How to Make a Good First Impression — Make Yourself Unforgettable

 

Not Conforming Is What Makes You Unforgettable:

Sometimes, the things that are a part of you are what make you unforgettable. Just so we are clear. I'm a Spaniard. We like four letter words (or in this case 5 letter words). Fun fact, in Spain you'll note tv commercials for mothers cough syrup where the women says essentially F*ck I have a cold, then turns to her kids and the screen and smiles as she takes Dayquil. Swear. I cuss because one I like it, two I think there is power when used unexpectedly to shake people out of the norm, and three, because it keeps me from trying to please everyone and fit in a box. It makes me be unapologetic and show up fully. Do I use them in investment meetings or with clients? Nah. But in just about every other occasion, absolutely. 

If there is one thing I'm proud of, it's that what you see is largely what you get. I try to never lie, never hide, never fake it, because it's just easier to remember being straight up. But MAN that's taken me a while. Because if you are reading this there is a battle waging between what you want to do, should do, could do and actually do. And who you want to be, should be, could be and actually are. The goal of this week's Monday Slay, is making you step into uncomfortability so you can GROW. Why? Why not just conform?

Because then you are forgettable. You will never be remembered, you will never achieve great things. 

“If you don’t piss some people off you will not even be an asterisk in the lowliest of history books. Does that sound like the kind of life you want? ”

Five quick ways to be memorably you: 

We don't remember the suits, we remember the turtle neck wearing weirdos. So grab your turtleneck. 

 

1) Social pressure - Answer this question: What is something you believe deeply, truly, wholeheartedly that most people would disagree with you on? Now post that on your Instagram. More controversial the better. (Here's mine --> Click here).

2) Reach out - Send a DM, tweet, email and otherwise try to stalk down one person you secretly respect for their giving zero F's attitude. Ask them one question... When they get inundated by negativity, backlash or haters how do they find the strength to continue regardless of the pushback? 

3) Follow someone who does things that make even you uncomfortable --> Ashley Longshore, Gary Vee...

4) Say No - A big thing. This week. Say No to going to see your in-laws because you don't want to, to an assignment you think doesn't make sense, to a guy who wants to talk to you, to your mother who wants to talk to you. Before you answer, pause and ask yourself do I WANT to do this, if not. Say No. Don't say why. Just say No. Powerful.

5) MAJOR KEY 'People hate you for one of three reasons. They hate themselves, they want to be you, or they see you as a threat.'

“People hate you for one of three reasons. They hate themselves, they want to be you, or they see you as a threat.”

Internalize that. So if you are liked all the time, what does that say? 

Be The Person They Always Remember...

**This is a special edition post of my Monday Slay newsletter where each week I send 5 tips to help you slay the week, the month and well - life. If you want to get it weekly click here!

Love you animals,

Codie -- Say hey @codiesanchez

THIS WEEK I GAVE YOU MY EXACT guide for HOW TO SLAY INSTAGRAM. #Yourewelcome ---> https://www.codiesanchez.com/blog/instagram-marketing-plan

How To Slay the Insta Game

So You Want To Be Instagram Famous?

Or maybe you just want more sales on the IG, or maybe you're just really into posting quotes and you think the world NEEDs to see your latest cat video. No shame on your game. I'm a quantitative minded human, no doubt. So when I listen to most Instagram marketing explanations of how people grew their following and there isn't a recipe. I am TICKED. I know you just kind of "fell" into your 300,000 followers but that is not that helpful or repeatable. So I compiled all the tactics I've used, that I borrowed from some of the top Instagram accounts, accelerators, app companies like SumoMe, and then just experimented with myself. My gift to all of you. 

1-2 -3 INSTAFAME

Goals

• Build following from 0-10000 in 4 months

• Build massive email list with Instagram  (5k+)

• Drive massive traffic back to CSB’s website

So what exactly is this? This is a quant-based marketing plan that was responsible for taking CSB’s Instagram following of under 1000 to 15000 in less than 4 months without a team and with a spend of less than $200. If spend was higher we could 10x this. Also - I get lazy, forget to upload pictures, actually feel SM is a bit of a time suck and otherwise was a stubborn mule in the implementation of this. So if you are slightly less stubborn than a four legged cousin or a horse you will probably crush these numbers! Just saying. 

Why do I care about Instagram follower count?

 

Because Instagram is an international distribution platform (IN YOUR HAND FOR FREE).

Let’s put it this way: It is one of the few ways you can create distribution for almost zero dollars spent. Then as you add more followers that mean more feeds my posts end up in, thus the more eyes on my website, content, and products. It's called leverage. If you use it for your personal brand, your business, h*ll your dog, you'll at least get "free" stuff out of it. Or Fido will.  However, WARNING: it is actually time consuming and hard, so don't expect a two week turnaround. People hate on bloggers all the time, I've had my moments too, but let me tell you I work with a lot of them and it is insane the amount of behind the scenes grind. So gird your loins.

Here are the 5 questions that team CSB used to build traffic through Instagram:

1. Why is Instagram marketing important for my business?

2. How did I make my Instagram become a Traffic Generating Machine?

3. How did I grow our Instagram following rapidly?

4. How Do I Drive Traffic Back to CSB Website?

5. How did I create an automated traffic machine by converting our followers?

 

Question 1: Why is Instagram marketing important for my business?

Twenty eight percent of internet users use Instagram. There are 400,000,000 Instagram monthly users and they are one of the most engaged audiences in social media.

We all know that visual content works, because it collects 40x more social shares than any other form of content.

And Instagram is almost 100% visual content.

Given that over a quarter of the internet using Instagram, it is totally possible that  my audiences are spending time on this social platform.

However, not every audience is on Instagram.

There are 55% of 18-29 year olds actively use Instagram, only 11% of the 50-64 age group use it. And the 65+ group is only 4%.

This means that if my target audience is under the age of 50, then I reach a large portion of them through Instagram. If they are over 50? I then focus your marketing efforts on Facebook. Tweet me @codie_sanchez if you want to see my Facebook growth plan.

Instagram Marketing also depends on the type of business I run. For example:

• If I was a food blogger, chances are my audience – the people who loves food porn – is on Instagram.

• If I was a clothing eCommerce store owner, my audience is on Instagram (people want to see the products they buy).

• If I was a personal trainer – my audience is on Instagram (waiting for the images of me to motivate them).

Consultants, bloggers, virtual assistants, business owners, coaches, and so forth lend themselves to Instagram riches.

So where do I fall? Well I'm a podcaster, blogger, inspirer, motivational speaker, investor, and entrepreneur. Is my audience on Instagram? Yes. I get to engage screen to screen with people who turn to me for my "influence." Aka the hot term is influencer. 

Question 2: How did I Make my Instagram Actually Make Me $

First, it is very important to create a plan and constantly track the progress.

Here is my downloadable metric tracking sheet.

I set a goal, and then work backward from that goal. You’ll see we include everything in here from Hashtags and their usage, tech tools, assumptions on growth, the day to day postings to achieve this and conversion rates to the website. Fancy terms for making sure this actually turns into $$. Otherwise what are we doing really?

Here are some guidelines:

Time frame: 90 days. Anything past 90 days is hard to quantify and map out. 

Tracking: Weekly.

Growth rate: I think you can expect healthy growth rate of somewhere between 10% to 40%. CSB has a weekly traffic growth of 37% and weekly follower growth of 40%.

Follower count: Create a follower goal for yourself.

Instagram growth is exponential rather than linear. This means that it is far easier to go from 10,000 followers to 12,000 followers than it is to go from 0 followers to 2,000 followers. So smile, breathe, and go slowly. 

