How To Close Multi-Million Dollar Deals

Written by Codie Sanchez Baker                                                              

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Lessons from a Financier: How He’s Closed Million to Billion deals from Ireland to Saudi Arabia

Adam Sadiq - Managing Partner New World Capital Advisors

Today is a fun one. If you are interested in angel investing, startups, entrepreneurship, investments, closing big huge deals, then this is the dude for you. Adam Sadiq is Managing Partner of International private placement firm New World Capital Advisors. Which means that he goes around Europe, the Middle East and Asia and finds investment opportunities for the big boys from Private equity, to hedge funds, to real estate. Adam and I go way back to our days together at one of the world’s largest asset managers. I was heading up Latin America and Adam in Europe and the Middle East. I brought Adam on to talk to us about everything from how we sell, how to close big deals, how to get into investments and finance, how to climb the corporate ladder and how to transition from corporate America to building your own company. Below are some of my favorite quotes from Adam (by the way how much do you guys love his accent!).

Noteworthy soundbites:

On Youth and Inexperience: “Sometimes being 23 and knowing nothing is the best part. I like to open doors through naivety and use ignorance to find success.”

On Taking the Initiative: How he closed his first deal by buying his own plane ticket and asking for forgiveness later. “I knew if I asked permission I wouldn’t get the answer I was looking for, so I didn’t ask.”

“If I had followed the internal process I would have never closed my first $100 million dollar deal.”

Go to Markets with Dislocation: “If you are operating in conventional markets like Europe, the UK, the US, business is very systematic. If you follow the process you’ll get a share of the pie. If you start moving to emerging markets it is a different story, it is based on relationships and visibility.” ** I love this one ** working in emerging markets is a game changer.

“Many relationships come to you by chance, but what you do with that relationship as a next step is what changes it all. Ultimately it can change your life.”

— Adam Sadiq

Being Different: “My standpoint is to be against the grain of commoditization. I try to be ahead of the market and whenever everyone is doing one thing I try to go the other way.”

“You need to think about being niche. Not being everything to everyone.”

So without further ado I hope you enjoy this conversation with Adam Sadiq.

Ciao, 

Codie Sanchez 

Find Adam Sadiq Here:

Twitter: @Adam_Sadiq

IG @adamsadiq

To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click here. 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 about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.

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Lessons Learned From The NFL to Wall Street

Written by Codie Sanchez                                                       Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real

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From Speaking No English...

To Playing for the Patriots...

To Becoming A Finance Exec...

Lessons On Pivoting, Fear Conquering & Life Defining.

Imagine you come to US, speaking no English, find out the futbol is actually football, and somehow still find your way to the highest levels of the game, the NFL. That's the story we are telling today. About how to achieve whatever it is your little heart so desires and continue to redefine yourself as life throws you wide passes (wow did I just use football terminology #winning). Paul Francisco Twitter: (@paul_francisco) is going to tell us his story.. and you are going to love the strategies he employs.. Let me paint the picture... 

Set the scene, I’m at the Gaylord Texas for an ALPFA convention, picture if Disneyland were an indoor hotel on steroids and filled with Latinos. I’m at a little cantina chatting with Paul about how our stories have evolved since I left the company where he heads diversity and inclusion. As we walk past the innumerable tables and groups of people, I get a glimpse of why Paul is such a special dude. I'm with the proverbial mayor. He stops to shake hands, give hugs, dar besos and congratulate on others successes. I know literally no one, but Paul seems to have that inherent quality of making all 3000 attendees feel they are his gente, his people. That is Paul, 6'3, former Patriots NFL player, current finance exec, from Honduras, standing in a power suit, not bad to look at, and always sporting a big huge smile. The difference between Paul and the myriad other successful individuals I chat with, is that Paul really is about his gente. It almost makes sense that he’s dedicated his life post-football to diversity and inclusion. He was the only black kid in his town in Honduras, who gave away his rather large shoes to another kid that needed them more. He’s the kind of guy that reveals how the day he realized he’d never play in the NFL spotlight again post injury, he pulled over, had a good cry and then re-dedicated his life to the next step. He now fights to insure people of color, women, those with disabilities, and LGBTs, all have shoes to wear in corporate America and their chance at the spotlight. He applies the tenacity that brought him to college on a scholarship from Honduras, to the NFL playing for the Pats under Belichick, Shula (@donshula), to working for one of the world’s largest asset managers on promoting opportunities for people like you and me.

