Wealth by Design

Have you ever thought of hiring an executive coach? Are you curious to find out more about what an executive coach does and how they can help you? Kevin Wilkins is the founder of Trepwise, a New Orleans based growth consulting firm that offers executive coaching to businesses, nonprofits, and individuals across all sectors of life. Kevin teaches us how to choose a coach, what questions to ask, and when is the best time to think about hiring an executive coach. Learn all about how you can improve yourself with coaching on this episode of Worth It.

• [2:22] Why did he start Trepwise?
• [6:50] When is the right time to get a coach?
• [12:04] Its an act of strength to ask for help
• [14:12] What is the first step in coaching?
• [17:17] How do you choose a coach?
• [21:29] The first step is self-awareness
• [24:09] How long does the coaching relationship last?
• [26:07] What is the time commitment of coaching?
• [31:24] New Orleans is an incubator for entrepreneurs
• [40:33] Success comes from the journey

You may think that the different aspects of your life have nothing to do with one another, but every part of your life connects. All of your skills crossover and intersect in different aspects of life. An executive coach can help you maximize your life potential, they understand how to connect all the areas of a person's life. Some people hire coaches to help them with accountability and to push them to be their best selves. Others are seeking a third party to talk to that can help them work through the issues that they experience at work and in other parts of their lives. Find out what an executive coach could do to help you make the most of your life on this episode of Worth It.

People invest in their homes, real estate, the stock market, and their retirement fund without batting an eye, but they neglect to invest in themselves. Hiring an executive coach is not just about bettering your professional skills, an executive coach helps you to become your best you in all of the roles that you take in life. You may not think that you have the money to spend on an executive coach. But if coaching helps you be your best self, why aren't you investing in you? When is it the right time for you to get an executive coach?--When you are ready to become your best self!

Choosing an executive coach is not the same as choosing your best friend. However, it is important to find someone you can trust. You need to find someone with the experience and background that you think can help you become your best self. It's important to understand what coaching style will work best for you. Do you need someone who is tough or should they be aggressive? Maybe you need a coach who is more compassionate and ready to listen. Finding someone that is a legitimate coach can seem daunting with all the choices in the coaching world. Kevin has some great advice on how to find someone that can help you achieve your goals--spoiler alert: it's not by looking in the phone book!

Kevin and his company, Trepwise are doing their best to help rebuild the city of New Orleans. He loves the entrepreneurial spirit that the city is brimming with. There are so many innovative nonprofit and for-profit companies in the city, even the public sector like education is taking on an innovative mindset. Kevin is doing his best to encourage entrepreneurial thinking to help reinvigorate the city. Although New Orleans is a mid-sized city he feels that there is a small community feel and he and his company do their best to foster connections and build relationships between different organizations.

• Trepwise
• Kevin Wilkins on Twitter
• Trepwise on Facebook

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• Connect with Dustin on Twitter: @DRGranger

Are you one of the ⅔ of Americans that can't cover the costs of a $1000 emergency? That is such a scary number, but it's not surprising given that half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. To add insult to injury most of us are living above our means. There is a constant pressure in our society to live beyond our means. From advertising to social media to simply talking with friends and neighbors we feel a constant pressure to keep up with everyone else. But if you don't start saving now you'll miss out on the opportunity to feel financially secure in the future you could even miss out on the opportunity to stop working and retire. Listen to this episode to hear how easy it is to start a life tax fund, your finances will thank you and so will your future self!

• [2:22] Half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck
• [5:30] Some simple things you can do to better your financial situation
• [8:32] Start a life tax fund
• [10:49] What are the benefits of having a life tax fund?
• [15:42] What is more important, paying off debt or starting a life tax fund?

No matter your financial situation there are always choices you can make to better it. There are simple things you can do right now to create a better financial situation for yourself. One thing you can do is to start a bridge job. If you are not quite making ends meet, then take on a little extra work or even start a blog. The next thing you need to do is start living below your means. Don't panic, it's easier than you think! Inventory your spending habits. Start with the big stuff and identify what you can change. Next, check your discretionary spending and figure out what you spend on clothes, travel, lattes, and eating out. Listen in to hear what else you can do to start living within your means.

