Prologue Profiles

I love the faces that music gives people. You know they're smilin' and their eyebrows go up a little bit and they're cheesin' and they're just like, Yeah! That's my jam! - Ezekiel Akinyemi aka DJ Zeke

Zeke (DJZeke.com) made a name for himself while DJ'ing as a student at St John's University. After college he became a DJ full-time, and has since toured with artists such as Rich Ross' Maybach Music Group and Nas.

Zeke was recently selected by Red Bull to host their Thr3estyle University Tour on college campuses across the country.

You'll hear Zeke discuss his path to becoming a professional crowd controller, the doubts that come with how to best use your gifts, and that if your plan involves achieving your dreams, you'll achieve them.

An hour from now I'll have a horrid thought about how horrible I am and how [awful] my writing is and then I'l just get back to square one. So I think it's just fighting myself, how hard will I fight myself to get things done? - The hez of Travis Tate

Travis is currently at Stage 2 on the Escalation of Actualization scale. He knows he wants to be a successful filmmaker but hasn't gotten his dreams off the ground.

The only thing in Travis' way is hez, which is hesitation as a result of being scared to take action.

Travis gives Grade A excuses like:

• I want to know my style better

• I need a mentor

• I'm not confident

• I want to change things up and move to a new city

• I don't have the right ingredients

• I hope the day comes when I'm ready

• I'm excited now but I'm going to sabotage myself later

• And the all around classic, I don't know

After our conversation Travis is now on his way to making his original web series, Black Mountain, where he's created 2 teasers, a fundraising page and most importantly, has begun to film.

If you're willing to sacrifice, nothing's impossible. - Brendan Weafer

As a kid Brendan was a blackbelt in martial arts.

Brendan's now a professional fighter who's trained with Jackson MMA, one of the top team's in the world and in 2012 was casted to compete on FX's The Ultimate Fighter show, all while developing his own personal training business

You'll hear Brendan discuss how he honed his craft as a professional fighter, including some graphic play-by-plays, the importance of being present, and that the only step to take in life is the next one.

"You Google, you freak out, you panic, you hesitate, you don't do it, you get tired of not doing it, you sleep, you YouTube...and then you do it [Laughs]. And so there comes a point in time where you get so sick of yourself that you do it!" - Ishita Gupta

After college, Ishita got accepted into med school but becoming a doctor didn't feel right.

She decided to embark on a journey of self-experimentation which lead her to working side by side with marketing expert Seth Godin.

Ishita has since launched her own online magazine called fear.less and is now a life coach building her own line of personal development products.

You'll hear Ishita discuss how she worked through her confusion and fear to create a path with potential, the joy of unexpected inspiration, and that with a strong belief in yourself there's no stopping you.

"The only time I'm unhappy is when I don't have something interesting or valuable to work on." - Colin Wright

After college, Colin was running a successful branding studio, but he wanted out of the 120 hour work week he'd created for himself.

In 2009 Colin decided to travel the world full-time by having the readers of his blog, Exile Lifestyle, vote for which country he should live in every 4 months.

Along the way Colin decided to make the leap from blogger to author and now supports himself with his book sales.

On this Skype interview you'll hear Colin discuss how he matched his lifestyle up with ambitions, the victories of leaving your comfort zone, and that life is one big experiment.

"Perseverance and will make all the other problems go away." - Cameron Robertson

While in college, Cameron was going down the finance route but he realized he wanted to start his own business. He met his business partner Paul Gerhardt and after two failed attempts of creating a marketable product they created Lockitron, which fits over your deadbolt to turn your smartphone into your house keys.

The first production of Lockitron is slated to ship in late May 2013.

On this Skype interview, you'll hear Cameron discuss his obstacle-ridden path to co-creating a product that people actually want, the powerful possibilities of self-crowdfunding, and that how far you go in life, is up to you.

"Do you want to tell your kid 'Do what you love because I gave up my dream so that you could have yours?' or 'Follow your dream in the same way that I followed mine.'?" - Jullien Gordon

Note: This is the last episode of 2012. I'm grateful for your attention and interest in what my guests and I have created together and I'm excited about what's to come in 2013! Now onto the episode!...

While in college two traumatic life experiences led Jullien to decide his purpose was to help others find theirs. He is now The Innerviewer, helping companies and professionals reach their highest potential.

I first heard of Jullien after watching one of his TEDx talks and thought he'd be great for the show, a few weeks later I was at an event organized by Jason Womack and sitting across the room from me was Jullien himself.

You'll hear Jullien discuss his path to becoming The Innerviewer, the silent danger of underemployment, and how following your dreams starts with you.

"I love that I'm creating my dream and it feels good to be working this hard for something that I want, that I'm creating." - Fabiola Arias

In the ninth grade Fabiola decided she would become a fashion designer.

She launched her line while still a student at Parsons and at 25 years old she now sells her eveningwear collection of cocktail dresses and gowns at Neiman Marcus Couture Salons across the country.

Fabiola played a key role in Episode 025 as she helped inspire me to create Prologue Profiles. We're also a couple. (Shucks)

You'll hear Fab discuss how she got her collection off the ground and onto the racks of Neiman Marcus, how fragile our dreams can be, and how the path to success is a whole lot of hard work. 

"Make it. That's it. It's not gonna happen the first time you do it and you cannot become discouraged that it didn't work because all it is is just, 'Do it again.'" - Jeff Laub

After college Jeff wanted out from his law job. Jeff took action and in 2009 co-founded the Blind Barber, a bar/barbershop in the East Village of New York City.

Earlier this year the Blind Barber opened its second location in Culver City LA.

You'll hear Jeff discuss how he took the Blind Barber from an idea on his mom's couch to opening its doors on 10th st and avenue B, the contagiousness of confidence, and how hearing 'No' just means your work isn't done.

"Being realistic is a silly thing. You should swing for the fences and go for the bigger or better thing." - Shane Snow

Shane Snow has a really cool name. He also has a really cool story.

After college, Shane moved to New York to become a tech journalist. Without any credible experience to build on, Shane's goal was to be published in Wired within a year. By using his technique of non-traditional ladder climbing he made it happen in 8 months, and now is regularly published in Wired magazine.

Shane's also the co-founder of Contently a tech startup which has figured out how to create a marketplace to match the growing number of freelance journalists looking for work with the growing number of companies looking to hire them.

You'll hear Shane discuss his effective use of non-traditional ladder climbing, the precious role of integrity and how going for what's bigger or better is always one step away.