Podcast appearances and mentions of Adam Braun

Romans 12:1-8 10/27/24

6/16/24

Adam Braun is the co-founder and CEO of Clarasight, a company offering carbon planning and analysis software to leading corporations like AstraZeneca and Meta. This platform aids in aligning business goals with sustainability targets. Previously Braun founded and led Pencils of Promise, an award-winning organization that has established over 600 schools globally.Adam has been recognized in Business Insider's 40 Under 40 and Wired Magazine's 50 People Who Are Changing the World. His book, The Promise of a Pencil, became a New York Times Bestseller and allowed him to reflect on how small steps can lead to significant change.Follow To Dine For:Official Website: ToDineForTV.comFacebook: Facebook.com/ToDineForTVInstagram: @ToDineForTVTwitter: @KateSullivanTVEmail: ToDineForTV@gmail.com Thank You to our Sponsors!American National InsuranceTerlato Wine Group Follow Our Guest:Official Site: AdamBraun.comPencils of Promise: PencilsOfPromise.orgFacebook: Adam BraunInstagram: @ItsAdamBraunTwitter: @AdamBraun Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-9 2/11/2024

8/20/23

7/9/23

Welcome back to the thought-leaders podcast! Yomi Adegoke is again embarking on a journey toward the future this week. She is joined today by Nono Konopka. Nono is an author, entrepreneur, film producer, podcaster and speaker – there's almost nothing Nono doesn't love and will do. Well, except for one thing – biking! It is a great twist of fate, then, that this man and his friend traveled from Berlin to Beijing a few years ago – by bicycle. Out of his comfort zone, onto the saddle and straight into the big wide world – and all for a great cause. This journey inspired him to produce “Biking Borders,” one of the most-watched documentaries on Netflix. A crazy journey watched and supported by people from all over the world. He talks to us about his lessons for living a truly fulfilled life, his mission, and new ways of fundraising. One question Nono has asked himself over and over again in recent years is: What do I really want in life? Let's find out together if he has found the answer. 03:00 The meaning of Forwardism 07:30 Cycling for the good cause 08:30 The mission of Adam Braun and Pencils for Promise 09:55 A journey from Berlin to Beijing 13:20 The special motivation to continue going 15:50 One friendship and one shared vision 17:55 A cycling journey on social media 22:00 The future of fundraising 24:00 It is more about asking the question than giving an answer 25:40 A really good life: Trying, trying, trying 27:00 Stepping out of the comfort zone You can find more information about our host Yomi Adegoke here and about our guest Nono Konopka here. Tune in to find out what Forwardism sounds like. Want to know what Forwardism looks like? Click here and experience a new dimension of luxury with the BMW i7.

Jim Carter III knows how it feels to be burned out and overwhelmed. When he was chasing money he never felt satisfied. And when he asked himself if his goals were worth the effort he was putting into them, he realized the answer was no. Jim's realization was affirmed when he read Adam Braun's book, The Promise of a Pencil, and this was where his transformative journey began! Today, Jim is dedicated to providing changemakers with the technological tools they need to thrive. He is motivated by serving his family and making the world a better place and he is wealthier (in all senses of the word) than he ever has been. During this conversation with Jim, he shares his advice for finding your purpose, key tools to overcoming impostor syndrome, and his approach to creating a workplace culture that is built on the core values of freedom and balance.Key Points From This Episode:An introduction to today's purpose-driven guest, Jim Carter III.Fast Foundations Mastermind: an overview of what this program is and how it changed Jim's life.Where Jim's interest in service-based projects began.The burnout that Jim experienced when he strayed from his passion for service. What Jim is motivated by.The catalyst for Jim's transformational journey. How Jim managed to overcome impostor syndrome.Advice for finding your purpose.Where Jim is currently directing his focus.  Values that are foundational to the culture that Jim has created in his company; Carter and Custer.Jim's approach to leadership.Examples of the ways in which Jim's fully remote company maintains open communication amongst their team members.Information that Jim shares daily via text message. [Get his cellphone number at 50:57 if you are interested]Jim's top book recommendations.Brendon Burchard; why Jim would love to learn more from this man.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Jim Carter Cellphone Number — +3104963389Jim Carter on LinkedInJim Carter on InstagramCarter and CusterFast Foundations MastermindPencils of PromiseThe Promise of a PencilThe DipGood to GreatBrendon BurchardChris GoodmanGoodman Coaching ApplicationGoodman Coaching Inc The Relentless Growth Mastermind

On today's show, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview the inspiring Kailee Scales, the CEO of Pencils of Promise. Every organization that strives to do great things in the world, needs a strongly empathetic, compassionate and caring leader who is deeply committed to creating lasting change. Kailee Scales has embodied these attributes from early in her life. She has been devoted to a life of service for years and firmly believes that Every human being was born free. But we know for many people there are barriers to this freedom. She believes there are processes that allow people to either have freedom of action and decisions or not to have freedom over their actions and decisions and this is what devoted her life to figuring out why this is. Kailee has raised over $100 million and led domestic and international NGOs to address some of the world's most progressive social and political issues. Most notably, she served as founding national director of Mentor USA and global coordinator of Mentor International, a drug-abuse prevention organization led by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, working in close conjunction with HMQ Silvia and United Nations leadership. From 2017 to 2020, Kailee served as the first Managing Director of Black Lives Matter Global Network.  In this role, she was responsible for building infrastructure across the global organization..  She launched the Arts+Culture platform and created BLM's WhatMATTERS2020, a civic engagement campaign targeted towards Black Millennial and Gen Z voters at risk of disenfranchisement.  She also served as the executive producer of the viral video, Rest in Power Beautiful, which aired less than 48 hours after the murder of George Floyd. It was seen over 10M times on social media, BET, CBS, Times Square and the Staples Center.  In June 2021, she was chosen by Adam Braun to serve as the CEO of Pencils of Promise. This was a deeply insightful conversation and I hope you find a lot of takeaway value in Kailee's message. I've included links to POP in the show notes as well where you can find Kailee on social media. I also encourage to head on over to POP to check out there amazing work. If you are an educational leader or teacher looking to be involved there are lots of ways to connect with them and offer your time. As well, please consider a donation to their cause. Connect with Kailee: Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaileeScalesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaileescales/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.kaileescales.com/about/Pencils of Promise Website: https://pencilsofpromise.org/

Jon Storey is a polarizing figure in the real estate industry. But he's not trying to win any popularity contests; his goal is to help people move the needle. And guess what? He's phenomenal at it. After years as a title rep, Jon founded his own coaching company, Professional Marketing Specialists and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs develop accountability, systems, and marketing strategies that stimulate mindboggling growth and revenue. And don't let him fool you…he's actually one hell of a nice guy. On this episode of Real Talk, Jon gets real on several topics, including: The resilience of his daughter (8:50) How he produces and distributes content (18:22) Who Not How (21:25) Accountability and consistency (24:00) Parenting (27:00) The social media ego grab (28:24) Time and freedom (32:00) How his program works (34:30) Real estate CRMs (41:07) The value of video (43:30) Education and chasing your dreams (48:30) His favorite word - “Dad” (59:25) RESOURCE LINKS Facebook Profile https://www.facebook.com/jon.storey.16 Facebook Page - Professional Marketing Specialists https://www.facebook.com/Professional.Marketing.Specialists Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jon_storey_/?utm_medium=copy_link LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonstorey/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLd6LciyN19luy1AXLiXtvA Who Not How (book) https://www.amazon.com/s?k=who+not+how+book&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqbyNBhC2ARIsALDwAsCnO9Dm0XCBnn5pSialxQKFffD4zre0xQdeqILfT9lJAv91J1bmEkgaAj82EALw_wcB&hvadid=477521041828&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9029978&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13026151366043091905&hvtargid=kwd-1032038115349&hydadcr=22535_10344669&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_7e0kxk1hqd_e The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713 John Gafford – The Gafford Group https://www.nvdreamhomes.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqbyNBhC2ARIsALDwAsAkAw56MvUJ7Rf7OYmxw215pPvYkDZCnMyqZ7KelIvqZu7eesSG0T4aAryQEALw_wcB Brad Lea https://bradlea.com/ Oliver Preciado –DRIVEN Event https://www.drivenevent.com/ What To Do If You Don't Want to Go to College | #AskGaryVee with Adam Braun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QSdaQi_d1Y  

Take a listen as Butch speaks at the Ordination Gathering of Adam Braun, the sixth elder of Commonwealth City Church.

Khi đi du lịch ở Ấn Độ, tác giả Adam Braun đã gặp một cậu bé ăn xin trên đường phố. Anh hỏi cậu muốn điều gì nhất trên đời này, thì nhận được câu trả lời đơn giản: "Một cây bút chì”. Mơ ước nhỏ nhoi này đã khiến Adam vô cùng xúc động và thôi thúc anh thành lập tổ chức POP - Pencil of Promise. Bắt đầu ý tưởng với vỏn vẹn 25 USD trong tay, chàng trai trẻ Adam và quỹ POP đã làm nên điều kỳ diệu bằng việc xây dựng 250 ngôi trường dành cho những đứa trẻ nghèo đói trên toàn cầu. Châu tin là Câu chuyện ấm áp trong sách sẽ truyền cảm hứng cho những ai còn đang mơ hồ trên con đường hiện thực hóa đam mê của mình, đồng thời lan toả tình yêu thương đến những người xung quanh.--Về Fonos:Fonos là ứng dụng sách nói có bản quyền. Trên ứng dụng Fonos, bạn có thể nghe định dạng sách nói của những cuốn sách nổi tiếng nhất từ các tác giả trong nước và quốc tế. Ngoài ra, bạn được sử dụng miễn phí nội dung Premium khi đăng ký trở thành Hội viên của Fonos: Truyện ngủ, Nhạc thư giãn, Thiền định, Tóm tắt sách.--Tải ứng dụng Fonos tại: https://fonos.app.link/tai-fonosTìm hiểu về Fonos: https://fonos.vn/Theo dõi Facebook Fonos: https://www.facebook.com/fonosvietnam/Theo dõi Instagram Fonos: https://www.instagram.com/fonosvietnam/Đọc các bài viết thú vị về sách, tác giả sách, những thông tin hữu ích để phát triển bản thân: http://blog.fonos.vn/

In this episode, we review social missions or non-for-profit organisations that provide support in Ghana to the less privileged in Ghanaian society, whether that be helping out Schools, giving out food and water, providing shelter and healthcare, and providing clothing to the young and grown people of Ghanaian. We may not be able to help everyone, but charity certainly starts at home.We cover:Pencils of PromiseNew Africa Foundation Vitae LondonHave I missed any International organisations or NPOs that give support Ghana that should have made the list? Let us know. Email, info@thesoundofaccra.com or visit contact us page on our website. Visit us on social media  on instagram and Linkedin. Support the show

Join us as we introduce Adam Braun as our newest Elder at ComCity. Adam also brings us an exposition from Psalm 13.

Philippians 4:1-9 6/13/21

Leslie Engle Young was born in Oregon to two educators. Her life has brought her many twists and turns that have led her to be in a position where she is now leading thousands of educators all over the world! Leslie is the Chief Operating Officer at Pencils of Promise—a fantastic organization that builds schools and provides quality educational programming to increase literacy rates in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos and Nicaragua. At PoP, Leslie has done it! She has led as the Country Director for Laos, the Director of Impact, the Chief Impact Officer, and, now, the Chief Operating Officer. Check out PoP's Teach Appreciation Campaign! Watch this great conversation with Adam Braun, PoP’s Founder, and Leslie at AOL HQ. Learn more about Pencils of Promise. I encourage you to get involved! _________________________________________ Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with everything. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! If you love what we’re doing, consider supporting us on Patreon! We can’t do this without you. Lastly, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Have an amazing week, friends! See you next year. Keep giving a damn. Love y’all! Edited and Sound Designed by Sound On Studios

Claud Williams, an award-winning entrepreneur, executive coach and founder of Dream Nations, talks about his career-journey, so far, and the books that inspired him along the way such as ‘Losing your Virginity' by Sir Richard Branson and 'The Promise of a Pencil' by Adam Braun. Contact Claude Willaims: Website: https://dreamnation.co/ Instagram: @claud_williams_ Twitter: @claud_williams Contains music by: ES_Borrowed Peace - Peter Sandberg ES_Under the Surface - Flouw ES_Free Falling Please don't forget to subscribe, rate or review our podcast because it really does help us grow.   Thanking you in advance, Blacticulate x

Founded on just $25, international charity Pencils of Promise has built more than 200 schools in developing countries around the world. This book tells the story of the charity’s growth and the mission of its founder, Adam Braun The Promise of a Pencil illustrates the simple key theories that characterize Adam Braun’s inspiring mission. In addition to telling the story of Braun’s charity, the principles outlined in this book will guide readers to find their passion, maximize their potential, and live a life full of joy and meaning through serving others. Do you want more free book summaries like this? Download our app for free at https://www.QuickRead.com/App and get access to hundreds of free book and audiobook summaries.

Let's dive into one of my favorite mantras from Adam's book and explore what a truly meaningful life looks like. It's a New Year! Did you check out my favorite 20 tips from 2020? If not I'll email it over to you if you sign up here!

Join us as Curt walks through what it means to be a servant from Philippians 2. Adam Braun also shares a new vision for our Family Groups.

As small and insignificant as your contribution might seem, it makes a real difference. Adam Braun grew small acts of service into an international movement, and you can too!

Adam Braun hatte bereits als Teenager den Traum, an der Wall Street in New York City zu arbeiten. Nach seinem Studium gelingt ihm der Berufseinstieg bei Bain and Company, einer der weltweit größten Unternehmensberatungen. Doch trotz finanzieller Sicherheit und seinem angesehenen Job ist Braun unglücklich und mit seinem Leben nicht zufrieden. Bereits während seines Auslandssemesters hatte er begonnen, nach seiner Berufung und dem "Sinn des Lebens" zu suchen. Er erinnert sich an eine Begegnung mit einem bettelnden Jungen in Indien zurück und beginnt über eine Veränderung in seinem Leben nachzudenken. Kurz vor seinem 25. Geburtstag beschließt Braun den Mindestbetrag von 25 US-Dollar einzuzahlen und damit eine Non-Profit Organisation zu gründen. Damit verlässt er den klassischen Karrierepfad und folgt seiner Berufung - obwohl ihm seine Eltern davon abraten. Fan vom Literatursenf? Folge uns auf https://www.instagram.com/literatursenf/ (Instagram)! Folge uns auf https://www.facebook.com/literatursenf/ (Facebook)!

★DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PDF SUMMARY BY CLICKING BELOW https://go.bestbookbits.com/freepdf

The Promise of a Pencil Book Summary | Author Adam Braun | bestbookbits.com Join our book club for free visit https://bestbookbits.com/bookclub To the get a weekly email with the latest Book Summaries Released https://mailchi.mp/d1dfc1907cdb/bestbookbits Written summary at https://bestbookbits.com/the-promise-of-a-pencil-book-summary-author-adam-braun-bestbookbits-com9697-2/ YouTube Summary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt5noz1tgm8 Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bestbookbits/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bestbookbits/support

The post Special Release: Crafting Your Company’s Narrative with Adam Braun | Episode #58 appeared first on Rank & File Magazine.

Adam Braun is an American entrepreneur, best-selling author, and philanthropist. He is the Founder of Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases access to education for children in the developing world. He has recently founded a company called MissionU which is an alternative to higher education that is set to disrupt the industry and change the way that we view higher learning. Favorite Success Quote “Live not in dreams but in contemplation of a reality that is perhaps the future.” ~Rainer Rilke Key Points 1. Say “No” More One of the most powerful words in the English language is the word “No”. If you learn to use this word effectively, you can add dozens of hours of productive time to your weeks, reduce your mental and emotional stressors, and eliminate the vast majority of the tasks that aren’t truly serving you. But there’s a catch… In order to become a master of the word “No” you must first learn to prioritize your own time, success, and happiness above anyone else’s. It might sound selfish or egotistic, but the simple fact of the matter is that you should come first. If you aren’t taking care of yourself by saying “no” to the things that aren’t serving you, then you are withholding your potential and your power from the world. Think about it… If you say “Yes” to working on a project for 3 clients even though that project will not pay you what you are worth and isn’t in alignment with your goals and values, then what’s going to happen when you are swamped with work but have a new client reach out to you with a position that would change your life? Or imagine that you have said “Yes” to several meetings that you didn’t want to attend and that didn’t serve you in any way… You are now forced to say “No” when an opportunity presents itself that is in true alignment with your vision. And all of these seemingly little and innocuous compromises will eventually accumulate until you are off track, off purpose, and up to your neck in things that aren’t part of your ultimate mission on this planet. 2.Learn to Delegate Richard Branson, the (in)famous entrepreneur, author, playboy, and philanthropist was once asked to share the secret behind his numerous billion-dollar companies. His answer was surprising… He didn’t say anything about needing a good idea, or working hard, or having lots of capital. No, he said that his secret was to find people who were better than he was, hire those people, and provide them with everything they needed to take his companies into the stratosphere. If you truly want to excel at business, then you must learn to delegate. Find people who are better than you are at a given position and give them the reigns. Because you can’t do it alone. And you would be a fool to try. 3. Be an Entrepreneurial Missionary, not a Mercenary  There are two types of entrepreneurs. Missionaries and mercenaries. The entrepreneurial mercenary has one focus… Money. And while money is not necessarily a bad thing (as we will discuss momentarily) you need to realize that anyone who is solely focused on wealth will likely lose motivation, tire out, and quit. Instead, you should strive to be an entrepreneurial missionary, or, in other words, an entrepreneur whose end goal encompasses more than just a few added zeroes in your bank account. You need to have a mission for your business, you must genuinely want to serve the world and make an impact, and believe that you are the person to do it. Otherwise, you will spend years of your life tirelessly chasing money and success without ever making a real dent in the universe, without ever making a difference. And the irony of all of this? Entrepreneurs who focus on adding value and serving their world first tend to be the entrepreneurs who make the greatest profits in the long run. So regardless of whether you own your own company or are working for someone else, do your best to ensure that every step you make and every goal you set is for a purpose and a mission greater than yourself. The results will astonish you… 4. Money is an Avenue to Freedom Money is a complicated beast. It can bring about so much joy, happiness, and fulfillment, but it can also be at the heart of so much pain, agony, and suffering. Because of the dichotomous and confusing nature of money (and the fact that few of us receive a relevant financial education), it can be easy to fall into the trap of viewing money as either “Evil” or the “End all be all” of life. I am here to tell you… It’s neither. Money is simply an avenue to freedom, it’s a tool, an instrument to be wielded by those who possess it. With money, you can do some incredible things. You can transform lives, build a lasting legacy, and create a real impact on the universe. Without it, your options are severely limited, and your freedom is hindered. The sooner you realize that money is a tool and that in and of itself, has no moral standing, the sooner you will be able to create real wealth for yourself that you can use to bring about a significant amount of good in the universe. 5. Set a Vision, Stick to It, and Stay Accountable  If you want to achieve your goals and live a life of success and fulfillment, then you must set a vision, stick to it, and get massively accountable. You see, most of you reading this right now have at least one of these three steps in order. Maybe you have a vision, but you are constantly changing it and find yourself unable to follow through. Maybe you have been working tirelessly towards a goal or a dream but you know in your heart that it isn’t truly congruent with your values and deepest desires. Maybe you have surrounded yourself with people who lift you to a higher level and want you to excel… But you have no vision for which they can hold you accountable. Whatever the case may be, if you want to excel in all areas of life and truly live a level 10/10 life, then you must set a crystal clear vision for what you want, stick to that vision, and get massive accountability from people you respect and admire. If any one of these ingredients is missing, the whole ship will sink and your dreams will never come to fruition. Set a vision. Stick to your vision. And get accountable. Now…

Join us as Adam Braun walks us through Psalm 91 and what it means, and will mean, to "dwell" in the presence of God.

Adam Braun is taking over the Quarantine Edition of the ComCity Cast for a three part series called "Being Strong and Courageous, No Matter the Circumstances". Check out Part One in a journey through the book of Joshua.

Do you want more free audiobooks like this? Download our app for free at QuickRead.com/App and get access to hundreds of free book and audiobook summaries. Founded on just $25, international charity Pencils of Promise has built more than 200 schools in developing countries around the world. This book tells the story of the charity’s growth and the mission of its founder, Adam Braun The Promise of a Pencil illustrates the simple key theories that characterize Adam Braun’s inspiring mission. In addition to telling the story of Braun’s charity, the principles outlined in this book will guide readers to find their passion, maximize their potential, and live a life full of joy and meaning through serving others.

"True self-discovery begins where your comfort zone ends." - Adam Braun. At some point in our lives, we all feel pain, it is simply an inevitable part of life. Throughout my life, I have constantly felt pain. As a young adult, it was the self-inflicted pain of repeated mistakes, living an unsavory life and losing sight of the things that truly matter. I had a family that loved me but didn't like me as a person at all.Pain can be a crippling adversary. At the time, the pain I caused myself, pushed me into the darkness. It cultivated thoughts in my own mind that the world is unfair, that I was dealt a bad hand, and that there was no use in trying to right things because I was already too far into the darkness to ever see the light.Through a very eye-opening string of events, not the least of which was my own mother, a woman I love beyond words beginning to give up on me, I began to realize that I, me and me alone was the one responsible for the pain I was experiencing. That is the truth with most of the pain I personally ever faced in life. It is true that there are circumstances that happen that are completely out of our control, but what we can always control is how we view and react to those circumstances.We don't always sabotage ourselves, sometimes horrible things happen to the most amazing people, When this happens, I generally see one of two responses. I see the person who stays down when life throws a punch at them, I see them begin to fall into the darkness, they blame life for not being fair, and never take accountability for their own reactions. They say, looked what happened to me, it's just my luck, that's how my life has always been.Then I see the other response, the person who refuses to stay down. The person who refuses to let the circumstance dictate who they are or what they do. For these people, it hurts more to stay where they are than to move toward where they want to be. Tony Robbins states that "change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change."What many don't know is that intrinsically, pain is one of the most powerful driving forces we have. When I hit rock bottom, and I finally woke up, I saw my dreams in front of me. They were a far way off, but they were there. I had found hope and belief in myself. The hard part was changing. But the pain made it all too easy because it literally burned me inside to do anything that took away from the spark of light I saw at the end of the road. Any action that wasn't consistent with my dreams literally killed me inside.So I got away from all of the destructive behavior that brought me to such a low place in my life. And my change happened at lightning speed, like the flip of a switch. Not because I am strong, or disciplined, or because I had a concrete will. At the time I was broken. I changed so quickly because it hurt too much not to.Now, I live a very positive and fulfilling life, and my dreams are larger than my own existence. I want my dream so badly that now it literally hurts me not be where I want to be. So the pain of not having everything I ever dreamed of drives me forward through life with an unbroken tenacity.Life will always give you challenges to overcome, whether it throws a storm your way or you build a dream so large that it requires you to climb to the ends of the earth. Adversity will always be the path through which we grow, through which we become the best versions of ourselves.And when the pain of not achieving your brightest dreams becomes larger than the pain of letting of who you are...Then you will be able to overcome any obstacle, you will be able to accomplish anything you set forward to pursue and you will become the person that you were always destined to be...Stay inspired-Raf

Join us as Adam Braun walks us verse by verse through John's Gospel of Jesus.

Adam Braun is an American entrepreneur, best-selling author, and philanthropist. He is the Founder of Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases access to education for children in the developing world. He has recently founded a company called MissionU which is an alternative to higher education that is set to disrupt the industry and change the way that we view higher learning. Favorite Success Quote “Live not in dreams but in contemplation of a reality that is perhaps the future.” ~Rainer Rilke Key Points 1. Say “No” More One of the most powerful words in the English language is the word “No”. If you learn to use this word effectively, you can add dozens of hours of productive time to your weeks, reduce your mental and emotional stressors, and eliminate the vast majority of the tasks that aren’t truly serving you. But there’s a catch… In order to become a master of the word “No” you must first learn to prioritize your own time, success, and happiness above anyone else’s. It might sound selfish or egotistic, but the simple fact of the matter is that you should come first. If you aren’t taking care of yourself by saying “no” to the things that aren’t serving you, then you are withholding your potential and your power from the world. Think about it… If you say “Yes” to working on a project for 3 clients even though that project will not pay you what you are worth and isn’t in alignment with your goals and values, then what’s going to happen when you are swamped with work but have a new client reach out to you with a position that would change your life? Or imagine that you have said “Yes” to several meetings that you didn’t want to attend and that didn’t serve you in any way… You are now forced to say “No” when an opportunity presents itself that is in true alignment with your vision. And all of these seemingly little and innocuous compromises will eventually accumulate until you are off track, off purpose, and up to your neck in things that aren’t part of your ultimate mission on this planet. 2.Learn to Delegate Richard Branson, the (in)famous entrepreneur, author, playboy, and philanthropist was once asked to share the secret behind his numerous billion-dollar companies. His answer was surprising… He didn’t say anything about needing a good idea, or working hard, or having lots of capital. No, he said that his secret was to find people who were better than he was, hire those people, and provide them with everything they needed to take his companies into the stratosphere. If you truly want to excel at business, then you must learn to delegate. Find people who are better than you are at a given position and give them the reigns. Because you can’t do it alone. And you would be a fool to try. 3. Be an Entrepreneurial Missionary, not a Mercenary  There are two types of entrepreneurs. Missionaries and mercenaries. The entrepreneurial mercenary has one focus… Money. And while money is not necessarily a bad thing (as we will discuss momentarily) you need to realize that anyone who is solely focused on wealth will likely lose motivation, tire out, and quit. Instead, you should strive to be an entrepreneurial missionary, or, in other words, an entrepreneur whose end goal encompasses more than just a few added zeroes in your bank account. You need to have a mission for your business, you must genuinely want to serve the world and make an impact, and believe that you are the person to do it. Otherwise, you will spend years of your life tirelessly chasing money and success without ever making a real dent in the universe, without ever making a difference. And the irony of all of this? Entrepreneurs who focus on adding value and serving their world first tend to be the entrepreneurs who make the greatest profits in the long run. So regardless of whether you own your own company or are working for someone else, do your best to ensure that every step you make and every goal you set is for a purpose and a mission greater than yourself. The results will astonish you… 4. Money is an Avenue to Freedom Money is a complicated beast. It can bring about so much joy, happiness, and fulfillment, but it can also be at the heart of so much pain, agony, and suffering. Because of the dichotomous and confusing nature of money (and the fact that few of us receive a relevant financial education), it can be easy to fall into the trap of viewing money as either “Evil” or the “End all be all” of life. I am here to tell you… It’s neither. Money is simply an avenue to freedom, it’s a tool, an instrument to be wielded by those who possess it. With money, you can do some incredible things. You can transform lives, build a lasting legacy, and create a real impact on the universe. Without it, your options are severely limited, and your freedom is hindered. The sooner you realize that money is a tool and that in and of itself, has no moral standing, the sooner you will be able to create real wealth for yourself that you can use to bring about a significant amount of good in the universe. 5. Set a Vision, Stick to It, and Stay Accountable  If you want to achieve your goals and live a life of success and fulfillment, then you must set a vision, stick to it, and get massively accountable. You see, most of you reading this right now have at least one of these three steps in order. Maybe you have a vision, but you are constantly changing it and find yourself unable to follow through. Maybe you have been working tirelessly towards a goal or a dream but you know in your heart that it isn’t truly congruent with your values and deepest desires. Maybe you have surrounded yourself with people who lift you to a higher level and want you to excel… But you have no vision for which they can hold you accountable. Whatever the case may be, if you want to excel in all areas of life and truly live a level 10/10 life, then you must set a crystal clear vision for what you want, stick to that vision, and get massive accountability from people you respect and admire. If any one of these ingredients is missing, the whole ship will sink and your dreams will never come to fruition. Set a vision. Stick to your vision. And get accountable. Now…

When a 60 foot rogue wave crashed into the ship, everyone on board thought they were going to die. This week on The School of Greatness, the founder of Pencils of Promise shares the story of how this near death experience inspired him to make his mark on the world. Pencils of Promise was born then and has gone on to build 200 schools and positively impacted 200,000 lives. In this interview we talk about what it takes to be an ordinary person, have an idea and turn it into something extraordinary. Welcome to episode 56 with the amazing social entrepreneur, Adam Braun. In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the schools Pencils of Promise has builtThe powerful impact of bringing Mozambicans into the familyAbout Adam’s life and death experience while on a Semester at SeaThe single question revealed in such a deep purposeThe value of a definite purposeHow lessons learned at Bain Capital supported the creation of PoPTo infuse your work with purposeAbout the humble beginnings of Pencils of PromiseFinding the courage to pursue your passionTo shift your way of being to create your visionAbout the physical existence of ideasTo cultivate honesty while thriving in uncertaintyHow to build a remarkable business and team of volunteersAbout the massive results that can be found outside of the comfort zoneThe first step when finding ones purposeWhat it means to “Never take a ‘No’ from someone who can’t say ‘Yes'”Keys to getting in front of the decision makers and persuading themThe power of vulnerability when growing a businessHow to get out of your own way for massive resultsPlus much more… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Braun is an American entrepreneur, best-selling author, and philanthropist. He is the Founder of Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases access to education for children in the developing world. He has recently founded a company called MissionU which is an alternative to higher education that is set to disrupt the industry and change the way that we view higher learning. Favorite Success Quote “Live not in dreams but in contemplation of a reality that is perhaps the future.” ~Rainer Rilke Key Points 1. Say “No” More One of the most powerful words in the English language is the word “No”. If you learn to use this word effectively, you can add dozens of hours of productive time to your weeks, reduce your mental and emotional stressors, and eliminate the vast majority of the tasks that aren’t truly serving you. But there’s a catch… In order to become a master of the word “No” you must first learn to prioritize your own time, success, and happiness above anyone else’s. It might sound selfish or egotistic, but the simple fact of the matter is that you should come first. If you aren’t taking care of yourself by saying “no” to the things that aren’t serving you, then you are withholding your potential and your power from the world. Think about it… If you say “Yes” to working on a project for 3 clients even though that project will not pay you what you are worth and isn’t in alignment with your goals and values, then what’s going to happen when you are swamped with work but have a new client reach out to you with a position that would change your life? Or imagine that you have said “Yes” to several meetings that you didn’t want to attend and that didn’t serve you in any way… You are now forced to say “No” when an opportunity presents itself that is in true alignment with your vision. And all of these seemingly little and innocuous compromises will eventually accumulate until you are off track, off purpose, and up to your neck in things that aren’t part of your ultimate mission on this planet. 2.Learn to Delegate Richard Branson, the (in)famous entrepreneur, author, playboy, and philanthropist was once asked to share the secret behind his numerous billion-dollar companies. His answer was surprising… He didn’t say anything about needing a good idea, or working hard, or having lots of capital. No, he said that his secret was to find people who were better than he was, hire those people, and provide them with everything they needed to take his companies into the stratosphere. If you truly want to excel at business, then you must learn to delegate. Find people who are better than you are at a given position and give them the reigns. Because you can’t do it alone. And you would be a fool to try. 3. Be an Entrepreneurial Missionary, not a Mercenary  There are two types of entrepreneurs. Missionaries and mercenaries. The entrepreneurial mercenary has one focus… Money. And while money is not necessarily a bad thing (as we will discuss momentarily) you need to realize that anyone who is solely focused on wealth will likely lose motivation, tire out, and quit. Instead, you should strive to be an entrepreneurial missionary, or, in other words, an entrepreneur whose end goal encompasses more than just a few added zeroes in your bank account. You need to have a mission for your business, you must genuinely want to serve the world and make an impact, and believe that you are the person to do it. Otherwise, you will spend years of your life tirelessly chasing money and success without ever making a real dent in the universe, without ever making a difference. And the irony of all of this? Entrepreneurs who focus on adding value and serving their world first tend to be the entrepreneurs who make the greatest profits in the long run. So regardless of whether you own your own company or are working for someone else, do your best to ensure that every step you make and every goal you set is for a purpose and a mission greater than yourself. The results will astonish you… 4. Money is an Avenue to Freedom Money is a complicated beast. It can bring about so much joy, happiness, and fulfillment, but it can also be at the heart of so much pain, agony, and suffering. Because of the dichotomous and confusing nature of money (and the fact that few of us receive a relevant financial education), it can be easy to fall into the trap of viewing money as either “Evil” or the “End all be all” of life. I am here to tell you… It’s neither. Money is simply an avenue to freedom, it’s a tool, an instrument to be wielded by those who possess it. With money, you can do some incredible things. You can transform lives, build a lasting legacy, and create a real impact on the universe. Without it, your options are severely limited, and your freedom is hindered. The sooner you realize that money is a tool and that in and of itself, has no moral standing, the sooner you will be able to create real wealth for yourself that you can use to bring about a significant amount of good in the universe. 5. Set a Vision, Stick to It, and Stay Accountable  If you want to achieve your goals and live a life of success and fulfillment, then you must set a vision, stick to it, and get massively accountable. You see, most of you reading this right now have at least one of these three steps in order. Maybe you have a vision, but you are constantly changing it and find yourself unable to follow through. Maybe you have been working tirelessly towards a goal or a dream but you know in your heart that it isn’t truly congruent with your values and deepest desires. Maybe you have surrounded yourself with people who lift you to a higher level and want you to excel… But you have no vision for which they can hold you accountable. Whatever the case may be, if you want to excel in all areas of life and truly live a level 10/10 life, then you must set a crystal clear vision for what you want, stick to that vision, and get massive accountability from people you respect and admire. If any one of these ingredients is missing, the whole ship will sink and your dreams will never come to fruition. Set a vision. Stick to your vision. And get accountable. Now…

This week, Cory speaks to entrepreneur, bestselling author, and philanthropist Adam Braun, who is best known for being the Founder of Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases access to education for children in the developing world. He also wrote a New York Times best selling book The Promise of a Pencil and more recently the co-founder of one-year debt-free college alternative called MissionU. In this weeks episode, Adam talks about his personal upbringing and what lead him to start his organization, his offers advice to current college students, he opens up about past failures and says what are the biggest misconceptions about the outcome of a degree. “YOU SHOULD BE A SAVVY ROI-DRIVEN CONSUMER OF YOUR EDUCATION” Adam Braun (@AdamBraun) is a New York Time Bestselling Author, the Founder of Pencils of Promise, and the Founder of MissionU, a college alternative. Cory Levy interviewed Adam on the OFF RCRD Podcast about his past and advice for others based on his experiences. “I would say to any student, that you should be a savvy ROI-driven consumer of your education…thousands of the schools around the country that are charging enormous prices without particularly strong results.” In the interview, Adam also talked about the financial burden that college puts on students. “College is supposed to be this great economic enabler. My wife went to college and initially (went) out of state and transferred back in state because the tuition fees were so high and she just got absolutely decimated by this crazy amount of student debt and had to leave school before even completing her bachelor’s degree.” MissionU is a tuition-free college alternative that earns money from students based on their future earning potential instead of charging fees upfront. Adam explained that MissionU students aren’t looking for a traditional overpriced college education. “They don’t just want to learn about theory, about these abstract ideas. They want to do things that they can actually present to the real world and that employers will actually value as a skill that’s going to be needed for the rest of their career.” Adam believes in following your purpose but is skeptical of the advice that young people should follow their passion. “I think this idea that you should follow your passion is not a great piece of advice because passions are incredibly fleeting. The idea of following your passion means follow whatever you’re excited about at this moment, and I don’t think that it stretches people to really do the tough, introspective work, to not discover passion but to discover purpose. I’m a huge advocate of following your purpose.” Adam has followed his purpose, which has led him to become a best-selling author and the founder of two impactful companies.

You're invited into the conversation between Terri Ach, Adam Braun, and Steve and Beth Moore on how to treasure God's word through a Psalm 19 lens.

If you’re 25, you could literally die and live an entirely new life up to this point, and you’d still barely be at “halftime.” That’s why I tell so many 18, 22, 25, and 30 year olds to just put their head down and grind for a decade - if they have the ambition to build something for the rest of their lives. In this podcast with Pencils of Promise founder Adam Braun, I talk more about what to do if you don’t want to go to college, what to do after high school, and more. 1:49 - advice on what to do after high school if you don't want to go to college 4:25 - understanding comes with doing 8:15 - when you're 18 you just have to put your head down for 15 years Check it out and tweet me what you think @GaryVee with #GVReplay

If you’re 25, you could literally die and live an entirely new life up to this point, and you’d still barely be at “halftime.” That’s why I tell so many 18, 22, 25, and 30 year olds to just put their head down and grind for a decade - if they have the ambition to build something for the rest of their lives. In this podcast with Pencils of Promise founder Adam Braun, I talk more about what to do if you don’t want to go to college, what to do after high school, and more. 1:49 - advice on what to do after high school if you don't want to go to college 4:25 - understanding comes with doing 8:15 - when you're 18 you just have to put your head down for 15 years Check it out and tweet me what you think @GaryVee with #GVReplay

The 5th Key to Success is BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS! Not only will you feel better about yourself and feel more fulfilled when you are of service, you will also have success as a byproduct of SERVICE! Learn about Adam Braun and his success from SERVICE! Also, learn about F.I.T.S. and how that will help you with picking how to be of SERVICE! Make sure to send Better.U@aol.com an email of how you are going to be of service! Follow @BetterUShow on all social media! Feel free to share this episode or podcast with someone you think could benefit from it! Thank you! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/betterushow)

Adam Braun is a New York Times bestselling author and the Founder of Pencils of Promise, an award-winning organization that has broken ground on more than 300 schools for children in poverty around the world. He is also the Director of the Global Education Platform, an initiative conceived by the UN Special Envoy for Global Education to identify and accelerate breakthroughs in learning innovation. He has been featured as a speaker at The White House, the United Nations and the Clinton Global Initiative. He has also been named to Business Insider's 40 Under 40, Wired Magazine‘s 50 People Who Are Changing the World, and was selected as one of the World Economic Forum's first ten “Global Shapers.” Favorite Success Quote “Live not in dreams, but in contemplation of reality which is perhaps the future. “~Rilke Key Points 1. Passion is Over-rated Purpose is Enduring  Many of the modern self help “gurus” and speakers talk constantly about finding and pursuing your passions. The simple fact is, passion fades away. The excitement dies, you get bored, you move on. Purpose however, purpose is enduring. If you can find your purpose, that one thing that you were put on this earth to do, and pursue it with your whole heart, you will be successful no matter what.  2. You Cannot Fake Authenticity  Most people have a built in B.S. detector. They can tell when someone is disingenuous or inauthentic. If you really want to make a difference in the world, if you really want to have an impact and live a life of purpose and joy, you have to drop the mask and be authentic. Open up, be vulnerable, share the real you, unabashedly and unashamed of who you are or what people might think. Many people may dislike you, some may even hate you, but if you try and please everyone, you will end up impacting no one. 3. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone One of the quickest ways to find your purpose, to get on track to live the life of your dreams is to break out of your comfort zone. Do stuff that scares you, take that class you've been putting off, join that men's group, leave everything and go backpacking across Europe. Almost no one ever dies wishing that they had spent more time playing it safe. You only get one shot at this life. Put your neck on the line and get uncomfortable!

Adam Braun from MissionU is building the future of education. Find out what it looks like through his innovative program. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Serial founders get good at knowing how to mobilize, when a big change is coming and how to push through. And if they're lucky, they also know themselves a lot better. That's certainly the case with Adam Braun. With his first venture, Pencils of Promise, Braun, who was in his 20s at the time it started, was able to completely focus of his nonprofit's mission: to build schools and create educational programs for those living in developing countries. He built 450 schools across the globe. He also suffered from major burnout -- a state he'd rather not reach again. Today, Braun is a more experienced founder with a new project: MissionU, a college alternative with no upfront tuition. To learn more about how Braun prevents burnout, the principles behind MissionU and his take on being an entrepreneur, listen to the latest edition of How Success Happens.

Adam Braun is an American entrepreneur, best-selling author, and philanthropist. He is the Founder of Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases access to education for children in the developing world He has recently founded a company called MissionU which is an alternative to higher education that is set to disrupt the industry and change the way that we view higher learning.

College? 9-5 job? In today’s internet-driven world it’s perhaps more possible than ever to skip these and become an entrepreneur. I interview many of them and as an accidental entrepreneur myself, it’s a topic that’s extremely personal to me. It can’t be denied that the rules for success have changed since our parents’ generation. So how do we know how to guide our kids in a changing world? Enter Margot Bisnow, Entrepreneur and Mom Margot Machol Bisnow raised two sons who both grew up to be successful entrepreneurs (just one of her claims to fame!). Her son Elliot Bisnow founded Summit, an influential conference series promoting entrepreneurship, and her son Austin started the Indie band Magic Giant. The entrepreneurial bug bit Margot’s husband Mark too, but later in life, when he started his national newsletter company Bisnow Media at the age of 50. Margot herself, after 20 years in government and serving on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, decided to capture her ideas about entrepreneurship and parenthood in her 2016 book Raising an Entrepreneur: 10 Rules for Nurturing Risk Takers, Problem Solvers, and Change Makers. Something’s up with this family! What did they do differently? Is there a “secret” to unlocking this kind of change-making potential? Parenting an Entrepreneur 101 The entrepreneurs Margot interviewed did in fact have something important in common: a parent (usually a mom!) who believed in them. For her book Margot took on the monumental task of interviewing over 70 mothers and their wildly successful offspring—entrepreneurs, activists, and artists like Eric Ryan of Method products, Robert Stephens of Geek Squad, Adam Braun of Pencils of Promise, Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes, and Tom Scott of Nantucket Nectars. The result is a fascinating collection of stories from families (with a huge variety of backgrounds, social status, and means) who somehow ended up with kids who thought out of the box, weren’t afraid to fail, and went about success in a different way. So what’s the common factor among these families? Can parents do anything to create creative kids? As the mom of 6 kids, I’m hanging on Margot’s every word! In This Episode You’ll Learn: What an entrepreneur really is (and why we’d want our kids to be one … it’s not only about money either!) The lessons learned from interviewing over 70 entrepreneurs and their moms One trait all successful entrepreneurs had in common (hint: it has to do with moms!) Why you may not want your kids to follow your path in life … especially in today's world Reasons why helping your kids may hurt them in the long run What you should never praise (success) and the thing you should (hard work) The influence of birth order on future success as an entrepreneur Higher education: is it really the best path for today’s kids? How to get comfortable with risk-taking and change as a parent And, is it even legal to raise an entrepreneur today? (you’ll see what I mean!) Resources We Mention Book: Margot Bisnow,

Time for Fan Mail Friday, where we'll be answering your questions and dropping some knowledge and feedback to help you kick the weekend off right. In this episode: Does resolving simulations in your head keep you up in the middle of the night? Now that you're doing well for yourself, is it petty to be reluctant about helping an ex who treated you poorly when you weren't? After moving to a new town, where can you meet people during the day if you want to cut back on the excesses of nightlife? How do you break the habit of checking social media every day? Why do Americans smile so much? How do you get colleagues to treat you as an equal when you look much younger than your years? How do top performers like Adam Braun build resources and change the world all at once? Sometimes helping your competition is what keeps you in first place. Quick shoutouts to Matthew Fox, who's biking across the USA, and Mjölnir-hurling Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth! Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@theartofcharm.com! Check out Jordan's (@TheArtofCharm) other show: The Forbes List, and Jason's (@jpdef) other show: Grumpy Old Geeks. Does your business have an Internet presence? Now save a whopping 50% on new webhosting packages here with HostGator by using coupon code CHARM! Wonder what can happen when strangers get legally married the moment they first meet? Tune in to a new episode of Married at First Sight every Thursday at 9/8c on Lifetime! Find out more about the team who makes The Art of Charm podcast here! Show notes at http://theartofcharm.com/fmf119/ HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you dig the show, please subscribe in iTunes and write us a review! This is what helps us stand out from the crowd and help people find the credible advice they need. Review the show in iTunes! We rely on it! http://www.theartofcharm.com/mobilereview Stay Charming!

