1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,360 Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening everybody. 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,640 And welcome to today's episode of the Never Peak Project 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:06,760 podcast. 4 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:08,320 I'm your host, Coach Ranger. 5 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,680 And in today's episode of the pod, 6 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,240 we're going to be talking about success with support 7 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,600 and how relationships fuel solopreneurship. 8 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,720 So sit back, relax, grab the beverage of your choice, 9 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,240 and enjoy as we talk about the importance of developing 10 00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:27,480 a team outside of your organization 11 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,440 to help you on your journey. 12 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,760 Also, today is an exclusive audio-only podcast. 13 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:35,160 Now, if you hear that and you say, 14 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:36,840 what do you mean audio-only? 15 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,080 We do upload most of the episodes 16 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:40,880 onto our YouTube channel. 17 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:42,040 It's just RangerKeyLac. 18 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,800 I will put the YouTube link in the description 19 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:46,920 so that you can subscribe to us there as well. 20 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,000 But today's episode is going to be only on the audio 21 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,320 feed of the podcast. 22 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,880 As a solopreneur, it's very easy to feel like you have 23 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,200 to do everything on your own. 24 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:00,280 But really, the truth is that no one succeeds in a vacuum. 25 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,880 When I did my walk across the United States last year, 26 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:04,960 one of the biggest lessons that I learned 27 00:01:04,960 --> 00:01:08,400 was the importance of developing a team 28 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:13,120 and having a community around you as you do big things. 29 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:14,640 So in this episode, we're really going 30 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,160 to be diving into the power of relationships 31 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:19,880 and entrepreneurship from your personal network 32 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,520 to business connections, mentors, and even the partner 33 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,600 that you choose to spend the rest of your life with. 34 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,840 I'll share some of my own experiences, practical insights, 35 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,160 and ways that you can leverage the support system around you 36 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,040 to grow your business sustainably. 37 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,680 So whether you're just starting out or scaling up, 38 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,160 this episode will help you build a network 39 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,200 that fuels your success. 40 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,280 One of the very first things that I want to talk to you 41 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:50,160 about today is the myth of the self-made entrepreneur. 42 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,480 Now, guys, it's really easy to idolize 43 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:56,200 the idea of the self-made entrepreneur, the person who 44 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,440 is in their grindset and works away in isolation, 45 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,760 hustling their way to success with nothing 46 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:05,160 but sheer will and determination. 47 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,600 But to pop that bubble, the truth 48 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,000 is that no one succeeds alone. 49 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,000 Even the most successful business leaders 50 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:16,440 and solopreneurs have relied on mentors, coaches, advisors, 51 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,160 and their own personal support systems 52 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,000 to help them navigate challenges and scale their businesses. 53 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,320 Now, that's not to say that everything was handed to them 54 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,560 or that they didn't have to work extremely hard for where 55 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:28,760 they wanted to be, but I don't want 56 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,080 to negate or forget about the importance of having people 57 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,880 as a support system or resources to help you 58 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,560 get from point A to point B. 59 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,640 Again, when I did my walk across the United States last year, 60 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:44,640 I was the only one that was walking every single day. 61 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:46,040 I didn't have a support vehicle. 62 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:47,360 I didn't have somebody behind me. 63 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:49,720 I didn't have people checking in on me necessarily 64 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,000 throughout the day, but I was able to develop and create 65 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,400 a community over time that really helped make sure 66 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,960 that I got from Myrtle Beach to Los Angeles in mostly one 67 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:01,480 piece. 68 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,680 Now, there's quite a few hidden struggles of the solopreneur. 