Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts
Andrew describes himself as a nerd raised by nerds in a corn field!
Connect with Andrew Mason!
Hailing from the state of Delaware. Andrew took his passion for learning to another level when a friend and him decided to start a company based around blogging and WordPress sites. It was his friend who suggested that he start up a podcast for the website, to help build content and a following. Starting out they interviewed the members of their team. Soon the podcast started to reach out and interview people from other companies.
Eventually the company had dissolved, but Andrew wasn’t about to give up on his new found passion of podcasting. The Proguide has allowed Andrew to learn as well as pass the knowledge along to others from successful business mentors. He has had successful business mentors like Guy Kawasaki and John Lee Dumas on the Proguide.
I’m really great that Andrew decided to come be on Dreamers Podcast because he is a really great, down to earth person. He is a great example of finding something that you are good at, and pushing hard to make a great show. Something else, that Andrew shared with me before the interview was that he got to interview John Lee Dumas on his show, Entrepreneur on Fire in Episode 333. I would suggest everyone check out that episode as well, because it was very informative in what it takes to stick something out.
Episode 40
Transcription
1
[00:00:00],000 –> [00:00:05],40
this is the dreamers podcast where
dreamers shared their stories to inspire
2
[00:00:05],40 –> [00:00:06],359
you
3
[00:00:06],359 –> [00:00:12],000
now join host Joe Pardo as he interviews
a dreamer who is living their dreams
4
[00:00:15],540 –> [00:00:18],590
yeah
5
[00:00:18],590 –> [00:00:21],590
ok
6
[00:00:24],520 –> [00:00:29],20
welcome to the dreamers podcast I’m your
host Joe Pardo and today I’m
7
[00:00:29],20 –> [00:00:33],220
interviewing andrew mason who is living
history by interviewing mentors and
8
[00:00:33],220 –> [00:00:35],620
business tech and creativity
9
[00:00:35],620 –> [00:00:38],680
welcome to the show Andrew thanks Joe
thanks for having me I’m honored to be
10
[00:00:38],680 –> [00:00:39],370
here man
11
[00:00:39],370 –> [00:00:42],849
thank you I really appreciate you coming
on the day when we get started by giving
12
[00:00:42],850 –> [00:00:44],530
some background about yourself
13
[00:00:44],530 –> [00:00:50],680
yeah okay so i got into podcasting
probably about four years ago and the
14
[00:00:50],680 –> [00:00:55],239
reason I did that is I had a mentor in
like that really really helped me out
15
[00:00:55],239 –> [00:01:00],220
about I was in kind of a rough place in
life I was a little bit depressed going
16
[00:01:00],220 –> [00:01:04],539
through some tough stuff and he cared
enough to tell me the truth about myself
17
[00:01:04],540 –> [00:01:08],350
and the truth about his perspective in
life and it just pointed me in a really
18
[00:01:08],350 –> [00:01:12],190
healthy direction and from that moment
I’m like you know what there is no shame
19
[00:01:12],190 –> [00:01:14],530
in learning from others
20
[00:01:14],530 –> [00:01:17],890
there’s no shame in and finding out
people that have a different and better
21
[00:01:17],890 –> [00:01:22],660
perspective than u2 and where you are in
life and so I set out to learn from as
22
[00:01:22],660 –> [00:01:26],530
many people as possible about just
different things in business and in
23
[00:01:26],530 –> [00:01:31],270
technology and creativity and I wanted
to have an exclusive coaching session
24
[00:01:31],270 –> [00:01:34],810
with them and they just pass that
information on to to everybody else so
25
[00:01:34],810 –> [00:01:37],660
that they can do what they do better to
that was the canned answer and then the
26
[00:01:37],660 –> [00:01:43],149
where I’m actually from is in Delaware
and Delaware is kind of like it’s the
27
[00:01:43],149 –> [00:01:49],959
strange mixture of redneck and
technological savvy people so you have
28
[00:01:49],959 –> [00:01:55],420
like this kind of rural farmer that like
updates his the the status of like how
29
[00:01:55],420 –> [00:01:59],649
his corn is going on Twitter and and
that that’s that’s really unusual but
30
[00:01:59],649 –> [00:02:04],599
that’s kind of our demographic over here
I’ve been here all my life and i love it
31
[00:02:04],599 –> [00:02:05],349
actually
32
[00:02:05],349 –> [00:02:09],369
and it’s so it’s kind of cool to be in a
spot that isn’t really populated but
33
[00:02:09],369 –> [00:02:12],610
you’re connected to the rest of the
world through technology and so that’s
34
[00:02:12],610 –> [00:02:14],170
that’s a little bit about me
35
[00:02:14],170 –> [00:02:18],730
so what does interviewing mentors mean
to you i think for me it means
36
[00:02:18],730 –> [00:02:25],810
accelerating the pace with which you can
do your life well I think interviewing
37
[00:02:25],810 –> [00:02:30],489
mentors means that they’ve learned from
stuff just from life they’ve learned
38
[00:02:30],489 –> [00:02:33],910
from their mistakes they’ve learned from
their successes
39
[00:02:33],910 –> [00:02:38],440
and being able to hear about what they
have to say can keep you from making
40
[00:02:38],440 –> [00:02:42],670
some of those same mistakes and I mean
