The Competitive Edge

We brought back the podcast for a special episode with my buddy Ryan Denehy. Ryan is the Co-Founder of Swarm Mobile which was acquired by Groupon and one of the hardest working guys I know. In this episode, we chat about what it takes to be sucessful and how you can engineer your life to get the results you want for your life and business. If you're not there today, that's okay because this is a PROCESS, not an overnight switch. We chat about habits, routines, and attitude which made me super fired up about this episode!

Brothers Ilan and Guy Ferdman come on the show to share how they've relied upon being super intentional about what they choose to focus on to quickly go from starting a business to some of the most pre-eminent facebook marketers in their space. We'll talk about the even bigger vision they have and how they plan on getting there along the way. These guys are full of energy, wisdom, and enthusiam which makes for an awesome episode. 

Ben Greenfield drops some serious knowledge in this episode. We chat about everything from building muscle while burning fat, to wine and coffee intake. In terms of peak health and performance, Ben is an absolute machine which really shines through in this episode. He also is a great entrepreneur which we touch upon as well! 

Peter Shankman comes on the show to discuss his new book Zombie Loyalists and the power of providing an incredible experience for customers. Peter's been known as a marketing thought leader even before he founded HARO and that shines through in this episode. We talk about a host different marketing tactics especially how to really activate customers to spread WOM using great service. This was a fun episode!

Ryan Coisson comes on the show to talk about the biggest opportunity in ecommerce and how he's built a booming business abroad. In just a few short years, Ryan has launched over 40 ecommerce brands that do over 7 figures a month. Even more impressive, Ryan has built a team of over 40 employees abroad in the Philippines that run his business while he lives and travels around. We'll dive deep into the mindsets, tactics, and processes that make this possible! 

A few months ago I had this crazy idea for a workout that incorporated many of the habits that make me feel empowered and push me to heightened levels of motivation and achievement. I have continued to develop this concept which is now called Peak State and in this episode you'll get a full background on the story, workouts, and where this project is going. I think its pretty cool and have yet to see anything out there like it. Take a listen and let me know what you think!

Brian Smith the founder of popular shoe company UGG joins us on the show today to talk about his journey building a world class brand. You'll learn about how an optimistic aussie started his business from scratch in a foreign country after an idea hit him while reading a surfing magazine.    One of the most challenging things an entrepreneur faces is just the resiliency to hang in there in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Mastering this was a key part of Brian's journey and something we're going to dive deep into during this episode.

There has been a plethora of exciting startups who are innovating on painful buying experiences while championing what has been popularly known as the direct to consumer model. Today we're fortunate enough to have one of the most exciting companies in the space Casper. Casper Co-Founder Philip Krim comes on the show to talk about building the company as well as how we can be thinking about this new category of ecommerce. These guys did over a million in revenue in their first month and have only grown since then so there is definitely a thing or two to be learned from their journey so far.

Matt Ellsworth is our guest today. The guy is a total stud and in this interview we're going to start by talking about how using a combination of scraping, vritual assistants, and cold emails he built a massive lead generation machine at his last startup storefront. So much so that his outsourced team was sending out thousands of targeted, personalized emails a week while his interal sales team could focus on responding to warm leads. But this convo isn't just all about startups...despite seemingly being on top of the world as a preeminent Growth guy in Silicon Valley, Matt left his last company to pursue standup comedy and focus on some others. We'll talk about how he thought about pursuing a different type of dream when everyone around him expected him to do more startup stuff. Super inspiring stuff.

John Durant, author of the Paleo Manifesto and MY NEW ROOMMATE is our awesome guest today. John is one of the foremost thought leaders on ancestral health and paleolithic living. In this episode, he shares with us why one way to unlock new levels of peak health and performance is to revert to a lifestyle more similar to one humans have bee living for 10's of thousands of years. Many of the modern diets, exercise trends, and lifestyle habits that get lots of attention in pop culture are actually hurting our ability to thrive in many instances. We'll dive into this and more topics surrounding peak health in this jam packed episode.

Nir Eyal is the author of Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and blogs about the psychology of products at NirAndFar.com. In this episode we chat about the science and psychology behind some of the most addictive internet products and apps. If you're like me and wonder why you constantly feel an urge to check Instagram or even email, this episode brilliantly lays out how these behaviors can be engineered. Awesome episode for anyone interested in startups and building the next big thing. 

This episode dives into the topic of achievement and how we can approach the art of “happily achieving”   Its funny - a lot of us are really quick to ask ourselves what we want without ever asking what we're willing to give up for that which is a much greater predictor of whether will get those things and enjoy the process along the way.   This episode is a bit all over the place, but Mark shares some mindsets that have helped him in his own entrepreneurial journey in growing one of the largest self-development sites on the internet. Resiliency, values, and overcoming fear are just a few of the topics we''ll go deep on. Consider this required listening for anyone who wants to be their best selves. Let's hear from Mark Manson.

Have you ever had an idea for a food product or personal recipe you've wanted to take mainstream? Today I chat with my buddy Ryan Smith, one of the co-founders of Bitchin' Sauce which is my favorite garnish in the world. This stuff is so good that it's now on the shelves in groceries stores everywhere including Whole Foods. We'll talk about all the steps to take what was just a family creation to the shelves of major grocery stores and a whole lot more. Ryan is also hilarious which makes for a Bitchin' episode.

Steve Sisler, the founder of the Behavioral Research Group comes on the show to reveal the power that can be unlocked when people understand AND leverage their natural hardwiring. Steve provides countless examples of how understanding this can help you be a more effective leader and entrepreneur. We also do a live profiling of yours truly which has been excellent for helping me make crucial decisions in my business since having this conversation. A must listen especially if you're familiar with the DISC profile.

Steve Schlafman is a good bud and startup investor for RRE ventures.  He's also someone whose work ethic and hustle I genuinely admire. We've had a lot of entrepreneurs on this show, but today I wanted to bring someone on the other side of the table on. Steve sees 100's if not thousands of companies a year and has to distill amongst all the people building things which ones he things are going to make it.  One of the cool things about this job, is you get to see patterns amongst companies and individuals. What type of company wins? What do the founders look like? We'll pick Steve's brain on these types of questions, and unpack what entrepreneurs should know before pitching a venture capitalist. My favorite part of the episode is hearing some stories from the trenches about the lengths some entrepreneurs have taken to make their company successful…

After 3 people asked me about how to be beaming with joy in a 24 hour period, I wanted to share this gratitude practice that has been a big part of creating the deepest and lasting sense of inner joy I've ever had. Everyone can do this and it only takes a few minutes a day. It's even backed by Science!

Steve Sims runs The Bluefish which is probably coolest company in the world. They deliver world class experiences to people and in the process make the impossible happen. This episode is chock full of stories of resourcefulness and mindsets that have helped Steve create the premier executive concierge service in the world. If you want to live the high life and access experiences Steve provides, listen to his advice in this episode and you'll be on your way. 

Ben Altman from Charisma On Command comes on the show to chat how you can make an amazing first impression on people. Whether you're walking into the room at a networking event or meeting someone at the bar, we all want to know how to leave that person wanting more....the framework Ben proposes rings true in my life and is definitely something you can apply in any situation. Definitely worth a listen!

Jayson Gaignard, creator of Mastermind Talks, comes on the show to discuss what it takes to throw a world class event. The origin story of Mastermind Talks contains the ultimate hustle move by Jason and it's the one event that every person I've talked to says is by far and away a home run. There's a whole lot more in this episode than just creating a world class experience...we'll dive into some philosophy stuff and business tips that you can use to attract A+ players in your life like Jayson has.

Maren Kate Donovan the CEO of Zirtual comes on the show to talk about how we can massively increase our productivity and happiness by using Virtual Assistants. We'll give specific instances where you can use them as well as the best ways to work with them. We also talk about Zirtual as a business and where its headed which is pretty exciting!

