Lessons from a Quitter

The path that many of us have been brought up to follow usually goes a little something like this: take the right classes, get the good grades, get into the prestigious school, graduate, and then find a high paying job. We're taught that it is a linear path that you stick to and climb to the top. Well, in today's episode, Phil Black teaches us why you should buck that wisdom. Phil has one of the most interesting careers we've ever highlighted on this show. His story is a testament to following your curiosities and always re-evaluating what is most important. Among his many accomplishments, Phil played D1 collegiate basketball at Yale, worked as an investor at Goldman Sachs, was a Navy Seal Officer, went to Harvard Business School, is a firefighter, entrepreneur, father, and more. While it wasn’t clear to him during his journey, he was gaining an incredibly useful skill: the ability to find his way into really competitive positions. This is, as Phil calls it, his “superpower” which later led him to create his current business venture, PrepWell Academy. The academy is an innovative approach to preparing high school students (and their parents) for the rigors of the college admissions process. His unique program is delivered online and focuses on the early preparation of students (freshman and sophomore year) interested in attending highly-selective colleges (e.g. Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.), military service academies (e.g. Naval Academy, West Point, etc.), and those seeking athletic or ROTC scholarships. Visit our website to enroll your child in one of our custom programs (Pathway, Ivy, Military, Athlete). Phil’s story is mindblowing and is a real testament to the fact that we’re allowed to start over not just once, but as many times as we want!

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• The process of how Phil reinvented himself multiple times.
• The importance of evaluating (and re-evaluating) your life.
• How Phil discovered his “superpower” and how it helped him build his current business.
• How it’s okay to never settle on the idea of pursuing one thing forever.
• And so much more!

Where to find Phil:  

• Website:http://www.prepwellacademy.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PrepWellAcademy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepwell_academy/
• Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipablack

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Start Up Of You by Reid Hoffman
• What Are You Waiting For? by Nickelback

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

One of the biggest excuses around starting a new venture is lack of time. We are obsessed with being busy (and telling everyone else how busy we are!). Well, on today's episode, Steve Chou debunks that excuse. Steve ran multiple 6- and 7-figure businesses while maintaining his career as an electrical engineer! The secret? Plan for the long game and prioritize your time. Steve's entrepreneurial journey began back in 2007 when his wife got pregnant and wanted to quit her job. He actually enjoyed his job as an electrical engineer but they weren't going to be able to live off of one salary in the Bay Area. So they had to come up with a business that could replace her income. Their potential plans ranged from opening a Kumon franchise to a creating meal prep company, and more. Eventually, they chose to start an online E-commerce business selling handkerchiefs, called Bumblebee Linens. Keep in mind that this was before everyone was selling on Amazon and there were a million tools like shopify. Through diving in head first with a limited set of skills, Steve began to put the pieces together through trial and error (even learning how to embroider). They ended up making over $100,000 in that first year. Because of their success, Steve began blogging about their experience at mywifequitherjob.com. Over the years, he added additional avenues to share what he's learned and teach others how to do the same. He eventually started a podcast, an online course, and a conference. He has since grown each of these platforms to 6- or 7-figure businesses. But the most amazing part of this journey is that Steve didn't leave his full-time job until 2016 - almost 10 years after the official launch of their E-commerce store! I got to talk to him about how he was able to accomplish so much while he was still working, why he kept his job when he was making so much money from his side income, and more! Steve's story is a great reminder that you can plan that first step forward as much as you want, but you'll never truly know what will happen until you take that leap- and it doesn't have to be a giant one either!

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why they chose to go the E-commerce route
• How to make better use of your time
• What it took to create their online businesses
• How it cay pay off to play for the long game
• Why you don't need to have everything figured out right away to take that first step
• And so much more!

