Podcast appearances and mentions of ram castillo

Ram Castillo is a Sydney-based design director, author, international speaker, and career director. His hit podcast, Giant Thinkers, has charted #3 on iTunes in more than 5 countries and currently has over 250,000 active listeners. Ram has been helping designers find employment for almost a decade. Now, he continues to mentor all kinds of creatives through systems such as the Lightning Bolt Method, inspiring and motivating them to successfully pursue their passions.   In this episode, Ram delves deep into his childhood and how he expressed his creativity from a young age using whatever resources he could find, including toilet paper rolls. We also discuss:  How the lens of design leads to better questioning The importance of varied mentorship and how to find good mentors  The importance of decision-making  High-value vs. low-value activities  How fear is a false construct based on untested assumptions   Ram's website: https://ramcastillo.com/ Giant Thinkers: https://giantthinkers.com/ Giant Thinkers podcast: https://giantthinkers.com/category/podcast/ Ram's books - How to Get a Job as a Designer, Guaranteed https://www.amazon.com/How-Designer-Guaranteed-Step-Step/dp/099257000X, How to Get a Mentor as a Designer, Guaranteed https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-Mentor-Designer-Guaranteed/dp/0992570026 Keep up with Ram on Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheGiantThinker Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker/ Chapter titles  00:19 - Ram's childhood and what toilet paper rolls mean to him 4:33 - How Ram's parents influenced him to dream big  10:33 - How of childhood bullying affected Ram 17:47 - Ram starts in the mailroom  27:07 - The lens of design and how it leads to asking questions  33:00 - Mentorship in Ram's life 41:09 - The importance of making decisions 47:32 - High-value vs. low-value activities 52:44 - Fear is a construct Frameworks According to Ram, the four steps of design are: Research. Gather information. Then,  Define. Group research and data and narrow it down to solve a specific problem. Next, Conceptualize. Create a prototype. And finally,  Deliver. Distribute the design into the world.  Then gather feedback and repeat the steps.  How to Find a Mentor A mentor should be an advisor, friend, and idol  Get clear on the definition Go through a personal analysis Pair your goals with the right people Mentor others and give back Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=23010497) This is an encore episode and was originally published on July 7, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the signs that indicate you might be stuck as a business owner. The host discusses two ends of the spectrum when it comes to feeling overwhelmed. On one end, there's options overload, where you feel overloaded with choices, struggle with prioritization, and experience analysis paralysis. On the other end, there's a lack of awareness about available options, leaving you feeling lost and unsure about decision-making criteria. Our expert for this Quick Tip is Ram Castillo. He is Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. Connect with Ram Castillo:  Instagram Website Giant Thinkers Podcast Connect with Sally and Team Sparkle: Instagram Youtube Facebook  

Here's a quick tip from Ram Castillo about the frameworks that can help you accelerate your business. Connect with Ram Castillo:  Instagram Website Giant Thinkers Podcast   Connect with Sally and Team Sparkle: Instagram Youtube Facebook

Ram Castillo is a Sydney-based design director, author, international speaker, and career director. His hit podcast, Giant Thinkers, has charted #3 on iTunes in more than 5 countries and currently has over 250,000 active listeners. Ram has been helping designers find employment for almost a decade. Now, he continues to mentor all kinds of creatives through systems such as the Lightning Bolt Method, inspiring and motivating them to successfully pursue their passions.   In this episode, Ram delves deep into his childhood and how he expressed his creativity from a young age using whatever resources he could find, including toilet paper rolls. We also discuss:  How the lens of design leads to better questioning The importance of varied mentorship and how to find good mentors  The importance of decision-making  High value vs. low-value activities  How fear is a false construct based on untested assumptions   Ram's website: https://ramcastillo.com/ Giant Thinkers: https://giantthinkers.com/ Giant Thinkers podcast: https://giantthinkers.com/category/podcast/ Ram's books - How to Get a Job as a Designer, Guaranteed https://www.amazon.com/How-Designer-Guaranteed-Step-Step/dp/099257000X, How to Get a Mentor as a Designer, Guaranteed https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-Mentor-Designer-Guaranteed/dp/0992570026 Keep up with Ram on Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheGiantThinker Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker/ Chapter titles  00:19 - Ram's childhood and what toilet paper rolls mean to him 4:33 - How Ram's parents influenced him to dream big  10:33 - How of childhood bullying affected Ram 17:47 - Ram starts in the mailroom  27:07 - The lens of design and how it leads to asking questions  33:00 - Mentorship in Ram's life 41:09 - The importance of making decisions 47:32 - High-value vs. low-value activities 52:44 - Fear is a construct Frameworks According to Ram, the four steps of design are: Research. Gather information. Then,  Define. Group research and data and narrow it down to solve a specific problem. Next, Conceptualize. Create a prototype. And finally,  Deliver. Distribute the design into the world.  Then gather feedback and repeat the steps.  How to Find a Mentor A mentor should be an advisor, friend, and idol  Get clear on the definition Go through a personal analysis Pair your goals with the right people Mentor others and give back Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=23010497) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking Through Barriers  Design, Branding, and Business Growth with Ram Castillo If you're looking for real estate investing advice and want to learn how to find the motivation and capitalize on this opportunity, look no further. Ram Castillo is here to teach you everything he knows about real estate branding, business growth, and more!Ram is an award-winning Design Director, 2 x Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Coach, Certified Chair, and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. Specializing in digital spaces, human-centered design, branding, and creative strategy.For 16 years he's been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann, and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Telstra, Google, AMEX, and The Louis Vuitton Group.He's been featured in Apple, news.com.au, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival, and The American Institute of Design.Ram is commonly known for his Podcast; Giant Thinkers – which has hit #3 on iTunes in over 5 countries and currently has 250,000 active listeners, having interviewed the likes of Kelly Slater, Naomi Simson, Janine Allis, Reynold Poernomo, Stephanie Rice, Chase Jarvis, and Prince Ea. His podcast is part of an initiative to provide advice for designers and creatives to navigate toward their desired outcomes via GiantThinkers.com.His focus now is to help decision-makers, business owners, leaders, and organizations get unstuck, lightning-fast through coaching, consulting, and advisory.HAVE A VIDEO IDEA? TELL ME!

Breaking Through Barriers  Design, Branding, and Business Growth with Ram Castillo If you're looking for real estate investing advice and want to learn how to find the motivated and capitalize on this opportunity, look no further. Ram Castillo is here to teach you everything he knows about real estate branding, business growth, and more!Ram is an award-winning Design Director, 2 x Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Coach, Certified Chair, and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. Specializing in digital spaces, human-centered design, branding, and creative strategy.For 16 years he's been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann, and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Telstra, Google, AMEX, and The Louis Vuitton Group.He's been featured in Apple, news.com.au, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival, and The American Institute of Design.Ram is commonly known for his Podcast; Giant Thinkers – which has hit #3 on iTunes in over 5 countries and currently has 250,000 active listeners, having interviewed the likes of Kelly Slater, Naomi Simson, Janine Allis, Reynold Poernomo, Stephanie Rice, Chase Jarvis, and Prince Ea. His podcast is part of an initiative to provide advice for designers and creatives to navigate toward their desired outcomes via GiantThinkers.com.His focus now is to help decision-makers, business owners, leaders, and organizations get unstuck, lightning-fast through coaching, consulting, and advisory.HAVE A VIDEO IDEA? TELL ME!

Our guest today is Ram Castillo. He is Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney.  We will be talking about the signs that your business is stuck, how can entrepreneurs balance quality and growth for the business and how do we use design thinking to make more informed and empowered decisions. Connect with Ram Castillo:  Instagram Website Giant Thinkers Podcast   Connect with Sally and Team Sparkle: Instagram Youtube Facebook

Thank you for joining us on Breakfast With Champions! Today we hear from Ram Castillo, a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design. 

Thank you for joining us on Breakfast With Champions! Today we hear from Ram Castillo, a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design. 

Thank you for joining us on Breakfast With Champions! Today we hear from Ram Castillo, a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design. 

Thank you for joining us on Breakfast With Champions! Today we hear from Ram Castillo, a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design. 

Thank you for joining us on Breakfast With Champions! Today we hear from Ram Castillo, a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design. 

Ram Castillo is an award-winning Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. Specialising in digital spaces, human-centred design, branding and creative strategy.For 16 years he's been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Telstra, Google, AMEX and The Louis Vuitton Group.He's been featured in Apple, news.com.au, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design.Ram is commonly known by his Podcast; Giant Thinkers – which has hit #3 on iTunes in over 5 countries and currently has 250,000 active listeners, having interviewed the likes of Kelly Slater, Naomi Simson, Janine Allis, Reynold Poernomo, Stephanie Rice, Chase Jarvis and Prince Ea. His podcast is part of an initiative to provide advice for designers and creatives to navigate towards their desired outcomes via GiantThinkers.com.His focus now is to help decision-makers, business owners, leaders and organisations get unstuck, lightning fast through coaching, consulting and advisory. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/zen-success/message

Thank you for joining us on Breakfast With Champions! Today we hear from Ram Castillo, a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design. 