Second, get the perfect Instagram username.

The username is our personal brand. There are two ways to do it.

1.     Use your name (or a like identifier) on Instagram

2.     Use your brand’s name if your brand is more identifiable than your name.

CSB uses codiesanchez because my brand: Codie Sanchez is also my name. Bet that one blew your mind. ;)

Third, nail down the perfect bio.

Your bio is the only place you can add a link. Utilize it. (I prefer a lead page to be linked so I can also grow my email list from a company like www.sumome.com or www.leadpages.com).

The perfect Instagram bio has the following elements:

1.     A short, punchy description of what you do.

2.     An identifier of who you do it for. And why it is so rad.

3.     A strong all to action. Aka make a $100k in your footed pj's --> click here. 

4.     Emojis. I love Emojis. And there is evidence they catch the eye. It's science.

5.     A strong, trackable bio link.

6.     Bonus: Social proof.

Fourth, track your Instagram traffic

So how did I track our Instagram traffic when Instagram does not let me track it? (Actually now they do, you can convert your page to a business page on IG and they give you reporting). 

Step 1: Set Up a UTM Source Code.

What is a UTM source code? It is a bunch of text you put at the end of your URL to see where your traffic is coming from. And it's super easy.

For example, CSB’s URL is https://codiesanchez.com

If I wanted to track how much traffic is coming from Instagram, I simply add:

https://codiesanchez.com?src=instagram.

Step 2: Shorten your trackable link with a URL shortener.

Why? Because Instagram bio only allows 150 characters.

Here are a few that do the trick:

• Pretty Link  - highly recommend. Because it's pretty, aka not a bunch of letters like codiesanchez/asldaoenun52.23

• Bit.ly

• Clkim

Step 3: Monitor Your Instagram Traffic in Google Analytics.

You won’t see it in your Audience Overview. You have to do a bit of digging - but don’t worry, it’s not too complicated.

First, open up Google Analytics. Then, on the left under the Reporting tab, press Behavior.

Under Behavior, expand Site Content, and then click on Landing Pages:

From there, you can search "Instagram" or any identifier you used in your UTM codes:

Then, you’ll be able to see the traffic from Instagram in your Google Analytics dashboard.

Step 4: Monitor Your Instagram Influence with Klear

The Oracle at Delphi said the most important thing one can do is Know Thyself. That is true in Instagram and social media as well. After all it is just a different way to communicate. So I use Klear to track my influence level. (There are quite a few more of these now, just google influencer marketing platforms). What get's measured gets managed, said Peter Drucker so manage that ish.

Question 3: How did I grow my Instagram following?

Here are the 5 free strategies I found:

Strategy 1: Share for Shares.

This is when you identify similar accounts that reach the audience you want to reach (and vice versa) and you both post a Call to Action post to follow the other account and they do the same. It's a great way to cross-pollinate accounts. I typically just DM them and ask if they want to do a S4S and off to the races. (If you want our step by step process for finding people and pinging them... tell me on twitter @codie_sanchez or IG on @codiesanchez and we'll create it)>

Strategy 2: Follow/Unfollow

This just works. I utilize the tool Instagress for this as it can be a time waster. You simply setup parameters and then the bot follows, comments and unfollows people for you based on similar or targeted accounts. I know, this feels kind of spammy. BUT You have to think about it this way, if your mission is to get your content in front of the broadest reach because you believe it is going to help people immensely than this is simply a tool to do that.  Also - don't believe the people that say, oh I my 300k followers they just came and I like totally I dunno didn't even try it must because I am awesome. Lies. 

Strategy 3: Using relevant hashtags.

I like doing my hashtags in the 2nd comment so that the hashtags won't distract my readers. Also I keep these in my notes on my iphone and simply copy and paste them each time. Use four bullets dropped down (like below) this hides your comment so it looks like this [...] as opposed to seeing 50 hashtags. DOWNLOAD my guide to see how I pick hashtags, crucial. 

Strategy 4: Be strategic in your posting with a calendar.

How you do this is through using a tool like Later. It is used by over 600,000 of the largest instagram users to schedule and plan their content. With those you can pre-plan your layouts and actually see what your feed looks like with their tools. You can also be sure to capitalize on holidays, events and world news by planning your posts in advance. This allows you to operate from a place of thoughtfulness when writing and pepper in spur of the moment posts. FULL DISCLOSURE: I suck at this. I'm working on it.

Strategy 5: Leverage Larger Followings

Every time I buy a product I love, meet a human I love, am at a hotel I love, h*ll anytime I love anything I give it virtual love on my instagram. Often times these brands and people will share your love with their followers. Thus tag brands constantly, create a tribe of things and people you love and watch what happens when they repost you.

Here’s how to do it organically:

1.     Engage with the users you are already following. Like the posts in your feed, leave a comment on something you like, and message the people who resonate with you. (Or better yet outsource a member of your team or use PeoplePerHour to find people in other countries at lower prices).

2.     Engage with users who are following your “competition”. Simple visit your competition’s followers’ accounts, and leave a comment on their posts. This will help your new audiences know about you.

IF you don’t know who your competition is and how you stack up use FanPage Karma it will compare your competition across Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. You can use it to push reports to you weekly and send alerts.

3.     Engage with the people who use relevant hashtags. Look up hashtags that are relevant to your industry and engage with the posts that are under that hashtags. Ultimately this is just another way to have a conversation. No one likes getting spoken AT they want to be heard too, so apply that to your instagram convos. 

BONUS: The 3 Paid Ways of Getting More Followers:

Strategy 1: Pay for big accounts to shout you out.

Yes. S4S is a free way to get more followers, if you work with accounts around a similar size as yours to make it far. But if you wanted to work with accounts that are much larger than yours, you can get them to shout you out.

This is where you pay authoritative accounts in my industry to perform a “shoutout” (expect about $5-$75+ depending on the size of the account and the volume of shoutouts you pay for). I've had mixed experience with this, it can help a lot in the beginning but experiment with it before you shell out major cash.

Strategy 2: Pay for Larger Accounts to Post a Screenshot of your account.

This is an even more effective way to get more followers because there is no mistaking these posts – the sole purpose of them is to drive followers to your account.

Expect to pay anywhere from $40 -$150 per screenshot to see 50-250 new followers or more.

Strategy 3: Pay for Ads

What I like about this option is it is one of the very few ways you can get people to follow you AND to go to your website. It is important you understand how to determine your target audience here but there is only one way to learn, Do. So go try it. 

Question 4: How Do I Drive Traffic Back to My Website?

With Instagram, there are simply two things I did to drive traffic back to CSB website.

1.    My Bio Link

2.     Call to Action Posts.

Here’s how I do it:

With my bio link, I update the link with every new blog post.

With my call to action post, I talk about my blog post every time it goes live.
 

Question 5: How do I convert our followers to create an automated traffic machine?

Let’s face this: Traffic is useless if it doesn’t convert.

I don’t want our followers to visit my website once and then leave, because, there is a high chance that they won’t come back. I want my email list to grow substantially through Instagram. So, here is how I convert that traffic to grow our email list and therefore our income:

 

Step 1: Give my Instagram visitors an offer they can't refuse (like that Godfather reference??).

Dozens of websites are vying for their attention every day, and almost all of them are asking for their email addresses. Therefore, I need to set myself apart. So I offer them a content that they could hardly resist.

Those are:

-       Entrepreneur books

-       Apps and tools that everyone needs

-       Monday Slay – Our 5 tips to conquer the week

-       Weekly ways to do more in less time

-       And lots of added snark.

Step 2: Create Opt-In Opportunities Specific To Your Instagram Followers.

