Magic Minds

Comedian Shapel Lacey sits down with James Beshara to talk about his decision to move to LA, dealing with the loss of young ones at a young age, making the choice to quit drinking, and how daily journaling has been pivotal in his pursuit of clarity.

He also talks about the strategy of looking at his passion of stand up comedy as something he clocks and clocks out for, and the importance of living a full life to be a great stand up comic.

Find more Shapel Lacey

Check out his podcasts Shapel's World and KATS After Dark every week at https://www.youtube.com/c/ThicccBoy

https://bit.ly/Go_BelowtheLine

Hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640 // James questions directly at [email protected] // or follow us on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/gobelowtheline

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About your host, James: James Beshara is a founder, investor, advisor, author, podcaster, and encourager based in Los Angeles, California. James has created startups for the last 15 years, selling his last one to Airbnb, and invested in several multi-billion dollar startups to date. He has spoken at places such as Y-Combinator, Harvard Business School, Stanford University, TechCrunch Disrupt, and has been featured in outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and Time Magazine. He’s been featured in Forbes, Time, and Inc Magazine’s “30 Under 30” lists and advises startups all around the world. All of this is his “above the line” version of his background. Hear the other 90% of the story in the intro episode of Below The Line.

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

https://bit.ly/Go_BelowtheLine 

In today’s episode, James is joined by his good friend Ajay Mehta to take callers from listeners. 

00:21 Intro

Hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640, email James questions directly at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/gobelowtheline 

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About your host, James: 

James Beshara is a founder, investor, advisor, author, podcaster, and encourager based in Los Angeles, California. James has created startups for the last 12 years, selling one (Tilt, acquired by Airbnb), and invested in a few multi-billion dollar startups to date. He has spoken at places such as Y-Combinator, Harvard Business School, Stanford University, TechCrunch Disrupt, and has been featured in outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and Time Magazine. He’s been featured in Forbes, Time, and Inc Magazine’s “30 Under 30” lists and advises startups all around the world. All of this is his “above the line” version of his background. Hear the other 90% of the story in the intro episode of Below The Line.

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

For profitable, large businesses, a downturn can be great for recruiting and retaining talent as there is a flight to safety and security. For small businesses that have focused maniacally on profitability from day one, a downturn in the market is also managed relatively well. 

This is in contrast to technology startups that often have to spend years building the product before they can monetize or spend the first few chapters of the company's life focusing on growth over revenue maximization. This means that in an economic downturn, these startups/teams/founders are the most vulnerable to shifting markets, especially those that are dependent on outside capital. 

This episode is the resource for how to manage one's own psychology, as well as the psychology of the team around them when building and leading a business like this.

In the episode, I outline tactics like getting comfortable with the worst case scenario (in order to maximize the chances of the best case scenario), as well as outlining the five guidelines for managing and optimizing your psychology in the midst of circumstances that often present a “fog of war” type of scenario for most leaders. In short, I put this together for you to avoid that scenario.  

The guidelines have more details within the episode, but they are here below as well for you to reference:

1. Assess and set *proper expectations* for yourself and the team.  

2. Find and orient towards a *higher ideal*.  

3. Manage your *mental wealth*.  

4. Question everything, *especially your own assumptions* going into this new environment.  

5. Find your *community of truth*.  

Please let me know what I may have missed in the comments and share this with any creator that may be going through the extremely intense situation of feeling like the walls are closing in on them. 

And if you are a creator in this scenario, please reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram if there's a way I can help.   

https://bit.ly/Go_BelowtheLine

You can also always hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640 // James questions directly at [email protected] // or follow us on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/gobelowtheline

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About your host, James: James Beshara is a founder, investor, advisor, author, podcaster, and encourager based in Los Angeles, California. James has created startups for the last 15 years, selling his last one to Airbnb, and invested in several multi-billion dollar startups to date. He has spoken at places such as Y-Combinator, Harvard Business School, Stanford University, TechCrunch Disrupt, and has been featured in outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and Time Magazine. He’s been featured in Forbes, Time, and Inc Magazine’s “30 Under 30” lists and advises startups all around the world. All of this is his “above the line” version of his background. Hear the other 90% of the story in the intro episode of Below The Line.

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

https://bit.ly/Go_BelowtheLine 

Today's episode is with Duncan Trussell. A brilliant man in many facets of life. We touch on cold dips and how they equate to philosophy.  Duncan opens up about his early use of psychedelics and how they help him realize his own consciousness. We then go even deeper into how psychedelics have affected the whole world. Duncan also explains how certain epiphanies have changed his mindset through his life including the love of his children. To conclude the episode, Duncan talks about how life is all about YOU and no one is going to save you. Start small and make the change within you.    

Hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640, email James questions directly at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/gobelowtheline 

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About your host, James:

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

Langhorne Slim is one of the most talented singer/songwriters of the last 20 years. James talks with him about his struggle with addiction, what it was like for a musician not touring over the pandemic, and how he coped with that.

Hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640, email James questions directly at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/gobelowtheline 

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Magic Mind

https://magicmind.co

About your host, James: 

James Beshara is a founder, investor, advisor, author, podcaster, and encourager based in Los Angeles, California. James has created startups for the last 12 years, selling one (Tilt, acquired by Airbnb), and invested in a few multi-billion dollar startups to date. He has spoken at places such as Y-Combinator, Harvard Business School, Stanford University, TechCrunch Disrupt, and has been featured in outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and Time Magazine. He’s been featured in Forbes, Time, and Inc Magazine’s “30 Under 30” lists and advises startups all around the world. All of this is his “above the line” version of his background. Hear the other 90% of the story in the intro episode of Below The Line.

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

https://bit.ly/Go_BelowtheLine

Hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640, email James questions directly at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/gobelowtheline

Support Our Sponsors Magic Mind https://magicmind.co

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About your host, James:

James Beshara is a founder, investor, advisor, author, podcaster, and encourager based in Los Angeles, California. James has created startups for the last 12 years, selling one (Tilt, acquired by Airbnb), and invested in a few multi-billion dollar startups to date. He has spoken at places such as Y-Combinator, Harvard Business School, Stanford University, TechCrunch Disrupt, and has been featured in outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and Time Magazine. He’s been featured in Forbes, Time, and Inc Magazine’s “30 Under 30” lists and advises startups all around the world. All of this is his “above the line” version of his background. Hear the other 90% of the story in the intro episode of Below The Line.

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

https://bit.ly/Go_BelowtheLine 

Today's guest is Julien Smith. Julien is the co-founder and CEO of Practice, a business management platform for coaches. He is also New York Times bestselling author of three books. James and Julien dive deep into how daily rituals can help you tremendously. Something as simple as keeping a journal can help free mindspace to knock out impenetrable tasks. Julien also talks about how he became a New York Times best seller and how Seth Godin helped him achieve this. James askes Julien why it is important to find your voice and what that means to creators or founders. To conclude the episode, Julien talks about emotional lows and how he became an observer of himself to overcome them. 

Find out more about Julien Smith:

00:36 Intro

Hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640, email James questions directly at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/gobelowtheline 

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Chargebee

About your host, James: 

James Beshara is a founder, investor, advisor, author, podcaster, and encourager based in Los Angeles, California. James has created startups for the last 12 years, selling one (Tilt, acquired by Airbnb), and invested in a few multi-billion dollar startups to date. He has spoken at places such as Y-Combinator, Harvard Business School, Stanford University, TechCrunch Disrupt, and has been featured in outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and Time Magazine. He’s been featured in Forbes, Time, and Inc Magazine’s “30 Under 30” lists and advises startups all around the world. All of this is his “above the line” version of his background. Hear the other 90% of the story in the intro episode of Below The Line.

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

]Today’s episode is with stand up comedian, actor, and podcaster Pete Holmes. James and Pete dive into the repulsion you feel in your early life that forces you away from things that aren’t intended for you. From leaving Massachusetts at an early age to finding his voice in comedy, Pete explains the feelings he had while falling upward. He also explains the craft behind Stand Up and what tactics he uses while on stage. To conclude the episode, James and Pete talk about why you don’t need to ask for permission. You have to find the freedom within yourself. 

More Pete

Book Recommendations from the Episode:

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Hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640, email James questions directly at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/gobelowtheline 

Support Our Sponsors

About your host, James:

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

On today's episode James and actor, comedian and podcaster Bryan Callen dive deep into Bryan's early years of creating and why he started studying philosophy. He explains his fascination around fighting and why it has helped mold his brain into certain ways of thinking. Bryan also explains how he overcomes adversity and what it is like being 55 trying to come up with new ideas. To conclude the episode, Bryan and James talk about why your greatest strength is also your greatest liability and how to find courage within yourself. 

Find Bryan Callen:

Hit the show hotline and leave a question or comment for the show at 424-272-6640, email James questions directly at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/gobelowtheline 

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About your host, James:

“Below the Line with James Beshara" is brought to you by Another Podcast Network.

Today’s episode is with Biz Stone, the Co-founder of Twitter. A man who early in his career knew nothing about tech but found a way to design websites which in turn started his own blogging career. He was then hired by Evan Williams, at Google working on Blogger, forming a bond which would go on to create a team at Odeo. They also hired Jack Dorsey. Biz explains why this was the starting ground for Twitter and how they came up with the idea. James asks Biz about the start of the company and how it went viral in 2007. Biz explains why he always put people before business and realized, over the years at a billion dollar company, you need humanity. To conclude the episode, Biz talks about how his unselfish nature has led him to greater opportunities instead of always trying to control the situation.