Unconventional Genius

On this episode of Unconventional Genius, guest Mike Sinyard, Founder and CEO of Specialized Bicycle Components talks about the life-changing power of cycling. Mike founded Specialized in 1974 as a bicycle company made for riders, by riders. By overcoming his own personal challenges, Mike learned the true power of cycling and its ability to help others overcome obstacles in their lives.

Becoming the CEO of a successful worldwide company didn't happen overnight for Mike Sinyard. He took an unconventional path, dropping out of high school. But cycling helped Mike find meaning and purpose in his life. During our conversation, Mike talks about how his journey to success has given him a passion to help others find empowerment and success through cycling.

Riding passion and necessity to success

After discovering his passion for cycling, Mike realized that there was a gap in the United States cycling market. He started Specialized to fill that gap and serve others who shared his passion. I own two Specialized bikes myself, so I am familiar with the quality of the Specialized brand. Focused on meeting the specific needs of each rider, the company began by offering road bikes and touring bikes.

In 1980, Specialized started manufacturing mountain bikes, allowing a larger segment of the population to enjoy cycling. Mike says, "Sometimes those of us that love cycling too much can go so far that we make it too elitist when the end it's just fun." Mountain bikes opened up greater opportunities to expand the reach of the company.

Finding focus and clarity through cycling

Mike struggled through school. He found it difficult to pay attention and usually had to take summer classes. At age 16, Mike decided that school wasn't for him so he dropped out. He eventually did go back to school and graduated college, thanks to an unexpected benefit from cycling.

Mike started cycling while in college. By doing so, he discovered a way to regain focus and clarity. He cites the fresh air, balance and the zen-like motion of pedaling as an exercise not only for the body but also for the mind. Listen as Mike discusses how cycling helped him deal with ADHD.

Studying the life-changing power of cycling

After seeing his son struggle with the same type of ADHD related issues, Mike suggested that he start cycling. While initially resistant, his son eventually did take up cycling and experienced the same benefits that Mike had. This was a pivotal moment for Mike, becoming the first step toward exploring the benefits of cycling.

Mike connected with a doctor from Harvard who wrote a research paper on the impact cycling can have on people with ADD or ADHD. He decided to sponsor a full study on the life-changing power of cycling. The findings of this study eventually led to the founding of The Specialized Foundation, which promotes cycling as a tool for kids to start riding for focus by investing in primary scientific research and school-based cycling programs.

Is cycling better at treating ADHD than a prescription drug?

What is it about cycling that calms the mind, increases focus, and helps treat ADD and ADHD? Through the Specialized Foundation's study and partnerships with other research centers, the answers are starting to become clear. Mike says that there are benefits not only for school children, but also for senior adults who suffer from Alzheimer's and dementia.

The Specialized Foundation is focused mainly on school-aged children, seeking an alternative treatment to prescription drugs. The foundation also looks to partner with other cycling companies to accomplish the goal of giving children an opportunity to experience the life-changing power of cycling. Hear all about this and more during my conversation with Mike Sinyard.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [0:40] Introduction of Mike Sinyard, CEO of Specialized Bicycle Components
• [1:25] Specialized is a brand by bicycle riders for cyclists with an incredible reach
• [5:16] How Mike Sinyard found clarity and focus that helped him overcome ADHD
• [8:18] The Specialized Foundation helps kids with ADD and ADHD
• [10:24] The balance and repetition of cycling can change lives
• [13:42] Mike Sinyard's journey to starting and leading the Specialized company
• [17:19] The importance of surrounding yourself with great people
• [22:05] How Mike Sinyard has used his disability to his advantage
• [24:00] Cycling:The new drug for ADD

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Specialized Foundation
• Specialized Bicycles

Connect with Guest Name

• Mike Sinyard

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

On this episode of Unconventional Genius, I speak with Rikard Steiber, Senior Vice President of Virtual Reality at HTC about how virtual reality can change the world. HTC has been on the forefront of the virtual reality revolution, developing cutting-edge equipment and creative content. During our conversation, Rikard tells me about his passion for this ground-breaking technology and how he is directing HTC to be a leader in the virtual reality space.

When people think about virtual reality, they often think of it as a gaming platform. Under Rikard Steiber's leadership, HTC is looking to innovate beyond games. There are exciting opportunities to use this unique platform in contexts like education and industry.

The virtual reality revolution

Rikard explains to me how virtual reality can revolutionize even the most common experiences. Rather than simply watching a movie, users have an opportunity to be a character in the movie. With these totally immersive experiences, you can play a role that actually affects the outcome. This type of experience is shaking up the entire entertainment industry.