This is where Welcome Mat comes from.

Essentially it scrolls down from the top as a LARGE call to action, sort of like your welcome mat at your day draws in your guests eyes. So too does this virtual version. Because Instagram is a visual platform, we decided to use a Mat with a visual component, rather than a template with a black background.

Also, instead of using a generic image, I use the image of the offer I am giving away when you click the link to purchase. See the example live here.

Click here to learn more about the Welcome Mat we use.

So my friends... if you didn't know before, now you know. I'd love to hear your stories on what works and doesn't for you. I'm not pro-scriptive, I'm into personally-scriptive. That is, find the prescription that works for you. 

Love you animals,

Codie 

Don't be afraid to ask for what you want

You just might get it...

(Repost from My article in Business Collective)

Meet Codie Sanchez Baker, Entrepreneur, Investor and Speaker at CSB LLC

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want – the more no’s you get, the closer you are to a yes.

International investment head, speaker, writer, entrepreneur & investor. Head of Latin American Investments for First Trust. CEO & Founder of CSB LLC. Follow her @codie_sanchez.

 

Who is your hero? (In business, life, or both.)

I’m a bit of a renegade at heart so I have always been a Christopher Hitchens fan (author of “Letters to A Young Contrarian”). Less because of his actual viewpoints, many of which I disagree with, but because it is such an uncomfortable position to go against the grain and he does it for a living. Every time I find myself moving with the crowd, I make myself pause and rethink my situation. I credit this practice to reading that book at a very young age. It has led me to ask the question, “How would I do it if it were easy?” Importantly, it has also taught me to hold my internal standard in everything I do, regardless of whether it is convenient or not. The old adage “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything” rings true for me.

What’s the single best piece of business advice (unorthodox tips welcome!) that helped shape who you are as an entrepreneur today, and why?

Always ask for what you want; the worst that anyone can do is say no. Asking questions, knowing what you want and pushing through the fear to ask for it has been at the center of my growth. As I continue to refine my questions, I get more of what I want. And the cycle repeats.

Surprisingly, I often learn more from the no’s than the yes’s. I think most things in life are a number’s game, so I try to collect no’s like people collect medals. Every no gets you closer to someone who will say yes. The only caveat I’ll make here is that I try to give something in every encounter I have. If all you do is ask for things from other people, you are not aligning your karma very well. So you should always ask for what you want while keeping in mind what you can do for the other person. How can you create a virtuous circle with your asks where everyone wins?

What’s the biggest mistake you ever made in your business, and what did you learn from it that others can learn from too?

My biggest mistake was thinking I had to do what everyone else was doing, that I had to fit into a box. For some reason, we’ve all agreed to the social construct of a 9-to-5 job. Why? I have no idea. Many of us do “our time” in an office building replete with padded cubicle walls and hot air balloon posters of a multi-cultural team. How bizarre when you think about it.

This idea of a 9-to-5 workday was first proposed in 1810 by the labor party. So we haven’t found a better way in 200 years? Even Henry Ford lessened his producers’ work from 12-14 hours to 8 because it increased productivity. So whatever your path, you’ve unknowingly agreed to this construct. But are you paid specifically to be present at your desk from 9 to 5? Is your job title “On Location for 8 Hours Associate”? I doubt it. Your job is related to what you do, not how long it takes you to do it.

If my team can do in four hours what other teams do in eight, all the better. The rest of the time should be theirs to grow, engage and become better humans. To go far, understand that just because everyone does it, it doesn’t mean it’s right. And you will go far much sooner than I did.

Read my article here -> I Threw Away All My Suits & Found My Corporate Stride

What do you do during the first hour of your business day and why?

My home is more often than not an airport or a hotel, so a set structure is challenging for me. Here’s my daily drill for when I’m not traveling:

Up at 6 a.m. every morning, I start with a cup of Pinon coffee and coconut oil that I take outside to meditate for 10 minutes and spend two minutes wrapped up in gratitude for all I have. Fully refreshed, I use the first two hours of the day for “deep work.” This means the strategic work that I have to think through, not responding to emails or calls. Then I do one or two things I REALLY do not want to do, i.e. a cold call, a difficult task, etc. so that it doesn’t hang over me all day. With my day kicked off the right way, I hop into the rest of the day.

As Peter Drucker said, “What gets measured gets managed.” I use an app called Way of Life to track how frequently I keep my morning routine. Over the past nine months, it turns out I follow this routine about 57% of the time. Next year I’d really like to up that percentage.

What’s your best financial/cash-flow related tip for entrepreneurs just getting started?

I talk my people through how to save up front and get as much as possible for free or trade. With this lack of pressure due to debt, we can take a two-step validation process through sales. First, tackle how to mine your current clients, or the people you already know, and use them as a testing ground. Secondly, and only after you have mined your personal network for real sales with dollars committed, you can go after strangers. A cold call is always harder than a warm lead. Once you have an understanding of the demand for your product, you can start spending, but it is always easier to spend more and then go back and try to save or cut costs you shouldn’t have made in the first place.

Quick: What’s ONE thing you recommend ALL aspiring or current entrepreneurs do right now to take their biz to the next level?

Take out your iPhone right now and set a reminder for every morning that says, “Is this necessary?” or “Am I being productive or just busy?” Focusing on the wrong tasks can murder your business and career. It’s not about being the most efficient person; it’s being the most effective. Instead of focusing only on the things in front of you, strategically cut out everything that isn’t necessary and you’ll be amazed by what happens. Get really comfortable with those two questions and using the word “no.” When you are asked to do something, make sure it aligns with your goals and is the BEST way you can be spending your time, not just a GOOD way.

Most entrepreneurs are type-A personalities who absolutely love a good to-do list and feeling like they accomplished a lot at the end of the day. The problem with that is you can accomplish a ton of stuff that absolutely doesn’t matter. It can be very painful to go through this process of simplification and even more painful to stick to it, but if you can, momentum will build and the big wins will drown out all of the small incremental wins you would have had with the wrong focus.

“Most entrepreneurs are type-A personalities who absolutely love a good to-do list and feeling like they accomplished a lot at the end of the day.”

What’s your definition of success? How will you know when you’ve finally “succeeded” in your business?

My definition of success is getting paid what I want, to do what I want, where I want, how I want and with the people I want. Pretty tall order, huh? But in truth that is my definition of success. It is not having $100 million in cash, or a NYT bestseller, or 50 million followers, or monuments, or power, or a Fortune 500 company, or $1 billion in company revenue. It is simply having the freedom to surround myself with the people, activities, setting and type of work that feeds my soul and allows me to give back through my unique skill set. My business is simply a mechanism to achieve those things and leave a footprint for those I can help through the skills I believe were uniquely bestowed on me.

“Success is simply having the freedom to surround myself with the people, activities, setting and type of work that feeds my soul and allows me to give back through my unique skill set.”

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.

#1 Reason You Aren't Getting What You Want.

#soyoucangetit

My favorite homo-sapiens,

For those of you that aren't signed up for my Monday Slay Newsletter.. Here is a sample edition!his is my rant edition.. 5 bullets, no apps, all gold.

It hurts my heart, like literally makes it feel constricted in my chest. Do you know that feeling of tightness? What hurts me? Watching people I love, hell and people I don't know, meander unhappily through life. It is the norm not the exception. So many of us have every opportunity but for some reason stuff just doesn't seem to go out way, we don't get what we want, we're unhappy, and we eventually just settle into it. Wtf. So let's pretend you already know what you want (start small). A new job, more money, a crazy kinda love, or just a new car. How to get it? First - always always always always ask for what you want. BUT that is not enough it's in how you ask.

