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Entrepreneurs

Top 15 Entrepreneurship Resources to Boost Your Success

The 21st century has brought great new opportunities for entrepreneurs. The digital revolution has completely changed the way we live -- and the landscape for aspiring CEOs and innovators. However, the world is also moving faster than ever, and the competition is thick, so you have to gain every advantage you can get to turn your passion or idea into a sustainable business. Entrepreneurship requires an unvanquished spirit of curiosity, an openness to learning, a letting go of OldCo so you're free to create NewCo. – Michael E. Gerber This is where this guide comes in. We've outlined the 15 best resources on entrepreneurship to help you acquire the tools and knowledge you need to start your entrepreneurial journey (and keep it going). Whether you're looking to work remotely as a freelancer or want to turn your passion into a career, the resources below will help you get there. 1. Personality Traits that Successful Entrepreneurs Value More than all Others If you want to know what the absolute most important traits and skills are to develop as an entrepreneur, look no further. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, this will tell you everything you need to know about what makes a successful entrepreneur tick. Read here: 5 Personality Traits that Successful Entrepreneurs Value More than all Others 2. How To Find Your Passion If you haven’t yet found your calling, it’s important to do that first before venturing off into any long-term business effort. That’s not just because you shouldn’t settle for anything less than doing what you love (after all, why become an entrepreneur if you’re doing that?), but also because you’ll never be able to maintain the energy and motivation to get passed tough challenges without this passion to drive you. Read here: How To Find Your Passion 3. Dangerous Misconceptions About Entrepreneurship That You Should Know About If you’re relatively new to entrepreneurship, there are some dangerous misconceptions that can hold you and your entrepreneurial efforts back which won’t be immediately obvious. Learn what those misconceptions are and how to keep from falling victim to them by reading this. Read here: Dangerous Misconceptions About Entrepreneurship That You Should Know About 4. How to Build a Brand in the Digital Age — An Entrepreneur’s Starter Guide With social media, building a strong brand is more important than ever before. But if you don’t know anything about what it takes to build a brand, don’t worry, this will help you figure out everything you need to get started. Read here: How to Build a Brand in the Digital Age — An Entrepreneur’s Starter Guide 5. Things You Need to Know If You Want to Be an Entrepreneur If you want to be an entrepreneur, there are a few things that you really need to know. I can’t stress these points enough– if you have dreams or plans of becoming (or are already) an entrepreneur, you need to read this sooner than later. Read here: 6 Things You Need to Know If You Want to Be an Entrepreneur 6. The 3 Questions No Entrepreneur Wants to Ask (but You Must) If you want to build a long and fruitful self-employed career, there are three critically important questions you must ask yourself. This is yet another thing you really can’t put off, as it affects your entire path through entrepreneurship in several critical ways. But, the good news is, if you can be ready for these things ahead of time, you’ll be far better prepared. Read here: The 3 Questions No Entrepreneur Wants to Ask (but You Must) 7. With Grace and Grit: A Guide to Sticking it Out for Entrepreneurs If you haven’t already figured it out yet, entrepreneurship is tough -- really tough. You need to have the right amount of toughness to get through the inevitable challenges you’ll face along the way. Building resilience is key. Read here: With Grace and Grit: A Guide to Sticking it Out for Entrepreneurs 8. Why Entrepreneurship Is an Effective Path to Happiness (and How to Get Started) Aspiring business leaders have more opportunities than ever, but the path to success is also very different from what it used to be. People who might not otherwise have considered themselves entrepreneurs are now deciding to take this path because starting a business gives them the opportunity to do what they love and live on their own terms. Read here: Why Entrepreneurship Is an Effective Path to Happiness (and How to Get Started) 9. Entrepreneurship and the Architecture of Success: Setting Smart Long-Term Goals Entrepreneurship is a long-term game. If you hope to find success in your chosen endeavor, you need to have a well-defined plan and the structure to make that plan a reality. Read here: Entrepreneurship and the Architecture of Success: Setting Smart Long-Term Goals 10. Hacks Highly Successful Entrepreneurs Use to Stay Laser-Focused Are you a seasoned entrepreneur looking for some extra tips for staying focused? Making your vision a reality is hard and requires a laser focus over a very long period of time. Fortunately, there are some simple hacks that can help you keep your eyes on the prize. Read here: 5 Hacks Highly Successful Entrepreneurs Use to Stay Laser-Focused 11. The Best Free AI On The MarketThis seems to be a more brazen suggestion as there is all sorts of controversy surrounding this new TOOL that has been released. However, technology is constantly improving and just as the phone became an essential part of life, so will AI. If you want to truly level up your game you need to learn how to do the unexpected before its expected of you.Read here: How to efficiently make prompts and utilize artificial intelligence12. Trello: The Perfect OrganizerStay organized and boost productivity with Trello! Manage projects, collaborate with your team, and track tasks effortlessly. With its easy-to-use interface and powerful integrations, Trello keeps everything in one place, helping you work smarter and faster. Try it today!Read here: The main site and number one recommendation for team organization Man working his way up 13. Canva: Make Advertisement EasyCreate stunning visuals effortlessly with Canva! Design professional graphics, social media posts, presentations, and more—no design skills required. With easy-to-use templates and powerful tools, Canva helps you bring your ideas to life. Start designing today!Read here: Make Advertising Easy And Effortless14. Google Analytics: It's the perfect observer of success, see where you struggle and where you thriveUnlock powerful insights with Google Analytics! Track website performance, measure traffic, and understand user behavior to optimize your online presence. Make data-driven decisions and grow your business with ease. Start using Google Analytics today to boost your success!Read here: Google Analytics Lets You Look Into Your Weak Points And Work On Them15. Hootsuite – Manage and schedule your social media posts across multiple platforms in one place.Simplify your social media management with Hootsuite! Schedule, track, and manage posts across multiple platforms all in one place. Save time, increase engagement, and streamline your strategy with powerful analytics. Try Hootsuite today and elevate your social presence!Read here: Schedule Your Posts And Manage Your Releases, Get To The Top And Stay There

Man Was Refused a Loan Because He Was Broke - 18 Years Later, He Buys the Same Bank for $590K
Entrepreneurs

Man Was Refused a Loan Because He Was Broke - 18 Years Later, He Buys the Same Bank for $590K

We all remember our lowest points. The memories from those times never leave us: what happened, how we got out of it, but also how we were treated when we needed help the most. Adam Deering never forgot his humble beginnings. In 2002, he was near-broke, and tried to get a £10,000 loan at the RBS branch in Urmston, Greater Manchester. He was denied.The once almost penniless man is now a wealthy businessman, and he’s marked the difference two decades can make by buying the bank that denied him his first chance. This is how he did it.The Bank Refused Him a Loan at His Lowest PointPhoto by Yurii HleiAt the age of 21, Adam had ambitious plans for his future. Believing in his capacities, he decided to take a chance on himself and his business idea."I quit my job as a salesman aged 21 because I knew I had it in me to create a successful business, but I didn't have a penny to my name so I needed a bank loan," Adam said in Daily Mail.He walked into the bank fully prepared, but got a crushing response.I presented them with a comprehensive business plan and asked for £10,000 but the bank manager didn't seem to take me seriously at all.Adam Deering"I was devastated when she told me I was too young and inexperienced and there was no way they could take a risk on me," Adam continued.But He Never Gave Up on His PlanDespite the disappointing defeat, Adam never abandoned his idea. At the time, he went right back to work, toiling hard from the floor of a small office as he could not afford a desk and a chair.Without the money I spent four months cold calling people from the floor of a small office because I couldn't even afford a desk and a chair.Adam Deering"Those early months were so difficult, not knowing if I was going to be able to make it work and not knowing if I'd be able to pay my bills," he continued.He finally got help from his good samaritan neighbor, Chris, who helped him set his life straight and get a job. He ended up working in debt management (ironically) and then quit when he was ready to launch his own venture. 18 Years Later, the Tables Have TurnedWhile the beginnings of his venture were not easy, Adam continued to believe. He spent his last pennies from his sales salaries to rent a small office."There were lots of times where I thought it was the end, but I refused to give up and it paid off," he said.Eventually, his hard work yielded amazing results. Adam now heads five multi-million companies, so he could well afford to buy the bank's building for £450,000. His plans is to renovate and convert the building into an 8-apartment complex and a retail unit.Adam spends his free time now as a motivational speaker, helping to guide others as he has been guided himself back when he was a teenager who was expelled from school and spent his time doing small-time crime before falling into a cycle of getting fired from jobs.Determination Always Pays OffThe businessman said: "Building a business from scratch certainly isn't easy and there are always times when you wonder if it is going to work out. The key is to stay true to your vision and keep going, there will always be hurdles to overcome.""When I was turned down for the loan, it was tough but because I had a dream and I was so focused on achieving it, I made it happen anyway," he admitted.Adam was able to turn a defeat into an incredible win, even if it took years for it to materialize. Buying the bank that refused him was a celebration of his own resilience."To me, buying the bank building brings things back full circle and it shows that I was right to keep believing in myself," Adam said.More from Goalcast:“He Started Crying”: Man Stops Bank Robbery By Talking to Him and Giving Him a HugBank Calls Police On 92-Year-Old For Creating Disturbance – Officer Leads Him Away And Reacts UnexpectedlyHow A Struggling Single Mom With $12 In Her Bank Account Rescued Herself To Become A Millionaire CEO