69 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,520 While being your own boss does have its own perks, 70 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,560 like freedom, flexibility, and creative control, 71 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:12,760 it also comes with some unique struggles 72 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:17,040 that we don't always talk about while we are playing the game. 73 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:20,080 A few weeks ago, we talked about silencing the inner critic. 74 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:21,460 We've talked about boundaries. 75 00:03:21,460 --> 00:03:24,200 We've talked about making the most of your referral network. 76 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,720 But today, I really want to talk about the importance 77 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:31,120 of having a community around you. 78 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,400 Because some of the struggles that we face as solopreneurs 79 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,520 could very well be isolation. 80 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,600 When you're on your own, kind of in your little office, 81 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:40,880 your chamber, like I like to say, 82 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,600 I'm in my $2 million office most days working on my business, 83 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,680 just a spare bedroom in my fiance's parents' house. 84 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,440 Being alone and working on the business day to day 85 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,000 can lead to fewer social interactions, which 86 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,240 could make you feel like you're disconnected 87 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,080 or you lack motivation. 88 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,260 It can also cause you to really forget the reason 89 00:04:00,260 --> 00:04:01,520 that you're doing this. 90 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,160 Typically, when you are a solopreneur, an entrepreneur, 91 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,120 or somebody that is starting some kind of organization 92 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,000 or movement, it is around other people, the environment, 93 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,720 or the animals that make the world a beautiful place. 94 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,200 So without being able to get out there and see what it is 95 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,120 that you're trying to create and the people that 96 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,240 would be included in that, you can kind of 97 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,400 lose that motivation and feel disconnected. 98 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,040 And that can kind of lead to burnout or decision fatigue, 99 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:33,720 which can, again, almost cause a catalyzing effect where it just 100 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,520 speeds up that negative process. 101 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,080 So really, what I want to get through to you today 102 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,080 in today's episode is that learning to ask for help 103 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,240 and leaning on your network is a strength, not a weakness. 104 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:46,760 We can't be too proud to say that we 105 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,360 did everything on our own, which could really potentially 106 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,000 lead to the overall mission of the business 107 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,960 not being fulfilled. 108 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,320 I think it's about being really able to recognize 109 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:01,360 when our wants or desires to build something on our own 110 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,240 gets in the way of that thing being actually built. 111 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,080 It's almost like, what's more important, 112 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,040 that I do this completely alone, that I'm 113 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,440 able to say that I didn't rely on anybody 114 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,360 or that I was able to bootstrap this from beginning to end 115 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,840 or be able to say that the mission and vision was actually 116 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:17,680 achieved. 117 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:19,800 I am able to get to the income that I want. 118 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,840 I was able to create the outcomes that I really 119 00:05:21,840 --> 00:05:24,880 knew that I could for my clients and that the people that I 120 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:26,880 serve are in a better place than they 121 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,000 were before working with me. 122 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,200 What's more important there? 123 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:32,960 And I think that the biggest thing 124 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,160 that I want you to walk away with 125 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:37,880 is that the strongest businesses are 126 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,760 built on strong relationships. 127 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,600 Whether it's through very strategic networking, 128 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,640 mentorship, or your personal support systems, 129 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,880 it is a team effort, even if you're a solopreneur 130 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,480 and you're the only one on that business paperwork and payroll. 131 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,440 So really, the first thing to take into consideration 132 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,520 when you're building up this network of people 133 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:00,360 that are around you and that social sphere of influence 134 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,960 is remember that your spouse is the most important decision 135 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:06,960 you can make when it comes at the success 136 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:08,520 you have in your life. 137 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:10,200 Warren Buffett has a quote that goes, 138 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:11,920 the most important decision of your life 139 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,320 is who you choose to marry. 140 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,760 Sheryl Sandberg and a few other folks have very similar quotes. 