Ram Castillo is an award-winning Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Coach, and Approved Advisor based in Sydney.He is a real game-changer. In a way, he goes not only does he talk with a very high level eloquent and see which I do not. But he's also really knowledgeable in the business. He has a very different tack around what I do and the way I do things compared to the way he's done things. Nowadays, he got the magical blue text on things like Instagram, he gets paid hefty amounts of money to share his knowledge on stages, and build up really successful businesses as well.Join me and my well-known guests that are leaders in their industry to share those vital stories of success and struggle to help you get to the next level. We are covering sales, marketing, business growth, and entrepreneurship all wrapped in entertaining interviews with people from the top of their industry directly to your phone. Tune in each week where I'll be sharing skills I have learned and those from my guests so that you can become your potential! Ram CastilloInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker/ Like this show? Please leave us a review here.Connect with David Angel: www.TheSalesAngel.comwww.TheUltmiateSalesTrainingAcademy.comwww.MyTedX.comwww.mastersales.clubwww.instagram.com/thesalesangel See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ram Castillo is an award-winning Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Coach, and Approved Advisor based in Sydney.He is a real game-changer. In a way, he goes not only does he talk with a very high level eloquent and see which I do not. But he's also really knowledgeable in the business. He has a very different tack around what I do and the way I do things compared to the way he's done things. Nowadays, he got the magical blue text on things like Instagram, he gets paid hefty amounts of money to share his knowledge on stages, and build up successful businesses as well.Join me and my well-known guests that are leaders in their industry to share those vital stories of success and struggle to help you get to the next level. We are covering sales, marketing, business growth, and entrepreneurship all wrapped in entertaining interviews with people from the top of their industry directly to your phone. Tune in each week where I'll be sharing skills I have learned and those from my guests so that you can become your potential! Ram CastilloInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker/ Like this show? Please leave us a review here.Connect with David Angel: www.TheSalesAngel.comwww.TheUltmiateSalesTrainingAcademy.comwww.MyTedX.comwww.mastersales.clubwww.instagram.com/thesalesangel See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ram Castillo is a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann. He was most recently the Head of Digital Design for Saatchi & Saatchi and has serviced clients including Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design.  For more visit RamCastillo.com https://ramcastillo.com/  Follow Patti Dobrowolski - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/upyourcreativegenius/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/patti-dobrowolski-532368/ Up Your Creative Genius https://www.upyourcreativegenius.com/ Timestamps 2:02 Why Ram Castillo is a big deal, and how he came to be this way 4:40 On leveraging a tool like Clubhouse 7:31 The most important step of the design thinking process 8:02 You already have the most important marketing tool: your brand 12:13 Finding your competitive advantage 15:27 Defining your version of success 18:03 The true definition of wealth 20:13 Overcoming obstacles on the way to success 23:28 The value of planting many seeds 25:16 The alchemy of creativity and transformation 33:36 The secret formula to success 37:15 How to design a purpose 38:46 Ram's current fascination with convenience vs. delayed gratification 41:18 The opportunity right in front of us all 43:22 Ram's decision-making framework Patti Dobrowolski 00:03 Hello superstars. Welcome to the Up Your Creative Genius Podcast where you will gain insight and tips just stomp on the accelerator and blast off to transform your business and your life. I'm your host Patti Dobrowolski. And if this is your first time tuning in, then strap in because this is serious rocket fuel. Each week I interview fellow creative geniuses to help you learn how easy it is to up your creative genius in any part of your life. Hey, everybody, it's Patti Dobrowolski with Up Your Creative Genius, oh, god, my head is like exploding because I have RAM Castillo here. You are not going to believe what an amazing Rockstar he is like, this guy is a design director, he's a two-time author. He's a speaker. You know, he teaches an instructor and Creative Live. He's the decision making business coach. And he's worked with some of the biggest brands, some of your favorite brands, let's just say, you know, Louis Vuitton and Herman Miller, and Ogilvy and Mather, and DDB and Toyota and it goes on and on. And not just that, but he has his own podcast, which I am so grateful that you're here because you're up to number 88 in your podcast, and you have interviewed some big names Kelly Slater, right. Naomi Simpson, Kevin O'Leary, these people, and the interviews are spectacular. And what you really do is help designers who are tuning in --this is my understanding of it --tuning in to help them step into the future they desire. So this is where we aligned we met on Clubhouse. Ram. Thank you so much for being here. Ram Castillo 01:51 Patti, what an introduction. I'm deeply honored to be here. Thank you so much. Patti Dobrowolski 01:56 You're just so incredible. So just Whoa. So tell me like, What are you doing right now, first, tell people from your perspective, what you do right now, and then roll me back in time to how you got to where you are right now. So whichever way you want to start, if you want to start in the past, you want to start in the present and go to the past. I'd love it either way, our listeners are going to want to know all they're gonna want to get inside your world right now. Ram Castillo 02:27 Oh, okay. So the short answer is right now I am building my advisory board portfolio. And what that means is I am doing a bit of coaching, a bit of consulting, but advisory it sits in this mix of giving advice to business owners, entrepreneurs, organizations and leaders in the specialty that I've been able to accumulate over that last 16 year career in the world of marketing, communications, creative strategy, and most importantly, human centered design. Yeah. And that's the short answer because I climbed up that world of starting at Ogilvy, which is traditional advertising. That's right my way through other agencies, all the way up to head of digital design at Saatchi and Saatchi servicing AMEX, Qantas, Toyota building teams. And when you go through that path, you're exposed to processes, people, tools, systems, and just the different ways that businesses need to operate in terms of capability in delivering their promise to customers and designing a customer experience that is meaningful, that is actually valuable. So taking all that enterprise learning and helping small to medium sized business owners through advisory sessions and workshops. That's what I'm doing right now. Patti Dobrowolski 03:57 That's fantastic. And I think that entrepreneurs, they don't really have a sense of that, what it requires of you, but what we're talking about are the long hours. And the access to creative ideas which you are famous for. I mean, you've been written up for some of the ideas you came up with or your team came up with. It's just incredible. And I have a feeling that your paths cross with my nephew, Jon Dobowolski, because he worked at Toyota at some of these places. And now he works at Grail, right? And so he's head of design there. So I love that you're doing this in this space, where you're sharing and you're pouring into other people your wisdom. Now I met you on Clubhouse because you were in a room that I was in, and maybe I was in with Pete Cohen and I'm not sure but tell me what are you doing on Clubhouse and are you there running any of your own rooms because you're so incredible. I would be surprised if you weren't. Ram Castillo 04:56 So we did meet on Clubhouse by Pete Cohen. He he and I met on there as well. And then he heard me speak about the importance of personal branding and positioning yourself, hence the duck on his head. And so I have found that clubhouse is just a treasure chest, the ways that I've benefited have blown me away. We're talking right now it's mid November 2021. Buy started day one, mid January 2021. So we're talking 10 months or so ago. Patti Dobrowolski 05:33 Me too, same amount of time. Yes, And right around that time, it was just starting to blow up really, I mean, people would say it had blown up before. But it really at that beginning, people found out about it, Ram Castillo 05:47 I initially went on there just to test. So coming from a design background, it's important to never assume that's one of the key things, it's important to go through an understanding phase. And a lot of that is just testing and absorbing, and gathering information. So for the first three months, I was just gathering information, seeing how the tool works, how it could benefit myself and others. And what I quickly found was that there was the ability to get access number one to people that I would never be able to access. So you know, and you too Patti, right. So that's a stretch, you know, we would probably be able to access them in some way, but the speed of accessing them. The other thing is the relationship building and rapport building is more real in many ways, because you're just not influenced by any other factors such as, you know, seeing their face, you just get to hear their voice. And you get a real sensibility about them straightaway. So I've been able to invest in many deals, that part of the advisory is also looking at how I might be able to invest in companies. Should I wish to do that. So yeah, whatever you're looking for, you will be able to get there. Patti Dobrowolski 07:08 Yeah, I would totally agree. I mean, I just had the most amazing conversations, you know, that I don't think I would have ever probably met Rob Moore or even known who he was really John Lee, people like this, that are in there. And then also badass boss. I mean, I've been in rooms where people have just blown my mind to pieces, and just listening. And you know, what you're talking about is so you were seeking to understand, which is really a design thinking principle. So for listeners that aren't familiar with that whole process, but you really seek to understand what the experience is about and what customers are actually having in that experience. And it really is incredible now. So is that a place where you have been able to get some new clients from there? For example. Ram Castillo 07:58 Absolutely. So I'll swing the needle to this point, Patti, just to contextualize all this, the reality is that every one of us has a brand, we already have a brand that exists and how I define brand. And personal branding in particular is what people attach meaning to. It's your personality, your credibility, your reputation. And the thing that I love about Clubhouse is that you're able to close that gap of saying what you do and doing what you say. And in a world where trust is becoming harder and harder to build and trust is getting harder and harder to come by. Yes, Patti Dobrowolski 08:36 it's being eroded all the time, you know, any belief that there's good out there, you know, you have to really watch out. Right, Ram Castillo 08:43 Right. So like, you know, prior to Clubhouse, which is a social audio app, we've had on an immense amount of Instagram dominance, so to speak, where we're able to get to know this person that we follow that, you know, we might maybe aspire to, or we learn from or just simply are entertained by, but at the heart of it, where we weren't really able to dive deep into like this storytelling one on one and throw questions back at the person so easily. And, you know, having Clubhouse I've found that we're able to get to this important thing, which is the personal branding piece, that space that you occupy in the hearts and minds of people, your audience, relative to your competitors. And so when we're able to understand the space with which we have established some equity, and we can grow that equity, it can really help your business, your career progression, the future you want to design because until you're able to really pinpoint, you know, what is it that you're known for? What is it that you can build a found that to be liked enough to be trusted, then no matter if you're doing business or just building relationships, you don't have a compass. And so it's important to find, in my opinion, yeah, what is the thing that you're able to leverage and build equity with? And then strategically partner and pay the right people to help you get there? Patti Dobrowolski 10:27 Yes, yes, I love this, because it really does start with you. And when you can get a platform of some kind, I mean, that's what I tell people, you know, the only way that I ever became such a well known speaker was because I gave a TED talk. I totally nailed it. And it wasn't even on that platform where it blew up, it was on a bootleg platform, five years later, where somebody said it was the best of whatever, whatever year it was, and then 6 million people, right. And to me, that's the power of Clubhouse in one moment, you can say something that someone will hear, or you can do something. And this reminds me to of clubhouses. It really is about giving away what you know, to people, and then really giving it away. Like I give away sessions to people that I think, you know, if you just did a session with me for two hours, I think it would explode your business. And so I'm willing to do that, because I'm in a place where I've created the client base, such that I can give some things away. And I've also met some amazing clients there. And part of that I think you're talking about so you understand your brand and who you are, that builds then this line of trust, or this bridge of trust to a potential customer or even a person that's going to be your friend, right? And then you get to reap the benefit of meeting them. Ram Castillo 12:03 Yeah. And what we're really talking about here as well. And this is why I love you, Patti, and your podcast title especially, is because if you don't have the overlap, and this is one framework that I have created to find your competitive advantage. It's so simple. But it's two circles on a page overlapping over each other these circles on the left, it has the word appealing question mark. So what's appealing? Yes. And on the right, it's exclusive. Question mark. So what's exclusive, and until you find something appealing and exclusive enough, then you don't have a competitive advantage. Oh, my gosh, to have a competitive advantage. Otherwise, you can't compete in a market that's either being serviced, well, how are you going to compete? And this is why creativity is such an important differentiator. Patti Dobrowolski 12:53 And this creative genius part, right? That's what you're talking about. You're talking about its creativity, but it's also accessing your creative genius. And that is accessible to anybody. And that is, you know, the myth is that some people are creative. Rahm is creative, Patti's creative, but I'm not. And that's a myth. Because we're all born with our imagination. Ram Castillo 13:18 And here's the kicker to all of this, Patti, when I buy you or choose to follow you, wherever you're leading me? Yes, I'm subconsciously asking, What does that make me. So when I buy things, when I buy a Tesla, right, out of all the vehicles that I can buy to move me as a physical human, from A to B to C, I can buy any transportation vehicle, but I choose Tesla, because in the back of my mind, whether you admit it or not the person that has bought it also is pro tech, wants to make a statement that they are a supporter of other energy resource, in this case, something a bit more sustainable, like electricity, and is also wanting to have that title of I'm an innovative person. Yes. So when I buy you, I'm always asking, What does that make me because you're an extension of my worldview? Patti Dobrowolski 14:20 Yes. So when you think about that, like, to me, this is like how the universe works, right? When we think about that, we're a big energy field out there. And you think about all of the little sparks of light that are all of us. The way that you spark your spark and magnetize people who are like you is by being your true and authentic self, and finding what it is that you offer that nobody else offers. And that's really, all it takes for you to build your brand is you have to know that and then you have to help people in some way. Just add the help element Which that for you seems like a big piece of it. Like I watched a bunch of your talks, you know, and you're so generous in how you are onstage. You really are a great speaker. And you're funny, and people just love coming up to you. You can just feel it right. It's great. And it's powerful. But what is it that you feel in your world that you're here to do? What are you here to do? What's your purpose right now? Ram Castillo 15:27 So my why has always been in currently still serves me well as leading with generosity and following with care. And the reason why I say that Patti is because when I asked this definition of what my version of success is, I still arrive at this answer, which is Success to me is how well I go to sleep at night. Because I've had a little, and I've had a lot, and I'll loot this into some tangibility. But I've had a little and I've had a lot, I've had everything in between. You know, granted, I'm Filipino immigrant. My mom is one of five. Her dad wasn't really ever around her mom, my grandmother had to have a little corner store and then have a sewing machine just to raise five kids, my dad's one of 11. Now, his father passed away when he was only three. So he grew up without a father of majority his life. And then his mom passed away when he was at uni. And he graduated marine transportation, mechanical engineering, just to get out as with Filipinos back back in the day, especially get to Australia. And those two degrees at a top university were not recognized, of course. And so he raises three kids, I'm in the middle. And I have this worldview of going hmm, I could have lived that life, a life where they only had a tablespoon of peanut butter and a bit of bread to share. For the day. Often, my mum got so thirsty that she, at six years old job in the cupboard, swallowed a bottle of soy sauce, and now she's traumatized. She didn't know soy sauce, you know. So there are these things here and in place, where we go back now to your original question, you know, about what is my big why, what is my purpose? What is the thing for me? I didn't know it would look like going on two global speaking tours. Yeah, you know, writing two books, starting top ranking podcasts. And connecting with so many people I didn't know would look like that. Because I didn't Patti Dobrowolski 17:24 have well, you didn't have that view of what was possible, really Ram Castillo 17:29 100%. But at the heart of it, I knew that -- and this might not be the intrinsic motivation of most people. I don't know, I can only speak for myself. But deep down, I knew that I felt joy and at peace. And I recently did a talk about two talks, one was called "Don't aim to make a million dollars, aim to help a million people". And that the irony is the money will come. The other talk I did recently, which lands this point around what we're talking about here is that being wealthy doesn't necessarily mean being rich, that being wealthy is about overcoming obstacles, and they're the treasures that you get, you get another coin of resilience, you get another coin of humility, you get another coin of persistence, you get another coin of work ethic and respect and whatever it is that you gain. So Patti Dobrowolski 18:29 and love, and trust Ram Castillo 18:32 Yes. 100%. So for me, it's not it's less about going. I'm all about goals as well, I think, Patti Dobrowolski 18:39 of course, of course, because you're really you're all about making good decisions, good business decisions that are good for your business in the long run. Right. So yeah, so but I love it, you're talking about the journey, and the collection of the coins that you get that the challenges that you face, right or that your parents face, or my parents or grandparents face the you know, my grandmother was an immigrant my father was poor growing up in Chicago, both my mother and father's parents, you know, fathers died when they were seven. That was interesting to experience for them. And then for me to go become a therapist and then have to interview them about that and think about, oh, what was the transmission of Pathology at age seven for me right when they were, but I think that this collection of coins is underrated. It's underrated by most people because they see coin and wealth as how much you have in your bank account or what your capacity is. But it is in the moments where you're truly yourself up against the hardest things and that you pushing through it like you did and that the genetic encoding in your genes your family. They did that I think This forward into a future that we desire more than money, and more than fame, and more than all those things. So I love that you're saying this now, you must have hit some really big challenges in your career and in your life, what kinds of things did you have to come up against in yourself? You came from that kind of a background. So you know, that can make for a very small voice in a room full of very loud people sometimes, right? Ram Castillo 20:32 Absolutely. So few key obstacles that have really shaped how I have gone about life. In primary school, I was bullied quite badly, I had my arm broken three times and got 16 stitches. before the age of 11. I was the shortest kid in school. Never the most athletic, never the most wealthy. As I said, in terms of financial wealth, I was never the most intelligent, I was always. So very, very average. And all below, I was only great at art, funnily enough. And I remember my mum cooking spaghetti in our small apartment. I was about four years old, I would collect empty tissue boxes, toilet paper rolls, and I'd make stuff we obviously didn't have devices back then. And she said, What do you want to be when you grow up? And then I go out, and I'm, I just want to make stuff. Yeah. And then she put her hand on my shoulder, and she's still cooking. She said, Well, remember whatever you want to be, make sure you dream big. Make sure you dream much, much bigger. So although I had these obstacles, she gave me permission to just go for it. You know, there's no, I love that TED Talk by Ken Robinson. And yes, bit in his mother passed away at age 70. Last year, of course. But there was this one bit where he said that there was a girl, she was six years old. She was always very unattentive. She didn't have concentration. One time she did in drawing class and the teacher came up said, Hey, what are you drawing? And she said, I'm drawing a picture of God. And then the teacher said, wow, that's not possible. No one knows what God looks like. And then the child said, well they will in a minute? Yeah, exactly. And the point was that they weren't afraid to try as children, we weren't frightened to try to just give it a go. And so my mum instilled that in me at a young age. So despite the obstacles, and I wasn't a formally trained writer, I was able to write two books, even in my first book, when I went to 20 different publishers, and sponsors, and I tried to get funding for something. And then eventually, I was like, well work another job and self fund it yourself. Yes. Yeah. Get it out. Exactly. I did that. And American Institute of Design in the States were like, wow, you know, you're doing great things. Why don't we host you we've got 72 chapters will host your first speaking tour. In front of crowds before, I'd never done that. I just throw myself to plant many seeds, not knowing which will blossom. But sometimes it's a numbers game to Patti, I get people in finishing university and college. And then they're like, man, it's been four months. I haven't gotten a job. I've finished my degree. And I was like, how many emails have you sent out? How many people have you reached out to how many messages have they like, all like, I sent out like, 15 emails? I'm like 15 emails? I, like I said, 300 emails in the first week. And I was actually in the mailroom. Patti Dobrowolski 23:25 Yeah, exactly. I was thinking, you know, one of my first interviews was Jonathan Javier. And he tells people what he did on LinkedIn, you know, he would send out hundreds of emails and notes to people in LinkedIn every week, until he was able to get the connections that he did. And then he posts these pictures from where, and he just is amazing, right, but it takes this grit and courage and persistence. You know, I think probably I wanted to be a keynote speaker long before I mean, I never dreamed I would be on Broadway, I never dreamed that I would be a keynote speaker for, you know, on a stage of 4000 people that just, you know, the thought that that would be part of my reality. I didn't even know. Future Me was way ahead of me. And I was way back in the past in this limited sphere of can somebody call me right now. And then I'll just go and do it for a couple $100. You know, but this is where you start. And then you learned through doing and working and doing, I don't know about you, but I'm all about 500%. If I can do give you 500% of what you've asked for, then you kind of want to have me back, no doubt, or you're going to say something about that to somebody else. And I think there's something about you know, really and I think this is true for you like when I look at all the big brands that you've worked with. You know, you started out in advertising and we know what a grind that is that is a grind, right? And then you've gotten to this place now where you're ready expert in brand and so many other things. So what other things? Are you fascinated by now? And what are you looking for in your own career and also out there in the horizon to see if you can't tap into it? Ram Castillo 25:14 So here's the thing, everything that we've spoken about here, Patti, has kind of tied back to that theme about creativity, and wealth and designing the future that you want. It is only as successful as how many internal treasures that were looking to acquire, and to turn that into external change. And so we need to Patti Dobrowolski 25:42 say more about that, get that unpack that for people. So you're saying something very deep there. I want everybody who's listening to get this, the internal treasures to impact transforming Ram Castillo 25:53 that. Yeah. And turning that into impact. External change is one of that version, right? Acquiring internal treasures for external change. Because we need to look at back to the coin analogy. Yes, we need to look at that as a point of difference. We need to look at what's creativity, creativity, is putting something that's different and new. And something that requires new means that we need to look at testing, exploring, trying stuff. Yep. And you get this weird, strange, but interesting combination. And that's you. Yeah, that's, you know, one's walked your steps. Yeah, was grown up the same with the same parents mixed with this education mixed with this life experience. ABCD? Yeah, it's a combination that's unique to you. There's already Anthony Robbins, and Oprah Winfrey Brene. Brown and Marie Forleo, or Gary Vaynerchuk. There's already so many Yes, them, but we don't have one of you. Right. And this is what happens. It's not just about believing for belief sake. And so now, I look at it as being very popular to a few, right in whatever you're doing means accepting that we're going to be very unpopular to the other end. And we're going to be very neutral to the majority. And this is why I think people are not pursuing the fullness of their gifts, and then going down the truth. The rabbit hole is because they're trying to please everyone. Yes. Patti Dobrowolski 27:41 Oh, my gosh, this is a best marketing tip you could give to anybody. Right now, this is it. Because there are people that will throw shade, and you can't please them, no matter what you do, it's not going to happen. And then there are people who don't really care. They're living their life, just on this flatline way, no harm, no foul. But then there are a few people who are really expansive, and they're expanding what they're doing into places that they are afraid and maybe scared, and they're not sure what to do. But they know they're excited, and they're passionate about life. And they understand that life is about experience. It's not just about product, but it's about experience. Right? Ram Castillo 28:30 I'm going to give you one really interesting example. Real quick story. We're in the pandemic. Of course, we're still in that. I used to go to the gym a lot. I switched to an outdoor sport that I've never tried called tennis. Okay, I'm in my mid Patti Dobrowolski 28:45 year, I was gonna say you're not gonna say pickleball Are you? That's gonna scare me. Okay, good. tennis. Ram Castillo 28:52 Tennis, right. And so I'm in Sydney and we got lost on a lot of tennis courts, right, a big tennis community here, but I'm new. Definitely. I sign up mid last year. So in June, July 2020. I pick up a racket for the first time in my mid 30s. Okay, so I'm learning tennis. I started documenting videos, I posted some YouTube videos, this and that. This coach here in Sydney that finds these videos. He's got a Spanish accent. He ends up DMing me and he goes, Wow, I saw your test videos. I'd love to learn about entrepreneurship and design and digital media, the whole thing. I go, Well, I'm learning tennis. Why don't we do a value exchange? You teach me I'll teach you : happy days. So we start teaching each other. He's teaching the tennis and then after the tennis lesson and by the way he grew up with Rafael Nadal. The whole thing is just amazing. Yeah. So this is what I said about putting yourself out there. Now I've talked about one crazy seed planting activity. Yeah, I said all this stuff. I'm teaching about business and entrepreneurship, we should apply it to something so that it lands so that it's not just theory. So let's start a little side hustle just as a project. And let's do it because I'm down. I said, his name's Andy, I go, Where is an opportunity in the marketplace? I've got insights, being not in the tennis world that might be valuable. And you have insights, being in tennis world for, you know, over, like 25 years. Yes. And then what we came to arrive at going back to the design thinking, which is about empathy. First, it's about defining the problem that needs to be solved prioritizing that, then it's moving into ideating, prototyping, testing, and then deploying that in the market. So I said to, you know what? To learn tennis as an adult, you've only got two options. One hour private lesson, yes, one hour group, which is only about four people. So, right. There's nothing really like three hours, bootcamp style. Go, there's summer camps, but they're for kids, and they're like, a week or two weeks. Okay, let's try that. Three hour boot camps for beginner adults. We posted it on Eventbrite. Patti Dobrowolski 31:06 I'm sure that you sold out in a second. Ram Castillo 31:10 Sold out 24 hours, but 100 bucks a ticket. 10 people, Max. And so that will uh huh. Let's post another date up and see if that posted another one sold out with another 24 hours. Like, huh. I wonder what else? Let's do a serving specific one posted that that sold out long and the short of it for started, just as an idea is now a fully fledged business. Right? And this is what I'm saying? I'm not even from the tennis world. Exactly. I've not been introduced to tennis as a child. Right? Right. New to this Yes. And yet, I was able, talking about creativity, talking about mixing and matching a combination that is going to be equity in that idea. I love Patti Dobrowolski 31:58 that. And the other piece that you added to this was a value exchange, which I think this is often underrated. People don't realize how easy you know, that's how I met Pete Cohen. value exchange, I came and gave a talk. And then we went and work together, we did all this stuff in Europe, and then you know, just all the time, this value exchange exists out there for you as a possibility. Anytime that you put yourself out there because you did this first. You thought okay, I think I'll document this. Because why not? It seems crazy enough to do right. So you posted it on Instagram or Tiktok? Or whatever you did you like struggling with the racquet and the staff and then getting some stuff down. And then this person sees you because he watched all the videos right of you doing it? Where'd you put it on YouTube? Must have been on Ram Castillo 32:55 my Instagram. Yeah. And so they're documenting my learning journey. That's right. Patti Dobrowolski 33:00 And that's what we're hungry for? Is people learning, being vulnerable, and starting out Because all of us a) we want to learn something new, b) most of us are afraid to try. Because we think oh, I don't know, could I be any good in that, but I've always wanted to. And then somebody comes along and post something where they're doing the thing. And we think, Hey, that guy can do it. And he's really short. I think I could do it too. Right. All right. Yeah. So that's fantastic. I love that and then Ram Castillo 33:33 That's right. Absolutely. And just thought that Patti, what we're really talking about here as well is around, going back to that point about when I buy or follow or am connected to you as a fan, or whatever, customizers, you know, I can see myself in you. And there's a really important piece here, which is, I can trust you enough to go where you're taking me, trust is only possible with safety. Now, if I'm being vulnerable, and I am saying I'm learning and I'm showing you my mistakes, documenting it, I feel safe. And when I feel safe, the only way I can get that is if there's familiarity. And the only way that there's familiarity, is with consistency. And the only way that there's consistency is with repetition. So repetition, showing up, even when you don't see results straightaway, will lead to consistency. So I'll go back the other way. Repetition, consistency, familiarity, safety, trust. Patti Dobrowolski 34:32 That's right. And all of that equals success over time. You know, people they'll say to you, you know, like the person that said, you know, I've spent four months or three months since I graduated and I haven't gotten a job. How many emails did