 

Here's my secret to usually getting what I want or even better what I need. 

Give First

Before I ever ask for something, I give. I abide by the 10x principle. I attempt to give 10x the value of anything I take. How to apply? Play the long game. Your next meeting/email with your husband, boss, potential employer bring something to them. Aka instead of... I'd like you to hire me email, do a little research on them and their company or an opportunity. If you want a gig at a salon, research their kind of ideal customer, put together a plan on how you are going to go after hipsters, with tattoos, between ages of 25-35 by partnering with a local tattoo shop in a hip neighborhood with a referral program, as well as through customer before and after client pics  with mustache cutouts and props like you see at weddings, that you'll tag on your blog and Facebook with your hysterical sense of humor. You're giving the salon a solution to a growth problem. How many others do that? NONE. I'd hire that hair stylist.

“Before I ever ask for something, I give. I abide by the 10x principle. I attempt to give 10x the value of anything I take.”

Specific Asks  

I'm not a big deal at all, and Even I get about 3-5 emails a day asking for help. Which I love. But if your email says, can you help me be successful, can you mentor me, can you teach me how you got to where you are. I'm calling you out. Why? It is SO not specific and all of our time is limited. Ask me instead something like, "I'm a writer I want to get published, where would you start?"

I have no idea what it means to be a mentor except to do your thinking for you. You could say I'd love to meet for coffee for 20min to get your opinion on how to better build my personal brand. I might still say no if you haven't given me something first. So better yet, come to me with an idea on how you can help me, that's how you actually get a mentor. 

“Ask me instead, I’m a writer I want to get published, where would you start? I have no idea what it means to be a mentor except to do your thinking for you. ”

Get Curious

I have this magical tool that is so powerful it can do almost anything for you with one click.

Want me to share? It's called Google. (Hehe sarcasm apparent?) Before your meeting, google it. I just turned down two people who want to work on my team, why? I told them to come to me with a proposal on why I should hire them and they went to one of my team members to ask them for all the answers. Lazy and stupid. Of course, my employee is going to tell me. Surprise me with your intel, try to show me you actually want to work, don't just bother me or the person you want something from with "hey just checking in." Uh ok. Thanks? Instead send them intel they might not have. Prove your worth not your ability to pester. 

“ Surprise me with your intel, try to show me you actually want to work, don’t just bother me or the person you want something from with “hey just checking in.””

Meet 1 New Person A Week

Colton (are you reading?). Nothing like calling out your bro via email. I challenged him to try to schedule a meeting with one interesting random person a week. That's how I met Gloria Estefan, the President of Spain, was on Tv for Telemundo & People, hung w/ Wimhoff and Orlando Jones, more CEOs than I can name and the list goes on. I'm not special just process oriented. 

Be Brief

Finally - when opportunity strikes be the first to end the convo. Always. It's like a hot chick at the bar, leave her wanting more.

Love you animals,

Codie

Dominate Powerpoint: Tom Jamieson Founder Slidebot

Say Ciao To Boring Pie Charts..

& Hello to Auto PowerPoints

Written by Codie Sanchez Baker       

---

““Make slides that reinforce your words, not repeat them.””

— Seth Godin

As you all know I love nothing more than a super actionable breakdown from an expert in their space, not to mention I like telling the future. Well Tom Jamieson Co-founder of Slidebot kind of does just that. Slidebot is AI for powerpoints. Just imagine NEVER having to put together a powerpoint again (I kid you not I am using it right now). You see, Tom and his brother Ned have seen their fair share of presentations, think in the tens of thousands. #deathbypowerpoint

“There are 20 million powerpoint presentations created a day, I beat 19.9 million of them are awful. ”

— Tom Jamieson

So if you are looking to perfect your pitch, want to nail your next presentation or have your eye on a Ted Talk this bad boy is for you. Since I'm told most people fear #1 public speaking and #2 death.. this will be a great fear conquering activity for you.

Three Key Takeaways:

- Pictures of eyes correlate to higher retention rates

- People remember visual content 65% better than verbal content

- Facts are 20x more likely to be remembered if they are part of a story

Some of our mutual favorite powerpoint presentations nailed: 

Brene Brown

Amy Cuddy

If you just want to hear his prediction that blew my mind fast forward to the end. Mind blown.

So my dears without further ado - I hope you dig this episode with Tom Jamieson of Slidebot!

www.slidebot.io

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.

A Seat At The Table Beats A Sign Outside the Building

30 Day Conscious Consumer Challenge

#Consume4Change

Written by Codie Sanchez

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How to Turn Protest into Progress

Put Your Plastic Where Your Purpose Is

All around the world we see protest, signs held aloft, voices raised, and people telling us what they stand against, but not always showing us what they stand for. Believe me I get it ...

This is me 15 years ago organizing a rally at my school. I had a rallying cry, I called the local radio station for coverage and I held a reconciliation council with our principal, after orchestrating a walkout. My poor mother and her gray hairs. I know there is extreme power in standing outside the crowd and speaking your truth.

So, this week as I watched millions of humans march across the world, I got goosebumps. I felt sad to miss seeing the signs held aloft. I went back and watched MLK’s I Have A Dream Speech and the thousands marching in solidarity for the same foundational idea so many years ago. American pride exuded from my very pores. Then this week we've all been inundated with social media commentary on both sides of the aisle.

But the problem is.. Regardless of what issues you stand behind, I believe we need more than protest.. we need progress, and I'm not sure we are getting it.

“I believe we need more than protest.. we need progress, and I’m not sure we are getting it.”

Look at the Occupy Wall Street movement, as a member of Wall Street who worked at Goldman Sachs during the crisis, I can say with some confidence that they did not truly achieve their goals. I recall them picketing outside our office in 2008. I remember looking down on them from stories above as my colleagues watched for a moment before going back to work. Whether right or wrong, they held our attention for an instant… but ultimately they were outside the building, they didn’t have a seat at our table. 

Flash forward to today.. Where are those that camped across the world against the 1%? Are they working at a bank perhaps? Maybe not, but I'd wager they are banking at one.

Now their fight wasn’t mine but I see a cycle of progress-less protest repeating, and my next logical question is where will the millions who wore pink hats this week be in a year?

Obviously, pink adorned celebrity statement didn't influence an election. I doubt their protests (however eloquently re-tweetable) will influence our government. However much I love their music and art, we don’t follow their opinions for our electoral decisions. We humans don’t really like to be told what to do, by anyone. Ask your rebellious teenage children.

So whether you are a champion for women, veterans, gun rights, how do you actually enact change?

I would argue not with protest, but through the power of your purse and your paycheck. It starts with one simple question, whose kingdom are you building? 

“I would argue not with protest, but through the power of your purse and your paycheck. It starts with one simple question, whose kingdom are you building? ”

Government is Powerful but Enterprise is more Powerful. 

Whether you are a housewife, student, employee, or executive, you can affect massive change by targeting the lifeblood of capitalism, democracy, America and power... money.

Companies are what back candidates, companies are what allow candidates self-funding to propel to positions of power. The truth is that government is powerful but enterprise is more powerful. Cut off cashflow, redirect revenue, align assets and the power shifts. Media, social media or otherwise, is not the way. Money is the way. But how do you do so?

The average American spends $55k a year. What if we redirected IT?

• US CONSUMERS BUYING POWER IS $11 TRILLION

• Women drive 70-80% of consumer purchases*

• Women in the US have $8-9 trillion of annual household buying power**

• Women represent 47% of the US labor force

• Latinos represent $1.7 trillion of annual buying power ***

• Latinas are the fastest growing entrepreneurial group

• Latinos are 17% of the US population

• Millennials have $600 billion of buying power ****

• 50% of millennials want to start a company in the next 5 years

 

I would propose three steps to progress. 

Step 1: Tell Me What You Are FOR Not AGAINST

This isn’t just for the pink hatted, this is for the military supporters, this is for the gay rights supporters, this for the women’s rights or the pro-life right supporters. My opinion is worth no more than yours in the issue you choose, but you must decide what you stand for.

What will you support?

Step 2: Whose Kingdom Are You Building?

“You by working for your company are helping to build that kingdom, make sure you believe in what you are building. Your life force is going into it, is there any more powerful force?”

Now you must ask yourself a tough question. Whose kingdom are you building? If you are willing to post on social media, to hold signs, to raise your voice in debate, are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?

We as Americans work 34.4 hours on average a week, or 1720 hours week. We are the most productive nation in the world. So when you look at the company you work for, what values do they hold? AND are they aligned with yours? Are you working for a company that sells sugar laden products when you fight for healthy eating? Or for a manager that doesn’t promote women but you are a man with daughters? Or are you an adaptive and your company won’t invest in accessible workplaces? If so, what are you willing to do about it? Whether it is quitting, pushing for change, hiring more diverse members or raising your voice, will you speak the language of power? Money. 

You by working for your company are helping to build that kingdom, make sure you believe in what you are building. Your life force is going into it, is there any more powerful force?

Step 3: The Power of The Purse

“What if you decided to become conscious of where you bought? What if instead of lobbying/posting you put your trillions of spending power to work? ”

What does every company need to survive? Customers. You are the most important aspect of every company. Without users, customers, clients, they crumble. So what if you decided to become conscious of where you bought? What if instead of lobbying only you put your trillions of spending power to work? When you go to buy a coffee, which company do you go to? When you buy clothing do you buy them from an international fast fashion company or do you buy them from a made in the US company who supports veterans? What about when you invest your money, can you do it at a women owned firm? How about your car? That’s a big purchase. Who is your realtor? Just the best, or the best with purpose? What if instead of thinking of just the cost of the price tag we thought of the cost to our society.

 

That’s where my challenge comes in….

TAKE ACTION: 30 Day Conscious Consumer Challenge

For 30 days, can you be conscious about everything you buy. I’m going to. For the next 30 days I will try to only buy from the below types of companies. When I fail, I will be conscious of it, and I will document it...

For me I will support:

• Founders I know and believe in (Support my trusted humans first)

• Small businesses (Support local and non-franchise first)

• Minority owned businesses w/ an emphasis on Latino’s, women and veterans

• Purpose driven companies. (Support businesses that believe in more than profits)

Before you say well that would be easy..

Think about it, airlines, hotels, gas, cars, insurance, apps on our phone, technology, food, restaurants, gifts, flowers, clothes. The average American spends $55k a year. How much more is that than you could ever donate to a political cause?

“The average American spends $55k a year. How much more is that than you could ever donate to a political cause?”

If you want to join the movement of 30 Day Conscious Consumer Challenge, CLICK HERE to subscribe to updates and comment below your name and the causes you stand for. We'll be building a list of where we buy and the stories of others who are joining the movement. Also tweet or tag us on instagram (@codiesanchez) twitter (@codie_sanchez) with #Consume4Change. 

PROGRESS NOT ONLY PROTEST

Love you animals,

Codie

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Sources:

* http://www.forbes.com/sites/bridgetbrennan/2015/01/21/top-10-things-everyone-should-know-about-women-consumers/

**http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/buying-power-women-us

*** https://www.statista.com/statistics/251438/hispanics-buying-power-in-the-us/

**** https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insight-outlook-who-are-millennial-shoppers-what-do-they-really-want-retail

Selling: The Art of Closing Deals w/ Kim Orlesky

Written by Codie Sanchez

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Sick and Tired of Cold-calls and Emails Gone Unanswered?

Whew, then this podcast w/ Kim Orlesky - Author, Sales Savant & B*d A$$ Chicks Is For You!

As a saleswoman at heart, having @KimOrlesky on my podcast, the ultimate saleswoman, who has been able to land names on her podcast like Grant Cardone, Guy Kawasaki, Nathan Chan was like unleashing a nerdy teenager at a Comic festival. Kim has made a living out of teaching others, particularly entrepreneurs, how to take their ideas and turn it into actual cash flow. You see the funny thing that most business people realize after they get out of marketing classes and into the game of marketing, is that nothing really sells itself. As I've said before if you build it, they will not come. You have to go find them and drag them in despite themselves. Consumers are drowning in a sea of choice and confusion. As a salesperson or a business owner, understanding how to create a sales pipeline, which CRM (client relationship management) software is best, how to define the right prospects, how to create a sales funnel, or when to take No as a No and walk away, is akin to finding the holy grail.

Because as my favorite CEO says, without sales there is nothing. Without sales there are no taxes for accountants to account on, no legal work for legal to attorney away for, no administration for administrators to, well you get the deal.  First you get the sales, then you get the lifeblood pumping through the organization.  Enough from me, let's hear it from the Master Kim Orlesky on straight closing.

In the podcast, we talk about: 

1. Her favorite sales funnels and how to close the deals that matter

2. How to sell anyone on anything

3. The easiest mistakes to avoid as a salesperson that you never thought of

4. The one thing you can do now, to increase your sales

“If we use the prospect’s personal belief, and tie it into where they want to be: that ideal state or how much better their life will be when they purchase your product or service, you will be able to capture the prospect’s attention better.”

— Kim Orlesky

www.kimorlesky.com

So without further ado I hope you dig deep into this podcast with Kim Orlesky. 

 

For more on Kim Orlesky: 

Her books: 

Finding (My)Self (Love): One Girl's Journey of 17 Countries Across 4 Continents in 6 Months

How to Be a Nomad: Go from Business Suit to World Backpacker

Read her articles here

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? But hen making it profitable, --> Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.

Turn Your Story Into Profits & Purpose

You Have A Story, You Have A Purpose, Let's Share It...

By Codie Sanchez Baker

How to let the moments that created you drive you forward...

Write Your Story Now.. 5 Steps to Aligning Your Life --> http://bit.ly/codiesanchez

I remember the moment it all changed for me, when I realized that life is too short to live small and that we each have a unique skill we were meant to share with the world.

“Life is too short to live small.”

It's scary to share who you are, why you do what you do, and add in those moments you aren't so proud of, but that shaped you. There's a unique blend of not wanting to be ego driven in declaring yourself and also wanting to hold yourself accountable to holding your standard high by doing just that, declaring yourself.

There is also the real acknowledgement that am I at the top of the summit? H*ll no! Am I saying I'm something great and amazing, ummm negative. What I am saying is that I wouldn't switch my life for any other, and I'm d*mn curious to see where it leads. The beauty of that is, I'm nothing special but I'm living a life that I love. Are there problems? YES! But when it comes to business, my journey to weave together passion + profits + purpose, I'm a pretty happy camper. The beauty is, if I can do any of this, I don't know a human that cannot.

“The beauty is, if I can do any of this, I don’t know a human that cannot.”

I remember my moment… before any of my money, success, travel or titles.. I was a journalist. I traveled in Mexico, writing about the brutal mutilation of women in Juarez, to narcos in Tijuana, to rape centers in Agua Prieta. It was heavy stuff to see as a 20 year old, and the last story I wrote changed my life. From there, I realized I can't live a common life no matter how humble my beginnings.

You see my secret is, I’m nothing special.

“You see my secret is, I’m nothing special.”

I’m a public school kid, before I went to Georgetown and Goldman Sachs, before I ran a multi-million dollar company, before I was an investor closing my first big deal, and before I traveled the world speaking and consulting at age 30, I didn’t come from money.   My father is from immigrants and didn’t go to college, and my mom is a 30-year special education teacher.   I had to think long and hard about how you make change without power.  I've spent the last years like the investigative journalist I was, documenting every step of my climb through Corporate America and Finance.  I’ve interviewed hundreds of execs, psychologists, leaders, and change makers, seeking out those at the highest pinnacles to learn their ways. Now I share with you because, my why is to bring more humans like you, who want to make an impact, into the epi-centers of power, and money.

Here's my story.. I'm curious to hear yours.. I'm curious to start talking about moments. The moments that defined your life, that led you to drive more. What was your MOMENT? And did you follow it?

“What was your MOMENT? And did you follow it?”

Write Your Story Now.. 5 Steps to Aligning Your Life --> http://bit.ly/codiesanchez

Love you animals,

Codie Sanchez 

My Go-To Restaurant Guide for Mexico City

My FAVORITE Foodie City...

Picturing..

TACOS, CHILAQUILES, ENCHILADAS OH MY

THIS IS MY POST SAYING, GO DO BUSINESS IN MEXICO.

Find an excuse to get to know the culture, the people and the food. And do it quick. 

I have a love affair with Mexico City... (otherwise known as DF) but don't tell my man. It's just between the warm and welcoming people, the incredible museums, amazing shopping and the to-die-for food, it's a hidden gem of a city. And, because I'm in finance, with the peso devaluation vs the dollar and the American mentality of it being dangerous it's hugely undervalued IMHO.

But I'll be honest I don't mind it staying hidden so I get to explore it all for a STEAL!

Leave comments and tell me if you want more particulars and I'll hammer out a hotel/activity guide too but only if you beautiful souls want it!

I've played and worked in Latin America for almost ten years now and somehow walking the streets of Polanco, La Condesa, Roma, it always brings me home. I've included below some of my favorite spots of all time to nosh on lovely edibles while in the city. Since I'm usually there for work I included a lot of upscale places because come on guys, you've eaten so many tacos I literally just can't handle it. 

Let me just say that Chilaquiles for breakfast is a need not a want. Pair it with a concha and you can call and thank me, or better yet bring me back a Concha and I'll love you forever. 

“Let me just say that Chilaquiles for breakfast is a need not a want. ”

Enjoy eating your way through this city.... oohhhhh you are in for a treat!

UN ABRAZO FUERTE!

Codie

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Bosques

Means trees or forest in Spanish. It's the cool part of town that runs in the middle filled with, you guessed it, trees. These are two of my favorites there. You may or may not get to this part of town, if not don't stress, the next spot is the do or die. 

Savannah - $$$$ - Calle Bosque de Duraznos 39, Mexico City 11700, Mexico +52 55 5442 8235.  International. Impeccable. Ample carte of wines. Cozy. Elegant. BYOB available.

Puntarena -$$$$ - Vasca de Quiroga 3800 | Centro Santa Fe, Mexico City 05348, Mexico +52 55 2167 8402.  Seafood. Fresh gourmet-style cuisine. Staff speaks English. 

Condesa/Roma

If I lived in Mexico City it would be this part of town, no doubt. It reminds me of the best parts of Brooklyn and Soho all wrapped into one deliciously old-world present. No high rises are allowed, the streets are lined with bars and restaurants and the people are just way too d*mn hip.  Bohemian hipster paradise, no doubt about it. 

Pendulo Library & Cafe - Listed as one of the best libraries in the world I secretly love their cafecitos and people watching.

Dulcinea - $$-$$$ - Calle Tabasco 46 | Roma Norte, Mexico City 06700, Mexico +52 55 9688 6595. Contemporary.  Relaxed and stylish.  Cocktails are very original.

Mercado Roma - Calling all Hipsters. This is your homeland. The hipster version of a market with the best of the best vendors, seating areas and alcoves. The vibe is perfection.

You have a waxed moustache and talk in the theoretical? Mercado Roma is for you and your suspenders my friend.

“Calling all Hipsters. This is your homeland. The hipster version of a market with the best of the best vendors, seating areas, and alcoves. The vibe is perfection.”

Blanco Colima - $$$$ -Calle Colima 168 | Roma Norte, Mexico City 06700, Mexico +52 55 5511 7527.  International, Contemporary, Vegan Friendly.  Savory dishes.  Famous for Carajillo, Foi Grass.  

Cedron $$-$$$ -Avenida Mazatlan 24, Condesa | Esquina Juan de la Barrera, Mexico City 06140, Mexico +52 55 2155 6403.   Mediterranean, European, Contemporary. First class. Outstanding ambience. Cozy and gorgeous.  Artisan & healthy (You add your own salt).

Mero Toro - $$$$ - 204 Amsterdam Ave. | Colonia Condesa, Mexico City, Mexico. Mexican, Latin, Seafood. Chic and cool. Staff speaks English.  Top quality.

La Taba - $$-$$$- Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 1605 I-11, Col, San Jose Insurgentes, Mexico City, Mexico. Argentinean. Melt-in-your-mouth prime rib.  Known for its beef fondue.

“Have you really lived if you haven’t had a Mezcal in Mexico City?”

Huset -$$-$$$ -Colima #256, Mexico City 06700, Mexico +52 55 5511 6767.   Barbecue, Grill.  100% Wood-fired-oven cooked meals. Avocado pizza is a favorite. Unique cocktails. 

Mia Domenicca - $$ - $$$ - Calle Durango 279, Mexico City 06700.  Mediterranean.  Suitable atmosphere to conduct business.  Italian inspired dishes with a Mexican pizzaz.  

Rosetta - $$$$ -Calle Colima 166 | Del. Cuauhtemoc, Mexico City 06700, Mexico +52 55 5533 7804.  Italian. Vegan Option.

¡Viva México!

Polanco

Polance is like your stylish, European influenced neighbor, who has been to Spain but loves France and can dance salsa. Well, I don't have neighbors like that but if I did I would nickname them Polanco. It's the poshest part of the city and one of my favorite parts to stroll in.

Bistró Chapultepec - $$ - $$$ - Calle Lago Mayor S/N - 1era Sec. Chapultepec. Mexican. Short seating waiting period.  Relaxed atmosphere. Great lakeview.  

Bistro Chapultepec... Ok so you'll butcher the name but the views are worth the embarrasment.

Biko - $$$$ - Presidente Mazarik 407 Polanco, Mexico City, Mexico. Spanish/Mexican. Elegant. Contemporary. Stylish.

Dulce Patria -They are super fancy here but if you are feeling fancy, looking fancy and looking for other fancy folk, this is your crew. $$$$ - Anatole France 100 | Col. Polanco, Mexico City, Mexico. Mexican/Latin. Artisan cuisine.  Famous for Nogada Stuffed Poblano Peppers.  Fantastic and delicate.

“They are super fancy here but if you are feeling fancy, looking fancy and looking for other fancy folk, this is your crew.”

La Buena Barra - Gin is big in Mexico, I don't know why that is not my drink of choice but this place makes it tasty. Also - eat on the roof. You're welcome. $$$$ -Calle Aristoteles 124 Piso 3, Mexico City 11550, Mexico. Mexican/Latin.  Everyone’s Gin Cart rave.  Roof garden.

Prosecco Polanco - Plus guess what drink here is awesome, yup, the bubbly. $$ - $$$ -Calle Virgilio 7 | Polanco III Sección, Mexico City 11540, Mexico.  Italian. Cozy & contemporary. Exotic flavors.