let’s face it we’re all only here on
41
[00:02:42],670 –> [00:02:48],369
this earth for so long and I’d hate to
have to waste portions of my life
42
[00:02:48],940 –> [00:02:51],790
relearning stuff that other people have
already gone through and so why not
43
[00:02:51],790 –> [00:02:54],910
stand on the shoulders of other people
who have already done this stuff and so
44
[00:02:54],910 –> [00:02:59],650
I’m surprised that not more people are
interested in that it seems like a lot
45
[00:02:59],650 –> [00:03:02],170
of people really do want to blaze their
own Trail and make their own mistakes
46
[00:03:02],170 –> [00:03:06],280
and I totally get that that’s an
identity thing that in my mind I’m like
47
[00:03:06],280 –> [00:03:09],310
you know what if somebody’s already
written a book about it or told me what
48
[00:03:09],310 –> [00:03:13],000
I need to know about it and you know
sign me up I’m in yeah i mean it totally
49
[00:03:13],000 –> [00:03:17],20
makes sense to learn from what other
people have already experienced I mean
50
[00:03:17],20 –> [00:03:22],240
that’s how i’ve pretty much gone through
life and know as much as I do because I
51
[00:03:22],240 –> [00:03:27],130
take the time to listen and not just
listen to respond to people so what
52
[00:03:27],130 –> [00:03:28],720
would you say inspires you
53
[00:03:28],720 –> [00:03:33],730
I think what inspires me is seeing
somebody who didn’t pushes that edge
54
[00:03:33],730 –> [00:03:35],769
pushes that envelope a little bit
55
[00:03:35],770 –> [00:03:40],930
it seems like there are people out there
that they put it all on the line they
56
[00:03:40],930 –> [00:03:45],790
they push the envelope creatively or by
the amount of just sheer hard work that
57
[00:03:45],790 –> [00:03:49],239
they do or just by thinking a little bit
differently than the crowd and I think
58
[00:03:49],240 –> [00:03:53],290
that’s what makes people stand down in
AC kind of a bell curve of humanity and
59
[00:03:53],290 –> [00:03:56],410
then there’s these people just kind of
on the fringes you know Malcolm Gladwell
60
[00:03:56],410 –> [00:04:00],820
calls them outliers and they seem like
these instant success stories you know
61
[00:04:00],820 –> [00:04:04],840
these just like they’re absolutely
obscure and then they just like rise to
62
[00:04:04],840 –> [00:04:09],730
fame and and you know the world and
MSNBC and Fox News and the entire you
63
[00:04:09],730 –> [00:04:12],700
know every News Network everywhere wants
to know what did you do you know what
64
[00:04:12],700 –> [00:04:16],839
was the one thing that you did but every
single person I’ve ever interviewed has
65
[00:04:16],839 –> [00:04:21],310
told me you know it’s it’s not what we
got one thing we did we can’t even
66
[00:04:21],310 –> [00:04:26],530
answer that question well I mean there
is a series of small decisions that we
67
[00:04:26],530 –> [00:04:31],390
made to be excellent to do the difficult
thing and to do what we know is right
68
[00:04:31],390 –> [00:04:35],140
and be true to ourselves over a long
period of time that’s given us what the
69
[00:04:35],140 –> [00:04:38],830
platform that we have the influence that
we have in the success that we have
70
[00:04:38],830 –> [00:04:44],349
yeah I mean I if I had to pick one thing
i think i would say just doing just
71
[00:04:44],350 –> [00:04:46],700
doing it and learning as I go along
72
[00:04:46],700 –> [00:04:50],599
and get put in the extra hours that
obviously it’s going to take to do
73
[00:04:50],600 –> [00:04:55],40
something because you don’t know it’s
funny Joe that we’re live in a culture
74
[00:04:55],40 –> [00:05:00],230
where we love to to analyze stuff we
love to you know after every sports
75
[00:05:00],230 –> [00:05:03],620
event we spend you know two hours of
analysis about what happened in that
76
[00:05:03],620 –> [00:05:08],360
event and and we’re a culture of
spectators and we almost confused being
77
[00:05:08],360 –> [00:05:12],620
a spectator with actually doing and so
there’s a very few people out there that
78
[00:05:12],620 –> [00:05:16],580
are actually doing and putting in the
hours and the rest of the world’s kinda
79
[00:05:16],580 –> [00:05:19],789
likes to sit at the sideline and
critique what they do is it’s so
80
[00:05:19],790 –> [00:05:23],570
interesting to me that we feel like we
have the ability to make judgment
81
[00:05:23],570 –> [00:05:27],320
decisions on on how other people do when
we’re not doing anything ourselves and
82
[00:05:27],320 –> [00:05:31],250
so there’s that difference between
looking at and observing and doing i’m
83
[00:05:31],250 –> [00:05:35],180
even right now this is the fun part you
and me are talking about this but there
84
[00:05:35],180 –> [00:05:38],450
is a huge difference we both know about
the work that goes into you know
85
[00:05:38],450 –> [00:05:41],870
creating a podcast and building a
platform then there is just talking
86
[00:05:41],870 –> [00:05:45],350
about it and it’s just what you said it
all comes down to execution are you
87
[00:05:45],350 –> [00:05:48],230
willing to do the difficult thing when
you really don’t feel like it
88
[00:05:48],230 –> [00:05:52],100
so how does your dream come about I
think a little more specifically just a
89
[00:05:52],100 –> [00:05:55],490
little bit more background I’d love to