On this episode Paul tells his story, he breaks down how he found his why, the incredibly insightful strategies he uses to overcome obstacles, how he gets mentors, how he uses fear to focus and the way to pivot when necessary. Listen in for a look at how to continually re-define your life, beat expectations, and why diversity is a lifeblood we should all be seeking in our companies, communities and tribes. 

These gems jumped out at me:

1. His mantra: 5 P’s – Prior preparation prevents poor performance.

2. When you get to the NFL everyone physically is at more or less the same level, the difference between a good athlete and a great professional athlete is mental. The game is 80% mental and 20% physical.

3. On Visualization – When you get to the end zone you have to have lived it or imagine it. 1000 times I’d picture getting a touchdown and what it would feel like so that when I eventually had the opportunity I would have been there before.

4. Thoughts on finding mentors – I’ve never gone to someone and asked them to be my mentor. It’s more that I think of myself as Paul Francisco Inc. So I surround myself with people that can be my advisors, my corporate board, if you will.

5. “It's never as bad or as good as it seem to be.”

6. "If you can’t bring your whole self to your company it’s probably not the right place for you."

7. "Fear keeps me alive. I have a fear of failure so my combat mechanism is whenever I feel fear I focus."

8. "Tough situations don’t last. Tough people do."

Find Paul Francisco Here:

Twitter: Paul_francisco

IG @price8188

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To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click on the icon above, or click here. 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 about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.

How to Not Waste A Sh*T Ton of Time At Work

Written by Codie Sanchez                                                                 Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real

And Then you Get to Work Less, Sweet, Right? 

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There is an epidemic. I'm serious. It's called the 8 hour work day and the fact that we waste 60% of our day at work, not actually in fact working. Don't believe me?

Between excessive email (which actually makes you lose IQ points, 10 to be exact, by fielding constant email), unproductive meetings (which cost US companies $37 billion in salary cost) and distractions at work (80% of which are considered trivial), we work more and get less done. Imagine if you could get back 24 working hours each week. Let's try to make a dent in it.**(Sources below)

It's So Easy No One Does lt - I'm going to be snarky for a minute, if you can't deal scroll on. Start here: Don't check your email 36 times an hour (the average person does). Let's begin there. But seriously, if you work with me you'll note, I typically respond to email 3x a day. My teams all have my cell if it needs immediate response they text me, otherwise I'll respond in AM, lunch, and PM. I batch the rest of the day in time-blocked hours. Three to be exact - Client Touches, Deep Work, Administrative. Go to blog for more specifics. 

WANT MORE TIME SAVING TIPS AND TOOLS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX? CLICK HERE.

Willpower enabler -  Just like not buying junk food for the house I try to toss distractions. I use clearlock, it locks your phone from all tantalizing apps for 10 min to 3 hours. Also probably good for you single peeps so you don't make any embarrassing wine infused texts #multitasking. Only way to reopen is hard reboot.  

Set Deadlines- Focus Booster is one of my FAVS. It lets you power through tasks with set deadlines using the Pomodoro Technique (which is well researched, it's like science guys). You work on one task for 25 uninterrupted minutes, then take five, and on you go. 

Quote I am ruminating on, “Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you do not let other people spend it for you.” - Carl Sandburg

Say No- It's the things we don't do that make all the difference. People always want to talk on the phone. Can I call? Call me when you get a sec? Can we chat? Honestly - when the calls are internal, personal or not from clients, I say no. Script, "Shoot, about to get on a flight, then a ton of meetings. I want to make sure I help, what can I do for ya? Or what did you want to chat about?" Inevitably, they tell me. And 99.999% of the time it REALLY did not warrant a call. Remember the goal is to help the person, not to give them control of your schedule. If you let people waste your time they will even if they don't mean to, hard but true.

“PS I also never answer unknown numbers and rarely answer direct calls unless from clients.”

PS I also never answer unknown numbers and rarely answer direct calls unless from clients. I listen to VM or get email, then respond. I'm not big time, or a jerk, I just truly do not know how to get all I want to get done otherwise.

What do you think of the 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 or on IG @codiesanchez.

Thank you for reading, our tribe is growing my friends!

Codie

P.S. —  This week on the podcast I answer one of your emails with the 10 questions I wish I knew when I was starting my businesses. 

P.S.S. - No sponsorships for any items, books etc I recommend and I only ever recommend something I use. Just great stuff, no sales stuff. 

SOURCES:

Email Usage/Penetrations • EmailStatCounter

A Pace Not Dictated by Electrons • University of California

Disruption and Recovery of Computing Tasks • Microsoft Research

'Infomania' worse than marijuana • BBC News

Meetings in America • Verizon Business

State of Meetings Today • EffectiveMeetings

Why & How Your Employees are Wasting Time at Work • Salary.com

Time Management Statistics • Key Organization Systyems

If I Was Starting Work Again.. I'd Want to Know This

Written by Codie Sanchez                                         Topics: Business & Career Building

Letters to My Younger Self.. These 5 things Change It All

If I could go back and tell my younger self the answers to these five questions, what would I say? What would I tell others who are starting their climb in work and in life? What did I wish I knew when I first started in business? Well I'll tell you just that on this episode. This one is kind of interesting, I have gotten tons of emails from all of you asking me varying questions on how to grow your business, work ideas, how to get a promotion, negotiate a deal and even tips on meditating (still working on this one!).

One email jumped out at me from 17 year old Sarah, asking these below questions. Honestly, she's already ahead of the game at 17 by even thinking of these questions but then I realized maybe we all should be asking ourselves these very same things. I hope you enjoy a brief conversation taking a step back in time. 

“Life is about moments. The moment you find your passion, the moment you decide to follow it and the moment you realize you can actually make money doing it.”

— Codie Sanchez

1. If you could give your 17-year-old self any advice, what would it be?

2. What were your biggest goals and dreams when you were 17? 20?

3. What is your viewpoint on a traditional college education vs. real world experience? How valuable is a college degree in your eyes?

4. What book has had the most positive influence on your life?

5. Where is your favorite place to find inspiration?

6. 2-3 biggest tips for killing self doubt and gaining self confidence?

7. I am a naturally very optimistic and positive person, Consequently, I smile A LOT. In business, smiling is often a disadvantage when overused. What are your biggest tips on controlling smiling/ to use it as an advantage? (This question made me smile!)

8. How do you maximize your day?

9. Biggest tips for building wealth?

Ciao,

Codie Sanchez 

Marketing: Get Noticed In A Crowd

Written by Codie Sanchez                                                       Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real 

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“If you find yourself doing what everyone else is doing, you might want to take a pause.”

How To Market (aka Sell) Like A Pro

You have product, you want to sell said product, but you need to get your incredible product noticed in order to sell it. That's marketing 101, right? Here’s the problem, marketing is crowded, noisy and confusing. So how do you quiet the noise and trumpet your ideas like a supersonic blast? How do your blog posts and paid endorsements not drown in the sea of sameness? We are going to talk about one marketing industry vet's ideas for how to jumpstart marketing right off the OR table.

We’re going to talk about if traditional marketing is dead and social marketing has won the game? We are going to talk about where to spend your hard earned money? How do you use the right channels and why? And the man leading us today has a killer perspective as a long time traditional marketing content specialist. Jim Knapp (@jim_knapp) is a media man… 45 minutes with him is like a shot of marketing adrenaline straight to the heart. Jim leads marketing business development for Bonneville Phoenix, KTAR and Arizona Sports, he’s spent thirty years crafting the pitches of companies who want to touch us all through the airwaves.

