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Create Your Life Series
Create Your Life Series episodes
- CYLS 136: Limitless: A CTO’s Truth in Defining Herself in Her Industry & Life with Melissa Wahnish
Episode Summary
Melissa Wahnish went from comedian/actress to Founder/developer. This leap may seem unexpected, but Melissa is a rockstar! Finding time to run several companies with her husband, Todd, participate in Meetups, and raise a family, Melissa gives advice on all matter of issues that women may encounter at work. From overcoming the feeling of imposter syndrome to using her acting skills in her CEO role, her advice is crucial to anyone starting out in a new career and those looking to advance in the workforce.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Melissa Wahnish
Melissa Wahnish is a professional comedic actress turned hacker/developer. Using her self-taught programming skills, she founded Ruby Thursdays, a free weekly online show that gives junior rail developers tutorials, tips, and tricks to help them grow. Melissa organizes the Dev Dialogue meet-up which is the longest running Ruby Meetup in New York City. Along with her husband, Todd Wahnish, Melissa is the Co-Founder of Gigtilt.com, a service that simplifies and automates online payments. When she’s not leading development through innovation, Melissa enjoys sci-fi and knitting.
Insights From the Episode
- Secrets to crafting your skills outside of your business.
- How to use networking to hone in on what works best for you.
- Melissa shares two critical experiences that helped her improve as a developer when she was just starting out.
- Strategies for standing out from your peers at work.
- Strategies for getting your first job, as a junior developer.
- Secrets to overcoming the biggest personal challenges you may face in your career.
- Melissa gives advice to young women looking to make waves as engineers, CTOs, and founders of companies.
- How to silence the naysayers.
Quotes From the Show
- “It’s always about bringing people joy.” - Melissa Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #136
- “You do the best you can at the things you can control.” - Melissa Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #136
- “It’s definitely about being that thought leader. So it’s about getting your name out there and being a part of the community.” - Melissa Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #136
- “Do the customer development, even when you’re building for yourself, so that you can serve others.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #136
- “That’s been the biggest thing, is really to own what you can do and what you’ve done. Just to own it as opposed to thinking you can’t do it.” - Melissa Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #136
Resources Mentioned
- Startup Leadership Program
- General Assembly courses
- Meetup
- Dev Dialogue Meetup
- Trello
- Ruby Thursday
- Gigtilt
- Aarting
Favorite Book
- The Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R. Tolkien
Favorite Quote
- “It’s never boring.”
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Own your accomplishments.
- Speak your mind.
- Choose something that makes you happy and joyful.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Melissa Wahnish
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
45 min - CYLS 135: Identity, Masculinity, and Fatherhood: An Entrepreneur Creates Community Change with Jason Rosario
Episode Summary
Many cultures dissuade men from expressing emotions, in favor of being the “strong, silent” type. This way of thinking has been carried down through generations, and it has a particularly telling effect on men of color. Jason Rosario and Kevin have a frank discussion about how Jason’s company, The Lives of Men, is promoting healthy masculinity. Additionally, Jason and Kevin share how they have worked to build healthy masculinity into their own lives.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Jason Rosario
Bronx native Jason Rosario is a social entrepreneur, content curator, and founder of The Lives of Men, an integrated media and lifestyle brand that covers the stories and the diverse interests of men of color. Early in life, he was taught the importance of hard work, sacrifice, resolve, and faith which have served as guiding principles in his life’s journey. Having witnessed first hand the socio-political norms that disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities of color, Jason dedicated his work to increasing the flow of opportunities to young men of color. Having earned his MBA from New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business, he previously worked with leading financial firms such as UBS, Deutsche Bank, and CBRE. Jason’s interests focus on the intersection of masculinity, identity, and self-actualization. Featured on numerous media outlets and delivering keynote speeches at international conferences and at colleges and universities in the tri-state area, he aims to inspire, activate, and nurture the development of well-rounded men.
Insights From the Episode
- Secrets to building a healthy perspective about masculinity.
- How to use your friends to stay accountable to your goals.
- Jason shares his path to becoming an entrepreneur with the hope that it inspires anyone just starting out or looking to take the first step.
- Strategies for giving back to the people who support you and have your back.
