Or So I Thought

Capitalism revolves around two fundamental resources: money and attention. To find success, you'll have to pick one of them to control. Here is how you should approach this decision.

We don't rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems. In business and art, the best system we coud have is a compact feedback loop with our audience. Here's how to do it. Sign up for the newsletter at RichInstinct.com

The work vs. reward paradox will keep smacking you in the face until you internalize it. To be successful, you must work like a lion, not a cow. Sign up for the newsletter at RichInstinct.com

Austin Kleon said “an idea is gold only if you name it.” I think he understood that ideas are a dime a dozen. And that the value is not in the idea itself but in the execution. And a BIG part of the execution starts with the tip of the spear, the name you give it.  Sign up for my weekly newsletter at RichInstinct.com

The key to gigantic rewards is finding your own form of leverage. Put your resources only in places where you have leverage. And leverage only occurs when the product and the audience are in perfect alignment. Sign up to the weekly newsletter at RichInstinct.com

Most people want a “normal” life but a normal life requires un-normal amounts of work, at least in the beginning. And it requires un-normal sacrifices.  The great news is that the extraordinary sacrifices soon stop feeling extraordinary. They become your new normal. And at that point they pay HUGE dividends. Sign up for the newsletter to receiver alerts on all new episodes and blog posts https://alexcespedes.com/newsletter/  

Since we live in an idea economy, only people who claim an idea ever get rich. When you start your own business, you claim your idea island in the sun. Remember, the best way to keep up with all new episodes and everything that I do is by signing up to my newsletter at RichInstinct.com

A broken philosophy will keep you broke. Because money is NOT material, it is spiritual. This week we explore the one word difference between the haves and have nots. Read the book that this podcast is based on, it's called Rich Instinct.  It's available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook at all major retailers: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play Store, Spotify, and many more. For more info go to RichInstinct.com  

George Soros understood how to make money. He knew that life is not about the small losses, but about the big scores. One big score takes care of many small losses. Gary Vee knew this too. This week we dive into this topic of lining up one big score. My new book Rich Instinct is now available on all major platforms. get it at http://RichInstinct.com

This world is built on lies. Cunning lies can start wars, swindle fortunes, or sway elections. So your status in life depends on how well you maneuver around deception. The rich take in the world differently than the masses do, and it gives them an edge. Since they gather better information, they're able to make better decisions. This episode is the trailer to the book Rich Instinct: And the book is the great equalizer. If you currently don't have as much money, freedom, or health as you'd like it's because you've been a victim of the systemic deception all around you. It's in the TV you watch, the conversations you have, the food you eat, and the things you buy. But here's the good news: there is a simple framework for spotting trickery. Firstly, it requires you unfollow the crowd, because the masses make choices based on what they see and hear, so they're easily fooled. But the powerful hone their ability to feel their way through tough terrain, thus avoiding traps. In Rich Instinct, Alex Cespedes helps us sharpen our awareness so we can attain the wealth, health, and freedom we deserve. Because prosperity is everyone's deepest instinct.

Angelique Velez woke up one night with an idea for an accessories line of products. This was the genesis of Breakups To Makeup, a brand that now has nationwide distribution through Sephora, Walmart, and QVC.  Angelique didn't know it at the time, but she took some important steps to make her brand a strong candidate for major partnerships. In this episode she shares her business' story and lessons learned. Lessons you can also use to find success and get noticed by the major players in your industry.  Find out more about Breakups to Makeup at https://breakupstomakeup.com and follow Angelique on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theangeliquetechnique/ 

Steve Lucin is a creative entrepreneur in NYC who transitioned from freelance graphic designer to agency owner, philanthropist, and VJ. In this episode he shares with us his story and advice on how to build a successful client roster. His secret is to stop the vicious cycle of "compare and despair" that plagues us all, and focus on finding your "Special Thing."  In business, this is our only hope for finding an edge. We dive deep into how to find your thing, and how to apply it. Find out more about Steve's marketing agency at https://www.stevelucin.com/   Steve also runs a spectacular non-profit giving out scholarships to art students, learn more or donate at https://www.wesupportcreativity.org/ 

In magazines and TV we constantly see stories of individuals going from rags to riches. Regardless of whether you want to get rich or not, there is a lesson hidden inside these stories of triumph. Today we look at artists and entrepreneurs that have laid out the formula of how we too can profit from our pain.  

