Where did the idea for your book come from?
Like most ideas, it came from a combination of things but it mostly came as a result of the coaching work I’ve been doing with young adults for the past several years. I picked apart the most effective parts of the process I used with each of them and realized that there was a consistent process that can be used with others. That’s when I realized that putting this process in a book form would be useful to those who are struggling with the heavy burden of choosing a career for the rest of their lives.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
The ideal readers are those between the ages of 18-28 who are in the process of trying to figure out their career path. The book also suits young professionals who have started their career and are looking for ways to accelerate their success.
Is there any popular entrepreneurial advice that you agree/disagree with? Why?
I could write an entire book on this question – it’s a good one. Today, people watch YouTubers, TikTok-ers and other online sensations and think that the path to riches is simple or easy. I would tell them that all entrepreneurial endeavors require grit and perseverance. Rarely does the first idea turn out to be a successful one. You must fail many more times than you succeed, but when you succeed well, it pays well. I think it is also important to point out that not everyone should be an entrepreneur. I wouldn’t have said that ten years ago, but it has become clear to me that there are types of people that fit the world of entrepreneurship and those who are better fit to be employees. This is a good thing because we need both types. The earlier you discover who you are, the swifter your path to success will be.
What’s your definition of success?
At the simplest level, I define success as having fun while earning a good living. The most successful people (by my definition) are well aligned with what they do. What I mean is that what they do is a real reflection of who they are everywhere. Their work is not something they do 9-5, but something more of ‘who’ they are 24/7. I have friends I talk to who apologize after asking me for advice about their business for hours at a cocktail party. They often say, “I’m sorry that this has become a work conversation.” My response is that I tell them not to be sorry, that it doesn’t feel like work to me. A business coach is who I am, not just what I do during business hours. A professional athlete is not just an athlete during the game, but they’ve been that their entire lives. Often times people force themselves to do their vocation so they can leave at the end of the day and enjoy the few hours they have before bed. This sets a person up for burn out and discontentedness. So, even if they earn a million dollars a year doing what they do, I wouldn’t call them successful. Being miserably successful is not success at all. Often times clients start coaching with us because they are miserably successful so we go to work to transform both themselves and their business so that they can be better aligned. Once we get them to a place of having more fun, oddly enough, they become more successful.
What was your most significant ‘A-ha’ moment so far?
It’s hard for me to choose a single, most-significant moment because where I am today is a result of the cumulative A-Ha’s I’ve had. I will say that one of the most defining moments that shaped me and my career was at the age of 21, I was living in San Diego, CA. I had just graduated with my bachelor’s degree but hadn’t yet started graduate school. In between, I was working twelve hours a day and making a great living as a behavioral therapist. I remember I was living in a house with my roomates at the top of a hill in Point Loma which had ocean views. I pulled up in front of the house in my little red convertible. I stopped for a moment to take in the view of the ocean and felt so grateful for what I had. At that same moment, I realized that I was working so much that I was not able to enjoy what I had. Because I hadn’t yet chosen which graduate school I was going to attend, this lifestyle may be short-lived. The next three months might be the last three months in California. So, it was that moment that I realized how important it was to balance enjoying life while working hard. Working hard led to my ability to have what I had, but then I needed to modify a few things so that I also had the space to enjoy life. This rebalancing needs to happen several times throughout our lives, but we are often so consumed with being busy and important that we are unconscious to the fact that time is passing by faster than we can recognize until it is too late.
Who is the one entrepreneur that is your most prominent example and inspiration?
I don’t know that I have a single entrepreneur that I am particularly inspired by as I find any entrepreneur that has achieved great success by providing tremendous value as inspiring. I am particularly fascinated by those who have created and sold multiple successful companies.
Do you ever get impostor syndrome, and how do you deal with it?
I certainly felt the imposter syndrome the first few years in the business coaching world. I was 24 years old when I started and most of my clients had been in business longer than I’d been alive. This was a tough one to overcome, but when I realized that it was my job to spend my time learning all of the things that my clients didn’t have time to and because of my educational background I had a way of seeing business from a different prospective, this helped me realize the value I brought to the table.
To what do you owe your success?
Success is a combination of so many things. Mostly, I owe my it to many of the things I write about in Find Your Flavor. First, I believe having the ability to combine the many elements that I enjoy (blending Psychology and business) was a key element. I was lucky enough to have ‘randomly’ discuss what I was seeking with someone who had a connection in a business coaching company. Next, I was willing to devour as much knowledge and varied experiences possible. Finally, creating a business that is totally aligned with who I am is probably the biggest difference maker.
What’s more important: innovation or integrity?
Integrity by far. I’ve seen great innovation totally sabotaged by a lack of integrity.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
After working with so many people, I realized that they were kind of forced to keep picking what they wanted from what I equate to the kids’ menu at a restaurant. The menu they are given is restrictive in its selection and the flavors are pretty bland. As a result, they lack the fire of true engagement in either college or their career. When I work with young adults, their initial major is chosen from the limited menu. I help them discover and sample various elements that spice up their career recipe. When you start cooking, your dishes are a little bland, but after you experiment with different spices and cooking techniques you add more robust flavor and interest to the meal. People give up prematurely on their career path when they lost interest in the major they chose in college. It’s a real problem and costs time and money. More then that, it costs young adults their self-esteem which deteriorates as they watch their friends graduate in four years with perceived ease. Once my clients do the work, they find that their success exceeds what they thought they’d accomplish so soon.
What books do you recommend for every entrepreneur to read?
Find Your Flavor: A recipe for discovering your perfect career
The E-Myth Revisited
The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
The Hijacker: Overcome self-sabotaging behavior
Small is the New Big (for inspiration)
What motivates you to keep going?
I feel that being a business coach is well-aligned with who I am which makes work feel natural, never forced.
How do you manage the stress?
I walk. Walking is a form of meditation for me. It clears my head and allows me to see things with clarity.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Those who have read both of my books say my style is very relatable and easy to read. They say that what I provide is very practical. In both books, I shed light on the fact that every human has what I call the Human Operating System. When readers figure out what theirs is, it is a game changer.
How do you manage your work-life balance?
I know what my priorities are. I also recognize that life is finite – not of us are getting out of it alive so what are we doing to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of it while making sure we are purposeful and leaving a lasting legacy.
What are your values and ideals?
Integrity. Authenticity. Balance. I truly believe that being a good person to others matters even if someone tries to drive you to the brink of crazy. Doing the right thing wins. It’d be nice if everyone played the same game, but since we cannot control others, play your game right.
How do you deal with self-doubt and doubt from others?
I talk to the people who believe in me most. They usually set my head on straight.
When did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
I don’t remember ever ‘choosing’ to be an entrepreneur. I just was one from the start. My first real work was as a behavioral therapist from age 17-24. I was an independent contractor. I did work for a coaching company for a couple of years which was an extremely valuable experience as I had a chance to accelerate my experience in the coaching industry, but I had a hard time having upper management restrict my ability to grow the business with the decisions that were being made. That is when I started Getting Results Inc.
What do you enjoy most about entrepreneurship? What do you find the hardest about it?
I enjoy that I’m my own boss and can do things the way I want to do them. The hardest part is that there is no boss telling you what to do or how to do it. It is all on you! Good, bad, failures and successes. You have to figure it all out and much of it is trial and a lot of error. In the end, the success is yours and well-earned. This is what I wish everyone knew. Successful entrepreneurs who start companies that grow big – worked hard to earn their success. Somehow society sometimes has a negative connotation around success. In reality, monetary success is directly tied to the value that one provides to others.