- Jason explains how emotions and accepting emotions fits into healthy masculinity.
- An unexpected strategy for deciding whether to take a huge risk in your corporate career.
Quotes From the Show
- “Just more importantly though, the maturity level that it instills in you. The level of discipline that you have to have to be able to move in spaces where you don’t have the basic comforts of home. That’s what all that experience at a young age taught me.” - Jason Rosario, Create Your Life Series, #135
- “What you learn about yourself is, through those experiences, is not what you’re going to learn in any academics.” - Jason Rosario, Create Your Life Series, #135
- “Education is something no one can even take away from you.” - Jason Rosario, Create Your Life Series, #135
- “I try to keep people around me that are going to remind me that I am worthy just because I exist. My lived experience alone is what makes me enough.” - Jason Rosario, Create Your Life Series, #135
- “Something that me and my friends, we talk about often is we have success amnesia. Sometimes we forget how far we’ve come and the great strides that we have made.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #135
- “If we’re asking men to be more vulnerable and more in touch with their emotions, then that’s something that women are uniquely positioned and prepared to be able to teach us.” - Jason Rosario, Create Your Life Series, #135
- “What you resist, persists.” - Jason Rosario, Create Your Life Series, #135
- “I think what I’ve realized is the biggest challenge I’ve ever had to face was not living and not subscribing to the notions of what other people think my life should be.” - Jason Rosario, Create Your Life Series, #135
- “Authenticity, to me, is doing what you would do if nobody else was looking and being in alignment.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #135
Resources Mentioned
- In Touch: How to Tune In to the Inner Guidance of Your Body and Trust Yourself by John J. Prendergast, PhD and Rick Hanson, PhD
- Passion Planner
- Instagram
- Evernote
- Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice by Dennis Kimbro and Napoleon Hill
Favorite Book
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- To Be a Man: A Guide to True Masculine Power by Robert Augustus Masters, PhD
- The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by Bell Hooks
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favorite Quote
- “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” - Paulo Coelho
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Be true to yourself. Believe in yourself.
- Surround yourself with the right people that will support you.
- Use failure as motivation and not as an excuse to stop.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Jason Rosario
www.instagram.com/kingkhepri
www.facebook.com/jrosario79
www.linkedin.com/in/wjasonrosario
The Lives of Men
www.thelivesofmen.com/
www.instagram.com/thelivesofmen/
twitter.com/thelivesofmen
www.facebook.com/thelivesofmen/
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
52 min - CYLS 134: Making an Impact While Saving the World - How Renewable Energy Drove a CEO to Success with Benoy Thanjan
Episode Summary
Alternative energy sources have been gaining in popularity over the past several decades. However, public knowledge still lags behind when it comes to clean energy such as solar. Many people are unaware of the substantial benefits, including a reduction in financial burden, that result from switching to renewable energy. Benoy Thanjan, a juggernaut in the solar energy world, explains how he decided to make the leap to entrepreneurship, creating a company that combines his passion, his knowledge of finances, and his goal of making an impact in the world.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Benoy Thanjan
As the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, Benoy Thanjan took his passion for sustainability and renewable energy and turned it into a company that has traded $27 billion in solar renewable energy credits (SREC). He attributes his success to his time working as a SREC trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, a company that merged with Tesla in 2016. With a BS in finance and economics from the Stern School of Business and an MBA in finance from Rutgers University, Benoy has an extensive financial background. Having previously worked as the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. In addition, Benoy used his financial expertise while working for Ridgewood Renewable Power, Deloitte and Touche, Ernst & Young, and D.E. Shaw and Co. His current company Reneu Energy provides consultation for other companies looking to save money, modernize their energy use, and implement solar energy practices.
Insights From the Episode
- How to build passive income streams while succeeding at your primary job.
- Strategies for continuing to evolve as an entrepreneur.
- How to add additional value to your company.
- Strategies for strengthening relationships with clients.
- Why giving back and community are so important for entrepreneurs.
- How to take a more proactive approach to goal setting.
- Benoy’s strategies for deciding what projects demand his time and attention.
