What Didn't Kill You? with Michael Silverman

For many entrepreneurs, it is hard to maintain objectivity when dealing with the issues of their business because they are emotionally tied to their companies and what they do.In his coaching sessions and thanks to his experience, Justin Perkins helps entrepreneurs from falling into traps like this.Justin Perkins is the Founder of New Edge Advisors. He provides deep Executive Coaching conversations for those interested in understanding how the mind works to reach their goals more efficiently while enjoying the ride. Justin has worked in several different industries over the years, with a focus on organizations that benefit society, like Care2, where he worked for 14 years. Justin was also founder of Olomomo Nut Company, his last venture before starting New Edge Advisors.In this episode, we talk about Justin's journey of entrepreneurship, and his numerous endeavors, successes, and failures. Justin shared bits of his background and experiences with venture capital, his thinking process behind the decisions that led Olomomo to a challenging end, and the valuable lessons he gained from that experience . We also talk about how coaching helped him to understand himself better and how powerful it was for him to realize he could, thanks to his adventures, prevent other entrepreneurs from committing the same mistakes he made. Some Questions I Ask:I would love to just hear a bit of your background, what you're doing now and what your mission is (1:13)What made you want to start a company? (4:12)It sounds like, ultimately, you were really the one doing the fundraising, and you were the one people were investing in, is that fair to say? (16:23)How did you think about the possibility of chasing after positive cash flow versus top-line sales goals? (25:20)How do you help entrepreneurs navigate their emotional attachment to their companies? (45:19)In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit of Justin's entrepreneurial spirit origins ( 6:21)Justin's first experiences with money-raising and how quick the cash he gathered evaporated (11:27)Investment is intimate. Some lessons learned about investments and relationships (15:36)Entrepreneurs must have the ability to suspend reality (30:19)How the world of coaching changed Justin perspective (38:34)Resources:New Edge Advisors websiteBook: Jim Paul - What I Learned Losing a Million DollarsBook: Paulo Coelho - The AlchemistBook: Yuval Noah Harari - Sapiens: A Brief History of HumankindConnect with Justin:LinkedInE-mail: justin@newedgeadvisors.com Important info: What Didn't Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail ©️ 2021 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike McCabe spent his early teen years up to his 20s around CAD-CAM and tooling work, removing heavy aluminum parts and replacing them with carbon fiber in his first full-time job. Always a hands-on person, he was building homes through his college years while skiing professionally in Freeride Competitions. So he knows a thing or two about hard work...and breaking skis.Mike McCabe is the co-founder, CEO, and Master Builder of Folsom Custom Skis. Turns out that jumping off cliffs in Freeride Competitions for many years while weighing in at 6'2" and 200lbs results in lots of broken skis. This lead Mike on a journey to create hand-built, innovative, and exceptionally durable customized skis that can work for the hardest skiing pro or the most casual skier. Folsom is now one of only two companies in the US that creates a truly custom ski in which every component is hand made and the raw materials sourced internally. In this episode, we had an inspiring conversation about Mike's journey into entrepreneurship, his business model, and how it is for a small organization to put its foot through the door in such a competitive industry. We also talked about his company's principles on how they operate and its unique approach to business that lead him through . Finally, Mike shared the incredible story of how his company had to pivot during COVID and how hard it was for him to be on the verge of losing his company. Some Questions I Ask:We'd love to hear how you got into the ski products business. (1:52)When you started making skis, did you know immediately, like, this is what I want to do? (8:02)How did the improvements you made in the skis translated to the maybe average or even higher-end ski demographic? (13:17)You mentioned running lean. How did you develop the principles for operating that way? (24:10)Does the seasonality of your business ever make you want to think about expanding into summer sports? (35:47)In This Episode, You Will Learn:How Mike decided to focus on the product side of skiing (7:16)Quality over quantity approach. Mike's business model and its possibilities (11:15)How hard it was for Folsom Skis to get into the market (17:23)Reinventing the wheel once a year. Mike's constant effort in rebuilding their system and making it more effective (34:48)An emergency pivot. How did Mike's company adjust to the new reality during the pandemic (37:21)Resources:Folsom Custom Skis websiteFolsom Custom Skis InstagramConnect with Mike:LinkedInEmail: mike@folsomskis.com Let's connect:What Didn't Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail ©️ 2021 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having massive financial success and driving a Bentley a couple of years after graduating from college can be a little confusing without the proper guidance. Douglas Raggio was doing great the first six years after college. Jumping from helicopters to boats every weekend and spending recklessly, he felt he would make that amount of money for a long time. But that is not what happened. Business went wrong. He traveled without scales from living a luxurious life into a humbling experience that led to almost a decade of a painful and self-destructive existence. Today, I'm joined by Douglas Raggio - a serial entrepreneur, a Food & Beverage Investor, and Founder. Douglas is the Founder of Pass The Honey and Bias & Blind Spots. He is also a Forbes Contributor, Steering Committee Member at Naturally San Diego, an Advisor at SOS Hydration Inc, and a Member & Advisor at COMMON LLC. In this episode, we talk about Douglas' journey from having it all to being in debt, to finding success again. He shared what he felt going through the most challenging times of his life and how the myopic perspective of focusing on making it to the next day made it harder to get out of that place. He also talked about the close call that awoke him from almost ten years of a destructive and hopeless lifestyle. We also talked about his new life as a food company owner, the paralyzing decisions, and his new purpose-driven life. Tune in to learn a lot about life and a lot about honey business!Some Questions I Ask:I'd love to start by asking you a bit of your background