entrepreneur

Man Of The Week – Giovanni Marsico

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Our newest Man Of The Week is a Giovanni Marsico, a man of many talents, from a connector of driven entrepreneurs, to an author of his upcoming book titled ‘The Gifted Entrepreneur’. Today, Giovanni is the founder and president of Archangel Academy, a coaching and mastermind organization that shares marketing, innovation and revenue-generating strategies with entrepreneurs that aim to give back to the world. By using the concept of “gifting it forward” Giovanni has created a culture of sharing his gifts with people, and for them to “gift it forward” with the aim of becoming the best version of ourselves, and to positively impact those around us every single day. Giovanni believes each and every one of us has the power to change the world, and he helps make this a reality by instilling the same belief in other Gifted Entrepreneurs. To make this dream a reality, Giovanni sets aside half the profits from Archangel to provide micro loans for entrepreneurs around the world.
If you’re in the Greater Toronto Area on April 18th, you won’t want to miss Giovanni speak live at our first ever ManTalks Toronto event, Pursuit of Purpose. For more details, click here.

Age – 39

What do you do? (Work)
I am a talent scout, curator, and connector of superheroes – mission-driven entrepreneurs and leaders that are creating a positive impact for humanity – through my Archangel community and live events.

Why do you do it?
The work I do is the full expression of my gifts completely aligned with my path, my dreams, and my heart. I have the privilege of serving people I love by doing what I love.

How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
It starts with striving to become a better version of myself every day, and positively impacting the people around me every day. I use the phrase ‘gift it forward’ – I try my best to share my gifts with people in my tribe so that they can share their gifts with people in theirs. The impact becomes exponential.

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
1 – March 4, 1994 – The day I hosted my first ever large-scale event and discovered you could make money doing what you love. We had 1000 people attend.  I was 17 at the time.
2 – March 27, 2008 – I call this the darkest day of my life. My marriage had just failed. A few weeks earlier I had a panic attack so extreme I thought I was having a heart attack and had an ambulance rush me to the hospital. A business venture failed because I couldn’t handle the emotional state I was in. I was in complete depression and contemplated suicide. My son (who was 3 at the time) was my angel. I knew I had to fight for him and since then my life has been on an amazing upswing.
3 – February 1, 2015 – It was a few days after my annual Archangel event and I had an experience that I describe as a ‘bliss attack’ – the emotional opposite of a panic attack. It felt as if I was experiencing every positive emotion at the same time coming through me like a bolt of lightning. It was so powerful I had to pull over my car and burst out with tears of joy. I learned that day that our emotions are like tuning forks. When we’re aligned and on the right path, we experience positive emotions. The stronger the emotion, the more aligned. The same occurs with negative emotions

What is your life purpose?
My life’s mission is something I call ’10 billion smiles’ – by the time there are 10 billion people alive at the same time, I want to have positively impacted all of their lives indirectly by up-leveling the people I impact directly through my work, my message, and my tribe.

How did you tap into it?
I focus each day on making it the best day ever – by sharing my gifts with people I love to bring me closer to my dream and bring them closer to theirs.

Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
My Role-Model is a fictional character – Charles Xavier/Professor X from the X-Men. Xavier is the leader of the X-Men team of superheroes. His role is to seek out ‘mutants’ – humans with extraordinary abilities – and show them how to use their powers to serve mankind.
In my world the superheroes are entrepreneurs with big hearts who want to create impact.

Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
I have a highly structure daily ritual – it has been one of the biggest keys to my success and growth. I wake up at 5am and start my day with a 20-minute workout that is a blend of high intensity interval training mixed in with dancing in between sets. Immediately after I set intentions and goals for the day, followed by reading time. I use my friend UJ Ramdas’ 5 Minute Journal and my mornings are based on my friend Hal Elrod’s book The Miracle Morning.

I have another ritual that works wonders for me since ideation and dreaming are 2 of my gifts – I call it ‘shower meditations’. I spend 30 minutes in the shower where I actively download ideas in complete flow. Right after the shower I spend time writing down 8-10 ideas in my journal.
For a more high-level view of my rituals, the ‘structure’ is the same on every week day. Mondays and Saturdays are for planning, clean ups, and prep work.  Tuesdays through Thursdays are revenue generating work and relationship building. I take Friday’s off as ‘my day’ for fun, play, and rest. For the past 8 years, I’ve had a ritual to watch a matinee movie on my own every Friday as my form of escape and to fuel my dreaming. And Sunday’s are adventure days with my son.