Quotes From the Show
- “Not getting overconfident. Continue to be humble. Continue to develop myself. Continue to add value to our clients.” - Benoy Thanjan, Create Your Life Series, #134
- “If I never tried starting my business, there would always be a regret in my life. Even if I failed, there would always be the regret of never trying.” - Benoy Thanjan, Create Your Life Series, #134
- “I feel like entrepreneurship’s a lot about instincts and gut feel.” - Benoy Thanjan, Create Your Life Series, #134
- “When you wait on people, you give your power away.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #134
- “They’re not willing to make the sacrifice and the discipline and put the work and take the failure. They don’t realize how much failure. They see the outside and they don’t see behind the scenes.” - Benoy Thanjan, Create Your Life Series, #134
- “A lot of times in entrepreneurship, you can’t control a lot of things that are happening. It’s a journey and it’s mentally controlling yourself. And mentally realizing what you can control and what you can make the difference. And there’s a lot of things you can’t control. And that makes a huge difference on being successful or not in life.” - Benoy Thanjan, Create Your Life Series, #134
- “We’re focused on progression, not perfection.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #134
Resources Mentioned
- Apple hardware
- Google apps
- Google Voice
- Google Calendar
- Gmail
- Headspace app
Favorite Book
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
- How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
Favorite Quote
- “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” - Reinhold Niebuhr
- “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” - Vince Lombardi
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Do what you’re passionate about, because that’s your true self
- Accept failure
- Never give up
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Benoy Thanjan
www.reneuenergy.com
www.instagram.com/benoit0212
www.linkedin.com/in/bthanjan/
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
47 min - CYLS 133: Evolving into the C-Suite Role: Keys to Managing Over 19,000 Memberships with Mia Hairston
Episode Summary
Mia Hairston has mastered excelling in the workforce. In this episode she discusses how her childhood experience of being raised in a Hispanic culture while being African American shaped her identity. Equipped with her academic and on the job training, she actively works to understand human behavior and meet the needs of the 19,000 memberships she oversees. And, as Mia explains, you need more than money, status, and a title to be happy at work and in life. She shares her personal path to success and concepts you can use now to advance your career.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Mia Hairston
Mia Hairston is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Nationwide Insurance. In this role, she oversees entreprise-wide strategies and execution for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, ensuring that her techniques are implemented across the company. Through her expertise and dedication, Mia has been recognized by Smart Business, Savoy, and Black Enterprise Magazine from among the top Chief Diversity Officers and Leaders. Infusing her knowledge of psychology and business administration, Mia has forged strong partnerships and relationships with business unit councils at both the local and national level. She believes that we can do more together than apart, and she possesses a relentless passion for seeing everyone reach their full potential and feel valued for their contributions.
Insights From the Episode
- Mia’s strategies for growing into a career.
- How to create and hold yourself to set standards in your career.
- Strategies for balancing work and life.
- The importance of taking in and receiving feedback.
- How to use Mia’s acronym N.E.A.T. to help evolve and advance in the workplace
- N. (find your North star)
- E. (Excellence)
- A. (being your Authentic self)
- T. (Teachable to help evolve and advance in the workplace)
- Mia’s goal setting methods.
- The most important components to consider when climbing the corporate ladder.
Quotes From the Show
- “I was trying to find out who I was as an African American and as an African American female. What I found through that quest was I was always me, no matter where I was.” - Mia Hairston, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “The best thing to protecting your brand is you have to know and understand your brand.” - Mia Hairston, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “A lot of people who argue with feedback. They get feedback, and they want to argue with the feedback. And they want to say why that perception is. But at the end of the day, nobody cares about why the perception is. Because the reality is you’re perceived that way.” - Mia Hairston, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “A sponsor pulls you through. A sponsor is someone who pounds on the table for you when you’re not around.” - Mia Hairston, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “A sponsor has power to move your career and open doors.” - Mia Hairston, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “And a mentor really, quite frankly, is someone whose your sounding board. A mentor is who you have your ugly cry with.” - Mia Hairston, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “If It’s Just About dollars and titles and a corner office with marble floors you’re destined to fail, because it won’t be enough to keep you” - Mia Hairston, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “Being excellent requires you showing up when nobody else is looking.” - Mia Hairston, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “There’s opportunity in low expectations.” - Kevin Y. Brown on taking an idea and pursuing it, Create Your Life Series, #133
- “You build your confidence by consistently doing what you say that you’re going to do.” - Kevin Y. Brown, , Create Your Life Series, #133
Resources Mentioned
- Box Software
- Microsoft Office
Favorite Book
- The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow Up by John C. Maxwell
Favorite Quote
- “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” - The Bible
Keys to Create Your Best Life:
- You’re worth it.