141 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,960 But really, it's just because that is a person 142 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:22,280 you're going to be spending a vast majority of your life 143 00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:22,800 with. 144 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:24,560 They're going to be the ones you go home to every night. 145 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:26,720 They're going to be the ones that share your successes 146 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:27,760 and your failures with. 147 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,440 So you want to make sure that they are a extreme asset 148 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,800 and not a liability or a drain on your emotional, mental, 149 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:36,880 and physical state. 150 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,600 Now, sure, it can sound a little bit funny and tactical 151 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,920 that you're saying that the best way 152 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:43,320 to be successful in your business 153 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,560 is by picking someone that is good in terms of your spouse. 154 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,440 But really, it's deeper than that. 155 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,160 It's making sure that that person aligns 156 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,480 with your personal values, that they are into the same thing 157 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,360 as you are, that they're able to make very good decisions, 158 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,560 that you guys work well together. 159 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,440 Because if you're constantly fighting or causing issues 160 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,400 or there's just not a lot of alignment 161 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,480 in terms of your overall goals and vision for life, 162 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,680 that's going to put a drain on you and honestly them as well. 163 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,920 It's about making sure that since entrepreneurship 164 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,920 is such a lifestyle, that the other main part 165 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,080 of your lifestyle is beneficial as well. 166 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,000 And that's because when you're in a relationship, 167 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,200 your partner is along for the ride, 168 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,160 whether they signed up for it or not. 169 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:31,960 You also have to make sure that they are comfortable, 170 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,240 that they have an understanding of what's going on 171 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,600 so that they can support you the best way they can, 172 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:38,680 step up when they need to, 173 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,560 and that you can accurately communicate 174 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,640 what is going on at all times. 175 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,160 Now, my fiance has been one of my biggest supporters 176 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,200 throughout my entire entrepreneurial journey. 177 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,000 Whether it was the little side things 178 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,920 that I was doing here or there during COVID, 179 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,920 selling candles or doing snake bags on Etsy, 180 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:02,160 all the way to my walk across the United States 181 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,240 or my journey into within range 182 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,560 and the NeverPeak project podcast, 183 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,880 really she has just always been there for me. 184 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:11,960 One of the quotes that I saw somewhere else was, 185 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,240 your spouse should believe in you more than you do. 186 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,080 And I think that that really holds true 187 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,840 with her support and me. 188 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,200 It's really not even just keeping me focused and motivated, 189 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,080 but making sure that I am constantly reminded 190 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,440 of the reason why I am doing this. 191 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,880 If I ever feel like I am kind of giving up on something 192 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:32,800 or I don't wanna do something, 193 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:34,920 she's the first one to say, are you sure? 194 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:38,040 This is what you said that you wanted, what's changed? 195 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:42,560 And really just making sure that the decisions I made, 196 00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:47,200 or the decisions that I make are not made out of obligation, 197 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:48,120 but out of choice. 198 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:49,120 And the other really great thing 199 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,560 is that she is a fantastic sounding board 200 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:53,760 for ideas that I have. 201 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:55,040 She's able to help me remember, 202 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:59,040 hey, you can't take on a million things at all times. 203 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,760 I like to joke that whenever I join an organization, 204 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:02,880 if you give me six months, 205 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,080 I will end up being the president of that organization. 