When do you know your work/life balance is off?
I think it’s always ‘off’ to some degree. My friend Billy Anderson makes me laugh with this topic because no one ever says they need to add more ‘work’ to be balanced.
I’ve structured my days so that I’m highly productive during work time and have plenty of space for play time, connection, and fun.

Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us. 
Last summer I attended a retreat in Ireland called BraveSoul run by my friend Philip McKernan. I told Philip that my goal for the experience, using an analogy from The Matrix movie, was to take the ‘red pill’ on my life – to see the subconscious programming that’s been invisible to me up to that point.
There was a point during one of our group discussions that the emotions I’ve been holding onto for decades just all released at once and I cried harder than I ever have before in front of the group. It was cathartic and beautiful.

What did you learn from it?
I learned so much from that trip – including how to tap into my intuition, how to be aligned with my heart and my path, and how to remove all the masks I’ve been wearing to be my true self.
I also discovered that being selfless all my life was the most selfish thing I could do.

If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
Happiness, gratitude, confidence, courage, peace, power, serendipity, luck and love are all skills to master and practice every single day. Seek complete alignment in your work and relationships – your intuition and emotions will always guide you.

How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
The only way to be the best partner is to be your best self and to love yourself first completely. Become your own soulmate. Find someone who is completely aligned with you in terms of path, dreams, values, beliefs, bliss, and growth trajectory – someone who is their own soulmate. Sharing a common future is more important than sharing a common past.

Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
I’ve supported countless charities in the past, and I’ve been the president of a Rotary Club. My view has changed lately. I believe that mission-driven entrepreneurs are the key to social change. I’m working on creating a fund that provides micro-loans, grants, and angel investment to entrepreneurs looking to change the world so that together we can literally make a dent in the universe.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Either Beautiful Day by U2 or Best Day Of My Life by American Authors

Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
In 3 years I am in the best shape of my life. I am in a blissful relationship with the woman of my dreams. I’ve built an incredible team around me that allows me to spend 100% of my time sharing my gifts with the world.

What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
I want to disrupt the current models of education, business, and philanthropy. I want to help everyone discover alignment in their lives. My dream is to find a way to connect every human on the planet through the common language of love.

What One book would you recommend for any Man?
The Four Agreements By Don Miguel Ruiz

If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Michael Zipursky

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Michael Zipursky offers the perfect example of how one can step up and be the best version of himself simply by choosing to do so. In a world where many are tempted by distractions, Michael learned that being of service to the world and having a profound impact is determined by nothing more than consciously choosing to stay committed to one’s purpose and taking action. Everyday, Michael chooses to be the best businessman and father he can be, and as a result he’s been able to create several successful businesses that connect people to each other, and in turn help fulfill their dreams. Today he is the Co-Founder of FreshGigs.ca and the CEO of ConsultingSuccess.com

Age: 34

What do you do? (Work)
I’m the co-founder of FreshGigs.ca, a job site specializing in Marketing, Media and Design jobs in Canada. I’m also the CEO of ConsultingSuccess.com where I work with consultants all around the world to help them create marketing systems to consistently attract their ideal clients, increase their fees and position them as authorities and experts in their industry.

Why do you do it?
With both businesses my passion is to help people and make a difference. With FreshGigs.ca it’s connecting qualified marketing and design professionals with employers. It’s a great feeling when an employer is thankful that they were able to find a great fit for their company quickly and easily. And we love hearing from job seekers that have landed their dream job.
I love the work I do with consultants at ConsultingSuccess.com. In the last year alone consultants that have gone through our coaching programs have added $4.63M in new client business. It’s great that they are making more money, but what really gets them excited, and us too, is what that does for their confidence and how they are able to take care of their spouse or family, or contribute more to their community.

How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
I start by caring. Having a clear intention of what impact I can make in the lives of my clients, my friends, family and the global community. Rather than attempting to DO many things I focus on what impact and result my ACTION will create. I have a young daughter. My love for her and how I want to support and raise her is also one way I believe I can make a difference in the world. My role in a lot of the work I do, whether it’s with coaching and consulting clients, giving keynotes and presentation or raising my daughter, is to teach. To share what I’ve learned and to help others.