- Someone somewhere needs your talent, and needs your skills, and needs you to contribute big, not small.
- Live a life of service, live a life of constantly giving back.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Mia Hairston
twitter.com/hairstm
www.linkedin.com/in/mia-hairston
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
47 min - CYLS 132: CEO Talks - Dynamic Partnerships and the Formula for Picking Your Inner Circle with Doreen Rainey, Alechia Reese, and Todd Wahnish
Episode Summary
Whether you’re a CEO, a founder of a successful startup business, or a high-achieving employee, everyone needs to form partnerships and relationships in the business world. But how do you know if a partnership can be fruitful or if the value you contribute is recognized by your client? Kevin invites Doreen Rainey, Alechia Reese, and Todd Wahnish to this episode of CEO Talks to hash out what it takes to be an asset in a partnership while staying true to your goals.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Doreen Rainey
Doreen Rainey works as the Vice President of Operations at Act Like A Success, a Steve Harvey company. As a personal and business coach and speaker, she shares practical and implementable strategies, tools, and processes to get desired results. To stay up to date on the latest information across a multitude of fields, Doreen frequently interviews and talks with experts, thought leaders, and industry insiders. She then shares her insights with clients and the community.
Alechia Reese
A certified professional international speaker and author of award-winning book Eating Elephants, Alechia Reese has worked with big name companies including Progressive, UPS, BET, and Verizon. Specializing in brand identity, strategic marketing, public relations, and execution, she is the Director of PR and Creative Marketing for Soledad O’Brien’s PowHERful Foundation. Alechia’s commitment to empowering others was rewarded in the form of the Woman of Power Award presented by Bank of America and NABA NYC.
Todd Wahnish
Todd Wahnish is the Founder of cleverera.com.. He is an award winning artist, animator and product designer having created notable works for Marvel Entertainment, Cartoon Network, and artist Jeff Koons. He holds a BFA from the Atlanta College of Art, is married to his beautiful co-founder and loves making things people want through story centered design.
Insights From the Episode
- Secrets and techniques for building and maintaining relationships and partnerships.
- Crucial steps to take when doing work for free without diminishing the value you provide.
- Doreen shares strategies for landing game-changing partnerships.
- Strategies for establishing authentic relationships.
- How to make client testimonials really work for you.
- How to salvage a relationship if a business venture falls apart.
- Strategies for deciding who to bring into your inner circle.
Quotes From the Show
- “I always encourage people, ‘What can you do right now from where you are, to show people that you’re bringing something to the table?’” - Doreen Rainey, Create Your Life Series, #132
- “Yeah, you know you want the partnership, but people do business with people who they know, trust, and like. In order to get to the liking piece, they’ve got to get to know you and trust you.” - Alechia Reese, Create Your Life Series, #132
- “So when you start to launch a business, you have to start thinking about, ‘What is it that I can provide? What is it that I can present that is positioned as a free value or something that shows my value to another business?’ But where, from your perspective, from your footprint, it is a win-win.” - Tom Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #132
- “You want to operate with an MVP. That minimal viable product.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #132
- “I’m always telling people that you never know who’s watching and so you always have to bring your A game.” - Doreen Rainey, Create Your Life Series, #132
- “There’s always a seat at the table for excellence.” - Alechia Reese quoting her mentor, Create Your Life Series, #132
- “I think what’s also interesting about that is the idea behind bringing excellence, the idea behind bringing your A game. It’s not necessarily about showing off. Right? It’s about understanding and proving the benefits to the other person.” - Todd Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #132
- “In a world full of liabilities, you’ve got to figure out how you can be the asset.” - Alechia Reese, Create Your Life Series, #132
Resources Mentioned
- The RADICAL Success Institute
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Doreen Rainey
doreenrainey.com/
www.instagram.com/doreenrainey
www.twitter.com/DoreenRainey
www.linkedin.com/in/doreenrainey
www.facebook.com/CoachDoreenRainey
Alechia Reese
www.alechiareese.com/
www.instagram.com/alechiareese
www.twitter.com/alechiareese
www.linkedin.com/in/alechiareese
www.facebook.com/alechiareese
Todd Wahnish
www.cleverera.com
www.instagram.com/wahnish
twitter.com/wahnish
www.facebook.com/todd.wahnish
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
57 min - CYLS 131: How Childhood Poverty and Observation Shaped One of New York City’s Most Influential Advocates of Change with Stanley Fritz
Episode Summary
This week, Kevin is joined in the studio with special guest Stanley Fritz, a huge voice in New York City’s Political and social change community involvement. Stan’s experience growing up impoverished in New York drew him into awareness of issues confronting NYC residents to provide a voice to push for power among the underserved and underrepresented. He has championed bills to make public transportation cheaper and much more. In this exclusive discussion he proves that drive and determination are key components to ensuring change.
Stanley Fritz
Stanley Fritz is the New York City campaign manager at Citizen Action of New York. He is the engineer and co-host of Let Your Voice Be Heard radio, and fights for progressive issues and standing up for disenfranchised communities through organizing activism and storytelling.
**Special Guests: Art McGinley and Mark Moriarty who Kevin met at the recent Podcast Movement conference were also in attendance.
Insights From the Episode
- Three crucial tips for mobilizing people and creating change to affect politics.
- Strategies for staying humble and grounded when working in politics.
- Stanley impresses the importance of having a 10 year plan.
- The importance of staying grounded in the people to ensure success.
- Strategies for setting goals.
- Kevin’s secrets to keeping yourself focused.
- Strategies for continuing to learn and become better in all areas of your life.
- Secrets for deciding when to pivot and go in a different direction.
Quotes From the Show
- “I think that it’s super important for us to make sure that we do amazing things and look to impact people both positively and abundantly when we have the opportunity and we have the platform to do so. ” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “At that age, the way that I looked at it was, ‘Something is wrong, because no one cares enough to speak up and no one has enough power.’ So in the beginning, it was ‘I need to accumulate as much power as possible so that I can change things.” - Stanley Fritz, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “I figured out that politics was the way that you move things. Because even if you couldn’t change things, you would have enough power through your political position to move the people that could.” - Stanley Fritz, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “When the bar is so low that people don’t expect you to be a regular, living person, it’s an accomplishment when you prove them wrong.” - Stanley Fritz, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “Politics is all about organized money, organized people, organized dollars.” - Stanley Fritz, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “The personal is the political.” - Stanley Fritz, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “There seems to be this idea that poor people just commit crimes because they’re bored. No! They’re trying to survival.” - Stanley Fritz, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “This is a validation nation. We’re always waiting to be validated by somebody else.” - Stanley Fritz, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “I don’t think that you can fail. The only way to fail is to quit.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “I don’t believe that you should be the same person three months from now that you are now.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #131
- “Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” - Oscar Wilde, quoted by Ant McGinley, Create Your Life Series, #131
Resources Mentioned
- On the Left Side
- Awesound
- Facebook Live
- Medium
Favorite Book
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favorite Quote
- “If you don’t give me heaven, I’ll raise hell.” - Jay-Z
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Stop waiting.
- Stop waiting.
- Stop waiting.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Stanley Fritz
Let Your Voice Be Heard Radio
www.instagram.com/stanfritz/
www.twitter.com/stanfritz
www.linkedin.com/in/stanley-fritz
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This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
52 min - CYLS 130: 10 Ways to Proactively Move Your Corporate Career Forward and Behind the Scenes Look at the Hiring Process with Chad Bennett
Episode Summary
The current corporate environment necessitates being ahead of the game, even after you land a job. Sharing tips he has obtained from personal experience and from discussions with HR representatives, Kevin gives listeners ten tips for making sure that you are constantly taking steps to move forward in your career. Chad Bennett (Human resource professional), answers a myriad of questions from our audience, covering topics from salary negotiations to neutral non-job specific skills. If you’ve ever wondered about the hiring process, this episode will ensure you are well-prepared for your next interview.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Chad Bennett
Chad Bennett is an HR veteran, who previously worked at staffing agency Creative Circle and has worked in-house Human resource for Verizon corporate. He now currently works at IPG Mediabrands on the ad agency side. As a self-described creative when he’s not killing the HR game, Chad loves to create content and has turned his passion into the Abstract Square Podcast, a podcast focusing on different perspectives to which his audience members relate.