206 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:06,960 And that's not a flex, 207 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,000 I think it's just because I come into organizations 208 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,080 really hot and excited, and people notice that, 209 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:16,080 and they take a liking to it and want me to be a part of it. 210 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,000 Or in some cases, they see me as the eager new guy 211 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,200 that they can dump responsibility on. 212 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,680 But she's also helped me set really clear boundaries 213 00:09:23,680 --> 00:09:26,520 in my life and my extracurriculars 214 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:28,320 to make sure that I do have time 215 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:29,720 for what's going on at home, 216 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:31,120 that I have time for her, 217 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,320 that I have time for the animals, 218 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,800 that I can really focus on the other things in life 219 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,480 that bring me joy. 220 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,240 And I think the other big thing there is that 221 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:40,640 when I say that your spouse 222 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,640 is the most important decision you can make, 223 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,280 is it's not just the business side of things, right? 224 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:47,400 It's really that personal side. 225 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,560 It's those encouraging words after tough days, 226 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:53,040 or reminding you to practice self-care, 227 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:57,800 or see challenges as opportunities. 228 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:02,000 Really just like a ton of different aspects in your life 229 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,360 where they are able to help you calm down, 230 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,480 slow down, and be present. 231 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,520 I'd really say that that's probably the biggest thing 232 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,280 as I'm saying everything, 233 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,520 is your spouse is gonna be what helps you stay present 234 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:18,240 and focused on what is going on in your life. 235 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:22,160 And the same thing can be for your friends or family. 236 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,800 I'm a big fan of if they aren't serving you, 237 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:26,040 or if you're not serving them, 238 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,960 then you don't need to have them around. 239 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:30,840 There's plenty of friends that in different seasons 240 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:35,000 of my life have been great allies or great parts of it. 241 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:36,560 But as time goes on, 242 00:10:36,560 --> 00:10:38,240 you just kind of make the realization 243 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,760 that this isn't what's best for me. 244 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,320 I think that that is kind of where that thing is, 245 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,960 where you become the five people 246 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:46,640 that you hang out with the most. 247 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,000 I think that is something very, very, very important 248 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,240 to keep in mind as you're on the journey 249 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,760 of solo and entrepreneurship, 250 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:55,960 is that the people that you spend time with 251 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,880 are going to be the people that take your time from you. 252 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:01,200 They're gonna give you the bad habits, 253 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:02,400 they're gonna give you the good habits, 254 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,080 they're gonna make sure that you are investing correctly, 255 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,280 that you're really just focused on 256 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,360 what you wanna create in your life, 257 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,320 and at the same time, you're able to give back 258 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,400 and help them with their goals and aspirations as well. 259 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,000 So when it comes to this first part, 260 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:20,920 it's really just making sure 261 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,160 that your spouse, friends, and family 262 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,840 are really locked in and you're making very conscious, 263 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,240 effective decisions around who you spend your time with 264 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,480 and what that time actually looks like. 265 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,160 And the other major area, of course, 266 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:35,720 is going to be the people that are more so 267 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,040 on the business side. 268 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,960 So when it comes to my company within range coaching, 269 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:41,840 I really like to focus on personal wellness 270 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:43,360 and business success. 271 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:44,720 So on the personal side, 272 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:46,760 it's your spouse, friends, and family, 273 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:48,400 whereas on the business side, 274 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,960 that's going to be your BNI groups, 275 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:55,320 your networking organizations, your coaches, mentors, 276 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,600 and really other partnerships 277 00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:59,240 that are going to be effective for you. 278 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,200 I think that mentors and coaches 279 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,680 are going to be one of the greatest assets and tools 280 00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:07,400 that you can have on your entrepreneurial journey. 