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– I lived in Israel as a young child. When my family returned to Canada I had to learn how to speak English and to integrate into the society and culture. Looking back I have amazing memories of that time. It’s a gift to come from another country because it opens your eyes to see things in different ways. To hold a unique perspective. In my case it left me with a deep appreciation of different cultures, languages, religions and life styles.
– I took a business that my business partner and I had started in Canada and grew it in Japan. I lived in Japan for five years and had the privilege of working with clients like Panasonic, Financial Times, Omron, Nissha, and many other billion dollar companies. This all happened in my early and mid-twenties. I wrote about this experience in “How a 20 year old works with a $70 Billion Consulting Client”. It was an amazing experience that came with many challenges. From pitching ideas and strategies in Japanese to CEOs and executives to hustling between university courses and boardrooms.
– The birth of my daughter felt and continues to feel very natural. Some people describe the experience as life altering and how things are never the same. I agree with aspects of it, but I haven’t found it to feel like a big change. It’s what I expected. It does bring a whole new level of meaning and appreciation to life. It puts things in perspective and really makes what is important in life clear.

What is your life purpose?
I believe your life purpose should evolve as you do. Right now my focus is on serving my clients and being the best father and husband I can be.

How did you tap into it?
By making a choice. You can choose to be a sufficient husband or father, or a good one, or a great one. We all have these choices. I made mine, to be the best I can be, and constantly ask myself how am I doing and can I do better?

Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
I’ve had many mentors over the years. Anyone serious about growing their business or craft should have one. There’s a reason the best of the best, the top CEOs, Olympians, and singers have a coach or mentor. I’ve experienced the greatest leaps in success, both on a personal and business level, by working with coaches.

Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
A 6am morning workout. My wife makes me a smoothie everyday that looks like a massive salad – it’s amazing. I try and make time to read and learn something new every day. I work hard. Some would call me a workaholic. I don’t look at it like that. When you enjoy what you do and love the process of it, why wouldn’t you work. It doesn’t mean I don’t make plenty of time to travel, enjoy time with family and friends, go for weekend getaways, and most importantly spend time with my daughter everyday.

When do you know your work/life balance is off?
When you’re tired and stressed. Each of these on their own can tell you something about how you’re working. Or an event you’re dealing with that day. If you’re feeling both at once and it continues over several days or weeks it’s likely that your work and life balance is off kilter. That you don’t have your priorities straight.

Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
I’ve built several businesses over the years and have made mistakes throughout each one of them. I don’t focus on negative experiences and choose rather to move right past them. I’m happy to share the lessons I’ve learned and certainly have a stack of them. Whether it’s the time that a client was very unhappy. It wasn’t our companies fault, but that didn’t matter. I had to catch a bullet train up to Tokyo. Have a 4 hour meeting with the client. Then take another bullet train back that day, meet my sister and step-mother who were flying in. When you read this it might sound like no big deal. Because in hind-sight most of the big challenges we face don’t seem that big or challenging looking back at them. I can tell you that this specific experience for many reasons was extremely stressful. It tested me. Ultimately, you learn from these experiences and keep moving forward. That’s what defines you and leads you to success.

What did you learn from it?
See my answer above.

If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
In one word: Commitment. Be committed to what you really want. Whether it’s to your family, your health, your business, your integrity – all of them – be committed.

How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)?
Be present. Make time. Listen. Love. Don’t take the time you have with your loved one for granted. Make every moment count. Seriously. We can all make more money. You can’t get back your time. Cherish it.

Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
My step-father has Alzheimer’s. It’s incredibly sad to see what this disease does to people. How it affects him, my mother and family. For the last several year’s I’ve supported this cause. I’ve also supported many other local charities and give to Kiva – helping entrepreneurs in developing countries.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Different songs for different stages. Our lives are like a movie and every soundtrack has more than one song.

Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
Doing more of what I’m doing and higher and better levels. Continuing to serve our clients and make an impact on their businesses and lives. We have a strong plan that we are continuing to work and I have no doubt we’ll get there and continue to reach the goals and targets we set.

What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
I’m not interested in being known for one single achievement. I’m not working towards a single legacy. On the business front I’m focused everyday on helping our clients achieve results and success. Every bit of that comes together and adds to the fabric of my over legacy and how I want to feel about my role and impact in the world. On the personal side my legacy for my daughter and family is to provide for them, to care for them, and to love them with everything I can.

What One book would you recommend for any Man?
Straight-line leadership by Dusan Djukich

If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Time for Reflection and New Goals with Roger Nairn and Connor Beaton

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Episode: 023

Roger and Connor talk on how to set and achieve goals effectively.