before becoming an entrepreneur and investor in CPG (1:15)You mentioned your childhood. How did your childhood experience play into your professional and adult life later on? (9:41)It seems like you've gained a tremendous amount of perspective. What kind of work have you put in to get that perspective, if any? (16:42)How have your experiences and your hardships contributed to the entrepreneur and advisor that you are today? (19:04)What's that feel like to have this incredible sort of drive with this one goal versus spending a lot of time, as you described, rudderless? (39:28)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Fueling the ego. Living a luxury life (3:09)How things from our childhood can stick with us (10:30)A close call that changed everything (12:46)What kind of financial advisor Douglas became after his experiences (19:10)Finding a new purpose in the purest, unadulterated honey (24:01)How it feels to come from rock-bottom to general peace (39:47)Resources:Pass The Honey websitePass The Honey InstagramPass The Honey FacebookConnect with Douglas:LinkedInLet's connect:What Didn't Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail ©️ 2021 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I'm joined by Jason Mendelson, retired partner of world renowned venture capital firm, Foundry Group, and current Executive-in-Residence with the Colorado Attorney General's Office. In addition to his many successes as a VC over 20 years, Jason is a startup founder, attorney, professor, author, and musician. He's also a lifelong learner, teacher, and incredible human being who spends so much time giving back to society. Jason is also known by his musical alter ego Jace Allen on Spotify - be sure to check him out via the links below!In this episode, we discuss Jason's journey from a tough childhood growing up in Detroit with music as his outlet to becoming an attorney, entrepreneur, venture capitalist and all around creator. He shares his experiences from personal and professional challenging moments, the lessons learned, and the wisdom acquired. We talked about how it is to deal with the constant reminder of frustration and the role of education in the investment business. He spoke openly about his victories and defeats, the epiphany that would change his life at age 40, and his first love, music. To learn more about Jason's journey of discoveries, awakenings, and relentlessly seeking fulfillment, tune in to Episode 22 of  What Didn't Kill You.Some Questions I Ask:Over 300 companies funded many billions of dollars raised by Foundry Group. You are recently retired, but I would love to understand the backstory on how you guys got started? (1:14)Do you recall any notable failures or missteps? And how that shaped the foundry group mentality or investing ethos? (11:17)When you think about betting on people, I imagine it's a complex mental model to develop. What do you think about that? How do you evaluate initially? (15:40)How would you encourage your students to appreciate the difference between learning something in a textbook versus going out in the world and starting to apply it? (27:04)What does music do for you that your previous professional pursuits have not? (36:10)In This Episode, You Will Learn:From an investor perspective, if you believe in the CEO, there are still things to do even if a company is not working (11:59)When time passes, we learn to trust all of our senses when it comes to choosing the right people to invest in (16:14)There is more data available about how to run a company than on how to be a good investor (27:17)The only way to deal with egos in the VC business (30:56)The benefits of taking more risks in life (54:37)Resources:Jace Allen MusicPissed off At You (Official Video) by Jace AllenBook: Jason Mendelson, Brad Feld - Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture CapitalistBook: David Epstein - Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized WorldSpotify - Jace AllenConnect with Jason:LinkedInTwitterFacebookSpotifyLet's connect:What Didn't Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail©️ 2021 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having a respectable job title and making good money out of it, living in a cozy apartment in a cool and upcoming part of town, driving a luxury vehicle, and wearing fine clothes would sound like graduating from a great university and getting an MBA paid off. For most people, that would sound like a successful life, and they might be right. But when my guest got there, she looked around didn't like what she saw. So took the leap into a totally different pursuit! Today's guest is Lauren Gibbs, Olympic Medalist, Bobsled World Champion, Corporate Speaker, and Director of Internal Sales at Parity. Lauren has a Bachelor's Degree in Public & Private Sector Organizations, Business, Entrepreneurship from Brown University and an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University. She won the Olympic silver medal in Bobsled in South Korea in 2018 and the 2020 International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Championship in Germany. In this episode, Lauren shared the story of why she decided to abandon a comfortable life and an excellent corporate job to become an elite athlete. We talked about succeeding in life, ticking all the boxes of society's expectations and personal realization. She also spoke about how hard it was to become an Olympian, her fears, frustrations, and how it was for her, who hates losing more than enjoys winning, committing to something regardless of winning, tying, or losing.To learn more about Lauren's journey of sacrifice, dedication, discipline, and chase for happiness and fulfillment, tune in to Episode 21 of  What Didn't Kill You.Some Questions I Ask:How did you arrive at the Team USA Bobsled team? And what brought you there? (0:47)Did you face a lot of friction or pushback from your circle when you sort of made these life choices? (5:22)You've been around the world competing, and you've actually won a World Championship, haven't you? (9:58)What's next in the Olympic journey? Are you focused on winning another one? (26:40)Did you start public speaking before that TEDx talk and before bobsled, or they started together? (41:21)In This Episode, You Will Learn:When climbing the corporate ladder is not good enough (1:55)Finding something worthy of leaving behind a comforting life (4:26)There are only two gold medals for ten of the most talented, hard-working, deserving women. (10:42)About training and preparation for competition, worrying about what others are doing won't affect what they're doing, neither what we are doing (18:55)Taking action, even with smalls things, in the direction we want to go is crucial (22:01)Resources:From Boardroom to Bobsled: The Courage to Become an Olympian | Lauren Gibbs | TEDxPasadenaBook: David Epstein - Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World Connect with Lauren:LinkedInInstagramLet's connect:What Didn't Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail©️ 2021 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last episode, I was graced by an incredible discussion with JIllion Potter. Today, I'm joined by her incredible wife, Carol Fabrizio, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at the USA Gymnastics Team, Leadership Coach, and Changemaker. Carol has a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor's degree from USC Gould School of Law. We share an affinity for that school as it is also my alma mater. Besides being a Certified Professional Coach, Carol previously spent 9 years at Vail Resorts, ultimately rising to the level of VP, Communications and Marketing Operations.In this episode, we had an enlightening conversation about Carol's professional and personal challenges, achievements, lessons learned, and evolution. Everything from what it's like to watch one's spouse go through chemotherapy to navigating the challenging but rewarding professional experience she has taken on with USA Gymnastics. She shared her experiences performing at the highest level in top companies, her vision on what communication and marketing used to be, what it is about now, and what we can expect to be in the future. We also talked about how the pandemic affected the athletic community and the benefits and disadvantages of moving the Olympic Games to 2021 from both the athletes and communication department perspectives. To learn more about leadership, personal growth, resilience, and self-compassion, tune in to Episode 20 of What Didn't Kill You.Some Questions I Ask:The USA Gymnastics Team had tremendous success on the field. But the organizational and cultural aspects needed to change. How do you think about balancing continued success with making these shifts? (6:00)How does the business of gymnastics and specifically USA Gymnastics get affected by something like the Olympics moving? (10:03)What were some of the biggest leadership lessons you learned in that role that you take into your current one? (23:33)How do you walk away from any situation satisfied with I'm doing enough, executing things correctly, showing up every day the way I want to? (29:08)How do you go about doing your job at a high level when your spouse faces serious health issues? (40:36)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Creating a healthy work environment where people can speak without fear of being punished in any way (4:45)How the pandemic affected the USA Gymnastics team and the athlete community in general (7:37)What communication and marketing used to be vs. what is about now (16:46)Feedback is not about true or false; it is a data point that helps us to be more strategic on how to interact with people (25:44)How being aware of our feelings can help us (39:17)Connect with Carol:LinkedInLet's connect:What Didn't Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail ©️ 2021 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining me today is Jillion Potter, olympian, cancer survivor, mom, and now executive at EY. We had a fantastic conversation about her journey into becoming a member of the American Rugby team, participating in two World Championships, and becoming a Team USA member in the Rio 2016 Olympics after defeating cancer for the second time. Jill shares so much great wisdom, including how we can help ourselves in times of adversity and remembering that we always have a choice about how to respond.In this episode, Jillion and I take a walk through her life experiences and what she could take from them to grow and become stronger. She explained how a rare accident during her early years in rugby helped her deal with cancer diagnose many years later. We talked about the importance of embracing uncertainty, self-compassion, and not getting hung up on the outcome. Jill is the epitome of strength and grace while facing incredible odds and I'm honored to have had her on the show!To learn more about Jillion's fantastic story of bravery, resilience, and determination, tune in to Episode 19 of  What Didn't Kill You.Some Questions I Ask:I'd love to start out by asking you how did you become an Olympian? (1:20)When you broke your neck, was that the first major challenge you had to overcome and return to the sport? (7:19)When in your athletic journey did the cancer diagnosis initially come? (10:07)And so, you start going through chemo; how far out is this goal of being at the Olympics? (18:00)What was the reception from the International Rugby community with you there (after defeating cancer)? (28:24)In This Episode, You Will Learn:A rugby accident that helped to deal with more severe problems years later (3:51)A poor judgment that could have led to a catastrophe (10:35)You have to be at your best when things are at their worst (15:29)Focusing on the things we can control (17:21)How amazingly supportive the rugby community can be (19:30)The power of embracing uncertainty and accepting impermanence (35:39)Connect with Jillion:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterLet's connect:What Didn't Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail©️ 2021 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes life hits us so hard that our minds struggle to assimilate and understand what we are going through at that moment. Sometimes going through these periods, while unimaginably painful, can be an incredible catalyst for growth and understanding.I've decided to do a solo episode for today's podcast to talk about one of the worst moments in my life, my little sister's death.In this episode, I share my deepest fears and the mix of emotions and reactions I experienced from the moment I received this terrible news until several days after the reception and how it affected and changed my life. I also talk about how sharing our emotions connects us with people and how feeling gigantic amounts of pain can let us know the amount of love and joy we can experience. In this show, I try to ask people about their challenges overcome, so it's only fair that I share more about my journey through the most painful thing that's ever happened to me. To learn more about my story, how it can help you, and so much more, tune in to Episode 18 of  What Didn't Kill You.In This Episode, You Will Learn:How I dealt with one of the worst moments of my life (5:20)The difference between an intellectual understanding of the pain and experiencing it (10:40)How sharing our emotions and being vulnerable connects us with people (19:30)The articulate mind disarticulated (25:00)Discovering a different level of emotional and rational connection with people (30:40)How hard it is to divorce ourselves from particular identities (40:40)Resources:Book: Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor E. FranklLet's