First off, what is a life tax fund? A life tax fund is a small savings account to help out on those unexpected things; like a speeding ticket, getting your car towed, or having to take your pet to the vet. These things happen to everyone and they always seem to happen when we are least prepared. But if you keep charging things like that on a credit card then you'll be paying for them forever. The first step to take is to open a free savings account at your bank. You can start depositing just $50 a month. Listen in to this episode to hear how to set it up in a way that you won't even notice!

Stuff happens. We get in fender benders, get sick, things break, etc. When (not if) a curveball comes you will be ready for it if you have a life tax fund. If you aren't prepared with a little extra cash on hand then it can really set you back. When you aren't ready for an unexpected financial hit it can take months or even years to recover from. Having a life tax fund ensures that you won't charge it to a credit card or worse: take it out of a retirement account. Find out how to start being financially responsible by creating a life tax fund on this episode of Worth It.

Debt is considered a disease now in America which we are told to avoid it at all costs. While debt is something you do want to steer clear of, until you have a fund for emergencies, you shouldn't worry about completely paying off your debts. Of course, you should continue to pay your minimum payments, but until you have a complete life tax fund, don't worry about paying off debts completely. Funding a life tax account is the most important financial step you can take right now. This is rule number one of personal finance. You can't plan any other financial goals until you achieve this one. Discover how to reach this essential financial goal by listening to this episode of Worth It.

• Ask your questions!
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Have you ever wanted to live your life in slow motion? We all experience those times where we wish we could slow down, but they seem to just zip by. Dustin has been reading about how to make the most of life and he has several tips to share on how to slow down and make the most of the time we have. Worth It is the podcast that helps you dream, plan, and live your ideal life and on this episode, we're focusing on helping you live your ideal life. If you have always wanted to learn how to make the most out of the time you have, you'll want to hear all of these helpful tips.

• [2:22] How can you slow down time?
• [4:42] Time is the most important asset we have
• [6:26] How do we perceive time?
• [14:01] How to live life in slow motion
• [15:47] Stop and smell the roses
• [18:24] Develop a habit of enjoying each day
• [23:11] Stop worrying!

The older we get the faster life seems to go by. Steven Tyler once said that life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. This feels so true! Our society is obsessed with productivity, and while we should try to make the most of our time, we shouldn't live to dread each Monday. The paradox is that we spend our weekends dreading Monday and then spending the work week wishing time would speed by. Are you curious how to live life so that you are actually living in the moment? Listen to this episode of Worth It to learn how to live life in slow motion.

In the book The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying, people lamented on how they wasted their time. Some wish they hadn't worked so hard, others wished they had lived a life more true to themselves, many wished they had stayed in touch with themselves, and many wished they had been happier. The good news is that we have the ability to change the way we live. We can change our habits and really slow down and enjoy life. Are you ready to find out how to fully appreciate the most important asset you have? Then listen to this episode to hear how.

Have you ever experienced a traumatic event in which time seemed to slow down? People describe car accidents as events where time seems to move in slow motion. Wouldn't it be amazing if you could experience the beautiful moments in life in slow motion? David Eagleman is a neuroscientist that has studied how our perception of time slows down in scary situations. What he realized is when you slow things down there is more for your brain to remember. So when you slow down your brain is able to remember things in more detail. The trick is, time is all about perception!

There are several tricks to slowing time down to enjoy life more. The more you break your everyday habits the more you can notice the world around you which leads your brain to remember the moment. Be mindful of what is happening around you. Try to notice more things while you're in the moment. Really soak everything in. Another important tip is to disconnect. We are all so attached to our phones and other electronic devices. To slow down it is important to detach from these electronic crutches. What about you, how do you live life in slow motion?