Insights From the Episode
- Strategies for amping up your confidence before walking into an interview.
- Secrets to a company’s behind-the-scenes salary negotiation process.
- How to utilize altruism to advance in the workplace.
- Strategies for obtaining recognition from the high-level leaders at your company.
- How to employ the use of situational questions to master an interview.
- How to make your resume stand out from the pile.
Quotes From the Show
- “You do not want to be limited by your current title. Dream bigger.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #130
- “What is the difference between a mentor and a sponsor? In short, mentors advise; sponsors act.” - attributed to Sylvia Ann Hewlett, quoted by Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #130
- “You want to be present for the higher level conversations that are taking place, because this is what’s going to set you apart and make your life different from most other people.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #130
- “I think that it’s important to be the person who seeks alternative ways of thinking, doing, and being to breakthrough current standards in your field.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #130
- “The first thing that everyone needs to do before they walk into that interview is get their confidence level to the highest possible.” - Chad Bennett, Create Your Life Series, #130
- “You want to make sure that your resume is able to tell a story when you’re not in the room.” - Chad Bennett, Create Your Life Series, #130
- “You have to be able to show that you’re capable of doing whatever it is in this job. And the only way you’re able to do that is by representing your transferable skills.” - Chad Bennett, Create Your Life Series, #130
Resources Mentioned
- Phone
Favorite Book
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X, Alex Haley, and Attallah Shabazz
Favorite Quote
- “Do you, be you.”
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Surround yourself with people who have positive energy.
- Establish a relationship with God, whoever your God is.
- Be happy. Find happiness.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Chad Bennett
www.linkedin.com/in/bennettchad
twitter.com/chadbennett_?lang=en
Abstract Square Podcast
soundcloud.com/abstractsquare
itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/abstract-square-podcast/
player.fm/series/2150346
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
45 min - CYLS 129: Don’t Let Your Circumstances Crush Your Soul - How Time in Prison Turned into a Potential Million Dollar Startup with Vincent Bragg
Episode Summary
Kevin welcomes Vincent Bragg back to the show, and luckily for our audience, he doesn’t mince words when it comes to his past. Giving an intimate and self-analytical examination of the events that led to his incarceration, Vincent shares how he transformed that time in his life into ConCr8tes. In describing the goals of the program, he pushes not only for empowering those whose power was stripped away, he also issues a call to action to others to get involved with the program and raise up their community.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Vincent Bragg
Vincent Bragg, co-founder and CEO of ConCre8tes, spent 121 months in federal prison. During that time, he studied law, wrote books, and organized think-tanks. The difficulties he experienced working in prison, including the low pay and forced labor, highlighted the need for a fair method to help incarcerated people.
Insights From the Episode
- Secrets to transcending the charisma code.
- How building a team can make or break your business.
- Strategies for people transitioning back into society after being incarcerated.
- Secrets all startup founders should know.
- How teaching a transferable skill set can have ripple effects throughout a community.
- Strategies for charting your course when faced with adversity.
- Strategies for conceptualizing transferable skills.
- How to use self-evaluation to become more informed.