you send out? Well, 10 a week and you're like the Yeah, okay, get real and get into the present moment because we're talking about 7 billion people online right now. So you are just invisible. In that until you make yourself visible, and how do you do that? You do that through repetition and consistency, and then vulnerability, and then over that, that builds trust. And I'm using my own words here, but this is what we're talking about. That's the bridge to someone else. And that bridge becomes friendship, it becomes client relationship, it becomes value exchange, it becomes love, it becomes network expansion, all of that. But part of that is about you risking, you have to take a risk, and put yourself out there, this is how you create change in your life, is what you're talking about, is that you get an idea. And you could shelve that idea. And you could ask people, if you should do that idea, which often will bring shade on your idea, and then you don't want to do it. Or you can go out and you can find people that want to try an idea or want to expand something. And then there you go. Ram Castillo 36:07 And one of the things that I often suggest to people, Patti, because we're talking about not just you know, throwing spaghetti on the wall and seeing what sticks for no Rattray, right. What we're really also talking about is designing the future that you desire, and tapping into your creative genius. And what might that be sure there's a bit of there's there needs to be experimentation to all this. But there's also that bigger question, which is, and full of you listening, I suggest you finish this sentence, and really write it down. Don't let it live in your head. But my vision for a better world is one with more designers, entrepreneurs, and problem solvers. Because that is what the world needs. So now how it lives, I'm not so tied to if I have to go on and explore this speaking thing, or this writing thing, or this podcasting thing, or this YouTube documenting thing? Yeah, it's less about that. I'm willing to try those things. If they meet the vision, the purpose, because if the purpose isn't there, then the product doesn't matter. That's right, Patti Dobrowolski 37:14 if the purpose is for you to make a million dollars, it's not the same as if the purpose is to expand and move women into technology, or to show people all around the world that if you draw a picture of your vision, that you can take action on it, you can increase your chances by 42%. These are the things that will drive you that you can help people with. And the helping other people is the expensive element. It is to me the creative genius equation, right? The equation is around imagination and intuition and desire and drive. But it leads you to outcome to the infinite power, then outcome to the infinite power is I live and I serve the universe. And what I do is to live my biggest self and serve at the highest level, right? And that's what you're doing right now, which to me is so amazing. You're pulling together these people into your podcasts. And also I'm sure that you know, I see the photos of you in design sessions with people to design and develop new ideas and expand them. And I just love that because we are creating a new world every second. And you really are. What is it that fascinate you right now? What are you fascinated with? That's happening out there that you're looking at? And you go, Huh, that's interesting. I kind of like that, or is it this value exchange? What is it? Ram Castillo 38:46 So the first thing that comes to mind that fascinates me right now is how low the bar is for convenience. Let me contextualize this. It's so easy to be inconvenienced now. Yeah. Okay. So, I myself, I had to fill up the petrol my car, and there was one car in front of me, and I rarely drive but I've gone for a long drive the other day, and there was one car in front of me, and then I started to feel impatient. Yes. I also realized that because we were locked down in Sydney for good for Patti Dobrowolski 39:21 oh, yeah, you couldn't even you know, people had to be in a place for a month before you were actually able to go home if you flew in the country. Yes. Ram Castillo 39:28 Yeah. So we had like four months of lockdown we had one hour was the max that you're allowed to go outside and only for specific things. If there's cops all around who get like $5,000 fines, those curfew, the whole thing. So I didn't even have to leave my couch. Technically, I could order my groceries and I actually enjoyed going to the groceries, you know, and now I'm comfortable enough. I don't even need to, like do any kind of like it's convenience. Yes, it's so low now. Yeah, so it's easy to be inconvenient. So I'm fascinated by the lack of voluntary delayed gratification, Patti Dobrowolski 40:05 yes. O.M.G. Wait. The lack of involuntary gratification, right of that waiting. Nobody wants to wait anymore for anything. You don't want to wait for the lack of voluntary, voluntary. Yes, sorry. Ram Castillo 40:24 Like for example, if I'm, you know, uncomfortable, and I'm agitated, it's like, that means there's no consequence Patti. Yeah. You see, it's like, if I can't get this right now, then I'll blow I climate a blow behave this way. Patti Dobrowolski 40:42 Yeah, exactly. I'll just blow up. Hey, I live in Texas. I know all about that. Right? Yes. So you can see that everywhere. But it's everywhere. It's pervasive in, you know, if I can't get what I want right now, I'll just turn on Netflix. And then if I can't get the internet, then I'll find something else. And I'll do this and that. And I'm just filling up all the space that was in waiting in that silence. And that patience in that beautiful quietness, has somehow just evaporated? Ram Castillo 41:14 Well, here's the kicker, all this. It's not just that. I'm fascinated by it. I want listeners to understand that because the bar is so low, it's so easy to be inconvenienced. That's why there's so few great people now in the world, that you can be great. Now is the time. Yeah, my point is, start the thing. Yes. write that book. Finally, you know, launch that podcast, business, meet that person, send that email. Yeah, make that phone call. Now, you might think it's more difficult. Patti Dobrowolski 41:53 But now is the opening. Now's the opening, now's the time, you better step in, now is the time for you to step in. So you have shared so many like jewels, I'm going to go back and listen to this over and over again, for myself. And listeners, I hope you will too. Because we are talking about just really simple processes for you to get out and get your brand solidified, so that you can be known and trusted. And then you can make money doing what it is that you love, which is I know what people want, right? And this piece that Rahm is saying right now, he's saying, Listen, you got to go and do this. Now. Don't wait, because the bar is really low. And so everybody is easily inconvenienced to step on in there. Because you're going to be able to solve somebody's problem right away, right away, because the problems are really simple. Now. They're really simple. So tell me, you know, from your perspective, you gave a lot of tips, but tell me, so let's say somebody's sitting listening, and they're thinking, Oh, I don't know, you know, can I go out and do? What would you say to them about this? You said this about the now but what steps do you think that they might consider as they go out? You mentioned a few buttons, say them again, if you would? Ram Castillo 43:22 Well, I'll give you one framework that I designed for decision making, specifically, because I consider myself a decision making business coach specializing in rapid decision making specifically. And I've created a framework that everyone can use, and they can check out my website, if they want the diagram, or my Instagram. Patti Dobrowolski 43:41 It's all there. And it'll be in the show notes too. So look down there. Absolutely. And Ram Castillo 43:46 take this, you know, this framework, which I which I've coined the lightning bolt method, it's a rapid decision making framework. So it's helped me with both micro and macro decision making from deciding what to cook to dinner for dinner or to business I'd now allow meals today. future transport experiences as well. Right. I actually desired stage one of what the next 10 years of New South Wales trains look like. And so Patti Dobrowolski 44:11 as a three pints house, Okay, I'm ready. Ram Castillo 44:14 Yes. So you start here, interrogate your objectives. Patti Dobrowolski 44:17 Okay, first, interrogate your objectives. Alright, Ram Castillo 44:21 got her got your objectives, and I'll expand in a little bit, but we've got these three main buckets, interrogate your objectives. Number two is curate your criteria. Yes. And number three is dismantle obstacles. Okay. So the interrogate objectives is, you know, we're not in a shortage of having an objective a goal, a dream, we want many things. Patti Dobrowolski 44:49 No, it's not. It's not. Yes. Ram Castillo 44:52 I think the issue is that we don't interrogate it. We identify so many. That that's part The problem first of all, so we need to interrogate which objectives are going to be really meaningful for you. Yes, and interrogate them. I define interrogate objectives as this. What is the minimum viable intention? The minimum viable intention? So I want what to happen. Yes. So start there, like I said to you, my intention was to help, actually about the beginning, it was just to help designers get a job, right. So now I'm not tied to if it turns into a speaking, engagement, or you're Patti Dobrowolski 45:39 teaching online or you're doing whatever, right exactly book Ram Castillo 45:43 audio paperback, what podcast whatever, right, exactly. So interrogate it, interrogate the objective, don't just identify it, interrogate it down to the minimum viable intention, just Yes. The Patti Dobrowolski 45:56 minimum viable intention. So the simplest, simplest, right, simplest, clearest since we're talking about specific and clear, thank you. Ram Castillo 46:07 Correct. That's why the second is curate criteria, which is being brutally honest with your non negotiables. That's it. So with the criteria, the problem that I've often found is that or a sometimes there's not even a criteria, but there's there's so many maybes or I want it to be like this. No, no, non negotiables. You want to take that job? What are your non negotiables? You got a newborn, you need to clock off five, that's a non negotiable. You can't work weekends that are non negotiable, that you've got a certain limitation or comfort around how far you're willing to travel. Specify that. Yeah, that's a non negotiable. Patti Dobrowolski 46:48 Yes, yeah. And you can see on the in the Amazon ads that are on right now, that's what they're appealing to. That's what they're appealing. Absolutely. The non negotiables, right. Ram Castillo 46:58 Absolutely. I'm advising these two founders. They're two dads with three kids each, and they both work full time. And when I said to them, alright, you've got this new startup. It's kind of like Airbnb for backyards. And they're like, we're willing to throw everything into it time, money, energy, you name it, and I go, Whoa, you have to let me just for a second. Yes. Yeah. Didn't have all the time in the world. No, yes. What's the non negotiable? They were like? Well, every night, maybe one hour, maybe max. And then on weekends, maybe like, two hours, three hours, and I go, so you don't have all the time? Money? How much you're willing to spend on it. They said collectively, like 35,000 for the first sort of milestone I go. That's not an unlimited amount of resources. It No. And energy then looked tired. Yeah. And it's like, so curate your criteria. What are your non negotiables be brutally honest. And the third bucket is dismantling obstacles, which basically just comes down to pull it apart? Yeah, here are the things stopping me from getting to that, write them all down, pull it apart and search for the source of it the root cause. Yeah, cuz, Patti, often, it's might be even internal. Patti Dobrowolski 48:13 In my mind, I was thinking like, I was thinking limiting beliefs might be limiting Ram Castillo 48:17 beliefs. But we've got to list all these things down so that we're able to pair a specific Yes, yes. Or tool to just tackle that root cause? Patti Dobrowolski 48:28 Yes. Right. Ram Castillo 48:29 And some people say to me, Ram, I'm not great at Adobe Creative Suite. Now. There's Figma. Now there's all these tools like Miro board and this and I'm like, What do you want it to do? They're like, I just need a bit of animation. Exactly. It will constantly update the technology will constantly go higher and higher. Yes. So you just learned the minimum amount? careers that look like yes, basics, intermediate level, what does that look like? See too many people get caught up, and they don't address and measure? Yes. So this hopefully will help you get unstuck lightning fast. Patti Dobrowolski 49:05 Well, and I would say that is a lightning bolt right there. Kaboom. Really, this is a very simple three step process. You can use it anytime that you're thinking about changing anything in your life in your world, or what you're going to eat for that evil. Ram Castillo 49:21 Even the other day, I was like, a doll, what are we going to eat and then so my minimum viable intention was to just cook a healthy meal, right? And something that wasn't going to take, you know, half an hour. Patti Dobrowolski 49:34 That's a parameters. Ram Castillo 49:36 So it was you know, simple protein and veggies like and you know, what was stopping me was like, okay, all these ingredients. I don't have this as well, you know, got salt and pepper. That'll do. Like, again, it's just when you go through it. The criteria was this. My wife didn't care. She was just tired. She just wanted you know something. Yeah. Patti Dobrowolski 49:56 Can you forgive me, right? I love Yes, yes, I know. My wife was that way last night she goes, can we just have eggs and then you cut some vegetables and put it in, I go, No problem. Got it. Now it's solved. Now we don't have to worry about, we don't have to think about where we're going or ordering or going to the grocery store or anything like that. It's all done. Because it's really the smallest and simplest and specific. And then we just take away the obstacle, whatever perceived obstacle there is, I love that you are so fantastic. I could talk to you all day long. I really could. And I hope I get to again, I hope that you'll come back and you'll tell me everything else that you've learned about the world. And then I can ask you about the other ventures that you started, you know, by just going to the tennis court or maybe going to the test a lot or whatever it was that you were doing your latest thing that you're just experimenting with? Because why not? Now you're not in lockdown in the same way. I don't think are you still walked down there? Not necessarily free, yay, free at last free at last. I love it. Okay, good. Well, thank you so much for everything that you poured into us. Because in this podcast, I mean it I'm serious, I'm going to listen to it over and over again, because there was so much good thinking around you and your brand. And so I thank you for being here. And everybody who's listening, please follow him. His podcast is called the giant thinker. And it's singular, right? The giant thinker and just want to say we want to get him back into number three status. So go in there, follow him. He's on Apple, Spotify, he's probably everywhere with his podcast. So just follow him on Instagram, same handle there. Also in the show notes, you can find him on Clubhouse in this room and that room, mostly around creativity. And I just can't wait to see you again. Thank you so much for being here. Ram Castillo 51:50 Thank you, Patti. Yeah, the podcast is available there for anyone. It's called giant thinkers, my handles the giant thinkers, on that on everywhere. I'd love to hear from you, you know, continue to conversation and it's just about that, you know, planting many seeds. And Patti, I am so grateful to be on your show. You're an absolute rock star, you are a beam of light. And all of us honestly, like Patti Dobrowolski 52:12 one beam to the other there. I'm just saying. So anyone who's listening in, you know, just put all of his great wisdom into your life. Try it and tested. See what parts work for you. Because this is a simple process that will just explode everything that you have thought was hard to do. You'll be able to do it. I just know you will. So to everybody that's tuning in, you know what I'm saying to you is go out there be your best self bring good things to the world because we need you now more than ever don't mess around. Get in, step into your brand. Go out kaboom the world. And until next time, up your creative genius. Thanks again. Thanks for coming on. I love you. Ram Castillo 53:01 Thanks, Patti. Big Love. Thank you so much. Patti Dobrowolski 53:06 Thanks so much for listening today. Be sure to DM me on Instagram your feedback or takeaways from today's episode on Up Your Creative Genius . Then join me next week for more rocket fuel. Remember, you are the superstar of your universe and the world needs what you have to bring. So get busy. Get out and up your creative genius. And no matter where you are in the universe, here's some big love from yours truly Patti Dobrowolski and the Up Your Creative Genius Podcast. That's a wrap.

Thank you for joining us on Breakfast With Champions! Today we hear from Ram Castillo, a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design. 

Thank you for joining us on Breakfast With Champions! Today we hear from Ram Castillo on his first segment! Ram Castillo is a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Business Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. His focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders get unstuck through human centred design methodologies, creative strategy, digital marketing and branding. For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Google, AMEX, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design. 

Hey Giants, welcome to episode #83. If this is the first time you're tuning in, thank you so very much for being here! This podcast explores the decision-making of people who have been exposed and have proven experience at a world-class level of specialisation. It is my deep belief that Giant living requires giant thinking and if you resonate with that, you might enjoy the portfolio of guests we've had on the show, from Kelly Slater, to multiple Shark Tank Investors, to Gold Medalist Olympians, to Musicians, Designers, Creatives, Founders and leaders of all types – for organisations such as Nike, Deloitte, VISA, Squarespace, Wordpress, CreativeLive, Vaynermedia and even The White House.   Now for those that have been a long-time, dedicated listener, firstly, I'd like to apologise for the radio-silence. I took a year off the podcast ‘grid'. Straight up. Without any announcement, I just needed a break. Which, in hindsight, I definitely could have managed, communicated and planned better. But this ... ‘time' – gave me the space to untangle and to recalibrate. It gave me a new set of eyes and a new vantage point. It helped me refine what's important; who I want to serve and how best (for now) to do it. I want to serve entrepreneurs and business owners. Whether you're a designer or in the creative industry, or not – it doesn't matter. What matters is, you have a vision for a better world through your contribution, through your product, through your service. And I want to give you access to people, places, tools and knowledge to help you cut the guesswork, see the blind spots and succeed faster. So on that note, regarding this Giant Thinkers Podcast, it'll now be 8 curated episodes per year. An 8-episode season will run from October to November each year and my intention is for it to be of the highest quality. In storytelling, in thinking, in diversity, in vulnerability and in practicality. To kick things off, for 2021 season 7, this episode is a solo piece. I recently delivered and recorded this talk for Breakfast With Champions – A club on Clubhouse which is a voice-based social app. And the keynote style talk I delivered was on ‘Wealth Wisdom Wellbeing'. My position was that being rich doesn't necessarily mean being wealthy. Being wealthy could mean acquiring internal treasures for external change. That wealth accumulation is in the overcoming. So if you're someone that's interested in hearing about my very personal journey and the 7 x key tips for attaining my version of true wealth, then this episode is for you. Now a quick note from me, if we aren't connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I'd love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker. Alright, let's get stuck in. I present to you … me – enjoy!!     More on Ram Castillo can be found via the links below: https://ramcastillo.com https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923 https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker https://www.clubhouse.com/@thegiantthinker Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.     Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress? It's the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier. It's a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed. It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal

In episode 33, Arlene chats with Design Director & Investor, Ram Castillo. Their conversation speaks about humble beginnings, daring to dream through life's challenges, and pursuing your goals even when you aren't exactly where you want to be. Ram is a breath of fresh air and his life story will leave you feeling like you can achieve anything.