Virtual reality isn't just useful in entertainment. Rikard Steiber explains the implications for business and retail markets. Virtual reality could give people the chance to experience goods and services in a lifelike setting before purchasing. There are also benefits for social networking, allowing friends to interact not just via a screen, but inside a virtual world.

How to market virtual reality to consumers

Like many traditional technology products, virtual reality is best sold when experienced. Marketing virtual reality requires giving people opportunities to actually put on a headset so that they can see the capabilities of the technology. Getting it in front of people is the key to customer education and acquisition.

Rikard Steiber says that now is the time to invest in virtual reality because of what he calls full-presence. He discusses how the brain reacts when a person is in a virtual world, allowing users to enjoy an alternate reality. Full-presence surpasses any other type of gaming or entertainment experience.

Staying in front of the technological curve

Being the leader in the virtual reality space is not without its challenges. There are concerns about the effects of too much time spent in a virtual world. Rikard says that HTC is doing research to ensure that they understand the best practices when using VR.

Software and game developers now have the opportunity to push boundaries and expand immersive experiences. There are endless possibilities for what you can do with virtual reality. There is also a responsibility to ensure that the technology is being used to benefit society and not harm it. Rikard explains his commitment to this responsibility during our conversation.

Changing the world one virtual experience at a time

Rikard anticipates that virtual reality will continue to become more affordable such that it becomes a mass market product. He believes that total immersion gives people the opportunity to experience things that used to only be available to the wealthy.

Rikard says he would like to see virtual reality used to enlighten people so that they can understand and experience issues around the world. Witnessing other people's needs through this unique platform could potentially motivate people to action. Listen to Unconventional Genius to hear how virtual reality is positioned to make a difference in the world.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [0:36] Introduction of Rikard Steiber, Senior Vice President of HTC Virtual Reality
• [1:00] Overview of what HTC Vive is and what HTC is doing with virtual reality
• [5:00] How Rikard Steiber believes virtual reality will change the worlds
• [8:20] The virtual reality revolution
• [11:14] Developers now have a huge challenge and opportunity to create new experiences for users
• [16:17] How do you market a product that people have to experience to understand
• [21:06] Rikard Steiber's journey into the world of Virtual Reality
• [25:58] The one message that Rikard would like to share with the world

Resources & People Mentioned

• HTC Virtual Reality

Connect with Guest Name

• Rikard Steiber

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

On this episode of Unconventional Genius, Jay Papasan, executive, speaker, and author of The ONE thing, joins me to talk about how to focus on what matters most. Jay is a best-selling author and an executive at Keller Williams Realty International. During our conversation, Jay shares about his book The ONE thing and the surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results.

Using a wealth of research and the examples of highly successful people, Jay has discovered a path to overcoming the challenges that lead to greater focus. During our conversation he gives helpful tips for narrowing focus, developing discipline, creating habits and finding a life-model that you can grow into. He also dispels myths and lies that keep us from achieving success in life.

Reclaiming focus on what matters most

Jay Papasan says,"Extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you make your focus." With so many distractions that compete for our attention, how can we reclaim focus and give more time to the things that really matter? The majority of what you want will come from the minority of what you do. This radical focus on what matters most can drastically alter the trajectory of your life and propel you to growth and achievement.

According to Jay, developing discipline and focus is not about having mental strength but more about training yourself into a habit. Conventional wisdom says that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. However, Jay disputes that, saying that it actually takes much longer. He says that you should allow at least 66 days if you want something to become habitual in your life.

How to reach your full potential

People have far more potential than they realize. Few people are willing to put the time and energy into developing that potential. How can you be someone who does achieve extraordinary success? One way is to have a coach who can train and encourage you. A coach can help you achieve success in ways that you could not on your own.

One barrier to extraordinary success according to Jay Papasan is what he calls the ok plateau. He says, "Everybody gets to where good is good enough for them, and then they stop improving." Reaching the ok plateau and being content there guarantees mediocrity. Knowing that you've reached it and then seeking the opportunity to get better is the starting line for reaching heights you hadn't imagined.

The 6 lies that we tell ourselves that hinder us from success

During our conversation, Jay Papasan discusses the path to success. He says that the true path of mastery is sticking to a goal and getting better over time. He also says that success is sequential. After focusing on and achieving a targeted goal, then you move on to the next. As you build on previous success, you will start to multiply your own growth.