You Can Do it Too: UPS Was Founded by Two Teenagers in a Basement with a $100 Loan
Career Growth

You Can Do it Too: UPS Was Founded by Two Teenagers in a Basement with a $100 Loan

If you're the proud owner of a mailbox (cutting-edge technology), I'm sure you're heard of UPS.You know, the company that brings your life-saving Amazon Prime deliveries to your door? I can't be the only one who needs a salad spinner rushed on OVERNIGHT delivery, right? I can't be expected to hand-wash lettuce all day. What am I, The Ford Assembly Line?But have you ever heard the origin story of how a small parcel delivery service start-up, went on to become a billion-dollar company, surviving some of the greatest economic disasters of all time?[World War I, The Great Depression, World War II, The Crash of '08, The Covid-19 Pandemic (I think we all remember that one), and 11 recessions later, UPS is still standing].And not just standing. It's raking it in. Reports say UPS has an annual revenue of over $100 Billion Dollars.Damn, a company like that must have some titanium infrastructure.That is if you consider two teenage boys from small-town Seattle, $100, and a desk in their mom's basement as "titanium infrastructure."UPS Seattle Space NeedleSeattle Skyline and Mt. Rainier / Adam RomanowiczWhether James Casey and Claude Ryan were boy genius' or just got lucky is up for you to decide!How UPS Delivery Service Got Its StartYou just know it's a good story when it starts in someone's mom's basement with zero capital and a big dream! In 1907 Teenagers James Casey and Claude Ryan borrow $100 bucks to start what will become the most successful shipping company in the world...UPS!UPS Started With $100To be the "world's most successful" of anything is a huge feat. To be the world's most successful moonwalker (obviously it's Michael Jackson vs Neil Armstrong and it's actually not a competition) while useless, is still pretty cool. In 1907, Claude Ryan and Jim Casey took out a $100 dollar loan. Little did they know that loan would be the seed money for a billion-dollar corporation and the most successful package delivery company in the world.Don't worry, I know we're all thinking the same thing and I already ran the numbers...$100 in today's equivalent would be approximately $3,227.27.If that sounds like a lot for context: Jeff Bezos started Amazon in 1994 with $300,000 (about $614,095.14 in today's equivalent), which makes UPS' story even more impressive!So How Did UPS Do It?In Seattle, starting with $100 in debt which according to Mark Cuban is "for morons," Ryan and Casey laid the groundwork for their "American Messenger Company" which would later become UPS.In the early years, the founders kept costs down by having most of their deliveries either carried out on foot or on bicycles.And even though they could only afford one bicycle that year, they made it through with a rigorous schedule that could rival a chore chart divided between two roommates who secretly hate each other. How They Advertised Their Start-Up Let's not forget when UPS was getting its start, telephones weren't common.So Casey and Ryan made message delivery their focus (genius). The teenagers spread the word of their start-up by tacking posters up at hotels, bars, restaurants, and any other location that had public telephones to attract new customers.They Cast A Wide NetCasey and Ryan didn't limit their company's services. Instead, they cast a wide net, appealing to as many markets as possible. The company's philosophy was that if it could be carried it could be "delivered". #bendandsnap / "UPS Guy" Legally Blonde / MGM StudiosEarly reports claim that the start-up would deliver anything from dinner to people’s houses or even miniature kegs of beer! (Gotta love the early 1900s)The company set itself apart from the competition, in a surprising way...They Were HonestInstead of lying about the delivery logistics, Casey and Ryan implemented an "honesty is the best policy" policy. According to a UPS historian (a profession I didn't know existed until 12 minutes ago), “They didn’t say ‘right away. If it was going to take a couple of minutes, they would let you know.”But There Was A Problem...As telephones became more popular and the messenger business began to dwindle, UPS had a problem. The "message delivery" service that was their core initiative was antiquated, and fast. If they didn't find a way to pivot, they were at risk to lose everything they had worked so hard for.The Art of Pivoting: How UPS Found A New StrategyThe UPS founders give us a masterclass in working smarter, not harder! Instead of doubling down on a moot business model, the founders decided to pivot. Even though the company was successful city-wide, the paper route wasn't gonna pay the bills and keep the lights on. If UPS wanted to stick around they'd need to find a big client!So they asked themselves the most important question: who sends and receives packages and how can we integrate ourselves into an already existing model?Can you guess the answer?*Let's Play A Game Called: Guess the Billion Dollar Client*Let's pretend you are the UPS founders!a). You have a solid business delivering packages to individuals here and there but you don't have a "big fish".b). In other words: you are operating with what entrepreneurs call a "B2C Business Model" (Business-to-Consumer Model) c). It's the 1919 and technology is changing..Q: WHO DO YOU GO TO IN ORDER TO TAKE YOUR COMPANY TO THE NEXT LEVEL?A: Department Stores.By 1920, UPS Had A Deal With All The Major Department Stores in SeattleUPS would run packages back and forth from these independent retail giants of their time to the U.S. Post Office. Keep in mind: at this point in history, department stores had a monopoly on retail making them a reliable client, while its centralized location allowed for "big drops" all in one place (time/cost-effective).According to Kevin Hussey, Entrepreneur (and my pro-bono business consultant for this article) UPS' strategy involved them adding a new business model to their company!In catching their "big fish", with the department stores, UPS effectively transitioned to B2B Business Model (Business-to-Business Model).This pivot catapulted UPS to a whole new stratosphere. Within a year they expanded from Washington State into California (and later, the rest of the world but they didn't know it just yet).By the time the Great Depression hit around a decade later (1929), UPS had already had a decade of cementing itself as a reliable provider of delivery services. If you ask me, their B2B Business Model saved them. If UPS was reliant on a B2C Model, they would have had a big problem in 1929.UPS Great DepressionGetty ImagesWhen The Great Depression struck, Americans stopped spending money on luxury items like miniature beer kegs, meaning UPS probably wouldn't survive like so many other companies.UPS: A Case Study On Staying SavvyIf I got into the details of how UPS expanded into all 50 states and then eventually North America, South American, The Middle East, China, Europe, and the world--we'd be here all day. The cliff notes version is: They were savvy from the start. They did things like budgeting: buying one bike when that's all they could afford and using that one bike wisely. They didn't spend their modest revenue on fancy office digs and Saint Laurent suits.^This is a biased dig at the problem I have with toxic and misappropriated "grind culture" today. It's the core tenant of a long-winded social critique I'll spare you from--but I have thoughts about "entrepreneurs" who post about "making their moves in silence". I wonder if you could have spared your enemies the bad news, and just made your moves in silence, silently.So You Have $100 and a Dream...How Do You Set Yourself Apart? By now we all know a "good idea" isn't enough.Being an entrepreneur is not novel for our generation. I know sometimes it feels that way because social media has given us a direct line to everyone's (cringe) inner monologue. I can't open my phone without being assaulted by 1,000-word Instagram captions about someone's hopes and dreams under a really questionable "photo dump." But I believe, we've always thought this way, we just weren't as vocal about it before! Dreaming is part of our human nature and I think hope is the catalyst.I can't offer you a roadmap to becoming a billionaire but I can share with you an observation I've made:When I observe Western Society, I hear so much talk, but I don't see a lot of action. We have a cultural sickness. Where it originates from, I can't say for certain, but I observe so many people talking about all the things they'll do, and taking no steps (big or small) to do them. I often say it's like we're all trying to "simulate" the experience of growth or success, without having to actually do the painful, laborious, leg work after the party and the pats on the back are over.“You can’t think your way into right action, but you can act your way into right thinking.”-Dr. WilsonIt's like getting a law degree to prove that you can, with no intention of practicing law. It's like going to therapy to tell people you're "working on yourself", but you can never change your behavior, you just set more "boundaries". We can blame the world for our failures, in fact, it's really easy to...What's hard is making new choices that pivot your life, because homeostasis wants us to keep the status quo.Sometimes that's the right move, but in the case study of UPS, had they stayed the course, and not dared to change their business model, they probably would have been in the start-up graveyard with hundreds of thousands of other "good ideas" that didn't make it through economic crises.I'm not saying events like The Great Depression and The Stockmarket Crash aren't devastating. I am just saying the future is never certain, and ultimately we're all trying to survive trial by fire, and maybe 'pivoting' has a part to play.What's Luck Got To Do With It?While the UPS Founders definitely had all the ingredients for success: a compelling idea, dynamic market opportunity, competitive edge, shared vision, clear investment structure, and whatever else they tell ya in business school--in my opinion, there are always other mystical forces at play.I do believe in luck. Maybe not in the traditional sense...because I think the whole universe we live in has a rhyme and reason. (Like Drake, I'm a big God's Plan guy.)My 2 Cents On A Billion Dollar Company:UPS HandsWhatever you wanna call it, "luck", "God", or "the universe", the operating principles are the same. Though we lack the ability to control the universe and the opportunities it presents to us, we still have the ability to prepare for those opportunities when they come.Roman Philosopher Seneca, put it best when he said "luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity".All you can really do is prepare. Whatever that looks like to you.:)and if you need a little more guidance than that, UPS has a handy flowchart: "The Entrepreneurial Journey of a Start Up", you can check out!