• BOOK - The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying Bronnie Ware
• David Eagleman - Neuroscientist

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Many purpose-driven professionals and creative entrepreneurs have a hard time knowing their worth and even harder time charging it. There are some that even feel weird simply charging others for their work. So many of us struggle with imposter syndrome that we don't really value ourselves and what we do. Even though we love what you do we still need to be able to make a living. On this episode of Worth It, Dustin and I are here to inform you why it is so important to know your worth and why you should never be afraid to charge people exactly what you're worth.

• [3:31] What happens when you charge your worth?
• [8:42] The correlation between price and satisfaction isn't what you would guess
• [12:20] A story about Jean Michel Basquiat
• [15:18] How to decide what to charge?
• [19:22] Confidence keeps you moving forward

Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you just aren't good enough, a feeling of inadequacy or incompetence. Many successful creative professionals feel as though they are a fraud, even after achieving success. So many creative entrepreneurs and purpose-driven professionals have such self-doubt that they wonder why anyone would want what they are selling. They feel that they should discount their prices or maybe even give their time and their creations out for free. It's time to understand your fear and grow past it. Have you ever felt imposter syndrome? What have you done to combat it?

Oddly enough, if you don't properly charge your worth it can have the opposite effect of your intentions. Many people choose to discount their prices due to fears of rejection and feelings of inadequacy but doing so can actually create dissatisfied clients. People's perceptions of goods and services change depending on the price. Something that has a high price tag can actually create desire. And many people that buy things at a discount or low price are constantly looking for a defect and often claim buyers remorse. How about you, do you know your worth?

Trying to decide what to charge for your services can be the most challenging aspect of creating your business. What should you consider when creating a price structure? You need to think of the time you put into the work, of course. But what about the years of experience and training that went into it, have you considered that? Do you have a specialization? Does your price reflect your concentrated expertise? There are many questions you need to ask before settling on a price, but it's important to remember that you never want to win a race to the bottom. Think about it, are you really charging what you're worth?

Once you finally work out what to charge you must keep moving forward. Hone your skills. Take extra classes and learn to master your craft. We are continually learning and bettering ourselves and our service to our clients to give them the very best. If you want to create customer satisfaction then you need to do 2 simple things: make useful promises and keep them. Ensure that you are charging enough to over-deliver those promises and give your clients the best service. Your learning will help ensure that you are giving your clients the best that you can. Listen to this episode of Worth It to help you consider what you can do to increase your self-confidence in your skills to make the most out of your business

• Art of Manliness - 407 How to Stop Being a Nice Guy
• Seth Godin's Daily Blog
• BOOK - The Win Without Pitching ManifestoBlair Enns
• DOCUMENTARY - PBS American Masters - Jean Michel Basquiat

• Ask your questions!
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Tyler J. McCall is a marketing strategist and coach for creative entrepreneurs. He specializes in Instagram marketing and is an expert at converting followers to fans. Tyler teaches his students how to make an impact and grow business with Instagram by using it in a genuine and intentional way. Tyler's business has grown exponentially over the past year and in this episode, he opens up about when he realized he needed help and decided to hire a CFO. Listen to episode 50 of Worth It to hear the Instagram expert, Tyler J. McCall, as he reveals how he scaled his business by outsourcing.

• [2:22] How did Tyler become an online entrepreneur?
• [7:42] Why Instagram?
• [11:05] Is Instagram for every entrepreneur?
• [12:56] How did he niche down?
• [18:54] How did he do his recent trip?
• [22:00] What led Tyler to set his time freedom goals?
• [26:20] Why did he hire a CFO?
• [29:12] What advice does he have for entrepreneurs who want to scale their business?
• [32:04] What are his dreams for his life and business?
• [37:45] Tyler gets to ask his own question!