Jay warns that there are barriers that will keep us from achieving success. He shares six lies that we tell ourselves. There are no shortcuts to success, and trying to find shortcuts actually short-circuits your ability to achieve. Listen as Jay breaks down the different lies and the ways they hinder the potential in your life.

Finding your life's purpose

When people start to experience success, they become fearful that they won't be able to scale their lives to accommodate the demands and responsibility that success can bring. Jay encourages people to find a life-model that is bigger than their current circumstances so that they have room to grow into it. He also dispels the myth that the ultimate goal is to reach a state of balance. He says that balance isn't an achievement, but rather an activity that requires continual maintenance.

We all want to have a purpose for our lives. That purpose isn't always clear. So, how can you discover your purpose? Jay Papasan says that harnessing the power of focus can help you determine your purpose. Considering where you've been and what circumstances and decisions have brought you to this point in life will give you clues about your passion and purpose. Hear more about that on this week's episode of Unconventional Genius.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [0:43] Introduction of Jay Papasan, executive, corporate speaker and author of The ONE Thing.
• [2:49] The ONE Thing is a book to help people continually focus on what matters so that they can be successful.
• [4:32] Focusing your time and energy into the ONE thing is a process that doesn't happen overnight.
• [8:48] Jay shares how success is built sequentially through mastery and momentum
• [14:25] How do you tap into the potential for achievement that lies within you?
• [19:20] The six lies that we tell ourselves that hinders success
• [23:30] Discipline takes longer than you think and is about creating a habit
• [27:07] The day-before vacation miracle and how it is unsustainable
• [29:25] Balance isn't a destination, it is an activity
• [30:45] Find a model that is bigger than your current situation
• [34:53] How can you find a purpose for your life?

Resources & People Mentioned

• The ONE Thing

Connect with Guest Name

• Jay Papasan

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

On this episode of Unconventional Genius, I talk with Greg Fadul, founder and CEO of Grace Digital and ECOXGEAR on how he is staying future focused. During our conversation, Greg shares with me how he became an entrepreneur later in life, and the philosophy by which he runs his business. Through all of his success, Greg leads with an eye toward the future.

Greg Fadul started his company in San Diego, California out of a passion for music and a clear vision for opportunity. He developed a consumer electronics company that develops products for music lovers looking for alternative solutions to enjoy their music. Grace Digital is an innovator in the world of internet radios and leading manufacturer of a wide variety of award-winning wired and wireless home audio solutions.

2 brands to expand the market

With the boom of the internet, Greg saw an opportunity to harness the power of the internet for radio. He started his company just before the economic recession of 2008. Realizing that people weren't just buying the radio, the company leveraged their space in the market by focusing on content aggregation. This helped them to weather the economic downturn.

ECOXGear is the leader in waterproof audio for people with an active lifestyle. Greg started the second brand by purchasing another waterproof audio brand that was looking to get out of the business. They started by selling waterproof mp3 players, but then transitioned to creating a waterproof speaker. Their product launched around the time of the iPhone, which was ideal timing for an ideal pairing.

Staying future focused through technology and innovation

Greg Fadul has led his company to experience great success in a relatively short amount of time. He says that in about 10 years, the company has grown from three employees and $350,000 in revenue to 30 employees and $30-$40 million in revenue. Greg attributes this success to staying future-focused and committing to technological innovation.

Greg sees the cutting edge of the market being through connected audio and smart speakers. They are currently concentrating their efforts on Chromecast and Alexa integration. They are also making solutions that allow you to connect to multiple Bluetooth speakers from your phone by creating universal connection among speakers.

Becoming an entrepreneur later in life

While many entrepreneurs start their companies during their twenties and thirties, Greg was over forty before starting Grace Digital. However, he stayed focused and motivated and used his experience and maturity to make timely and wise decisions. Ultimately, it was the opportunity to be his own boss that led Greg to finally start his own company.

Greg says, "You're never your own boss, you just have a new boss." What drives Greg is the opportunity to lead his team toward a goal. He also likes being accountable for his own successes and failures. The company is constantly developing new products, launching 10-12 new products every year. Greg says they want to be on the leading edge, not the bleeding edge.

Staying future focused while learning from the examples of others

Even with his success, Greg Fadul doesn't take a lot of time to relish in what he has accomplished. He is always looking and driving forward. His main goal in leadership is to maintain balance. He says that rather than constantly swinging for the fences, he tries to hit consistent base hits. Those little achievements compound and lead to even greater success.