Why do I have him on here instead of some blonde 20 something blogger talking about shoppable links and S4S? Well h*ll I’ll probably have one of those on here too BUT I firmly believe that when everyone is crowding one space you need to think long and hard about why you two are pushing through the crowds, remember; what if it was easy?

Here are some of the questions Jim answers: Get excited. 

1. What are most people doing wrong with social media and traditional marketing?

2. Talk to me about the differences between the two?

3. Who is doing traditional media really well? Who is combining the two well?

4. How do you judge returns and reach?

5. For someone who is building a business or brand what advice do you have for them in how to engage in marketing?

6. When do ads make sense, where and what are the keys to doing this right?

7. How do you narrow down your audience (the mad men story)

8. What are the biggest mistakes happening in marketing right now?

9. What is the one thing any person looking to sell something should do now?

Hope you enjoy! Ciao!

Codie Sanchez 

Stream and subscribe on iTunes click here.

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 about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.

CLICK THE PICTURE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD MY FREE GUIDE:

I Threw Away All My Suits & Found My Corporate Stride

Written by Codie Sanchez                                                                   Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real 

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On being you and still being a b*d*ss business person.

One crop-top wearing exec’s take.

Be you. Be authentic. Be real. Just be yourself. Sounds so easy, huh? Not for me it wasn’t, and sometimes still isn’t.  It’s honestly taken some serious self-reflection and ball bracing to figure out. I used to wear suits nonstop.  I cut my hair short to fit into corporate America. I played it safe because my intensity can, and does. make people uncomfortable. So I toned it down. I tried to dress to not show my female form. I replaced stilettos with flats, because you can't be sexy and smart, can you? I still struggle with this.

Can you be a serious business person, executive, or entrepreneur and not play the role? I decided I would try. Why? If you do what the average person does, you will be as the average person is.

Average is not something I strive for, do any of us?

I became more successful, I got better clients, bigger accounts, more employees, and more opportunities.

Thus, for me the easiest things to alter first were external. I like crop tops so I wear them. I work-out and am proud of my albeit imperfect but perfectly "me" body, so I wear form fitting dresses. My hair is often too long, I love my words four lettered and my cars fast. As a cautious toddler dips his foot in the pool to test the temperature, I brought in each one of these “Codie-ism’s,” one by one.

I recall thinking, oh dear sweet baby Jesus, I am going to get fired, or lose clients, or lose respect, or get called out in front of everyone like those naked public speaking nightmares. Let the cold sweats begin. Then as time passed, nothing happened. In fact, I became more successful, I got better clients, bigger accounts, more employees, and more opportunities. So I said alright little toddler Codie, jump in that d*mn pool. And jump I did. I jumped into letting some of my internal weirdness and realness out.

I'm god awful at details so I outsource everything I can. I have zero patience with politics and rarely hold back. I travel almost constantly and mix business and pleasure publically. I work every single day of the week, even on vacation, and I f*cking love it.

These internal changes are harder because they are the core of who we are. We aren’t what we wear, or what we drive, but we are that thing inside of us that speaks, acts and does. I realized that if I want to find this thing called happiness, I would, in fact, have to figure out who I was, and then live as that person wholly and unabashedly. Step by small step.

“My hair is often too long, I love my words four lettered and my cars fast. ”

My take is that people today are craving what's real.  Why do you think that Instagram stories, Snapchat, Facebook Live, and Periscope are all the rage? They are unedited, raw, instantaneous and you can’t pretend to be in a bikini on a yacht when in fact you are sitting in your cubicle in sweatpants. We want the whole person, the highs and the lows. Well – we want mostly the highs, no one likes negativity, but above all else we want to see that the people we engage in are human. Flawed but extraordinary. The problem is that corporations, society, and family, inherently don't like risk. They want to protect us and them.

However, being real means showing your scars. That is risky. Here’s the thing, we can't actually be anyone but the human we are and it turns out people just might like you even more that way.

So why not let our little freak flag fly and say f*ck it? Seems to me that's the only way to live. I'm working on it... What about you? 

XOXO,

Codie Sanchez 

So You Want to Travel For A Living?