8-Year-Old Boy — Who Applied For Dishwashing Job to Buy an Xbox — Gets Huge Surprise From Restaurant
Entrepreneurs

8-Year-Old Boy — Who Applied For Dishwashing Job to Buy an Xbox — Gets Huge Surprise From Restaurant

Get out there and DO IT! That’s exactly what eight-year-old elementary student Nash Johnson thought to himself when he decided he wanted to buy an Xbox — do it myself."I just wanted to find my friends that were on Xbox and play Xbox," said the youngster from Lexington, Kentucky. So, Nash took matters into his own hands and figured out his next steps.To get the Xbox, Nash needed money. To get the money, Nash needed a job. And to get the job, Nash needed to make himself an online resume. Easy right? For an adult — sure. But for an eight-year-old? Maybe not...RELATED: Teen Works Hard to Pay For Her Dream College – Gives Her Entire Savings to Her Mom Instead After Finding Out She’s in DebtThe third grader was on fall break at school when he decided to find a job that would help him to earn enough for an Xbox.Nash applied for a dishwasher position at Drake’s, a nearby restaurant. "This will be my first job ever!" he wrote on his application. "I'm very good at washing the dishes," Nash told NBC News.Drake's Restaurant (via: Good Morning America)But there was one problem: all employees need to be 16 years old to work at Drake's Restaurant. So, Nash told the truth and said that he was under the age of 18. The application caught the eye of Drake’s kitchen manager, who shared the bizarre application with Mark Thornburg, the chief operating officer at Drake's"At the very bottom of the application, he put that he was eight years old … and when the kitchen manager saw the application, she just assumed that he forgot to put the one in front of the eight. And so, she called him in very innocently," Thornburg told Good Morning America. "The number that he put on [the application] was his grandmother's house and … she asked for Nash and Nash gets on the phone, and he said, 'Well, I'm only eight years old.' "Nash’s mom, Belinda Johnson, had a good laugh when she learned her son had applied for the job. But she wasn’t the least bit surprised."That kid is not afraid to fail. He's a go-getter," she said proudly."Financial literacy is really important in our household," Belinda said. “Nash has money jars where he learns to save, give, and spend. Getting the job at Drake's was how he was going to earn more cash for his ‘spend’ jar. With the price of an Xbox starting at $300, Nash looked at his ‘spend’ jar filled only with coins and knew what he had to do.“I can get more money if I get a job that (pays) more money than doing my chores at home at $5 a week." How a Restaurant Manager Surprised a Young Xbox FanAfter seeing Nash’s original application, Thorburg decided “'We’ve got to do something for this young man. He's obviously very special,' adding that in his 30 years in the restaurant industry, Nash was the youngest applicant he’d ever come across.Although Drake’s couldn’t hire Nash due to his age, they instead planned an incredible surprise for the young boy.The restaurant team invited Nash and his family to join them at their hiring orientation and later, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company's new location in the Leestown area of Lexington. Thornburg personally surprised Nash with a customized Drake's uniform and the brand-new Xbox he had been fantasizing about. "I was shocked! Very shocked," Nash exclaimed."He was like, 'I’m so happy. I don't know why I want to cry though, mom.' And I said, 'Sweetheart, that's a normal reaction,'" Johnson recalled, saying that "Christmas came a little early."Thornburg added, "I tell a lot of people he would have been just as happy with his uniform because his eyes got about as big as a softball. I mean, he was so excited when I gave him his uniform! But then obviously when I got the Xbox out for him and he got to open that up, it is, to say the least, it's changed the little guy's life for sure."Drake's Restaurant (via: Good Morning America)Despite getting the surprise of his life, he still wants to get a job at Drake’s in the future. "I wish I had both the job and the Xbox," Nash teased.Belinda hopes that Nash’s work ethic stays with him as he gets older. And her take on Nash’s story?"Don't be afraid to jump out there and go for it. Go get it. You want something … go get it!”

5 Real Leaders Who Will Help You Reach Your Goals and Maximize Your Impact
Entrepreneurs

5 Real Leaders Who Will Help You Reach Your Goals and Maximize Your Impact

Real Leaders, an organization whose purpose is to inspire an unstoppable movement of impact leaders, envisions a future where every generation leaves the world far better than they found it. The Real Leaders Magazine and Podcast gives a platform to some of the most successful and inspirational leaders to share key takeaways and latest practices they've been implementing in their careers and beyond. Each year Real Leaders identifies the Top 50 Keynote Speakers, some of which will be present at this year's World's Top 50 Speakers Summit.The speakers featured have created stories, movements, and brands that challenge the world as we know it and move society into action. Uniting this community of far-sighted leaders during the summit will be thrilling for those seeking to maximize their impact and gain perspective on the most forward-thinking leadership strategies. For those looking to grow in business and positive impact, we wanted to give you a sneak peak of how you could benefit from learning about these speakers. Here's a list of 5 out of the Top 50 Speakers who you might catch at this years Summit! Jay Shetty“Mudita is the principle of taking sympathetic or unselfish joy in the good fortune of others. If I only find joy in my own successes, I’m limiting my joy. But if I can take pleasure in the successes of my friends and family—ten, twenty, fifty people!—I get to experience fifty times the happiness and joy. Who doesn’t want that?”In his bestselling book Think Like a Monk Jay Shetty shares the ancient wisdom he learned as a monk and explains how these teachings are crucial to apply in business, career, and relationships in the modern world. Many of his approaches are counterintuitive to what we've been taught about business and competition - like in the quote above, Jay shows us how being selflessly happy for the successes of others provides us more joy, and when we are joyous, we can see the best in people and be better leaders. Instead of a scarcity-based mindset that we should feel threatened by the wins of others, or that it's a waste of time to celebrate others, the shift to being more open to joy and positivity is one people are recognizing as imperative for modern impact leadership thanks to Jay. Leaders who are open and receptive to those around them, who encourage a free flow of ideas, and celebrate everyone's wins are the ones excelling in business and providing better work environments to achieve impactful results. Follow Jay Shetty as he is on a mission to inspire and empower as many people as possible to find their purpose in life through his teachings. Driven by passion, Jay has built an impressive following for his podcast On Purpose where he talks to influential celebrities like Kobe Bryant, Alicia Keys, and Big Sean about how his principles relate to the success they've achieved and the millions they've inspired. Simon Sinek"People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."Simon Sinek believes in optimism as the guiding north star for leadership in the 21st century. Backed by the latest on neuroscience, he shows us how the most powerful and influential brands, leaders, and movements understood this one concept of starting with why. In his book Start With Why, Sinek flawlessly breaks down how leading with intention and purpose (why) at the core before figuring out logistics (how) and final product (what) is how organizations like Apple achieved immense success and redefined their respective industries. Apple isn't selling you a computer, or a phone, but an idea, a value - they sell thinking different and challenging the status quo. Their processes and products are simply a magnificent representation of those ideas, and that's why people remain loyal year over year. We can look at Simon's approach as we start setting goals for the new year. Instead of thinking about just what you want to get accomplished, start to think about why you want to set goals to begin with. Getting clear with ourselves is the starting point to lasting change, so remember to always keep in mind and question why when setting your goals, taking on a new project, or when you're preparing for your next meeting. We love Simon because of his belief in a bright future and our ability to build it together. To achieve the best results, Sinek believes in a world where everyone wakes up inspired and goes to bed fulfilled by the work they did. Halima Aden"When people put labels on us, it doesn't always enclose everything that we are. So even though I'm proud to be Somali, I'm proud to be American, at the end of the day, I'm still Halima, and I take things from both sides and combine them, and I make my own little category. I'm me!"The quote above from Halima Aden is a huge reminder to always stay true to ourselves and be proud of the things that make us unique. Halima did just that when she became the first acclaimed hijab-wearing model in fashion, utilizing her position in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant to promote Muslim inclusivity in fashion and beyond. Since then, Halima has become a UNICEF Ambassador, with the focus of her work being on children's rights. When it comes to reaching our goals and maximizing impact, Halima's story serves as an inspiration to use our uniqueness to serve others, even if it means breaking some societal norms. Our goals should be our goals - meaning they are in alignment with who we are as individuals, beyond our labels. When we do this, we can maximize our impact by seeing how we're best suited to serve a group of people when we show up authentically as ourselves. Aden is an aspirational model for what inclusive leadership looks like. She has successfully used the platform she built in modeling to break social barriers. She demonstrates courage and grace being only 25 years old. Halima shows us that with a bit of courage, we can leave the world a better place than we found it. We're excited to see how she continues to inspire us to step into our own light!Tony Robbins“Three decisions that we all control each moment of our lives: what to focus on, what things mean, and what to do in spite of the challenges that may appear.”Tony Robbins is an iconic author, coach, motivational speaker, and philanthropist. A maverick in the self-help world, Tony has been producing countless books, tapes, and seminars for several decades that have helped a plethora of people overcome their personal challenges and build a better life for themselves. He has studied the psychology, habits, and methods of successful people and provides his audience with a scientific, step-by-step process of how to bring about lasting change. Once our goals are set, we must consistently take action towards them - and challenges will inevitably arise. Tony's quote above gives us a model to apply to problem solving in all aspects of life. He reminds us that every single one of us has the power to make a choice on what to focus on, what things mean, and what to do in spite of the challenges that may appear. Naomi Osaka"In a perfect dream, things would be set exactly the way you would want them. But I think it's more interesting that in real life, things aren't exactly the way you planned."Naomi is a professional tennis player who has ranked as #1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association. If that isn't impressive enough, Naomi's aspirations have expanded beyond the world of sport. During the US Open she used her platform to raise awareness of racial violence victims by wearing their names on a mask. She also founded Play Academy, an organization that aims to level the playing field for girls through play and sport. Naomi's quote above is a testament to how flexibility on our growth journey is paramount to hitting goals and maximizing impact. It's easy to become rigid in our approach, thinking about how things "should" be, but ultimately all we ever have is the present moment to enact our desired changes. As we continue to take on new challenges, let's take interest in how things show up differently than we expected. Often times there is a lesson there to be gained, if we can just let go of our attachment to how things should be. A Priceless Opportunity to Have an Impact This YearCheck out the full list of the Top 50 Speakers, some of which will be giving speeches at the summit this year. Becoming an unstoppable leader doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We get there by sharing ideas, and helping each other grow. The world needs us to step up today, and these incredible speakers want to equip you as best as they can. Start listening, so you can use the wisdom and amplify it further.Reserve your spot here to attend the World's Top 50 Speakers Summit here.

A ‘Dirtbag’ Billionaire Just Gave Away His $3 Billion Company - The Real Reason Why Could Change the World
Entrepreneurs

A ‘Dirtbag’ Billionaire Just Gave Away His $3 Billion Company - The Real Reason Why Could Change the World

The popular clothing company Patagonia has a new owner: planet Earth.The apparel company's founder, Yvon Chouinard, and his wife and two children are giving away ownership of the brand — launched in 1973 — to help fight the climate crisis. The Chouinard family will be dedicating all profits from the company, valued at $3 billion, to projects and organizations that will protect wild land and biodiversity across the planet. What Apparel Company Patagonia Is Doing to Save the WorldPhoto by Malik SkydsgaardIn an open letter on the Patagonia website titled, "Earth is now our only shareholder," the 83-year-old Chouinard says the brand has created a specially developed trust to help combat climate change.In the letter, Chouinard confesses he "never wanted to be a businessman" and that he began his career as a craftsman, creating "climbing gear for my friends" before getting lost in the business world of apparel.RELATED: 8 Billionaires Who Are so Humble They’ll Make You Rethink Your PrioritiesWell, he seems to be regaining his footing. The owner went on to say the company began to "witness the extent of global warming and ecological destruction" and that Patagonia was committed to using its resources to change the way business was done.Through Patagonia's remarkable new initiative, Chouinard says he hopes that they did the "right thing" while still making enough to pay the bills. "We could influence customers and other businesses, and maybe change the system along the way."However, this isn't Patagonia's first array to help save the planet.All of its products use materials that cause less harm to the environment. In 2018, the company changed its goal to: "We're in business to save our home planet," and donated 1% of sales each year to projects with similar initiatives to save the world. Still, Chouinard says it was not enough. He says the company was doing its best to "address the environmental crisis," but still needed to find a way to put more money into fighting the crisis while keeping the company’s values intact.RELATED: Whitney Wolfe Herd: How Tinder’s Co-Founder Overcame a Horror Story to Become a BillionaireChouinard says an option was to sell Patagonia and donate all of the money but he couldn't be sure a new owner would maintain the same values and mindset. He says another path was to take the company public, which could have been "a disaster." "Truth be told, there were no good options available. So, we created our own," he admits.Chouinard says Patagonia isn't going public but says they're "going purpose." Instead of extracting value from nature and transforming it into wealth for investors, the company is using the wealth Patagonia created to protect the "source of all wealth."How Patagonia’s Remarkable New Initiative WorksPhoto by Charles DeLoyeObviously, it's not easy to pull off such a selfless act as a worldwide brand. Here's how Chouinard says the new world-first initiative will work:The owner says 100% of the company's voting stock will transer to the Patagonia Purpose Trust, which was created to "protect the company’s values." That means 100% of the nonvoting stock has been given to the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting the environmental crisis and defending nature. "Each year, the money we make after reinvesting in the business will be distributed as a dividend to help fight the crisis," says the apparel company's open letter.RELATED: How Billionaire CEO Jack Dorsey Is Giving All His Money Away Before He DiesChouinard says it's been nearly 50 years since the company began what calls its "experiment in responsible business," admitting the brand is "just getting started." He says if humanity has hope of a thriving planet in the next 50 years, it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have.In the conclusion of the letter, the company says despite its immensity, the Earth's resources are not infinite and it's clear we've exceeded its limits."But it's also resilient," says Patagonia. "We can save our planet if we commit to it."KEEP READING:This Billionaire’s Goal Was To Die A Broke Man – So He Gave Away His $8 Billion Fortune

Leadership Styles: What Best Suits Your Psychology?
Entrepreneurs

Leadership Styles: What Best Suits Your Psychology?

Some people are born leaders. Others cultivate leadership skills through time and experience. But no matter if leadership skills are innate or learned, someone’s style of leadership can differ greatly from other person to person—much like the other qualities that make people who they are. Think about the leaders you’ve worked with, or worked for: Some were likely more inspiring (or less so) than others. Different leadership styles can make the difference between a boss you admire and learn from and one you dread receiving an email from. Whether you’re currently leading a team at work or in a community role—or you hope to one day—finding your ideal leadership style can help you lead with confidence and poise. (Not to mention make you the kind of leader that people actually want to follow.)Read on to learn more about the most common leadership styles and understand how they best suit different personalities. What Are Leadership Styles?In short, leadership styles refer to the way a person acts when leading a group, whether they’re leading in a work setting as an employer, as a team captain of a sports team or in a community setting, like as the president of a social club. (Getty)The concept of leadership styles has been credited to German-American psychologist Kurt Lewin, who’s known as a modern pioneer of social, organizational and applied psychology. In 1939, Lewin led a group of researchers to identify different styles of leadership, which established three main types: authoritarian (autocratic), participative (democratic) and delegative (laissez-faire).Lewin’s research was very influential, so much so that his three types are still used today. Since his time, however, more leadership styles have been added to build upon his work and typify leaders’ behavior more specifically. Outlining leadership styles gives leaders an opportunity to evaluate their methods and better understand how effective they are (or not) when leading a group. These styles also help train future leaders for success. An Overview of 10 Leadership StylesUnderstanding the 10 most common leadership styles allows you to typify your own leadership skills and determine how these best fit your personality (and that of your team). You may find that one of these styles perfectly suits the qualities you already possess. Or, you may determine that the leadership style you use now may not be as effective as you’d like it to be. No matter what you learn, having a clear picture of these leadership styles will help you find the one that suits you and your situation best. Type 1: Bureaucratic leadership styleThose with a bureaucratic leadership style are the type who feel safe following strict rules and regulations. This style may be right for you if you work in an organization that puts structure and rule-following as top priorities. Typically, someone with this style of leadership is task-focused and detail oriented. These leaders are less creative and also less apt to push for change. Type 2: Transactional leadership styleSimilar to the bureaucratic leadership style, this one is not the optimal style for promoting creative endeavors. Transactional leaders usually are very practical and defer to authority without questioning the hierarchy. They are also usually more reactionary than proactive and have a tendency to micromanage those on their team. Transactional leaders usually motivate others using a reward system and prefer a clearly defined structure to a looser organization. Type 3: Transformational leadership style(Getty)Transformational leaders are one of the most popular and effective types of leaders. American psychologist Bernard M. Bass, whose work focused on organizational behavior and leadership, coined the term and introduced the concept of the four Is to identify a transformational leader. According to Bass, these leaders show individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation and idealized influence. They see their team members as unique individuals and empower them to use their skills to work as a unit toward a common goal. Type 4: Pacesetting leadership styleThose who thrive in a fast environment and want quick results will identify with the pacesetting leadership style. These leaders are all about performance: They set a high bar for themselves and others, valuing output over all else. These leaders can encourage stressful workplace situations and can be stingy with their praise. They’re too busy moving onto the next task to dole out high fives for a job well done. Type 5: Democratic or participative leadership stylePeople who feel aligned with this leadership style are typically flexible and rational and they value the true spirit of collaboration. Democratic leaders often ask for feedback from their teams and want to make sure that everyone’s voices are heard. They create engaged, satisfied team members and promote the overall well being of the group. Type 6: Laissez-faire leadership styleAlso known as the “hands-off” leadership style, these leaders are not the type to micromanage nor do they feel the need to put their stamp on every task. They are happy to delegate to-dos to their team members and trust that others will do good work. They value freedom and autonomy, both theirs and their team members’. When needed, they are able to offer constructive feedback. Type 7: Authoritarian leadership style(Getty)These self-confident leaders rule with a proverbial iron fist. Quite the opposite from democratic leaders, they aren’t ones to poll the team when decision making. Instead, they may talk with a trusted colleague or make decisions solo. Their goal is typically to make sure everyone is focused on the task at hand and working efficiently. They don’t usually value creativity. Type 8: Servant leadership styleThese empathetic leaders care a great deal about their team members’ sense of happiness. They value collaboration and communication and want the people they lead to feel fulfilled. What sometimes happens with these leaders, however, is that they spend so much time making sure that everyone is content that they let taking care of their own needs fall by the wayside. Type 9: Visionary leadership styleInspirational, strategic and bold—these are just some of the adjectives that describe this type of leader. Visionary leaders focus on the big picture. They’re creative and work to build something new by implementing different ideas. These leaders are not afraid to go against the grain and try new things but they can sometimes overlook the smaller, yet important, details. Type 10: Coaching leadership styleSomeone with this leadership style is skilled in seeing other people’s potential. They can help others improve by providing support and motivation. These leaders are usually self-aware of their own strengths and shortcomings and value the power of learning. Making Your Leadership Style Your OwnAfter reading through the common leadership types you might recognize a few that sound like they would fit your personality and standards. Knowing these types can help you improve your own leadership skills by understanding different ways to lead, and inspire, other people to meet your common goals.(Getty)Being a leader can be a tough position, depending on where and who you lead. Use your strengths to your advantage and look for ways that you can improve your effectiveness without compromising your core values. When you’re true to yourself, you can lead from a place of authenticity. This is what truly makes others want to follow you.

Side Hustle Ideas To Make Money Or Start A Passion Project — A Practical Guide
Entrepreneurs

Side Hustle Ideas To Make Money Or Start A Passion Project — A Practical Guide

There’s never been a better time to make a few extra bucks on the side. Let’s face it, we could all use more money these days, and if you feel like it’s time to take a shot at making a living doing something you love (or finding a way of making money online) now is the time. Success story after success story provides guidance on how to live the life of your dreams, whether that includes getting a part time job for just a few hours a week, starting your own business (however small at first), or even doing something more technical like building an online store. Remote work from beaches in Bali, or dreams of four-hour workweeks and lots of passive income is what many ambitious millennials strive for. But does that mean you should take the leap, and go all-in? Or is a side hustle a better option?How can I make a few extra bucks?A side hustle is a term given to any type of employment taken in addition to full-time work. There are many reasons you might consider additional work. For some, it’s a nice way to boost income to save, pay off student loan debt, or just enjoy having a little more cash. For others, a side hustle is an opportunity to express creatively or make tentative steps towards opening a fully fledged business.Last year, 57 million Americans — a third of the workforce — freelanced or worked part-time, with that number growing since the pandemic. It’s not all chasing dreams, though. According to a survey by DollarSprout, 27 percent of people work a side hustle on their own time to meet living expenses.Whether you’re looking to boost your income, create your own schedule for work or even explore a future career change, there are many options to choose from. This guide will cover the essentials of the side hustle, equipping you with the knowledge on how to make money in your spare time.What is “hustle culture”?Before digging in, let’s take a quick detour to explore the psychology behind hustle culture. The same technology that has made previously unthinkable opportunities possible also has the potential to lead to burnout. Always being available to respond to email or Slack notifications can blur the lines between work time and rest time.In fact, hyper-productivity can have a detrimental impact on wellbeing, even if what you have is a very lucrative side hustle. Overworking has been linked to a host of health problems, from heavy drinking, poor sleep hygiene, to depression. Overworking doesn’t help the brain, either. “We examined the association between long working hours and cognitive function and found a small decrease in a reasoning score [after] 5 years among those who worked long hours,” Marianna Virtanen of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, told HBR.In 2019, the World Health Association declared burnout a recognized mental illness, with the big risk factor societal expectations that encourage overworking. Why am I telling you this now? When exploring starting your side hustle, it pays to keep your wellbeing in mind. It’s tempting to follow the advice of tech-gurus around working non-stop and maximizing the use of every spare second. But if you’re serious about a side hustle long-term, it pays to make room for your wellbeing, and approach the project with balance in mind.Explore your motivation for your side hustleUnderstanding why you want to start a side hustle can provide clarity on what opportunities to explore. There are two key types of motivation in behavioral psychology: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. These terms are part of the self-determination theory, by psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan.Intrinsic motivation is a task performed due to its inherent satisfaction. Extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards, such as monetary gain. When looking at your side hustle options, consider the intrinsic and extrinsic causes of your motivation. An obvious extrinsic motivation for starting a side hustle is to earn extra cash. If this is the case, it doesn’t matter so much the type of work you do, and you can look at the most lucrative options. It doesn’t matter if it’s acting as a virtual assistant, filling out online surveys, being a part-time social media manager, working for a mobile pet grooming service, being an affiliate marketer - whatever helps you earn money and gain financial independence counts. However, intrinsic motivation is less focused on how much you can earn, and more focused on how rewarding the task is. For example, you might try out your writing skills by posting articles online, refining your freelance writing skills, and earning opportunities for paid work. Or, you might start to side hustling by selling art on your own website or creating graphic design pieces as a part of helping an online retail business. In these instances, it makes sense to focus on the activity ahead of how much money it’ll make. Not sure where to start? Check out this list of fun jobs you can do online. You might be able to find a balance between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, such as working as a freelancer which uses a skill you don’t utilize in your full-time employment. There are many opportunities to find a whole host of projects available online on freelance job sites.How to choose a side hustle for youOnce you’ve created clarity around your motivation, the next step is to choose which side hustle is best suited for you. Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder, and CEO of Bumble, which is now worth $7 billion, keeps her advice simple. “You can monetize anything,” she told CNBC Make It. “Figure out what you’re passionate about, and if you’re really good at it, there’s some way to turn it into a business.”Herd uses the example of a cook starting a blog, before charging for recipes. The key ingredient (pun intended) is to highlight your talents first, and then find ways to explore making this your side hustle. As a practical exercise, write down a list of your skills and passions. A tool I’ve used in coaching is the matrix of “good/not good” and “enjoy/don’t enjoy”. Within this matrix, note the skills you’re good at and enjoy, not good at and enjoy, etc. That’ll give you some idea of what side hustle options to consider.For example, you might have a flair for visual design and command of Photoshop. Creating graphics might be your access point to flow state. If this is the case, a great side hustle option would be offering freelance graphic design services to clients. Not only is it work you’ll enjoy, but people will be willing to pay for those services.(Ariel Skelley / Getty)The sweet spot is finding something you’re good at, that you enjoy, that can also make you money. An alternative is to explore common side hustles, those known to be effective, and decide if these are options you’d like to explore. The benefit is that it avoids the risk of attempting to monetize a passion, which can take the fun out of the process itself.Once you’ve explored your motivation, you’ll get an idea of whether to look at profit or passion. Let’s start with the former, by looking at side hustle ideas that are tried and tested in making a decent income.The best side hustle ideas from home to make extra moneyIf making money is your number one priority, then it makes sense to explore side hustle ideas from home. These save you time and travel costs, and most activities can be set up easily from anywhere with an internet connection. Common side hustle gigs (and potentially great side hustle ideas for you) include freelancing (including copywriting, marketing, social media management), one-off gigs, and online tutoring. These gigs are in high demand, and could provide a steady stream of income in your free time, without you ever having to actually leave your house!“[Look for] problems you’ve overcome in your own world or problems you can perceive other people having,” Nick Loper, founder of Side Hustle Nation, told Time. This is golden advice for finding a niche and monetizing the wisdom you’ve attained. The internet has opened doors and connections all over the world. That means there will be an audience for what you have to teach — you just have to find it.Creating online courses is one potentially lucrative side hustle idea from home. You might need to invest in equipment, but there are a host of platforms available to make your content accessible to students from all over the world. Considering the online e-learning market is set to be worth $325 Billion in 2025, it’s worth looking into.Other ideas include:Selling items on eBay: kill two birds by one stone by getting rid of unwanted junk, whilst making a profit by selling online.Social media management: a growing number of companies are looking to outsource control of their online brand. According to PayScale, the average salary for full-time positions is $34,432 to $56,571 per year, and with a couple of hours of work per week, you can top up your income significantly.Teach a foreign language: there are a growing number of opportunities to teach English to students online, with flexible schedules, and decent pay. If you enjoy meeting people face-to-face (or on Zoom!) and having a social side hustle, this could be a worthwhile option.Sell items on Etsy: if you’re looking to exercise your creative muscles and make money, Etsy provides an opportunity to sell crafts or homemade items. By using its platform, you can reach customers and monetize your creative streak.The best side hustle ideas to make money in personThere are still side hustle opportunities away from the internet (making money without additional screen time is always welcome). Serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk has a specific side hustle he believes can help people make up to $100,000 each year: retail arbitrage flipping. This side hustle involves finding discount projects in stores, and finding out how much they cost online through other outlets with the aim to buy and sell for a profit. “I am watching people literally go from being homeless to building up $50,000 to $100,000,” Vaynerchuk told CNBC. The process is simple: look in the aisles in places like Walmart, find a deal, then sell it on eBay or Amazon (or at an in-person sale).For those with an eye for a bargain, this can be a fun experiment. Picture browsing thrift stores for clothes you can resell. The concept isn’t new — people have been looking for hidden gems at garage sales (in England, we call these “car boot sales,” which I’ve only just realized sounds a bit odd) and selling at auctions for profit for generations.Other opportunities in person include dog walking, ridesharing, or renting out property. Although the gig economy has potential downsides, including unstable working hours, poor working conditions, and a lack of job security, it opens up opportunities to make extra income in a way that suits your schedule.The passion project: using your side hustle to test a business ideaBut what if you want to pursue your passion project as your side hustle? If this is the direction you’d like to go in, ahead of boosting income short-term, the process is different. You’ll want to view your side hustle as an investment, focusing more on long-term goals than immediate feedback. That doesn’t mean completely sacrificing profit — a number of leading companies, such as Udemy and Groupon, started as side hustles.Stories of budding entrepreneurs going all-in, quitting even some of the highest paying jobs in America, and putting everything on the line to become an overnight success, offer inspiration. But sometimes setting up a business is a marathon and not a sprint. One way to add intense pressure to “making it” would be completely cutting off other sources of income in pursuit of your business idea. Instead, a side hustle is a great opportunity to explore the idea with less risk.Indeed, the Young Entrepreneur Council recommends testing any ideas before heading for a full launch. “A test of this sort determines what your effort will be versus what a client will pay for in a new venture,” Matthew Capala told Forbes. “Many great ideas are just that — great ideas. Not all great ideas translate into great businesses or side hustles.”That doesn’t mean the business has to be taken any less seriously. You’ll still need to develop a solid business plan, define your target market, refine your product, and build an audience. But rather than attempting to make this a reality at rapid speed, working on the project as a side hustle allows you to take your time, and slowly build. You might find yourself “working” on weekends or evenings. The beauty is, if it’s something you enjoy, it won’t feel like work. Not only that, but if you’re earning a decent income elsewhere, you’ll be able to invest in your business without worrying about not covering bills or living expenses. By putting in the hard work before making the full leap, you give yourself the opportunity to make sure your business idea is viable (and financially stable) to quit the day job.The value of 1,000 true fans(Flashpop/Getty)Does this mean you have to wait until you’re making millions to fully commit? Not quite. Technology opens up a wide range of opportunities for online businesses. It’s possible to make a decent income by creating online products, such as eBooks or an online course, offering online services, such as coaching, or by becoming a content creator. Kevin Kelly, the former editor of Wired Magazine, presents an idea for the modern market: 1,000 true fans.According to Kelly, “to make a living as a craftsperson, photographer, musician, designer, author, animator, app maker, entrepreneur, or inventor you need only thousands of true fans. A true fan is defined as a fan that will buy anything you produce.” Kelly notes that if a true fan is willing to pay $100 for your content or services per year, you suddenly have a $100,000 business. “If you lived in any of the 2 million small towns on Earth you might be the only one in your town to crave death metal music, or get turned on by whispering, or want a left-handed fishing reel. Before the web you’d never be able to satisfy that desire. You’d be alone in your fascination. But now satisfaction is only one click away. Whatever your interests as a creator are, your 1,000 true fans are one click from you.”So, if looking to explore a business idea as a side hustle, begin by thinking: how can you move towards 1,000 true fans? It’s inspiring and attainable to aim for this ahead of millions of followers. Consider the above steps of what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and think about what people need. What niche can you delve into, allowing the internet to connect you to your tribe all over the globe?When should a side hustle become a full-time project?Eventually, by testing a business idea and slowly building an audience, you’ll reach a tipping point. That’s not to say all attempts at side hustle businesses are resounding successes. With focus, determination, and a clear desire to work towards your goals, the results will pay off. It might be slow in the beginning, but the effort works like compound interest, each day adding to the next. Before you know it, you might find yourself in a situation where you have to decide to pursue your side hustle full-time. What are the key signs you’re ready?Your side hustle is making money consistentlyThere are no guarantees with starting a business or following an idea. But you need to have a solid idea of the income stream your side hustle provides. This is why testing is such a good idea: you can see the ups and downs of your financial situation and spot trends over time.This income stream covers your living expensesHaving a consistent income is one thing, but you want to make sure your bills and costs are covered. Whilst a side hustle that earns you $2,000 a month is impressive, it won’t be sufficient if your monthly bills are $2,500! With this example, you might want to consider working part-time on the side, by reducing hours in your “main job” or looking for a more flexible role.You’re prepared for failureI know, failure is the last thing you want to consider when chasing a dream business idea. But it pays to be cautious. Do you have enough savings to cover your living costs if you have a poor few months? Whilst an element of risk is required, preparing a safety net will avoid getting into difficult financial situations.The demand is growingAway from the financial side, another sign is if you’re struggling to keep up with demand. If you work a 40-hour week in addition to selling crafts online and have a huge backlog of orders, it could make sense to commit more time to your side hustle, in the knowledge higher output will make you more money.You feel ready to take the shotAs Michael Jordan said: “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Yes, be wise about the financial side. But at the same time, know that it’s easy to talk ourselves out of pursuing a dream. Be prepared as best you can, and decide if it’s worth the risk to go all-in. Know you might never feel fully ready. What if now is the time to take that shot?(Kiyoshi Hijiki / Getty)Recap: How to start a side hustleBefore we conclude, let’s roundup the steps to starting a side hustle that you can start to transform the enthusiasm into action:Explore your motivation: get clear on why you want to start a side hustle. What is your intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation? What is your priority? Are you looking to boost your income, test a business idea, or monetize a passion? Start by knowing exactly what you want.Choose your side hustle: once you know your motivation, the next step is to choose the best side hustle idea for you. If you’re looking to make money, choosing the most lucrative and time-sensitive option might be the best fit. If you already have an idea you wish to pursue, this choice is already made.Create a plan: how much time will you dedicate to this weekly? What are your financial goals? What steps will you take to make sure you’re on track? Consider all these options as you make the project more tangible. If you’re testing a business, this stage involves working out your target audience and developing a business model.Take action: the next stage is to get to work, without overworking. Show up, be consistent, and honor your side hustle. Have patience, and see what happens. But know that dedication is an investment, and momentum will build.Consider if it’s time to go all-in: after you’ve worked on your side hustle for some time, you’ll get an idea of how viable it is. Are you enjoying it? Is it profitable? Is it showing potential to grow even bigger? This is the crossroads where your side hustle has a chance to become your full-time “job.”Feeling inspired? Ready to take that shot at a dream business, or boost your income? Prepping your trip to Walmart, or opening a new Google doc with the headline “business plan?” Great. Welcome to the side hustle journey. It’s great to have you here. Don’t forget: stay resilient!There will be ups and downs, but always remember, you’re much more likely to regret the things you don’t try. So keep making small steps, believe in what you’re trying to achieve, and allow the rest to take care of itself. And you never know, maybe today’s effort will make you tomorrow’s success story.

Transcending Procrastination: How to Overcome Procrastination Once and For All
Career Growth

Transcending Procrastination: How to Overcome Procrastination Once and For All

Every one of us has procrastination habits - we’re human, after all. It’s normal to occasionally put things off and complete tasks tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student engaging in some academic procrastination, someone working from home ignoring household chores, or a CEO ignoring their own self imposed deadlines. We all do it. But problems arise when the ‘putting off’ becomes habitual and takes over our lives. Ultimately, this kind of active procrastination has negative consequences, poking at us in the back of our minds and preventing us from enjoying our free time as well as from achieving more personal growth. According to the American Psychological Association, habitual or lifestyle procrastinators represent about 20% of the population. If this includes you, your goals and responsibilities chronically take a backseat to more short-term gratification. In turn, this can send you down a spiral of negative self-talk, which compromises all further effort to break through the habits that are holding you back. Here’s the thing about procrastination: by the time you’re calling it by its name, it has probably already become somewhat of a habit, and breaking the behaviors that lock us into this time-sucking pattern can be quite challenging. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. If you want to beat procrastination and truly commit to tackling this form of addiction, your relationship with doing things on time will improve. By extension, so will your enjoyment of life in general! What is procrastination?What does it mean to procrastinate? When it comes to landing on a definition of procrastination, it helps not to beat around the bush. To engage in procrastination behavior means to have trouble persuading yourself to do the things you should do, need to do, or would like to do.Rather than working on something important, effort-intensive, time-sensitive, or even downright urgent, you find yourself deeply engaged in something else altogether. Maybe instead of writing a paper or having a tough conversation, you’re suddenly cleaning your house. Ironically, you may have needed to clean for ages, but had been killing time on social media. And that right there is the crux of the matter: killing time. If we kill it, we have none left for those so-called urgent tasks! The key, instead, is to manage our time well so that we have ample time left for other things—things we may not even have planned for. That, friends, is quality of life, and truly being able to enjoy living in the present moment. Overcoming procrastination: identifying mythsAlthough the meaning of procrastination is pretty clear, defining what procrastination is not is just as helpful in understanding our reasons for doing it. Let us dispel a few of the more common (yet persistent) misconceptions about procrastination, shall we?Myth 1: Procrastination is lazinessFrom the outside looking in, procrastination can look a bit like laziness. But there’s a significant distinction to be made between laziness and procrastination. While procrastinators might put off doing things, sometimes until the last minute, or even spend their time staring into the great void, don’t be so quick to judge this behavior as lazy. Lazy people do little or nothing and are not bothered by this lack of action. On the contrary, procrastinators really want to do something but can’t seem to kickstart the process. While laziness is passive and even apathetic, active procrastinators are active and willing—even if you’re choosing to do something other what you need to do, you are doing something. Regardless of what others may think, start by eliminating the negative feelings and thinking of yourself not as lazy. Instead, practice some semblance of self forgiveness and be more accurate: you’re a procrastinator, that’s all! Words matter. The first step on the road to better self control is a better understanding of the root of your behaviors. It’s how we begin to set about fixing them. Myth 2: procrastination is relaxationAnother common misconception about procrastination is that it’s a form of relaxation—or, put another way, relaxing is a form of procrastination. Either way, this is problematic and simply untrue. Instinctively, we all know what relaxing feels like: it renews your energy stores, leaving you feeling less tired and more capable of tackling the tasks of life. In many ways, procrastination is the exact opposite. That muted (yet nonetheless present) awareness of what you should be focusing on, coupled with the often low-level yet continual anxiety at the back of your mind can really drain your energy. Plus, unsurprisingly, it’s a vicious circle: the less energized you feel, the more vulnerable you become to stress or even depression, which, in turn, increases the likelihood that you’ll keep right on procrastinating. In a nutshell, successfully getting things done is what enables us to actually relax. Procrastinating does not accomplish this.Myth 3: You work best under pressureThis is a very common refrain—if you haven’t made this bold claim yourself, chances are you’ve heard someone else say it. The narrative at play here is that leaving things to the last minute is actually more productive, as the rush involved in making it happen without time on your side is just the kickstart you need to do a bang up job. Yet in spite of persistent notions that pressure can facilitate productivity, studies show the opposite to be true. What time-pressure facilitates is more akin to stress, guilt, and ineptitude. If you identify as a person who does, in fact, work best under pressure, you might be an exception to the rule, but the more likely explanation is that the habit of completing work last-minute may be producing a ‘high,’ or a sort of euphoria at having prevailed against all odds. After all, we humans do appreciate our dramatic flair. Why do we procrastinate?(Paula Winkler / Getty)So if it works against us, why do people procrastinate? Procrastination is driven by a range of thoughts and actions, but at its root, we delay tasks because we don’t think we’ll enjoy them, and we want to avoid unhappiness. Or we worry we won’t do them well. Or we’re intimidated by the perceived complexity of a task (i.e., filing taxes or planting a garden). Or because we’re distracted and exhausted (because, life). Or all of the above and more! Let’s break these reasons down in more detail, shall we?Time inconsistencyBehavioral economists refer to a phenomenon known as “time inconsistency” to help explain why procrastination often sucks us in despite our best intentions. Put simply, time inconsistency is our tendency to value immediate rewards over future ones. In this way, your present self and your future self often are often in contradiction or even conflict with one another. While your future self wants to be financially stable, your present self wants to enjoy your earnings because life is too short. While your future self wants to be healthy well into old age, your present self would rather binge Netflix than exercise. The thing is, the consequences of procrastination are often years away, making them seem less than ‘real.’Indecision…or paralysisIn this day and age, we are generally not at a loss for options: our modern society worships individual choice and free will, for better or worse. Although the basic underlying tenet here is that the more options we have, the happier we’ll be, people today are not happier than their predecessors.Although having an abundance of choices at our fingertips has undeniably made life easier in many ways, with more decision-making freedom comes more confusion about what should and shouldn’t be a priority; what’s essential or urgent and what’s not; and sometimes even what’s right versus what’s wrong. With this modern-day confusion comes a hefty dose of disempowerment. Actually choosing somewhere to start can feel overwhelming or even paralyzing. If we want to cultivate more positive habits, it becomes necessary, under these circumstances, to better clarify our values and personal goals.Losing touch with the value of timeThe hustle bustle of modern life can also make it easy to lose perspective and forget we are all finite, mortal beings with a limited time on this earth. In other words, time (rather than money) is our most valuable asset. While there are often ways of making or borrowing more money, time that has passed can never be retrieved. Why not let the old adage “life is short” (YOLO) inspire more careful time management rather than overwhelmed procrastination which only serves to quite literally “kill time”?Self-deceptionProcrastination can also involve a degree of self-deception. On some level, most procrastinators are aware of the fact that they’re procrastinating, as well as the consequences. But changing one’s habits actually requires an even loftier effort than completing the task at hand, so chronic procrastinators often convince themselves of certain convenient truths. For instance, you might tell yourself you work best under pressure, or that it’s a bad time to quit smoking given all the stress you’re currently dealing with. But in reality, starting will always be the first step, and there will never be a ‘perfect time.’PerfectionismContrary to dominant associations with laziness, procrastinators are often hyper perfectionists who find it less psychologically daunting to keep procrastinating than to actually tackle a job and risk not doing it perfectly. If this sounds like you, you may find yourself so worried about the perceptions and judgements of others that you instead opt to opt out. Here’s the problem: putting your dreams and goals on an indefinite hiatus because of what other people may or may not think is simply no way to do justice to your full potential.DisorganizationFinally, some