During our conversation, I ask Greg about what leaders he admires most. He shares with me the top 3 leaders that he looks up to and why. Not only does he suggest that it's their success that he has learned from, but also their failures. Each one impacted him in a unique way. Hear all about that and more during this episode of Unconventional Genius.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [0:40] Introduction of Greg Fadul, Founder and CEO of Grace Digital and ECOXGEAR
• [1:47] How Greg Fadul got started in the consumer electronics and audio company
• [6:34] After only a couple of years of starting Grace Digital, Greg decided to start a second brand.
• [11:22] Now in business for almost 10 years, what is the trajectory of the companies?
• [13:27} What's next for both the two brands and the market in general
• [15:43] The motivation that led Greg Fadul to become an entrepreneur and how he stays motivated
• [20:08] How Greg feels about the success he has experienced to this point
• [21:13] The leaders that Greg admires and how they have impacted him
• [24:36] The super bowl commercial

Resources & People Mentioned

• Grace Digital
• ECOXGEAR

Connect with Guest Name

• Greg Fadul

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

On this episode of Unconventional Genius, I talk with Dr. Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist of the Consumer Technology Association about data collection and the exciting future of recommendation engines. Shawn is the author of the New York Times Best Seller Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate (Regnery, 2015). He joins me to talk about how we can leverage mass data collection and technological advancements to enhance and improve the world in which we live.

Dr. Shawn DuBravac is an author and futurist who studies and writes about the disruptive trends in technology. He also advises companies and business owners on the opportunities technology can offer. During our conversation, he shares some insights into the way the technologies being developed and implemented today are shaping the future.

The new and better ways to collect data

Collecting and analyzing data is something humans been doing for a long time. Much of the information we talk about today is information that already existed, we just weren't capturing it. Because of digitization, we now have sophisticated ways to capture massive amounts of data. That data can also be collected in real time, giving us extremely refined, granular data.

Because sensors are becoming much cheaper and being put in so many different consumer products, data capture is becoming much easier. What we once knew intuitively we can now know quantitatively using sensors. Fitness watches, athletic shoes and many other pieces of wearable and connected technology have propelled data collection into a rapidly growing, highly competitive industry.

Turning data into recommendation engines

What is to be done with all the data that is now so easy to collect? There is a lot of exploration and experimentation being done to determine what information is most important. As that is determined, data collection will become more targeted, making it easier to analyze and use in a way that is helpful to consumers.

One major use of such large amounts of data is to help inform and give recommendations. Dr. Shawn DuBravac calls these recommendation engines. The sensors can analyze a given situation, including variables, and cross-reference them with knowledge about you in order to inform and influence decisions. Hear him share some exciting possibilities about these recommendation engines during this podcast.

How technology is shaping the future

There is tremendous growth and change ahead of us both technologically and socially. The way that we communicate and interact has changed dramatically with the advent of the smartphone and the internet of things. Dr. Shawn DuBravac says, "I think the digitization of information is going to have a pronounced impact on the way we think about ourselves, the way we relate to others, and the way we communicate."

Technology will continue to change the way in which we live and do things. The younger generation is now growing up having only known a world of connection and digitization. Shawn says, "There will not be these separate identities of what's happening in the digital world and what's happening in the physical world. We used to be able to walk away from our computer and live our physical, analog life and I think those days are done or at least extremely short-lived."

Predictions for the future

Could there be a world where robots take over the job force, putting humans out of work? Will there be self-driving cars anytime soon? How quickly will we see cutting edge technology implemented into everyday life? Dr. Shawn DuBravac talks about all of these things during our conversation. Throughout all of it, he remains optimistic about the possibilities and opportunities that digitization is bringing to the world.

He offers his insight about when autonomous vehicles might see a tipping point in the market. He also talks about how virtual and augmented reality might influence business efficiency and productivity. He even offers a time when he believes it might become illegal to drive your own car. Hear all about that and much more on this episode of Unconventional Genius.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [0:51] Introduction of guest Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist of Consumer Technology Association
• [2:57] The history of data collection and why it is so important today
• [6:55] How the use of sensors is impacting the ability to capture data
• [11:31] Determining what data matters and how to effectively use it in daily decision-making
• [17:48] How things have changed since the turn of the century, specifically post 9/11
• [23:30] With all the innovation, are there any unexpected adverse effects of the technology now being developed
• [29:28] Can legislation keep up with the advances in technology?
• [32:38] Surprising ways that technology has evolved in the short time since Shawn DuBravac published his last book.
• [38:05] Where is the greatest business opportunities for entrepreneurs
• [42:38] Dr. Shawn DuBravac offers some predictions for the future of technology

Resources & People Mentioned

• CES

Connect with Guest Name

• Shawn DuBravac

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius on

On this episode of Unconventional Genius, I'm joined by Simon Sollberger, Vice President of Brand and Design at Innovative Partners to talk about the inspiration of emotion. Innovate Partners is a company that combines venture capital and private equity with an incubator model for launching companies. They have a unique, hands-on approach that involves leveraging design to launch companies and products.