Stephan Aarstol founder of Tower Paddle Boards comes on the show to talk about the origin story of his company Tower Paddle Boards. Stephan's company was named one of the top 10 companies to go on Shark Tank and he provides a ton of insight into what it is actually like before, during, and after the show. We'll touch on a framework you can use to evaluate and disrupt ecommerce verticals as well as some very smart strategies Stephan has used to grow his business. 

Chris Walker comes on the show to chat about how to naturally boost the hormone responsible for energy, aptitude to put on muscle, and positive emotions...testosterone. Seriously, what guy doesn't want more of these things? We'll cover things like diet, exercise, and the many other variables which for the most part can be optimized to make your perform at higher levels. Boom!

John Lee Dumas, host of Entrepreneur on Fire, comes on the show to discuss the mindsets and tactics he's used to quickly skyrocket to the top of itunes. This episode will cover everything from how he has learned to scale himself to the ways you should be approaching a crowded market. We'll also get a behind the scenes look at John's 6 figure a month business. 

Vanessa Van Edwards from The Science Of People comes on the show to talk about body language, alpha traits, the science of first impressions and these crucial things called micro-expressions. Don't think this stuff matters? Well studies say that people who understand these things make more money, have more love, and are happier. If this isn't incentive to tune in, I don't know what is. Oh and we'll also talk about lie detection : )

Justin Mares, Co-Author of Traction Book comes on the show to talk about something everyone in business wants to know...how to get more customers! This episode is a blueprint for how to approach acquiring users and a framework that anyone can use in their business whether we're talking about software or book marketing. Justin is a marketing champ and I gurantee you'll get some amazing ideas and strategies by listening to this episode.

Charisma is something we all want, yet few people have really taken the time to codify it and lay it out in a way that we can develop more of it. One of my best buds and former roommates comes on the show today to decode charisma and teach you how to turn it on in an instant. Charlie used to be incredibly shy and now he's got that "it" factor that makes him a magnet anywhere he goes. Learn how he developed it here!

Have an idea for a product that should be in your favorite retail store and trying to figure out how to make that happen? Brandon Rickman whose products have sold more than 20 million dollars worth of goods in places like Wal-Mart and Home Depot comes on to the show to lay out step by step how to go from idea to retail stores. This is the most comprehensive breakdown I've ever seen!

Best selling author and publishing expert Tucker Max comes on the show to share what it takes to create a book that reaches mainstream popularity. We talk about the publishing industry, why you should consider publishing a book, and how media will change in the next few years. A must listen for anyone that has ever thought of writing a book.

Aubrey Marcus, the CEO and Founder of human optimization company Onnit Labs comes on the show to chat about how he's taken Onnit from a few sales a day to one of the fastest growing companies in his space. We talk about podcast marketing, supplements, and some marketing and growth tactics that anyone looking to start something should consider.

Tony Robbins has been an amazing influence on me. This podcast is a behind the scenes of my experience at the event and discussion around the biggest takeaways for me. Whether your current focus is personal development or business expansion, I think there is plenty of game-changing ideas in here.

Trevor Owens comes on to the show to chat about how he's been able to connect with some incredible people that eventually became trusted mentors, advisors, and investors. The caliber of people in his life is truly amazing ranging from investors like Mark Suster and Dave McClure to entrepreneurs like Seth Godin and Scott Heiferman. You'll learn exactly how he did this with an initial cold email and we'll actually break down the logic behind each one. This is truly a unique episode and plays into some excellent psychology that is imperative for anyone looking to start relationships via cold email should understand. 

Sebastian Marshall, one of the best thinkers online in my opinion comes on the show to talk about a sleiu of mindsets that can dramatically benefit your life. We talk about everything from the intersection of biochemistry and performance to practicing directive thinking and impulse control, but I can pretty much guarantee you'll leave this conversation with some new ideas to chew on and strategies to implement.

This is the first episode of our live mentor series. Successful entrepreneur Spencer Fry comes on the show to give live advice and feedback to social media marketing company Biznobo. We'll talk about how to get your first customers, start charging, and think about boostrapping in the early days.

NFL Veteran and media personality Ross Tucker comes on the show to talk about taking control of your life. Ross is an excellent example of someone whose made the most of out many opportunities and we talk about how he's been able to accomplish this on the show. A great listen for motivation and real stories of hustling for the life you want.

Chris Bailey comes on the show to discuss what he learned after spending a year focusing on maximizing productivity. Chris did a ton of experiments and the end results are pretty fascinating and eye-opening. Definitely a must listen for people who want to increase their productivity.

Jordan Harbinger from the Art of Charm comes on to the show to talk about how to best present yourself in social situations. Having a magnetic personality probably opens more doors than anything else so this is definitely a listen. Jordan is also hilarious which makes this an entertaining episode. 

Our brains work in such a way that the questions we ask ourselves determine what we choose to focus on and thus the actions we decide to take. In this episode, I share how I purposefully use specific questions in a variety of instances to maximize performance and make sure that my life is taking the path I want it too. 

Jerry Colonna, renown startup investor and founder of CEO Bootcamp comes on the show to talk about how we can manage our emotions as entrepreneurs. This gets deep and is such an important topic for everyone out there looking to get involved in startups and entrepreneurship.

Wiley Cerilli, the Founder of Singleplatform and a personal inspiration, comes on the show to talk about building his company which I was fortunate enough to be a part of. We cover everything from specific pre-selling strategies and sales mindsets to CEO advice and what it takes to be successful. This is a personal favorite episode and Wiley is the man.

Oren Klaff, Best Selling Author of Pitch Anything who raised billions of dollars to help take companies public comes on the show to share his innovative method for presenting and persuading. I have to say his approach is original and codified so that anyone can use this strategy with success. Great for anyone looking to make an amazing impression. 

Aaron Ross, best selling author of Predictable Revenue, shares the secret sauce of how he created a system at Salesforce that was responsible for an addition 100 million dollars in recurring revenue. We chat everything from strategies to mistakes people are making in sales and lead generation. This is a good one!

Noah Lehmann-Haupt, the founder of Gotham Dream cars comes on the show and shares how he built the world's largest exotic rental car company. This interview has everything from awesome business advice to crazy car stories that sound like a grand theft auto plot.

Stefan Pylarinos from Project Life Mastery comes on to the show and discusses how he's been able to publish over 100 books on kindle to print cash while he sleeps. We also dive into some awesome personal development topics like building routines that put us into a peak state. I finish the episode by sharing my favorite peak state jingles in the mindshare segment.

Cold emails enable us to be one touch point from anyone in the world. In this episode I reveal some unorthodox strategies throughout the cold email process that can help you connect with anyone in the world. You'll get everything from highly effective scripts to unconventional ways to find decision makers.

Ameer Rosic shares ways we can naturally increase our energy levels in this conversation. We talk about everything from when the best time to work out is, the ideal sleep time, and  how to eat for optimal health in this episode.

Chris Taylor, the CEO of Actionable Books, discusses how to get employees and colleagues to bring their best work every single day. This is a fascinating conversation from someone who is running their company remotely, yet is still able to run a successful company.

Ted Alling shares how he built a 500 million dollar company in the trucking industry with pure grit and determination. We're going to dive into some hardcore sales tactics and inspiring stories in this conversation. Ted's a total badass.

Mike Hrostoski reveals some big time conversational mistakes people make when trying to attract abundance into their lives. We'll get authentic in this conversation and talk about fear, anxiety, and how to overcome it.

What if there is one thing we were all made to do? And if we spent majority of our time focused on it, we could unlock new levels of potential. This concept is called your unique ability and Andy is convinced it's the secret to greatness. We explore this topic and other parts of entrepreneurship in this interview with Andy Drish.

Habits literally determine the quality of your life. James Clear comes on to the show to do a deep dive on decoding habit formation. We riff on a ton of different human behavior stuff and dig into why people fail at creating empowering habits and how to combat this.