of us procrastinate because we’re very disorganized, and we find the idea of getting organized excessively overwhelming. Being organized does not come naturally to everyone—this is why people hire secretaries or assistants, after all. Being disorganized can place an even bigger disconnect between you and the task at hand, since “getting organized” will always be the step that needs to be taken before you embark on the task. This can lead to procrastination around “getting organized,” while the original task (i.e., starting your own business), gets pushed further and further into some imagined future.Underlying mental health issuesFor some, procrastination is more than a frustrating habit; it can signal a serious underlying mental health issue such as ADHD, OCD, anxiety, or depression. While an underlying issue may be at the root of your procrastination, it goes both ways: your procrastination may also be fueling any mental health issues you have or even triggering new ones. Anxiety is a prime example. While anxiety may be causing you to procrastinate, your procrastination will almost certainly fuel anxiety. If you suffer from chronic or debilitating procrastination, one of the above conditions could be the culprit, and it may be time to seek the advice of a trained professional.Reasons to overcome procrastinationBy now it’s probably pretty obvious that procrastinating can have ill-effects on your overall life trajectory and your sense of momentum. Here are a few concrete reasons to resist the persistent pull of procrastination:It’s getting in the way of your goals and dreamsProcrastination is one of the main obstacles preventing you from getting out of bed, making choices that will further your goals, and ultimately living the life you’ve always dreamed of. Why not do all you can to burn brightly and live in such a way that’s aligned with your best, truest self? It’s better to regret something you did than something you didn’t doRecent studies have shown that more people regret the things they haven't done than the things they have. Not to mention, the regret and guilt we feel as a result of missed opportunities tends to stay with us much longer than negative emotions resulting from something we actually did.It takes an emotional, physical, and practical tollProcrastinators habitually get lower grades at school, produce lower-quality work at their jobs, and can also suffer from insomnia or a compromised immune system. Chronic procrastination can also compromise our relationships with others—both personal and professional. If your procrastination is triggering depression (or vice versa), there’s never any shame in seeking out a good therapist! How to stop procrastinating(Simon Winnall / Getty)Let’s face it: the world as we know it is highly conducive to procrastination. This just means that learning how to transcend procrastination is one of the most important skills we can acquire. If you know you’re happier during those rare periods of productivity and motivation, consider taking the following steps to establish productivity as more of a force at work in your life.Step 1: Acknowledge your procrastination habitsThere are many reasons we put off doing things until later. If you've briefly delayed an important task for an undeniably good reason (i.e., health concerns, or an unexpected increase in your workload), then you might not actually be procrastinating. But if you’re delaying action on an ongoing basis, or avoiding addressing something that urgently needs addressing, then what you’re doing is procrastinating and needs to be identified as such. A few more signs you’re procrastinating:You keep very busy doing low-priority tasks that don’t leave you with any real sense of accomplishment.Some items are permanent fixtures on your to-do list, in spite of their importance.You spend significant periods of time ruminating over what decision to make—without arriving at any decision.You begin an urgent task only to distract yourself with making a snack or checking social media.You often find yourself waiting for the right moment or the right energy to get something done.Step 2: Understand the reasons behind your procrastinationOnce you’ve identified procrastination as the problem, the next step is understanding the reasons behind it. Have a look at the section entitled “Why do we procrastinate?” above to gain a clearer understanding of your own personal reasons.You may be procrastinating for any of the following reasons:You’re avoiding a task because you find it boring or annoying.You’re disorganized and you don’t know how to get organized.You're organized, but still feel overwhelmed by a given task.You have doubts about your skill or expertise and are worried about doing it poorly.You’re afraid of success because you see it as a door to more challenging or tedious tasks—never-ending tasks!You just can't decide what to do, or how exactly to do it.Step 3: Create your very own anti-procrastination strategyProcrastination is deeply habit-forming, but like even the hardiest of habits, it can be broken. While you may not be able to stop procrastinating on the spot, the following anti-procrastination strategies can help you to stop succumbing to the short-term temptations of procrastination and give yourself the best possible chance of success!Step 4: Stop being so hard on yourselfIf you have a long, sordid history of procrastination, and you regularly beat yourself up about it, stop. Forgiving yourself can actually go a long way toward tempering any negative self-talk, thus reducing the likelihood that you’ll keep on procrastinating. Pay attention to the things you say to yourself, and the judgements you make. Rather than using phrases like “need to" or “have to,” which can strip you of your sense of agency and be quite disempowering, try saying, “I choose to,” to take more ownership over your work and your goals, and help you feel more in control. Remember: words are never just words—there is a thought to back every one, and in turn, every thought has weight.Step 5: Create a detailed timeline, complete with deadlinesStart by writing down the tasks you need to complete, and specify a timeframe for doing each of them. This will help you to proactively tackle your work. But—because having just one deadline can be a bit like an invitation to procrastinate (we get the impression we have more time than we do and keep putting things off), go one further and break your project down into steps.Include every step that will need to be taken to complete said project, no matter how small. You might break the steps down into monthly, weekly, and daily task lists. Then, create an overarching timeline with multiple deadlines for every task—be it big or small. This way, you have a clear understanding of what needs to get done, and by when. This, in turn, creates a needed sense of urgency to act—and to follow through. Here are more tips on setting effective deadlines.Step 6: Promise yourself a reward…or a giftIf it helps to provide yourself with palpable incentives, you might consider rewarding yourself when you complete a difficult task without delay. Whether it’s a mocha with whipped cream on top, or permission to put your feet up and watch a movie, having a self-reward system in place can be very effective. This will also serve as a regular reminder that finishing things is a highly pleasant experience! While we’re on the topic of rewards, how about a straight-up gift? Consider giving yourself the gift of unbridled productivity with one of these 16 motivational gifts.Step 7: Ask someone to hold you accountableHaving someone to hold you accountable can make all the difference in the world. This is especially true, given that we, as humans, care what other people think—for better or worse. So go ahead and ask a friend, family member, coworker, or partner to check up on you now and again. Think of it as positive peer pressure! After all, this is the fundamental idea behind many self-help groups.Step 8: Act as you goActing as you go means tackling tasks as they arise, rather than letting them build up over days, weeks, or even months. If there are tasks that you find particularly unpleasant but which can be done relatively quickly, aim to get them out of the way early in the day, so that you have the remainder of the day to focus on work you find more meaningful, or at least more pleasant. William H McRaven, a former navy SEAL who served for 34 years has shared the one simple lesson that sticks with him, even to this day: if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. The idea here is that just by virtue of making your bed, you have already accomplished your first task of the day successfully. The sense of pride this instills can actually encourage you to complete your next task—and the one after that. It’s a positive chain reaction.Step 9: Cut out distractionsIt should go without saying, but it remains difficult nonetheless: turn off your email and social media while you are doing more focused work so as to cut down on distractions and interruptions. This will help you to get down to the task at hand far more quickly—and before you know it, you’ll actually have finished a task that you thought would take a lot longer. Pleasant surprises await you when you cultivate the self-discipline to compartmentalize this way! If need be, reward yourself with a Facebook or Instagram break once you’ve finished your most pressing tasks!The bottom lineBottom line: while it’s true that procrastination can be highly addictive and is typically rooted in more deeply ingrained behaviors and outlooks, where there’s a will, transcending procrastination is entirely doable! If you do the necessary work to identify the problem, understand why you’re procrastinating to begin with, and then create a robust action plan to help you break on through to the other side, it’s only a matter of time before you begin to notice positive results at play in your life. You got this!