Innovative Partners are known for their Bluetooth headphones and speaker companies as well as a footwear company. They also developed PEAR, an app that delivers dynamic and interactive workout sessions to you in real-time. It's like having a personal coach in your ear.

An unconventional start leading to unprecedented success

Sollberger's interest in design was sparked when he was a school age boy. He walked by a shop where concept cars being painted and was mesmerized. From then on he wanted to be a designer.

Sollberger first went to art school, but after encouragement from his father, he also studied engineering. His educational background and experience has helped him understand what it takes to bring a product to market and gives him the ability to work well with engineers.

Looking for the inspiration of emotion with style and substance

Simon Sollberger finds inspiration for design by considering the emotional needs of the consumer. Even something as mundane as a Bluetooth headset should be designed well. He wants the end-user to find not only a high-quality product that functions well, but also a product to which they are emotionally connected.

In order to discover that emotional connection that a consumer has, Simon tries to identify products that are resonating with them. He then digs deeper to understand why they are experiencing that connection. Simon says, "Designers are kind of an antenna for what's out there and the best of them are able to distill what's out there and channel it into a product or service."

The best way to build a successful company

Having been a part of several successful start-ups and helping other companies launch, Simon Sollberger has learned some of the keys to success. He says that beyond just developing a good product, an entrepreneur should focus on assembling a great team. Simon stresses that chemistry is so important when trying to start a business.

Ideally, you want to combine world-class talent with relational compatibility so that in every aspect of business you are pushing each other toward success. One of the ways to ensure that compatibility is through mutual respect. Simon says that having both a background in art and engineering has helped him to bridge that gap on the teams with which he has worked.

A glimpse into the future

While Simon sees the benefit of connectivity, he also has concerns about the negative potential of technology. He believes that technology could be the demise of relationships. During our conversation, he shares candidly about the distraction of technology and his desire to at times distance himself from it.

For the future, Simon Sollberger says that he would like to see how to leverage connectedness in a way the benefits designers and creators. There are so many small companies who are making incredible products, but they can't get market share due to competition. Simon would like to create a platform where those creators are celebrated and given the opportunity to market their products. Listen to this episode of Unconventional Genius to hear more from my conversation with Simon Sollberger.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [1:04] Introduction of Simon Sollberger, VP of Brand and Design at Innovate Partners
• [5:32] How Simon Sollberger got started in the technology space
• [9:28] Some of the first designs that Simon worked on
• [11:12] Given all of his accomplishments, what is Simon most proud of?
• [13:14] How to balance substance and style when creating a product
• [17:04] Past mistakes that Simon made that he wishes he could have avoided
• [18:36] Simon Sollberger gives his predictions for the future of technology
• [26:11] Can we leverage connectedness to benefit designers and creators without allowing corporate agendas to take over?
• [30:39] What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self if you could go back in time

Resources & People Mentioned

• [36:26] Simon Sollberger shares the one message he would share with the world if he had a platform

Connect with Guest Name

• Simon Sollberger

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

My guest on this week's Unconventional Genius is Marty Neumeier, Director of Transformation at Liquid Agency, a branding agency located in San Jose, CA. He joins me to talk about how to build better brand skills. Marty's mission is to help business owners and leaders accomplish their goals and more effectively serve customers. During our conversation, he shares his wisdom on how to develop personal skills, leverage a competitive business edge, and set yourself apart with a fantastic, memorable brand.

Marty is the author of a few of my favorite books including "ZAG", "Brand Gap", and "Brand Flip." He consults with the leaders and executives of some of the world's leading companies while writing and speaking on the topics of business strategy, design, and innovation.

How to robot-proof your career

One day Uber drivers are going to be replaced by autonomous cars. Many jobs that are done by humans will eventually be done by robots. Work naturally trends toward automation. Marty Neumeier has some ideas about how to avoid falling victim to that trend.