Written by Codie Sanchez

Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real

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The Essentials You Can Read in Under 3 Minutes

We are a mobile generation, aren’t we? From shared offices, to WiFi 30,000 feet in the air, to 60% of our population in the US participating in freelance work according to Fast Company, the 9 to 5 job just may be dead. While I am astounded by all we can do from outside the “office,” if I’ve learned one thing traveling almost weekly for years now it is, if you can’t handle surprises the wandering life may not be for you. That being said, once you get used to a dash of the unexpected, I challenge you to ever go back to cube life. I haven’t met one flyer who has returned to flightless mode yet. So fair warning if you choose the blue pill, the pill of perpetual freedom, exploration and an absurd amount of passport stamps, there is just no going back. You with me?

Then the question is how do people like myself run an international multi-million dollar investment business, a startup, keep that stubborn waist line under control, have a semblance of a social life, and manage to keep my saint of a spouse around?

Because here is the thing, I travel non-stop and I’ve camped before but hostels are just not my jam. I want kids, a whip and a house too. Which means that I want cash flow, abs yo AND continuous flight cabin glow.

In this column we are going to get up close, personal, non pc, and specific, about how to make travel, work and your life intertwine in a way that feels so natural it’s like a second Neutrogena soft skin.

Since the devil is always in the details, lets wrangle those little demons. Over the ensuing posts we are going to build up to the peak, the Everest if you will, which is how to get a job that pays you to travel the world and fulfill your inner wanderlust.

We’ll start with how to make you look like a Platinum pro on your next business trip, we’ll hit on how to ask your boss for a remote trial in your gig (stop saying that’s impossible for your situation, give me a chance to prove you wrong), and we’ll touch on how to setup side freelance opportunities while you are still depositing that paycheck.

Baby steps before we Neil Armstrong it all the way to the moon. Today we’re talking the tools of the travel trade, because what is a craftsman without his tools?

The travel goods. What I never leave home without:

1) My four-wheeled Tumi bag, which will save your shoulder and sanity. Also – never buy full priced, they are overpriced. They have sales on gilt, Ruelala, Nordstrom’s or at Last Chance constantly. Oh and for the love of all that is holy and sacred in this beautiful world, do not check bags. We are the carry on crew, ain’t nobody got time to wait for luggage.

2) Some form of a wireless charger, I use a Mophie which doubles as a cover for your phone as well as a free handheld multi-pronged charger. Let the amateurs fight over the one airport plug while you maneuver your Tumi like a race car driver through the sea of over-burdened plebs with a latte in hand.

3) Bose sound canceling headphones, and NOT the giant ear covering ones. My motto is think like a bird, be light, be aerodynamic, be as weightless as possible. Which means go for the inner ear buds that weight nothing and happily zzzz away while the baby next to you is doing her best impression of a horror flick scream.

4) A bag/purse/briefcase with a handle to attach it to your rolling carry-on. For a long time I fought this, I had my love for designer bags to contend with. I finally opted for a briefcase from Louis Vuitton (I know, I know) but I love it. I’ve had it for 3 years, stuff it to the brim, spill water in it not infrequently, and not a scratch on it. If you are traveling for business you need to be able to be on a call while wheeling your suitcase, ordering an Uber, and not worrying about if your bag is going to spill all over Terminal 3.

5) Last item, a Belkin keyboard for your iPad. This essentially negates the need for a laptop for me. It is wireless, charges every 3-4 months and doubles as a stand. I get overly excited just thinking about all the multi-tasking happening at one time with this bad boy.

Alright my little migrating chickadees, we start with the small things. Small little details to get you excited about your next trip because the devil truly is in the details. Next time we run with that excitement you’ll get from being locked and loaded, all the way to getting paid to pack up and go!

Get moving, standing still is a sure way to decay. See Here how one of my podcasters traveled for a year and used VRBO to ensure she never paid rent!

Ciao,

Codie

To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click on the icon above, or click here. 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 about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.