say that you know one day I woke up and
90
[00:05:55],490 –> [00:06:00],260
you know is wide open immediately had
this you know vantage point of me
91
[00:06:00],260 –> [00:06:05],300
podcasting and interviewing leaders but
in reality it came at the suggestion of
92
[00:06:05],300 –> [00:06:10],10
a friend buddy of mine his name is John
saddington and I were talking about just
93
[00:06:10],10 –> [00:06:15],530
different things that we could do in the
technology space and he was really
94
[00:06:15],530 –> [00:06:20],359
really interested in crafting accompany
a different kind of software company
95
[00:06:20],360 –> [00:06:24],770
that the wordpress themes and just
really kind of made a dent in that space
96
[00:06:24],770 –> [00:06:29],150
and he was passionate about blogging and
he saw that I was passionate about
97
[00:06:29],150 –> [00:06:33],169
giving him a hand in helping him with
this but my area of interest was kind of
98
[00:06:33],170 –> [00:06:37],790
more in marketing and more in
communication and he was like you know
99
[00:06:37],790 –> [00:06:43],820
what dude you have a semi okay voice why
don’t you like runner company podcast
100
[00:06:43],820 –> [00:06:46],280
and I said sure that’d be great
101
[00:06:46],280 –> [00:06:50],210
first you know we started interviewing
just each other we actually interviewed
102
[00:06:50],210 –> [00:06:54],799
different members of our team and just
what was happening at the company at
103
[00:06:54],800 –> [00:06:58],550
that time I was called a bit i think
though the website still around even
104
[00:06:58],550 –> [00:07:02],690
company isn’t it was aight bit . I oh
and we just kind of talked about what
105
[00:07:02],690 –> [00:07:05],90
was happening in the company at that
time but then we started widening the
106
[00:07:05],90 –> [00:07:10],39
circle a little bit and interview just
asking other companies and their PR
107
[00:07:10],40 –> [00:07:14],000
sections for you know i do you mind if
we hang out a little bit and just get
108
[00:07:14],000 –> [00:07:18],890
some advice about what you guys do and
that circle just like slowly over time
109
[00:07:18],890 –> [00:07:22],789
became broader and broader and it’s
funny
110
[00:07:22],790 –> [00:07:26],420
one of the things that John taught me
and I’ll never forget this is it never
111
[00:07:26],420 –> [00:07:27],710
hurts to ask
112
[00:07:27],710 –> [00:07:32],780
he’s told me some crazy crazy stories
about how he’d ask for discounts or how
113
[00:07:32],780 –> [00:07:36],830
he did you know look for just different
ways of doing things and just asking
114
[00:07:36],830 –> [00:07:38],930
people who are supposedly in charge
115
[00:07:38],930 –> [00:07:42],980
hey do you mind being on our show you
know you’ve never heard of us there’s no
116
[00:07:42],980 –> [00:07:45],800
reason that you should but you know we’d
love to have you want to just ask you a
117
[00:07:45],800 –> [00:07:47],870
couple of questions and learn from you
118
[00:07:47],870 –> [00:07:51],530
we were so surprised as soon as we
started getting people to say yes so
119
[00:07:51],530 –> [00:07:55],940
after a bit dissolved we kind of took
some of those episodes and and rebranded
120
[00:07:55],940 –> [00:07:59],780
and i turned it into a show called the
programmed and the idea behind that
121
[00:07:59],780 –> [00:08:04],549
title was no meaning professional guide
guiding you along so a lot of people get
122
[00:08:04],550 –> [00:08:07],790
that confused saying that you know do
you think your professional and not
123
[00:08:07],790 –> [00:08:10],580
really i’m just here to learn from them
and not you know I consider them
124
[00:08:10],580 –> [00:08:13],490
professionals and learning from them and
we started getting people like guy
125
[00:08:13],490 –> [00:08:18],500
kawasaki from apple and and David Allen
from getting things done and and all of
126
[00:08:18],500 –> [00:08:22],670
a sudden were like oh my gosh man there
are so many amazing people that are
127
[00:08:22],670 –> [00:08:26],600
ready willing to share their life
experience and I really found out that I
128
[00:08:26],600 –> [00:08:30],440
love learning from people it just became
a passion of mine you know what is that
129
[00:08:30],440 –> [00:08:34],70
one or two nuggets of information that
maybe they haven’t shared with somebody
130
[00:08:34],70 –> [00:08:39],380
else if I asked the exact right question
it might elicit from them just something
131
[00:08:39],380 –> [00:08:43],309
that nobody else has ever heard before I
mean maybe it’s a piece of life
132
[00:08:43],309 –> [00:08:46],339
experience maybe it’s just something
that they’re passionate about a
133
[00:08:46],340 –> [00:08:49],460
different way of looking at something
they’ve already done that could maybe
134
[00:08:49],460 –> [00:08:53],150
uncover some wisdom that they would have
for everybody and i just want to share
135
[00:08:53],150 –> [00:08:54],140
that with the world
136
[00:08:54],140 –> [00:08:58],850
ya know I i could totally understand
it’s interesting because uh I really
137
[00:08:58],850 –> [00:09:02],990
haven’t had the interview chair you know
flipped before and then the person that
138
[00:09:02],990 –> [00:09:08],000
is being interviewed and I find myself
you know even silently critiquing what
139
[00:09:08],000 –> [00:09:11],640
I’m saying you thinking like man I’m
taking so many words to say
140
[00:09:11],640 –> [00:09:16],920
it but I i think people love sharing
what they’re passionate about you you
141
[00:09:16],920 –> [00:09:20],520
hear their heart just as much as you
hear the words and I think that’s
142
[00:09:20],520 –> [00:09:24],630
something that’s important to definitely
so how was your dream received by your
143
[00:09:24],630 –> [00:09:31],80
family members they are very receptive
to it um they they’ve always ipad i
144
[00:09:31],80 –> [00:09:34],770
don’t know if this is the new norm or
not but my family’s been really really
145
[00:09:34],770 –> [00:09:37],710
supportive of just about anything that
I’ve wanted to do
146
[00:09:37],710 –> [00:09:41],610
growing up I wanted to program video
games and I tell the entire world that
147
[00:09:41],610 –> [00:09:46],560
im a nerd raised by nerds which is
really rare but also even rare in a you
148
[00:09:46],560 –> [00:09:52],890
know a cornfield in delaware stop my
parents invested in me so much to to
149
[00:09:52],890 –> [00:09:57],30
help me you know learn or pursue
whatever career path i happen to be
150
[00:09:57],30 –> [00:10:01],20
interested in at the time so originally
it was it was programming and video
151
[00:10:01],20 –> [00:10:04],380
games now working full-time at a
non-profit and i really love that
152
[00:10:04],380 –> [00:10:08],820
because i get to do all the tech stuff
for them but on the side i started you
153
[00:10:08],820 –> [00:10:13],740
know realizing man i really love
learning from people and it’s it’s
154
[00:10:13],740 –> [00:10:17],130
really funny my mom is the first
personal to like or retweet anything
155
[00:10:17],130 –> [00:10:22],20
that actually hurt so even if it’s like
complete utter like you know I should
156
[00:10:22],20 –> [00:10:25],260
never have shared that or was awful or
meaningless or whatever
157
[00:10:25],260 –> [00:10:29],850
my mom is supportive she retweeted or
share it and so even if I if I ever look
158
[00:10:29],850 –> [00:10:33],270
at anything that any kind of a status
update that I’ve seen my parents I mean
159
[00:10:33],270 –> [00:10:36],840
if there’s a number one by it i know
that that’s my mom or dad retweeted me
160
[00:10:36],840 –> [00:10:40],860
so they love me and I i’m so thankful
that pad that kind of a support system
161
[00:10:40],860 –> [00:10:44],640
and i know that a lot of people don’t
have that and i’m super lucky to have
162
[00:10:44],640 –> [00:10:49],410
that yeah you are and and not only that
have that but to have parents that are
163
[00:10:49],410 –> [00:10:51],150
socially aware
164
[00:10:51],150 –> [00:10:56],550
ok so what steps did you take to get
started in terms of pursuing podcasting
165
[00:10:56],550 –> [00:11:00],870
and also pursuing just learning from
people a piece of advice I got from one
166
[00:11:00],870 –> [00:11:05],760
of my mentors that actually haven’t even
had on the show yet he said if this is
167
[00:11:05],760 –> [00:11:08],610
something you want to pursue make sure
it’s something that you really would do
168
[00:11:08],610 –> [00:11:13],620
for free already and and podcasting
absolutely is learning from people
169
[00:11:13],620 –> [00:11:14],880
absolutely is
170
[00:11:14],880 –> [00:11:18],750
I think the way i got started is just
got a microphone and and started
171
[00:11:18],750 –> [00:11:22],590
recording conversations with people i
spent a lot of time really thinking
172
[00:11:22],590 –> [00:11:24],850
about the questions I feel like a
well-crafted
173
[00:11:24],850 –> [00:11:31],209
question could change the direction of
an interview and so I it’s funny my
174
[00:11:31],209 –> [00:11:35],739
personality if you look at it on a disc
profile if you happen to be familiar
175
[00:11:35],740 –> [00:11:41],380
with that I ma sanga are a melancholy
sanguine which means i am a inwardly
176
[00:11:41],380 –> [00:11:44],740
turned out going person which means
there’s like animal inner civil war
177
[00:11:44],740 –> [00:11:46],29
going on all the time
178
[00:11:46],29 –> [00:11:48],819
basically that means i love being in
front of people but I love being well
179
[00:11:48],819 –> [00:11:52],930
scripted as well so this kind of off the
cuff thing where you know you and I are
180
[00:11:52],930 –> [00:11:55],870
talking is is a little bit outside of my
comfort zone i’ll be honest but
181
[00:11:55],870 –> [00:12:00],880
generally i love being able to just
spend some time in solitude and just
182
[00:12:00],880 –> [00:12:03],850
really script out a well-crafted
question that I think that would just
183
[00:12:03],850 –> [00:12:08],110
get that person’s gears turning and get
them the open-ended enough to let them
184
[00:12:08],110 –> [00:12:12],160
just sit there in and and share so
apparently you’re doing that really well
185
[00:12:12],160 –> [00:12:13],449
too because huh
186
[00:12:13],449 –> [00:12:18],550
go on and on i think the original steps
that I took to get started were just
187
[00:12:18],550 –> [00:12:23],740
interviewing as many people as possible
and getting content out there as quickly
188
[00:12:23],740 –> [00:12:27],639
as possible i think a mistake that I
made early on that I would suggest other
189
[00:12:27],639 –> [00:12:32],560
people not to do is don’t over edit
yourself don’t try and make yourself
190
[00:12:32],560 –> [00:12:34],119
sound more polished than you are
191
[00:12:34],120 –> [00:12:38],529
if you have any kind of technical skills
that your tendency will be to want to
192
[00:12:38],529 –> [00:12:43],630
you know take out every single dead
space every single um mrs. speaking that
193
[00:12:43],630 –> [00:12:48],370
you do and although that’s that’s you
know makes you sound more polished it’s
194
[00:12:48],370 –> [00:12:52],600
almost like photoshop for audio penacles
people an unrealistic expectation of
195
[00:12:52],600 –> [00:12:53],949
what you’re capable up
196
[00:12:53],949 –> [00:12:57],399
I mean why not let your floss show
because it’s a real you and you want
197
[00:12:57],399 –> [00:13:01],120
people to like you for you to sew
authenticity i think is a huge thing too
198
[00:13:01],120 –> [00:13:04],990
i tried to spend myself is this really
well polished well-spoken person and
199
[00:13:04],990 –> [00:13:08],50
looking back I don’t think I would have
done that that’s that’s really
200
[00:13:08],50 –> [00:13:12],609
interesting i mean i-i battle with that
all the time with how much i should edit
201
[00:13:12],610 –> [00:13:19],360
a show i mean i’ve spent up to three
hours adding an hour of one show and I
202
[00:13:19],360 –> [00:13:23],199
really want the guests to sound good at
the same time I don’t want to sound
203
[00:13:23],199 –> [00:13:29],979
robotic and I I think for the most part
i I’ve struck a good balance i don’t
204
[00:13:29],980 –> [00:13:33],910
know x times episodes i guess for now I
think there is a line between putting
205
[00:13:33],910 –> [00:13:37],269
your best foot forward which i think is
it you need
206
[00:13:37],269 –> [00:13:38],350
I mean you need to have
207
[00:13:38],350 –> [00:13:42],340
at least some level of Polish to be able
to have your show be listenable I mean
208
[00:13:42],340 –> [00:13:45],730
if you’re just tuning into somebody’s
conversation you know nobody’s getting
209
[00:13:45],730 –> [00:13:49],30
to the point then it almost feels like
you’re not respecting the listeners time
210
[00:13:49],30 –> [00:13:54],189
but at the same time there there is a
line and people can overdo it and and I
211
[00:13:54],190 –> [00:13:58],450
think I was guilty of that or earlier on
so when you do your questions for your
212
[00:13:58],450 –> [00:14:03],310
show do you make them specific to the
person which are interviewing i have a
213
[00:14:03],310 –> [00:14:07],000
couple of framework questions that I
feel like work almost in any case in and
214
[00:14:07],000 –> [00:14:11],380
you you might have heard these questions
some of these questions work with some
215
[00:14:11],380 –> [00:14:14],710
other podcasters that I’ve modeled after
that just you know they’re just good
216
[00:14:14],710 –> [00:14:18],580
questions when you’re asking the person
you know what advice do you have
217
[00:14:18],580 –> [00:14:21],700
somebody who’s just getting started I
mean that’s just a really good question
218
[00:14:21],700 –> [00:14:25],960
no matter who you’re asking but as you
start delving a little bit deeper into
219
[00:14:25],960 –> [00:14:30],790
the area of business or tech or
creativity there there happens to be a
220
[00:14:30],790 –> [00:14:34],660
few like the more specific you get to
that person’s life situation the more
221
[00:14:34],660 –> [00:14:40],30
time you spend studying them so that you
can kind of get the morning gritty at
222
[00:14:40],30 –> [00:14:44],740
the better because if this is a higher
level person to where they they’ve done
223
[00:14:44],740 –> [00:14:48],670
you know 70 interviews already you know
if you ask certain questions you’re
224
[00:14:48],670 –> [00:14:51],640
going to get their canned answer and so
if you already kind of it
225
[00:14:51],640 –> [00:14:56],50
ask a question with their answer
presupposed in it it’ll help you dig a
226
[00:14:56],50 –> [00:15:00],10
little bit deeper and so some people
have just like their elevator pitch of
227
[00:15:00],10 –> [00:15:03],340
what they say and you can start your
question with you know hey I know you
228
[00:15:03],340 –> [00:15:08],230
believe that you know X but tell me a
little bit more about why that is and
229
[00:15:08],230 –> [00:15:11],110
that will give them time to just
presuppose the answer that they usually
230
[00:15:11],110 –> [00:15:12],970
give and then just jump a little bit
deeper
231
[00:15:12],970 –> [00:15:20],410
so are there any roadblocks that you fit
along the way I it’s funny I heard a
232
[00:15:20],410 –> [00:15:24],219
different podcast if you’ve ever
listened to the temperature just came
233
[00:15:24],220 –> [00:15:27],730
out a little while ago I can’t remember
who said it might have been jason silva
234
[00:15:27],730 –> [00:15:32],530
but he had a guest on recently that said
something that really resonated with me
235
[00:15:32],530 –> [00:15:37],60
and he said the obstacle is the way so I
really feel like you know this this
236
[00:15:37],60 –> [00:15:40],959
journey there’s been a lot of roadblocks
but I kind of just considered to be part
237
[00:15:40],960 –> [00:15:45],820
of the path and I guess it depends on
what the end result is you know you
238
[00:15:45],820 –> [00:15:48],70
don’t consider something a roadblock
into you know where you’re actually
239
[00:15:48],70 –> [00:15:50],730
trying to get to an end up fighting for
that with my
240
[00:15:50],730 –> [00:15:56],730
podcast I feel like the pro guide is
almost a running log of all the people
241
[00:15:56],730 –> [00:16:00],180
that I’ve had the fortune of being able
to spend time with and in that that
242
[00:16:00],180 –> [00:16:03],209
sense all the people that have have said
yes to an interview
243
[00:16:03],209 –> [00:16:07],888
there’s not really much of a roadblock
but I think in the in the sense that if
244
[00:16:07],889 –> [00:16:12],000
you’re trying to make this your
full-time job that i would say expect
245
[00:16:12],000 –> [00:16:14],160
maybe a little bit more good planning
246
[00:16:14],160 –> [00:16:17],610
that’s something that was a roadblock
for me that maybe I didn’t do as well
247
[00:16:17],610 –> [00:16:22],889
and I could other people could learn is
take some time and plan your episodes
248
[00:16:22],889 –> [00:16:25],230
well in terms of the release schedule
249
[00:16:25],230 –> [00:16:28],589
I don’t feel like I released as
consistently as I should have or maybe
250
[00:16:28],589 –> [00:16:30],600
as frequently as I should have
251
[00:16:30],600 –> [00:16:34],769
if I were looking to make some sort of
financial gain and off of it because
252
[00:16:34],769 –> [00:16:38],940
advertisers are looking for something
that that they can count on that’s
253
[00:16:38],940 –> [00:16:44],519
consistent and I feel like maybe looking
back that if I had that in my court I’d
254
[00:16:44],519 –> [00:16:49],800
be able to use it to financially support
the program a little bit better but in
255
[00:16:49],800 –> [00:16:52],800
terms of just interviews I don’t really
feel like there were too many roadblocks
256
[00:16:53],639 –> [00:16:57],839
I mean outside of getting a person to
say yes but in my mind getting a person
257
[00:16:57],839 –> [00:17:01],110
to say yes an interview which is kind of
a numbers game you know you know that
258
[00:17:01],110 –> [00:17:05],370
not everybody will say yes but found out
over time as I sent out emails that or
259
[00:17:05],369 –> [00:17:09],809
requests or phone calls that you know
one out of every maybe 12 people would
260
[00:17:09],809 –> [00:17:14],250
say yes and so it became a numbers game
if i send out you know 36 emails that
261
[00:17:14],250 –> [00:17:17],819
maybe i’ll get three interviews you know
that’s great and I never really did that
262
[00:17:17],819 –> [00:17:20],909
in terms of a roadblock and actually I
were some of the failures quarter quote
263
[00:17:20],910 –> [00:17:24],780
proudly you know I got a rejection
letter from dan cathy from chick-fil-a
264
[00:17:24],780 –> [00:17:28],530
and I did all but frame that but I kind
of kept it with me with you know as a
265
[00:17:28],530 –> [00:17:31],530
reminder hey maybe one day I’ll be able
to get get to interview him I’ll you
266
[00:17:31],530 –> [00:17:36],840
know I have that as a sign that you know
you get to interview more and more
267
[00:17:36],840 –> [00:17:41],100
interesting people along the way so I
don’t think so yeah I mean one of the
268
[00:17:41],100 –> [00:17:47],760
people that I wanted to interview was
Leonard Susskind a plumber turn
269
[00:17:47],760 –> [00:17:50],910
I don’t know what we would say
astrophysicist or something to that
270
[00:17:50],910 –> [00:17:56],400
effect he proved Stephen Hawking wrong
about his black hole theories macro okay
271
[00:17:56],400 –> [00:17:59],880
yeah everybody started out as a plumber
272
[00:17:59],880 –> [00:18:03],450
so so what I did was I went and I i
looked up his
273
[00:18:03],450 –> [00:18:08],250
you know I looked them up online to see
if he had contact information apparently
274
[00:18:08],250 –> [00:18:12],720
works for Stanford at the time and his
phone number was right there so I was
275
[00:18:12],720 –> [00:18:15],960
like you know what I was like I’ve only
released like one episode so far but you
276
[00:18:15],960 –> [00:18:21],269
know what I’m gonna call and it was very
kind about shooting me down a lot of
277
[00:18:21],269 –> [00:18:26],250
people that’s our have a lot of it you
request have very gracious ways of
278
[00:18:26],250 –> [00:18:30],000
saying no sometimes I’ll give a
follow-up you know where they say
279
[00:18:30],000 –> [00:18:35],429
they’re too busy right now I’m like well
what about 2015 here 2016 and that has
280
[00:18:35],429 –> [00:18:39],29
turned around maybe one person’s know
just because they assume that you know
281
[00:18:39],29 –> [00:18:42],779
this week or this month so it is worth
you know kind of following up i wouldn’t
282
[00:18:42],779 –> [00:18:47],730
be pushy but I would you know I would go
at go after just a little bit farther
283
[00:18:47],730 –> [00:18:51],299
than just the normal yes or no sometimes
depending on how badly you want the
284
[00:18:51],299 –> [00:18:55],860
interview I guess so can you share a
favorite memory i think one of the most
285
[00:18:55],860 –> [00:19:00],90
fun interviews I’ve gotten to do so far
was David Allen who wrote a book called
286
[00:19:00],90 –> [00:19:05],519
getting things done a while back I was
familiar with his book and read it but I
287
[00:19:05],519 –> [00:19:10],409
didn’t know the type of interviewee he
would be he’s very succinct very type-a
288
[00:19:10],409 –> [00:19:14],39
personality which makes sense if you’ve
read any of his material it always in
289
[00:19:14],39 –> [00:19:18],419
the list season 2 checking things off in
progress and all that I would have asked
290
[00:19:18],419 –> [00:19:24],570
a lot more open-ended questions i think
with him pick a good memory with that
291
[00:19:24],570 –> [00:19:28],620
was after having a really really good
interesting conversation with him i went
292
[00:19:28],620 –> [00:19:33],418
ahead and read his book he had two more
books after that i read it was really
293
[00:19:33],419 –> [00:19:34],710
really good stuff
294
[00:19:34],710 –> [00:19:38],39
honestly I don’t know if I would have
been as interested in the material had
295
[00:19:38],39 –> [00:19:44],399
not have already talked to him and GTD a
kind of adopted as as my way of you know
296
[00:19:44],399 –> [00:19:49],289
clearing tasks and getting stuff done so
we have him on the slate to be another
297
[00:19:49],289 –> [00:19:53],669
guest coming up in later this year i
think in december so I’m really excited
298
[00:19:53],669 –> [00:19:57],240
about doing a follow up with him and and
just thinking of you know is there
299
[00:19:57],240 –> [00:20:01],80
something I could ask this guy that he’s
never been asked before you know I don’t
300
[00:20:01],80 –> [00:20:02],789
know how crazy this sounds
301
[00:20:02],789 –> [00:20:06],389
I’m trying to push the limits of this
metaphor that he’s using two to get
302
[00:20:06],389 –> [00:20:10],500
people to be more productive and ask you
is there a way that he looked at this
303
[00:20:10],500 –> [00:20:13],649
that that maybe I could look at this
little bit differently and ask a
304
[00:20:13],649 –> [00:20:16],668
question that would maybe reveal a new
insight from him and so
305
[00:20:16],669 –> [00:20:20],239
able to have 20 minutes to pick some of
these brain like that dude I’m I’m
306
[00:20:20],239 –> [00:20:21],139
pumped about that
307
[00:20:21],139 –> [00:20:25],820
yeah maybe you could look up his other
interviews and read up on it and listen
308
[00:20:25],820 –> [00:20:31],39
to it and then form a question that
maybe they didn’t go as far you know
309
[00:20:31],39 –> [00:20:35],239
then take that next step I i have
borderline stalker status and a
310
[00:20:35],239 –> [00:20:40],429
restraining order chef but I totally
have and so is there any part of your
311
[00:20:40],429 –> [00:20:42],590
dream that haven’t quite worked out yet
312
[00:20:42],590 –> [00:20:45],408
you know any time that you’re doing
something you love you always look to
313
[00:20:45],409 –> [00:20:50],119
the future about what could be you know
brighter or better picker and and I
314
[00:20:50],119 –> [00:20:55],158
think for me there are a couple of names
of people that i would love to interview
315
[00:20:55],159 –> [00:20:58],759
that I haven’t gotten a chance to yet
just because of the size of the platform
316
[00:20:58],759 –> [00:21:04],460
they have or whatever reason and then
maybe even the financial portion I’d
317
[00:21:04],460 –> [00:21:09],950
love to get to a point where this could
be supported and be a full-time gig you
318
[00:21:09],950 –> [00:21:12],980
know i love to interview people you know
five or seven days a week i think that
319
[00:21:12],980 –> [00:21:14],480
would be fantastic
320
[00:21:14],480 –> [00:21:17],119
some people that come to mind that i
haven’t yet gotten to interview yet
321
[00:21:17],119 –> [00:21:21],499
would be maybe ken blanchard i love his
stuff
322
[00:21:22],429 –> [00:21:27],590
Stephen cubbies son had just his book 7
habits of highly effective people being
323
[00:21:27],590 –> [00:21:31],70
able to interview a son and just kind of
see what his dad was thinking as you
324
[00:21:31],70 –> [00:21:35],59
wrote that book would just be huge for
me and maybe one or two other people but
325
[00:21:35],59 –> [00:21:40],39
yeah there’s definitely a lot of people
I’d still like to interview I don’t feel
326
[00:21:40],39 –> [00:21:42],19
like I’m anywhere near being done yet
327
[00:21:42],19 –> [00:21:45],19
so what are your dreams for the future
look like I feel like maybe five to ten
328
[00:21:45],19 –> [00:21:48],769
years from now I’d like to maybe have a
studio of some sort right now I’m just
329
[00:21:48],769 –> [00:21:53],239
recording yet a mic which I seen your
picture you have which is do this thing
330
[00:21:53],239 –> [00:21:56],690
if you don’t have a getting Mike man
this thing is like probably the best
331
[00:21:56],690 –> [00:21:59],749
bang for your buck but i’d like to go
ahead and invest in some really good
332
[00:21:59],749 –> [00:22:04],190
equipment definitely not necessary for
being able to learn from people but you
333
[00:22:04],190 –> [00:22:08],359
know helps up the the show quality a tad
I’d love to actually interview people
334
[00:22:08],359 –> [00:22:12],230
one-on-one in person you know mostly
interviews that are happening right now
335
[00:22:12],230 –> [00:22:14],960
are you know via skype or telephone
336
[00:22:14],960 –> [00:22:17],840
I’d love to be able to travel from place
to place and just sit down with somebody
337
[00:22:17],840 –> [00:22:22],549
in a coffee shop and just pick their
