Personal Story/Journey

When Holly was born, we were living on a houseboat in London. Virgin Records was expanding and I worked from home with a desk crammed between the bilge pump and stairs. It’s hard to raise a family and build a business, but it’s incredibly rewarding https://virg.in/i22 …see more

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I have learned more about what it means to be human from those who volunteer to wear a uniform than from anyone else I’ve ever met. I’ve hugged more people in uniform than I’ve ever hugged in suits. I’ve cried with more people in uniform than anyone in business. To those who spend every single day thinking about and serving others, on this day, we think about you. I offer you deep love and gratitude for your service to each other and to us. …see more

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When Will Smith challenged me to get active, I pretended to do some pull-ups. But this time I did it for real – here’s the proof https://virg.in/iqv

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I started Virgin Atlantic because I was on my way to see my lovely girlfriend (now wonderful wife) in the BVI when I was bumped off a plane & thought there had to be a better way of doing things. I’ve shared my thoughts on my blog of how to turn frustrations into opportunities: https://virg.in/5JT …see more

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100k cycle and swim: completed! I’ve been looking forward to the 100km cycle because I knew it would be the most challenging stage of the Strive Challenge for me. That’s what the Strive Challenge is all about: having a growth mindset (and raising money for Big Change !) It can be really easy to stay in your comfort zone but that’s not where the magic happens. When you reach your limits and you push past them, there really is no other feeling like it. …see more

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I sometimes forget names. In a TV interview years ago Gay Byrne asked me: ‘What have you got written on your hand?’ I sheepishly turned it over to reveal I had 'Gay Byrne' penned on my skin. He was crestfallen! Despite my mishap, Gay is truly unforgettable …see more

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Downloaded Robinhood this morning, transferred $10k from my #BankofAmerica account. Also on @reddit and #wallstreetsbets so I now ride with the herd. I consider myself as an experienced investor so I'm taking it all for a spin. If you are going to pontificate, criticize & editorialize you should do the same. I'll keep you posted!

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One of the most amazing things about being dyslexic is the imagination it gives you. I started dreaming from a young age and then began trying to turn those dreams into reality https://virg.in/58P

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Back in Boston lock-down. COVID-19 second wave? Better to stay home but don't work all day, you will go crazy. Take a break and do something else! #lockdownstories

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A few years ago I traced my roots and was thrilled to discover that I’m actually part Indian. I loved finding out how some of my ancestors on my father’s side moved to India in search of fortune and started their own successful businesses. Wonderful to be joined by hundreds of today’s entrepreneurs to discuss why we should embrace failure: https://virg.in/iHg …see more

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Ever since I was a young boy I have made lists of goals and resolutions. It’s how I make sense of the ideas in my head, the suggestions I receive, and the progress we are making. https://virg.in/5ZS

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The last stage of the Strive Challenge was a triathlon, which pushed me a little harder as I had to swim 1k, then bike 20k and then run 10k (my legs felt a little heavy by the end!) https://virg.in/atr

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I took on the 10 mile hike this weekend for the Strive Challenge to raise money for Big Change . It was a great warm up for what comes next - the 100k cycle. https://virg.in/akJ

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So touched that the Virgin Orbit team chose to honour my mum by writing For Eve onto the nose cone of the rocket – yet another great adventure for mum! It was a wonderful surprise for all of our family, and I want to again thank everyone who has shared such touching tributes to her https://virg.in/j89 …see more

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I love the way the spacewear looks and I love the way it feels. I also love the fact that the next time I put it on, I will be on my way to space https://virg.in/iQw Virgin Galactic Under Armour

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I miss offices. I miss meetings. I miss random smiles in corridors. I miss energy. I miss brainstorms. I miss industry events. I miss snatched conversations. I miss walking around and feeling part of something. I miss team meals. I miss nurturing and being nurtured. I miss Friday feelings, I miss leaving the office. I miss vacations.I miss the richness of living. I miss seeing reactions. I miss it all. And I’m doing fine, but I wonder if in order to cope we’ve all just become rather numb. A little bit dazed. Feels totally nuts that were in this situation. Feels like the rules changed and we’re in a futile purgatory, no logic, no end, no plan. And to speak of this is considered wrong, because these are first world problems and most of us are doing really well considering. But it’s MANY other people I’m worried about, and seriously so. …see more

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In a society hooked on immediate gratification, it’s hard to remember that each of us is on our own timeline. Bruce Deel has the empathy to see the best in every person, and the patience to help them move closer to that ideal version of themselves, in their own time. The stories he shared about his life and his organization, City of Refuge, Inc. , on this week’s episode of A Bit of Optimism are equally gut-wrenching and heartwarming. I’m so thankful to be able to share his work and his wisdom with you. Find it at apple.co/simonsinek or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. …see more

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One of the most resounding lessons I learned from my father was the importance of dreaming https://virg.in/SDf

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My little brother passed away last week. He was 18. Three weeks ago he asked to work for me after he graduated high school. And I said yes & there was nothing I was looking forward to more. To everyone “hustling” out there, please remember this (because it’s way too easy to get lost in the work): - Hustling won’t make you happy. The people (or person) you’re hustling FOR will bring you happiness. Don’t forget that. - Likes, comments, shares, etc... will not help you live a happy life. You need to find meaning beyond that. - Make sure you’re not working so hard to appear happy on social & instead just work to BE happy. - Go home. See your friends/family (if you’re able). Even if they don’t understand why you’re working so hard. I wasted way too many years because I was “working.” There are no words to express this pain — I hope the above hits some of you. Be grateful for the people in your life. Show them love today. Show them love everyday. Because “someday” isn’t always guaranteed. Taking a break from social. 🖤 …see more

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2008 and 2018. I was 23 on the left and just starting my company, Zen Media. I’d just finished graduate school and writing my thesis on Twitter. No one believed social media would be a field. It was early (...very early) days. I could have never imagined the highs and lows which would follow. The following year, Business Week would name me to their 25 under 25 entrepreneurs list. Inc and Forbes would follow suit in the years to come...In the 10 years to follow, I’d write two best selling books. The Zen of Social Media Marketing (4th edition now) and Momentum. Zen Media would grow to be a globally known marketing firm with an enviable client list. I’d keynote at hundreds of events in front of thousands. I’d learn what it means to lead people and make a ton of mistakes in the process. I’d know great love and great loss. But, I’d find that in the depth of winter lay within me an invincible summer. And, I’d learn the most important lesson of all - be grateful for your highs and graceful in your lows. 💞 #10yearchallenge …see more

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These Virgin Galactic VMS Eve flights mean a lot to me. My mum always supported every idea of mine and she lives on in everything we do – after all, you can’t have a mothership without naming it after your mother. Great to see you flying high, VMS Eve. …see more

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25 years ago we thought it would be an exciting challenge to take on Coca-Cola. We eventually failed – but learned a lot along the way https://virg.in/5kV

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Spotted 11-year-old Abraham taking hand-written notes at my talk, and got chance to meet him afterwards to find out what he was writing down… https://virg.in/iLL

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A year ago last week, I graduated from college. That day, I united with my family after the ceremony and asked my dad, “Are you proud of me?” “Absolutely. You graduated from the school you wanted to. But you should never do something just to make me proud. As long as you are following what you want and benefiting you and those around you, I will be proud. You could have not gone to college at all, and I would still be proud” my dad responded. I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have parents that support me in what I chose to do with my education and career. Support systems are vital. #university #graduation #studentoflinkedin …see more

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If you ask for the impossible you might simply find that it is possible! Most would hesitate to ask, this boy got a selfie with the two most powerful leaders in the world. This got me thinking, when was the last time, I stepped out of my comfort zone and reached for the impossible! I think it was when I decided to ask my family to move back to India after 22 years in the US. Love to hear your #ImpossibleMoments …see more

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When I was 7 my parents and teachers didn't think I'd ever be able to read or do basic math, because of my debilitating dyslexia. I was lucky enough to work with an amazing educator who convinced me that my dyslexia was a superpower. My confidence grew, and I realized that the problem wasn't that I couldn't learn - it was that the standardized resources and tools being thrown at me were useless. Once I was able to understand my dyslexia, I was able to master it and use it to my advantage. The same is true for ANY weakness. Get to know yourself. Get to know your faults. Then grab them by the horns, and use them to unleash your full potential. Interviewer: Bryan Elliott …see more

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An incredible act of compassion and a powerful image as Brant Jean forgives and embraces the woman who killed his brother: https://lnkd.in/dvsXkEU #ReadByRichard

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It’s great to see the world waking up to the amazing strengths #dyslexia can give you. Here’s my message for dyslexic children https://virg.in/E9T

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As millions in the US and around the world take to the streets to demand an end to racism and racial injustice against black people in the wake of George Floyd’s brutal killing in Minneapolis, I am reminded of an encounter I learned a lot from more than 50 years ago. In 1967, I was 17 years old and had just launched Student Magazine to protest against the Vietnam War and other issues where I felt young people’s voices were not being heard. I was fortunate to get the rare chance to listen to James Baldwin, the brilliant African American writer and leading public intellectual. I had heard he was staying in London for a few days, so I went to his hotel and managed to secure an interview in his room. The conversation we had feels more present than ever during these days of protest.   “White people do not listen and do not care,” he said at one point, voicing his frustration at the continuing oppression of black people. “What would happen if they did listen?” I asked. “It isn’t me that they have to listen to,” he replied. “It isn’t any black man they have to listen to. It’s their own hearts and conscience.” https://virg.in/psX …see more

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You can't do that, she told me. Cindy was a VP in the Marketing department. I was on my way to see the CEO of HBO, where I worked. You can't do that, she said. You can't just walk into his office! Jeff was my boss's boss's boss's boss's boss's boss. People say "can't" when they have no answer. --- I had an idea I wanted to tell him. If you can make original TV series on HBO, why not do original web series? This was 1995. He said, go for it. I used that first idea to launch my first company. My first clients were AmericanExpress.com and TimeWarner.com . If you can't "can't", then you won't. It reminds me of this amazing football play. This quarterback shouldn't. No he didn't. No he won't! But he did. …see more

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I was sixteen when I had my first steady job and earned my first buck. It was a brutal and humiliating job that truly taught me where power lies. I applied for a job at Magoo’s Ice Cream Parlor because it was located in the mall where the girls tended to gather after school. The first day went well. My scoop skills were sound, and I could say with pride that although it was a busy day and I was new, I kept the lineups short and the customers happy. My second day on the job even busier, but I was faster. During a lull, the boss came to the front of the store. I’ll admit I was hoping for a bit of praise, for being swift, efficient, and a fast learner. Instead, she said to me, “Kevin, there’s some gum in the grout on the floor. Get on your hands and knees and scrape it out before anybody comes back in.” This request stopped me in my tracks. The first thing that entered my mind was that if a pretty girl saw me doing that, she might not talk to me. The second thing that crossed my mind was that I didn’t get hired to scrape gum. “That’s not my job,” I said. “My job’s to scoop ice cream.” Her features twisted into the meanest expression I’d ever seen on a face. Next thing out of her mouth was “You’re fired. Get out of my store.” It was the best thing that ever happened to me. …see more

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I struggled at school, so I explored what I called the university of life. And I’ve never looked back.

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Meet Aria, the Indian flying icon who will be appearing on Virgin Atlantic 's planes soon (and is based on my great-great-great-great grandmother)

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I remember my first financial meltdown. I was 23. I’d invested my whole salary - $25,000 (half of it debt!)- in a mining company on a “hot tip.” It tanked within two days. Since then I’ve learned to be a little more scrutinizing about what I invest my money in, while also following my gut. People told me I was a mad man for “investing” in a $30,000 watch! But guess what - that watch was worth TWICE what I paid for it almost the second I walked out the store. And I looked good too. #sharktank #investmentadvice …see more

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The year was 1959. This is a story of #entrepreneurship , #courage , and self-reliance. The one which proves anything is possible once you decide to do something about the situation. The story of 7 women without any fancy #education , not only improved their own lives but gave livelihoods to many other women and built an empire worth Rs. 1600 crore …see more

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A moment I really enjoyed last year was surprising more than 800 start-up founders. I joined a Virgin StartUp Meet Up to chat to Simon Sinek Inc. about how we can stay optimistic even in the middle of uncertainty and challenges:

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The Boeing 747 is a plane that holds a special place in my heart – the Queen of the Skies started Virgin Atlantic and has taken us on so many adventures over the past 36 years https://virg.in/Dyu

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This #WorldDyslexiaDay I want to take a moment to share a message of hope and encouragement: https://virg.in/E9T Made By Dyslexia

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Lovely to speak to Jake, who has just found out he has dyslexia. We talked about how it feels as I really struggled with my dyslexia at school & I encouraged him to keep chasing his dreams and to use his imagination at every opportunity. https://lnkd.in/dxQQKyd @MadeByDyslexia …see more

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Meet Emily and Rupert – the founders of Roundwood Gin and Virgin StartUp alumni. During #COVID19 , Emily and Rupert quickly started producing hand sanitiser at their distillery to meet the needs of key workers. Holly Branson reached out to Emily to hear more about their journey, and here’s what she had to say: https://virg.in/G25 #BusinessAsUnusual …see more

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Screw up an order? Piss off a customer when you’re having a bad day? Shit happens. Every business makes mistakes! It’s how you handle them that makes or breaks a business. Thanks for the words of wisdom, Wicked Good Cupcakes !

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Abraham said he isn’t an entrepreneur yet – but he wants to be. I told him you’re never too young to start, and he let me add my own note in his notebook too

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My dyslexia has shaped Virgin right from the very beginning - it helped me think big, but keep our messages simple https://virg.in/iNo

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The simple daily practice that saved my life. #DailyPractice #Health #Life #Improvement #Career #WorkLifeBalance

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2020 has been a brutal year for the wine industry. I know I'm living it. Fires destroyed crops, smoke tainted juice and #covid shut down restaurants, bars, airlines and many points of distribution. Still many of us were able to grow our businesses by making the great digital pivot and selling direct from our wineries in #california to our customers in over 40 states, and maybe win a few awards along the way! #innovation #entrepreneurship #digital #marketing …see more

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Testing this morning for the #coronavirus Now I know the angst a #pregnancy test must invoke! I was freaking out waiting for the results. Outcome? No #covid19 and I'm not pregnant! We will not be able to go back to the new normal until these tests are available to everyone, everywhere, anytime! …see more

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I took this image from the center of #Greenland while working on the documentary series #ProjectEarth for Discovery Inc There was no life there, not even a single insect. We were completely dependent on helicopter food drops. Once it stormed for four days in a row and we were cut off. This picture happen an hour after the storm broke. The human guiding in the chopper looks so fragile and insignificant on the vast moonscape of ice. …see more

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In an attempt to better understand the feelings surrounding the events of the past week, I reached out to friends to have necessary and sometimes uncomfortable conversations. One call was to NFL Hall Of Famer Curtis Martin. We talked about the lessons he’s learned and shared insights that can help us get through this together. Listen at https://bit.ly/2Y98SaE …see more

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Twenty years ago my sister and our family suffered a tragedy that we don’t talk about very often. She wanted to talk about it with the hope that it helps someone. I think it will help a lot of people. This is… A Bit of Optimism: apple.co/simonsinek

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I was a bad boss. 😞 It’s true. ✖️I lost great team members. ✖️I didn’t realize everyone isn’t driven by the same things. ✖️I made a ton of mistakes. In my defense, I was 23 and had never been responsible for a team before. I was an entrepreneur - not a manager. My heart was in the right place but I didn’t know HOW to be a good boss. Contrary to what most people believe, good leadership ISN’T innate. It is LEARNED. Thankfully, I learned. ✔️I mended relationships with my team members. ✔️ I started to understand - and honor - that not everyone wants the same things. ✔️I started to listen. ✔️I showed my appreciation rather than assumed it was a given. ✔️I put the WE before ME. To every leader out there - it is YOUR job to make sure you are learning, growing, and being an inspiration to your team. You work for them, not the other way around. If you have issues, your team has issues. It is YOUR job to become a better leader every single day. You owe your team that because everyday they show up to fulfill YOUR vision. It’s the least you can do. …see more

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Very moved watching #JustMercy , which tells the true story of the brilliant human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his effort to free Walter MacMillan who was wrongfully sentenced to die in 1988: https://virg.in/5pQ

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Our #heritage is who we are and what we are made of. We must protect it to protect our deepest core of self. Now more than ever, we need to #support our artisans. Be the guardians of the rich heritage; it is our responsibility to preserve it for our #future generations. One of my most cherished possession is a handwoven cotton Benarasi saree with a rich border. It is a simple saree but was very expensive, and I had bought it directly from the weaver. Over the years, it has given me so much inner #joy , each time I wear it, I smile, I feel the connection to the artist who put so much effort to make this. What is your most cherished heirloom for you? …see more

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I remember asking Dave what flying SpaceShipTwo was like as soon as he got out of the spaceship on his first spaceflight… “It is like nothing else in this world” https://virg.in/R44

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When we started Virgin life was all about hand-written letters, calling advertisers from phone booths, and running across town to speak with bands and banks… https://virg.in/isB

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My own journey in business and that of many others I’ve come to know over the years has made me wonder: if we could fall through the grid and succeed nonetheless, just how many other talented, driven and smart kids must have fallen through as well, but perhaps lacked the support and the right circumstances to ever live up to their true potential? https://virg.in/iDU Big Change …see more

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Holly shares the lessons she learnt from growing up with a serial entrepreneur for a dad https://virg.in/RNY

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Over the years I’ve had to make a conscious effort to put my health and fitness first (after all, you only have one body, so it makes sense to try and look after it!)

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Feeling alone: Saddened to read about the tragic death of CCD owner V. G. Siddhartha. I didn’t know him well, & like others, I too wondered how to make sense of this news. Who among us hasn’t felt lonely in our burdens & responsibilities at one time or the other? What stops us from giving in to despair, despondency & lose the will to live? Something snaps & you see no hope or future. Research shows that the majority of people are glad to be alive if they can get past those difficult moments. We don’t know what the soul suffers when a person dies. But we know that the people left behind are anguished for life with guilt, regret, & unresolved questions. V. G. Siddhartha, the founder of CCD, was a first-mover in the India coffee chain opportunity. But no matter how hard you work, the realities of building a successful business are soul crunching. Even with success, factors like changing markets, competition, profitability, debt, & investor pressures are ever-present. When the pressure gets too much, talk to a counselor; learn anxiety management tools; lean into your inner circle. Don’t take your life. Don’t leave behind a circle of grief. My heartfelt condolences to Siddhartha's family and friends. May his soul rest in peace. …see more

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Sindhu Gangadharan 's corporate journey is inspiring. Some women defy the notion of limits. Can women have it all? This is a perpetual question discussed at length through all ages. What do you think holds you back? For me, if I decide to pursue something, nothing holds me back. Our mindset is our biggest strength and biggest limitation too. #InspiringPeople #WomenLeaders #WomenInBusiness …see more

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The unforgettable Gay Byrne: my thoughts on the legendary presenter and our name-written-on-hand incident https://virg.in/ihf

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Just a little reminder for the UK. For some lockdowns mean a little more time with the kids, a bit more working from the spare room, a bit more cosying next to loved ones. Perhaps time to tidy the house or plant bulbs or start a new craft project in the workshop. Another box set to gorge on TV. For others they mean the removal from life of seemingly absolutely everything they live for, the destruction of their livelihoods, sudden removal of any hope for the future. The chance of feeling alive vanish until a time they can't imagine. They mean day after day spent alone, or trapped with abusive partners, time away from dying loved ones, or people they planned to marry trapped in other countries. They mean lost dreams, lost deposits, lost savings, people dying alone, and funerals where people never get to say goodbye. They mean unemployment for years to come, crippling anxiety, the need to give up on dreams. They mean suicide, mental health issues, substance abuse issues. They don't mean a lost year, they mean a widespread massive loss of ANY sense of meaning or purpose or routine or belief in the or their future. So if you're in the former, please think of the latter and spare your virtue signalling. If in the latter, hang on in there and feel free to DM me. …see more

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As part of Black History Month, Virgin Limited Edition 's Chuks Nwaobasi shares his powerful, personal story of experiencing racism in the UK https://virg.in/ahh

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I have a confession... Shark was never my first career choice. When I grew I wanted to be one thing. A rockstar...on the cover of the Rolling Stone, baby. This week I got a little closer to my dream, sitting down with Gus Wenner - CEO of Rolling Stone. We're talking about building brands, the music industry, and everything in between. On this week's episode: "How has digital media changed the music industry?" "Has COVID-19 killed the future of live music?" "How to play the guitar when you can't read music," and more! https://lnkd.in/ebRg2JP …see more

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I have been going to the office since July for about 2 days a week. Here is why: 1. I miss the office 2. I miss the snacks in the office 3. I miss the people in my office 4. I miss the ease of communicating ideas face-to-face 5. Most importantly, I don't want #covid19 fear to stop me from getting on with #life . How 'homesick' for the office are you? #WorkFromHome #India Image credit: WhatsApp/Source unknown …see more

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My little brother would have graduated high school today. A part of me feels so guilty. For being the older brother & for being alive. He was so much smarter and so much more talented than I am. I spent so much time working for a better life for myself and the people I cared about... and I neglected my relationship with one of the people I loved most. If you’re working right now — tell someone you love... that you love them. I promise that’s one thing you’ll never regret. I miss you every day little brother. I’ve become a better person because of you. I promise I’ll make you proud. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

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Lovely to meet the team behind Change Please and hear how Tom went from homeless in London to a head barista and trainer:

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I started saying “NO” to people who weren’t right for me. I started saying “NO” to everything I didn’t want to do. I started saying “NO” to mindless meetings, mindless events, mindless people who were bad for me, mindless food or alcohol, mindless anger and regret. Mindless TV and news. I started saying “NO” to colonoscopies and other things related to painful medical experiments. I listed all the things I could say “NO” to and I still do. When you have a tiny tiny piece of shit in the soup it doesn’t matter how much more water you pour in and how many more spices you put on top. There’s shit in the soup. I had been saying YES to the wrong things for 20 years... http://bit.ly/2id5A4r …see more

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I have many investments in the gifting and #wedding space. The #Covid19 pandemic has devastated these industries, cost billions of dollars and millions of jobs and now practically no weddings. It's not right. On Friday I became ordained and on Saturday held my first Virtual Wonder Wedding. Congratulations Ian and Erica. Love always finds a way! Thank-you Honeyfund.com, Inc. FairyTail Pet Care …see more

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Playboy wasn't part of her plan... She wanted to act. But they told her: "You're branded as playmate, so that's what you are." She didn't give up. In this interview  Amanda Cerny tells me her secrets to becoming a social media influencer and the #actor she's always wanted to be. She taught me how you can CHOOSE YOURSELF: http://apple.co/1ewcX8D …see more

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Years ago Mark Burnett hired my daughter Savannah O'Leary to be a production assistant on the set of Shark Tank set. I thought the brutal hours (wake up 3:30am and 12 hours days) would de-glorify the film and television production business for her and set her on a different career pursuit. I was wrong. She caught the bug and has been working in film ever since. Yesterday the New Yorker publisher her latest work, a short doc called #GoneViral about the Ken Bone phenomena that occurred in the last election. I hope you enjoy it, its so timely. I'm a proud dad! …see more

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Unemployment caused my disability and I desperately wish more people understood the debilitating consequences of burnout before it's too late... The stress of not knowing where your next meal will come from, how to keep the heat on, forgetting the taste of fresh produce living off of canned goods, and the other added pressures of caring for a newborn... When I lost my vision from severe optic neuritis I was scared, but when I lost my ability to walk I was absolutely hopeless. How would anyone want to hire me like this? Was my professional career completely over at 25?! Stress devoured my immune system. I'll never be the same... but I count my blessings habitually! Eternally grateful to have recovered my sight in one eye and humbled by the mobility challenges. But it's all a little too late and there's no cure. So if you're reading this, PROMISE me one thing... The next time you become overwhelmed by external pressures, pause and breathe. Prioritize yourself because we are delicate creatures. Remind yourself that there is ALWAYS a special place for you, regardless of endless obstacles in your way. If you can relate, please contact me. You are not alone. We are stronger together ❤ #careers #disability #burnout …see more

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Rather than wanting to go to university, I told a potential business partner as a teenager: “Let’s get out there, let’s get going!” Sounds about right

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From crashing bikes into rivers to childhood businesses selling budgies and Christmas trees, from rationing tea to running Virgin Records – remembering a wonderful lifetime of adventures with my dear friend Nik - https://virg.in/5fw

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Looking back at my earliest memory, my greatest ‘aha’ moment and most memorable meeting I’ve ever had: https://virg.in/5H3

♥ 2155 · Comments 78

I lost my little brother 4 months ago. Feels like yesterday. Also feels like years ago. Tomer Yogev explained grief to me in an interesting way. He said: Imagine a box. And in that box you have a huge ball. That ball is grief. Every time that ball hits a side of the box it will trigger something in you: anger, sadness, guilt, etc. And as time goes on, that ball will get smaller and smaller. Hitting the walls less and less. But it will never go away. I’ve been fascinated by grief lately. Because it’s changed the way that I view things. It’s changed a little part of every bit of me. 1). I care if people like me. For the longest time I said I didn’t. But now, I really don’t care to let the opinions of others effect me. 2). I’m more passionate. About everything. 3). I’m more cognizant of how others feel. 4). I realized that I got stuck in who I thought I was. And I kept myself from allowing myself to grow into who I am supposed to be. 5). I realized business doesn’t care about your feelings or your life. So if you’re able to, build (or work for) a business that does. Death is a weird thing. I don’t like talking about it. Tearing up about it as I’m writing this. Just want to say thank you. For the support. So much love for all of you. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 2031 · Comments 316

From a low income & immigrant background to UC Berkeley to tech to Forbes 30 Under 30. Fun to be back in Boston again this year! I can say hands down that higher education, relationship building, and hustling have been and still are catalysts for all my career growth thus far. This is what I call the American dream and social mobility at their fullest. I'm incredibly blessed for all the support from these amazing individuals in my life and career, Jenny Rooney Kevin Young Sonia Sng Doreet Jehassi Kyle Wong Kathryn Bader Debra Goldentyer Janet Balis Steve Olenski Zsolt Katona Maya Pope-Chappell Itamar Orgad Ashley Whitlatch ! …see more

♥ 1929 · Comments 62

#IrrfanKhan was one of the few actors who took risks and shaped alternative cinema. He was a master of his craft. I particularly loved his role in Hindi Medium. I haven't had a chance to watch English medium yet. His untimely death makes me realise how life is unpredictable. It makes me introspect,"Have I used the time given to me on this Earth wisely? Am I making choices that leave no regrets?" May your soul #RIP Irrfan. You will be remembered fondly through the life you have lived. …see more

♥ 1839 · Comments 63

Wonderful being back in Mumbai – really does feel like the city of dreams. Talked about the importance of embracing failure and bouncing back with Anand Mahindra at Virgin Atlantic ’s Business Is an Adventure event https://virg.in/iHg

♥ 1789 · Comments 47

It’s a Sin: What a moving, poignant depiction of what many gay men went through during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 80s. The scenes set in Heaven bring back so many memories of that time https://virg.in/9wG

♥ 1770 · Comments 134

#SharkTank season 12 premiers tonight on ABC. We filmed it in a "bubble" made possible by the incredible staff of the #LasVegas #VenetianHotel So what do you do when you are living in a lock down? You write country songs! I busted out my new song "Dagger" on Good Morning America …see more

♥ 1747 · Comments 92

A tribute to the epic Karl Lagerfeld who passed away yesterday. More than fashion, I believe he really understood branding. He revived Fendi in the 60’s and Chanel in the 80’s, and his best work was his own eponymous line which I was lucky enough to wear on camera and off. I’ll share my thoughts soon on what we can all learn from his life and work. #karllagerfeld #fashionicon #brandinggenius …see more

♥ 1725 · Comments 65

Our spacesuits include a special pocket over the heart to hold personal mementos - I will use mine to take photos of my family up into space https://virg.in/iQw Virgin Galactic Under Armour

♥ 1706 · Comments 85

The New York Times devoted an entire cover page to list names of 1000 #COVID19 victims. (1% of the current COVID death toll in the US). By putting names to a number we acknowledge their life. They are more than a statistic. They are people who are loved and mourned and will be missed. …see more

♥ 1699 · Comments 50

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru devo Maheshwara, Guru sakshat, Param Brahma, Tasmai shri guravay namah. As kids, we repeated it because we were made to. Older now, I understand how much the many teachers and mentors take us under their wings and shape our life. I would be nothing without the people who gave me so much with the generosity of spirit. Acknowledging all the #Gurus in my life, thank you. I am grateful for my meditation practice that allows me to see myself more clearly each day and be a bit better daily. I will be forever grateful to Daaji ( Kamlesh Patel ), my Guru, for guiding me and many others in the #Heartfulness journey. #HappyGuruPurnima …see more

♥ 1695 · Comments 39

I went to a protest yesterday. I had to sit down because I had mixed feelings. Initially it was a bunch of people (not of color) taking photos of their signs and letting people know where they were. Which made me angry. And when everyone gathered it was a predominantly white crowd. And for the first time in a long time I realized how exhausting it is to be black. I never thought I'd live in a world like that where I would see people that didn't look like me... fighting for me. "Good" isn't the right word... but I felt hopeful. The amount of people that reached out to me to ask questions after my recent posts... the amount of people that shared... the amount of conversations. I'm hopeful. For the first time in a long time. I don't believe there should be a reward and I don't believe people are doing this for a reward. The reward is the change. But from this 26 year old kid from Minneapolis, MN... thank you to everyone that is stepping up. Thank you to everyone that is uncomfortable and figuring it out right now. Thank you for speaking up. Thank you for LISTENING. ILY, #justQ 🖤 #BlackLivesMatter …see more

♥ 1681 · Comments 123

I'm all about saving money, but I'll spend on the right item if it's a good investment. This is another piece of wisdom I learned from my mom, Georgette! What are YOU saving up for?

♥ 1657 · Comments 198

While cleaning out a shed on our cottage property I came across a box of old college memorabilia that had been sitting there since the 1970. Many generations of field mice had wintered in it and it was full of excrement. I was about to heave it into the dumpster when I noticed a roll of super 8mm film sitting at the bottom. It was my long lost first production I had made for my film101 class. It looked destroyed but I sent it to #digmypics to see if they could restore it. I remember the professor told us we needed to explore the topic of mental health for our first assignment. There was a lot of drinking and recreational drugs around my dorm and a fair amount of anxiety, depression and alcoholism to go with it. I don't think that has changed much on any college campus. In retrospect I wonder if this topic stayed with me because when I was approached to be an early investor in a start up that wanted to explore the use #psychedelics as medicine for mental health, I dug in deep and made it a core holding in my venture portfolio. As we approach the end of #2020 #MindMed $MMEDF has become my best performing investment for the year. Talk about foreshadowing! Enjoy the movie, I think my roommate did a good job in his first major role. #mentalhealth #venturecapital #psychedelicmedicine …see more

♥ 1598 · Comments 129

I've messed up. Because I haven't shown what it's really like owning a business. Here's "my" reality of being an entrepreneur. ✅ I've had two failed businesses. In 2018 my power was turned off multiple times because I wasn't making enough money. Early 2019, I slept on my office floor for 2 months while we got our company off the ground. ✅ My company has grown quickly. And it's been amazing. But 2019 was also a rough year. I skipped pay multiple times. ✅ I had to walk miles to meetings because I totaled my car and didn't have enough money for Lyft. ✅ I rented out two of my apartment rooms at $500 a month each. It allowed me to live rent free a lot of 2018 while I focused on building my company. ✅ I've been called a 'n***er'. Laughed at during the first pitch event I ever went to. Friends turn into enemies. Fellow creators turn on me. Don't become an entrepreneur because of what it looks like. This is the worst thing I've ever done in my life. But it's also the most rewarding thing I have ever done. And I can't imagine doing anything else. I'm a business owner because of the freedom. Because it fuels my curiosity. Because it allows me to empower others. Share this video with someone that needs to see this! 🎥 #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #entrepreneurship #business …see more

♥ 1584 · Comments 355

I told this story on QVC. I found some forgotten barrels of 2006 and 2007 of red Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon. 2006 and 2007 were near perfect growing years. We discovered the stash after acquiring the winery and blended this limited amount. If you have never tried a 2006-2007 Walla Walla  I doubt you will ever find it again. https://lnkd.in/es52raV …see more

♥ 1516 · Comments 97

Humble beginnings, high achievements. Makes you think hard about the importance of self-belief and hard work. What was your first #job ? Mine was a teaching assistantship for $700 a month and I somehow managed to still save money each month and I was happy. Didn’t think I lacked anything I needed. #Success #Entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 1500 · Comments 139

I met Gary Vaynerchuk tonight! 😍😍😍 3 Years ago I quit my job to do this entrepreneur thing. And I owe a lot of that to Gary and his content. I fell on my face over and over again. From: - Not having enough money to buy a $0.99 chocolate bar. - Renting out my spare bedrooms to make rent. - Struggling to get clients. And this past year has been absolutely amazing. From: - Signing a contract to be on an Amazon Prime TV show. - Speaking at large events. - And the growth of my company. - Getting to wake up and do what I love every single day. Stuff like this is totally surreal for me. Thank you for lighting the way. And thank you for the hug. Appreciate you dude! #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #GaryVee Quentin Allums …see more

♥ 1481 · Comments 302

My business partner was my old college roommate. Six years ago I wanted an internship that I was under qualified for. Izzy told me to apply. I did. And heard nothing back. Izzy was at a networking event that they hosted, he talked to the guy that was hiring, and the next day I got an interview. I ended up landing the internship. When we first started someone asked, “why are you two going into business together?” Aside from the fact that he crushes it, that’s why ☝🏽. Surround yourself with people that have your back. Happy birthday dude. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 1469 · Comments 133

They fired me. They fired me as CEO. Then they fired me as a board member. Then they took away my shares. And now none of them ever talk to me. I started the company, I had the initial idea, I raised $30 million for it from A+ investors (i.e. “rich people”), I bought two companies for it, I hired the first 50 employees, and then I was shown the door. The reason? I was a bad leader. . . . #leadership #writing #entrepreneurship #lifestyle …see more

♥ 1407 · Comments 117

"You're my best friend,"​ a client of my web agency once told me in 1996. "You're mine!"​ I said. But I was lying. I hated him. I hated every client. I was afraid the client would fire me if I wasn't his friend. I made every decision out of fear. I wish I hadn't cared what people thought. Getting respect is more important than being liked. #lessons #dondraper #entrepreneur #writing …see more

♥ 1402 · Comments 84

We all have different deal breakers when it comes to dating, but if there's one that everyone should have regardless of age, sex, or religion - it's DEBT.

♥ 1382 · Comments 121

When I was 20 a woman came into the gym that I was working at. Long story, but she ended up telling me things like: ✅ You will be making minimum wage for the rest of your life. ✅ You'll never be as successful as me. ✅ Colleges shouldn't waste scholarship money on people like you. ✅ Etc. I want to thank that woman. Because it was in that moment that I decided that if she is what "success" meant... then I didn't want it. If I had to put other people down to make myself feel big then I didn't want it. I quit that day and found a social media internship a few weeks later. The rest is history. Define your own success. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #StrangeOnPurposePodcast #Business 📸 Justin Jackson …see more

♥ 1366 · Comments 203

I met a girl in an elevator and asked her out on a date. This was between marriages. The first thing she asked me on our date was, “How much are you worth?” I had made and lost millions but nobody knew at that time what I had. I lied. I said, “a million dollars”. But I was worth less. “Not good enough,” she said. Still, we dated for awhile but then it ended. Like most things, it ended horribly. I had made and lost so many times at that point that I had to ask myself: “Why can’t I keep the money?” …see more

♥ 1342 · Comments 242

It took me quite a long time to develop my voice, now that I have it, I am not going to be silent" - Madeleine Albright. I can relate to this. In the early days of my #career , I was plagued with doubts or shyness to speak up for fear that others might not listen to me. In fact, it is surprising how many of us are afflicted with this. Over time I trained myself to speak and make my #voice heard. If you are one of those people who feel you are marginalized, don't be afraid to #speak up, it doesn't matter if you are heard or not, eventually, your voice will cut through the cacophony and you will be heard …see more

♥ 1339 · Comments 66

Most companies give 3-5 paid days off after a loss of a loved one.... My brother passed 4 months ago – I am my own boss & have a team of 7 not including myself... and it was hard going back to work. It was hard getting back in the swing of things. I can't imagine going through that as someone without the privilege that I had. I can't imagine not being able to explore my emotions and the changes that I've gone through. I've spent a lot of the past 3 years talking. Which I'm fine with, so long as it's helping people. I want to spend more time creating and exploring anything and everything that interests me. And right now the correlation between my recent success & grief is fascinating to me. So, I'm creating a short film around grief and the way that it changes people. If you want to be a part of it, shoot me a message. I start filming next week. I have mad love for all of you. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #business #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 1331 · Comments 265

I haven't been able to record any videos since my brother passed away. Not because I'm not capable. But because I've struggled with what it is that I truly want to create. And I guess through this I’m learning that I’ve been riding a wave. Nodding my head. Creating videos and content. Speaking to crowds about things that they want to hear. And somewhere along the line I stopped speaking my truth. I stopped having things to say. I’m done letting people in that I don’t care for. I’m done saying yes to things that go against my beliefs. I’m done going through the motions & dimming down so I don’t make other people uncomfortable. I have things to do. And things to say. We all do. Don’t wait for something like this to happen before you wake up. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #personalbranding #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 1321 · Comments 325

I am grateful for my education in India. First, college was fun not stress filled. The friendships I #education #success built then were simple and still sustain after all the ups and downs of life. And while there are many things to improve in Indian education system, a middle class student like me could have never afforded expensive college. For my 4 years of engineering in Osmania, i might have paid a total of INR.5000, that is less than $100. Our success depends on so many supporting dots, if i didn't have affordable education, where would I be today? …see more

♥ 1316 · Comments 70

Thank you, Riyadh, for the most thrilling and inspiring week - filled with entrepreneurship, innovation, and wonderful people. I have never in my life met so many entrepreneurs from so many different countries in one room! I wasn’t sure what to expect visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time, but I’m leaving feeling transformed by the brilliant and generous people I’ve met, the ideas they’ve shared, and the experiences we've had together in beautiful Riyadh. The future is bright if we continue to support young innovators and entrepreneurs across the world! 🌟 #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #ewc #ewc2019 #globalbusiness …see more

♥ 1309 · Comments 45

My best friend is in a medically-induced coma, and today is his sixth day on a ventilator. He has a very small chance of survival. If he does survive, I’m told that he will never be the person he was before he was intubated. I am sharing this with you because my best friend from childhood, my true brother from another mother, was a complete coronavirus denier. He truly believed that the severity of the disease and the scope of the problem was being “hyped” for political reasons. My friend is not a stupid person; quite conversely -- he’s a brilliant doctor. What he had was a political ideology, and he chose political rhetoric over science. Please don’t make the same mistake. #coronavirus #science #covid19 …see more