Where to find Steve:

• Shop: https://bumblebeelinens.com
• Blog: https://MyWifeQuitHerJob.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mywifequit
• Online Course: https://profitableonlinestore.com/
• Conference: http://sellerssummit.com/

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

One of the biggest excuses around starting a new venture is lack of time. We are obsessed with being busy (and telling everyone else how busy we are!). Well, on today's episode, Steve Chou debunks that excuse. Steve ran multiple 6- and 7-figure businesses while maintaining his career as an electrical engineer! The secret? Plan for the long game and prioritize your time. Steve's entrepreneurial journey began back in 2007 when his wife got pregnant and wanted to quit her job. He actually enjoyed his job as an electrical engineer but they weren't going to be able to live off of one salary in the Bay Area. So they had to come up with a business that could replace her income. Their potential plans ranged from opening a Kumon franchise to a creating meal prep company, and more. Eventually, they chose to start an online E-commerce business selling handkerchiefs, called Bumblebee Linens. Keep in mind that this was before everyone was selling on Amazon and there were a million tools like shopify. Through diving in head first with a limited set of skills, Steve began to put the pieces together through trial and error (even learning how to embroider). They ended up making over $100,000 in that first year. Because of their success, Steve began blogging about their experience at mywifequitherjob.com. Over the years, he added additional avenues to share what he's learned and teach others how to do the same. He eventually started a podcast, an online course, and a conference. He has since grown each of these platforms to 6- or 7-figure businesses. But the most amazing part of this journey is that Steve didn't leave his full-time job until 2016 - almost 10 years after the official launch of their E-commerce store! I got to talk to him about how he was able to accomplish so much while he was still working, why he kept his job when he was making so much money from his side income, and more! Steve's story is a great reminder that you can plan that first step forward as much as you want, but you'll never truly know what will happen until you take that leap- and it doesn't have to be a giant one either!

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why they chose to go the E-commerce route
• How to make better use of your time
• What it took to create their online businesses
• How it cay pay off to play for the long game
• Why you don't need to have everything figured out right away to take that first step
• And so much more!

Where to find Steve:  

• Shop: https://bumblebeelinens.com
• Blog: https://MyWifeQuitHerJob.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mywifequit
• Online Course: https://profitableonlinestore.com/
• Conference: http://sellerssummit.com/

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Today I have the honor of talking to Dave Hollis, CEO of The Hollis Company. If you're living under a rock and haven't heard yet of Dave or, his wife, Rachel Hollis, just know that they are on a tour of world domination to help every person become a better version of themselves.

Rachel has been building a career, first, in the lifestyle blog space and, more recently, in the personal development arena for the past 15 years. She has 2 New York Times Best-Selling books (Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing), is one of the most sought after motivational speakers, has 2 top-rated podcasts, and has been called the female Tony Robbins.

Dave stepped in as CEO of The Hollis Company just 10 months ago to lead the expansion plans in the next, exciting phase — focusing on media (books/podcasts/live coaching/radio/tv), live events and merchandise.

But before taking on this role, Dave had an incredibly successful 17-year career at the Walt Disney Company which culminated in his role as President of Theatrical Distribution. Dave was in charge of global theatrical sales for Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucas film. During his tenure, Disney had industry breaking records such as the first $7 billion in global ticket sales in one year and the only studio to cross $6 billion two years in a row.

His job was, by all accounts, "the dream" -- high paying, high glamour, highly respected. And yet, I talked to Dave about why it became unfulfilling and how he came to the decision to walk away. This episode is full of inspiration and incredible wisdom about how we all should be approaching our lives.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why the very thing that made Dave's role at Disney a dream job was the thing that ultimately led him to quit
• What 3 circumstances in his life at the time led Dave to decide to make the leap
• How a conversation about personal development with Rachel changed the trajectory of his life
• Why you should be honoring the struggle
• What Dave would have done if he didn't have the opportunity to run the Hollis Company
• What it's like to work with your wife
• And so much more!

Where to find Dave:

• Website: www.theholliscompany.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrdavehollis
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrdavehollis
• Podcast: Rise Together

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• Mindset, by Carol Dweck

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Today I have the honor of talking to Dave Hollis, CEO of The Hollis Company. If you’re living under a rock and haven’t heard yet of Dave or, his wife, Rachel Hollis, just know that they are on a tour of world domination to help every person become a better version of themselves.

 

Rachel has been building a career, first, in the lifestyle blog space and, more recently, in the personal development arena for the past 15 years. She has 2 New York Times Best-Selling books (Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing), is one of the most sought after motivational speakers, has 2 top-rated podcasts, and has been called the female Tony Robbins.

 

Dave stepped in as CEO of The Hollis Company just 10 months ago to lead the expansion plans in the next, exciting phase — focusing on media (books/podcasts/live coaching/radio/tv), live events and merchandise.