Tyler chose Instagram as his marketing platform of choice because it's easy to use and a great place to engage with his followers. Tyler thinks it is the most engaging of all the social media platforms. He loves the built-in discoverability feature which makes it easy to find clients and attract them to your business. He thinks the Instagram stories feature is even better because it allows people to see behind the scenes of your business. If you are trying to grow business without overworking yourself, you'll want to want to listen to Worth It as Tyler shares his secrets to Instagram and business growth.

Tyler dove into online entrepreneurship by partnering with his best friend in 2016. He tried social media marketing, consulting, and coaching. But being a jack-of-all-trades was just making him work harder than ever. He understood that by repeating himself over and over again as a consultant that he needed to find a way to record himself to reach more people. Finally, he had had enough of trying to reach one client at a time. He created the Follower to Fan Society, an online membership education model. He has created a business model that gives him the time freedom that he craves. Are you curious as to how you can free yourself from your business and finally have it work for you rather than you work for it? Listen to Tyler describe how he scaled his business and made it work for him, rather than the other way around!

Tyler decided he was going to give his business his all and he put everything he had into it. But he realized that he didn't want to work himself into an early grave. That's when he decided to begin outsourcing. Tyler began by hiring a financial expert to help him understand the intricacies of growing his business and how the IRS might perceive his newfound success. He was thrilled to hire a CFO that could lead him to understand how to handle the financial side of success. Tyler has since put systems in place and hired others to help in his business so that he can enjoy the fruits of his labor. Do you know when the right time is to begin outsourcing your business?

We love it when our guests ask their deepest, darkest, burning financial question. Tyler has a great question that budding entrepreneurs will want the answer to. He wonders how entrepreneurs should go about building a home. Dustin describes the importance of having a 10-20% down payment readily available. We encourage him to listen to episode 30 it is a great place to start if you have any home buying questions. One thing to consider is whether you are looking for a 15 or 30-year mortgage. Don't miss Dustin's fantastic answer to Tyler's thoughtful question.

• Tyler J McCall on Instagram
• Free Instagram Class
• Follower to Fan Society
• Amy Porterfield
• Business by Design by James Wedmore
• 5 Tips for First Time Home Buyers, Episode 30

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Men's style can be confusing these days with skinny jeans and bow ties being all the rage. But dressing for success is as important as ever. Ensuring that your wardrobe lasts more than just a season and that you look great for every occasion doesn't have to be a burden. If you look at clothing through an investment lens and remember 3 easy tips you can create a signature look that will stand the test of time. Are you ready to discover 3 ways that you can make an investment in yourself through your wardrobe? Listen to this episode of Worth It to hear how you can turn your closet into an investment in yourself.

• [2:45] It's hard to dress right these days
• [6:52] Think of clothing through an investment lens
• [9:10] Clothing should show your ideal you
• [16:35] Fit matters
• [18:16] Buy high quality and low quantity
• [25:29] Buy timeless clothing

They say that you should dress for success, but what exactly does that mean? You have to think about who you want to be. Knowing who your ideal self is will help you find your style. How do the most successful dress in your field of expertise? There are great ideas all around you to help you create the style that is just right for you. You can also look to characters in movies and on tv to help you find your look. Clothes that fit correctly go a long way to creating the ideal look. If it doesn't fit well, get rid of it! Women have known for years how to create a wardrobe that makes them look their best, it's time that men catch up. Listen to this episode to hear how to choose the right clothes to show your ideal self.

If you are thinking of clothing through an investment lens then spending extra money on high-quality pieces that will last for generations then price takes on a whole new meaning. Yes, you will spend more money at the outset but the beautiful thing about buying quality pieces is that you don't have to buy a lot. Quality means so much more than quantity. Men only need a few pairs of shoes, belts, and other accessories that will stand the test of time. There are great ways that you can save money on your favorite brands, find out how on this episode of Worth It.

If you've seen the tv show Mad Men then you know that quality clothing never goes out of style. Well-fitting suits, jeans, chinos, and blazers are pieces of classic fashion that have stood the test of time. Did your grandfather have a wardrobe piece that was handed down to you, or have you ever discovered a classic thrift store find? These are examples of clothing that stands the test of time. You can look current without being trendy by including timeless staples in your wardrobe. One way to think about a clothing purchase is to ask yourself if you could still wear the item when you are 50, 60, or even 70 years old.