Ram Castillo is a multi talented individual, a designer, author, speaker, business coach and host of his own podcast Giant Thinkers. For 15 years he has worked with global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Telstra, Google, AMEX, CBA, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group.Ram has been featured in Apple, http://news.com.au/ (news.com.au), GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design.His podcast is part of an initiative to provide advice for designers and creatives to navigate towards their desired outcomes via http://giantthinkers.com/ (GiantThinkers.com).In this episode we discuss how our lived experiences shape us and the difference it can make in our lives when making decisions from this place. Connect with Ram: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegiantthinker?lang=en Connect with the Wonder Women Club: www.wonderwomenclub.com www.instagram.com/wonder.women.club www.facebook.com/thewonderwomenclub www.facebook.com/groups/thewonderwomenclub

Welcome back to Season 2 of Interviews With Experts. This week, I'm happy to be joined by another fascinating guest, Ram Castillo.Ram is a Design Director, Author, Advisor and Coach. We talk in great detail about some of the ways in which a particular brand can be designed; how, within a few months, his new blog got him onto a multi-city tour; and why setting clear communication boundaries can benefit all parties.So tune in, enjoy, and as always, let us know your comments, questions, and thoughts.You can subscribe to podcast notifications here: https://ie926.infusionsoft.com/app/form/podcast________________________________________________________________________Ram Castillo can be found here:Website: https://ramcastillo.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker________________________________________________________________________Georgia Kirke can be found here:For help with building your personal brand by publishing incredible content, you can contact me at georgia@writebusinessresults.com or 020 3752 7057LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/personal-brand-how-to/________________________________________________________________________RESOURCES & LINKS:Subscribe to our Words of Wisdom newsletter - exclusive content covering all things expert positioning delivered monthly straight to your inbox: Count Me In!Our Latest Blog: Read More Here!►If you've got stories to tell and need Write Business Results to help you get it out there, we'd love to hear from you. Check us out at https://writebusinessresults.com/►Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Write Business Results LtdFind us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/write_business_results/Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/writeabooktogrowyourbusiness/You can email your questions and comments to:info@writebusinessresults.comEnjoy, and come back for the latest interviews with experts each Monday. Thank you for listening.

Ram Castillo is a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, and Decision-making Coach who specializes in digital spaces, human-centered design, branding, and creative strategy. He's been featured in Apple, GE, Communication Arts,  CreativeLive, Herman Miller, and The American Institute of Design.  His Podcast; Giant Thinkers  hit #3 on Apple Podcast and has 250,000 active listeners.His interviews include Kelly Slater, Naomi Simson, Chase Jarvis, Kevin O'Leary, and Prince Ea.  He is on a mission to decision-makers, business owners, leaders, and organizations get unstuck.In this episode, we explore why he believes design has made him better at asking questions, he shares how to find the right mentors, and why he believes fear is false constructs based on untested assumptions.  You can learn more from Ram: https://ramcastillo.com/Books:How to Get a Job as a Designer, GuaranteedHow to Get a Mentor as a Designer, GuaranteedSocial Media:https://www.facebook.com/TheGiantThinkerhttps://twitter.com/thegiantthinkerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-castillo-39a39923/https://www.instagram.com/thegiantthinker/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=23010497)

Have you ever suffered from decision fatigue? In this episode, Sam chats with designer, speaker, and author Ram Castillo who shares his ‘The Lightning Bolt Method'; a series of questions within a sequential framework that is designed to access empowered and informed rapid decisions. https://ramcastillo.com/  

Hello and welcome back on this Sunny Sydney Saturday.  It's time for me to share with you some of the exciting new 2021 LinkedIn features that have rolled out for job seekers and all who wish to build their personal brand on LinkedIn.  As my past 4 podcast episodes have featured interviews with some really interesting professionals and now it's time to get back to providing advice to help you boost your career! The last 4 episodes have featured the amazing Cayla Dengate in ep 213, LinkedIn News Editor in Australia, Kevin D Turner in ep 214, the US based brand strategist extraordinaire, Ram Castillo in ep 215, host of the Giant Thinkers podcast and talented design director, and the wonderful Phil Strasser in ep 216, author of Your Meat Mate cook book, talented chef and entrepreneur. I discussed some of the new LinkedIn features for Job Seekers in 2020 (ep 204) which included:1.     The Voice Pronunciation feature2.     The Resume Builder feature3.     The Job Interview Preparation feature and4.     The “Open to Work” banner featureDid you try any of them out? I'd love to know what you think, so share your comments below. Since June 2020, the LinkedIn product managers have been super busy creating even more amazing features for 2021, and updating existing features for the better. Today I cover: 1.     The extended number of characters in posts you share2.     LinkedIn Live streaming to your profile banner3.     The Cover Story video intro feature4.     And Creator Mode and what that means for YOU Here is the LINK to my LinkedIn article on the 2021 new LinkedIn features with videos and images to explain in even greater detail. Are you a Job Seeker? If yes, join me in my group coaching call on Monday 14th June at 8pm (Sydney time).  I'll be covering How to Work with Recruiters, what recruiters are REALLY looking for and also how to ensure your resume gets past the Applicant Tracking System.  Here's the link to register on Eventbrite – it's an online event on the 14th June. If you miss this one, you'll find me EVERY 2nd Monday evening of each month delivering group coaching calls to help you in your job search and also to advance in your career.  Visit The Careers Academy at www.thecareersacademy.online to download all of my career support resources.Stay safe and stay well, and I'll be with you again soon!

Ram Castillo is a Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney.  It's an honour to have Ram share his career journey on Your Career Podcast.Ram's current focus is to help business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders and organisations get unstuck, lightning fast through coaching, consulting and advisory. He specialises in digital spaces, human centred design, branding and creative strategy.For 16 years Ram has been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT, McCann and Saatchi & Saatchi on clients such as Audi, McDonald’s, Qantas, Telstra, Google, AMEX, CBA, Toyota and The Louis Vuitton Group.He's been featured in Apple, news.com.au, GE, Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, VIVID festival and The American Institute of Design.Some may know Ram from his Podcast; Giant Thinkers – which has hit #3 on iTunes in over 5 countries and currently has 250,000 active listeners.Previous interviews include Kelly Slater, Naomi Simson, Janine Allis, Reynold Poernomo, Stephanie Rice, Jules Lund, Chase Jarvis, Kevin O’Leary, Prince Ea, Lewis Howes and Debbie Millman.His podcast is part of an initiative to provide advice for designers and creatives to navigate towards their desired outcomes via GiantThinkers.com If you want to create a career that will be satisfying and rewarding too, visit JaneJacksonCoach.com

In this episode, we speak with Ram Castillo - Founder of Giant Thinkers - a resource that provides practical advice for design students and graduates to be employed, established designers to reach their next level, and creative entrepreneurs to navigate to their desired outcomes. Topics covered: Asking quality questions Killing procrastination and making meaningful progress Making empowered and informed decisions Leadership and action-takers Decision-making compass Lightning Bolt Method Giant living and giant thinking More about Ram's Lightning Bolt Method - https://ramcastillo.com LET'S CONNECT: LinkedIn Instagram MultiplyMii Escala Successful Scales This podcast is also available on the Successful Scales YouTube channel.

Welcome to episode #82 if this is the first time you’re tuning in, thank you so very much for being here, my name is Ram Castillo and this podcast explores the decision-making of people who have been exposed and are experienced in a particular expertise or specialisation. It is my deep belief that Giant living requires giant thinking and if you resonate with that, you might enjoy the portfolio of guests we’ve had on the show, from Kelly Slater, to Shark Tank Investors, to Olympians, to Musicians, to Designers / Creatives and leaders of all types.Now, today’s guest is a food technologist and the Co-founder & Managing Director of Twisted Healthy Treats. A company that started back in 2009. Twisted are obsessed with creating Australia's best tasting frozen desserts that are actually good for you. All their products are made from natural ingredients and are all Australian made and 100% Aussie owned. Her background is in large scale Project Management within the Financial Services industry, but always dreamed of having her own company ever since she was a child.Fast forward 10 years, she is a mum of 3, Twisted now manufacture and sell take home tubs, multipacks and single serve cups to over 5000 outlets across Australia — including a national distribution deal with Woolworths and more recently Costco Australia and Coles Supermarkets.They are also the ONLY 'ice cream style' product that is approved for sale in School Canteens by the Australian Government — 2 million Australian school kids enjoy Twisted yoghurt in their lunch break. Some of the topics we spoke about include:What to consider when entering the frozen dessert categoryHow to set yourself apart from the many health food brands availableThe journey of how long it can take from ideation to first product in market – and the testing, iteration and validation involvedPricing decisions and cost structuresProcesses, prioritisation, managing and a whole heap more. So if you’re someone that has some seriously giant aspirations – and are interested in the fusion of product innovation, food and running a business, then this episode is for you.Now a quick note from me, if we aren’t connected yet on Instagram, I invite you to follow me on my handle @TheGiantThinker as I share daily posts and stories on helping decision-makers, business owners and leaders get unstuck lightning fast through human-centred design methodologies, creative strategies and personal experiences. Send me a DM I’d love to hear from you! You can find me on my handle @TheGiantThinker. Alright, let’s get stuck in.I present to you a woman that I very much admire and look up to … the warm-hearted, brave and resilient ... Cass Spies!  More on Cass can be found via the links below:https://www.instagram.com/cassspieshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mrstwistedhttps://www.twistedhealthytreats.com.auhttps://www.instagram.com/twistedhealthytreatshttps://www.facebook.com/TwistedHealthyTreats Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.  Want to know the most productive tool that has helped me accelerate my progress?It’s the Five-Minute Journal; the simplest, most effective thing you can do everyday to be happier.It’s a physical journal that gives you a positive quote, followed by three questions you answer in the morning and two questions to answer in the evening before bed.It basically anchors your mind in a positively focused, intentional and grateful mindset, in less than 5 minutes a day. Grab yours here: GiantThinkers.com/fiveminutejournal

In this episode, I'm chatting with Ram Castillo all about how you can get unstuck and get creative as a business owner.Ram is an award-winning Design Director, two-time Author, Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. Specialising in digital spaces, human-centred design, branding and creative strategy.