Jason Statham's Humble Beginnings Prove Anything Is Possible
Career Growth

Jason Statham's Humble Beginnings Prove Anything Is Possible

Tough guy Englishman Jason Statham is actually somewhat misunderstood. Jason Statham has built an entire career out of playing rough, rugged, bullheaded characters, from Frank Martin in the Transporter trilogy to Deckard Shaw in the Fast & Furious movies to Lee Christmas in The Expendables franchise. No matter the movie, you can always expect Jason to emanate a wild, aggressive, and macho energy. That’s precisely why his fans adore him. In fact, he’s been the uncompromising hardman for so long that people forget that a charming human being exists behind the steely gaze. The typecasting doesn’t take away from the fact that Jason’s beginnings were as humble and human as anyone else. While he does share a few traits with some of his mighty characters, we should also remember he is his own man and shouldn’t be defined exclusively by his body of work. Here’s what we can take away from Jason Statham’s journey:Jason Statham grew up “selling watches” on street corners and had been a competitive swimmerJason was born on July 26, 1967, to Eileen Yates and Barry Statham in Derbyshire, England. His mother danced professionally, and his father worked mainly as a street seller, peddling everything from jewelry to perfume to knock-off watches. Barry’s varied career also included stints as a house painter, coal miner, and the occasional singer. Having grown up working-class, Jason followed in his dad’s footsteps. Hawking a mishmash of off-brand items to busy pedestrians is no easy job, but Jason took it in stride and used the opportunity to develop excellent salesman skills. “He smiles wide and winks often and periodically announces, “My name is Billy, not silly,” to comic effect,” read a New York Times profile of the actor. Jason also leaned into his father’s musical background as a child and had been the drummer in their family band, with his brother as the guitarist and their dad as the lead singer. Though he dabbled in music occasionally, his true passion lied in the waters. Statham swam for his local grammar school team and demonstrated such a talent in competitive diving that he snagged himself a spot on Britain’s National Swimming Squad. He trained with the team for twelve years and was even chosen to be a part of the Great Britain contingent in the 1990 Commonwealth Games. He finished 12th in the World Championships in springboard diving. Jason said in an interview that his time as a competitive diver taught him “discipline, focus” and generally kept him out of trouble. I get motivated by the sheer fact that I don’t want to go back to the f—king street corners and start selling watches again [...] I like the job. I like what I’m doing. So if that goes away, it means I’m not motivated—I’m not working hard.Jason Statham to Men's HealthStatham achieved superstardom without having taken a single “acting lesson” in his lifeThough he excelled in competitive diving and had taken it seriously as a young man in his twenties, Jason realized that amateur sports didn’t come with a stable enough income to support him for the long haul. He went back to the streets as a vendor, “selling perfume and jewelry, and other goods that were supposedly expensive.” The father-of-one said that his time as a hawker off Oxford street sparked a love of performance. Statham's charming antics drew the attention of shoppers. For this reason, they were more likely to purchase items off his stall. One of his funny acts caught the eye of passerby Guy Ritchie, who became so entranced with Jason’s personality that he cast him in the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as no one else but a street hawker. (Photo by Daniel Smith/Getty Images)The rest, as we know, is history. Jason Statham was in his early thirties when he did his first movie — a departure from the majority of working actors who dip into the scene in their late teens or early twenties. But that didn’t discourage him from embracing the new opportunities knocking on the door. He jumped into the business and took it upon himself to make a name as an action star. Jason said that he dreamed of being a stuntman as a kid; becoming a dashing, daring actor was just icing on top. I’m aware of what I can and can’t do. I don’t see myself as a character actor that spends months and months figuring out what to do. I’ve never had an acting lesson in my life. I don’t know whether that’s a good or bad thing.Jason Statham to Men’s JournalOff-camera, he’s surprisingly “fun and charismatic and energetic”Just because someone prefers a certain kind of role consistently through their career doesn’t mean that it reflects their real-life personality. Most people assume Jason Statham to be the gruff, surly, hyper-masculine figure when the cameras aren’t rolling, but his partner confirmed that he most certainly is not. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the actor’s longtime girlfriend and the mother of his child, said that when they went on their first date in 2010, she had assumed that he would be as rough and tumble as his on-screen persona. Suffice to say; she was delighted to see him turn on the charm and offer up his romantic, fun side. I remember calling my friend the next day and just being like, 'Wow, he’s so unexpectedly not who I thought he’d be. He’s so grounded and humble, he’s really fun and charismatic and energetic.' Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to ElleShe also added that the humbleness in him hasn’t faded. Statham knows the “value of a pound” and is aware of how fortunate he is to be doing what he does. He spent the majority of his life scrambling to make ends meet; he worked as a painter-decorator, sold jewelry to busy shoppers in the heart of London, kept the peace as a bouncer of many nightclubs, even oiled up as a backup dancer for music videos — the actor knows what it’s like to truly work for a livelihood. Rosie hopes that his “groundedness” is instilled in their son as well. Your time will come as long as you maintain drive(Denise Truscello/WireImage)You never know when your big break is knocking on the door. You have to be patient and maintain the drive, knowing that the opportunities will present themselves at their own pace. And once they do, it’s up to you to take the wheel and jump. Jason Statham didn’t expect to be one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, so he kept working away at his day job and didn’t stop until something better came along. It’s never too late to pursue your interests, and it's never too late to manifest your dreams. Everyone’s lives move to a different rhythm, so you can’t compare yourself to others. All you can do is have a little faith and show a lot of ambition from time to time — your calling will reveal itself to you before you know it.