 

But before taking on this role, Dave had an incredibly successful 17-year career at the Walt Disney Company which culminated in his role as President of Theatrical Distribution. Dave was in charge of global theatrical sales for Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucas film. During his tenure, Disney had industry breaking records such as the first $7 billion in global ticket sales in one year and the only studio to cross $6 billion two years in a row.

 

His job was, by all accounts, “the dream” -- high paying, high glamour, highly respected. And yet, I talked to Dave about why it became unfulfilling and how he came to the decision to walk away. This episode is full of inspiration and incredible wisdom about how we all should be approaching our lives.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why the very thing that made Dave’s role at Disney a dream job was the thing that ultimately led him to quit
• What 3 circumstances in his life at the time led Dave to decide to make the leap
• How a conversation about personal development with Rachel changed the trajectory of his life
• Why you should be honoring the struggle
• What Dave would have done if he didn’t have the opportunity to run the Hollis Company
• What it’s like to work with your wife
• And so much more!

 

Where to find Dave:  

• Website: www.theholliscompany.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrdavehollis
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrdavehollis
• Podcast: Rise Together

 

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• Mindset, by Carol Dweck

 

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

 

We're usually sold on the idea that once we achieve x, y, or z then we'll finally be happy, but that isn't always the case. When Annie saw her mom's experience as a lawyer, it was cemented in her mind that she must follow the same path. It wasn't until she landed her dream job at her dream company that something didn't feel right. Despite everything looking picture perfect on the outside, she could feel it in her gut that this wasn't where she was supposed to be. Something was still missing. Luckily, Annie met her future partner, Annabelle, at the same law firm in Miami. They both shared a love of candles and wanted to find a way to make them more personalized for gifts. The two became instant friends (can you say, soul sisters?). The A-team connected first through design: they both decorated their offices to perfection--from gold staplers (yes, all gold everything) to luxurious candles. But they soon bonded on a deeper Level: their gift for all things thoughtful. It wasn't long before TAJA was born. TAJA Collection launched in June 2017, to create what was missing from the market: customizable home accessories. Their business focuses on both e-commerce and wholesale.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why she felt drawn to the path of becoming a lawyer
• How everything suddenly changed when she got her dream job
• How a common interest in candles sparked the idea for their company
• How they utilized their local female network to help get the word out about their business
• And so much more!

Where to find Annie:

• Website: https://tajacollection.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tajatribe
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajacollection/?hl=en

Resources mentioned:

• Coupon code for TAJA Collection: GOLI15

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

We're usually sold on the idea that once we achieve x, y, or z then we'll finally be happy, but that isn't always the case. When Annie saw her mom's experience as a lawyer, it was cemented in her mind that she must follow the same path. It wasn't until she landed her dream job at her dream company that something didn't feel right. Despite everything looking picture perfect on the outside, she could feel it in her gut that this wasn't where she was supposed to be. Something was still missing. Luckily, Annie met her future partner, Annabelle, at the same law firm in Miami. They both shared a love of candles and wanted to find a way to make them more personalized for gifts. The two became instant friends (can you say, soul sisters?). The A-team connected first through design: they both decorated their offices to perfection--from gold staplers (yes, all gold everything) to luxurious candles. But they soon bonded on a deeper Level: their gift for all things thoughtful. It wasn’t long before TAJA was born. TAJA Collection launched in June 2017, to create what was missing from the market: customizable home accessories. Their business focuses on both e-commerce and wholesale.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why she felt drawn to the path of becoming a lawyer
• How everything suddenly changed when she got her dream job
• How a common interest in candles sparked the idea for their company
• How they utilized their local female network to help get the word out about their business
• And so much more!

Where to find Annie:  

• Website: https://tajacollection.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tajatribe
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajacollection/?hl=en

Resources mentioned:

• Coupon code for TAJA Collection: GOLI15

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

I love Dawn's story! Did you know that you could even be a professional crafter?! I didn't. And, actually, neither did Dawn. She started out her career in the corporate world and ended up leaving when she had her second child. She had every intention of going back to work when her children were in school.

But because her daughters had special needs, Dawn needed to stay at home much longer. When her daughters were grown, Dawn was looking for something to occupy her time and decided to teach crafting at her local community center. Given her love of crafting, this hobby was a great way to earn a bit of extra money while doing something she loved.

However, through networking, volunteering, and a lot of hard work, Dawn turned that hobby into a full-time career. Dawn is now a professional crafter, vlogger and podcaster based on the New South Wales Central Coast of Australia. She has worked in the Australian craft industry for well over a decade, creating projects for craft magazines and brands across a variety of craft mediums. She has hosted an Australian papercrafting television show, spoken at The Artful Business Conference about how video is a valuable tool for enhancing the customer experience. She has an online store selling craft supplies, teaches in collaboration with other businesses locally, and just launched The Craft Room Podcast. Find out exactly how she made that jump on the episode today!

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why she left the corporate world to stay at home with her children
• Why her plan to go back to the corporate world didn't really work out
• How she got involved in the craft community
• How she went from just a hobbyist to a professional crafter
• How networking really helped her career take off
• And so much more!

Where to find Dawn:

• Website: http://www.dawnlewis.com.au
• Email - [email protected]
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DawnLewisImagery
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/DawnLewisPaints
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dawnlewisimagery

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

I love Dawn’s story! Did you know that you could even be a professional crafter?! I didn’t. And, actually, neither did Dawn. She started out her career in the corporate world and ended up leaving when she had her second child. She had every intention of going back to work when her children were in school.

 

But because her daughters had special needs, Dawn needed to stay at home much longer. When her daughters were grown, Dawn was looking for something to occupy her time and decided to teach crafting at her local community center. Given her love of crafting, this hobby was a great way to earn a bit of extra money while doing something she loved.

 

However, through networking, volunteering, and a lot of hard work, Dawn turned that hobby into a full-time career. Dawn is now a professional crafter, vlogger and podcaster based on the New South Wales Central Coast of Australia. She has worked in the Australian craft industry for well over a decade, creating projects for craft magazines and brands across a variety of craft mediums. She has hosted an Australian papercrafting television show, spoken at The Artful Business Conference about how video is a valuable tool for enhancing the customer experience.  She has an online store selling craft supplies, teaches in collaboration with other businesses locally, and just launched The Craft Room Podcast. Find out exactly how she made that jump on the episode today!

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• Why she left the corporate world to stay at home with her children
• Why her plan to go back to the corporate world didn’t really work out
• How she got involved in the craft community
• How she went from just a hobbyist to a professional crafter
• How networking really helped her career take off
• And so much more!

 

Where to find Dawn:  

• Website: http://www.dawnlewis.com.au
• Email - [email protected]
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DawnLewisImagery
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/DawnLewisPaints
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dawnlewisimagery

 

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Typically, on this show, we feature stories of people who have quit their careers and started over in a completely different field. I'm so excited to talk to Nicole on this episode to show that you don't have to do that. If you like the field that you're in but want something more, be it flexibility, more money, more ownership etc, it is time to think outside of the box.

Nicole started out her healthcare PR career in 2002 at a large medical device company, Guidant Corporation, where she learned the trade for 5 years. When the company was acquired by Abbott in 2006, Nicole was no longer allowed to keep her part-time status. Because she wanted the flexibility of staying at home with her kids and having a career, Nicole quit her job and started her career as a medtech PR consultant, working primarily with startups to launch their companies and products. She hired her first fulltime employee in 2016. Today her agency has approximately 20 employees and offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Orange County.

Nicole is also a founding member of MedtechWomen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to highlighting women leaders in the medical technology industry. She was named a 2015 PR Executive of the Year by the Business Intelligence Group and is a finalist for PR News' 2019 Top Women in Healthcare Awards.

We talk all about how taking that jump, and knowing how to value yourself, led Nicole to create an incredible business that also gave her the flexibility she wanted.

Here is what we chat about in this episode:

• How to recognize the value you bring in your career and how to charge accordingly
• How she realized it was time to make the jump
• Why setting up a business isn't as difficult as people make it seem.
• How freelancers can provide a lot of value that companies can't provide
• Why you shouldn't work for free
• Why the riches are in the niches
• How she grew her company from being a single consultant to 20 employees
• Why she believes in investing in yourself even if you're not making money yet
• And much more!

Where to find Nicole:

• Website: https://healthandcommerce.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicoleosmer

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleosmer/

Follow along for more:

• www.lessonsfromaquitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter
• https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/
• https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast