Art Of Meaningful Work

This is an unexpected episode. I have been thinking about my work, and this show in particular.   And this episode is all about making a pivot. A pivot is a point in time when you make a change in your life, and your work. A pivot usually brings about fear. Fear of change, fear of the unknown, and fear of failure.   But a pivot is necessary, since we all must adapt and evolve - to the changing environment, our growing experience, and new things we learn.    What are your thoughts? Are you facing a pivot point in your life? Are you thinking about making some changes in you work? Let me know what you are up to: hello [at] ernestbarbaric.com   Thanks, and talk to you soon!

If you find this show valuable, I would really appreciate it if you would fill out a short listener survey at: http://ernestbarbaric.com/secret/ -- In this episode, we have Mike Vardy, The Productivityist, on deck. You will hear his story on how he quit his job, built a community, and became an entrepreneur. On top of that, we talk about parenting, productivity, wrestling, entrepreneurship challenges, and aeropress. If there was one episode that “had it all”, this one would be it! Enjoy! You can find Mike at: https://twitter.com/mikevardy and http://productivityist.com/start/ And you can let me know what you learned from the show at hello [at] ernestbarbaric.com    

If you find this show helpful, I would really appreciate it if you would hop over to http://ernestbarbaric.com/secret/ and filled out a 60 second listener survey.   -- You often hear this advice from successful entrepreneurs: "Follow Your Passion". But what if that is not enough? In this episode we'll go over the three necessary elements of success when it comes to pursuing meaningful work: (1) Passion, (2) Competency, and (3) Market Need.   Free Black &  White Stock Photography: http://monostock.ca/ Inspired by: https://unsplash.com/ Cal Newport's 99u talk: http://99u.com/videos/22339/cal-newport-follow-your-passion-is-bad-advice Listener Survey: http://ernestbarbaric.com/secret/   --         

How do you find meaningful work? How do you find The Amazing Thing that all top entrepreneurs, professionals and creatives seem to have? It's a common question that many of us struggle with.  In this episode, learn how to use a simple (but not easy) process of creating, sharing, and listening to find Your Amazing Thing. The Thing you were meant to do.   ### Links from the show ###   Connect with me on Twitter Justin Jackson Mega Maker Podcast Unsplash MonoStock 10DayMeditation    

Cory Stout is the founder of woodies.com - an online company that sells bamboo sunglasses - and is about to cross a $1 Million Dollar mark with his business. The business he built based on a "napkin idea" with a couple of his friends.   He now runs the company with his parents, while travelling the world. I caught up with the entrepreneur while he was in Brazil for the Olympic games.   Some of the books we talked about include:   - "The Obstacle Is The Way", and "Ego Is The Enemy" by Ryan Holiday - "Meet Your Happy Chemicals" by Loretta Graziano Breuning - "Four Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferris     And you can find Cory at https://woodies.com/ and myself at http://ernestbarbaric.com  Enjoy!

Learn how to get stress, anxiety and depression under control with two simple techniques.   In the final episode of the series, we go into how to stop anxiety before it gains momentum, and simple and effective long-term solution that can help you rebalance hormones while also growing your brain!   The two resources I recommend in this show are: Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks: https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Anxiety-Stop-Panic-Attacks/dp/0956596258/ and 10% Happier: https://www.amazon.com/10%25-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works--/dp/0062265431/   And please join us for a 10 Day Meditation Challenge at: 10daymeditation.com  

In this part of the series, we dig into the three root causes of stress and anxiety for creatives, entrepreneurs, and professionals.   Addiction - technology has found its way into our everyday life, and some of the principles behind the design and development of it - can create cocaine-like addiction.   Inputs - We now have an unlimited number of content, social, entertainment, and communication options available to us. The question is, are you able to keep up with it all, and if not - will it create stress in your life?   Fear - the root cause of most stress and anxiety. From the irrational fear of public speaking, to the endless loop of "what if" scenarios - fear can trigger your stress response and stop you dead in your tracks.   Enjoy!  