He explains his term "robot curve" by saying, "The robot curve is a constant waterfall of obsolescence and opportunity that's driven by technological change." He goes on to say that there is a downward pressure on the cost and value of work. However, our goal should be to fight against complacency by investing our time in creative and skill-based work.

5 metaskills that you should start developing now

Living in an age where robots could potentially threaten your livelihood sounds scary. But it also opens up opportunities not only to develop new skills but to consider what it really means to be human. Marty Neumeier is an advocate for developing what he calls metaskills. He says that metaskills are master skills that help you learn how to learn. He describes 5 metaskills that everyone should develop in order to be more effective and irreplaceable in the robotic age.

Knowing about metaskills is the first step. Using those skills is the next and perhaps most important action. Applying metaskills every day means thinking differently about the ordinary activities and considering how to do them better or more creatively. Listen to this conversation to learn more about these important metaskills and how they can help you build better brand skills.

Brand strategy vs. business strategy

Brand strategy and business strategy might seem very different, but they are actually complementary. Marty Neumeier says that business strategy is about company goals and prioritization, whereas brand strategy is more directed towards how the customer views the company. If a company fails to achieve alignment with these two business aspects there can be issues both internally and externally.

In the past, if you wanted to create a barrier to competition you just had to have more money or less overhead than a competitor. However, now the best barrier to competition is brand. Helping customers make a space in their buying and decision-making process for your business gives you a competitive edge. Listen as Marty explains how customers are now doing the work of creating barriers to competition for you.

Building better branding skills by elevating expectations

In what product or service category does your brand stand alone? In what area are you the only company doing a particular thing? Marty Neumeier calls this only-ness and he says It is the strictest test of a brand platform. If you have an only-ness factor in a category, then you can uniquely attract and keep customers.

Marty has once said, "There are no boring brands, just boring expectations" I love that quote.When leading a company, there are two areas of expectation that have to be managed. Companies need a visionary leader who can set expectations and also manage them through positive reinforcement and reward. Hear all about that and much more during this podcast with genius Marty Neumeier.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [1:07] Introduction of Marty Neumeier, Director of Transformation at Liquid Agency
• [1:47] What is the obsolescence and opportunity of the robot curve
• [5:42] Marty Neumeier explains the 5 metaskills
• [8:32] How you can apply metaskills into your daily life
• [18:23] The differences and similarities between brand strategy and business strategy
• [20:58] How to use brand strategy to create a barrier to competition
• [24:57] Raising expectations for a company's brand in 2 specific areas
• [28:11] Marty Neumeier talks about his favorite companies and books

Resources & People Mentioned

• Metaskills
• The Brand Gap

Connect with Guest Name

• Marty Nuemeier

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

Vikrum Aiyer, Chief of Staff at the United States Patent & Trademark Office and former Senior Policy Advisor for Innovation & Manufacturing to President Barack Obama joins me on this episode of Unconventional Genius to discuss how the USPTO is connecting the dots for entrepreneurs. Vikrum is only 30 years old, and yet he has already been entrusted to lead this agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce.

In his role in the Obama administration, Vikrum manages 13,000 employees and a $3.2B budget in support of all legislative and public affairs strategies for the President's intellectual property, tech, and trade priorities. During our conversation, he clarifies how the USPTO serves entrepreneurs, his vision for the future and how he has achieved so much in such at such a young age.

What does the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office actually do?

Vikrum tells me what the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is and how it assists innovators and business leaders in their work. He says the office rewards innovation by giving limited property rights to people and companies who are making discoveries or inventions that can benefit the world. This allows entrepreneurs the incentive that guarantees their ability to profit from their hard work and investment. Patents and trademarks protect the work of an individual or business from having their intellectual property compromised.

The office also offers resources for entrepreneurs to help them navigate the rapidly changing, increasingly digitized world. The speed of innovation that has accelerated greatly over the last few years has changed the USPTO in the way it operates. During this conversation, Vikrum explains three main ways that the USPTO has had to adapt in the current technological environment.

3 ways the USPTO is adapting

Vikrum says that the first way the USPTO has adapted is by becoming more cognizant and flexible for multidisciplinary technologies. He also says that In cutting edge and dynamic spaces, the office has had to examine how they classify products. As new technological industries are started, the office has to interact and engage with these companies.

Vikrum says that a large part of their job is to simply listen to entrepreneurs so that they can fully understand how to serve them. The USPTO is working hard to be adaptive and agile to change so that as business continues to rapidly evolve, the office can keep pace.