Ram Castillo is an award-winning Design Director, Author, top-ranking Podcaster, International Speaker, CreativeLive Instructor, Decision-making Coach and Approved Advisor based in Sydney. Specialising in digital spaces, human centred design, branding and creative strategy.For 15+ years he’s been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT and McCann on clients such as Audi, McDonald’s, Qantas, Telstra, Google and The Louis Vuitton Group.Featured in Communication Arts, HOW magazine, CreativeLive, Herman Miller, GE, news.com.au, deFrost*, AIGA.org and Apple.Since 2012 Ram has also been providing expert advice for emerging designers and creatives to be employed, and those established to reach their next level via GiantThinkers.com.Website:http://giantthinkers.com/Support us on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/12minconvosListen to another #12minconvo

In this episode, international strategist, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and design expert Ram Castillo shares a global perspective on this time in history and what it means for your business right now, as well as moving forward... Connect with Ram: @thegiantthinker Listen to Ram's podcast: Giant Thinkers Connect with The Brand Boss Show: www.thebrandbossshow.com Follow The Brand Boss Show on Instagram: @thebrandbossshow Business stories mentioned in this episode: Salt Meats Cheese: https://saltmeatscheese.com.au/ The Art of Bread: https://www.theartofbread.com/shop/

60 episodes! What an honor it is to have Ram Castillo on the podcast this week. He is someone I have followed and admired for years. My Guest this week is an award-winning Design Director, Two Time Author, Blogger, top-ranking Podcaster and international Speaker based in Sydney, Australia.For over 14 years he’s been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT and McCann Worldgroup on clients such as Audi, McDonald’s, Qantas, Coca-Cola, Telstra, Google and The Louis Vuitton Group.Since 2012, he’s been providing expert advice for emerging designers and creatives— to be employed, and those that are established – to reach their next level, via GiantThinkers.comHis podcast Giant Thinkers reached #3 on iTunes in the coveted Design Category in 5 countries.In this episode we discuss burnout, mentorship, love, and self-actualization. Ram is a wealth of knowledge and has both mental and emotional intelligence far beyond his years.__Don't forget if you are looking to get hired as a UX Designer... I'm working on the course just for you. Actually, I'm making the course I wish existed when I was first trying to get hired as a designer... and everything I've learned on the way. To be the first to know about the launch and get 50% off the entire course, enter your email to subscribe at: http://hiredux.com/-As always thank you for listening, and if you enjoy what you're hearing, please share with your friends and co-workers :)-Feel free to stalk the Experience Design podcast on Instagram at @xdpodcast-AND If you are feeling EXTRA inspired, I would love for you to check out my Patreon page here: https://patreon.com/xdpodcast#staycuriousSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/xdpodcast)

When you’re a new graduate or newly self-taught designer, searching for your first job in the design industry can be tough. Applying for job after job with no immediate success can leave you feeling low, and wondering if you’ll ever make it in the industry. But you’re not alone, and this weeks episode is designed to give you some much needed motivation. Ian Paget interviews Ram Castillo who shares some honest truths about the industry and advice for getting your first design job. We also discuss the most effective approach for finding and reaching out to mentors who can help you reach your professional goals. Ram Castillo is an award winning Design Director based in Sydney Australia, and is best known for his podcast and blog, Giant Thinkers, where he shares expert advice for emerging designers to be employed. Books & Resources Mentioned Ram Castillio on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. GiantThinkers.com – Expert advice for emerging designers to be employed How to Get a Job as a Designer, Guaranteed – Amazon UK | Amazon US How to Get a Mentor as a Designer, Guaranteed – Amazon UK | Amazon US Show notes and interview transcription can be found here: https://logogeek.uk/podcast/first-design-job/ Thank you to the sponsor, FreshBooks I’m incredibly thankful to FreshBooks for sponsoring season 6 of the Logo Geek Podcast! FreshBooks is an online accounting tool that makes it really easy to create and send invoices, track time and manage your money. You can try it out for yourself with a free 30 day trial.

In this episode, I chat with Ram Castillo, the founder of Giant Thinkers (amongst other creative and ambitious projects and initiatives.) Ram shares his approach to redefining what you want to do in life, what you want to contribute, and a process you can follow to help you create that future starting today. Great interview. Great guy!

In this episode we meet Ram Castillo.   Ram is an award-winning Design Director, Author, Blogger, top-ranking Podcaster and international Speaker.   For 13+ years he's been working for global agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, JWT and McCann Worldgroup on clients such as Audi, McDonald's, Qantas, Coca-Cola, Telstra, Google and The Louis Vuitton Group.   He is the author of two best selling books and has been featured in HOW magazine, Herman Miller, deFrost*, AIGA.org and Apple.   Since 2012, he's been providing expert advice for emerging designers and creatives to be employed, and those that are established – to reach their next level, via GiantThinkers.com and has recently launched Unrushed Experiences.   In this episode we talk about: How creatives are different and what you need to do to motivate them and make them maximally effective How to accelerate your career as a creative or not Thinking Big ADVICE FROM HIS MOTHER & ACCELERATING YOUR CAREER AND GROWTH she just put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Look, whatever you want to do, just remember to dream big. Dream really, really big."   I remember going back from my first USA speaking tour, when I launched my first book, How To Get a Job as a Designer. When I got back, the first thing she said to me ... and I was gone for three months ... And she hadn't seen me. So the folks came and greeted me at the airport. But she said, "how does it feel? How does it feel climbing up that mountain?" And I said, "feels pretty good, Mum." And she said, "Well, make sure you come back down and share to everyone what you found."   This the best way in; to get your foot in the door, and the principle I've really applied is in order to take a forward step sometimes you really need to take a side step. And I've been taking many side steps.   Patience. In a world where it can feel like we're not getting anywhere. I have been embedded, through my parents, that belief that you should really take your time and enjoy what it is you need to learn at this moment. Someone once told me that although it might be a painful experience ... or maybe painful might be a bit extreme of a word ... but you want something so bad. One of my mentor's once told me that maybe you're not moving forward because you've not learnt a lesson you're meant to learn yet. And that's something that's really stuck by me; enjoying what you really need to learn, even if it's uncomfortable, even if it makes you sort of squeamish or gives you anxiety, because ... The way my Mum put it was, look at all the great masterpieces in the world. They were all carved from some block of stone or solid nothingness. And could you imagine if we are that thing. Could you imagine how painful those chips are? Being carved into masterpieces? We're getting chipped away.   And I know that might seem very broad strokes, top-line but it is really these guiding principles that I've been able to really adopt and embrace. On a hyper-practical level, I just work my arse off, mate. I really, really do.   I think when I say work hard, I mean, like, when you feel ... it's the old Schwarzenegger thing, isn't it? It's like Pumping Iron, where he said, when you think you've got nothing left in the tank, it's the extra three reps that actually get you from good to great. Or average to champion.   I also value relationships, and I think that has grown into equity in itself   Education, so it's important because some people are like, "do I need a Bachelor's degree?" Well, from my experience in design specifically ... but again, transferrable principles ... research what is the bare minimum that you need. What is the bare minimum that you need, from an education credibility point of view, that will allow you to work in that trade.   And so many people need to really remove themselves from this whole, "university is the only way," thing because it's not. ON DESIGN Now I really push myself to learn social dynamics and social interaction and really through design ... human centred design ... that technology is reverse engineering human behaviour and outcomes whether it's in the commercial space or not. That for me I've also tried to apply to myself. Ram Castillo: In knowing more about people, which in turn as helped be become, hopefully, a better leader, and a better communicator, and a better creative in that we're not ever meant to assume, we're meant to absorb. We're meant to come up with our hypothesis that is really informed ... not just by data ...but qualitative data as well, not just quantitative data I mean.   HOW TO GET MENTORS AND THE BEST ADVICE HE EVER GOT I interviewed the likes of Kelly Slater, 11 times world surf champion, exactly that ... I slid into his Instagram DM's. But could you imagine, even if they say no, there's going to be someone who's going to answer on some platform available, where that person's active. And if you're feeling stuck, or you really are stuck, you don't have to go at it alone. You can scope, whether it's locally or globally, someone, or a few people, who can give you a nudge into helping you see the blind spots and kind of the guesswork to succeed faster.   Russell James. He is the main photographer for Victoria's Secret. He is also a fellow Aussie, and one thing he shared with me was ... we spoke at a conference together in Margaret River and we've since been quite good friends ... and he said, "don't let the highs take you too high. And don't let the lows take you too low."   Debbie Millman. She's very iconic in the design world. She actually has had the first ever design podcast in the world, 12 years ago now or more, fifteen maybe. She's based in New York and she runs the Masters of Design Programme at the New York, or is it the Sydney Visual Arts Design School there. And she said the longer it takes, the longer it will last and the more you'll be prepared for the success, when it comes. So I'll say that again. She said that the longer it takes, the longer it will last and the more you'll be prepared for the success, when it comes.   I find that we often dream big and we want so many things for ourself. But then there's this five second window, where logic kicks in, and rationale kicks in. And then it goes, "Nah!" And if you miss that window, and you don't act on that window, so much of what your heart is screaming for, won't ever come into fruition. But the long and the short of it is, we live in a world where you can be whatever the hell you want to be, and you don't need permission from anybody at all. You just need to give things a go and understand, based on these things that I've said, that I've shared from my mentors, it allows you to just a, back yourself. But also, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out and that's okay. That's okay.   ON LEADING CREATIVES I think one of the biggest challenges is balancing creativity with a business mind. Because also, part two, is what kind of creativity are we talking about? Some, and I've quickly had to learn this myself you know, dreaming me big into thinking I would be designing to change the world. Well, the reality is, commercially, much of the time, 90% of the work you'll be doing is probably ... if you're a designer anyway, or in the field of any type of marketing or communications ... is going to likely be for either finance, automotive, insurance, something that you're not entirely passionate about   The main thing, for me, has been understanding ... Starting from the top, where we have to look through the lens of human needs. So, no matter if you're a leader in the creative field or not, everyone ... all your employees, at some version ... would like some recognition, acknowledgement, feeling of community, a sense of belonging.   So understanding that, as a top-line thing, is important because it leads to the next thing, which I strongly advise, and it's the best way to motivates people; and it's to find what already motivates them. Hugely important because finding the right people for the right job ... or the right task ... often, I've seen, doesn't align.   So many leaders in the creative field, they might find that okay, this person is great on paper and then, on the interview, failed to ask the question, "what really lights you up?" What really motivates you and is it okay that you will be doing ... and let's say doesn't. Let's say there's a disconnect with the person's answer; and putting it out there, good old radical candour style ... you won't be doing that here. Like, what else motivates you? Do you ...just say it ... do you just need this for the money? Do you just need this for experience? To get something under your resume?   It's just so important to find the real motivations in people, because if you try to sugarcoat it and say "yeah, yeah, we're highly creative here," and you don't give that person the opportunity, the briefs and the jobs and the projects are actually not that bloody creative. Or worse, you're giving junior work to a senior; doing bloody roll out work that is not stimulating for this creative person, that's a problem.   But I always encourage you to have projects also on the side. Or explore, whether it's going on your own night photography group, or you're building something from wood because you always wanted to and did a woodwork shop class. Or literally pick up your paintbrushes again and paint just like you did when you were a kid. I mean, all of these things I should probably do, to be honest.   But yeah, it is just distinguishing the two, because, we're talking off air a bit, Greg, but you know, the problems that a lot of leadership, certain leaders might have with creatives, is that their brain is actually wired to pushing boundaries and imagining a world that doesn't exist yet.   So, you're conflicting any time that you restrain a creative, they're actually going, "fuck that. I'm not going to do that." Like you're limiting what's possible.   And so it's important to give them the space to express their idea, to listen intently, help them feel that they've been heard. But also influence the outcome, if it's not to their liking, by informing them that here are the circumstances that are not allowing us to proceed with that type of idea. It's a great idea. However, dot, dot, dot.   UNRUSHED EXPERIENCES Unrushed Experiences. As you said, it's a premium degustation of the senses, for overworked professionals to undo the damage of busy.   Those that feel they may be drowning in speed, and starving for stillness. It is literally a seven-course degustation menu for the next one that's coming up on the 11th of May, here in Sydney, at renowned restaurant Number One Bench Street by Mike. He's crafted the seven-course degustation meal with wine and beverages and live music performers from a violin and cello duo who played for Sydney's Symphony Orchestra and Australian Orchestra to Roshani Priddis, who's been on Idol and X-Factor. James Blunt calls her a deep, dark and soulful songwriter. To Q and A's with special guests   FINAL MESSAGE OF WISDOM AND HOPE Really simply, I'd say to lead with generosity and to follow with care. That's it.