 
Introduction:
Roger and Connor catch up on their year with ManTalks and talk about why every man should do a
reflection on the year past. Connor recommends a couple of key questions the audience can ask
themselves to provide better insight on how their year went. Roger and Connor also talk about their goals
with ManTalks, as well as their personal goals for the New Year.
ManTalks Podcast on iTunes
Listen to it on iTunes
Mantalks Stitcher podcast
Listen to it on Stitcher
Key Takeaways:
[0:35] For this episode, Roger and Connor will be reflecting on their year.
[2:15] Get rid of programs and phone apps that aren’t serving you.
[2:55] Why is reflection important?
[3:45] What is Connor’s process of reflection?
[9:15] Where do you thrive the most?
[10:05] Where have you struggled the most? Reflect on this so that you don’t fall into the same trap.
[12:25] High achievers carry a lot of guilt when they don’t accomplish their year-end goals.
[13:40] Roger plans to color more in 2016.
[14:20] Why do you have the goals that you have? Is it just for ego?
[16:00] Who are the people in your life that you’re thankful for?
[18:15] You don’t have to stop life just because you’re going into a new year.
[20:20] Connor has flexible goals.
[24:50] What can people look forward to from ManTalks in 2016?
[27:20] Feel free to email us guest recommendations.
[28:40] Roger recommends Think and Grow Rich to develop a healthy goal mindset.
[29:35] What will it cost you to achieve your goal and are you willing to pay the price?
[30:25] Be honest with yourself.
[31:00] What will your vision statement for 2016 be?
[32:45] Take the next week off to reflect on your year.
 

Mentioned In This Episode:
https://mantalks.com/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/school-greatness-lewis-howes/id596047499?mt=2
The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/man_talks
https://www.facebook.com/ManTalks.ca/
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

 
Music Credit:
J Parlange & Latenite Automatic (jesusparlange.com – lateniteautomatic.com)
Tweetables:
“Where do I thrive and where do I struggle?”
“The transition into a new year, you don’t necessarily have to stop life and refresh everything.”
“What are you willing to sacrifice to accomplish your goals?”

Man Of The Week – Elliot Costello

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From a very young age Elliot Costello’s life was influenced by his exposure to marginalized people, as his father was a lawyer and baptist, and his mother was heavily involved in not-for-profits. Being around those less fortunate was something of a norm. Seeing the values of his parents in action on a daily basis further cemented Elliot’s belief of community and how vital of a role they play in moving society forward. It seems only natural that Elliot sought volunteer experiences in developing nations while studying for his Bachelors and Masters. In 2008, Elliot and his friends wanted to volunteer in Africa but were asked to cough up over $5000 each to volunteer, which seemed wasteful. Not satisfied with the system in place, Elliot and his friends decided to cut out the intermediary, and thus ‘Y Generation Against Poverty’ (YGAP) was born. Their vision and approach are as simple as they are empowering, a world without poverty and the importance of empowering local people to solve local problems. Their main projects all focus on youth education and today they are active in six countries across Asia, Africa & Australia.
Elliot and YGAP’s most recent campaign, titled ‘Polished Man’, is centred around creating awareness and raise funds for the 1 in 5 children globally who will suffer physical and sexual violence before the age of 18. The campaign stems from Elliot’s visit to a village in Cambodia, where he met a little girl named Thea who was sexually abused. During their meeting, Elliot felt a love and playfulness in Thea’s eyes, little did he know that her tragic yet hopeful story would be the start of a global movement. For more information and to donate, head over to www.polishedman.com
Age: Just turned 31.
What do you do? (Work)
I am the CEO of YGAP; a movement of entrepreneurs that changes lives. We find and enable impact entrepreneurs in some of the world’s most disadvantage communities. We fund our work by running creative fundraising Campaigns and by owning and operating a range of social enterprises.
Why do you do it?
I strong believe we can live in a world without extreme poverty but achieving this requires bold and innovative approaches. Our work is changing the approach of traditional international development by dropping colonial, post WWII, methodologies to instead focus on supporting the local impact entrepreneurs with their ideas to tackle poverty on the frontline.
How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
Predominately work
What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– First trip to India in 2004 with my best friend working and living in some of India’s most challenging areas
– Starting YGAP in 2008 with a group of friends
– Quitting my job in the corporate world in 2013 to go into full-time work with the non-profit I helped start; YGAP.
What is your life purpose?
Support my family and friends on their journey of philanthropy. I believe every single person has the capacity – in some way – to help change the world.
How did you tap into it?
There was no moment or life changing experience, it was just an evolved passion. I was always working on socially motivated causes and soon realised how many people around me were keen to do the same. YGAP has become a vehicle for others to share their skills and passion, motivated by the outcomes we have.
Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
My strongest role model would be William Wilberforce. As a British MP, at the age of just 23 years old, he led the abolition movement to end Britain’s dependence on the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
A cup of tea (English Breakfast) after every meal I eat. I can’t live without one!
When do you know your work/life balance is off?
When I hit an absolute wall. I am not too good at picking up the signs that my work/life balance is out of whack; instead I notice when it’s too late. Something I need to change.
Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
Vulnerability is such an important trait to recognise for all men. A YGAP Board Member once said to me: “Elliot, you are super capable, super confident, but you are not prepared to be vulnerable.” This really struck me. Because he is right.
What did you learn from it?
I had to change my leadership approach and style. Given this, I have tried to show my staff and key volunteers that I am not perfect and I am capable of being vulnerable too.
If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
Displaying and expressing vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. I learnt this the hard way.
How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
Be prepared to have tough conversations about emotions. Women – as partners – are biologically more open to discussions around feelings and emotions. It is important to park the rationale explanation from time to time and connect on an emotional level where you can meet your partner.
Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
Well, I work full-time for one! Outside of YGAP, I do personally fund a range of not-for-profits; both with my money and with my time (advice and an active Board Member)
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
I asked two female staff members this question. On my behalf they were quick to reply: “Your body is a wonderland” by John Mayer and “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls… I don’t agree, so I will run with “Hakuna Matata” by The Lion King.
Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
As an organisation, we have set an objective to significantly and measurably impact the lives of one million people by mid-2018. I want to remain the leader who drives this powerful impact.
What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
A simple belief that we all have the capacity to change the world. Be bold, be brave and be vocal in your approach to achieve this.
What One book would you recommend for any Man?
The Reluctant Fundamentalist; it’s brilliant
If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Andrew Horn

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A life of service and gratitude is one of the most fulfilling pleasures one can experience, believes Andrew Horn. This belief coupled with numerous other accomplishments that make Andrew Horn our Man Of The Week! From making compassionate decisions in his personal relationships to founding his first NGO, ‘Dream for Kids DC’, Andrew is a man of many talents and passions, all of which are tied to giving back to society and making the world a better place for future generations. Today, Andrew lives his life to serve as an example to inspire others to share their appreciation and gratitude, to lead to more meaningful and enriching relationships.

  1. Age: 29
  2. What you do you do? (Work)
    Social Entrepreneur, current the Founder/CEO of Tribute.co
  3. Why do you do it?
    We get to help people share their gratitude and appreciation with the people they care about.
  4. How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
    In business, I try to make a difference in the world by building organizations that have a sustainable impact on improving the lives of other. In my personal relationships, I try to lead with compassion and give people a platform to be truly seen, heard and supported the way they’d like to be.
  5. What are 3 defining moments in your life?
    1. Realizing the difference between pleasure and happiness
    2. Starting my first NGO Dreams For Kids DC with no idea what I was doing.
    3. Meeting my soul mate and marrying her three days later at Burning Man
  6. What is your life purpose?
    To live an integrous lifestyle, to be a servant to the people and causes I believe in, and to magnify love and gratitude in the world.
  7. How did you tap into it?
    I realized that helping others is the most effective way to find fulfillment and have grounded my actions and career choices in service ever since.
  8. Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
    I am fortunate to have a community of friends called the Boom-Spiral and they are my collective role models. I learn and grow from our relationships constantly and am beyond grateful to have found/built such a strong community.
  9. Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
    1. Don’t check phone immediately after waking up
    2. Put all of my team’s tasks into asana to start the day
    3. Try and be better than I was yesterday
  10. When do you know your work/life balance is off?
    I know my work-life balance is off when my energy doing the things I enjoy starts to lag lower than I’d like it to.
  11. Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
    My girlfriend Miki is the first real woman I have ever been with. She called for a man than I had to offer early on in our relationship.
    One of the arenas where I was lacking was sexual presence and technique.
    It soon became evident that one of the reasons I lacked this presence was because of an unhealthy porn habit.
    After almost a year and a half, I was finally able to subdue my porn habit and grounded myself in a constantly evolving, exciting sex life with my partner Miki.
  12. What did you learn from it?
    1. It is important to define the relationships that you want with pornography.
    2. Sexual polarity is essential if you want to maintain an element of desire in your relationship
    3. Great relationships take work, but you just need to believe in what you are building or working towards as an individual and union.
  13. If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
    I would ask him to define why he wants what he wants, to help him articulate goals and understand his deepest desires.
    In understanding our internal drivers, we are most capable of obtaining happiness in the present, while engaged in a pursuit of something grander.
  14. How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
    1. Celebrate your partner’s victories with reckless abandon. This is the easiest way to make them feel supported.
    2. When you have something nice to say, share it. Telling the people we love why we love them is one of the easiest ways to establish deep connectivity.
    3. Realize that helping others is one of the easiest ways to add depth to any relationship. Find joy in serving those you care about.
  15. Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
    I am on the board of the two non-profits that I previously founded. www.dreamsforkidsdc.org and www.abilitylist.org.
  16. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
    All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey. That song is hilarious and awesome literally whenever you play it.
  17. Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
    Married to the woman of my dreams with a kid and one on the way. Living between NYC and Costa Rica. Surfing at least 50 days of the year.
    Running a successful company with 50 employees and building the “hallmark of the digital age.”
  18. What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
    I want to leave the world with a newfound understanding and appreciation for the power of gratitude and service.
    If my life can serve as an example that inspires others to help each other and share their gratitude more openly, I think I will be able to magnify great relationships around the globe and that is a lasting impact that I would be very proud of.
  19. What One book would you recommend for any Man?
    The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida – This book has been shared around by all of the great mean in my life. It provides young men with a framework to aid in the articulation of personal purpose, and provides some essential truths about what it takes to exist in a desire filled romantic relationship.

 
If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Aran Seaman

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This week’s Man Of The Week is someone who has had a positive impact and changed the lives of people all around the world. Aran Seaman lives a life true to his values, and through his work he has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Kenya by providing them access to clean water. His dedication to hard work and taking risks has allowed him to run a successful and sustainable business at Eartheasy.com

  1. Age: 30 
  2. What do you do? (Work)
    eartheasy.com – Retailer & distributor of products for sustainable living.
  3. Why do you do it?
    It allows me to align my values and skills to grow something that makes the world a better place.
  4. How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
    As a company, we are making a difference by giving back through a variety of ways. For example, we have a One for One model built into one of our product lines, which provides a year of clean drinking water for a school child in Africa for every product sold. Last year this resulted in clean drinking water for 157,000 kids in rural Kenya. We also plant a tree for every order on eartheasy.com, and sponsor a variety of US & Canada based conservation and outreach organizations.

    Aran Seaman's Eartheasy provided clean water for 157,000 people in rural Kenya
    Last year, Aran Seaman’s Eartheasy.com provided clean water to 157,000 kids in rural Kenya

     

  5. What are 3 defining moments in your life?
    – Growing our company to the point where we were able to have our parents finally retire.
    – Demonstrating the LifeStraw products live on national TV in the US (and not screwing up!).
    – Seeing first hand the impact of our hard work, on the ground in Kenya, installing water purifiers in over 300 rural schools.
  6. What is your life purpose?
    Make the world a better place, through informative articles, guides and innovative products which improve people’s lives and reduce their impact on the planet.
  7. How did you tap into it?
    Using business as a means for good. Profit for a purpose. 
  8. Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
    My parents are my role models. They are creative, hard-working, and incredibly kind, caring people. I will have succeeded at life if I’m like them when I retire.
  9. Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
    I bike to work (this is a game changer) and exercise every day. I also drink 3-4 litres of water a day. I listen to audiobooks while biking to and from work – which allows me to keep up with reading.
  10. When do you know your work/life balance is off?
    If I stop exercising every day or my diet goes off track I know my work/life balance is off.
  11. Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
    There was a really hard time in our business where we lost half our revenue for 6 months. I sold everything I owned, including my rare (limited edition) sport bike, gear, & even clothes. We ate ramen noodles and did not pay ourselves until the business rebounded. It was a blow to the ego, but we got through it.
  12. What did you learn from it?
    You don’t need toys & shiny things to be happy. You need purpose. The obstacle is the way: if you have a worthy challenge in front of you, it’s more fulfilling and exciting than a performance race bike in your garage.
  13. If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
    Step outside your comfort zone. Take risks. Work harder than the other guy. Cancel Netflix, stop drinking and bear down on something you are passionate about – relentlessly.
  14. How do you be the best partner? (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present) Quality over quantity. If you can only spend a day a week with your parter, make sure that’s the best damn day ever. Put the effort in to make it awesome. It can be as simple as a picnic at a park, or as lavish as a weekend away at a resort – but make it special. Put the effort in. They see what you put in to your career, and they deserve the same level of energy in their relationship with you.
  15. Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
    Annually we support over 30 non-profits in the US and Canada. If we can afford to give back, we will as much as possible.
  16. If your life had a theme song, what would it be? Tough question.. “Outro” by M83 or “No Way” by the Naked & Famous.
  17. Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
    I see our company 3X in size, and impact.
  18. What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
    I want people to be inspired, and make a positive impact in the world. I want to somehow enable that.
  19. What One book would you recommend for any Man?
    “Tales of Endurance” by Fergus Fleming. If you have anything you think is a challenge in life, reading what others have overcome throughout history will make it pale in comparison. I know my limits are way higher than I originally thought after reading this book.

Please leave a comment, we would love to hear your thoughts!
If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Why Mentoring is Important for Life and Business Success

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Paul Ratsoy, Corey Porter, & Gary Bizzo…
Those names might not mean anything to you, however, to me, these three individuals have changed my life. Why…you ask? Because Paul, Corey, and Gary are my mentors. They have given me guidance in life, in marriage, in fatherhood, and in business.
We all NEED mentors to succeed.
Growing up, I didn’t have a healthy family foundation. My parents were always fighting, we never ate dinner around the dining table together as a family and we never went on camping or road trips. Eventually, my parents had a divorce. Not having a strong father figure, I would look up to Hockey Players as my mentors and role models. I would send them Hockey Cards in the mail asking for autographs, I would line-up for hours outside the Pacific Coliseum to meet my Canucks Mentors, and I would seek guidance from these sports heroes.
However, they weren’t really mentors…they were more like idols. What I needed was not someone distant to look up to but someone close who would look into me, guide and shape me, and help me form my core identity.
It was only in my early 20s that I got my first mentor: Paul Ratsoy. For the first time in my life, someone believe in me, someone invested time in me, someone loved and cared for me in a way that I never found with my parents, my dad, or my hockey heroes.
Week after week after week for several years, Paul Ratsoy invested quality time with me at Bread Garden at Park and Tilford Mall in North Vancouver to make me the man I am today. He listened as I shared my personal struggles regarding my faith, my family, my school, my career, and my life. He never judged, never questioned, never doubted…he just listened, just guided, just shared his insights, experiences, and inner wisdom.
After Paul, it was Corey Porter who spend lunch hour after lunch hour guiding me and forming me while I was an undergrad at UBC. Corey helped me form my spiritual identity and my passion for people. Corey sincerely loved and cared for people, and he imparted this love for people in me too. And now, it’s Gary Bizzo who invests one hour of his time each week on the phone giving me Business Mentorship through the Futurepreneur Program. After years of running multiple successful businesses, Gary is willing and able to invest the time needed to make my businesses a success.
I am eternally grateful for Paul, Corey, and Gary. Thank you.
I can’t really pay them back. However, I can pay it forward…by mentoring others. So, that’s what I have done. I have mentored a little brother Stuart through the Big Brothers Program. I have mentored new immigrants Phil and Ali through the Mosaic Immigrant Services. I have mentored disabled people through the Kudos Experience. And, most importantly, of all, I now am able to mentor my two young kids Rianne and Ryan by giving them a strong family foundation, by eating meals around the dining table, and by taking them on road trips and being the father I never had.
Mentorship is important for many reasons:
1) Guidance – having an experienced friend to learn from and to guide you
2) Accountability – being fully accountable to someone to reach your goals
3) Support – knowing that there is someone who deeply loves and cares for you
This Monday, April 13, 2015 join myself and other dads who will share the importance of having and being mentors and role models at ManTalks!
 
Ricky Shetty - Photobin PhotographyRicky Shetty is the owner and operator of the family-friendly website DaddyBlogger.com which gives a father’s perspective into parenting! In addition, Ricky runs several events, workshops, and conferences in Vancouver. His next big conference is BlogMasteryConference.com
Ricky’s greatest passion is fatherhood and his two wonderful kids Rianne and Ryan.You can find out more about Ricky on his Daddy Blogger website: http://daddyblogger.com/

8 Presence Practices For The Activated Entrepreneur

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We always look for the next big breakthrough or big thing to take us to the next level of success. However, it is in the small, simple practices that we do day in and day out that true success will become inevitable.
Here are 8 Presence Practices that will help you live your life and run your business with more presence, personal power and appreciation for the gift of life.
Do Something you Enjoy Every Day:
I usually wake up before the sun (something I had to train myself to do and now love). I spend the first hour of my day stretching, strength training and enjoying a short meditation practice. I then grab my smoothies and head to the golf course for 18 holes with my buddy Ted and dog Sasha (yup, I play at a course that allows dogs). Golf is my four-hour daily presence practice and as I train to play professional it is really teaching me to step up my game in all aspects of my life. By the time I get home from playing I’ve already had a super fulfilling day, and I’m ready to dive into my work. This practice of filling my cup first thing in the AM is a great way to live a fully activated life and become a magnet for awesome people and experiences because of the happy energy I radiate. Can’t recommend it enough!
Live with Intention:
We can learn to harness and strengthen our power as conscious Creators and activated entrepreneurs by living with grounded, clear intentions. I always write down my intentions for the new year, month, week and day ahead. This helps me to stay focused so that when I do go off course I am able to easily come back to my original intent. Knowing ourselves is the key to knowing what we want — this is where a daily practice of meditation and listening really helps. Be intentional to be powerful.
40 Breaths before Work (minimum):
The excited part of me loves diving into my work as soon as I get home from golf. But the wise cracker inside of me knows that I’m way more grounded, clear, intentional and efficient when I follow this practice of connecting to my breath before I open my laptop. 40 breaths takes very little time and it gets me grounded, connected and crystal clear causing my productivity to skyrocket. Days that I skip this important step I find myself scattered, easily distracted and spending more time on Facebook than necessary.
Have Wi-Fi Free Days:
My wife Celeste and I have Wi-Fi free Sundays where we hang out in a world without Wi-Fi. What do we do with all of our spare bandwidth on Wi-Fi free days? We hike with our dog Sasha, work in the garden, make love, sleep in, snuggle late, make great food, pray about our next steps, trade massages, go for an adventure and sometimes we get rebellious and catch up on laundry. I cherish our days without internet.
Mute the Phone and Turn off the Apps:
I know this is a tough one, but I’ve found that turning off Wi-Fi, leaving my phone up in my office and minimizing the number of apps I have to the absolute essentials, has me less distracted with my device and more present and intentional with my time both online and offline. Double win!
Get Plenty of Rest:
In order for our bodies to thrive and our mind to be alert and clear we MUST get enough sleep. Living on adrenaline jolts of caffeine and minimal sleep may work for the short-term when we gotta get shit done, but if we want to have long-lasting health, vibrancy and productivity, then we have to get out of living a fight or flight lifestyle and honour our body’s rhythms. Rest is essential.
Be in Nature at Least 60 minutes per Day:
To be present and consciously connected out in nature is such a precious gift that is healing on so many levels. I am deeply fed and nourished by spending time working, sitting or hiking out in the elements (rain, snow or shine). It takes a clear mind to create awesomeness in the world and there is no better medicine than nature. Get outside and better yet, do all your work outside if you can. I spend at least 4-5 hours outside per day and I’m a better, more focused me because of it.Exercise and Be Healthy:
Exercise and Be Healthy:
The bottom line is, if we fuel our body with the nutrients we need to thrive, and we commit to living active, healthy lives that nourish us, it becomes easy to live in gratitude for the magic of the present moment… and it is in our presence that our true power exists.
Powerful Breath Practice for Cultivating Presence:
This is a powerful meditation practice that will help you focus better, feel calmer, become more mentally clear, improve your ability to use your imagination and be more creatively inspired. It will also energize your body or help you fall asleep (depending on where you need rebalancing).
It is one of the audios from my Cowabunga Vision Quest 40 Day eCourse which you can Name your Price and register for at www.CowabungaVisionQuest.com
What are some presence practices you love to do that get you connected to your body, the moment and in touch with the powerful Creator that you are? What is one takeaway that you appreciate about this article? Please pay-it-forward and share this with your friends. Thank you!
 
Bradley MorrisBradley Morris has an absolute blast supporting people to live activated, mega-fulfilling lives. As a Lifestyle and Business coach, he helps entrepreneurs create their visions, mothers to live more in balance, young adults to discover and pursue their passions, athletes to play their game in the zone and brilliant creative types to step into their power and share their gifts with the world.
He’s launched multiple meditation eCourses that are supporting people in 20+ countries to create a daily connection practice they love and has also coached conscious entrepreneurs to create successful eCourses of their so they can free up more of their time, make a big difference in the world and enjoy all the other stuff they love to do. He is an aspiring professional golfer, husband and world adventurer. He feels so blessed to have a human body and I love my “day job!” For more about him, check out www.CowabungaLife.com

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