The challenges of leading the USPTO

The mission of the USPTO is to catalyze and fuel innovation and technological progress through incentive. There is a wide variety of entrepreneurs that need the services of the USPTO, which creates challenges and opportunities for change. Vikrum describes some of the challenges he is facing as he seeks to lead this growing agency.

One challenge that he shares involves the nature of government. The Intellectual Property system is being influenced by all three branches of the government. Each one has their own agenda. The USPTO has to reconcile these three interests to make sure the public is being considered and served. Listen as he shares other challenges that the USPTO faces.

The future as Vikrum Aiyer sees it

When asked about the future of innovation and technology, Vikrum quickly turns to autonomous and connected vehicles. He says that driverless vehicles are a huge piece of the puzzle for the future. He explains some of the innovative uses of driverless cars and the impact it can have on transporting goods. He also talks about the wireless spectrum and data collection required to facilitate these connected vehicles.

He also sees tremendous growth and opportunity in manufacturing in the United States. He credits national networks established by the Obama administration that have encouraged the growth in manufacturing. Keeping the American manufacturing industry innovative and profitable is both a public and private partnership.

Connecting the dots with a large community of entrepreneurs

Intellectual property law is often considered complex and overly complicated by processes. It is often thought of only as patent trolling or limited to software patent considerations. Though it can be a complicated process, there are resources available with the USPTO to help you turn an idea into opportunity. Programs exist to help entrepreneurs with the cost and expertise associated with intellectual property protection.

Vikrum sees the USPTO as connecting the dots to a large spectrum of business and service sectors. IP helps create an environment where experimentation is encouraged so that as discoveries are made or products are built, there is an avenue to turn that work into a viable business opportunity.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [1:05] Introduction of Vikrum Aiyer, former Senior Policy Advisor for Innovation & Manufacturing to President Barack Obama and current Chief of Staff at the United States Patent & Trademark Office
• [1:52] How the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office serves entrepreneurs
• [5:55] The response of the USPTO to the speed of innovation
• [11:36] Vikrum's role in directing change and adaptation
• [18:23] Running a government office like a company by focusing on people
• [21:00] The USPTO's position on patent trolls
• [26:22] Where technology is going in the future and how the USPTO is adapting
• [31:25] What is keeping manufacturing jobs in the United States?
• [35:45] Resources available to ensure that you can turn your idea or product into opportunity
• [40:21] Vikrum's background and how he ended up in the USPTO.
• [47:22] How Vikrum was able to ascend to his position at such a young age
• [54:15] What does the future hold for Vikrum Aiyer?

Resources & People Mentioned

• United States Patent and Trademark Office

Connect with Guest Name

• Vikrum Aiyer

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

Today on Unconventional Genius, I am joined by Doug Wead, and Author, Presidential Historian and former presidential advisor to talk about making a comeback. Doug impacted my life in a huge way, even though prior to this conversation we had never met. About 15 years ago, a friend of mine gave me a CD of a speech called "Great Comebacks" at a real low point in my life. Though I didn't know it at the time, Doug Wead was the one who wrote and delivered the speech that helped me get my life back together.

On this episode, I talk with Doug Wead about his life and the success he has experienced in politics and writing. Doug shares the events that had the greatest impact on him and how his experiences led him to where he is now. After our conversation, I included the "Great Comebacks" speeches in its entirety. Listen and be inspired.

The inspiring stories of people who came back

Doug shares great insight about what allows someone to come back after a great loss or defeat in life. He says, "The fear of loss is neutralized by loss itself." When you've experienced the deepest pain of loss or failure, it gives you the freedom to risk experiencing another loss because nothing can compare to the pain you've already experienced.

During the speech that Doug Wead gave that was so impactful to me, he goes through the comeback stories of people like Roger Bannister, Floyd Patterson, Moses and Joan of Arc as well as several others. I ask Doug which comeback story is his favorite. Listen as he talks about that and much more on this episode.

The secret to Doug Wead's success

Doug Wead's journey into politics started through charitable work. He spent time overseas in Cambodia, addressing the needs of starving people. Thereafter, he found himself working to help Ronald Reagan run for President. Doug says that Ronald Reagan was an incredible speaker because he worked at it.

I asked Doug what has allowed him to experience such great success. He shares about how he discovered his strengths through knowing his weaknesses. Doug says, "Your greatest strengths are your greatest weaknesses. And your greatest weaknesses can become your greatest strength." If you learn how to harness your weaknesses and focus them in the right direction, you can turn them into a strength.

