capital. Anthony brings us his knowledge, unique insight, and more on this episode of Ambition Today: 

  • Life lessons from being deployed to Iraq
  • Building and selling his first technology business
  • What it was like working for Facebook
  • Full Tilt Capital's investment thesis
  • How important a founders self-honesty is 
  • Why GPU will beat CPU's in the future
  • The story of Standard American Mining
  • Why Full Tilt is going all in on blockchain companies and crypto assets
  • How to build a successful Angel List Syndicate

Ambition Today Question of the Day™ :
"How do you think about and manage your personal brand, and also find time to get your day to day operations work done and build Full Tilt?

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice Anthony Has Ever Learned:
Join the Ambition Today A-list to listen now!

Quote Of The Episode:
"You don't have to be honest with me. I want you to be, but you don't have to be. You have to be honest with yourself." 

Links from this episode:

Listen to this episode now: 


Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

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LIVE EVENT! Cryptocurrency, ICO, & Blockchain Law in 2018 with Joe Daniels of McCarter & English

This episode comes to you from the heart of New York City for our first live podcast episode discussing cryptocurrency, ICO, & blockchain law! 

Joe Daniels, Co-Chair of McCarter & English Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies practice

Joe Daniels, Co-Chair of McCarter & English Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies practice

This episode comes to you from the heart of New York City for our first live podcast episode discussing cryptocurrency, ICO, & blockchain law. In late January almost 100 founders gathered at the offices of McCarter & English for our January Founder Institute Meetup! The crypto founders there heard from Joe Daniels, who is the Co-Chair of the McCarter & English's Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies practice. Joe has worked on numerous SAFT & token offerings, including San Francisco based Quantstamp, which just raised $30 million in its pre-sale, along with Augmate, The Valorem Foundation, RealECoin, VIMarkets, CoinBoost, and RecylcleGO.

During this event, Joe reviewed the current cryptocurrency, blockchain, & initial coin offering laws in 2018. Learn the key things that you need to know about ICO's, the SEC, international business, SAFT agreements, and more. If you are interested in understanding the legalities around cryptocurrencies, tokens, and the blockchain, then you will definitely enjoy this episode. The slides that Joe is going over during his presentation are available below if you want to follow along. They are packed with information, such as: 

  • What are Blockchain Tokens (Cryptocurrencies)

  • What is an ICO

  • How much has been raised in ICOs / SAFTs

  • How do SAFT agreements work

  • Regulatory Issues w/ ICOs

  • The SEC's response to the emergence of cryptocurrencies

  • Current Best Practices for cryptocurrencies

Follow Along With All The Slides From The Event:


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Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Be sure to listen and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.


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EO Global Chairman Brian Brault On Investing In Community And Yourself

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Brian Brault; a successful entrepreneur that has been recognized twice in his career by Inc. 500 for building one of the fastest growing companies in America. Currently Brian is the Global Chairman of the Board at Entrepreneurs' Organization.

Brian Brault, Chairman of the Board at Entrepreneurs' Organization

Brian Brault, Chairman of the Board at Entrepreneurs' Organization

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Brian Brault; a successful entrepreneur that has been recognized twice in his career by the Inc. 500 for building one of the fastest growing companies in America. Currently Brian is the Global Chairman of the Board at Entrepreneurs' Organization.

He is also the founder of Advanced Facility Services and Pure Rooms which was deemed one of the best companies to work for in western New York and was awarded best entrepreneurial company in western New York.

A graduate of the University of Buffalo’s School of Business, Brian is very active on community boards. Being the Global Chairman for Entrepreneurs’ Organization Brian helps grow their network of 12,000 entrepreneurial members in 54 countries. He believes in surrounding yourself with strong people because your success is a product of the five people that you spend the most time with. Today Brian talks about:

  • What got him excited at a very young age to be an entrepreneur

  • How he build Advanced Facility Services & Pure Rooms

  • Why he supports Entrepreneur’s Organization globally

  • Do you need to be in a major market like NY to be successful?

  • His speech at the United Nations

  • The importance of community for founders

  • His 10/10/10 morning routine

Ambition Today Question of the Day™:
"What routines have you built in your life that contribute most to your success?"

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice Brian Has Ever Learned:
Join the Ambition Today A-list to listen now!

Quote Of The Episode:
“Everyone has a little bit of entrepreneurial spirit inside them it's just your tolerance for risk and how that is nurtured in your life will really determine how much you will pursue and build on that entrepreneurial spirit.”

Links from this episode:

Listen to this episode now: 


Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Be sure to listen and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.


Ambition Today Episode Sponsors:

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How Peter Shankman Thinks "Faster Than Normal" And Built Help A Reporter Out (HARO)

On this episode of Ambition Today we explore Peter Shankman’s journey. Peter is the perfect example of what happens when you combine creativity with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Peter shows us how ADHD can be a gift and a strong advantage in business. Many know him for founding Help A Reporter Out, (HARO).

Peter Shankman 

Peter Shankman 

On this episode of Ambition Today we explore Peter Shankman’s journey. Peter is the perfect example of what happens when you combine creativity with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Peter shows us how ADHD can be a gift and a strong advantage in business. He is not only an entrepreneur, but an author and a notable public speaker. Many know him for founding Help A Reporter Out, (HARO). He is also the founder of ShankMinds Business Masterminds and he is the Host of the Faster Than Normal Podcast.