Giants, Ram Castillo here. This is episode #68! Today’s guest is a Canadian businessman, author and TV personality from Shark Tank USA. He co-founded the technology firm SoftKey – which was later acquired for more than $4 billion dollars. He has since launched O’Leary Funds (an investment fund company), O’Leary Fine Wines – and a best-selling book series on financial literacy which covers everything you need to know about making, saving, and growing money. He’s even stepped his foot into the world of politics (which we briefly talk about).   He has a current investment portfolio of 29 companies (possibly more from when I interviewed him 2 months ago to now). He first learnt about entrepreneurship at a young age after his step-father advised him to not become a full-time photographer – a story I won’t spoil as our guest delivers it so well. And now he is on a mission to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs to truly succeed. Some of the topics we spoke about include: The common mistakes he sees people aged 20 - 35 make with their money His advice for going ‘all in’ professionally in your creative craft The best and worst investments he has made The three common attributes all successful pitches have on Shark Tank   So if you’re thinking about making a success out of your creative craft – or are looking for ways to grow your financial freedom through running a business, then this is for you – as we uncover what truly makes an entrepreneur successful. I present to you … the brutally honest, relentless and generous … Kevin O’Leary!     More on Kevin can be found via the links below: KevinOleary.com LinkedIn: Kevin O’Leary  Kevin’s Facebook Page  Twitter: @KevinOlearyTV  Instagram: @KevinOlearyTV  Cold Hard Truth on Family, Kids, and Money  The Cold Hard Truth on Men, Women, and Money  Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.     Get 20% off my image search library of choice: Stocksy Stocksy provide royalty-free stock photography and cinematic video footage. A big reason why I love them is because their library is highly curated and isn’t full of cheesy, overused assets. Plus, the entire website is insanely easy to use. The searching, the filtering, the navigating – It’s all clear, intuitive and simple. They even have a drag and drop search feature if you have an image you like and want to see similar images on Stocky, just drag and drop it straight onto their website. And, they have a search by colour feature too. Perfect for finding images to match your colour palette. I encourage you to take advantage of the exclusive 20% OFF discount. Head to: GiantThinkers.com/Stocksy The discount is automatically applied.

Ram Castillo, an award winning Design Director, Blogger, top ranking Podcaster, Speaker, CreativeLive.com Instructor and Author joins us to discuss his growth journey from Graphic Designer to everything you see here, and how anyone can apply design thinking to their everyday lives. From the importance of goal setting, thinking in terms of minimums to help you take action, and dissecting how all ideas start with a thought, this episode is packed with information and inspiration. You can learn more about Ram via his site, http://giantthinkers.com/, including the latest episodes from his podcast (also titled Giant Thinkers) and information on his 2 books. Connect with Ram via Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat(@TheGiantThinker).

Welcome to episode #33 – this is a little different to all the other episodes in the past. I've not yet done a solo episode, as I haven’t had a good reason to, until now.  If you're a first time listener, usually I have a conversation with one expert guest and attempt to dissect their story, the lessons they have learnt along the way and the advice they would give to their younger self. However, it’s time to mix things up, and what better way to do so than to pair the release of my second book; How to get a mentor as a designer, guaranteed, with the first 35 minutes of my audiobook version! which equates to the first 50 pages of the 200 page book. The entire audio book version goes for about 2 hours 10 minutes and I thought I'd give you a solid amount as a sample here for you to base your thoughts on it incase you were looking to grab a copy. I also took the liberty of reading it out in my own voice to hopefully add greater authenticity and connection with you. And let me tell you, that was my first time recording an audio book in a professional studio and man do i empathize with voice over artists. It's definitely not as easy as it may seem. So here we go, I present the first 50 pages of my second book; How to get a mentor as a designer, guaranteed – in audiobook format... enjoy!More on the book can be found here: https://www.gettingamentor.com Watch the video trailer here: http://giantthinkers.com/video Subscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.Do you hate having that awkward conversation with your clients about pending payments they need to make? I highly recommend you checkout Freshbooks. The #1 cloud-based, invoicing software for small businesses. Especially if you’re a freelancer. 5 million people already use FreshBooks to painlessly send invoices & estimates, track time and capture expense receipts. Thankfully, they automates late payment email reminders too, so you can spend less time chasing payments and more time working your magic. Tina Roth-Eisenberg, Founder of Creative mornings, aka swiss-miss, said “it saves me a huge amount of time.” Forbes said it is “Incredibly user friendly”. FreshBooks is offering a month of unrestricted use to all Giant Thinkers listeners, totally free right now. To claim your free month, go to FreshBooks.com/Giant and enter Giant Thinkers in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.

Ram Castillo is an award winning Senior Designer, Art Director, Blogger and Author of the internationally acclaimed book ‘How to Get A Job as A Designer, Guaranteed’. He’s based in Sydney, Australia and in 2012, started the blog giantthinkers.com, which helps thousands of design students and graduates be employed. He’s regarded as a world-leading career […] The post Episode 010 – Ram Castillo appeared first on What Works.

Hey guys, this is episode number 6 on the giant thinkers podcast, Ram Castillo here – unleashing a very unique guest for you all.He’s a physical education teacher that has leveraged emerging technologies to shape new age teaching. He’s created over 100 online products and services… over 60 of those are mobile apps and he’s won numerous awards world-wide for them. He’s even presented internationally, running workshops in over 30 countries for the last 6 years.He blogs regularly about his experiences on generating an income online and even has a podcast of his own.The topics we talk about include:• What it’s like growing up in country Victoria, Australia• Having an entrepreneurial mindset• The birth of the ‘PE Geek’ blog and brand… and the journey that followed afterwards to monetization• How he found a niche within a niche• His biggest tip on taking an app idea in your head to making it available in the market• The biggest mistake when creating a product• The best tool to plan and prototype• How he’s creating deep relationships with his audience, and so much more.I am over the moon to present to you a gentlemen who truly walks the walk and follows through. The hard working and successful, Jarrod Robinson also known as the ‘PE Geek’ and founder of TheTeacherpreneur.com---Enjoy the mountains of useful content on Jarrod’s websites: https://thepegeek.com and http://theteacherpreneur.comSubscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.

Hello wonderful listeners, thank you for tuning in on the fifth episode of the Giant thinkers Podcast. Ram Castillo here and I am pumped to launch this episode.If you’ve ever wanted to hear about what it’s like to be a Global Chief Creative Officer at one of the world’s best-known marketing communications agencies and one of the oldest, then this is the podcast episode you’ve been waiting for. Now, this is a little longer than my usual podcasts but it’s for good reason. Listen to the first half an hour of it and you’ll know exactly what I mean. I cast a wide net of questions and my guest goes deep with the answers.We talk about a whole bunch of topics including: • Being deliberate in career choice• The importance of selling your ideas• How to behave as a leader• The plus side of getting fired• The gift of creativity• Grilled cheese sandwiches• Advice on how to get noticed by an employer• Feeding your curiosity• Making the world better… and the list goes on.So it’s with great pleasure to introduce to you, the unicorn himself, the inspiring and grounded Matt Eastwood, Global CCO of JWT.Catch Matt Eastwood on his twitter handle: @MattInNewYork and on his LinkedIn profile here.Plus more on JWT can be found at: https://www.jwt.comSubscribe to The Giant Thinkers Podcast on iTunes.