Andy Warhol and Bill Murray were right all along. They practiced a certain strategy that is easy to comprehend, but tough to master. They understood human nature and that our goals are best accomplished indirectly.  In this episode we hear examples from business, art, acting, and martial arts about the real reason why we often fail to reach our goals-- and how to flip this equation in our favor.

Maybe you've heard this one before, but I hadn't. It's a concept that many multi-BILLION-dollar companies have used to build a fanbase. We would do well to pay attention... 

Stephen King knows a thing or two about writing. And about discipline. And about pretty much anything that has to do with being successful with your art. Well guess what, Lil Wayne knows a thing or two as well.  These are the reasons why he can serve as a role model for any artist, creator, or entrepreneur.   Music by Ben Murray-Smith  

Jason Rosario and Claudio Cabrera have accomplished a lot in their young lives, but this endeavor they've just leapt into is not about accomplishment, it's about honoring their worldview. In this episode I speak to Jason, founder of The Lives of Men--and Claudio, its lead content specialist--who through their stories show us that it's possible to DO GOOD, and LOOK GOOD in the process.  Music Written and Produced by Ben Murray-Smith

Ed Sheeran is one of the most successful songwriters over the past five years. While I was listening to an interview Ed gave in front of young musicians, there was a one minute portion where he revealed his mental process for mastering his craft. In this episode we discuss this approach which we'll call "FAUCET," along with other methods described by Ira Glass, and Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn.  Music Written and Produced by Ben Murray-Smith

A must listen for Vloggers and Youtubers! Adam was living the dream: He was making a good living as a freelance video journalist, something he had been working towards since childhood. But then his view of the world got flipped upside down. He learned that quality and popularity aren't directly related. This is depressing, but there is a silver lining.  In this episode we talk to Adam Westbrook, creator behind the exceptional The Long Game 3-part video essay. He shares all he's learned, and where he sees the industry of video creation going. 

People are always staring at her. "Can I touch your stomach?" is the question that they always ask first. Miss Nu is someone who's gone from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs when it comes to personal acceptance, you'll see what I mean. She currently competes in national bodybuilding competitions, coaches others, inspires 10 thousand fans over Instagram, and does all this while maintaining a position as Director at a major Pharma corporation. In this episode we go deep, I mean DEEEEP, on what she has done to climb out of depression and into her best self. These are things we should all implement into our lives IMMEDIATELY.  Music Written and Produced by Ben Murray-Smith www.benmurraysmith.co.uk

Adam Gilbert is a tech entrepreneur who started a business from his passion. His company is called My Body Tutor, where he and his staff help folks nationwide reach their health goals.  He is the perfect person to share some wisdom with us on what he's learned about the two areas we quit at most often: fitness and business. He shares some findings on how social media has more of an impact on our goal-setting than we think--or dare to admit. Adam also has great advice on how to pick what to start on, and how to get ready for action. Let's go! Or should I say "Let's grow!" Music written and produced by Ben Murray-Smith www.benmurraysmith.co.uk

Every project, every activity, has its own unique set of challenges.  A challenge that is universal to ALL projects, however, is the emotional seesaw it puts us through.  In this episode we bring in a couple real-life stories that illustrate the three emotional stages we must go through to complete a project. Casey Neistat goes through this, as well as all Uber drivers during a daily shift. Those are Pain, Flow, and finally-- Bliss. This episode is generously sponsored by Freshbooks, easy cloud accountant for the non-accountant. Music written and produced by Ben Murray-Smith.

Kirby Ferguson created the viral documentary Everything is a Remix in his spare time, just as a little side project outside of his day job. After the instant buzz it received, Kirby was able to leverage his side project into a full-fledged career as a film-maker and video producer.  In this episode we’ll hear from Kirby on how the idea for Everything is a Remix first surfaced, then we’ll see how the success of that project turned into its own business, and then we’ll use his story to extract tips on how one should balance the work once we’ve turned a passion into an occupation. Kirby's new project is called This is Not a Conspiracy Theory, and it's superb! Check it out. Music written and produced by Ben Murray-Smith www.benmurraysmith.co.uk This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, cloud accounting for the non-accountant.