♥ 1297 · Comments 173

As a young child, my imagination was fired up by reading about #EdmundHillary and his success in being the first to climb the #Everest . And since then, around 5,780 people have climbed Everest. People who achieve #extraordinary things also pave the way for others to follow in their path. …see more

♥ 1276 · Comments 23

From breaking world records to driving a tank down Times Square, Holly reflects on her teenage years with the #VirginFamily : https://virg.in/RNY

♥ 1276 · Comments 44

I have been a fan of M.S.Subbulakshmi. It is why I recently picked up the book. I highly recommend it if you are interested in the evolution of Carnatic music. In fact, I highly recommend it for anyone. She took extraordinary risks, excelled at her craft, remained untouched by fame and fortune. Ultimately, it is a #story of #triumph against odds because you #believe in your #instincts and pursue your #dreams . #WeekendMusings …see more

♥ 1275 · Comments 46

I recorded 500+ videos before anyone took notice. That's how it works. They won't notice the hours you put in right away. The pain. The struggle. The failure. The anxiety. Or all of the times that you contemplate quitting. They won't care. Not until you win them over. And that's the thing... no one owes you a view. No one owes you a like. No one owes you a share. No one owes you support or a follow. You have to earn that. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #business 🎥 Ken K. …see more

♥ 1268 · Comments 220

Things I explored in my 20s: • Learnt things that weren’t core to my career • Experienced different cultures • Polished my speaking skills • Outdoors, trekking, camping, backpacking • Personal finances • Learnt swimming • Lived in many places, learnt to make new friends • Gained confidence to speak up • Learnt to take risks • Learnt to start a company, an NGO • Spent hours at library immersed in reading #PersonalDevelopment #Motivation #Life …see more

♥ 1258 · Comments 41

Occasionally I get to meet someone whose story absolutely inspires me. Quilen Blackwell is one of those people. He was on the path set for him - good grades, good college, good job - but he decided to follow his own path and his journey was filled with far more difficulty than he imagined. Only through faith, conviction and the generosity of strangers was he able to rise up and become the successful social entrepreneur he is today - serving the community that took care of him. Listen at apple.co/simonsinek or anywhere you get your podcasts and learn more about the Chicago Eco House at chicagoecohouse.org …see more

♥ 1247 · Comments 39

My little brother would have turned 19 today. This is one of the only photos I will ever have of him & I as adults. The morning after everything happened I drove back to Minnesota. I stopped to get coffee early. The world just looked different that day (and has ever since). People looked different. Not better. Not worse. Just different. It was like every day up until that point was lived in black & white. And for the first time I was seeing color. The meaning behind the expression on the barista's face. The man sitting in the back corner typing profusely. The person in front of me impatiently waiting to order. They all had lives. I didn't know the context of theirs. And they didn't know the context of mine. But the signs were there. The body language was there. And neither of us said a thing about it. "Hey, how are you doing?" the barista muttered. "I'm doing okay. How are you?" I responded. "Good. What can I get you today?" __ I see the flaw in that now. It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to say it out loud. It's okay to say it to strangers. To friends and family. It's okay. Happy birthday buddy. Thank you for showing me what it's like to live in color & for pushing me to do something meaningful with my life. I miss you. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 1228 · Comments 172

Last week I linked up for a long chat with George the Poet. George and I met through Big Change, an organization working to do something we both care about: to transform the potential of education so that it's really about learning, not just school. #NewEducationStory Big Change …see more

♥ 1213 · Comments 51

Took on the TEDx stage. �� I also had the opportunity to thank several organizations who gave me a chance on stage, fueling my career from zero to infinity as an immigrant: Apple ( Kevin Young ), Forbes ( Jenny Rooney , Steve Olenski ), and LinkedIn Publishing ( Maya Pope-Chappell , Daniel Roth , Chip Cutter ). What a remarkable experience to share the designing of a purposeful personal brand from zero to infinity. �� Thanks for the amazing and memorable event, TEDxBerkeley! …see more

♥ 1197 · Comments 61

I have nostalgic memories of the Indian Railways from my childhood. At the end of the school year, we would go to our grandfather's village to spend the summer vacations and have carefree time on the farm. The simulation of this state-of-the-art sea bridge looks fabulous! Being built in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, its #construction would enable the trains to operate at higher speeds. If completed successfully, it will be an #engineering marvel. Kudos to Indian Railways! #India #WeekendMusings Piyush Goyal Video Credits: Ministry of Railways- India - https://lnkd.in/eK_b2Ss …see more

♥ 1178 · Comments 68

Rising early feels daunting to most people. In my 20's, not getting 8hrs of sleep used to be a crisis, but now I average 5-6 hrs. Rising early at 5:30am does help me focus better without distractions & gain control of the day. I can prioritize multiple tasks: some quiet time for meditation, yoga/exercise, setting up the day's agenda & addressing critical emails. Is rising early a secret to success? I am not sure. But what I do believe is that the course of our lives is determined by how efficiently we utilize our time. …see more

♥ 1177 · Comments 48

This is so poignantly written from the heart, and since I grew up in very similar circumstances, it was so relatable to me. Had to share it. #happyfathersday

♥ 1162 · Comments 33

I learned about #ChadwickBoseman ’s death at the end of a 17-hour day, after covering the 57th Anniversary of the #MarchOnWashington . It was also near the end of the longest August I’ve endured for some time. Not only has #COVID19 worn all of us down, but I spent the month mourning my oldest sister Julie, who would have turned 70 on August 17th. Colon cancer was the only thing strong enough to kill Julie. She was my “life mentor,” and also my superhero. So as I spent last weekend continuing to report for National Geographic , two powerful engines fueled my journey. I can’t wait for Julie to meet #TChalla . #WakandaForever #RIPChadwickBoseman #BlackPanther #hero #rolemodel #inspiration #globaldevelopment …see more

♥ 1162 · Comments 27

When Thanksgiving and Christmas come around, I think back at how a Bloomingdale's seasonal gig set me up to be an NYU professor. For those of you still working towards your careers and figuring it out, sometimes you must shift gears to gain perspective and skills. Happy Holidays! …see more

♥ 1143 · Comments 71

I started saying "No" to people who weren't right for me.  I started saying "No" to everything I didn't want to do. I started saying "No" to mindless meetings, mindless events, mindless people who were bad for me, mindless food or alcohol, mindless anger and regret, and mindless TV and news. I started saying "No" to colonoscopies and other things related to painful medical experiments.  When you have a tiny piece of shit in the soup it doesn't matter how much more water you pour in and how many more spices you put on top. There's shit in the soup. I had been saying YES to the wrong things for 20 years. I started saying "No" to the bad things, and the "Yes" started to compound every day. It compounded automatically, the way interest does in a non-US bank. Now I'm free. I dumped the old soup. Now I can finally drink from the soup I just cooked.  (Full article: http://ow.ly/GeZD30hcU28) …see more

♥ 1120 · Comments 137

2019 was the best & worst year of my life. - I lost my 18 year old brother. - We found our core team of 7 people at UMV that I hope to build upon in 2020. - Started dating my girlfriend. - Signed a contract to be a part of an Amazon Prime docuseries. - I spoke at Inbound 2019. - I launched my new Gaming/eSports podcast: Humans that Game. - Moved into a bigger office. It’s crazy how our years are just condensed into lists. 365 days turned into a few bullet points. Just want to say thank you to every human (and animal) that’s been there for me. I wouldn’t be able to do the things that I do without you. Thank you. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #business #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 1117 · Comments 126

What is the real India? On my recent trip to the US, I was surprised to get many questions about 'Made in Heaven'. I was surprised that people in the US had watched it on Amazon Prime. Questions were about marriages, gay rights, lifestyles. Is this the real India? Contrast with the movie 'Article 15', is that the real India? I think India is full of contrasts. We have to build bridges to understand the realities of the many Indias. My takeaways from the movie 'Article 15': 1. Bringing any change starts with tolerance and empathy. We can’t bring change, especially behavioral and cultural, by sitting comfortably in urban India. 2. The concept of the bottom of the pyramid gets quoted so often as a market opportunity. But to create solutions and impact, you have to experience the reality. Love to hear how you see the reality of India. #WeekendMusings …see more

♥ 1112 · Comments 76

I walked into my office yesterday to grab something. Before walking out I paused and looked back. It was the first time, since the day we moved in, that I took the time to feel grateful for everything we’ve built. My office. My employees. My conference room. My podcast studio. My new wood floors. A lot of us have gotten so lazy. So complacent. We call ourselves “entrepreneurs” and it’s times like these where we find out who and what we really are. What we’re really made of. I thrive in chaos. I was born in it. If you’re reading this, now is your time. I’ll see you on the other side. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 1105 · Comments 141

I don’t like getting all preachy on here but I still think the greatest possible advantage you can have in life is knowing your parents/parent believes in you. A distant second is knowing they care only about your happiness....Whatever that entails. Anyway. I just got this urge to say this. I meet a lot of people who make me realize that this isn’t a common background and that I’m very lucky. …see more

♥ 1092 · Comments 75

As a black entrepreneur, I shrugged off race for a long time. But, people like me do not have the privilege to “ignore” what is happening right now. I have a business to run. I have bills to pay. I have responsibility to the people that follow me… but it’s impossible to think about anything else right now. If I can use even a portion of my influence to bring some change, I know that I have to. I WILL NOT ignore the state of the world. If you have questions, ask. If you need resources, ask. If you want to help, ask. We are all in this together. Period. And if you don’t view it like that then I’m going to ask you to unfollow me. Because I’m tired of living in a world that values assimilation over diversity. I’m tired of living in a world that kills for differences. I’m tired of living in a world that would rather take comfort in privilege and division, than be uncomfortable while progressing. Ignoring is a privilege that I do not have (and many do not have). I don’t have all of the answers. I don’t speak for all black/brown people. But I do hope that social can be a place in which we can discuss and grow. I will do my best to continuously show up, educate, etc. in any way that I can. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #BlackLivesMatter …see more

♥ 1085 · Comments 126

Happy New Year! Instead of having resolutions, I recently encouraged friends and family to set themes for the New Year. Unlike resolutions, themes are purposeful in that they are not tied to an action or outcome. One of my themes for 2016 was knowledge building. In that capacity, I picked up reading. Instead of boxing myself to reading a number of books or pages a month, the theme of knowledge building allowed me to read for the purpose of enjoyment and development. Through this theme, I've read over 15 books in 2016. Here's the full list. �� What are your themes for 2017? And share this booklist with friends. Also like me on Facebook: https://lnkd.in/gHgtVMT …see more

♥ 1079 · Comments 81

Selina shares her experiences of being an #LGBTQ + person in the workplace and why she’s glad to work for a business that shares her values https://virg.in/Ga6

♥ 1064 · Comments 59

My company closed its doors this October. My little brother passed away last October. It's been a crappy year [for many of us]. But also a year of deep discovery. When our company closed down I decided to step away from our company podcast as well. It's been awesome to see Izzy make it his own and I'm excited to see where he goes with it. But, over the past few months I've been working on a podcast of my own. I’ve never given my all to anything creatively. My attention has always been split between trying to grow a company, clients, employees, etc. This is the first time where I am pouring everything that I have into a project. My entire life I have been taking in depth notes about the things going on around me. I was a big Kobe Bryant fan. As a kid I would watch his games, his moves, his style; take notes and go to the court and try to implement what I was studying. As an entrepreneur I was the same way. Obsessive. I dive deep into things that most people don’t even pay attention to. It’s just who I am. This show is a way for me to do that. I’m having conversations with people, dissecting those conversations, and turning those into a piece of art. Show just went live on iTunes! https://lnkd.in/gQ2mUWT #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 1049 · Comments 260

Looking back at my school years and how #StudentMagazine became my education: https://virg.in/itE

♥ 1049 · Comments 37

When I graduated high school, college was the expected next step. For the past four years, I have had friends attend classes with me. I’ve had friends drop out to start their own companies. And, I’ve had friends succeed and fail at turning their education into work opportunities. What I learned is that college isn’t for everyone, but the  University of Southern California was the best option for me. People have different paths to success, and each has its own unique pros and cons. I wouldn’t want my little brother to feel pressured to do something just because his friend, his brother, or older sister did it. You have to do what’s best for you. #education  #graduation …see more

♥ 1048 · Comments 96

Steve #Jobs parting note was a masterclass. This is how it is done even when others wrong you. I would wish any parting to be both amicable and dignified. #Management #Entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 1041 · Comments 40

I started my first company out of college. And I failed. Miserably. Burned through my savings, my relationships went to shit, my team fell apart. I was renting out my extra rooms in my apartment just to stay afloat. And now things are going well on attempt #3. Two years later I’ve spoken on large stages, I have my TEDx coming up, was named 25 under 25 in Wisconsin, and my company is growing quickly. It would be easy to say that the most rewarding moment was that when I look back I could say that I did it. Or that I proved people wrong. But that wouldn’t be true. I think the most rewarding moment for me was 1). when I realized that someone like me was capable of being successful and 2). when I realized that I’m nowhere near done yet. There is no such thing as “making it” and I don’t think there should be. As you grow and evolve so should your dreams. But if you haven’t already know this 1). someone like you CAN be successful and 2). you’re nowhere near done yet. Just keep working and putting yourself in positions to grow. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 📸 Justin Jackson …see more

♥ 1030 · Comments 143

I recorded 500+ videos before anyone took notice. That's how it works. They won't notice the hours you put in right away. The pain. The struggle. The failure. The anxiety. Or all of the times that you contemplate quitting. They won't care. Not until you win them over. And that's the thing... no one owes you a view. No one owes you a like. No one owes you a share. No one owes you support or a follow. You have to earn that. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #business 🎥 Ken K. …see more

♥ 1027 · Comments 149

The recent news of suicides due to financial stress, such as the one by the German finance minister and others, made me rethink the importance of putting problems in perspective. For e.g, it was reported that 'His main concern was whether he could manage to fulfil the huge expectations of the population, especially in terms of financial aid. He clearly couldn't see any way out. He was desperate, and so he left us.' But everyone who knew him thought he was brilliant and most capable of doing his job. So #perspective and getting help when we feel hopeless is very important. And #communicating openly, without self-judging ourselves harshly, is also an important life skill, saying what you feel & being open and vulnerable is a survival skill everyone should embrace. However, hopeless the situation seems, there is always something that can be done differently. The latest research suggests some people are having low self-esteem staying alone. Many fear layoff & salary cuts as well. Whatever the reason, there is a stigma when all of us face problems in life and need support from time to time. Glad to also see several mental health solutions, like Wysa, InnerHour, Cure.Fit ; growing in India to provide support in a caring, objective & anonymous way. #WeekendMusings …see more

♥ 1014 · Comments 66

A PERSONAL NOTE: Folks, after close to 12 years, I have left Mint, with which I had been associated from Day 1 as part of the core editorial team that founded the paper. I had the privilege of working with some of the best minds in journalism in India and overseas. My weekly column, Banker's Trust, first appeared on 5 February, 2007, the second edition of Mint. It ran till 30 September, 2018. During this period, only twice I took break --once in August/September 2007 when I had a serious, life-threatening accident and, the second time, in early 2012 when I took a two-month `book leave' to write my first book, "A Bank for the Buck". HT Media has been an amazing employer which had given me freedom to do a lots of things beside journalism -- writing books, public speaking, running a weekly episode on banking and finance on a TV Channel. Over the last 12 years, I have written at least 700 pieces of Banker's Trust, some of which have been compiled in the form of a book, "From Lehman to Demonitization", a Penguin Random House publication. I will continue to chronicle the enormous changes that Indian financial sector has been undergoing. Till such time you find my column in media, do look for it on my website www.bankerstrust.in Good Bye. Au Revoir …see more

♥ 1000 · Comments 116

I wish I had known these 12 rules to avoid going broke when I first made money. Or when I next made money after going broke. Or when I made money the time after that. Or the time after that. Many people say, "I learned the hard way" and they are proud of that. I am not proud. Maybe I can help someone learn the easy way. Many people say, "You have to pay your dues". No you don't. The dues are free. But they never tell us this. In any case, this brought back a lot of bad memories but hopefully it will help others create some good ones. #entrepreneurship #finance #economy #wealth #rich #broke #failure #investing …see more

♥ 995 · Comments 142

Artists are original, sometimes esoteric, but they have a vision, an idea. This is the story of a retired man with an idea to paint, but on excel. He started off with this small idea and now makes art masterpieces on excel. Also, it is truly inspiring to see, that #art can be a possible use case of a product as serious as Excel. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Every artist was first an amateur." #WeekendMusings Video Credits: https://lnkd.in/efDcmrd …see more

♥ 994 · Comments 42

This is how I landed my TEDx talk 👇 I didn't focus on TEDx. I became an entrepreneur instead. My first company failed, so did my second, but my third is thriving. Through all of that I documented everything and invested in my personal brand. - I told my story. - Built a community. - Established my own lane. If you're wanting to land things like TEDx, focus on building a brand. Because that's social proof that you will take with you throughout your entire life. I'm not saying you need to quit your job and start a business; rather take the time to invest in your brand and share your story. That's when the magic happens. Companies die. Industries change. But personal brands live forever. #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 979 · Comments 167

I have often spoken on the importance of other hobbies and interests, especially when you have a stressful #job , which is really all #startup founders and investors. I was always a city girl, but I have become an avid gardener over the last two decades. I get almost the same thrill when I grow something new as when one of my portfolio companies does well. At the core of both is enjoying the process of nurturing a seed and seeing it bloom. Gardening is an excellent hobby. 1. It reduces stress taking you closer to the roots of nature 2. It teaches you the value of patience and relationships in the most natural way 3. It requires you to problem solve, figure out the root cause, experiment constantly 4. When you get a big crop of produce, you get to #share and give it away Any others who share the passion for gardening? #WeekendMusings …see more

♥ 977 · Comments 87

I never wanted to be seen as a black entrepreneur. I never wanted race to be a part of my story. I just wanted to be an entrepreneur. I didn't want to be the best "black" entrepreneur. I wanted to be the best. The older I get... the more I see the flaw in that thinking. The more evil that comes to light... the more I change. The older I get, the more I realize that it is my responsibility to embrace everything that I am. For all of the others like me growing up with crap circumstances & hearing things like: "Odds are you'll be in jail." "You'll be making minimum wage your whole life." "Don't be angry... you might scare people." Growing up, seeing people cross the street when they see you coming. People refusing to shake your hand. Wondering if your life is in danger because of the color of your skin. I have been a full-time entrepreneur for coming on 4 years. I'm praised for doing cool things. For being an amazing person. And yet I've neglected this. I am so proud to be who I am. To be where I'm from. To be what I am. And I promise that I will use my platform to bring, to be, and to encourage change. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 960 · Comments 141

I’m 26 years old and I am not an expert. I’m not really sure how I could be at this point. Up until a few years ago I always had a chip on my shoulder. ✅ Prove to all my haters that I could build a successful company. ✅ Prove to the world that I was good enough. ✅ Prove to myself that I knew what I was doing. And so a lot of that took the form of creating content centered around tips, and how-to’s in business (even though I really didn’t understand the business that I was in yet). For young (and all) people: it’s okay to not be an expert. It’s actually quite liberating and frees you up to become one. Think like an artist. They create. And create. And create. Until someone notices. And then they share the how-to’s of their “business”. It’s why [for the most part] I stick to sharing what I’m doing. Not what I think others should do. Just something to think about. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #business …see more

♥ 959 · Comments 229

I want to be honest with you. 👇🏽 I quit my full time job when I was 22 to start my first company. I had no plan. And I guess long term that worked out for me. But where I wish I could go back and reframe my thinking is this: I thought it was wrong to build something on the side. I thought I would lose respect if I took a part-time job (even though I was struggling to keep the lights on). I looked down on people that didn’t jump all in. Which was SO naive of me. I thought building a business was easy. Because the people I followed kind of made it look easy. One of the things I struggle with most as a creator & entrepreneur is showing the reality. I don’t show: ✅ The boring stuff. ✅ Us getting ripped apart by our business coach every week 😅😭. ✅ How much work actually goes into this. ✅ The many mistakes we make. ✅ And I could go on and on. Thank you Cory Savage for prompting this thought. And thank you i.c stars for asking me to do the commencement speech this year. 2020 I want to spend more time talking about (and showing) the stuff that many of us tend to avoid. What do you wish you knew when you first started? #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #business #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 958 · Comments 166

I’ve made and lost millions several times. I didn’t do it just once, which might be luck or it might not be. I can tell you in each case how I went from scratch to millions. And I’ve interviewed hundreds of people who have made and lost millions and gone on to achieve peak performance in their lives. But I’m going to stick to my own story. Specifically: four times I started from $0 and made millions... http://bit.ly/2u1616A …see more

♥ 932 · Comments 49

It’s been rough jumping back into business/creating since my little brother passed away. I’ve been in this weird mode of rediscovering myself again. I woke up at 2am two weeks ago to record an episode of my new podcast. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Something I want to create that would make my little brother proud. I miss him. Immensely. It’s been over a month since he passed and it still doesn’t feel real. The last time I saw him we played video games for 3 days straight. We were going to start a team together one day. He was going to work for me next year. A week back I got so caught up in my own thoughts. 💢“Everyone has a podcast now.” Hell, I already have one with my company. 💢“I don’t know enough about the space.” 💢“I’m starting from scratch.” 💢And so on. Then someone reminded me why I’m doing this. 1). To learn. 2). To have fun. 3). To do something my little brother would have been proud of. That “why” is everything. So here I am, flipping an aggressive middle finger to doubt and doing what I want to do. Humans that Game was just approved on iTunes (it’s also on Spotify & more). A review and rating would mean the world 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽. https://lnkd.in/dkDiqmy #justQ #entrepreneurship #esports …see more

♥ 922 · Comments 147

I had a lot of daydreams as a kid. I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to interview people. I wanted to call up my heroes and talk to them. I also wanted to be an astronaut. Be president. Be a football player. And be an eccentric billionaire who peed in jars and had super long fingernails. Some daydreams come true and some don’t. But I still have lots of daydreams. I want to write a novel. I want to continue calling my heroes and interview them. I want to make people laugh. I want to help a lot of people. I want to write every day. These things excite me. I write down my daydreams all of the time. Then I write down my 10 ideas of the day. “10 ways I can be an astronaut”. “10 ways I can help Amazon”. Etc. Combine your daydreams. “10 ways I can write about astronauts”.” Or…”ten ways I can make money writing about games I like to play.” Here’s how to start: http://bit.ly/2wI7wbT …see more

♥ 914 · Comments 51

I turned 25 today and I just wanted to say this. One of the things I’m most thankful for is my team. We are one of Milwaukee's fastest growing startups, completely bootstrapped, and less than a year old. A common thread that I notice in all of my team members is that everyone has a level of obsession for their craft. I used to be a collegiate track athlete. After every competition I would dissect my triple jump performance. And that's something that I have brought into entrepreneurship, content creation, and speaking as well. - I define my standards of success - I dissect the performance on camera/stage based off that criteria - Take notes, make tweaks, and then move onto the next performance. Just something to think about for those of you that are trying to improve on camera/stage/storytelling/etc. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes, messages, and thank you for existing! #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 913 · Comments 262

In 2016 I told myself that I would never work for anyone else again. Life has changed so much for me in the past year and a half. Lost my brother and decided to close down my company. Two things that were interwoven in my identity. And with that, I’ve changed quite a bit. I feel like every week for the past 4 years I’ve read a post about someone quitting their full time job to follow their dreams/become an entrepreneur/etc. I’ve always loved those. But, I’m doing the opposite. I just joined Lewis Howes & Greatness Media . It’s something I couldn’t have predicted but I’m deeply excited for. He’s someone that I’ve followed, studied, and learned from. I love the mission & vision for the team. For as much as I come from chaos and change — I’m learning that these “promises” that I’ve made to myself have been a way for me to maintain control. A way for me to stay in my comfort zone. So, this is me — “quitting” entrepreneurship to follow my dreams of being the most badass version of me. Thank you all for the support over the years. It's been a wild ride. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 907 · Comments 215

Yes. I'm differently-abled and a proud advocate. No, you usually can't tell unless you see me walk or read. Because of this, it can be challenging to push inclusion, awareness, acceptance and accessibility forward. Today I had the pleasure of joining representatives from the great state of Wisconsin as Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order to push diversity and inclusion forward. This is one step forward in the right direction to combat bias through education, support and training initiatives to come. The differently-abled community is an untapped market of adversity warriors that often have an outstanding EQ and issue resolution skills, overcoming challenges daily. If you're serious about inclusion and diversity or you have a personal story with discrimination and accessibility issues, connect with me today. Please connect with Deborah Davis for more thought leadership in the differently-abled community. #diversityandinclusion #inclusion #inspiration …see more

♥ 899 · Comments 178

I found a Sony MD Data disk that I recorded in my home office in Chestnut Hill Boston in 1989 on a #Steinberger graphite guitar. It freaked me out because I don't play like this anymore. This track has a 1970's #PinkFloyd vibe. Maybe I need to go back to the dark side! …see more

♥ 888 · Comments 84

The hardest thing I’ve ever done was speaking at my little brothers funeral. It’s something you never think you’ll have to do. I’m more focused now than I ever have been when it comes to my business. But getting back into the swing of things for content creation has been odd. I have so much content backed up: videos, photos, etc. And none of it sounds like me anymore. None of it feels like me. I can do so much better. And as I re-find myself, I just want to put this out there for other creators...👇🏽 Don’t let what you created yesterday get in the way of what you want to create today. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #content …see more

♥ 881 · Comments 152

For me, 2016- (the start of) 2020 was an epic story: ✅ Quit my full-time job to start a company. ✅ First company failed. Burned through funds, had to rent out my extra rooms just to pay rent, power was turned off a few times. ✅ Recorded videos documenting my thought process through everything. ✅ Eventually people took notice of my videos. I helped a lot of people grow in the same way that I did. ✅ I was homeless for a handful of months. Slept on my office floor. Sometimes Airbnb's or hotels. ✅ Launched a new company with a friend and two semi-strangers and we grew really quickly. Made a lot of mistakes. Make a lot of good decisions too. ✅ Spoke on stages like VidCon, TEDx, and INBOUND. ✅ I can now be tied back to the inception of a lot of LinkedIn influencers. This year has not been ideal. It wasn't a part of my plan. At the beginning of the year I felt like I was about to jump on a launch pad into a new universe. Now it feels like the next chapter... maybe even a new book. The more we linger on the old bullet points, the more we keep ourselves from creating new ones. I don't entirely know what the next chapter looks like. But I know it's going to be a good story. And that's all we really are anyway — stories. "Let's just make it a good one, eh?" #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 873 · Comments 131

"One year of experience at Amazon is like 3 years of experience anywhere else". It's true. The skills I learned there, including writing in a data-driven fashion, will serve me well for the rest of my career, and in life.

♥ 871 · Comments 20

I made over 500 videos before anyone noticed. And that's how I know I love it because I have always created regardless if anyone was watching or not. There was a time where I had nothing to my name. I wasn't eating. I wasn't taking care of myself. And video was the thing that got me out of that and I know it can be incredibly beneficial for others as well. For anyone on the fence about creating here's why I do it: I make videos for the following reason: ▪️ It propels my business forward. ▪️ It allows me to tell my story, build social proof and brand equity. ▪️ To leave a blueprint for anyone that follows in my footsteps. ▪️ Because I love it. Why do you create video? Let me know, #WhyVideo and nominate others to join the campaign. I'm nominating Fabio , Shay , "SAM LISTER" , Chantel . #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 864 · Comments 185

I used to suck on camera... like really bad! 😂 So I gave myself this rule: always finish the take. 🎥 Here's why: ✅ You don't get a redo when you're on stage. ✅ You don't get a redo when a stranger wants to shoot a video with you. ✅ You don't get a redo when you're pitching investors. It made me better on camera. But it also made me better on stage and better in conversations overall. Because you always have to find your way back to the point and finish the thought. If you want to improve, stop giving yourself redo's. Finish the take. You can always shoot the video again if you don't like it. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #business #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 859 · Comments 182

Did I ever tell you about the time I almost lost everything I had in Vegas?? Yep, even Mr. Wonderful has made major money mistakes.

♥ 854 · Comments 33

Staff Sergeants Ben Brednicki and Matt Macky are Pararescue Jumpers in the US Air Force. Considered a branch of special operations forces, PJs are an elite group whose entire mission is to save lives. Both Brednicki and Macky have seen multiple tours of combat and experienced the stress and horror of combat medicine. They were kind enough to sit down with me to share how they deal with the stress and stay mentally fit with the hope that some of their training and lessons will help a new breed of combat medic - those who have fought and are still fighting on the front lines of our civilian hospitals during this global pandemic. If someone you know is front-line worker, share this with them. Ask for help. Be there for each other. Never cry alone. …see more

♥ 853 · Comments 32

While at Microsoft , I had five personal encounters with Satya Nadella: 1) I accidentally ran into his office during a call with Wall Street analysts 2) Three months later, in an elevator, where he asked me if I was the person that ran in his office. He simply asked if it was important and whether I still needed his help 3) When I "mistakenly" parked in the Microsoft Giving Campaign spot that he bought for charity :) 4) At a HiPo luncheon, where we chatted for 30 minutes about an initiative I was leading 5) Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 10:46 AM, the day he became CEO of Microsoft. I sent him a congratulatory email that, among other things, had this direct ask: “Empower the engineers, enable us to deliver faster and better, break down the bureaucratic barriers that keep us from executing” On quite possibly the most consequential day of his professional life, Satya responded, a mere *six minutes later*: "Thank you…… and thanks for the feedback…. Also I would ask you to give yourself permission to lead/push as well…. thanks" Are leading with empathy/focusing on employee psychological safety effective? Look at Microsoft's stock price (congratulations on a stellar quarter!), innovation, and employee morale since Satya became CEO. The results speak for themselves #leadership …see more

♥ 850 · Comments 17

I just had my second TEDx curation meeting for the talk I'm giving next year. One of the first things I told them was, "I'm in a bit of an existential crisis right now." I don't want to be motivational. I don't want to have a traditional story. One of the curators told me, "even just listening to you just now I felt motivated. And hearing you talk about your subject I was inspired." And it made me realize that 1). it's okay to be motivational. 2). I was once a person that needed to someone to show them the way. And to neglect that would be to neglect the people that are walking in the same shoes I once was. It's not our job to decide what people take away from what we share. But it is our job to share. One of my favorite movies is 'Remember Me'. And there's an awesome quote that goes something like this: There will be times when we feel insignificant. Times when we are told we are insignificant. But it's still important that we take action, because we are always causing ripples in the universe whether we realize it or not. (with my own spin). Keep making ripples in the Universe. #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 842 · Comments 178

I just did my first TEDx talk! 😍 Which is crazy to me because I literally puked in the bathroom a few minutes before my first speaking engagement a little over a year ago. And now, nerves don't effect me because of this 👇🏽 I learned this from Kobe Bryant and people like Michael Phelps: When Kobe was still in the NBA he created this on court persona, the Black Mamba. Off the court, Kobe had to deal with everyday life issues. But on the court, Black Mamba's only focus was dominating on the court. And having that mental separation, and focus, is something that's helped me as an athlete, musician, and now as a speaker. 1). Having a routine that helps me get into my zone. 2). Creating a persona that reminds me that it's okay to be nervous. Because the minute that I step on stage the nerves will turn into focus. 3). When it's time to perform, just hit "play" on your tape. The tape being all the preparation you've had up until this point and the routine that you've perfected (Michael Phelps does this). That's why nerves no longer effect me. What's your prep look like? #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 840 · Comments 181

From several terrifying experiences on my record-breaking balloon expeditions, to a bumpy paraglide landing on the 2019 Strive Challenge last week - I still think you should never look down https://virg.in/iGd

♥ 837 · Comments 47

Yesterday was the first time I stepped on a stage since my little brother passed away in October. 🎤 🖤 This photo kind of explains how it felt. Like who I used to be finally faded away and gave way to who I’ve become. Someone came up to me after and said “you said more to me in 10 minutes than I heard all day.” And that is all that matters. That I speak to the people that I need to. That I impact the people that I need to. And not change for those that don’t like me. I’m in a good place. Weird place. But good place. Creating & doing what I want. Hopefully at the end of it all I’ll be someone my brother would be proud of. So if you’ve stuck around this far. Hey. It’s nice to [re]meet you. I’m just Q. And if you just started following me... hey. It’s nice to meet you. This is going to be fun. 🖖🏽🖤 #justQ #business #entrepreneurship 📸 Ken K. …see more

♥ 828 · Comments 117

It happened by accident. Dr. Seuss got annoyed. Very. Annoyed. Ted Geisel saw an article saying that kids were illiterate. Schools were failing to teach kids to read. #drseuss #lifestyle #writing #problemsolving …see more

♥ 827 · Comments 54

We are all very different, but what I miss most about the old normal is literally every .single. thing. Not for everyone but for many, it’s every part of life that is missing. The beauty of snatched random smiles from strangers, the energy of a packed tube train, the vignettes of life at train stations , the feeling of hopeful excitement in airports. The drama of those running late for the theatre. The Echos of laughter down alleyways in city centers , groups cheering on teams, awful parties, terrible experimental theatre, tantalizingly bad first dates where you wait forever for them to arrive , spontaneous dinner parties, nightclubs that won’t let you in, but you argue with, meetings that could have been emails , birthdays celebrated at work, random encounters backstage at events, jetlag , near constant jetlag, I miss it all. It was exhausting, expensive, inefficient, it wasn't perfect, but It was life, the life we all choose. And I miss it . Every part of it. The 4am wake up calls, the commutes, the stress, another hotel bed , another lost room key, another Uber , and the moments you’ve been more tired than ever , I miss them all …see more

♥ 824 · Comments 123

I used to tie my self-worth to the company that I worked for. Then I started my own business for the first time. What it showed me is this: I wasn’t useful yet. I didn’t deserve success. I had built my name and network on the backs of the companies that I worked for. And the minute I stopped working for those companies it was like starting all over. No one wanted anything to do with me. And when I go to events now, it’s always weird that people want to talk to me. That they get excited simply that I am present. Someone told me yesterday “the man in the black hat... anyone ever tell you that your hat is intimidating?” When did I become someone that people look up to? I built three companies... one of them happened to work. I understand my significance (and insignificance). But what blows my mind is how MUCH we idolize others and how poorly many of us treat ourselves. A gateway to doing great things is self-love. Because often times the only thing separating the people that do “great” things is the fact that they love themselves enough to give themselves permission to do those things. In other [totally unrelated] news... this is Sam Lister . Mad proud of this guy. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #business #startups …see more

♥ 815 · Comments 104

You were born for more... and if you still don't believe that, just look around. This world is absolutely overflowing with magic. With autumn leaves turning into firey shades of yellow, orange and red, the world we live in is magnificent! This weekend we said farewell to Grandma Soumis while the angels painted the forest in a rainbow of fire overnight. We were reminded of the legacy our family leaves behind and the gift of life we were handed. A gift of endless opportunity and the ability to do or be anything we set our hearts on... So... When you feel small, ❤ remember how special your story is. 🧡 embrace your struggles and adversity. 🤎 learn to love each twist and turn. You were built for more, and better yet, you DESERVE more... So go get it! And don't forget to enjoy the colorful ride along the way 😉 #success #growth #chantelshares …see more

♥ 808 · Comments 91

Having set the world record with Per for the first ever Transatlantic and Pacific crossings in a hot air balloon, I know only too well how challenging these attempts can be. Debbie and Mike are very brave taking on the exciting adventure of a transatlantic balloon flight and I’m sure their efforts will inspire people around the world. I wish them every success for their flight and are delighted that Virgin Atlantic is helping them https://lnkd.in/dvnHR_Q #Balloonthepond …see more

♥ 806 · Comments 27

I have one bag of clothes, one backpack with a computer, iPad, and phone. I have zero other possessions. Today I have no address. At this exact moment I am sitting in a restaurant and there’s no place for me to go to lie down. https://lnkd.in/exkuG9Z …see more

♥ 805 · Comments 185

I answered this question on 40. I hope nobody ever feels like a failure at 40. It's a horrible and sad feeling. The question was: "I feel like a failure at 40. How do I start over?" My answer: https://lnkd.in/eMPsZEB (teaching my daughter how to fly when I was age 40). …see more

♥ 798 · Comments 57

When I first started writing my book, Indistractable, I had trouble staying on task, and at first, I blamed technology for distracting me. But then I noticed that even when I got rid of the tech gadgets I thought were to blame, I would find other things to grab my attention. It wasn’t until I dove much deeper and began to ask myself why I was shifting my attention that I realized the root cause. I learned that all too often, the cause of distraction isn’t what’s happening outside of us but rather what is happening inside of us. Distraction and procrastination aren’t evidence of a character flaw or moral failing. They also aren’t caused by some evil plot by tech companies. Rather, they are caused by our inability to deal with uncomfortable sensations like boredom, stress, and anxiety. What do you think? How do you deal with uncomfortable feelings? Do you escape them with distractions? #Indistractable #EmotionalState #Tech #Distraction …see more

♥ 786 · Comments 88

Yesterday I shared an experience of mine that ruffled some feathers and I had absolutely NO idea until a stranger brought it to my attention. The issue? This person approached conflict by attacking me. It was completely inappropriate and reinforced the importance of eloquence and grace when delivering feedback. I wanted to take this opportunity to... ➡ Apologize if I caused any pain - that certainly was NOT my intent as someone who encourages inclusion, inspiration, and empowerment, living through adversity. ➡ Emphasize the importance of feedback and to step up with grace and heart when you see something that seems a bit off. 9x out of 10, when something offends you, it's out of IGNORANCE, not HATE. It's IMPERATIVE to keep this in mind when you approach someone who has offended you. Take the opportunity to EDUCATE them and GROW together. Remind yourself that we are ALL brothers and sisters of the human race, no matter what differentiates us. We have TOO MUCH HATE in this world. The moment we start to work together to SOLVE problems we'll grow as a community and combat negativity and mental illness. Be the difference and speak up - but do it with heart❤ #Inclusion #Feedback #Leadership #Storytelling #Success#ChantelShares #Management …see more

♥ 783 · Comments 297

I had a conversation with one of my employees last week that went something like this 👇🏽 Me: I am the lowest paid employee. Along with all of the other founders. I understand the game. I understand that from a business perspective it would be smart to let everyone go and to skate by until this is all over. I get that. But that would also defeat the purpose of why we did this in the first place. For you. And for people like you. I’m not going to pay myself. Founders aren’t going to pay themselves. Because you all mean everything to us. And we’re confident that together we will figure it out. But I need to know that you’re with us. I can’t promise that we will be a company three months from now. I can’t promise that paychecks will come in on time anymore. But I can promise that we got you and we will figure it out. Them: I am with you for as long as you'll have me. I'm here for a reason. I’ve never done this before. I’ve never lived through a pandemic. I’ve never had a business during a crisis like this. There is no rule-book. People may look at me like I’m an idiot. Hell, I might look back and think I was an idiot. But I know that I will never regret taking care of the people that matter to me. Because business is family. And family is everything. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 782 · Comments 148

People often say, “If I could tell my 30 year old one piece of advice I’d say nothing because I needed to learn all of those mistakes.” That’s fine. It’s beautiful and true. But if I had to tell my daughter advice, I don’t want her to make the same mistakes I did. I tell her:  http://bit.ly/2yUiCL5 …see more

♥ 782 · Comments 50

I wanted to raise some money. My neighbor said, “Meet my boss. He runs a hedge fund.” I met the boss. He gave me the tour of the office. Everyone was buying and selling stocks. Then we sat in the boss’s glass office. We could see all the employees and they could see us. He sat down. “So, tell me, James. What can I do for you?” . . . #writing #judging #lifestyle #billionaire #characters …see more

♥ 771 · Comments 29

‘Oops, I hired a wrong person!’ We all have that moment sometime or the other in our career. As a VC, it may also extend to investing in the wrong company. I feel responsible when I make a wrong hiring decision – for the employee as well as for the organization. I have come to realize that direct acknowledgment is the first step towards taking corrective actions. The next is salvaging the situation. Is the person - Competent? Motivated? And a good culture fit? What is the gap? I am usually willing to have a direct and honest discussion about my concerns. Sometimes they receive it poorly. Other times they may shed light on why they are struggling, that might point to a mutual solution. Generally, if they are not a culture fit, it is hard to fix. I typically want to resolve that quickly. If they are not motivated, it is important to understand what is holding back that might be helpful. In the case of incompetence, can they do a different role or learn on the job? If a person is highly motivated, I am willing to give more opportunities to see if I can help them succeed. …see more

♥ 761 · Comments 27

Woke up to the very sad news of the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A brilliant jurist, a champion of equality, a warrior against injustice and an inspiration for so many, she leaves behind her a much-admired path of transformation that she, herself, stressed has more to go and must be pursued further. May she rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. #ruthbaderginsuburg #supremecourt #rip …see more

♥ 760 · Comments 48

Kevin Otiende , reading your story of humanity and selfless generosity has blessed my entire month of birthday celebrations. I vow to adopt your energy and willingness to go the extra mile to help those in need. Bless you. #compassion #leadership #education #youthdevelopment #Kenya …see more

♥ 755 · Comments 95

I spend 7-8 hours per day on Zoom meetings and it creates digital fatigue. I chuckled that Eric S. Yuan, CEO of Zoom, faced Zoom fatigue! 2020 has really made me realise the challenges of #WorkingAtHome . #MentalHealth …see more

♥ 751 · Comments 30

Days like this are the worst for creators. 👇🏽😥 We recorded 10 or so videos yesterday and I barely got through a single take. That hasn't happened to me in a while and I'm supposed to be a "professional". It's so easy to get in your own head. So easy to get frustrated. But regardless of where you are at in your life, you're going to have those "off days". This is what I do: 1). Breathe. Remind yourself your human. Most of the time "Done is better than best." 2). Remember why you create in the first place. 3). Get after it the next day. You don't have to be perfect. Just keep showing up. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 750 · Comments 187

If you’re subscribed to this newsletter you probably already know where I come from and what I’ve been up to over the past few years. Long story short: we grew quickly, failed a lot, learned a lot, and our team was crushing it pre-Covid. So coming to terms with the fact that it’s all coming to an end has been difficult for me to deal with because a lot of energy, sweat, tears, and hair loss (lol) went into that business. I’m not the type of person that dwells on things. I never really have been. But this has been hard for me to shake (hence my three month absence from writing these). I guess the beautiful thing is that I haven’t been sitting idle. I’ve just been quiet on social media. I’ve been thinking a lot about brand, what I want to do next, and who I want to be next. It's good to be back. I missed y'all. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 …see more

♥ 747 · Comments 263

Since the lockdown, I have been on habit #transformation mode of binge reading and experimenting. I wanted to test #IntermittentFasting since so much has been said about it these days. All I can say is it works! It worked far better than I expected. Like any #habit , when we make a positive difference in one aspect of our life, it has cascading benefits in several aspects of our lives. …see more

♥ 745 · Comments 62

My six year old daughter asked me, “What’s so great about the United States anyway?” And I didn’t know what to say to her. I’m from the US. But there’s many problems in how the US plays out its role both at home and in the world. How to answer about a country that engages in horrific wars, had slaves, has a 15% poverty rate, and yet has always called itself “the land of opportunity” and with reason. There are really two question: how do you define “world power” and is this a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe it’s better to be a small power and still have lots of wealth and conveniences (think: Luxembourg). First: are we a world power? Yes, the United States is by far the biggest world power and nobody is close... http://bit.ly/2vkUoca …see more

♥ 741 · Comments 329

“Playing with your kids will make you feel better,” my mother told me. My grandmother told me, “Play with your daughters. It will calm you down.” I had been depressed for precisely 19 months at this point. I couldn’t get out of bed in the morning. I was four months away from going broke. I would walk my daughter to the park after the market closed. Her tiny legs would get tired as the sun left one purple blister still in the sky. Can I reach back in time right now? #writing #lifestyle #relationships #regret …see more

♥ 737 · Comments 97

I was 22 when I posted my first video on LinkedIn. I'm now 26. 🤯 I have grey hair too... so time flies 😂. In all seriousness though, before I really got started I walked up to someone that was partly responsible for all of the attention LinkedIn was getting: Josh Fechter. I told him that I looked up to him and wanted to do something similar. The first thing he told me was, "unfollow me." And that's stuck with me. Here's why: ✅ You will never lead if you only follow. You will never innovate if you only imitate. And that goes for everything – content, speaking, business, etc. ✅ You can (and totally should support people). Josh wasn't telling me to unfollow everyone. He was telling me to tune out the noise and find my own voice. ✅ I was never going to beat Josh, at being Josh. Just like you won't beat me at being me... and no one else will beat you at being you. "It's good to be better, but it's better to be different." – Sally Hogshead. If you want to be great... be different. Create color television when everyone is still watching in black & white. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 …see more

♥ 732 · Comments 151

As a child I was taught to recite, "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara; Guru Sakshat Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri Guravay Namah" entirely from memory. My whole life has been shaped by #teachers who have offered me #support when I was floundering and encouraged me through it all. A teacher is not someone you meet just through formal education. Many people serve the role of teachers in our journey at various moments. I wanted to take this day to reflect and be grateful for the many teachers who have come into my life. #TeachersDay …see more

♥ 723 · Comments 35

As someone who grew up in a low income and immigrant household, being invited to speak at the Peninsula College Fund's Career Day at Visa was such an humbling experience. It's also refreshing and inspiring to see tech brands like Visa taking the lead in furthering this cause and in the process positively shaping the future of such a deserving, yet underserved group of determined and talented students. I entered Silicon Valley with no ties to tech—both of my parents never attended high school. Through personal branding and platforms like LinkedIn, I have been able to develop a meaningful network of mentors that has radically transformed my career and life. While low income students may not grow up being taught the importance of networking, college is the best time to change that for the better. tl;dr (too long; didn't read): Treat your personal brand as a tapestry of experiences and relationships, not a transactional tool. When done with purpose and authenticity, your personal brand will compound over time, and put you in the power position to be discovered and unlock disruptive opportunities. Thanks for the invite Sonia Sng ! Fantastic program Denise Villamil & C. Phillip Powell, MPA . …see more

♥ 715 · Comments 23

I met Shay ☀️ Rowbottom back in 2017 — we became friends. I helped her get started on LinkedIn. She’s been crushing it ever since. At the time, I felt like a dumb kid finally transitioning into doing what he wanted. I looked up to Shay and her partners because they were my age running a multi-million dollar company. Meeting them, changed my relationship with success. There are some of us that overestimate our significance. “Me, me, me.” I’ve always struggled with the opposite. “Am I significant? Does it matter if I am?” COVID has changed a lot for me. Forced me to ask myself questions that I hadn’t thought of asking. Forced me to feel things that I never thought I would feel. But most importantly it’s shown me that there are multiple sides to every story. Every encounter. I know that I’ve impacted lives. But I could never articulate the impact that so many of you have had on me. So thank you Shay — and so many others — for impacting me. I wouldn’t be who I am if things didn’t play out in the way that they did. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 712 · Comments 80

Guess who got her FIRST CLEAN MRI?! 👆This girl! When I began sharing my story in front of a few dozen people on LinkedIn, I would have never dreamed of hitting stages across the world spreading my message of hope and inclusion. In fact, the idea of the spotlight made my skin crawl. I still prefer being the wizard behind the curtain. But as I celebrate my first clean scan I remember my WHY which is to empower and inspire the world of incredible humans living with chronic illness and disability. Whether you're searching for your next role or you're struggling to level up your business, I hope my message touches your heart. You are in incredible human being, made for more. Don't slow down. Don't give up. There is always hope ♥ #Hope #Disability #ChronicIllness #Inclusion …see more

♥ 709 · Comments 254

Up until a few weeks ago, I thought I wanted a +500 person company. This entity that I could attach to my name that let everyone know I made it. I’ve reached this point of bliss (after what feels like years of tension), where I really just don’t care anymore. I don’t want that anymore. And for the first time in my life I feel like I’ve made it. I haven’t achieved all of my goals. But I’m good. With who I am, where I'm going, & what I actually want. My newsletter is about to hit 30k subscribers. It’s just me writing. No filter. Talking about the decisions that I’m making business, personal brand, and community wise. Just a journal. And I’ve been enjoying that so much more than anything else. Because I’m doing it because I want to. Not to hit a certain amount of likes. But simply because I have things that I need to say. And I say all this because I feel like clarity ebbs and flows. Sometimes we get it and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes what we wanted isn’t what we want anymore. Sometimes what we were isn’t what we are anymore. It’s not something we can prep for. It’s not something we can plan for. And that’s okay. I’m liking this new person I’m becoming. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 📸 Justin Jackson …see more

♥ 706 · Comments 111

Last year I met Gary Vaynerchuk . My legs were shaking before I grabbed the mic for Q&A (I don't get nervous for anyone 😂). To keep it short, basically I quickly told my story, thanked him, and went up on stage to give him a hug. I was creating a data point in that moment. A point in time where our stories intertwined. I've thought a lot about influence the past few years. I gave a talk on it a few weeks ago. The reason why my legs were shaking and the reason why that hug met so much is this: I can go back and pinpoint the moment where Gary impacted my life. I was in the weight room, in college, and my triple jump coach told me to check out a guy named "GaryVee." And from there I went down the rabbit hole of entrepreneurship and content. Failed with two companies but found a lot of success with the third. Gary is impacting others & creating those data points at scale for other people. I was supposed to give a talk on monetizing your personal brand... I talked about impact instead. Because the 💰will come if the impact is there. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #business #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 694 · Comments 122

#Nature regenerates itself if we don't interfere too much. I found this notion of life regenerating itself and natural beauty #healing . I went to #yellowstone national park in 1987. I was #inspired by its breathtaking beauty and have wanted to go back there all these years. #WeekendMusings …see more

♥ 691 · Comments 35

FIRST….THE THREAT! Her college sent this email to me and my daughter at the end of her second year. “Dear [XXXX], This in an IMPORTANT email reminding you of your debt to [ABCD College] in the amount of $16.92!...... #college #writing #lifestyle #debt …see more

♥ 691 · Comments 88

The earliest recollections I have of making new year resolutions are in my early 20s. Each year my resolutions were to exercise more, read more or achieve some other wishful goal. As I have grown older, I no longer think of career, financial or personal goals. As I now reflect on the year gone by, here are some highlights from my life from 2019 - books, travels, life lessons and my resolution for 2020. …see more

♥ 688 · Comments 37

Growing up it was my dream to live in NYC, overlook the city and write for a living. I never wanted to be an entrepreneur. I didn't even know what that word meant. I sold my services in video games when I was younger. I hustled for gigs as a musician. But "business" never really interested me. I'm 25. Black. And decided not to complete college. On paper no one would ever bet on me to succeed. Don't let anyone convince you that there is an ideal entrepreneur, or CEO, or professional (or fill in the blank with whatever you aspire to be). Success isn't about following someone else's path or fitting into the mold. It's about being who you are, making it work for you, & betting on yourself. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #business …see more

♥ 687 · Comments 134

I dropped out of college. I bought a car with the money instead. And then when I saw everyone walking around campus I got jealous, returned the car, cancelled the check, and re-enrolled in college. A day later, I met my first mentor (first of about 10 — and then 100s if I include the many wonderful people I have learned from along the way). My first mentor was a professor. His courses were useless. I never used them for anything. And then I had to take remedial classes when I had a job to re-learn all the things I failed to learn in school. But I learned from this professor things that were invaluable to later success: building businesses, helping others, writing books, giving talks, making an impact. [Our life worth is not our net worth but the impact we have on others. This is what I learned from him.] But let me reel it back a little. Because I studied this man and emulated him for decades.  http://ow.ly/4qbW30itiPu …see more

♥ 682 · Comments 33

Two weeks ago, I wrote a viral essay on LinkedIn, which said that due to the Coronavirus's devastating effect on the city, NYC as we know it is dead, forever. A few days later, I woke up to find that the piece had received intense criticism from the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, who penned an op-ed against me in the NYTimes, Mark Cuban , and even the mayor himself Bill DeBlasio—as well as millions of others. While I included lots of factual data to back up my proclamation, outlining everything from the city's current real-estate crisis to a rise in unemployment and loss of culture, many were quick to assume I merely had given up on New York City altogether. This is far from the truth! Watch this video to learn more about why I wrote this piece, what that crazy experience was like, and what I believe needs to happen to save the New York City I can assure you I love so dearly. Link to original piece: https://lnkd.in/gKPQCkm Link to Seinfeld's NYTimes Op-ed: https://lnkd.in/gZgpQhM My Seinfeld rebuttal: https://lnkd.in/gd-i4tV . #nycrealestate #nycjobs #nycbusiness #nyc #investing #lifestyle …see more

♥ 682 · Comments 140

Airbnb isn’t perfect. But after spending about 120 nights this year in them, probably in about 40 different beds, in many different countries, states, at different price points, it overwhelmingly feels like a good thing to exist. I’m met wonderful people, been cooked for many times, helped with dead chickens and medical emergencies, had out of this world views, seen crazy tastes, met the whole families of owners, and just been able to live in places not stay. The more the site can move back to owners who want a bit of extra income, people who love to host, quirky places you don’t typically get to see, getting a local flavor etc, the more it feels brilliant. I’ve also rented out my place a lot over the last 5 years and had 100% positive experiences and loved to let people enjoy special places …see more

♥ 673 · Comments 84

Clint Eastwood is one of my favourites. I watched his latest movie, 'Mule'. The movie is about a horticulturist who becomes a drug runner, wants to live life on his own terms, becomes self-centred, lets his family down, faces the consequences but also redeems himself in the end. Most poignant for me was: 1. While living a life for yourself, don't neglect your relationships with family and friends. It gets lonely and filled with regrets 2. Everyone makes mistakes. We can choose to make good and redeem ourselves no matter the past. 3. When someone disappoints us, we cast them and hold on to grudges. Some bad moments do not have to become the sum total of the relationship. Relationships can be nurtured positively despite the disappointments In the end, families need to work through personal limitations. Love and family is the anchor in our lives. …see more

♥ 671 · Comments 31

I quit corporate life 7 years ago with some cash in the bank...I thought I would travel around the world for a year or take a two year break. Instead, I've been learning about media and dabbling in creating content. I cover the serious topic of finance but I don't take myself too seriously. I have fun making the content. (Pic is from latest shoot in Goa!) I cover my costs such that I still have the original cash in the bank as my emergency cash fund. I say I am retired. People argue with me saying I still work...that's not retirement. Ok, call it what you will. Around the same time, someone coined financially independent, retire early (FIRE). Fine by me. What do you think - what is retirement anyway? Would you rather learn about retirement from someone who has retired (and has finance qualifications and experience) or someone who is struggling? #personalfinance …see more

♥ 669 · Comments 48

I was unemployed and unemployable, according to my health... I applied for over a hundred jobs in the area without a single call back... desperate for income. I hustled hard, selling clothing and furniture online just to fill our tummies and keep the lights on. It wasn't until I met two radiant recruiters that completely changed my life. They didn't ask a single question about my challenges. Instead, they asked me questions like... "What interests you in the creative field?" And I shared a love of fairytales and creating something from nothing to stimulate fascination! and "I hear a puppy! What kind?!" And I shared my love for animals and meaningful relationships! They took the time to learn my personality OUTSIDE of what is seen on a resume... And within one week I had a job offer from each rep, Completely skipping the EOE questions to disclose my disability status and the need for reasonable accommodation. THANK YOU. To all recruiters across the globe, Matchmaking beyond what is shown on paper. You're changing lives. And in some cases, You're even saving them. And to anyone facing the same battle, Keep holding onto hope. There is a place for you in the workforce. #recruiters #careers …see more

♥ 664 · Comments 172

Growing up in a low income family, I didn't get the chance to travel much when I was young. I grew up with the mindset that traveling and taking vacation was a waste of money and time. Last year, a few close mentors and managers pushed me to take time off to get away from work. I took my first solo trip to Japan last summer and learned the simple joy of learning about other cultures, especially the food! So glad to have the chance to come back to Japan for the second time this past week to celebrate my birthday (photo taken at the infamous Sushi Dai w/ Jessie and Benna )! Taking time off is now part of my process for self care and most importantly, to spend time with people who matter in my life. It's so easy to forget that the most important thing in your career is you yourself, not in just your goals and objectives. What do you do for self care? Comment below. …see more

♥ 664 · Comments 26

"What would you tell entrepreneurs that see your success and think you are too perfect to experience challenges?"🙄 Oh jeez. I had a fantastic call with best selling author of "Why Me First" and Mindset/Performance Coach, Kajal Khurana from Singapore. I had to contain my laughter on-air because I've been dealing with rejection a bit more than usual. Three opportunities fell apart over the past two weeks. A rejection from a local publication for the second time. Personal health issues. And more... But at this moment when I was supposed to mentor others, I was able to recenter and digest my own advice. ⬇ Lean into the rejection and understand that there is more out there for you. Your future holds greater things and losing these opportunities makes room for even BIGGER ones! Sometimes rejection is proof that you are going OUT there and doing MORE 👉 and that's a sign of effort on its own! Be proud of how far you've come, even if it isn't where you thought you should be. Agree? 👇 #Rejection …see more

♥ 662 · Comments 133

Like many, I too have been reflecting as we near the end of 2016. This year marks 10 years since discovering The Golden Circle. Here is the origin of where it began. I share it with you as we are all on this journey together - to help build a world where the vast majority of people go to work feeling inspired and come home at the end of the day feeling fulfilled. By no means has our journey come to an end. This is the tip of the iceberg. We have more people to reach and more people to inspire. Together, we can change our world. Thank you for standing by my side. …see more

♥ 661 · Comments 59

For #MondayMotivation , I’m remembering where I was five years ago today. My Voice of America editing contract in Nairobi had just ended, and other than the big blowout trip to Bangkok I’d planned, there was nothing on the horizon. No job, no contract, no prospects. I’d spent nearly a decade helping young East African journalists build their expertise, and all of a sudden it seemed like my own experience meant nothing. Five months later, I was convinced I’d never work as a journalist again. I was more depressed than I’d ever been in my whole life. And now I write for National Geographic . Hold on. Trust me. You’ll be glad you did. #NeverGiveUp #Believe #HaveFaith #HaveAGreatWeek #NeverthelessShePersisted #KeepGoing …see more

♥ 656 · Comments 15

I am going to produce my first podcast in 2018. And I don't need to wait until....I get a job. Or a funder. Or a "life." Because the life I've lived is all I need. It's rich, even when I'm broke. It's interesting, even when I'm bored. I'm very smart. I've been many places. I've seen many things. And I'm a member of the Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) . Which means I have something important to say, and I'm not afraid to say it. #jaws17 #JAWS #women #journalism #mentoring #podcasting #JAWdessesRule …see more

♥ 653 · Comments 44

Will Smith desperately needed advice. He was terrified about something he was about to do. He said, “So I have to visit the master.” He called Dave Chappelle. His challenge: to do three minutes of standup comedy at a comedy club. I get it. When I had to do six minutes the first time, I thought I was going to DIE. . . . #writing #lifestyle #cancelculture #comedy …see more

♥ 652 · Comments 98

A few years back, I watched a professor ask a class "If there are two equally qualified 27-year old candidates and the only difference was their gender, who should you hire?" 10 minutes in, the whole class agreed that there was no "better" candidate. The professor proceeded to tell us that the woman may be thinking about kids and go on maternity leave at that age. He started to call the woman at one point "the risk" and the lesson was to mitigate risk in hiring. His argument was that women are inherently risky investments, even when all the data shows otherwise. This month, I kept thinking back to this one lesson in college, equating risk to women. And now with a female Vice President-elect, I can't help but be excited for a future when women are able to prove this lesson wrong. …see more

♥ 651 · Comments 23

My dad became a broken man. His business zeroed out, his life savings were gone, he stopped sleeping. He went on Lithium to stabilize the depression when nothing else worked. He cried in super markets, in parent teacher conferences, in front of me. . . . #honesty #writing #lifestyle #business …see more

♥ 649 · Comments 44

I was born in India. This is part of my story. ⁣ Here I am at 3 years old - curious, spunky, and clueless as to what the future would hold. When I was 9, my family immigrated to the United States. ⁣ ⁣ It was tough. My parents came to a foreign land and had no connections, no money, and two little kids to feed. ⁣ ⁣ As I looked around, I saw their struggles. I didn’t want to add to them, but I was struggling.⁣ I had no friends. I was often bullied and felt like a cultural misfit. ⁣ Enter Communities in School who had a special program for “kids like me” - and it’s one of those programs that you often hear about but don’t always fully understand the impact. ⁣ ⁣ Today, as a successful entrepreneur, I get to give back. I’ve partnered with Vibha and CIS to give back so hopefully other kids like me can find a ray of hope in their own darkness.⁣ ⁣ I’m matching every single donation AND for every comment left on this post, I’ll donate $10 on your behalf.⁣ Link is in the comment. ⁣ Whether you donate or not, all I ask for is your attention to this cause. Because, yes, it makes a difference. I’m proof. 🙏🏽 Update: Together, we raised over $80k for kids in need! Thank you!💗 …see more

♥ 647 · Comments 134

I used to have a terrible fear of public speaking. When I was a freshman in high school, I literally had a panic attack during one of my speeches and ran out of the room.  To be able to speak about #socialmedia, #mentalhealth, and #GenZ across America at 21 years-old is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of.  If anything, I have found that if you really dedicate time to improving some of your weaknesses, they can turn into some of your biggest strengths.  Thank you to Richard YoungJun Kim  for giving me the opportunity to speak at the Gen Z Takeover in Seattle a couple weeks ago.  Shout out to some of the amazing speakers at the event: Sam Park , Natasha Takahashi , Gregg L. Witt , Joel Hansen , Abhisek Vyas , Ruvim Achapovskiy , and everyone else. …see more

♥ 642 · Comments 87

Audio fixed! I hope no one watches my videos from five or six years ago. I made such rookie mistakes. 🙈 But...I’m glad I didn’t let fear stop me. I’m glad because every video I did got better and better. When I first started keynoting, I would be shaking before I got on stage. Now, it’s second nature. Every video I made, every keynote I gave, every client strategy...it got better and better. 🙌🏽 It’s way too easy to wait until you’re perfect or the conditions are perfect. Don’t. In today’s digital age, you have to embrace your inner editor. Choose to be kind to yourself. 🙏🏽 Choose your inner editor over your inner perfectionist! It’s how you win. 💪🏽#marketing #branding #technology …see more

♥ 636 · Comments 37

Over the years, I’ve watched Shradha Sharma , with her smile & confidence, nurture an enterprising media establishment on the back of sheer hard work & dedication. The decision to join her and be a part of YourStory Media was a no-brainer, and I still look back at that moment in 2015 with pride and fondness. I look forward to soaring the peeks and crossing the valleys together with Shradha. …see more

♥ 632 · Comments 7

Thank you for all the messages of support. Been overwhelming. I really appreciate each message & I'm happy and excited with some slow future plans and a new website (I won't promote because that's a bit crass) I do want to reply to as many as possible. …see more

♥ 628 · Comments 88

We are in the midst of the holiday season! As we approach the new year, I want to reflect on all that has happened in the past twelve months. I had a chance to travel the world, visiting beautiful countries like The United Kingdom, Australia, Thailand, and others! I released my second book, Indistractable, to an outpouring of support from all over the world. I had the opportunity to serve and impact many people through my work, resulting in recognition as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Tech for 2019 and nominations for other accolades. Above all else, I began to take back control of my attention, my time, and my life, leading to countless memories made with my family, friends, and loved ones. Through it all, I have emerged endlessly grateful for all that I am able to do and enjoy on a daily basis. I will continue to approach my work and my relationships with the same optimism that I have in the past. 2019 has been great! I have a feeling that 2020 will be even better. To you, my digital community, I say thank you for an incredible year. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I’ll see you in 2020! 👋 #Indistractable #HappyHolidays #Gratitude #Reflection …see more

♥ 621 · Comments 42

Right after my TEDx last year a guy walked up to me and said something that changed everything for me. 👇🏾 "Q, I'm like triple your age. But I just wanted to say that you are legit. You've impacted me." Somewhere along the lines speaking [for me] became about the money. About the opportunities. And it wasn't until that conversation that I realized this: ✅ Impact is everything. If you can scale the impact that you have on people, you're going to be more successful in the long run. ✅ Impacting others feels better than pursuing your own dreams sometimes. Seeing my employees excited to be working/building with us, is the most amazing feeling. ✅ I was doing the same thing as a singer songwriter. I used to walk up to everyone that I could after performing and thank them for coming. I still do this now after speeches. It's totally unscalable... but people remember the impact. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #business #entrepreneur …see more

♥ 617 · Comments 152

I stopped editing my own videos. Since letting go I’ve struggled with 👉🏽 establishing clarity on both sides & letting go of control. And now (5 or so months after outsourcing that part) I’ve found this: - Training someone to do it how you would is 1000% worth it. - Having clarity on your brand up front is crucial. - I have significantly more time. - My team is WAY better than I am 😅. - My content creates itself. Which allows me more brain power to create when I’m feeling it. Just something to think about for all you creators & entrepreneurs out there. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #content …see more

♥ 614 · Comments 147

It's been over 730 days since I jumped into entrepreneurship full-time. I was putting together something to talk about 2017-2018 but I realized nothing would have explained it better than this old video. I'm still crazy humbled that someone would take the time out of their day to make something about my life (up to the beginning of 2018). Thank you again Donovan for sending this to me last year. Here are a few things I'm focused on accomplishing this year: - Crushing my TEDx Talk in April. - Scaling our company to 7 Figures ARR in our first 18 months. - Having Sophia Amoruso or Jason Silva on my podcast. If you can help make this happen please shoot me a message! - Making collaboration a focus again on a personal level. Feel free to tag anyone you think I should collaborate with! What are you going to accomplish this year? #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 613 · Comments 157

‘If you really want to touch someone, send them a letter.’ When was the last time you received or sent a handwritten letter to someone? Even in my case, old as I am, it has been ages. Writing letters on #email , yes, but handwritten, been a long time. But I remember eagerly awaiting letters from home and the warm feeling of receiving them when I was a student in the US and so far away. I have saved them to this date. This awesome visual inspires me to pick up the pen and start writing again! #technology #digitaltransformation Image Source: Australia Postal Service …see more

♥ 613 · Comments 33

I was pissed at myself last week because I was hyper focused on a company that copied a few things that we were doing. And then I realized that was so unlike me. I’m obsessed with the Overview Effect. Which is a concept that a lot of astronauts explain when they go into outer space for the first time. The world looks so small & fragile; and you realize that a lot of the things we focus on don’t really matter. I always want to be relentless when it comes to achieving the MISSION that I’ve set out to achieve. And doing it with people I love. Collaborating instead of focusing on the competition. I know I’ll get more done that way. Collaboration > Competition. Agree? #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 606 · Comments 196

A couple weeks ago, I had to check my ego. I was telling myself that I was working harder than any of my peers and somehow deserved to be treated differently. I didn't deserve anything. I wasn't the most successful. I hadn't achieved my goals yet. I lost perspective. I think it's important to check our own ego. We sometimes look at goals like... "Well if I keep doing what I'm doing now, I'll get there" If you keep doing only what you are doing now, you'll stay where you are now.  #10tips10days …see more

♥ 602 · Comments 73

I left my first job last week. It’s made me realize how much of our identities we tie up in what we do. Lots of people have told me in this time period “you aren’t your job.” But I partially disagree. I am the intersection of my identities. I am a sister and a daughter and friend, BUT I am also the work I do and the impact I make on others. I am enjoying my break and travels around the country, but so excited to jump into my next position in a couple of weeks. …see more

♥ 602 · Comments 37

Very sweet and touching. I remember in the 80s Gates and microsoft. With time he has really become someone who deserves all round #respect . Not because he is a billionaire but for the human being he has become.

♥ 601 · Comments 12

I must have read almost all of #IsaacAsimov 's #books . I am a huge fan. I find it amazing that the real world is catching up to his imagination, #science catching up with science fiction.

♥ 601 · Comments 39

I'm sorry I write so much about my failures. So, for once I will tell you: when I stopped caring, I had more success than ever. Every time I cared about something, something would happen that would prevent me from getting what I cared about. I kept trying to force the universe to bend 13 billion years of effort into my meager effort. For a long time I cared too much. What he thought. What she thought. Why didn't they like me? Who would I have to beg next in order to "advance". Both you and me, we'll be dead before the universe blinks. So I totally gave up. I surrendered. Every day, I wake up and surrender first thing.  http://9nl.es/a23q …see more

♥ 600 · Comments 35

You can't tell from my picture... but I can't see out of my left eye and when I try to walk I limp and often trip from the neurological damage. I can't feel my feet but I still EXCEED sales quotas, month over month. I can't define colors but I design powerful brands and ADA accessible websites. Warriors in the differently-abled community have a magical perspective built on three pillars: 💙Innovation. 💜Intention. 💚Inspiration. It doesn't prevent me from creating content or building brands. It doesn't keep me from attending events or speaking on stage. I get INNOVATIVE with the HOW. I get INTENTIONAL with the WHY. and most of all, I get INSPIRED by others rocking it in my community! With reasonable accommodation, you can build an inclusive culture where employees THRIVE! Here's a little more about my struggle in finding work as a differently-abled powerhouse in light of National Disability Employment Awareness Month... #DifferentlyAbled #DiversityTraining #InclusionAndDiversity #Disability #HR #Leadership #ChantelShares …see more

♥ 591 · Comments 167

For #ThrowbackThursday , remembering that time at The African Union when I asked Former President of #Ghana Jerry John Rawlings a challenging question during a press conference, and then he wanted to continue the discussion afterward. I earned my #journalism wings in that moment. #RIPJerryRawlings #Africa #AfricanHistory #AfricanUnion #AfricanPolitics …see more

♥ 590 · Comments 27

When I first wanted to be an entrepreneur, I was running on the potent fuel made up of gut instinct & a dream. But there are a lot of other reasons why people take the entrepreneurship plunge. Here's the compilation of views from a poll I conducted. …see more

♥ 588 · Comments 18

Heartbreaking story. 70-year-old dies from Covid complications after coming out of retirement to teach nursing. Know it's tough to give up a holiday with family, but let's remember the sacrifices of people helping fight this virus. …see more

♥ 579 · Comments 45

2012: lost. homeless. 2013: musician. writer. lost. 2014: first social media internship. 2015: student. athlete. 2016: Social media manager for a VR startup. Social media manager for a wearable tech startup. 2017: Entrepreneur. Often had to choose between feeding my puppy or feeding myself. 2018: speaker. entrepreneur. community builder. Slept on my office floor for months before getting a place again. 2019: Entrepreneur. To appear on an Amazon docuseries. Podcaster. TEDx Speaker. 2020: Entrepreneur. Esports podcaster. Streamer. Figuring out business through COVID-19. The hardest thing for me was not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. And every time I thought I did know I would change my mind a few months later. But that was a part of my journey. Not knowing is just as important as knowing. Being lost is just as important as being found. Because looking back everything that I went through prepped me for what I’m facing. And everything that I’m facing is prepping me for what I’ll go through in the future. Just keep taking those steps. Keep inching forward. Because it only takes one thing to go your way for your life to be transformed. And the struggle you’re going through now will just make you stronger. This time is no different. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 📸 Justin Jackson …see more

♥ 576 · Comments 104

I messed up. I'm a big company culture geek. And we talked a lot about building a culture within our company that allowed everyone to be open and honest with one another. I pushed it every day and yet it still wasn’t happening for everyone. I read the culture code recently, which dissects some of the most successful teams, companies, and organizations across history and the globe. And one commonality that was found is that each culture had a sense of safety. And I realized that we were clear on the type of culture that we wanted to create. But we weren’t fostering an environment that allowed that open & honesty to happen. We were talking but we weren’t listening to everyone. And since making some adjustments it is no longer an issue. But that’s the thing about culture, you can’t just write down your values and expect things to happen. It’s living, breathing, and something that you have to be uber intentional about every single day. What are some of the best/worst teams you've been a part of and why? #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 572 · Comments 139

I threw out all my belongings. I was living in Airbnbs. I had one carry-on bag that had one or two outfits and a computer in it and a toothbrush. My rule was: if I buy anything I had to throw something from the bag out. I lived this way for three years. #writing #mariekondo #lifestyle #minimalist #entre …see more

♥ 570 · Comments 53

I started 2018 with NO JOB, NO DEGREE, and 200,000 followers on Linkedin. This year has been a complete 180 for me. Throughout 2018, I... - Doubled my follower count to 400,000 on Linkedin - Received my 3rd Linkedin Top Voice Award - Graduated from the University of Southern California - Joined the team at Studio71 - Was featured in Adweek, Inc, and more - Guest podcasted on 10+ shows - Spoke at 10+ events internationally - Hosted 5 events in San Francisco and LA - Helped launch Impact Mentality I learned 3 major things: 1) Your goals should constantly be changing. You can't predict in January what opportunities are going to come in the next 12 months. 2) Execution is more important than your age. People will listen to a 22 year-old if they have already proven results. 3) Don't think that because you aren't going to that party on Saturday that you are "missing out". If you want to spend all of your birthday, Christmas, and New Years Eve working at coffee shops, do it. #podcasts #studentsoflinkedin #hardwork #2018inReview …see more

♥ 567 · Comments 73

“He beat his wife to the point where her face was split open,” our friend told us at lunch. “Then they called a private doctor who came over to the house to sew up his wife’s face.” I was having a hard time picturing it. “How do you know?” I asked. “I spoke to the doctor. I spoke to the wife.” . . . #relationship #Iamfine #writing #lifestyle #friends …see more

♥ 562 · Comments 86

I have always LOVED the element of surprise and have been managing judgments my entire life. Strangers take one look at me and make their assumptions based on appearance. Add the fact that I'm a millennial to the mix and the entire world seems to judge me as a nobody or a moron. But I LOVE a challenge. That's why I decided to pick up the hockey stick as a teen and get tough, taking slapshot after slapshot to the stomach until the wind knocked me out cold in the goal... ...why I studied law until life pulled me in a different direction... ...why I obsess over neuroscience and quantum physics attending courses I'm definitely not qualified for... ...why I keep fighting for inclusion when my community of differently-abled warriors told me to "give up - nobody will ever want you." ...why I launched my business and speak all over the world, regardless of visual impairment and mobility issues. And I continue to prove them wrong through positivity and inspiration, encouraging them to rise up to THEIR greatest potential, too! Use those judgments as FUEL to be the best version of yourself. Prove them wrong. You're a somebody. You're incredible and you're worth it. Go Bruins! #inspire #motivation #inspiration #personalgrowth #stanleycup #mindset …see more

♥ 561 · Comments 125

A lot of people ask, what advice would you give your younger self? Like most of us, younger me didn't have a clue. I wasn't rich. And I certainly wasn't brave. Despite trials and tribulations in my adolescence, not a sliver of confidence sparked in my bones triggering social anxiety and a big, awkward personality 🙃 This was before my nervous system collapsed and life wasn't the gift it is today. So to the little girl that dreams of being more and doing more, all you need to do is believe in yourself like you believe in miracles and mermaids. Learn to LOVE learning and study for that LSAT because you will grow so much reading and writing... 💰 They can take away everything you ever earned with student loans and medical debt. 🌞They can take away your joy with bullying and bias. 🏡They can take away your home with late payments and unemployment... But they can NEVER take your wisdom, grit and grace.❤ So keep feeding that beautiful brain of yours with belief and compassion and ANYTHING is possible. #success #mindset …see more

♥ 556 · Comments 76

Last summer, Corey Lowe  took the initiative to reach out asking if we can grab lunch before entering his first year as a transfer student at University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business  (Go Bears!). During that lunch, he mentioned that networking was still a new territory for him. We later met again during one of my coffee roundtables at UC Berkeley (left). Corey's enthusiasm left an impression on me. A year later, I hired Corey for his first internship. He had the opportunity to present his summer work earlier this week (right). Excited to have him with us for the fall semester as well. I'm glad we got a chance to meet last summer. And for all the students and young professionals out there who might be shy at first with "networking" or just outreaching, I say: go for it. If time permits, people tend to be generous with their time and are very willing to help you. And yes, social marketing is like being a DJ. 😄 …see more

♥ 556 · Comments 15

For #ThrowbackThursday, always remember that you are someone else’s dream. My sister Julie Newell died of colon cancer in October of 2007. She was my second mother, the one who taught me love and good graces. Where my career was concerned, she was the wind beneath my wings. Julie would have been very impressed that I got to visit the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa in 2012. She would have marveled at so many of the adventures I had over the past decade. When I think that I am just one year younger than Julie was when she passed, and consider how many goals and adventures I am still determined to achieve,  I know Julie’s counting on me to keep chasing them. Thanks for the reminder, Angela Ford Nelson, M.Div., PMP , that we are never doing it just for ourselves. #inspiration #goals #dreams …see more

♥ 555 · Comments 39

Another example of why I love #Kenya so much. I could probably find a mask easier in #Nairobi than I can in Washington, DC. #Africa #globaldevelopment #coronavirus #COVID19 #globalhealth #HealthForAll #innovation #ingenuity #pandemicpreparedness #pandemicresponse …see more

♥ 555 · Comments 33

Earlier this week, a friend messaged me to let me know I had made a word choice mistake in my latest Forbes article. (Apparently, I had typed “plaque” when I meant to type “plague.”) My reaction? Gratitude. I want every piece of #content I create and share to be of the highest quality, so I appreciated my friend letting me know of my oversight. Contrast that with an experience I had yesterday on Twitter, where someone publicly called out a different error in the same Forbes piece. What was interesting was how he critiqued me, proclaiming in a comment—with a screenshot—that my mistake was so egregious that he “stopped reading this at this sentence” and that he couldn’t “take an article like this seriously, when attention [was] not given to it at the time of writing and production.” My sin? I used the word “is” instead of “if.” Despite feeling angry and embarrassed by what seemed to be an over-the-top reaction, I thanked him for giving me the heads up. Listen, I know I’m not perfect. I know trolls will always exist. But I also know that each of us has a choice in how we communicate on #socialmedia and elsewhere. A gentle reminder to praise in public; critique in private. #communication …see more

♥ 553 · Comments 143

Some years ago, I was in a situation where I was being yelled at by a senior executive. It was incredibly tense, stressful, and actually over something I wasn't even involved in - a complete case of bizarre mistaken identity. This wasn't the first time I had been disrespected in the workplace, but something about that day was different, because as soon as this person started yelling, I looked at them and said: "Please lower your voice". Stunned, they stopped for a second, then continued to yell for another several minutes. After they were out of breath, they waited for me to talk. When I said nothing, they asked what I had to say. My response was simply this: "I stopped paying attention when you started to raise your voice. The next conversation we'll have will be with HR in the room." And then I left. They didn't get fired, but they never yelled again. Not at me, anyway. The moral of the story: "You're only a victim as long as you allow yourself to be one" #leadership #dobetter #kindness #zerobullying …see more

♥ 553 · Comments 34

I used to love suits! First is in 2006 for a magazine story and second is in 2016 for the CFA career guide #TenYearChallenge

♥ 542 · Comments 21

Scary part about reaching out to someone? Rejection . . 😰 The best part about reaching out? They might actually respond! I recently received an email from Winson Truong , a current student at UC Berkeley, who wanted to chat.  Winson's email reminds me a lot of myself when I was still at Cal and wanted to break into tech. Every time I clicked "Send," I cringed slightly, worrying how the recipient on the other side of the email would think of me. Over time, I realize that the worst that can happen is that they don't respond. Oftentimes, not because they didn't like me, but because (1) they're busy or (2) my message didn't stand out. Instead of giving up or feeling ashamed, learn how to optimize. You can solve both of the above scenarios by (1) following up again to demonstrate persistence and (2) tailoring your email to create common grounds. In Winson's case, appealing to our commonality of attending UC Berkeley and how he found me. Given the amount of emails I get on a daily basis, I try my best to respond to as many of them, and offer chats when time permits. My one biggest advice is to always check in again at least once. I appreciate when people show the tenacity to follow up. 💯#BeInfinity So go ahead and send that cold email! …see more

♥ 542 · Comments 49

It's really hard for me to write a book. For one thing: it's super boring to sit in front of a computer for 3000 hours typing letters. And then everyone might hate what you write. But in this book I really wrote what I needed to read. Every decade of my life I've had to reinvent. Sometimes I got it right, sometimes wrong. I want to reinvent now. Maybe I have 3-5 reinventions left in me. 3-5 chances to get very good at new things in the limited time left... http://amzn.to/2iUI48H …see more

♥ 540 · Comments 43

When I first started down the path as an entrepreneur, I thought I had to be able to do it all. 🤦🏽‍♀️⁣ ⁣ Nothing could be further from the truth. True leadership is about knowing your strengths and your weaknesses. ↘️Knowing when to step up and when to step aside.↙️⁣ ⁣ I recently joined my friend Dave McKeown on his podcast - Lead Like You Give a Damn. Link to the full episode in comments.⁣ ⁣ #leadership #podcast #entrepreneurjourney #marketing #branding …see more

♥ 530 · Comments 17

Alex Berenson had the dream job. But he was unhappy. And perhaps it even scarred him in some ways. He switched it up. To his true dreams. To the dreams he had for himself since he was a child. (I want to do this). Alex has written 11 bestselling thriller novels. Alex knows how to get the reader to turn the page and ask, “What happens next?!” This is an unbelievably hard skill. But it’s not the most important skill when you are moving into your dream job. The most important skill is to have this weird sort of “active arrogance”. Here’s the gap: The best in your profession have skills, experience, and they know how to sit down and DO something every day. The beginners: they WANT to do something. They PLAN to do something. They SAY they will eventually do it. They THINK they have the skills they need. But they never do it. The ones who succeed. They have the arrogance to think they can just simply sit down and do it. Despite not having the skills. Despite being total amateurs. They simply sit down and DO IT. Listen to how Alex Berenson did it and how you can too: ( http://apple.co/1ewcX8D ) on Ep. 239 …see more

♥ 529 · Comments 33

I recorded 500+ videos before anyone took notice. That's how it works. They won't notice the hours you put in right away. The pain. The struggle. The failure. The anxiety. Or all of the times that you contemplate quitting. They won't care. Not until you win them over. And that's the thing... no one owes you a view. No one owes you a like. No one owes you a share. No one owes you support or a follow. You have to earn that. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #business 🎥 Ken K. …see more

♥ 528 · Comments 98

When I started my first company I would send out 10 emails, post something to social media, call it a day, and hop on my PlayStation. Then I would wonder why it wasn't working. 🤦🏽‍♂️ I had a conversation the other day about COVID-19. They said, "treat yourself like a business [because honestly you are one]. If you want a great output, you have to be willing to put in the necessary input." The harsh reality is this: you can't be anything you want to be. But you can be anything you put in the work to be. So work. Whatever that looks like for you & your goals. What are you working on while quarantined? #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #entrepreneurship #business …see more

♥ 527 · Comments 114

During my TEDx talk I wore a shirt designed by one of my business partners, Brema. It said “Genius from the hood.” The reason I wore it is this: All of us have an idea of what genius looks like. What smart looks like. What successful looks like. What pretty looks like. What powerful looks like. Etc. I grew up being told that I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. I shouldn’t. Because of the color of my skin. That I needed to be careful with how I approached things because people could take it the wrong way. That I would be making minimum wage my entire life. 👈🏽 literally. Genius comes in all shapes, colors, ages, sizes, etc. Period. The more voices we have out there, the better. The more people we have working together, the better. Something to think about. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #Diversity #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 526 · Comments 92

Out of college I had no idea where to start with my business. So I planned. So much that I had a plan for my plans. And none of it amounted to anything. I wish I did this instead: 1). Reverse engineer. What's the end goal? What steps can I take right now to get closer to my end goal? 2). How can I make money right now? Not how will I make money in the future, because that doesn't help you right now. A business needs cash flow to survive. 3). Take a look at my habits and be intentional about the habits that I was building. Humans are habitual beings. Focus on building a few good habits at a time that will help you get to that end goal. What advice would you give your younger self when you were just getting started in your career? Thank you for interviewing us Donovan ! #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 521 · Comments 116

Surrendering to change, embracing it, rolling with it, understanding it, loving it, hating it, experimenting with it, mastering it, is the key to loving it. Surrendering to change is the key that allows me to be immersed in a full life. Sometimes it’s really painful. Sometimes I hate change. It often gives me great anxiety. And I begin to miss my old life. But I won’t give up anything in exchange for immersing myself in the next steps in my life. Anyway…  http://bit.ly/2yD2aMW …see more

♥ 517 · Comments 23

It's weird having a job that's mainly based on thinking about the future. You feel really happy because it's pretty much the best job in the world. But it's also saddening because looking ahead there isn't ( to me) clearly a lot to be happy about.

♥ 516 · Comments 192

One time I had to speak at a TEDx conference and I was so scared I thought I was going to just walk out of the building and never come back. About ten minutes before I had to speak. I remembered this one technique: http://bit.ly/2zQ9UxX

♥ 516 · Comments 30

Wrapping up my Boston trip and second Forbes Under 30 Summit. Memorable sessions by Anne Wojcicki , Eliza Esquivel , Whitney Wolfe , Bozoma Saint John! Glad to catch up with the one and truly Jenny Rooney ! 🙂 #sfbound

♥ 511 · Comments 19

When I was suicidal, I was doing all of the below bad habits. When I was going broke, I was doing all of the below bad habits. I’ve gone from rich to dead broke so many times I’m like a one-man scientific experiment in what works and what doesn’t. Or I’m just an idiot. Either way. These things don’t work. Stop doing them. …see more

♥ 507 · Comments 42

I am an anxious person. #Anxiety leads to bad decisions leads to bad futures. In 60 seconds I try to describe how I deal with my anxiety. …see more

♥ 506 · Comments 38

Some of the most sustainable #memories we have are either harsh or kind words by somebody. The influence simple words have on someone's life is very high. Just a word can change your life. A kind word can inspire you and make you a better person while a harsh word can stay on like a thorn that you remember for a long time. Many decades ago when I was in 8th grade in school and struggling in Math, my teacher said, "You know you have potential to be first in school. Please come to me with any questions if you are struggling. I will help you, I want to see you reach your full potential." These three sentences and one person changed the trajectory of my life. From then on, I did extremely well in Math, loved the subject (I was doing poorly because I was not interested), and chose engineering because I loved math and problem solving so much. I didn’t know how 2020 would turn out when I chose this year’s resolution to practice kindness more mindfully. My belief that kindness can take us all a long way is only strengthened with current events. Each one of us is fighting our own battles, being kind costs nothing and it creates a positive ripple effect. It’s said, ‘ #Love & #kindness have far greater influence than #punishment upon the improvement of human character’ #SuccessHabits …see more

♥ 503 · Comments 35

I had a boss who would push his glasses down on his nose when I walked in and look at me above the glasses. Like I was not worth focusing on. Like I was half a human. He hated me. Your #boss hates you also. …see more

♥ 502 · Comments 79

I remember sitting in my dorm room Freshman year. My roommate never showed up so I had a double all to myself. One of the students down the hall was in my room. "Do you want to go to this party with us?" "I'm good dude. I'll be writing all night." I responded. "That's kind of cool. By the time you get out of this place you'll have a bunch of work to show." Looking back, I can't tell you why I wrote those stories. Or why I wrote music. Or why I played video games. I just did things because they interested me. I was obsessed with those things and I never concerned myself with things that didn't interest me. Last night I was in my old Google Drive and found some of those stories. And they inspired me a little bit. I left myself a note on the top of one of the books I was writing: "Just write. Edit later. Just get shit down. Understand it will suck. But the ideas are always good. There is no wrong. Write! It’s the only way to create something beautiful. It’s a lot easier to edit what’s already there." During this time, when people are learning new skills and jumping back into things that interest them... Just write (figuratively). Worry about editing later. Worry about the plan later. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 501 · Comments 119

I gave up careers, relationships, huge opportunities just so I could write. I've written every single day for 30 years. I was delusional for years. I sucked. Then I started writing articles, then books, then bestsellers, then speaking, then podcasts, then more books, screenplays, newsletters. This is a collection of some of the best advice I've ever gotten. …see more

♥ 501 · Comments 40

I realised long ago that I should find balance in the moment, focus on what I am doing now with a balanced state of mind. Trying to do equal ratio of work and life is impossible and unnecessary stress. The lines must blur between mingling work and life. …see more

♥ 500 · Comments 23

With one look at me, a guy in the front row wrote me off before I even had a chance to begin my presentation. He leaned back in his chair, started twirling his short hair and scanned me from root to petal with a condescending smile, shaking his head. And I loved it. #ChallengeAccepted When he started heckling me, he made the unconscious bias apparent to everyone else in the workshop. "Why should I listen to someone like you?" He said. The audience was humiliated on his behalf, smiling uncomfortably and speaking up to quiet him so I could take the floor. I love being challenged like this because it is a chance to discuss topics that seldom get surfaced. At the end of my workshop, many of the audience members kept asking how I got started speaking and what they should do to get more acquainted with public speaking and confrontation. What would you tell them? List it in the comments below! My suggestions?! Practice and create videos! Just get started and your already ahead of the game. Also, take advantage of having control. When you've got the stage, the room is yours. Make it count. #PublicSpeaking #Presentations #Leadership #Speaking #Success #ChantelShares …see more

♥ 498 · Comments 147

I've done several interviews in the past and this is hands down one of the most reflective of them all. Thanks to HuffPost and Kiron Chandy for giving me the platform to share and reflect on my immigrant story and personal journey in celebration of #ImmigrantHeritageMonth. I couldn't have done this without my LinkedIn community. And especially to all the teachers, friends, and mentors who supported me along this journey: Jenny Rooney Steve Olenski Kathryn Bader Debra Goldentyer Marney Randle Kevin Young Marisa Brown Joe Hines Daniel Roth Maya Pope-Chappell Itamar Orgad . Thank you for your support and thank you for giving immigrants like me a chance. Read about my story: https://goo.gl/lTNZZD …see more

♥ 497 · Comments 17

A Vietnamese father was discriminated against during his job search. Why? Simply because his potential employer assumed he couldn't speak English well enough to do the job. This incident touched close to home. As a fellow immigrant, my family also moved to the U.S. in the 1990s. They didn't speak English then. Today, they still rely on my siblings and I to help them translate every now and then. Their early employers saw beyond their language barrier and gave them a chance in America so that they can support their family, my family. It's heart breaking to see discrimination like this still prevalent in America. As a second language learner, English, especially writing has always been one of my biggest insecurities. Not because I didn't write well, but simply because I wasn't a native speaker. I've been blessed to have mentors and managers who provided the support and affirmation to help me get over this imposter syndrome. For immigrants and second language speakers out there, be confident in your command of the English language. But more importantly, always help out your parents. Super proud of Emily Huynh for helping her dad out throughout this ordeal! …see more

♥ 496 · Comments 86

On United Nations #WorldChildrensDay, a memory: I was born in poverty in America, the 9th of 10 children, in a town where people with my skin color were expected to stay in the shadows. But I could dream, and I managed to build the future of my dreams. I even dreamed my way to an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Northern #Uganda, on July 7, 2007, where I was helping radio journalists learn how to gather sound and interview residents to produce feature stories. I will never forget the joy and exuberance of children in those horrific settings. It was probably because the weird looking, funny talking brown lady from far away was trying to play along with them. Spending time with those kids lifted my spirits tremendously. I've often considered that day, 7/7/07, one of the luckiest of my life. To bear witness to the depth and strength of human will, in a way I could have never imagined a few months earlier, changed me forever. It made me vow to spend the rest of my days trying to leave something positive in my wake. On #WorldChildrensDay, let's take a moment to consider how our children view the world, and what we're doing help shape their vision. …see more

♥ 491 · Comments 37

“Honestly, I’ve been working a lot on myself and getting my mental health in check.” I asked a friend recently how she was doing in her business, and was a little taken back by this answer. There was almost an internal sigh of “me too” which she spoke about working on her own happiness. I didn't feel the same pressure to "show off" how much I work or how long my hours are. I actually found myself smiling more. The competitive #hustle mentality becomes unhealthy so quickly. Putting on events about mental health like Impact Mentality and talking more about it these past couple of months has made me realize how many people are struggling to just keep okay. When was the last time you thought about the state of your mental resilience? #mentalhealth #resiliency #entrepreneurship #hardwork …see more

♥ 491 · Comments 37

I thought I wanted a +500 person company. Something I could attach to my name. So that everyone would know I made it. Now? I don’t care anymore. I don’t want that anymore. And for the first time in my life, I feel like I’ve made it. I haven’t achieved all of my goals. But I’m good with who I am. With where I’m going. And with what I actually want. My ambition is still there. But the self-inflicted pressure is just gone. Clarity ebbs and flows. Sometimes we get it and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes what we wanted isn’t what we want anymore. Sometimes what we were isn’t what we are anymore. It’s not something we can prep for. And that’s okay. I like this new person I’m becoming. At this stage of my life, I just want to focus on creating things that I’m proud of. Sharing stories that need to be told. And bringing people together. What are you working on? I'd love to hear about it! #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 489 · Comments 109

In 2017, I got into a huge argument with my co-founders at the time. We ended up separating. Here's where I went wrong 👇🏾 ❌ I was a **** and said hurtful things that I didn't need to. ❌ I only cared that I believed that I was right. Not about their feelings. Not that they were human beings. Here is what I've learned and how I've adjusted since then: ✅ I don't manage teams anymore. I'm not good at it. I only step in when I need to. I am more aware of the kind of person I am. I'm blunt. I tell it how it is and I have a lot of passion. ✅ Everyone on the team (and I mean everyone) should feel safe. Safe to bring ideas to the table. Safe to fail. Safe to try new things. That's where innovation comes from. I used to be a tyrant of a leader. And now, I honestly learn more from watching and working with my team than they probably learn from me. ✅ It's not always about being right or being wrong. Sometimes it's just about being human. A great read if you're looking to grow a powerhouse team (in any industry) is the Culture Code by Daniel Coyle. That way you don't have to make the mistakes that I did. 😅 People are your greatest asset. Take care of them. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 #business #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 488 · Comments 117

What a year 2020 has been. The industry I work in vanished in a week, I worked three times more than ever before, didn't travel at all for the first time in my life. I learned to live with all kinds of insecurities. Made many professional mistakes and got totally exhausted by the end of the year. This year has broken me a little bit. I lost some hope in humanity and myself too. But all my family members and friends are healthy. I spent a lot of time with my wife and daughter. I witnessed the rise of science in the era of fake news. I bought a studio and launched a new business. The Medical Futurist broke all records. I made new friends through sports and online gaming. I broke through some barriers in my chess journey. However, I cannot wait to start a new year. I don't expect it to be better because it's new. It's going to be better because we make it so. I'm ready to work, serve my community and continue to learn even more in 2021. And if I have to go through all that suffering again, let's get into it. Now I have some experience. :) The COVID era will end when we are all vaccinated. I cannot wait to get mine and as The Medical Futurist, I will keep on fighting against misinformation. That's my pledge for 2021. I wish you all the best for 2021 too! …see more

♥ 486 · Comments 34

Being a singer-songwriter for 6 years made me a better entrepreneur. I had a chat with Mike yesterday. And he referenced a video where a student said he was "having trouble making music because he was too busy watching Netflix." Mike went on to say that most musicians are obsessed with their craft. Creating rarely feels like a chore. And they understand: - No one owes you a view, follow, or subscription. - You have to work to build up a loyal fan base. - Your upbringing doesn't decide how good you are. The market does and your talent does. Entrepreneurship is the same way; which is why trolls have never really gotten to me personally. I understand that they don't owe me support nor is my success predicated on them. So long as my company can do what we say we can; and if I can deliver in the way I now I can, then that is all that matters. The market decides. Your level of talent decides. And your grit decides. So surround yourself with magical people & don't let the muggles get you down. If you want something, and if you believe you're good enough, go get it. #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 485 · Comments 119

On the 100th anniversary of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s birth, I must credit him with changing my life. When I wrote my 1979 high school senior paper about the injustice of Mandela’s imprisonment—expressing my outrage that he would probably die behind bars—I had no hope or expectation that I would ever meet Tata Madiba. So when I actually did meet him in 1994, I had no choice but to open my mind to the magic of the impossible. The privilege of shaking hands with the man who was willing to sacrifice his life for the cause of justice infused me with the responsibility to make a difference, however big or small, in this world. In these days of anxiety, fear and what too often feels like chaos, nothing else makes sense but to use whatever time we have on this Earth to do good. Stand up for what’s right. Express empathy and compassion often. And don’t let anyone or anything imprison your mind. When you are mentally strong and free, no chains or bars, figurative or real, can stop you. May the next 100 years yield at least a 1,000 women and men around the world whose contributions equal Mandela’s profound example of #truth, #justice and #love for #humanity. It might seem like a tall order, but then, nothing is impossible. #Mandela100 #WalkToFreedom …see more

♥ 481 · Comments 18

Born in 1996, I sit on the cusp of Millennials and Gen Z. I remember 9/11, but I can’t remember what it was like to have a cell phone without data. As a Gen Z-er, I focus on saving money as much as possible. But when I do spend, I spend it like a Millennial (i.e. on experiences). I am sitting at a WorldZ session led by Viacom, and I can’t help but think about how weird it is to hear people of another generation name and define my generation. As a marketer, I totally understand wanting to target audiences. But what I notice from these kinds of talks are the lack of Gen Z people in the room, contributing to the conversation about what they are like. I am so curious as to how the conversation about Gen Z will change once younger people start actively participating in the conversation. #marketing #genz #millennials #targetaudience #generationaldifferences …see more

♥ 478 · Comments 83

I almost moved to London a year ago — I started my company with my team instead. And then my life transformed. Don’t be afraid to pivot and change your plans. I’m not from here, but I’ll always be grateful to the city that I found myself in. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 📸 Brema …see more

♥ 476 · Comments 63

Startup life is like a roller coaster. You might experience great success after many failures or you may experience a devastating failure right after big successes. To successfully navigate the journey, between failures and success, one must discover their own motivations that keep them going. Living in the present along with a deep focus on creating and growing my business, works for me. I would love to learn from others, how they pick themselves up. #stepstosuccess …see more

♥ 475 · Comments 20

This resonates strongly with me. Having raised two girls, Love is not the same as giving in to what makes kids happy in the moment. Over the course of life do they draw from your example to make right choices.  Interestingly, when I work with startups and young founders, I go through the same mental process. How to be honest in feedback and take a position of long term perspective even if it is opposed or unpopular view in the moment.  My conclusion, if my intent is pure, and I am open to listening and base decisions on deep conviction, it is likely to be all right in the long run. …see more

♥ 474 · Comments 14

When I was a student I was afraid to produce content. I didn't think I had value to bring because I was just getting started in my career. I wish I had put myself out there earlier. Our marketing assistant Kiely Page just had her first speaking engagement and she crushed it. Know this 👇🏽 - It's never too early to start putting yourself out there. - Sharing is a great way to build confidence. - There is always someone out there that can learn from you regardless of where you are in your journey. What advice would you give students? #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 471 · Comments 147

COVID-19 has caused me to reevaluate my own ego. How could I complain when I still have my job? How could I not continue to accelerate my career when I have all this extra free time from my commute? Why am I not as productive when I have more time for self-care? When I’ve been faced with tough times in the past, I’ve always assumed that I’ll just “figure it out”. But if this experience has taught me anything personally, it’s that if I want to be a good future leader, colleague, sister, or friend, I have to be able to have sympathy not only for others, but also for myself and my own circumstances. …see more

♥ 471 · Comments 29

"When the lockdown was announced, we rushed to buy rice, wheat, milk & vegetables and shelter with our loved ones. Though this is a dire situation globally, it has forced all of us to remember what matters most in our life and how to reduce our conspicuous consumption." #COVID19 …see more

♥ 468 · Comments 28

I was never a salesman. So when I started my first company I struggled. I heard more "no's" than I ever had in my life. But I learned and I'm thankful for that period of my life, because no matter what I'm doing professionally I will always have to "sell" myself. I interviewed Nicholas Kirchner on the Strange on Purpose podcast. His agency was just acquired and he's now the President of Margle Media. His first job was a sales job. He made 50 - 60 calls a day selling fiber optic cables. So when he branched off on his own he had the grit needed to sell. His advice: Pick up a phone and make a call. You'll get your teeth kicked in but you will learn. What was your first job and what did it teach you? #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 462 · Comments 100

My first year out of college was not what I was promised. While I found myself dealing with issues that I was warned about, there were some unique challenges that I shared with my peers entering the full-time workforce in 2018/2019. Some of them include a redefining of financial literacy (including how almost all of my friends have student debt), entering the workforce in the #MeToo era, and more. Checkout the full article including stories from Julian Gamboa and Joel Hansen! #university #workforce #genz …see more

♥ 460 · Comments 59

I took a break from larger speaking events since my little brother's passing last October. The thought of stepping on stage again felt weird to me. Weeks before my speaking engagement, I started to break down. Felt anxious. Snappy. The event was only about 300 people but I still struggled with preparation. I actually wasn’t able to practice my speech all the way through because I felt weird talking about my brother. I just knew what I wanted to say. I knew what I wanted to leave the audience with. ✅ This newsletter I dive more into my speech, lessons after two years of speaking, and some things going on with my business. #justQ 🖖🏾🖤 …see more

♥ 459 · Comments 75

"Just give up, nobody is going to want you anymore." My community of MS warriors told me applying for a job was a waste of time. Nobody wants you when you're *damaged* right? Seeing impaired. Immobile. Hard of hearing. These 3 things could have held me captive, but I decided to use each unfathomable symptom as FUEL and FIGHT 🔥 Some days are brutal, but learning that so many differently-abled warriors feel unwelcome because of insane healthcare costs, unconscious bias, and accessibility obstacles made me both devastated and furious! That's why I made the promise to raise my voice from a whisper to a roar and raise awareness for... ❤ Accessibility ❤ Unconscious Bias ❤ Mindset Magic ❤ Affordable Healthcare Can you imagine if we... ✂ cut social security dependency in HALF? ➕ add resourceful attitudes of gratitude and innovation to roundtable discussions? 🏥 Make healthcare affordable so patients can fight to heal rather than fight to afford food and prescriptions? Thank you Canadian Business Chicks for encouraging inspiration and empowerment! I'm honored that my voice has been heard ❤ See you October 9th, Toronto! #Inspire #Motivation #Leadership #Advocacy #Speaker #ChantelShares #Diversity #Inclusion #Disability #Woi2019 #WOI2019DreamBig …see more

♥ 459 · Comments 93

This will be Nicole Black's first Christmas season without her daughter, Crystle. As she cares for her adorable grandbaby Jacob, Black must also struggle with memories from the early morning hours of July 4, 2018, when Crystle collapsed 6 days after giving birth. Black and her family members called 911, but they say EMTs with Hillsborough County, Florida questioned whether they could afford the $600 ambulance fee. Nicole Black drove Crystle to the emergency room herself, where she died five days later. #Reproductivejustice activists across America say stories like these happen every day, in rural areas and communities of color where medical facilities and transportation systems are limited or non-existent. No woman, regardless of her economic status or racial/ethnic background, should have to worry whether or not she might be refused medical care based on her zip-code. This is just one the issues affecting pregnant women in America that Lynsey Addario and I explored in our Jan. 2019 National Geographic Magazine feature about #maternalmortality . It's available on newstands now, and you can also read it here--> https://lnkd.in/ecUDk_X #Blackmamasmatter Women Deliver #reproductivehealth #birthequity #midwives #midwivesofcolor #midwivesmatter #doulas …see more

♥ 459 · Comments 27

A ton has changed in the past 6 months. My job. My home. My industry. And a lot of it was centered around me living more intentionally. I cut out unnecessary items taking up the physical space around me and my time. Check out my most recent article on how I learned to work and live more intentionally. I feel far more productive, efficient, and content than ever. #productivity #efficiency #careermove …see more

♥ 458 · Comments 40

I was 22 when I started my first company. That was three years ago, it's a big shift mentally going from zero employees to having a full-time team and people that depend on you. I've had a bunch of conversations recently with people that have scaled successfully and been in the same position that I am in now. "At a certain point it becomes bigger than you." - Shay ☀️ Rowbottom Here are some things that I'm loving about having a team: - Delegation. I get to focus on more of what I love. - We're super intentional about the culture we are building and it's incredible watching it come to life. - Watching employees come into their own, grow, and do things much better than I would. - It's a million times more fun building with the right people. Do you prefer working alone or with a team? #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 457 · Comments 95

Growing up it was my dream to live in NYC, overlook the city and write for a living. I never wanted to be an entrepreneur. I didn't even know what that word meant. I sold my services in video games when I was younger. I hustled for gigs as a musician. But "business" never really interested me. I'm 26. Black. And decided not to complete college. On paper no one would ever bet on me to succeed. Don't let anyone convince you that there is an ideal entrepreneur, or CEO, or professional (or fill in the blank with whatever you aspire to be). Success isn't about following someone else's path or fitting into the mold. It's about being who you are, making it work for you, & betting on yourself. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 #business #entrepreneurship …see more

♥ 457 · Comments 82

I never wanted to be known as a black entrepreneur. Race was always something that I wanted to be left out of my story. I didn't want to be the best "black" (fill in the blank)... I just wanted to be the best. I've come to see a major flaw in my thinking. Growing up we are told in our families and communities that blackness is power. But the world tells us that blackness is synonymous with being unintelligent, poor, angry, [fill in the blank]. And whether I wanted to believe that or not, there is a part of me that has accepted that as a reality as well. Hence, not wanting to be called a black entrepreneur. I've been thinking a lot about everyone that is going to come after me, the lack of role models I have had in my life, and how important representation really is across the board. So... to my fellow minority, and underrepresented, business owners: own it. Someone out there is counting on you to show up. Someone out there is counting on you to win so that they can know that they can win too. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 @Rich Cardona , I appreciate you having me on your show! …see more

♥ 456 · Comments 101

"What is a day in the life of a Venture Capitalist like? How do VCs allocate their time over a year?" These are questions that I hear often. So, I gathered my thoughts to share what a day in my life is like to help future #leaders get an insight into what a career in VC is like. If a career in VC sounds interesting, I encourage you to apply for the Kalaari Fellowship Program-> https://bit.ly/kcfellows03 #VentureCapital #Career …see more

♥ 455 · Comments 32

Is it just me or is now a rather strange time. I feel partly mentally exhausted, no idea what day it is, what normal life is like, feel so much uncertainty, rather lost, but also have this strong sense of optimism, this feeling will be over this sooner than we think, that normal will hit us fast, and this will just feel like a collective strange nightmarish blurry nightmare we disembody collectively ourselves from. That our greatest feeling in the future will be regret of what we didn't do. …see more

♥ 452 · Comments 60

10 THINGS I VALUE MORE THAN #MONEY: Money makes me anxious. I don't ever want to go broke again. The first time I went broke I lost all my friends, a house, and self-respect. The second time, I lost my friends, my house, and my family. I've had plenty of mini-brokes. I lost a lot of things during those times. But finally during those times I realized there are things more valuable. Actions > Words > Thoughts. In other words, if you value something more than money, take ACTIONS to improve those things in your life. Don't take actions om the things you value less than money. Money will be a side effect. Not a goal, or a wish, or a thought. Make your list of 10 things you value more than money. Then you will see also. I'm not trying to convince anyone. Just saying my list. Particularly #10... http://bit.ly/2zMTt6H …see more

♥ 452 · Comments 35

I was a salesman snob. Like many people, I always looked down on the concept of “#selling.” It seemed like something lower than me. To some extent, selling appears manipulative.  I was wrong. And for the past 25 years, all I have been doing is selling. Selling products, selling services, selling businesses, selling myself. Sometimes I have been manipulative. And sometimes I’ve sold things I’ve had such passion for that I practically gave them away just to get the message out. And often, it was very much in the middle: I needed to sell something because I had to pay my bills. I wanted to make sure my family got fed. But I can say that over the past 25 years, I’ve sold hundreds of millions of dollars of stuff. That stuff being everything in Pandora’s box that I had to sell just to stay alive.  When I thought of what worked for me, here’s what I came up with:  http://bit.ly/2B1moUT …see more

♥ 450 · Comments 46

A few years ago, I started waking up at three o’clock every morning. I’d toss and turn, disappointed that I wasn’t following through on my plan to get seven to eight hours of shut-eye. It was on my schedule, so why wasn’t I asleep? It turns out that sleeping wasn’t completely under my control. I couldn’t help the fact my body chose to wake me up, but I could control my response. At first, I’d lie in bed, thinking about how bad it was that I wasn’t sleeping enough. I’d stir over these thoughts until I could think of nothing else. Ironically, I wasn’t falling back asleep because I was worried about not falling back asleep. Once I realized my rumination was itself a distraction, I began to deal with it in a healthier manner. If I woke up, I’d repeat a simple mantra, “The body gets what the body needs.” That subtle mindset shift took the pressure off by no longer making sleep a requirement. My job was to provide my body with the proper time and place to rest, what happened next was out of my control. I let my mind relax without worry. Once my rumination stopped, so did my sleepless nights. I soon started regularly falling back asleep in minutes. We should stop worrying about outcomes we can’t control and instead focus on the inputs we can. #Indistractable …see more

♥ 446 · Comments 63

Almost 1 year ago, Joel Hansen and I met as college students on LinkedIn and just last week we were flying on a helicopter together over Vancouver. Joel and I graduated college last year and hosted a number of events together across the country. On our ride, we talked about the importance of creating great experiences through our events for every stakeholder of the topic covered. It’s only a week later that I feel immense gratitude for what this platform and its people has allowed me to accomplish.LinkedIn allows you to connect with people that enable your dreams to become reality, no matter when or if you graduated college. Joel and I were finishing our degrees when we met and now we host events and activations all over North America. What’s something that you accomplished in the last year that you would have never planned having the opportunity to do? Thanks again to Joel and SKY Helicopters Inc. for a great helicopter ride! #hardwork #conferences #studentvoices #studentsoflinkedin CC: Michelle Kwok , Jeremy Becker , Tiffany Parra …see more

♥ 445 · Comments 25

2019 is the year I lost my little brother. It will always be one of the worst years of my life. But, it's also a year that sparked a big change in me. Grief has a way of doing that. It's something I'm keen on exploring more — this altered state throughout grief. It's something that I'm developing an experiment/film around. Because it's something we've all been through, or will go through. And the world we live in is not set up for it. ❌ We don't like talking about it. ❌ We don't know how to talk about it. ❌ And typically (in the US) only 3-5 bereavement days are given. Currently, there are no federal laws that require employers to provide employees either paid or unpaid leave. COVID has definitely impacted our ability to film, talk with people, but if you're still interested in the subject, want to talk about loss, etc. I would love to chat. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 443 · Comments 106

What is #Art ? It is an expression of human imagination. I found Mary’s work beautiful and her story inspiring. Her entrepreneurial #mindset enabled her to overcome the hurdles she faced upon losing her #job . She began carving portraits of celebrities and frontline workers on leaves, thus creating a new income source for herself. Check out her amazing work. Reuters #WeekendMusings …see more

♥ 442 · Comments 18

I woke up at 3:42 this morning. Couldn’t sleep. So I read. And one thing that stuck with me this morning is this: creators used to want to make the world a better place and highlight others... not themselves. I’m at a place in my career where I have no desire to be an “influencer.” I just want to write, create films, and create experiences for other people. That excites me. And hopefully something I put out there will help someone else see the world a little differently. Tough times right now for most of us— I’m always a DM away if needed. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 Follow me on TikTok. I’m creating a bunch of “nonesense” there. 😌 …see more

♥ 441 · Comments 73

Did Gyles Brandreth and I almost go into business together as teenagers? Fun trip down memory lane on

♥ 440 · Comments 22

My grandfather was right: travel is the best education. I share four reasons why in learning about other people, places, and cultures, you'll also learn about yourself. #leadership #career #growth …see more

♥ 439 · Comments 87

Hiring someone full-time, for the first time, was the scariest and most exciting thing we've done as a team. Chandler was our first full-time hire. And before we brought him on he reached out over and over and over again. Not enough to be annoying but enough to show that he was serious; and that he fit our culture. And culture is the most important thing to us. We want people that we can grow with. - He made a video telling us why he'd be a good fit. - He didn't wait around for me to answer, he put in the work on his own and had something to show when we finally sat down. - And since bringing him on he's made us so much better, more creative, and so much more organized as a company. He fits our culture perfectly and he has made us so much better as a team. How did you land your last job? #justQ 🖤 …see more

♥ 439 · Comments 97

As the GlobalCitizen #Mandela100 Festival kicks off in #Johannesburg , I can’t help remembering the impact #NelsonMandela had on my life. Writing about his imprisonment for my high school Senior Thesis in 1979. Meeting Madiba in 1994. Touring #RobbenIsland in 2012. Living and working on the Continent when he made his transition in 2013. In his honor, I strive to join the millions of young people around the world who want to #BeTheGeneration that helps to end #extremepoverty . Or as the legend himself stated: “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, #poverty is not natural. It is man-made, and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” “Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” - Nelson Mandela #GlobalCitizen #globaldevelopment #Endpoverty #socialjustice …see more

♥ 439 · Comments 19

Everyone is in their own fight club, but we don't talk about it... Because it's fight club! 💪 When I'm overwhelmed, I lean into a support system of badasses I have built since my health and career journeys collided. No, I'm not a health coach or fitness instructor and you'll never find me at a gym (introverts unite, at our homes, independently!) But health plays a serious role in my career because of incurable diseases and disability. Millions like me battle chronic illness while working full-time, running multiple businesses, and parenting - but these battles are hidden. From depression to cancer and everything in between... Please remember to be kind and supportive. And if you're struggling, Surround yourself with inspiring powerhouses that go through hell and back regularly just to get through the day! Start with the XXO community. Fuel your mindset & build your character with the company you keep. To this day, there is NO WAY I would be where I am in my health OR career journey without the incredible people I feel blessed to call connections and friends. Thank you for being supportive and kind during these intense phases of testing character! #motivation …see more

♥ 437 · Comments 87

Having a niche is a total game-changer. But don't force yourself to specialize in something just for the sake of having a niche. My favorite part of my speeches are the Q&A's. Someone asked me how they should go about finding their niche. And while it's not the popular answer it takes exploration and self-awareness. - In college I switched my major more times than I can count. - My career as a marketer I tried multiple industries and fields. - When I started my first company I pivoted over and over again until I found something that I enjoyed and something that worked. Exploration. Don't subscribe to the belief that you need to have everything figured out. I totally believe people should have a niche. And that it should be something that 1). You're great at and 2). you enjoy (it more than likely will be an intersection of multiple things you're good at/enjoy). And if you're having trouble figuring out yours, don't be afraid to make that a part of your story. You can always pivot later. That's the route I took. #justQ 🖖🏽🖤 …see more

♥ 435 · Comments 78

Today, the number of people who follow me on LinkedIn passed 250,000. First, let me send mad love and honor to the African continent, where I suspect the bulk of my followers live. That’s because since I first touched down in Accra, Ghana in April of 2003, I’ve organized and/or participated in at least one journalism training workshop in 11 different African countries, and lived in two of them. Africa taught me how to be a strong leader. I learned how to be a Mama Hen there, too. I realized that the two personas can peacefully co-exist, especially when you’re nurturing young minds. To the rest of the folks around the world who clicked the little “Follow” box beside my name, you can’t begin to know what that small gesture means to me. Along my path of reinvention and renewal, I’m trying to find meaning by adding value. If you believe I’ve done that at some point, keep reading. To LinkedIn, what began as little more than an occasional online diary for my random thoughts has morphed into one of the biggest challenges/opportunities of my professional life. If I can just keep learning, writing and communicating relevant information in interesting ways, I know my career will soar. #Africa #journalism #inspiration #career #writing …see more

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If you are a parent - just like me - , you probably know the feeling when you agonize for a day about whether to take your child to the doctor or not... I had the opportunity to test a digital stethoscope that offers reassurance in such situations - find out whether it has fulfilled its promise in our review. #digitalhealth #kids #medicine #healthcare #technology #stethoscope …see more

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