Pujol - IF YOU HAVE ONE SPLURGE THIS IS IT. I mean have you seen his Chef's Table episode. He's not a chef, he's an artist. The food shows it. You will not regret the price point, queridos. $$$$- Tennyson 133 | Polanco, Mexico City 11560, Mexico. Mexican/Latin/ Fusion. Internationally renowned Chef Enrique Olvera.  One of the world’s best restaurants.  Book at least within two months in advance.

“IF YOU HAVE ONE SPLURGE THIS IS IT. I mean have you seen his Chef’s Table episode? He’s not a chef, he’s an artist. Run, don’t walk there.”

Quintonil - Another place that gets me salivating like a dog on a bone. $$$$- Newton 55 | Polanco, Mexico City 11560, Mexico. Mexican/Latin. Not your average restaurant experience.  An explosion of flavors.

Sylvestre - I love the feel of this place, food is amazing but the restaurant itself is a slice of bohemian heaven. $$$$ - Calle Anatole France 74, Mexico City 11550, Mexico. International.  Amazing ambience.  The staff is extremely attentive.

Reforma

This is the main drag of the city, think of it like the artery to the heart. It's where all the commerce is, all the protests are, and leads straight to the Zocalo where the Presidential Palace is. If you are in Mexico for work, this is where I stay. Also - great running paths up and down it. 

J&G Grill - This is my home away from home in Mexico City. It's in the St. Regis so if you aren't looking for a chain this is not your jam, but I sit here and work for hours. $$$$ -Paseo de la Reforma 439 Hotel The St. Regis, Mexico City, Mexico. Top notch service.  Famous for Avocado Pizza.

Cantina La Piedra - They get a little wild here, and I like it. But in a classy way, because I'm a lady. $$-$$$ -Calle Aristoteles Esq. Masaryk 124 | Esquina Masaryk, Mexico City 11550, Mexico. Mexican Bar/Pub. Excellent service and very (ahem) lively atmosphere.

“They get a little wild here, and I like it. But in a classy way, because I’m a lady. ”

Contramar - Did anyone say ceviche. Oh no, my mouth was full of it, so I didn't say it, I just ate it all. $$ -$$$ -Calle Durango 200, Mexico City 06700, Mexico. Mexican/Seafood. Relaxed and informal atmosphere. Nouvelle seafood cuisine.  

San Angel

You probably are not going to find yourself in the south of the city (unless you go to a bullfight or soccer match, but if you do this is my go to spot there. Multi-layered, feels like a modern jungle inspired open air mansion. 

SUD 777 -$$$$ -Avenida de La Luz 777, Mexico City 01900, Mexico. Mexican/International. Great atmosphere, gourmet cuisine, perfect wine pairing, fantastic sites all in one place.  

SUD777, doesn't suck huh?

All in all my friends, my goal here is that you step outside the taco joints and taste a little more of the metropolitan Mexico. You will be surprised at what you find. 

Adelante,

Codie

From Consultant to Sex Trafficking Abolitionist

Written by Codie Sanchez

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“...She saw children being sold into slavery in Cambodia and she said enough...”

It all started with a little girl named Nomi. This little girl had been through things one can hardly imagine halfway across the world. Thankfully she met Diana Mao and Diana instead of continuing on her lucrative and successful track as a consultant became the President and Co-Founder of Nomi Network. She saw children being sold into slavery in Cambodia and she said enough. What does that mean? Well Diana is a modern day gladiator. She’s an abolitionist whose mission is to ensure the complete end of human trafficking in her lifetime. This small of frame, but not of mind, human rights champion and I talk about:

1. The moment her life changed

2. How she manages international teams across multiple countries

3. All while contributing to Reuters, HuffPost

4. Also being a Presidential Leadership Scholar

5. How to create a non-profit in a way that makes an impact and is sustainable.

6. What makes a successful partnership

7. How to handle international crises.

Her story is the kind that gives you chills. AND inspires you to do more. 

“She’s an abolitionist whose mission is to ensure the complete end of human trafficking in her lifetime. ”

I dare you to read their origin story and not be inspired…

“Nomi Network’s namesake is an eight-year-old survivor of sex trafficking who now lives in a supportive partner shelter in Cambodia. Co-founders Diana Mao and Alissa Moore first met Nomi on a visit in 2008. As a child living in a rural village, Nomi was sexually abused by multiple perpetrators and was treated worse than an animal. She has physical scars, but also emotional scars from her abuse which will pose major challenges to her living independently and reintegrate back into society. Nevertheless, Nomi has grown into a beautiful young woman, with a warmth that’s contagious and a generous heart. It was through her friendship and resilience that we realized that she did not have to be defined by her past, but that she could be defined by her future. Nomi Network exists so that survivors will be able to say with confidence, know me, know my story, know my success.”

“Nomi Network exists so that survivors will be able to say with confidence, know me, know my story, know my success.”

So if you are searching for meaning, impact, a life to help or a change to make this is the episode for you.

So without further ado please enjoy my conversation with Diana Mao.

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.

Should I Go to Business School?

To MBA or Not to MBA: That Is The Question

By Codie Sanchez Baker

Do you know as Millennials we are the most educated generation? There are about 75 million of us, and 63% have a Bachelor's degree.* That's 47 million people with college degrees. That means in the US we have more millennials with college degrees, than we do people below the poverty line (43 million in US live below that line). Pretty cool progress, huh? Contrast that with this stat, 51% of Millennials say they want to own a business in the next 5 years. Sooo a cool 38 million more business owners coming our way. Are you one of those?

“In the US we have more millennials with college degrees, than we do people below the poverty line.”

If you are, you may be asking what my friend Reza asked me. He is a successful OR doctor and wants to open up an Urgent Care and provide better healthcare in Hawaii. He's just one of the good guys. But he was pretty honest in saying he'd never studied business. So his question, "Should I go get an MBA to learn business before launching?" My initial response was pretty intense and immediate, but then I held back and I said to myself, let's take a poll. Little experiment, shall we? So I sent this text out to my most respected business owners, major titans in their industries, successful leaders, Private Equity managers, and Venture Capital professionals. My bottom-line entry point was I only asked people who have multi-million revenue businesses or make over a million a year. I know everyone has an opinion but I'm only interested in the ones that have killed it. 

Here's what the killers have to say:

Out of the business people I asked, want to be blown away on one stat in particular? Only one of them said they think business school is worth it, instead of getting the experience through actually building businesses. (Now I caveat that with I have multiple friends who said business school is a a yes too via a Facebook post here so see the flip side of the coin).

“Only one of them said they think business school is worth it, instead of getting the experience through actually building businesses. ”

Zee Ali - Bootstrapping expert & Entrepreneur

Founder, CEO of http://theZeeGroup.com  which is a 1M+ in revenue, product based marketing agency. Founder of http://theZeeAli.com , and it all started with $800 in college. 

Ryan Egan - founder & clothing Entrepreneur

President & Co-Founder of SLC Activewear a wholesale clothing distribution business she co-founded in 2012.

Rene Rodriguez - Online Education guru

René has been an entrepreneur for nearly two decades, having built three multi-million dollar businesses. He's an investor, CEO of a media company and an investment fund, speaker, writer, philanthropist, and cancer survivor.

Patrick Barnhill - InC 5000 Fastest growing Biz Founder

Patrick Barnhill is the founder and co-owner of Specialist ID, Inc, a leading brand/distributor of photo ID badge accessories. Specialist ID was named the #8 fastest growing company in Miami and #1,686 on the INC 5000 in 2015. 