Quotes From the Show
- “How do we repurpose this skill set and show this individual a new perspective, a new way of thinking and how do we build confidence and success out of that?” - Vincent Bragg, Create Your Life Series, #129
- “Leaders always separate themselves from the pack.” - Vincent Bragg, Create Your Life Series, #129
- “Being able to cultivate those things that we look at as defects, sometimes are really what the talent is. It’s just raw.” - Vincent Bragg, Create Your Life Series, #129
- “You have to feed people’s talents, and help them to see that, ‘You know what? This might not necessarily be a bad thing, because it’s someone else’s opinion.’” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #129
- “Vision and goals are two different things.” - Vincent Bragg, Create Your Life Series, #129
- “To speak about the narrative of making a mistake, getting out, and being able to make something of yourself afterwards. But also to debunk some of the myths around this lifestyle that’s glorified.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #129
- “Success is determined by the dreamer but achieved with guidance.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #129
- “The only thing that we can really duplicate is your ‘how.’” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #129
Resources Mentioned
- Outsourcing tasks
- The Jewish Phenomenon: Seven Keys to the Enduring Wealth of a People by Steven Silbiger
- Thick Face, Black Heart: The Warrior Philosophy for Conquering the Challenges of Business and Life by Chin-Ning Chu
- The Charisma Code: Communicating in A Language Beyond Words by Robin Sol Lieberman
Favorite Book
- The Process of “I”: An Exploration into the Intertwined Relationship between Identity and Environment by Emily Maroutian
Favorite Quote
- “The scars from the battle are actually what allows the light to shine through” - Marcus Glover
Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Know thyself
- Know your audience
- Read as much as you can
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Vincent Bragg
www.instagram.com/iamvincentbragg/
twitter.com/IAmVincentBragg?lang=en
www.facebook.com/gslicksta
ConCre8tes
concreates.com/
www.instagram.com/concre8tes/
twitter.com/CONCREATES_
www.facebook.com/concre8tes/
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
50 min - CYLS 128: 10 Ways to Protect Your Brand and Take Control of Your Narrative with Kevin Y. Brown
Episode Summary
You may not realize it, but you are a brand. And your brand directly affects your personal and professional life. With the universality of access to information, people can tell a lot about you quickly but without affirmation of whether the information is correct or flattering. Kevin breaks down 10 essential tips for protecting your brand and ensuring you have greater control of how you are represented. After listening to this episode, undoubtedly, you will take away something new.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Insights From the Episode
- Secrets to applying your brand across social media platforms.
- How reading more improves your life, both personally and professionally.
- The secret to turning a mentor into a sponsor.
- How to distinguish a mantra from a tagline.
- Why you should trademark your name and strategies for doing so.
- Strategies for moving up the corporate ladder with the assistance of a sponsor.
- Secrets to setting a standard as part of your brand.
Quotes From the Show
- “The difference between a mentor and a sponsor is that a mentor’s going to advise you. A sponsor is going to advocate and actually has the power to influence, to get you opportunities.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #128
- “The mantra is for you and your employees; it’s a guideline for what everyone does in their jobs, but a tagline is for your customers - it’s a guideline for how to use your product or service. For example, Nike’s mantra is, ‘Authentic athletic performance,’ but it’s tagline is, ‘Just do it.’” - Guy Kawasaki, The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything, Create Your Life Series, #128
- “Show up and show out.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #128
- “I had to literally innovate and create right there. And that’s what preparation is about. It’s being prepared for whatever can come about and making sure that you’re ready.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #128
- “If you do those things.. you set the goal, meet the goal, do the work, then you will be able to create your life, because you are essentially working towards the things that you want to.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #128
- “You can request a mentor. But you have to earn a sponsor.” - Donald Comer, Create Your Life Series, #128
- “Good work, you have to go sell yourself. Great work, other people talk about it.” - Chris Winton, Create Your Life Series, #128
- “Earning a mentor who is in reality a sponsor is the greatest success that an individual can have in terms of moving their career forward.” - Donald Comer, Create Your Life Series, #128
- "Set the goal, meet the goal, do the work." - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #128
Resources Mentioned
- The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
32 min - CYLS 127: CEO Talks - 30 Ways to Grow Your Audience and Keep Them Hooked with Cordaro Johnson and Todd Wahnish
Episode Summary
Many of our listeners have asked for Kevin’s suggestions for building a podcast audience. To tackle this issue, Kevin, Cordaro “Haize” Johnson, and Todd dive in and breakdown their tips. From comparing how the different social media platforms can be used to grow and maintain your audience, to what an ethical bribe is, and to why Robert Greene’s books should be on your radar. Even if you aren’t an entrepreneur, this episode will help you find your personal path in your career.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Cordaro Johnson
Cordaro “Haize” Johnson is the host of The Awakened Soul podcast, a podcast that provides listeners with weekly analysis of culture by delving into media, movies, and music. Prior to The Awakened Soul, Haize hosted a podcast with thousands of active listeners.