Adam Braun (@AdamBraun) is the founder of school-building Pencils of Promise and bestselling author of The Promise of a Pencil. He joins us to discuss his new project, MissionU, and how it aims to update higher education for the 21st century. "Credential isn't nearly as important as competency." -Adam Braun The Cheat Sheet: How and why is the education system in the US failing students? Why students are even less prepared for careers now than ever before. How MissionU protects its students from the crushing debt typically incurred by most college graduates. New methods and tracks of study that are more "futureproof" than others. How to think like an executive even if -- and especially -- it's your first year on the job. And so much more... Does your business have an Internet presence? Now save a whopping 50% on new webhosting packages here with HostGator by using coupon code CHARM! Want to wash two loads and dry two loads of laundry at the same time? The new Wi-Fi enabled Samsung FlexWash and FlexDry washer and dryer pair can do it -- and you can get it now at The Home Depot! Need eyeglasses? Warby Parker provides high-quality, great-looking eyewear at a fraction of the usual price. Go to WarbyParker.com/aoc to order your free home try-ons today! SmartMouth is the only activated oral rinse clinically proven to eliminate existing bad breath and prevent it from returning for a full twelve hours per rinse. Visit SmartMouth.com to get an in-depth, scientific analysis of how SmartMouth is able to deliver such incredible results! Free yourself from typing notes, reports, and documents by going with the transcriptionists we trust here at AoC: TranscriptionOutsourcing.net -- 99% or higher accuracy guaranteed! Find out more about the team who makes The Art of Charm podcast here! Show notes at https://theartofcharm.com/626/ HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you dig the show, please subscribe in iTunes and write us a review! This is what helps us stand out from the crowd and help people find the credible advice they need. Review the show in iTunes! We rely on it! http://www.theartofcharm.com/mobilereview Stay Charming!

Adam Braun founded Pencils of Promise to build schools in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos and Nicaragua. Now he's moving on to MissionU, a for-profit thats a one-year college alternative meant to prepare young people for careers without the burden of college debt.

An ordinary person can create extraordinary change. "One of the biggest things missing in the non-profit space is the sense of for-profit business acumen." -Adam Braun The Cheat Sheet: How much money did he start Pencils of Promise with? Why must all communities that receive a school contribute 20%? Why non-profits can sometimes have adverse effects. What are the three forms of compensation? Adam shares what to consider when making your next career move. And so much more... Many of us dream about giving back, adding meaning to our lives and making a positive impact in the world. But how many of us do anything with that dream or even think we're still capable of pursuing it? Adam Braun of Pencils of Promise has pursued his passion for education and has now written his book, The Promise of a Pencil, to inspire and show the rest of us it's not too late and that ordinary people can create extraordinary change. Join us as we chat about that topic and more on episode 381 of The Art of Charm. More About This Show: Founding an educational non-profit wasn't always a dream of Adam Braun's. Born in NYC, he moved to the suburbs of Connecticut when he was a small child. His parents always placed a strong emphasis on education and he went to one of the best public schools available. He played basketball while in school and saw the distinct economic gap that existed. Some of his teammates lived in the worst neighborhoods while others lived in large mansions. He was fascinated by this and asked the parents who lived in the mansions what they did for work. The resounding answer: Wall Street. By 13 he was obsessed with getting a job on Wall Street and opened his own trading account. At 16 he spent a summer interning at a hedgefund and at 20 he was exactly where he wanted to be: he was playing collegiate basketball for Brown University, studying economics and on his way to his dream career on Wall Street. All of that changed when he did a program called "Semester at Sea". It's a collegiate program in which students and faculty spend a semester on a cruise ship traveling and exploring 10 different countries. Students and professors and administrators come from over 200 different schools to participate and Adam was one of them. Their first stop was South Korea, but on their way they were caught in a superstorm. Their ship was hit by a rogue 60-foot wave that knocked out their power and navigation system. When the announcement came to get to their muster stations everyone, including the adults on board, believed they were going to die. After a few minutes though, Adam knew he was meant to do more than simply die at sea at the age of 21. A feeling of calm came over him, and soon everyone onboard was safe. They continued their semester at sea and Adam enjoyed the backpacking and exploring of each country. As a project during his travels he asked a child in every country what their dream was. In India one child's answer floored him. The child simply wanted a pencil. When Adam handed him his own pencil the child lit up. That experience was the origin of Pencils of Promise. On today's episode we talk about the steps he took to building his non-profit after that experience, why it's been so wildly successful (people like Lewis Howes and Gary Vaynerchuk sit on the board) and how he wrote The Promise of a Pencil. He also shares how stepping away as the CEO of PoP actually helped the organization to grow and thrive, and he explains how you can apply his same lessons learned to your business. It was a pleasure to have Adam here and to find out the fascinating story behind Pencils of Promise. Listen in, enjoy and then join me in thanking Adam for being here with us. We'll see you next time on The Art of Charm. THANKS ADAM BRAUN! If you enjoyed this session of The Art of Charm Podcast, let Adam know by clicking on the link below and sending him a quick shout out on Twitter: Click here to thank Adam on Twitter! Resources from this episode: Pencils of Promise web siteAdam Braun's personal web siteThe Promise of a Pencil, by Adam Braun Email Adam here to raise money for PoP Pencils of Promise on Twitter The Art of Charm bootcamps   You'll also like: -The Art of Charm Toolbox-Best of The Art of Charm Podcast Wanna leave a comment? Too bad! Email me instead (we read everything)!   HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you dug this episode, please subscribe in iTunes and write us a review! This is what helps us stand out from all the fluff out there. FEEDBACK + PROMOTION Hit us up with your comments and guest suggestions. We read EVERYTHING. Download the FREE AoC app for iPhone Email jordan@theartofcharm.com Give us a call at 888.413.7177 Stay Charming!

This week, Adam Braun, New York Times bestselling author and the founder of the charity Pencils of Promise, joins The James Altucher Show.  Today you will hear how Adam found his purpose in life and what near-disaster made him realize he was meant to live doing what he loved. "When you are pushed to your limit and you are faced with your own mortality, it's the expectation, almost knowledge that you have something more to live for." This is how Adam describes the moment that changed his life forever.  You probably haven't had a near death experience, but today you will learn that there is more than one way to find your purpose in life - Adam describes three. Adam has backpacked around the world, risked his life, and gained knowledge that led him to start an extraordinary charitable organization. This leads James to ask him... "Was it worth it to go to college, given that a lot of the impactful things that happened to you happened outside the classroom?"  You won't want to miss Adams response. You'll also find out where he says he learned the most.  This is the show that gives you the knowledge and tools that will lead you to a successful and significant life... and make it a story worth telling.     Enjoy! ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn