Shop Talk Radio with Nick Onken

"You sound dead to me. Wake up, start living the life you want to live everyday, as opposed to living half your life average to pay the bills." -@LewisHowes Lewis Howes has become a really close friend over the last couple years. We connected through our circle of friends of Pencils of Promise, as Lewis has built a couple schools for the organization. Lewis is the inspiration and catalyst for starting this podcast actually. He interviewed me over on his podcast, School of Greatness and connected me with his guy Ian over at Freedom Podcasting…now we are here. Lewis has a big vision to help entrepreneurs unlock their inner greatness and go big in their lives. Check out School of Greatness for another great source of inspiration. He’s a former pro athlete turned lifestyle entrepreneur and has created great success in life. He’s a lifeballer! The above shoot is one that Lewis hired me for to help him build his brand presence. "For the next three years, that's what I did. Every couple days I did a webinar and just started stacking my bank account." Some things we learn in this podcast: Lewis Howes growing up the dreamer How being goal driven helped Lewis become an All American Athlete The touching story of how Lewis almost lost his father and how he learned to seize the day How Lewis started making money with no marketable skills and no business experience Using intuition and observation to navigate the world of entrepreneurship Passing tests with the power of great eyesight "Adding Value" as a framework for remarkable performance The story of his first $6,500 per hour experience The most powerful strategies for building a community and a business online and off Why design and packaging are so important to building profitable brands Lewis's goal to inspire 100 million people to live inspiration How to design a life that allows you to feel the way you want "Let go of fears and doubts. You're going to fail, but you'll make the steps necessary to make your dreams happen." Links Mentioned in the Episode: Book: 4-Hour Workweek Lewis's example of building a brand on Social: Gem Steady on Instagram Lewis' site & Blog: LewisHowes.com Listen to the School of Greatness podcast for Free Connect with Lewis: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram     SHARE THIS! If you like the podcast and want to share it through Instagram or Facebook, feel free to download the artwork below and upload it into either place. Tag us with #LewisHowesOnSHOPTALK #SHOPTALKradio #LiveInspiration and @nickonken. Leave a review in iTunes to help get us to the top so we can bring you more guests like Lewis! Send anyone the link: shoptalkradio.com/ep6

"There are no rules, we create our own rules and our own stories" -@cocoandbreezy Coco and Breezy are my favorite twins in the world. We met on a photo shoot a couple years back when the stylist pulled their glasses for the shoot and they delivered them in person. Contrary to their edgy look, they are the sweetest girls. They have an amazing mentality that you’ll get to hear about on the podcast. They’ve created a great brand at such a young age. Coco & Breezy are talented eyewear designers, smart business women, and huge inspirations! "...we're going to go home, pack our stuff and we'll be back to New York in a month." Some things we learn in this podcast: The crazy feeling they got from moving to New York and how that risk taking reflects business success Their successful mindset of positivity and self-reliance Vulnerable truths of being bullied and and feeling small at a young age Success = happiness in what you're doing! How believing in anything is how to make it real How they got started making their own sunglasses What it means to be "sew focused" How saving and reaching goals empowers entrepreneurship How to raise entrepreneurial children The sacrifices need to get to top of the fashion industry The difference between buying stuff and being able to afford thing Going from studded sunglasses home shop to real sunglasses Work ethic of the successful creative entrepreneur Their grand vision The mindset of openness, positivity and fluidity. "You have to just be uncomfortable and just go for it. Do it!" Links Mentioned in the Episode: Coco & Breezy's site: CocoandBreezy.com Connect with Coco & Breezy: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram     SHARE THIS! If you like the podcast and want to share it through Instagram or Facebook, feel free to download the artwork below and upload it into either place. Tag us with #Coco&BreezyOnSHOPTALK #SHOPTALKradio #LiveInspiration and @nickonken. Leave a review in iTunes to help get us to the top so we can bring you more guests like Coco & Breezy! Send anyone the link: shoptalkradio.com/ep5

"If the public sees me do something that doesn't work... I don't care." Some things we learn in this podcast: Jeremy has worked with Kelly Clarkson, Sting, the Kardashians, Gwyneth Paltrow, Miley Cryus just to name a few... On the founding of Help Portrait, the 5 year anniversary and heart wrenching stories of how it's helped On the balance between art and commerce On overcoming the self talk and taking risks Where the passion comes that fuels his drive Every once in a while, I put down the iPhone and look out the window and think... wow. The sacrifices Jeremy has made to pursue a creative lifestyle The fascinating, hectic way he got started as a professional photographer The mindset of believing in yourself Amazing stories of the power of courageous creativity How to shift from the 'I suck' mindset creatives suffer from The role of instinct and vision How to cultivate great relationships with those you work with On the Importance of Hustle How to lead a creative team "Every once in a while, I put down the iPhone and look out the window and think... wow." Links mentioned in the episode: Check out Frank Ockenfels as a role model for vision Get to Work! Chuck Close Non-Profit: Help Portrait Connect with Jeremy | Website | Twitter | Pintrest | Facebook     SHARE THIS! If you like the podcast and want to share it through Instagram or Facebook, feel free to download the artwork below and upload it into either place. Tag us with #JeremyOnSHOPTALK #SHOPTALKradio #LiveInspiration and @nickonken. Leave a review in iTunes to help get us to the top so we can bring you more guests like Jeremy! Send anyone the link: shoptalkradio.com/ep4