281 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,920 People that have taken the journey before you 282 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:13,280 or are even a few steps ahead or way up the mountain 283 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:15,000 beyond where you wanna go 284 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,480 are the type of people that you wanna have on your team. 285 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:19,760 When I started walking across the United States 286 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:21,080 and planning for it, 287 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,480 I spent a lot of time Googling different tools, 288 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,840 tips, and tricks, trying to read articles, 289 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:28,000 and get advice from people 290 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,920 that had never really walked across the US. 291 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:32,740 And it wasn't until I reached out to people 292 00:12:32,740 --> 00:12:36,240 that had actually done it and succeeded in doing it 293 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,800 that I got real advice and support 294 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,040 that actually helped me get from one side of the US 295 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:44,240 to the other. 296 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,160 I think it's the same exact thing in entrepreneurship. 297 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,080 When it comes to finding people 298 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:50,360 that are going to be good allies 299 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:51,760 and help you make things happen, 300 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:53,840 you wanna make sure that they've been there before. 301 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,680 So whether it is mindset, business, 302 00:12:56,680 --> 00:12:59,400 or any other specific coaches or mentors, 303 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:00,860 make sure that you find people 304 00:13:00,860 --> 00:13:05,140 that are going to be a good ally on your side. 305 00:13:05,140 --> 00:13:07,880 And then remember that there are other networks 306 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,480 that can be a great asset for you as well. 307 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,400 Last week we talked a little bit about BNI 308 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,640 and the importance of using your organization 309 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:20,160 or your club as a sales team for your organization. 310 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,720 Being sure that you are actively showing up 311 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,480 to your networking groups. 312 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,320 Let's just pretend that you are for sure in BNI for this. 313 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,440 Making sure that you are showing up every single week, 314 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,280 that you are on time, that you are dressed professionally, 315 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,840 that you are hitting your 30 or 60 second elevator pitch 316 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:38,160 as hard as you can, 317 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,000 and that you're actually putting in the work 318 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,000 to do one-to-ones on a weekly basis. 319 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,120 You really wanna make sure that you're putting in the work 320 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,360 and making the most of those groups. 321 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:49,520 Same thing goes for mastermind groups 322 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,600 or any certifications that you're doing. 323 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,040 One of the tips that I got from Alex Ramosi 324 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,600 before I started my certification, 325 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,880 I got it from him as if he told me specifically, 326 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:01,500 I heard it on one of his videos, 327 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:05,260 was if you're in a mastermind or if you're in a group 328 00:14:05,260 --> 00:14:08,520 or you're in a class, be the number one student. 329 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,980 You are paying money, you are paying time, 330 00:14:10,980 --> 00:14:12,960 and you're paying attention to be there. 331 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:14,440 Make the most out of it. 332 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,400 There's no reason for you not to do so. 333 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:18,820 And I think that same mindset 334 00:14:18,820 --> 00:14:21,080 goes towards networking events. 335 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:22,440 One of the things that I like to do 336 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,060 before I go to a big networking event, 337 00:14:24,060 --> 00:14:25,520 when I'm feeling a little bit nervous 338 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,080 or kind of like I wanna back out of it last second, 339 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:29,800 is to look at my bank account, 340 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,400 see that I'm not where I wanna be, 341 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,840 and then go in there and make the connections. 342 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:37,560 Because when you are putting the work in, 343 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,480 you're going to get it out eventually. 344 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,240 What's the other thing that Alex Ramosi says 345 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,360 is be impatient with the inputs, 346 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,520 but patient with the outputs. 347 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,160 Really, when it comes to your network 348 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:56,400 and building up this professional support team for yourself, 349 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:00,160 is to remember that the more work you put into it, 350 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,400 the more positive outcomes you're going to get out of it. 351 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,780 I think another thing, like an extra bonus pro tip, 352 00:15:06,780 --> 00:15:08,540 is to remember that when it comes to your professional 353 00:15:08,540 --> 00:15:10,980 support, it's not even necessarily just people 354 00:15:10,980 --> 00:15:12,380 that are in front of you. 355 00:15:12,380 --> 00:15:15,480 It could be people that are authors 356 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,920 that have written books that are relevant to your field. 