Sarah Knight is the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck. She joins us and helps us talk through some important questions like: Is being nice gonna have us finishing last all the time?  Are we just mislabeling what it means to be nice?  And, what happens when we stop giving a you-know-what?... These questions are musts to ask for our career, business, and relationships.  Music written and produced by Ben Murray-Smith www.benmurraysmith.co.uk This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, cloud accounting for the non-accountant. 

Sarah Knight has been in the publishing world for 15 years. First, selling books, then working for a literary agent, then as an editor at a major book publishing firm, and finally as an author.  She walks us through the process of writing her first book, how it impacted her, and what aspiring authors should know about the industry.  Music written and produced by Ben Murray-Smith www.benmurraysmith.co.uk This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, cloud accounting for the non-accountant.

Everyone knows the tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, they've become household names. Most don't know that all success stories in the Tech world have some milestones in common. David Cancel is a serial startup founder, his latest venture is Drift and his story is a great case study into what makes for an accomplished career in the industry. In this episode we dissect David's story and try to figure out what we can bring back into our own careers, whether in tech, arts, entertainment, or any other modern industry.  Music written and produced by Ben Murray-Smith www.benmurraysmith.co.uk This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, cloud accounting for the non-accountant.

Tucker Max sold millions of books, but being a writer wasn't even a goal of his originally. His career arc is very interesting, because it allows us to see how big a role luck and timing have on our careers.   In this episode, we talk to Tucker and try to piece together the factors that made him a hero to 20-year-olds everywhere, as well as the turn of events that have turned him into an entrepreneur. Music written and produced by Ben Murray-Smith  www.benmurraysmith.co.uk This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, cloud accounting for the non-accountant. 

Liz Josefsberg, a top-notch wellness expert to celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, also consults with corporations to help their employees get their health back on track. This week she helps us gain a healthy perspective on stress. In this episode we find that not all stress is built the same, and then we learn ways to eliminate the toxic stress that hinders our work.   

Why do some unremarkable videos go viral while many great ones go unnoticed? What factors help an idea catch on? Whether by accident or by design, the products and messages that spread all have some things in common. In this episode we bring in Jonah Berger, Professor at Wharton Business School and author of the book Contagious. He shares some stories of ideas that have become popular, and deconstructs what they had going for themselves. From Car Insurance commercials, to restaurants with outlandishly priced comfort foods, a shareable idea possesses certain things. These are things that we can leverage to help our businesses, art, or messages gain a large following.  Music written and produced by Ben Murray-Smith benmurraysmith.co.uk

Seth Godin joins us in this episode, and we learn from him why the current model of education is broken, and actionable steps to taking charge of our own learning as adults. Along the way we discover why we should be approaching our career as a series of projects, and what skills hold the most value in today's world.  He also tells us some stories of his clashes with the educational system, and why Zig Ziglar impacted his life immensely. You can read full shownotes and find out more about the show at WitsAboutYou.com.

Illustrator and Writer Jessica Hagy helps us decode the process of finding our tribe. Because if you're an entrepreneur, or an artist, or simply a professional trying to leave your mark--your tribe is the canvas on which your paint your masterpiece. Subscribe on iTunes or at WitsAboutYou.com. New episodes every Tuesday.

The world's most powerful men and women all know one thing: how to craft a message that will move others at your will. In this episode we bring in persuasion and rhetoric expert Jay Heinrichs to teach us what the ancient Greeks learned about speaking, and how to boil down our message into the perfect set of sound bites. Subscribe on iTunes or at WitsAboutYou.com. New episodes every Tuesday.

This week's topic is near and dear to any focused individual, it's about rejection. How to deal with it, how to approach it, and how to use it in your favor. We feature Steve Barr, a successful cartoonist and illustrator with 40+ years in the game.