brain because the reason for that is
338
[00:22:22],549 –> [00:22:26],59
there’s just so much you don’t get even
across skype in terms of body language
339
[00:22:26],59 –> [00:22:29],260
and in terms of just what that person is
340
[00:22:29],260 –> [00:22:32],290
thinking and feeling that I feel like
you can and it comes across the
341
[00:22:32],290 –> [00:22:35],440
interview as well you know there’s just
a report that people get when they’re
342
[00:22:35],440 –> [00:22:39],340
talking together in person that there’s
still a disconnect even their well
343
[00:22:39],340 –> [00:22:43],780
connected online there’s just something
missing for me with with that online
344
[00:22:43],780 –> [00:22:48],760
connection so i’d love to maybe be able
to travel a little bit more and have a
345
[00:22:48],760 –> [00:22:51],460
little bit more equipment but other than
that man i love it
346
[00:22:51],460 –> [00:22:55],510
so is there any last thoughts you’d like
to share something a mentor told me once
347
[00:22:55],510 –> [00:22:59],680
is that life is a marathon and and not a
sprint
348
[00:22:59],680 –> [00:23:03],10
you know I don’t know about you but I
come up with so many different ideas for
349
[00:23:03],10 –> [00:23:07],810
just different stuff that I could do or
try or should try and most of it lasts
350
[00:23:07],810 –> [00:23:13],30
for about a day or a week and if you
don’t see whatever success that you feel
351
[00:23:13],30 –> [00:23:16],120
like you’re looking for in a short
amount of time
352
[00:23:16],120 –> [00:23:21],340
make sure your paces sustainable make
sure that that the rate at which you’re
353
[00:23:21],340 –> [00:23:25],780
doing stuff is something that you can
continue to do for years because if you
354
[00:23:25],780 –> [00:23:29],320
don’t you’ll burn out and a lot of the
reasons that people haven’t reached
355
[00:23:29],320 –> [00:23:34],629
their goals or their success i feel like
it’s because they tried so hard at a
356
[00:23:34],630 –> [00:23:38],740
unsustainable pace that they burned out
maybe even inches before the goal line
357
[00:23:38],740 –> [00:23:40],690
and so I feel like rhythm
358
[00:23:40],690 –> [00:23:45],460
I feel like a sustainable paces is such
a huge thing and having a balanced life
359
[00:23:45],460 –> [00:23:50],230
I mean and what I mean by balance i
guess a life that you know even though i
360
[00:23:50],230 –> [00:23:54],490
love interviewing people and I love
learning from them that is just one
361
[00:23:54],490 –> [00:23:59],890
aspect of my life I mean I’m so happily
married and I have a great group of
362
[00:23:59],890 –> [00:24:04],840
friends that I spend time with and it’s
just one slice of the pie and don’t get
363
[00:24:04],840 –> [00:24:08],350
so focused on the slice that you’re
trying to improve that you miss the rest
364
[00:24:08],350 –> [00:24:12],730
of the pie so could you share your
websites with us
365
[00:24:12],730 –> [00:24:19],60
yeah absolutely right now the site is
called pro guide . I oh and that’s the
366
[00:24:19],60 –> [00:24:22],90
website it’s a little bit slower in
terms of being updated with the latest
367
[00:24:22],90 –> [00:24:24],760
podcasts then what’s on itunes
368
[00:24:24],760 –> [00:24:28],270
so if you want to see the latest and
greatest head over to iTunes and search
369
[00:24:28],270 –> [00:24:33],490
for the and then space program all one
word and you’ll find it very i’ll have
370
[00:24:33],490 –> [00:24:37],870
them in the show notes you have a
twitter account or Facebook page thanks
371
[00:24:37],870 –> [00:24:39],40
for asking
372
[00:24:39],40 –> [00:24:43],600
I seem to forget to promote myself as
crazy on twitter account is at Andrew J
373
[00:24:43],600 –> [00:24:48],790
Mason and that’s me personally and then
at the pro guide is the show’s twitter
374
[00:24:48],790 –> [00:24:52],480
account which is just kind of constantly
updates with just inspiring quotes or
375
[00:24:52],480 –> [00:24:55],600
thoughts from people that’s a that I’ve
learned from well it’s awesome thank you
376
[00:24:55],600 –> [00:24:58],240
for coming on the show I really
appreciate answer I’d love to have you
377
[00:24:58],240 –> [00:25:01],750
on again in six months to a year and
we’ll talk and see who you’ve
378
[00:25:01],750 –> [00:25:05],440
interviewed since then maybe you
captured one of your unicorns Joanne
379
[00:25:05],440 –> [00:25:09],130
fantastic interview and thank you so
much for having me here man I i just had
380
[00:25:09],130 –> [00:25:13],240
a blast hanging out with you and do I
wish you success man thank you very much
381
[00:25:13],240 –> [00:25:14],500
i really appreciate that
382
[00:25:14],500 –> [00:25:18],640
well thank you again for coming on the
show my pleasure thank you Joe thank you
383
[00:25:18],640 –> [00:25:21],850
for joining us for this episode of the
dreamers podcast
384
[00:25:22],790 –> [00:25:28],639
follow us on twitter and dreamers
podcast join us on facebook at
385
[00:25:28],640 –> [00:25:31],640
facebook.com slash dreamers podcast
386
[00:25:32],530 –> [00:25:36],760
if you or someone you know would like to
be a guest on the dreamers podcast
387
[00:25:36],760 –> [00:25:44],770
please send an email to j and j parr .
co this podcast is copyright 2014 by j
388
[00:25:44],770 –> [00:25:45],879
parr . code