connect:What Didn't Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail ©️ 2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me on the second part of my interview with Adam Edelman - a long-time entrepreneur, business operator, investor, and personal mentor of mine. If you haven't heard the previous episode, I encourage you to go back and listen to it here. In this episode, we discuss some of the most important traits an entrepreneur should have, the role family and friends play in the business world - and whether or not to create partnerships with them - as well as why it's beneficial for new entrepreneurs to surround themselves with people that share their experience rather than their advice. Being an entrepreneur requires facing challenges that you don't always expect - and to survive and thrive in this world you need a certain mindset and a desire to follow your passions. Tune in to the conclusion and find out how Adam followed his passions to become the businessman and person he is today. To learn more about these topics and so much more, tune in to Episode 17 of  What Didn't Kill You.Some Questions I Ask:Can you talk about how you returned to your passion in the content creation area? (10:01)Where does the name ‘Boulder Heavy Industries’ come from? (25:20)What role did relationships play in the progress to your success? And how do you nurture them? (30:18)How did you navigate the effects COVID-19 had on your business? (39:25)Do you have advice or recommendations for fresh entrepreneurs on how to embrace the hard stuff? (47:00) In This Episode, You Will Learn:The role Adam’s heritage played in achieving his success. (01:31)Questions you need to ask yourself to live a life aligned with your expectations. (07:04)The two takeaways Adam learned from being an entrepreneur. (20:07)How Boulder Heavy Industries helps other companies. (29:01)Adam’s view on creating business partnerships with family & friends. (34:30)Why it’s important to approach anything like you’ve got nothing to lose. (51:19)Connect With Adam Edelman:LinkedInWebsite - Boulder Heavy IndustriesResources:What Didn't Kill You - Episode 16 - Stories of Entrepreneurship and Growth from the Fascinating Life of Adam Edelman - Part 1Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My fascinating guest today is a long time entrepreneur, business operator, investor, and mentor of mine, Adam Edelman, who has generously offered his time to chat about his diverse history within digital media, content production, distribution, and marketing industries. Adam spent a notable portion of his early career working in International Markets with DirectTV and has a strong familial connection to the film and television world. Adam has leveraged his expertise to produce and operate a number of businesses, starting with his "dot.bomb" in the early days of the .com bubble.We discuss his journey to running what is now a successful digital marketing firm, Boulder Heavy Industries, what led him to pursuing more creative endeavors later in his career, what the collapse of his enterprises taught him about resilience and communication, as well as life. To hear more, tune in to Episode 14 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask:How did you become an entrepreneur? (2:02)Had your team developed any traction in the initial stages of your startup? (20:11)Is ‘being your own visionary’ something that’s a gut feeling for you? (40:28)How have you addressed the internal issues within your company aside from looking at your profits and losses? (42:16)Was it a long process for you to let go of your own professional baggage? (53:10)Could you share what your time in Iraq was like? (54:41)In This Episode You Will Learn:Adam’s connection to the film and television industry (4:32)Adam’s early experience working in International and Satellite TV (5:58)What Adam’s involvement with the aircraft company, Hughes, taught him about his entrepreneurial skills and interest in digital media (8:57)The initial e-commerce pitch Adam and his friends worked on at the Harvard Business Plan Competition (11:49)How Adam and his college friends created their first startup together (18:41)Why the fall of Adam’s first major company was a necessary life lesson (24:19)Why Adam needed the creative freedom to pursue screenwriting after taking a break from the corporate world (28:02)Why Adam chose to go back into business with his startup colleagues (32:04)Why the pitfalls Adam experienced at IMM gave him the space to establish himself as an entrepreneur (37:50)Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mailConnect With Adam Edelman:LinkedInWebsite - Boulder Heavy Industries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest today, Tripp, Gebhard, has extensive personal and professional experience navigating the challenges of wealth & addiction. Growing up wealthy doesn’t always correlate with growing up happy. While generational wealth may seem like a fun free pass to postpone a career or not pursue an education, there are countless problems that can arise within family relationships due to the wealth. Alcoholism & Addiction, lack of purpose, and getting tied up with "status games" can all be detrimental to one's quality of life. Tripp's experiences with these issues lead him on a path of helping others through these issues. Tripp and I discuss growing up in a wealthy family, his journey to sobriety, and what he has applied from his own experience to his clients in his role as managing partner at PWM Planning. We also dive into Tripp’s role as the leader of the family, what he has learned from his son, and what he recommends to address a family addiction problem. These experiences have empowered Tripp with an ideal background to help his clients navigate these issues and build plans for the families that work for them and their unique circumstances.To hear more about Tripp’s experience and his unique experience, tune in to Episode 15 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask How did you get started in the wealth management industry? (1:30)How did growing up around wealth and addiction drive you to your own path? (16:03)In your clientele are you typically dealing with initial wealth creators or some generation after that?  (34:11)How do you coach people to finding purpose when much of their needs are taken care of? (39:06)How do you recommend addressing an addiction problem with a family member? (48:05)In This Episode You Will Learn Tripp’s perspective growing up in a wealthy family (3:21)About Tripp’s relationship with alcohol (9:32)How Tripp understands his client’s generational patterns (27:20)That you have to want to break a pattern in order to break it (35:54)What Tripp has learned from his son (41:45)Connect with Tripp LinkedIn PWM Planning - Tripp’s Biography Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail ©️ 2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It can be a hard concept to wrap our heads around the idea of shifting our personal hardships into genuine opportunities and life lessons for self-growth and it isn’t a thought process that is built overnight. My guest today, Amir Hemmat, has experienced these life lessons first hand. Having overcome stage three Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma nearly eight years ago, he is a true example of how our situations in life do not define us. In this episode, we discuss how his entrepreneurial path at Welcome Technologies began, why a gratitude practice has been so beneficial for him in his life, as well as his personal perspective on adversity as an entrepreneur, survivor, leader, and new father.    We also dive into the complexities that accompany trauma and why some people react in ways we do not expect. To hear more on Amir’s story and his personal development insights, tune in to Episode 14 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask:How did you get started on your journey with Welcome Technologies? (6:36)Was it challenging to shift towards following your passions in a way you hadn’t before founding your company? (12:50)How does your personal approach to life apply to your entrepreneurship? (27:47)Is your mindset omnipresent or is it something you have to constantly work at? (32:11)What are your thoughts on exposing your son to adversity? (43:11)How do you convey your own personal development principles when it comes to managing teams? (49:39)Are there any standout moments of success that you think back to? (52:49)What advice can you give to any fellow entrepreneurs or people out there going through a tough time? (1:00:09)In This Episode You Will Learn:How Amir’s company, Welcome Technologies, has evolved into what it is today (2:00)The duality of the US when it comes to the nations’ attitude towards immigration (4:55)A brief background on Amir’s previous company, SABEResPODER (9:59)The pivots Amir made when deciding to build a tech-driven empire (10:21)How Amir’s views on opportunity shifted after receiving his cancer diagnosis (14:59)Why the lessons we learn through hardship are always ongoing (22:01)How our beliefs have shifted towards spiritual and meditative practices & Why gratitude is such a powerful tool (32:56)Amir’s perspective on vulnerability as a male (37:51)The complexities behind how people respond to trauma (40:14)How Amir balances self gratitude and kindness with a desire to get everything he can out of life (54:48)Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mailConnect With Amir Hemmat:LinkedInWebsite: Welcome Technologies©2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'm exploring a very specific subject matter - Personal 360s. It's an idea that I'm been thinking about applying in my own journey of personal growth and I discuss it with Lauren Ivison - business coach and founder of ‘Totem Leadership’. Lauren and I spend some time on her path to coaching and the elements that help her form a foundation for the leaders she works with; as well as how her own path to using the ‘Personal 360’ framework and how it's contributed to her life and work. Lauren and I come at some of these personal growth and development ideas from fairly different points of view and I loved our conversation. Whereas I have a tendency to look for opportunities to "self-traumatize" and look for hard things in order to get better, Lauren advocates a bit of a softer approach that has a lot of wisdom to it. It certainly gave me a lot of ideas as I develop my own Personal 360 and think about how to continue down the path of growth and development. If you have ever done one, or plan on doing one, be sure to share and let me know!To hear more, tune in to Episode 13 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask:Did you approach the idea of ‘Totem Leadership’ from a more professional standpoint or were you able to make those empathetic coaching connections as well? (7:47)What are your thoughts on anonymizing the feedback you receive? (20:47)How do you feel about the ‘self traumatization’ that many companies put themselves through in order to grow? (37:13)How has the ‘Personal 360’ concept affected how you approach your team environments? (53:49)In This Episode You Will Learn:Some background on Lauren Ivison & Her journey to founding ‘Totem Leadership’ (1:11)How Lauren built the framework for the ‘Personal 360’ (10:47)Why embracing vulnerability and radical candor has yielded positive results in Lauren and her clients (16:10)The personality aspects of giving and receiving constructive feedback (23:45)Why softer approaches are a necessary mitigator to intense personal growth (30:03)The hyperbole behind self-inflicted trauma and personal optimization (43:47) Why it’s important to stay present, rather than feeling a need to constantly be in motion (45:33)The false dichotomy of self-fulfillment and personal gratification (49:30) Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInConnect With Lauren Ivison:WebsiteLinkedInResources:Book: ‘The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership’ Author, Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman & Kaley Klemp©2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When navigating the uncertainties and hard times that accompany any entrepreneurial venture, it’s important to have systems in place to ensure we land on our feet and aren’t too overworked in the process. In the case of Ginni Saraswati, my producer on this podcast, and the Founder, and CEO of the podcast production company ‘Ginni Media’, she has worked to curate a team of individuals that take care of exactly that and help lighten the load for many content creators within the podcasting space. In this episode, we discuss what Ginni has learned as a leader in business and how her humble beginnings within the event management field taught her the value of being at the helm of something new. We also talk about how working with people that are aligned with your personal values enriches your professional journey, and Ginni gives advice on what other podcast hosts can do to better communicate themselves and actively listen to those who appear on their shows.   To hear more, tune in to Episode 12 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask:Could you share what your company ‘Ginni Media’ is and how it came to be? (1:01)What drove you towards the podcasting world? (3:19)What does it mean for you to be out of alignment in terms of your business? (9:11)How did you develop the principles and company culture that has attracted team members to ‘Ginni Media?’ (21:46)Did you end up codifying your thoughts to get to where you are now or did they just naturally occur as you approached new ventures? (27:49)When you first founded ‘Ginni Media’, was remote work something you had considered from the beginning? (37:50)Have there been any challenges associated with living in the US as someone who wasn’t born here? (44:38)How do you take the principles that are leveraged in business and apply them to a product that is content-based and less tangible? (57:24)What is one piece of advice you can give to any budding or current entrepreneurs out there? (1:02:19)In This Episode You Will Learn:How running the LGBTQIA+ event space, ‘Bling’ informed Ginni’s decision making at ‘Ginni Media’ (5:56)The experience that made Ginni reflect on her own sense of alignment within her professional life (13:04)The complexities of entrepreneurship & Why we should listen when the universe is trying to tell us something (16:49)How Ginni implements company culture in a virtual and geographically sparse workspace (33:46)What moving to New York was like for Ginni as someone who’d lived in Australia for so long (40:46)How Ginni’s push against traditionalism has influenced her throughout her career (46:55)Ginni’s insights on podcast curation and what makes a successful communicator (52:05)What Ginni’s ‘inner eleven’ refers to (1:00:04)Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mailConnect With Ginni Saraswati:LinkedInTwitterInstagramWebsite - ‘The Ginni Show’ Website - ‘Ginni Media’ ©2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining me on the show today is the incredibly accomplished and charismatic, Ed Zander! Ed came up as a technology marketer as that discipline was just beginning evolve. Originally from the East Coast, Ed spent a large portion of his early career working in the heart of Silicon Valley, overseeing dynamic teams and technological innovation that helped define the 90s and 00s tech scene. For fifteen years, Ed had an integral role at ‘Sun Microsystems’, ultimately becoming President. Afterwards, Ed went on to become CEO of ‘Motorola’, launching the classic ‘Motorola Razr’, which lead the way in bringing fashionable and sleek design to handheld devices before the iPhone existed (Ed shares a number of interesting anecdotes about his discussions with Steve Jobs at the time).In this episode, we discuss Ed’s journey to becoming the prolific investor and businessman that he is today, what his philosophies are on creating a strong company culture, why competitor analysis is such a key aspect to his marketing practices, and the importance of a lifelong dedication to learning. This will be one you won’t want to miss and will definitely want to take notes on! I came away with so many ideas about approaches to apply to the companies in my portfolio!If you’re interested to learn more, then tune in to Episode 11 of What Didn’t Kill You! Some Questions I Ask:How did you find your way to working at ‘Sun Microsystems?’ (1:14)Was moving to California a slight culture shock for you as someone who lived on the East Coast? (6:21)Did you feel a sense that you were at the beginning of something in your early days working in Silicon Valley? (8:40)Is there anything you can attribute your position at ‘Sun Microsystems’ to? (24:03)How did you manage the fear that accompanied your new responsibilities at each of the companies you worked at? (33:05)What was the transition to ‘Motorola’ like for you & How did the company culture differ from your previous role? (41:59)Touching on the public feud you had with Carl Icahn, how do you navigate those situations, particularly when the other party is so vocal in the public? (1:10:02)What role does having a strong life partner play in being able to face the adversity you’ve gone through in business? (1:23:01)What advice can you leave my listeners with today? (1:32:39)In This Episode You Will Learn:Some background on Ed’s professional relationship with Scott G. McNealy (12:41)Marketing, Sales and Engineering insights from Rob’s tenure at ‘Sun Microsystems’ (14:10)How Ed took on existential considerations in business while operating on higher committees (20:21)Ed’s philosophies on leadership in business (38:14)Ed’s contribution to the launch and marketing of the ‘Motorola Razr’ (53:26)The hurdles Ed overcame while working to include iTunes on the ‘Motorola Razr’ (1:03:20)Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail©2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining me today is the Owner of ‘A Line Boutique’ and accomplished entrepreneur in IT Consulting and Training industry, Karmen Berentsen! Karmen has had years of experience within the sales and business field and has shifted her focus to bringing a different type of value to people’s lives by sharing her story of spiritual and emotional evolution with others. Having abruptly lost her Mother at a young age to a brain tumor, Karmen is no stranger to the power that grief has over an individual - and in this episode, we dig deep on the effect it had on her as an adolescent, as well as how it has carried into her adult years.  Karmen has recently written a book about her life and experiences entitled 'Learning to Fly' that we discuss at length. In it, she shares heartbreaking stories of emotional abuse, sexual harassment, self-loathing and the coping mechanisms that tend to get programmed into us from a young age. Karmen explains the nonlinear journey towards breaking these cycles, finding happiness, and loving oneself. It's a very human and honest sharing of how so many challenging circumstances lead to her finding peace, as well as a celebration of the need to keep recommitting to those principles that help us get there.Karmen also shares about the growth of her newest venture, ‘A Line Boutique’, and why she has worked so hard to amplify messages around women’s wellbeing and empowerment. As a mother, Karmen is passionate about instilling beliefs of self-confidence in her daughter and gets candid about what she’s learned through her experience as a parent.  If you’re interested to hear more, tune in to Episode 10 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask:How would you describe yourself? (1:14)What is it like for you now, living in such a drastically different headspace than you used to in your younger years? (2:20)Could you speak on Tony Robbins’ theory behind receiving parental love & Explain how that inherently affects children’s development? (13:50)Despite having an emotionally abusive and absent Father, you never adopted a ‘victim mentality.’ Has this mindset helped you in your own personal development journey? (22:17)Could you talk about the relationship you had with your Mother and her religious hindrances? (27:30)Who do you think you would be now if you had grieved your Mother at the time of her passing? (32:15)Why have you decided to publish your book now, in the midst of Covid-19? (38:06)What do you do to make sure the pattern of unproductive cycles doesn’t get passed down to your daughter? (44:19)What advice do you have for any women that are afraid to follow their passions and are feeling ‘stuck’? (49:04)In This Episode You Will Learn:Why Karmen believed her self worth was defined by her accomplishments (4:17)Karmen’s perspective on cycles of behavior, incremental progress & Why we will have more than one ‘awakening’ (7:04)Karmen’s deepest personal realization while she was pregnant (9:34)Why Karmen is such a huge fan of ‘GOOP’ (12:46)When Karmen’s survival instinct kicked in during her teenage years & How her circumstances gave her a greater appreciation for life (17:00)What ‘business mode’ means for Karmen & The disparity of different relationships in Karmen’s life (20:02)The effect that having a safe and loving community had on Karmen (26:12)Anxieties Karmen had as a teenager around her Mother’s brain tumor (29:45)Karmen’s perspective on adversity (34:56)Karmen’s vision behind ‘A Line Boutique’ (36:33)Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mailConnect With Karmen Berentsen:WebsiteLinkedInA Line BoutiqueA Line In-Store AppointmentsEmail: karmen@aline-online.comResources:Book: ‘Learning To Fly’ Author, Karmen Berentsen©2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining me today is Ella Chase! Ella is redefining the evolution of the family office and the role of female inheritor.Ella is a Co-Founder at ‘Wellth Works’, a Coaching Firm designed to help individuals and groups of (mostly) women navigate the pressures and expectations that come with generational wealth. For many women of esteemed families, the feeling of needing to uphold a family lineage can get overwhelming and there aren’t a lot of spaces available where these conversations can be held openly and without judgment. Ella has dedicated her time at ‘Wellth Works’ to having these tough conversations and brings her extensive knowledge of sales, consulting, and business strategizing to the table when approaching each clients’ concerns. In this episode, we talk about the challenges that are present within complex family dynamics, why experiencing adversity is so necessary, and why we should look at success more holistically rather than solely financially.      To hear more, tune in to Episode 9 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask:What is ‘Wellth Works’ and how did it come to be? (0:48)Why do you think it took nearly losing your friend to cancer to start making changes in your own life? (7:05)What is your goal when it comes to your coaching clients? (11:45)Have you seen financial dynamics complicate your clients’ search for purpose? (14:32)What do cross-generational empathetic connections look like, both within your family and your client base at ‘Wellth Works’? (27:51)How do you navigate imposter syndrome at ‘Wellth Works’? (36:13)How do you plan what an outcome will look like with a client? (44:01)What is your ideal result with the families and people you work with? (45:50)What advice can you give to anyone out there who is navigating a difficult dynamic within their own family? (49:10)In This Episode You Will Learn:What led Ella to ‘hit the eject button’ on her life before starting her business (3:02)What Ella’s upbringing was like as a seventh-generation inheritor & Why growing up with an emphasis on tradition influenced her decision to create ‘Wellth Works’ (3:35)Why Ella’s experience as a Junior Olympic Downhill Ski Racer showed her the value of ownership over herself (4:39)Ella’s perspective on why it’s necessary to experience adversity (16:15)Why failure needs to be processed rather than moved on from (20:25)How Ella’s perspective on family values impacted her approach towards future generations (22:04) What Ella has taken away from seeing complacency and inertia within her family (25:31)Why we should separate negative observations of ourselves with our identities (32:40)Why having integrity and setting boundaries is so important for family governance (41:16)Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mailConnect With Ella Chase:LinkedInEmail: ella@wellth-works.comPhone: (617) 866-0007‘Wellth Works’ - Instagram’Wellth Works’ - WebsiteResources:Website - ‘Dr. Caroline Leaf’ Book: ‘Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr’ Author, Ron Chernow© 2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing on from part one of my conversation with Bob Kavner, I am so excited to share with you this second and final installment of our insightful and educational discussion. As mentioned in the previous episode, Bob is a former CFO and multimedia chief at ‘AT&T’, as well as a prominent figure within other game-changing tech and multimedia startups such as ‘Pandora’, ‘Earthlink', Ticketmaster’ and many more. Today, we dive into the fascinating story of how AT&T sold the rights to control the cellular & wireless revolution and had to buy it back by acquiring McCaw cellular in one of the largest acquisitions in US history at the time, how Bob approached making such a huge life decision when stepping down from his position at ‘AT&T’, why being exposed to entrepreneurs within the tech and media industry influenced him during the course of developing his own creative endeavors, as well as how the unique concept of ‘traumatizing’ has been utilized across businesses. Bob also shares the inspiration he has gained from his experiences with a variety of luminaries he’s worked with over the years, including Bill Gates, Bill Gross, Michael Ovitz, Sky Dayton, and Andy Grove, just to name a few. To hear more, tune in to Episode 8 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask:Could you talk a bit about your experience working on projections and analytics surrounding wireless opportunities while you were at ‘AT&T’ (1:09) What was your biggest learning lesson throughout the transition period before you bought ‘McCaw Network’? (6:28)During your tenure at ‘Earthlink’ and ‘Pandora’, did you and your team feel that the torrential growth you’d been predicting was on its way? (9:44)How did you approach making such a huge career move when deciding to leave ‘AT&T’ and produce your own operation? (11:20)What was it about the opportunity to move into the creative arts, that was so appealing to you? (18:00)Did your exposure to entrepreneurs within the tech field inform your decision on wanting to break away from working in large corporations? (26:24)Could you talk a bit about what ‘Idealab’ is & The process that you and Bill Gross have undergone while incubating so many companies (30:32)What role does failure play in the process of iteration? (34:06)Are there ways you apply the process of ‘self traumatizing’ to your personal life or within the businesses that you’re involved with? (37:15)Are there specific things that you look for in order to make sure your organizations are consistently checking on what they can improve on? (38:58)In This Episode You Will Learn:How Bob’s relationship with Silicon Valley influenced the trajectory of his team and their involvement in the cellular industry (5:05)Bob’s