5 Questions with Frank Mengert

JJ Birden is a former NFL wide receiver who took his success on the field after nine seasons and turned it to success off the field as an entrepreneur and transformational speaker.

He shares his failures and accomplishments making the transition that many former pro-athletes just never do.

We also talk about his thoughts on having a mentor, seizing opportunities and the importance of being a master of your craft.

To appreciate the Hero’s Journey that is JJ Birden’s life, you must first know a few important facts:

Less than 6% of high school seniors go on to play college football

Of the 150,000 draft-eligible college football players, only 253 (less than 1%) are selected in the NFL draft

The average NFL career is less than 2 years

The average NFL player is 6’2, 245 lbs.

JJ played in the NFL for nine years at 5'10 157 lbs!

The odds of making it to the NFL are staggering. The odds of staying in the NFL are even more amazing. The odds of doing both are the most astronomical of all when you’re undersized and play one of the sport’s most physical positions. Good thing JJ Birden never cared about the odds of success.

Despite being the #1 high school wide receiver in Oregon, JJ didn’t receive a single D1 scholarship offer. He was fast enough for sure, but at 5’9 and 133 lbs., JJ was just too small to play with the big boys. At least that’s what the naysayers thought; JJ knew he was good enough, and he set his mind to achieving the impossible.

All he needed was an opportunity, no matter how small, even if it meant making his own.

Contact JJ Birden:

https://www.jjbirden.com/ (website )| http://www.facebook.com/jjbirdenonline (facebook )| http://www.instagram.com/jjbirden (instagram )| http://www.linkedin.com/in/jjbirden/ (linkedin )| http://www.youtube.com/birden88 (youtube )| http://www.twitter.com/jjbirden (twitter)

Claude Silver is an emotional optimist, coach, manager, and mentor. As the first ever Chief Heart Officer it is her great honor to lead at VaynerMedia where she works for 800 Humans, and is in touch with the heartbeat of every single person in the company. Her role is to infuse the Agency with Empathy. It's her purpose.

Culture is a texture. It’s a vibe. A feel. And culture is alive. It’s definitely not one or two-dimensional, she thinks culture is very three-dimensional. Culture is, in a nutshell, the heartbeat for her. It is something that absolutely lights up an entire system — if it is in place, and if it is thriving.

In this episode we talk about what it means to actively listen, her road to landing the role where she leads Gary Vaynerchuk's organization with kindness and empathy, her advice for anyone feeling stuck in life, what keeps her fired up each day and her goal to make this world a better place.

Get in touch with Claude:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilver/ (LinkedIn )| https://www.claudesilver.com/ (Website) | https://anchor.fm/thesilverliningpodcast (Podcast) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilver/ (Instagram )| https://twitter.com/claudesilver (Twitter )| https://medium.com/@claudesilver (Medium )|

In episode two, I have Keenan, CEO and President of A Sales Guy. He’s changing the game of sales and is known across the nation for his no-nonsense approach to Gap Selling, he even wrote a book on it. He drops a bomb on the importance of being honest with ourselves, the wrong way to look at the sales process and the future of the sales industry, which will surprise many of you.

He’s been selling something to someone for his entire life. He’s been teaching and coaching almost as long. With over 20 years of sales experience, which he’ll tell you he doesn’t give a shit about, Keenan has been influencing, learning from and shaping the world of sales for a long time. Finder of the elephant in the room, Keenan calls it as he sees it and lets nothing or no one go unnoticed.

Links:

Keenan's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Gap-Selling-Problem-Centric-Everything-Relationships/dp/1732891001/ (Gap Selling)

Connect with Keenan:

https://www.asalesguy.com/ (Website )| https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimkeenan/ (LinkedIn )| https://www.instagram.com/keenan_redplaid/ (Instagram )| https://twitter.com/keenan (Twitter )| https://www.youtube.com/user/asalesguyconsulting (YouTube)

https://www.asalesguy.com/a-sales-guy-u/sales-resources-ebooks/ (Helpful Resources / Videos / eBooks)

David Meltzer is the Co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing and formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports and Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire.

His life’s mission is to empower OVER 1 BILLION people to be happy!

David and I talk about his journey of failures and successes, key advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, what keeps him driven, the importance of your time and a prediction into the future that includes AI and the impact it will have on businesses.

In his early 20s, David Meltzer quickly rose to the top of his game in the business world, becoming a millionaire. David lectured around the globe and saw rapid success in every business project he touched. But something was missing, and in his 30s as a multimillionaire, he went on a rapid downward spiral that ended in bankruptcy. It was only then that David realized, in order to revive and thrive, he needed to codify what had made him successful in the first place. He has since emerged to realize even more rewarding heights of success in business and life.

David Meltzer has created a platform that uses four overarching principles—gratitude, empathy, accountability, and effective communication—and these principles have allowed him to communicate and mentor everyone from college students to c-suite executives. These four principles in everyday practice allow David to live by his mission to “make a lot of money, help a lot of people, and have a lot of fun.”

LINKS:

https://dmeltzer.com/ (Website )| https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmeltzer2/ (LinkedIn) | https://www.instagram.com/davidmeltzer/ (Instagram) | https://www.youtube.com/davidmeltzer (YouTube) | https://twitter.com/davidmeltzer (Twitter )| https://www.facebook.com/davidmeltzer11 (Facebook) | https://www.entrepreneur.com/listen/playbook (Podcast)

David's book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1260452611/ (Game-Time Decision Making: High-Scoring Business Strategies From The Biggest Names In Sports 1st Edition)

https://lessons.dmeltzer.com/courses/davidmeltzer (Free course from David)

If you have a question for David, please https://forms.gle/WbwB1jxeoXguw6Zx9 (submit it here.)

Thank you for hitting that play button.

I am so excited to launch 5 Questions with Frank Mengert.

This podcast was born out of my quest to change the perception of what we see on social media and what real life is all about.

Life is not all about models, bottles, boats, jets, fashion, and people showing off stacks of cash.

As someone who is working on his 4th company, I've ridden the rollercoaster of being an entrepreneur while also having the experience of having been an intrapreneur working for corporate.

This podcast will show you a look into the lives of people just like you. People who you can relate to - who have been where you have been and who are now where you might aspire to be someday.

If someone else had done it before you, there is a way for you to achieve those goals. If you are feeling stuck or have hit that wall. Tune in to hear about how others have been successful overcoming challenges to conquer their desires.

Each week you’ll hear from a new guest with a relatable story to tell and actionable advice you can implement immediately.

I’m excited to bring you into their lives and welcome your feedback. Please visit www.5questionswithfrank.com for more information or to recommend a guest on the show.

Thanks again.