Peter was born and raised in Manhattan, and was a New York City public school kid. After graduating from Boston University and going to Graduate school in Santa Barbara, CA, he started his professional career launching AOL Digital Newsroom. Peter is most well known for founding Help A Reporter Out, also known as HARO, which is the worlds largest public group of journalistic sources. In this episode, we talk about how Peter’s ADHD had a great impact on his many successes:

  • Growing up in New York City
  • Launching AOL Digital Newsroom
  • The importance of having incredible mentors like Steve Case 
  • What is happening to the media industry today
  • How Peter built Help A Reporter Out, (HARO)
  • Using ADHD as an advantage
  • How to create life rules to optimize your time
  • Importance of self-awareness 
  • Value of asking everyone "How Can I Help" 

Ambition Today Question of the Day™:
"How do you think about attention management and how do you best optimize your life for it?"
 

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice Peter Has Ever Learned:
Join the Ambition Today A-list to listen now!
 

Quote Of The Episode:
"You have to put out 10 times the amount of help into the universe that you ask for."
 

Links from this episode:

 

Listen to this episode now: 


Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Be sure to listen and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.


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Why Sean Ellis, Co-Author of Hacking Growth, Optimizes For Reputation And Learning

In 2010 Sean Ellis coined the term Growth Hacking and now he joins us on Ambition Today. Sean is the Co-author of Hacking Growth with Morgan Brown and currently the CEO of Growth Hackers.

Sean Ellis

Sean Ellis

In 2010 Sean Ellis coined the term Growth Hacking and now he joins us on Ambition Today. Sean is the Co-author of Hacking Growth with Morgan Brown and currently the CEO of Growth Hackers.

Sean has had quite an impressive career both as a marketer and as an entrepreneur. He was the first marketer at Dropbox, Lookout and Xobni and he has taken companies LogMeIn and Uproar from launch to IPO. Sean is also known for popularizing the term product/market fit. We cover some of Sean's best practices for growing your company, as well as how he thinks of Growth Hacking as it continues to grow into the future. The story of Sean's entrepreneurial journey unlocks numerous insights along the way, including: 

  • What is "Growth Hacking"
  • The role of family entrepreneurship on Sean
  • The value of spending time abroad
  • Being the first marketer at Dropbox, Lookout, & Eventbrite
  • How pushing through the fear of failure has lead to success  
  • Making the leap from employee to entrepreneur
  • Optimizing for reputation and learning over money
  • How business teams need to be thinking about Growth
  • The value of having a chip on your shoulder

Ambition Today Question of the Day™:
"What excites you? What motivates you to keep going?"            

The Single Greatest Piece of Advice Sean Has Ever Learned:
Join the Ambition Today A-list to listen now!

Quote Of The Episode:
"For me, the two big motivating factors were reputation and learning. I wanted to build a reputation because that would open the door to the best learning opportunities." 

 

Links from this episode:

 

Listen to this episode now: 


Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned! 

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Be sure to listen and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.


Ambition Today Episode Sponsors:

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How Adeo Ressi Empowered 2,700+ People To Become Startup Founders

Over the summer we sat down with Adeo Ressi, the CEO of the Founder Institute, a startup accelerator program that operates in nearly 200 cities worldwide.

Adeo Ressi

Adeo Ressi

Over the summer we sat down with Adeo Ressi, the CEO of the Founder Institute, a startup accelerator program that operates in nearly 200 cities worldwide. Throughout his time as a founder, Adeo has pioneered innovations in the protection of founder rights, the raising of early-stage capital and the scaling of new businesses.

Previous to the Founder Institute, Adeo has helped to create nearly $2 billion in shareholder value by founding or running nine businesses, including TheFunded, Game Trust, Xceed and Total New York. Adeo previously served on the Board of the X Prize Foundation to pursue his interests in space exploration and techniques to motivate human achievement. Throughout this episode it is clear that Adeo is passionate about mentoring Founders, space exploration, inspiring people to achieve their greatness, and more which includes: 

  • The personality traits of the best founders

  • How The Funded improved transparency in the VC industry

  • The role fluid intelligence plays in entrepreneurs

  • How Adeo helped 2,700 plus founders grow through the Founder Institute

  • Managing your investors and protecting your equity

  • How to build startup ecosystems

  • Why maintaining focus and avoiding distractions is mission critical

  • How do you give meaning to your life's work

Ambition Today Question of the Day™:
"What is the end game? Where do you see Founder Institute and all your life’s work going?"            

Quote Of The Episode:
"There are a lot of shiny things in the sand, that look very appealing to you and may be a cause for you to think about pivoting or adjusting the business model. I can tell you that most of the shiny things in the sand are not diamonds, they are knives waiting to kill you. You have to be very, very, very diligent to remain focused on your core mission" 
 

Links from this episode:

Thank you so much for listening and applying these useful tips and strategies to your life! If you have a chance, please drop by and leave a review for the show on iTunes by clicking here. Also, who should I interview next? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments. Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review in the comments below. It keeps me going…

You can find the full transcript of this episode here

Be sure to listen and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.

Listen to this episode now: 

 

Join the shows A-list backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, learn the single greatest piece of advice this guest has ever learned!  

 

Ambition Today Episode Sponsors:

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