By mixing and matching high quality, timeless pieces that fit well you can create a wardrobe that shows your true self. It may seem like a lot of money when you are purchasing them, but an investment in yourself is always worth it. Remember that quality made clothing and accessories are built to last many years, unlike trendy low-quality items that are only made to last a season or two. When you see a piece that speaks to you, trust your gut and go for it and wear your clothing with love. Find out the best ways to invest in yourself through your wardrobe on this episode of Worth It.

• Episode 28
• MOVIE - Hitch
• The Art of Manliness
• Saddleback Leather
• Allen Edmonds Shoes
• Lacoste
• J Crew

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Have you ever wondered what a health savings account is? Or maybe you know what it is, but you're not sure if you need one. Perhaps you already have an HSA, but you're not sure what's so great about it. On episode 48 we discuss everything you need to know about HSA's. A listener recently asked if they should contribute to a health savings account, and we are glad she did because this gives us the opportunity to share everything we know about HSA's. Listen to this episode of Worth It to hear how to maximize your health savings account.

• [2:42] What is a health savings account?
• [5:08] Why are HSA's considered crown jewels of savings plans?
• [7:17] What are more benefits to HSA's?
• [14:28] You can pay for medical expenses at a later date
• [17:23] What is something HSA's can't do?
• [19:55] What else can you use an HSA for?

A health savings account or, HSA, is a savings account used only for medical expenses. There are a couple of ways that you can set one up. Health savings accounts began in 2003 to help Americans with their medical costs. Individuals can add $3400 a year to their HSA and families can add $6900. One of the requirements of an HSA is that you have to have a high deductible health insurance policy. After you set up an account you'll receive a debit card in which you can pay your health expenses. Listen to this episode to hear all about HSA's and how you can make the most of your HSA.

All savings accounts aspire to be like the HSA. Health savings accounts are a diamond in the rough. They are the only type of savings account that has triple tax benefits. This account escapes payroll taxes as well as regular income taxes. When you pull money out of it you also don't have to pay taxes. Another benefit is that while your money is in the health savings account you can invest it tax-free. Are you intrigued yet? Hear about all of the benefits of HSA's on this episode of Worth It.

There are a couple of different ways you can set up an HSA. You can have it deducted through your paycheck if your employer offers this benefit or you can set one up manually. HSA's can only be used if you have a high deductible health insurance plan. If you are in the sign-up period it is a good idea to consider how much you spent on medical expenses during the last year to decide how much you would like to contribute. If you are able you should contribute the maximum amount possible to receive the largest tax benefits. Listen to this episode to hear how you can open your own health savings account.

With an IRA you get tax benefits either going into it or pulling money out of it. The HSA is the only type of account where you can receive tax benefits on both sides of the equation. Another benefit is if you can open an HSA up with your employer through a payroll deduction you receive added savings of not having to pay payroll taxes on that money. In addition to the triple tax benefits, you can use your HSA to cover many types of healthcare costs. Health savings accounts can be used for dental expenses and even eye exams. Listen to this episode of Worth It to hear about all of the benefits to HSA's.

• The Best HSA Administrators
• IRS 502 Publication

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All of us possess influence, but we don't necessarily know how to use it to its fullest in the modern, digital world. This episode is a "how to" conversation about what it takes to become an influencer. If you've got great ideas, expertise, or simple insight into a particular area of life, you can and probably should become an influencer. There are people out there waiting to hear your voice. They truly WANT to hear YOU speak about the very things they want to learn. Listen to this episode to learn how.