experience investing in ‘General Magic’ & How that venture relates to timing in business (8:22)Bob’s experience mentoring Sky Dayton (10:08)Bob’s retelling of his meeting with Bill Gates and Nathan Myhrvold & How the initial investment between ‘Microsoft’ and ‘AT&T’ affected him (11:48)The story of how ‘AT&T’ initially attracted Bob to the business (20:38)Bob’s involvement in the ‘Universal Studios’ deal during the nineties & How his partnership with Bill Gross on ‘Idealab’ came to be (23:06)The concept of ‘traumatization’ within a company & Why it’s so important (28:26)Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail© 2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by legendary tech investor and executive, Bob Kavner! Bob was formerly the CFO of AT&T and lead AT&T's multimedia division. He has also been chairman and an early investor for an incredible array of revolutionary companies including Earthlink, Pandora, Overture, Ticketmaster, and so many more.Bob has an incredible life story and has spent more than three decades at the intersection of technology and multimedia while working closely with some of the biggest luminaries in the field. In part one of our conversation together, Bob offers his insights into the impact that strong mentorship has had on him, how his personal and intellectual development throughout his early years taught him how to be a more present and engaged romantic partner and businessman, as well as why personal failure was something that needed to happen for him to experience growth.  To learn more on Bob and listen to our conversation in further depth, tune in to Episode 7 of What Didn’t Kill You! Some Questions I Ask:How did having such a profound mentor in your life inform your view on what a strong performance should look like? (13:11)Did you notice any similarities in dynamics amongst the performers and leaders you met during your early days in business? (15:40)How did you go from being a Senior Audit Partner on the ‘AT&T’ account to joining the company? (17:51)As someone who has been married for so long and been a successful leader in business, how do you approach maintaining a fair work and life balance? (27:20)Was there anything you took away from your first marriage that you applied to later relationships when your work life became too demanding? (31:30)Did the personal development you went through in your thirties feed into your evolving outlook on Management and Business? (36:33)In This Episode You Will Learn:Some background on Bob. (1:42)The exposure to different work practices Bob gained throughout the industries he worked in. (9:43)How Bob became a Senior Partner at ‘AT&T’. (10:25)Bob’s perspective on his own adversity. (26:31)Why failure played such a key role in Bob accessing his humility and vulnerability. (33:16)Let’s Connect!What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramWhat Didn't Kill You - LinkedInWhat Didn't Kill You - WebsiteWhat Didn't Kill You - E-mail© 2020 Michael Silverman. All rights reserved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Crush It’ culture is a mindset that is far too often accepted within entrepreneurship. For those who strive to start their own ventures and achieve success, we can feel like putting our own needs to the side is something that is simply just a part of the road ahead. This way of thinking is so detrimental to our wellbeing and makes us lose sight of the things that are truly important to us, not only professionally, but in our personal lives as well. Joining me on the podcast today to dive into this topic are Kari Sulenes and Howie Diamond, Co Founders of the wellbeing organisation ‘Atlas’ and Business Partners at ‘Alpha Bridge Ventures’. Kari has an extensive background in psychology, whilst Howie has a broad background in business, each bringing such unique qualities to the table and furthering the conversation around this issue. We discuss the inspiration behind the creation of ‘Atlas’, why the need for honesty and vulnerability is so important within professional environments, and how this kind of work is creating positive change for founders and business leaders.  If this has peaked your interest and you’re curious to learn more, have a listen to Episode 6 of What Didn’t Kill You!Some Questions I Ask:Howie, how did you and Kari meet and eventually become business partners? (6:47)Kari, what was your initial impression of Howie’s thesis when you first connected? (8:47)Kari, were you always drawn to the notion of helping others through pain during your studies & How does that tie into the work you do now studying organizations? (11:03)How do you gain perspective as a team when it comes to the work you all do at ‘Atlas’ (17:24)How have you created an environment at ‘Atlas’ where people are willing to share and be candid in a way they wouldn’t normally? (22:42)How do you, particularly as business owners, continue to challenge the stigma surrounding being vulnerable with your professional cohort? (29:56)Do you see an opportunity for others in the investment community to break away from the stigma surrounding vulnerability & How has your work been received by those in that space? (36:10)Do you feel like the traditional ‘Venture Capital’ model has a tendency to perpetuate the toxicity that is so present within our culture? (39:35)Kari, as someone who has worked in psychology do you think about your work at ‘Atlas’ in terms of developing and furthering data around this issue? (43:57)Do you find that clients who work with you are already self aware of their needs to become more open or is there work needed to get to that point? (45:22)In This Episode You Will Learn:How Howie’s experience with burnout and imposter syndrome inspired the creation of ‘Alpha Bridge Ventures’ and ‘Atlas’ (1:45)The connection between pain and purpose (13:11)The toxic aspects that are present within entrepreneurship culture (16:22)How ‘Alpha Bridge Ventures’ and ‘Atlas’ are related & Why entrepreneur confidentiality was a core belief in the creation of this venture (19:44)Background on ‘How Are You Really?’ dinners hosted by ‘Alpha Bridge Ventures’ partners Kari, Howie and Jake (27:49)Resources for aspiring entrepreneurs who are going through hardships (47:54)Connect With Michael Silverman:What Didn’t Kill You - InstagramMichael Silverman - InstagramConnect With Kari Sulenes:LinkedInAtlasQ - BioEmail: hello@atlasq.comConnect With Howie Diamond:LinkedInTwitterWebsiteEmail: howie@alphabridgevc.comResources: Book: ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ Author, Viktor E FranklBook: ‘The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership’ Author, Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman & Kaley KlempTed Talk: ‘The Power of Vulnerability’ Brené Brown ‘Atlas’ - ‘Leadership Labs’ Programs ‘Atlas’ - Website‘Alpha Bridge Ventures’ - Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.