When I first heard Tori’s voice, I was mesmerized and I still am. I have a very short attention span with singer songwriters, but Tori is one that I could listen to for hours. You’ll get to hear her sing an exclusive little diddy on today’s episode. Tori is on the rise, and has built an amazing following for herself. She also recently signed with Scooter Braun. Tori is such a sweetheart. "I'm the type of writer that writes about the now." In This Show We Discuss: How Tori came up as a singer, songwriter and guitar/piano player The dream of getting singed by a label.... not such a dream How she grew her own revolutionary record label Finding the balance between publishing covers and original songs About the first concert where she realized, "I can do this..." How to cultivate a hard core fan base The life events that shaped Tori's successful song writing career How she started working with Scooter Braun Strategies for hitting top 10 in iTunes without a record label Lessons from a successful new media EP launch Opening up to trusting a production team and another songwriter On the power of declaration and the audacious grand vision of Tori What it's like playing Madison Square Garden Going deep with the role of passion in creative inspiration Tori's advice for someone trying to get somewhere with their music Where Tori gets her inspiration Links: Tori's first YouTube video mentioned at the beginning of the show Listen to the Frank Ocean Cover to see where she has come from Connect with Tori Kelly: Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram     SHARE THIS! If you like the podcast and want to share it through Instagram or Facebook, feel free to download the artwork below and upload it into either place. Tag us with #ToriOnSHOPTALK #SHOPTALKradio #LiveInspiration and @nickonken. Leave a review in iTunes to help get us to the top so we can bring you more guests like Tori! Send anyone the link: shoptalkradio.com/ep3

My boy Quddus has become one of the biggest inspirations in my life since I met him. We both come from similar upbringings that have shaped the way we see the world. He and I both have gone through an intense leadership training that have helped shape the way we now see the world in greater possibility. One of those things is the power of vulnerability in creating connections with people we encounter, and our every day relationships. He recently did his own training on that subject which was powerful. "In sixty years, what is going to be on your tombstone? What are people at your funeral going to say about you?" In This Show We Discuss: How Quddus found his place on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL) A few highlights of his career as the VJ for TRL How to authentically connect with celebrities and world shakers The value in being fully present at every moment The content development practice for Quddus How creativity and presence play together Stepping out of the need for a paycheck Why embracing failure is the key Carving out identity when working your job On becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable Should I go to university/college Addressing insecurities and the need for validation The power of vulnerability for creative entrepreneurs How Kanye West's vulnerability makes him so powerful How Quddus found his new, powerful, authentic voice Blind-spots - The subconscious self talk that keeps us down The power behind the emotional intelligence and how it played out in his performance in Duets The results of focusing on being rather than other motivation The importance of passion to the creative entrepreneur Quddus opens up and tells the story of his big failures Links Mentioned in the Episode: Quddus' site & Blog: The Q Side Connect with Quddus: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram     SHARE THIS! If you like the podcast and want to share it through Instagram or Facebook, feel free to download the artwork below and upload it into either place. Tag us with #QuddusOnSHOPTALK #SHOPTALKradio #LiveInspiration and @nickonken. Leave a review in iTunes to help get us to the top so we can bring you more guests like Quddus! Send anyone the link: shoptalkradio.com/ep2

Being that this is the first SHOPTALKradio podcast ever, I’m stoked to bring on my good friend, Scooter Braun, as the first guest. He’s a powerful man, who is also very humble and grounded for what he’s accomplished in life. I have mad respect for him. Scooter is the biggest and youngest music mogul of our generation. For those of you who don’t know of him, he’s known for building the career of this little pop-star by the name of Justin Bieber. He also has a few other acts you may have heard of like Carly Rae Jepson, The Wanted, PSY the Gangnam Style wonder, Tori Kelly, Cody Simpson and a few other huge acts. He is one of the smartest businessmen I’ve met. We’ve had some amazing and powerful adventures together that I’m truly grateful for. "You'll have an amazing network if you're someone who can do the work well, people will seek you out, they'll want to know you."   Some things we learn in this podcast: • How excelling at planning parties led to a position as the vice president of So So Def • How a thirst for ideas led him to starting Scooter Braun Projects • How he found and singed his first two acts: Asher Roth and Justin Bieber • What working with Justin Bieber taught him • What fueled the singing The Wanted, Carly Rae Jepsen and Psy • Why Scooter is so grateful for people doubting him • The importance of a backpacking trip with his little brother • How Tori Kelly became one of the hottest in the industry on her own • A key that Scooter uses for building relationships • The importance of picking up the phone and saying "I'm Sorry" • Scooter's #1 priority • The difference of growing up with holocaust survivors • What makes scooter the most selfish guy around • Why people do drugs • Justin Bieber's strange feeling of normalcy while giving in Guatemala • Advice for creating a career in music • Definition of trying • Running towards fear as a catalyst for growth Links Mentioned in the Episode: Charity: Pencils of Promise Connect with Scooter | Twitter | Instagram | Scooter Braun Projects     SHARE THIS! If you like the podcast and want to share it through Instagram or Facebook, feel free to download the artwork below and upload it into either place. Tag us with #scooteronSHOPTALK #SHOPTALKradio #LiveInspiration and @nickonken. Leave a review in iTunes to help get us to the top so we can bring you more guests like Scooter! Send anyone the link! http://www.shoptalkradio.com/ep1