You can come back

This week's podcast is different because, after my brief conversation with Doug Wead, I have chosen to play his speech in its entirety. Listen as he shares the story of some famous people who experience incredible loss, defeat or shame but who chose not to stay down, but to get back up and start again.

Doug tells these stories and concludes each with a powerful refrain of "Get up. It isn't over. You can come back." His admonition is to stop nursing your pain or setbacks and instead get up and fight. He exhorts you to fight. You can change. You can make a difference. It's not over. You can come back.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [1:04] Introduction of Doug Wead, Author and former Presidential Advisor
• [3:07] Doug Wead's favorite comeback story and what gives people to power to come back
• [6:17] How Doug's charitable work in Cambodia led him into politics
• [10:03] Turning your greatest weaknesses into your greatest strength
• [13:57] What would Doug Wead's super bowl commercial promote?
• {15:40] Doug Wead's great comeback speech in its entirety

Connect with Guest Name

• Doug Wead

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

On this episode of Unconventional Genius, guest Peter Shankman joins me to talk about his life, success and why you want to be different. Peter has accomplished so much in his life and he's done it all while dealing with the challenge of ADHD. During our conversation, Peter shares what drives him to be successful and what the future holds for him.

Peter Shankman is an author, entrepreneur, angel investor, Ironman triathlete, skydiver and podcaster. He has sold multiple businesses for millions of dollars. He currently is an angel investor in sectors including clean energy, financial services, food, and 3D printing. Hear Peter talk about his many achievements during our conversation.

How Peter Shankman is sending the elevator back down

Peter says that anyone who has experienced any amount of success should "send the elevator back down." in other words, successful people should help other people become successful. One of Peter's main goals in life is to help people. During the podcast, Peter shares some of the ways he is leveraging his success to empower others.

Being an entrepreneur himself, Peter understands that running a business can be a lonely existence. Often leaders don't even realize they are lonely until they've had the opportunity to talk with other people like them. Peter exercised his desire to help other entrepreneurs by starting Shankminds, an online community for support, coaching, and encouragement.

How to see a challenge as a gift

One of the greatest challenges in Peter's life is that he has ADHD. However, Peter doesn't see this as a handicap, but rather a gift. He recently launched a podcast called Faster Than Normal which celebrates the gift of ADHD.

Peter says that because of his ADHD he lacks to ability to moderate. He is an all-or-nothing kind of guy. He half-jokingly mentions that he is 3 bad decisions in a row from being a junky on the streets. In order to channel his energy and avoid doing something detrimental, he turns to physical activity.

Exercising the body and mind for good

Peter has run two Ironman Triathlons. He tells a harrowing story of not being able to complete a race because he overheated and his organs started to shut down. Not content with the inability to finish that race, Peter says he intends to do another full triathlon.

Peter mentions several books that have impacted his life. From personal to business topics, Peter has found encouragement through the great writers who have invested in him. Peter loves to read and the way it ignites his imagination and innovation. He shares the importance of exercising the body and mind for good.

Why you should want to be different

So many leaders and entrepreneurs tend to operate in a silo. They get so busy working that they don't time to step back and evaluate. Peter encourages businessmen and women to take a different approach. He encourages them to take time and talk to someone. Find a mentor who can speak into what you are doing and help you objectively evaluate.

Being normal is boring. Peter Shankman says that if he could have one Super Bowl commercial to share a message with the world, he would encourage people to want to be different. Being different opens up opportunity and experiences that "normal" people may never get. Peter's story of embracing his differences and using them to propel him to success is nothing short of inspiring. Be sure to listen to this episode to hear this encouraging conversation.

If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com.

Topics Featured In This Episode

• [1:29] Introduction of Peter Shankman, author, entrepreneur, angel investor, iron man triathlete, skydiver, and podcaster
• [1:55] Peter explains how he built his business Help a Reporter Out
• [3:38] Shankminds is a place for entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other
• [6:22] Steve Case's book The Third Wave and how it has altered Steve's opinions
• [7:59] Peter talks about his podcast Faster Than Normal and how having ADHD is a gift
• [9:21] How getting involved in triathlons has helped Peter focus and stay healthy
• [11:47] The books that have impacted Peter's life
• [14:41] How Peter plans on going to space
• [17:48] Peter Shankman's superbowl commercial to share with the world

Resources & People Mentioned

• Help A Reporter Out
• The Third Wave
• Shankminds
• Faster Than Normal

Connect with Guest Name

• Peter Shankman

Connect With Max Borges

• www.MaxBorgesAgency.com
• LinkedIn

Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

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