• [0:33] Why we're talking about what it takes to become an influencer
• [1:53] What does it even MEAN to be an influencer?
• [3:31] Questions to ask yourself to discover if you can become an influencer?
• [4:28] Examples of being an influencer that can stir up your creativity
• [7:21] 9 things it take to become an influencer: Don't miss these!
• [26:10] What if you want to be an influencer "on the side" (side hustle)?
• [28:30] Dustin's "Worth It Inspiration" - Dustin's a new Elvis fan!

You'll hear it in this conversation, but when I first mentioned the word "influencer," Dustin immediately thought about the big name people - Tim Ferriss, Michael Hyatt, and others. But the good news is that it's not required that you have a huge following already in order to be an influencer. In fact, you can start right where you are and begin building a platform that reaches people in need, over time. All the big names did it that way. You can too. Listen to hear my 9 tips about how to become an influencer. You can do it. I know you can!

To help you get started on your path to becoming an influencer, here's my list of 9 things you need in order to be an influencer in today's marketing environment…

1. Passion (You need to believe in it enough to comment on the subject often)
2. A niche topic (Stick to 3 things MAX. Any more and you'll dilute your message)
3. Consistency (Plan on weekly posts and monthly emails, as well as social media posting)
4. A loyal/engaged following (start a blog, email list, or podcast today and build your following one person at a time)
5. Be yourself (Don't copy others, bring your unique spin to the subject. People are waiting to hear YOU)
6. Be confident (You don't have to be over-the-top confident, you just need enough confidence in the benefits of your message to get started)
7. Focus (There are lots of bright shiny objects out there to get you off course. Remember, content is king. Stick to your themes and be consistent)
8. Time (Find an hour a day to invest in writing, recording, videoing, etc.)
9. Money (It only takes under $200 to get a blog or podcast set up and rolling)

Listen to hear us expand on these 9 points - and learn how you can get started influencing people and bettering the world. It's what you were meant to do!

Out of the 9 steps I mention on this episode, I felt this one needs a bit more explanation. That's because we are all prone to discount the contributions we make in the world. What you need to know is this: Even if there are many people already talking about the topics you have in mind, they are not talking about those topics the way YOU would. They are not viewing the situation or area through the unique lens YOU possess. There are people out there who need to know what you know but who don't resonate with the others who are talking about the subject - but they WILL resonate with you! Get started. Believe in yourself. You can do it!

There are many people out there like Dustin and me - we love our full-time jobs. It's what we were made to do. But we can still figure out ways to be influencers "on the side" so to speak. The means of digital communication and publication available today make it entirely possible. To wrap up this episode, we highlight some tips for how to become an influencer through a side hustle. We cover what it takes and how the 9 steps we outlined apply in the part-time approach. You won't want to miss this one.

• Take our Financial Risk Tolerance and Goals Questionnaire - click "Start Now!"
• Tim Ferriss
• Michael Hyatt
• Episode 37 - the Ikigai Worksheet
• Episode 35 - Create, Don't Compete
• Bluehost
• Mailchimp
• Elvis Presley: The Searcher (HBO Documentary)
• Elvis' '68 Special Event - and the song "If I Could Dream"
• Isabella Guava on Instagram

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As anyone who has ever filed income taxes can tell you, you have to know which tax bracket you're in before you can make even an educated guess of what you might owe Uncle Sam. It's pretty easy to figure out your tax bracket because it's based on your income, but it's trickier to calculate how much you'll actually owe because of the way the U.S. tax system works. For this episode, Dustin and I created an easy-to-understand tax reference guide!

• [0:45] Let's talk taxes, specifically, the tax brackets
• [1:30] Download our tax reference guide!
• [3:00] Determining your adjusted gross income
• [5:00] How do deductions work? [7:45]
• [9:00] Understanding the progressive tax rate
• [10:30] Tax credits are a dollar for dollar deduction
• [12:30] Disclaimer
• [14:45] Worth It Inspirations

The IRS says income can be in the form of money, property or services you receive in the tax year. The two basic types of income are earned and unearned income. Earned income includes money you receive from an employer in exchange for your work or money you make working for yourself. Unearned income includes money you didn't directly work for, such as interest and dividends, Social Security payments, alimony, etc.