Wendee Saunders - Telecom, energy & Franchise maven

Wendee has her hands in multiple pots, she's part of the opening up of telecom in Mexico, has real estate holdings, runs franchises in the sweets department and helps other entrepreneurs achieve financial freedom through business.

Brian Gallary - International investment business builder

 Heads Business Consulting Group at First Trust, Formerly ran and built some of the largest asset managers domestic and international businesses.

Nely Galan -  Former President of Telemundo, Media Tycoon, Former Trump Apprentice

Patrick Daniel - Harvard grad, author, tech entrepreneur

A Serial Entrepreneur who graduated from Harvard, and LSE, has a blog, written a book, created an online community called Junto, studied method acting, and is one of those beautiful brains I love to run ideas by.

David Bocchi - Head of Investment Bank before 30

Head of Aegis Investment Banking Division.

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IF YOU ARE SAYING BUT COME ON, I WANT AN MBA:

OK HERE'S HOW I WOULD DO IT.

But first... Do you know that if you dropped in a human from a hundred years ago to today, they would not recognize just about anything we do. From transportation, to communication, to infrastructure, it has all evolved at lightspeed pace. BUT, place that same person in a classroom today and in a classroom 100 years ago and guess what? Sh*t looks just about the same. Teacher lecturing up at the front, some sort of screen to write or project on, and students sitting like children around the campfire in front of said teacher. That model is just BEGGING to be turned on it's head. So ya, I'm with the doubters. I'm with the renegades who say if you are going to educate us Universities you better have teachers that have actually built something besides a research paper none of us want to read. I've been lucky to go to one I found huge value in (Georgetown) and partner with another SMU, who both have entrepreneurs as a major part of the equation but most schools, well they just don't.

“I’m with the renegades who say if you are going to educate us, universities, you better have teachers that have actually built something besides a research paper none of us want to read. ”

Now before you start yelling at me as a hypocritical blasphemer of education... think about the actual cost of an MBA. "$80,000 for tuition, $40,000 boarding and books, $20,000 peripheral expenditures brings the total MBA cost to around $140,000, while the lost income brings the tab to a whopping $260,000." according to Investopedia. 

That isn't any chump change. Considering only about 8-10% of individuals in the US make over $100k a year. That's about 32 million people. So you need to be in the top 10% to even start making up for the cost of an MBA. 

“Considering only about 8-10% of individuals in the US make over $100k a year. That’s about 32 million people. So you need to be in the top 10% to make up for the cost of an MBA. ”

here's what you need to ask yourself before packing your backpack:

Why are you doing it?

If you are doing it to build a better business, I'd say you are doing it wrong.  It's not that I don't believe in the power of an MBA or advanced degree, I LOVE to learn.  I love being around people who are learning.  I LOVE college campuses.  I think if you can afford it and you are going in order to pursue learning, engage with interesting humans and say that you have a degree from XYZ on your resume than you should absolutely go to school.  However, people, hermanos, amigos, do you think if you had $260,000.00 to spend on your startup and learning how to build a business by doing it, you might learn more than if you spent $260,000.00 learning business theory? People learn best by doing, not reading about doing. Think about if you read a million books on basketball, would you be Michael Jordan when you eventually picked up the basketball? Nah, sorry. You'd know all the technicalities of playing basketball while you shot airballs just like yours truly. 

“If you read a million books on basketball, would you be Michael Jordan when you eventually picked up the ball? Nah, sorry. You’d know all the technicalities of playing basketball, while you shot airballs just like yours truly. ”

Can you offset the costs with money from your employer or the government?

If you can go for almost nothing through grants, scholarships, your corporation paying for it while you work (as I did), then I think it's a no brainer.  The time, in my opinion, to go to business school is while you are working a 9 to 5. You can learn, on your company's dime, still make money and give back to your company by applying those theories. They benefit because you stay longer and you benefit by learning.  Want to hear more about getting it for free?... Get my guide here. 

Does your industry necessitate it? 

If you are in an industry like mine, finance, where your degree is a door opener and almost a requisite, then an MBA may be a no brainer. If you plan on working in the corporate realm, it's also probably worth it. MBA's have the highest earning potential on average of any group and the lowest unemployment.*** However let me be crystal clear, if you are an entrepreneur, it's not only not necessary, it's you listening to your ego. You want to be able to say I went here and thus I am smart, educated, and worth it. I get it, I want that too. But here's the rub, that won't help your business succeed.  #toughlove

Can you get into an Ivy League?

If you can get into an Ivy or a near Ivy, your network and your resume will make it worth it. Having Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Columbia, etc just open doors. Whether it opens VC doors, funding doors, networking doors, that in of itself will make life easier for you, just as being born with a trust fund does.  Not fair, and doesn't necessarily mean you are going to succeed, it's just an instant respect factor. 

Who are your teachers? 

Less than where your school sits on the ranking list, ask them who is going to be teaching you. What are their backgrounds?  Are they all academic?  Have they built anything before?  Which graduates of theirs have built businesses and can you speak to them?  Interview these schools just like you would a new hire.

“Interview these schools just like you would a new hire.”

Because in fact for $260,000 you are hiring perhaps your most expensive new hire to date. 

Happy Learning,

Codie Sanchez 

Sources:

* http://millennialbranding.com/case-studies/payscale-com-study/

**http://www.gallup.com/poll/15832/majority-americans-want-start-own-business.aspx

***http://www.onlinembareport.com/articles/value-mba-then-and-now

Kumar Arora - Hustling with Heart

Written by Codie Sanchez                                                          

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Kumar Arora

Cleveland Hustles w/ Heart

TV Star, Angel Investor, Fashion Mogul and Entrepreneur Dishes His Story

If you’ve watched Lebron James, TV show Cleveland Hustles, if you are a fashion or streetwear savant, or if you play in the realm of angel investing then you probably know my friend, Kumar Arora. If you don’t know him I loved this quote from Inside business magazine on him, “Kumar Arora is cool..” They have a point. He hosts parties at hidden gems through his Black Rose Entertainment. He is a co-owner of the popular streetwear brand Ilthy, and also owns Sunglass brand Rogue eyewear which really lives up to it’s name and is doing some pioneering work with stone glasses.

So if you see Kumar today, with companies that have millions in revenue a year, launching new products constantly, on TV and sites like Inc and Inside Biz, you might not realize that he’s had to grind just like all of us. Some of my favorite parts of this interview are him talking about how he (like many of us in 2008) couldn’t find a gig and so his counselor told him to go make one. And he made multiple.

How he analyzes a company in a way I’ve never heard any other investor contemplate, how he sets small goals which snowball into large ones, and how he systematically created his own empire based solely on the things and people he loves. Also pay attention to the part on the question he always asks in meetings, and the best way he’s ever been pitched for anything. If you are looking for seed money, a mentor, or just how to get more of what you want there are some nuggets here.

Get your popcorn ready.. and your notebook and pen out, or get with the 21st century and open your evernote file, because this guy spits some sage wisdom at us.

Some of the questions we dug into:

Your origin story…. What made you the man you are today, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, founder with companies that rev over $8mm annually, in numerous startups tv star on Cleveland hustles?

When did you decide you wanted to build a company as opposed to be a part of a company?

What drive keeps you going when you are burning the candle on both ends flying back and forth from LA to Cleveland, grinding on your businesses and your brand?

I’ve been struggling lately with the balance of promotion vs. creation? What do you do to balance the two?

What is the one thing you believe wholeheartedly that almost no one agrees with you on?

What are you most excited about that you are working on currently? (Spoiler alert it's a kickstarter campaign for epic sunglasses!).

Hope you enjoy our chat below as much as I did!!

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.

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