357 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,680 Really make sure that you are taking full advantage 358 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,560 of different texts, different audio books, 359 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,160 physical books, podcasts, whatever, 360 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,460 and that you're actually applying the information 361 00:15:30,460 --> 00:15:33,260 that you are learning and reading. 362 00:15:33,260 --> 00:15:35,320 Don't just be the people that kind of, 363 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,320 oh, I read 52 books last year, 364 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:38,560 and they kind of just flaunt that around 365 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,040 like an accomplishment. 366 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,040 Be the type of person that read one book 52 times 367 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:47,780 and actually applied what you have learned from that text. 368 00:15:47,780 --> 00:15:50,680 I think that that is really the bigger thing 369 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,140 that you want to focus on, 370 00:15:52,140 --> 00:15:54,200 is learning from these people, 371 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,120 but actually applying it later on. 372 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:58,400 When it comes to that professional side, 373 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,080 I'd really say that the four main things 374 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:01,880 that we focus on at all times 375 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:04,880 is to be intentional about networking. 376 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:05,720 You want to make sure that you're 377 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,960 maintaining quality over quantity. 378 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,360 A business practice that I love to reference 379 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,800 is more, better, new. 380 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,280 You really want to start off doing as much as possible. 381 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:19,780 Like right now, I am in the process 382 00:16:19,780 --> 00:16:21,680 of doing more one-to-ones. 383 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:26,680 I have noticed that when it comes to the regional awards 384 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,300 for BNI, they give awards based off of the amount 385 00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:31,540 of one-to-ones that you've done, 386 00:16:31,540 --> 00:16:33,920 the amount of referrals that you have done. 387 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:35,940 Now, one-to-ones are something 388 00:16:35,940 --> 00:16:37,780 that I have full control over. 389 00:16:37,780 --> 00:16:39,920 I can send an email, I can have an outreach, 390 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,040 or I can communicate with different people 391 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,480 to set up as many one-to-ones as possible. 392 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,640 I want to get on that list of the most amount 393 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,800 of networking done in a year. 394 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:51,940 The reason for that is I can't necessarily control 395 00:16:51,940 --> 00:16:54,640 the amount of referrals I give or receive 396 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,880 because it's an input or an output 397 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,320 that is dependent on other factors. 398 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,640 Whereas one-to-ones are just around, 399 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,160 did I meet with this person or did I not? 400 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:09,280 But now that I am at the point that I've done 50 or 60 401 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:10,880 of them in the few month period, 402 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:12,920 I really want to start focusing in on the people 403 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:14,840 that would be my power partners. 404 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:16,640 So that's where that intentionality 405 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,520 around networking comes into play. 406 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,100 It's great to have a lot of people know your name 407 00:17:21,100 --> 00:17:23,360 and know what you do, but it's even better 408 00:17:23,360 --> 00:17:26,280 if you have a lot of people that can refer you business, 409 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:30,060 know what you do, and the results that you apply 410 00:17:30,060 --> 00:17:32,940 and can give to your clients. 411 00:17:32,940 --> 00:17:34,640 The next thing is to join communities 412 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,000 that align with your values. 413 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,320 Now the big thing here is to make sure that, again, 414 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:40,900 you're putting in your time and effort 415 00:17:40,900 --> 00:17:42,840 where you need to the most. 416 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:44,600 Now there have been plenty of organizations 417 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:46,400 that I've gone to a couple meetings to 418 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,060 that I just didn't really vibe 419 00:17:48,060 --> 00:17:50,720 with the overall atmosphere of the group. 420 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,360 Whether it was some Toastmasters clubs 421 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,080 that I visited beforehand 422 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,480 or other adult service organizations, 423 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,280 you can just kind of tell when the vibes don't match 424 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:02,780 what you want to see. 425 00:18:02,780 --> 00:18:05,080 It took me going to two or three different Toastmasters 426 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,380 groups until I found one that I really enjoyed 427 00:18:07,380 --> 00:18:09,740 and appreciated, and that is the group 428 00:18:09,740 --> 00:18:13,640 that I am now competing for at the district level. 429 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:17,780 So it's, again, just really making sure 430 00:18:17,780 --> 00:18:20,680 that you are aware of what your values are 431 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:22,440 and what you bring to the table 432 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,120 so that you know when a seat that's open 433 00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:27,620 is a good fit for you. 434 00:18:27,620 --> 00:18:31,220 Now the next thing is to give before you ask. 435 00:18:31,220 --> 00:18:34,820 Now remember that when you provide value to someone else, 436 00:18:34,820 --> 00:18:37,820 even if it is not something that you have created, 437 00:18:37,820 --> 00:18:40,620 people will associate that value with you. 438 00:18:40,620 --> 00:18:41,820 One of the things that I like to do 439 00:18:41,820 --> 00:18:44,540 for my 10, 20 whatever minute presentations 440 00:18:44,540 --> 00:18:46,820 in my networking groups is to give a copy 441 00:18:46,820 --> 00:18:51,020 of Alex Hermosy's $100 million offers or leads. 442 00:18:51,020 --> 00:18:53,020 The reason for that is I have found huge value 443 00:18:53,020 --> 00:18:56,140 in terms of the impact that book has had on 444 00:18:56,140 --> 00:18:58,420 my life and my business, and I believe that 445 00:18:58,420 --> 00:19:01,420 it could have that same impact on the lives of others. 446 00:19:01,420 --> 00:19:03,620 I like to write a little small note in the book 447 00:19:03,620 --> 00:19:06,020 when I give it to them so that they have a extra piece 448 00:19:06,020 --> 00:19:09,220 that reminds them that Ranger gave them this thing. 449 00:19:09,220 --> 00:19:11,020 Same thing when I go to the bigger networking events 450 00:19:11,020 --> 00:19:15,420 and I give away a case of athletic brewing company brews 451 00:19:15,420 --> 00:19:18,220 or anything else, those are just small things 452 00:19:18,220 --> 00:19:23,220 that you can do to give value, like a physical gift 453 00:19:23,220 --> 00:19:27,820 or product or something, but the best thing 454 00:19:27,820 --> 00:19:32,420 that you can do is give connections or referrals as well. 455 00:19:32,420 --> 00:19:36,940 What is it, it is better to give than receive methodology. 456 00:19:36,940 --> 00:19:40,980 The power of giving or the giver's gain mentality 457 00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:45,860 in BNI is really just, generosity is a superpower 458 00:19:45,860 --> 00:19:48,980 and can really supercharge your relationship building. 459 00:19:48,980 --> 00:19:52,380 The next thing is to schedule regular check-ins. 460 00:19:52,380 --> 00:19:53,740 You really wanna make sure that you're nurturing 461 00:19:53,740 --> 00:19:57,340 those connections for longer term periods 462 00:19:57,340 --> 00:19:59,740 rather than just having one-off meetings with people 463 00:19:59,740 --> 00:20:01,380 and then forgetting about them. 464 00:20:01,380 --> 00:20:03,580 Now personally, this is something that I wanna work on. 465 00:20:03,580 --> 00:20:04,980 I have done a lot of one-to-ones 466 00:20:04,980 --> 00:20:08,540 in the last four or five months, and I am going to, 467 00:20:08,540 --> 00:20:12,380 over the next couple weeks, start sending check-in emails 468 00:20:12,380 --> 00:20:13,780 to all those people. 469 00:20:13,780 --> 00:20:16,940 I have a one-to-one tracker that I have in Google Docs 470 00:20:16,940 --> 00:20:19,900 with I think a couple hundred people's emails right now, 471 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:21,340 and I just wanna send a quick, hey, 472 00:20:21,340 --> 00:20:24,980 like thinking about you, hope everything is great. 473 00:20:24,980 --> 00:20:27,460 If there's anything you need from me, please let me know, 474 00:20:27,460 --> 00:20:30,980 and then just hope you're having a great day. 475 00:20:30,980 --> 00:20:33,860 Just something to kind of keep yourself top of mind. 476 00:20:33,860 --> 00:20:37,860 Personally, I'm not going to make any asks or sells 477 00:20:37,860 --> 00:20:41,860 or CTAs or anything like that in the actual email, 478 00:20:41,860 --> 00:20:45,020 but just kind of something to reignite the conversation 479 00:20:45,020 --> 00:20:46,420 and let them know, hey, I'm thinking of you, 480 00:20:46,420 --> 00:20:47,740 I hope everything is okay. 481 00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:50,820 Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. 482 00:20:50,820 --> 00:20:52,300 And there is something I can do to help. 483 00:20:52,300 --> 00:20:54,700 That is just a way that I can further connect 484 00:20:54,700 --> 00:20:55,940 with them even more. 485 00:20:57,260 --> 00:20:59,860 So if that is a challenge that I'm giving to myself, 486 00:20:59,860 --> 00:21:02,580 it is a challenge I'm going to give to you as well, 487 00:21:02,580 --> 00:21:03,620 the listener. 488 00:21:03,620 --> 00:21:07,300 This week, I wanna ask you to reach out to one person, 489 00:21:07,300 --> 00:21:09,480 whether it is a mentor, friend, partner, 490 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,140 or a business connection, and just express some gratitude 491 00:21:13,140 --> 00:21:15,500 for their support, or just do a check-in 492 00:21:15,500 --> 00:21:17,100 to see how they're doing. 493 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:20,260 Because honestly, not enough of us are checking in 494 00:21:20,260 --> 00:21:23,220 on each other and asking for ways that we can help 495 00:21:23,220 --> 00:21:24,500 and support them. 496 00:21:24,500 --> 00:21:27,260 So reach out to someone, see what you can do 497 00:21:27,260 --> 00:21:28,080 to help them out. 498 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,740 Really, that is all that I have for today's episode. 499 00:21:30,740 --> 00:21:33,180 It's really just reminding yourself that 500 00:21:33,180 --> 00:21:37,020 the journey of solopreneurship doesn't have to be done 501 00:21:37,020 --> 00:21:38,540 by yourself. 502 00:21:38,540 --> 00:21:40,980 There are so many people out there that are just waiting 503 00:21:40,980 --> 00:21:43,940 to help you, you just need to go and find them. 504 00:21:43,940 --> 00:21:46,860 Relationships fuel success, whether it is 505 00:21:46,860 --> 00:21:50,580 your personal life or your professional life. 506 00:21:50,580 --> 00:21:54,060 So as always, if this message that you listened to today 507 00:21:54,060 --> 00:21:56,700 is valuable, please share it with a friend, colleague, 508 00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:59,820 or an associate, and leave a rating and review 509 00:21:59,820 --> 00:22:02,580 on whatever podcast platform you're listening to. 510 00:22:02,580 --> 00:22:04,540 It's going to take just a few seconds 511 00:22:04,540 --> 00:22:06,180 and a few swipes of your thumb, 512 00:22:06,180 --> 00:22:09,820 but it means the world to me and could help somebody else 513 00:22:09,820 --> 00:22:11,160 further down the road. 514 00:22:12,020 --> 00:22:15,420 There's going to be some extras in the description, 515 00:22:15,420 --> 00:22:18,900 and next week is actually my one year anniversary 516 00:22:18,900 --> 00:22:21,080 of starting my walk across the country. 517 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,340 So I'm going to release a special episode 518 00:22:23,340 --> 00:22:24,700 about lessons learned from the walk 519 00:22:24,700 --> 00:22:26,180 and how that applies to business, 520 00:22:26,180 --> 00:22:29,100 so be sure to subscribe and stay tuned 521 00:22:29,100 --> 00:22:33,220 for next week's episode of a Never Peak Project Podcast. 522 00:22:33,220 --> 00:22:36,220 As always, remember, the best is yet to come 523 00:22:36,220 --> 00:22:38,540 as long as you're willing to make the decision 524 00:22:38,540 --> 00:22:42,460 to never settle, never quit, and never peak. 525 00:22:42,460 --> 00:22:47,460 I'll see you guys in the next episode.