Whether you're a business owner or an employee, you probably want to keep your income tax bill as low as possible. That's where tools like deductions come in. For the 2017 tax year, which we file in early 2018, the federal standard deduction for single filers and married folks filing separately is $6,350. It's $12,700 if you're a surviving spouse or you're married and you're filing jointly. If you're the head of your household, it's $9,350. Regardless of where you stand on the financial front, there will likely be at least one expense that you can deduct from your taxes. The difference between the standard deduction and an itemized deduction is simple. The former is a specific or standard number. But the latter requires you to manually itemize your deductions. That means you would have to sit down, review your financial documents and add up everything.

Because the U.S. tax system is progressive - meaning the more you earn, the more you're likely to pay in taxes - it can be difficult to understand how tax brackets work. Dustin and I created a Tax guide PDf that you can download. Check out http://theworthitpodcast.com/46to grab this resource!

There are a few basic differences between tax credits and tax deductions. Tax credits provide a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your income tax liability. This means that a $1,000 tax credit saves you $1,000 in taxes. Since a credit helps reduce the amount of money that you pay in income tax, it is essential that you are 100% accurate with this information. While tax credits are less common than tax deductions, they are available for things such as adopting a child, buying a first home, child care expenses, home office expenses and caring for an elderly parent. Additionally, there are various business tax credits that you may be able to consider.

• Download our tax reference guide
• Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson

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Have you ever punched someone? Not a tap on the shoulder, but a fist-clenched, teeth-gritted haymaker-to-the-jaw kinda punch. Are you thinking "how is throwing a punch living my ideal life?" Throwing (or receiving) that punch may not be ideal, but sharing the story of how it all went down might be! On this fun and informative episode, Dustin stands on the shoulders of Benjamin Franklin as he details his own experience of starting a Junto club, the benefits of deep conversation, and how you can start your own Junto club!

• [3:15] Before tech took over our lives, we had more meaning conversations
• [5:00] The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin
• [6:00] What is a junto club?
• [8:30] Establish rituals and rules
• [15:00] What kinds of questions should you ask at junto club?
• [20:45] How to effectively answer questions
• [23:00] Lose the script
• [25:00] Worth It Inspirations

Benjamin Franklin recognized the value of conversation and the importance of cognitive diversity in convening innovative conversations when he founded the Junto Club almost 300 years ago. The club, initially composed of twelve members who met on Friday evenings, first in a tavern and later in a house, to discuss issues of morals, politics or natural philosophy to improve themselves and their community. The club led to innovations such as volunteer fire-fighting organizations, improved security through night watchmen, a public hospital and the first public library.

Dustin says it's important to establish a set of rules and rituals that guide how your Junto club operates. For example, everyone in his junto club must wear a sports jacket while attending. This helps establish the formal nature of the meeting and ensures that all present remember to speak and act like gentlemen. He also requires the members to post their questions one week in advance, to give others time to prepare. Decide how frequently the group will meet, how long each meeting will last, and where it will be held. Choose a quiet, comfortable, inviting location. Set the tone for a relaxing atmosphere. Consider serving food, and have fun!

Benjamin Franklin put together a provocative set of questions to stimulate the conversations during the club's meetings, and you should do the same. In Dustin's junto, each member must submit a question in advance. These can be on any subject, from politics to world travel to throwing haymakers, and so on. Dustin says asking yourself "will others benefit from this question?" is a great place to start. What sort of question would you ask in a junto club?

You are in a junto club, listening to some great questions. Now, how do you respond in a meaningful way? Dustin says to incorporate your wisdom without being afraid. Share discoveries, be open, go deep. Try to avoid canned answers, or just repeating what everyone else says. Frame your answer from a unique angle, but keep them brief. He also says it's perfectly acceptable to throw your script out the window and just go with it.

• The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin
• theworthitpodcast.com/45
• Legends of the Fall Movie

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