Todd Wahnish
Todd Wahnish is the Founder of cleverera.com.. He is an award winning artist, animator and product designer having created notable works for Marvel Entertainment, Cartoon Network, and artist Jeff Koons. He holds a BFA from the Atlanta College of Art, is married to his beautiful co-founder and loves making things people want through story centered design.
Insights From the Episode
- How to maximize Bitly.com links to understand your audience.
- Strategies for reaching your desired audience through thoughtful use of social media.
- Strategies for building up to an ethical bribe.
- Secrets to building value in your podcast through collaboration.
- Secrets to using Meetup to reaching a wider audience.
- Secrets to holding a purposeful giveaway that will keep your audience coming back.
Quotes from the show:
- “When someone has a general interest and love for what they’re talking about, people endure themselves to that.” - Cordaro “Haize” Johnson, Create Your Life Series, #127
- “Being on all platforms is okay. And it can have its advantages. However, you don’t need to be on twelve different platforms. I feel like you need to build up, instead of out .“ - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #127
- “And I think that it’s important for you to understand where’s your audience hanging out at. Right? So are they on Instagram? Are they on Twitter? You know, and I think that that actually comes by picking the people who you want to be like and understanding where their followers are and how people are digesting their content.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #127
- “I think that you’re guilty by association and amazing by association.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #127
- “Your content may get people to listen, but it’s you who are going to get people to stay.” - Cordaro “Haize” Johnson, Create Your Life Series, #127
- “Somewhere online people are dealing with whatever problem that you are trying to solve, and they are talking about it passionately.” - Todd Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #127
- “Amateurs make something so that they can sell it... Professionals sell it first, they sell it so that they can make it.” - Todd Wahnish, Create Your Life Series, #127
Resources Mentioned
- Bitly - Cordaro “Haize” Johnson
- Quora - Todd Wahnish
- Google - Todd Wahnish
- Reddit - Todd Wahnish
- Soundcloud - Cordaro “Haize” Johnson
- Anchor - Cordaro “Haize” Johnson
- Twitter - Cordaro “Haize” Johnson
- Facebook - Kevin Y. Brown
- Instagram - Kevin Y. Brown
- YouTube - Todd Wahnish
- Meetup - Todd Wahnish
- GitHub - Todd Wahnish
- Clickfunnels - Kevin Y. Brown
- DotCom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online by Russell Brunson - Kevin Y. Brown
- The 48 Laws of Power (unabridged version) by Robert Greene - Todd Wahnish
- The 50th Law by 50 Cent and Robert Greene - Todd Wahnish
- The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene - Cordaro “Haize” Johnson
- Mastery by Robert Green - Cordaro “Haize” Johnson
- A Spy’s Guide to Thinking by John Braddock - Todd Wahnish
- Propaganda by Edward Bernays - Todd Wahnish
- Rich Dad’s CASHFLOW Quadrant: Rich Dad’s Guide to Financial Freedom by Robert T. Kiyosaki - Kevin Y. Brown
- Secrets to the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker - Kevin Y. Brown
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - Kevin Y. Brown
- What Makes the Great Great: Strategies for Extraordinary Achievement by Dennis Kimbro - Kevin Y. Brown
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/
https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/
Kevin Y Brown
www.kevinybrown.com
www.instagram.com/kevinybrown
www.twitter.com/kevinybrown
www.facebook.com/kevbrown001
Cordaro “Haize” Johnson
theawakenedsoulpod.com
www.instagram.com/theawakenedsoulpod/
twitter.com/AwakenedSoulPod
www.facebook.com/TheAwakenedSoulPod
twitter.com/CEOHaize
Todd Wahnish
www.cleverera.com
www.instagram.com/wahnish
twitter.com/wahnish
www.facebook.com/todd.wahnish
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
50 min
About Create Your Life Series
From the publisher's feed
The Create Your Life Series is for Self-starters looking to live
life on their own terms. Join award winning entrepreneur, author and speaker
Kevin Y. Brown as he shares the Strategies Behind the Successes of today’s
Trailblazers by uncovering experiences, daily habits and defining moments of
high achievers from around the world. Learn more at cylseries.com