Let’s Talk Benjamins: Banking & The $$$ Side of A Business

Written by Codie Sanchez                                Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real

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Talking Latino-Owned Businesses and How to Leverage Your Network…

In partnership with Chase, I spent the day in Houston speaking with hundreds of Latino business owners and professionals about the hurdles to self-starting, funding, and all around bringing in the business. That is the American dream, right? That si se puede (yes you can), be Self Made. Which happened to be the book title of as my interview subject Nely Galan (see interview here). This former Trump Apprentice, Emmy winner, President of Telemundo, author, media mogul and self-made Latina, was honest and transparent about the challenges that faced her and how she overcame them in business. If you are like me, banking, and funding is one of the most intimidating parts of business (I like these tools from Chase). We have so many ways to finance but, while you are busy working on how to bring in sales and the infrastructure of your business, it’s difficult to focus on the monetary side.

When I first started my business, ThreadsRefined, I had access to quite a bit of capital to debt mechanisms and leverage, but I chose to use a business credit card. Full disclosure, I do bank at Chase, as I only talk about items I’ve used personally. The most frequent card I’ve seen used from them is Chase Ink, click here for more on the rewards system. I’m pretty much a rewards junkie, I mean who doesn’t like free stuff?

So why did I finance that way? First, if I personally am not prepared to put my own money in my business, why should anyone else? OPM (other people’s money) is a beautifully capitalistic thing, but I like skin in the game. Don’t kid yourself if you get OPM first and fail, your reputation is seriously sullied. Free capital is never free. Second, I believe in business the reason most businesses don’t survive is that they over lever themselves, aka spend, spend, spend. They get too much capital, they pay too much instead of doing trade for items or negotiating, they don’t bootstrap, and the small costs pile up like papers in an abandoned driveway. For me to test my business I wanted to keep a keen eye to costs (aka have to pay them off each month). However, it’s important to separate your business expenses from your personal. Which is why I wanted a business credit card like Chase Ink.

“OPM (other people’s money) is a beautifully capitalistic thing, but I like skin in the game. Don’t kid yourself if you get OPM first and fail, your reputation is seriously sullied. Free capital is never free. ”

Once we understand the funding side, the question then becomes which provider. When I am analyzing any vendor I like to think about it like a life partnership. This is someone I want to travel through time with. I want them vested in my business, I want to grow with them. I don’t want to re-learn processes and hop around for the lowest cost provider. Sometimes you get what you pay for. It all eventually goes back to the humans you engage with, even when you are choosing large providers. I loved this example. Nely Galan when she was building up her business (as the creator of the show the Swan), needed capital and to professionalize the financial side of her business. So she strutted (she does definitely strut like us Latina’s do), into her bank and looked around for someone who looked like her. She found herself a fellow Latina and now says, “A Latina banker changed everything in my business.” She’s right.

At the end of the day I have two philosophies in business;

1) Cash is king - without it you are a charity not a business

2) Networks = your net worth.

So you need some rock stars in your tribe, your own personal business board if you will.

I consider my rock stars in my tribe; my attorney, my accountant, my banker, my assistant, and my executive board. I certainly wasn’t alone among the panelists when they spoke about their tribe, check out an interview here and here with two Chase Ink users, CEO’s, and fellow change makers talking about the importance of their network. At the end of the day, keep it simple. Start with as small initial investment as you can, surround yourself with the best humans you can and focus on the cash flow.

Also – let your voice be heard! Use #ChaseNegocios for their answers and give them a follow at the sites below.

CHECK THEM OUT HERE:

www.facebook.com/chase

www.twitter.com/chaseforbiz

www.instagram.com/chase

Adelante,

Codie Sanchez

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 How To Follow Your Passion. Here with another business entrepreneur about how to take what fuels you and make money doing it.

How To Grow Your Network 10x As Fast

Written by Codie Sanchez                                                                   Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real 

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Why social media presence is just the tip of the iceberg, not the magic answer to the success of your business?

Social networking is all the rage. It is how brands judge payments, it is how some of us determine reach and importance of a person or a brand. But here is my problem with it: Social networks are all about quantity, not quality. The question becomes, would you rather be known by the guy on the street corner, your barista, the other bloggers, or would you rather be known by thought leaders, CEO's, power players and people who are in the world making a BIG impact? My CEO from my company always says, "Let's get rich quietly," or "Rich not famous." I think he's on to something. I question my patience and civility if everywhere I went someone was commenting one way or the other, and fame is not something I seek. But being known by the right crowds, very admittedly, is.

“The fishing is best where the fewest go, so get out of the shallows of SM and build your strategic network.”

The problem if you are focusing all your efforts on social media networks is three-fold. One: You are trying to attract as many humans as possible to you and largely are unconcerned about who is at the other end as long as the likes, follows, and re-tweets add up.

Number two: You don't actually own those networks. Instagram Stories is a great example. Mark Zuckerberg decided in one data upgrade, to seriously hinder the viability of SnapChat. Maybe not that big of a deal to most people but, what about DJ Khaled, who is one of the most followed on Snapchat but has less than 1/3 of those followers on Instagram? "His" network and reach, with the touch of a button in seconds by Instagram, has now less value. Think about all the effort and energy that goes into growing in the platform you choose. Do you realize that you are growing someone else's followers? Instagram, SnapChat, Twitter, Facebook... you own none of them. You could be kicked off at any point, or they could restructure the system. In life, we can only guarantee three things; death, taxes, and change. So assume that eventually all of these platforms will go the way Myspace went. What happened to your Myspace followers? For Millennials, did you even ever use it?

“In life we are only guaranteed three things.. death, taxes and change.”

My solution to this is to own your email database. Is this something you'd like to hear more about? If so comment me @codie_sanchez or Twitter or @codiesanchez on IG and I'll write out how I've grown three email databases. One database with over 12,000 names of humans who in total manage trillions of dollars of wealth. Let that soak in. I have a list of names I own (or my company does), that are responsible for the wealth of nations. That is quantity AND quality. I also have two other databases both over 1500 and growing with those relevant to my fashion company and my strategy company.  

Then the third problem is this: Who are your followers? When you build a strategic network with other movers and shakers, each connection is a 3 standard deviation event. What does that mean? That means that when you are highlighted by Elon Musk, when you connect with Seth Godin, when you sit down with your congressmen, major shifts can occur. Large standard deviation events mean the outliers, the unlikely big jumps, changes, non-normal moves that can happen. Social media growth is much more tactical. It is every day posting, liking, in the trenches engaging, in order to entice someone to follow you. There is a place for that, but it will be a long steady climb as opposed to a whale hunt that brings in one big fish. I am all about strategic connections. That is the law of the universe. The 80/20 rule or the Pareto principle. In this context, this means that 80% of your revenue, relevance, and positive growth comes from 20% of your contacts, clients, etc. This law is KEY.

So here are the takeaways:

1) Own your network, aka, have an email database

2) Create a system for Strategic CRM management (here for mine)

3) Look for the 20%, engage with the change makers. Then, as a byproduct, watch your online presence BOOM when you do the everyday tactical paired with the strategic.

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.

How To Turn $0 An Hour Work Into Profits

Written by Codie Sanchez                                                                   Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real 

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“If it’s not profitable it is not sustainable.”

How To Catch the Big Fish...

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. 

Stream and subscribe on iTunes click here.

Want to hear another podcast about how to find your why and passion? — Listen to my broadcast on Getting Over Fear to Take the Next Step. Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.

Blog: Think & Invest Like a Contrarian RSS

It's All About Who You Know: Get Your Partnerships Right

August 25, 2016

Written by Codie Sanchez                                                                   Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real 

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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.

CHECK EM OUT HERE:

www.facebook.com/chase

www.twitter.com/chaseforbiz

www.instagram.com/chase

Adelante,

Codie Sanchez 

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.

I'm A Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur: What Are you?

I Think You Should Question Everything - Especially Me

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Written by Codie Sanchez                                                                   Topics: The Struggle Isn't Real 

Interviewed by Wendi McGowan of Wendistry

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“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.