Entrepreneurs and professionals experience a high level of stress and anxiety - even more than average. This can affect your productivity, creativity, relationships, and critical thinking.  This show is the first in a series on "professional anxiety" and how to beat it. In this episode we talk about the effects stress and anxiety can have on your work.   For all the research, and an in-depth article, go to: http://ernestbarbaric.com/stress-anxiety-and-how-to-slow-down-part1/    

Most companies aim to grow as much as possible, in as short time as possible. But when is it enough? Does your business have to grow at an exponential rate forever? What kind of growth is sustainable? And what if you didn't have to grow?   In this episode, we talk about a few interesting movements - where entrepreneurs are taking back control of their companies and looking at new business strategies that don't include aggressive growth.

In this episode we follow the story of Cuban biotech innovation, the story of Basecamp and 37 Signals, as well as a personal story of the One Day Project. We’ll talk about how to use constraints as fuel to drive creativity and innovation - something that most business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs need in order to continue thriving.   And even if you don’t have any specific constraints, we’ll talk about how to design artificial ones in order to get unstuck in your work.

In this episode I share my top 5 reading suggestions for creatives, entrepreneurs, creators, and professionals who want to build passion projects.   The recommended books include:   1) Winning The Story Wars - Jonah Sachs 2) Originals - Adam Grant 3) Design The Life You Love - Ayse Birsel 4) Life Is Good - Bert and John Jacobs 5) The War Of Art - Steven Pressfield   I hope you enjoy the selection!

What would happen if you followed your intuition and heart in business? What if you didn’t focus so much on the obstacles, but rather stayed positive and took action? For today’s episode I have a great story to share with you that will touch on both of those questions. The story follows a married couple who took on the challenge of becoming entrepreneurs somewhat accidentally. And now, three years later they are looking to expand their growing startup business, and share their learnings with us in this interview.   --   I am starting to research tribes and communities for my first book. So I am looking for some interesting examples of brands and individuals who have build a great community of some sort. This could be a cool yoga studio you know of, a popular restaurant in your city, or an app with a rabid fan-base. If you know of anyone who fits — please let me know. Shoot me an e-mail at hello@ernestbarbaric.com , or you can find me on Twitter at ebarbaric

As an entrepreneur, a creative, or a builder of ideas — you will face failure along your journey. Sometimes it feels like having to go through a grieving process to get over it, and then you have to choose which direction you are going to take. One of defeat, or one of growth. You also have to ask yourself two very important questions: What did I learn from this, and what will I do differently as a result?    

Every choice we make, in business and life, carries with it a cost — and it’s not always financial. There are unquantifiable, human costs such as focus, attention, willpower, energy, and relationships. In this episode we’ll talk about how to account for the costs of each decision, and how to tip the scales and create most positive outcomes.   This “cost of choice” applies equally to personal brand builders, entrepreneurs, marketing managers, and leaders.   Don't forget, you can always connect with me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/ebarbaric

This episode is all about failure, and the 6 common ways startups miss the mark - and some great resources that will help you navigate around pitfalls, and launch your next idea. We'll talk about cash, the two types of startup founders, teams and partnerships, as well as how marketing can sink or float your business.  

A new kind of workforce is emerging. Enabled by technology, changes in the marketplace, and driven by the new generation entering the workforce - it’s changing the way we view work. And there are awesome opportunities ahead of us. In this show, we'll talk about 3 forces that are making this happen, as well as 3 ways to join the revolution with what you have to offer right now.    

A competitive advantage allows you to disrupt an established market and grab your share of it. Apple was well known for taking over markets, and so is Uber and Google.  In this show, we talk about how a competitive advantage is made and eventually lost, and the choice you face every time an idea gets democratized. 

As entrepreneurs, too many times, we get stuck thinking in multiples. Tens or hundreds of customers, partners, or funders. If you have a business, startup, or a side project you are trying to get off the ground - you are likely to experience rejection, deals that fall through and partners that don't work out. But at the end of the day, you just need ONE win to start. -- Are you feeling stuck lately? Join over 150 other professionals on a FREE 7-week course on getting unstuck in your work, business, or life. Check out: http://projectunstuck.com  

To generate amazing results within your lifetime, you have to focus your efforts. But it’s hard to let go of ideas, side projects and domain names. And how do you choose what to let go, and what to dedicate your life to?   In this episode, I bring you into a conversation with a friend about the Top 5 Goals exercise, where we discuss the struggles, victories and insights from the process. This should be a helpful listen for creatives, entrepreneurs, and professionals who want to find focus in their work. -- You can find Calin at http://inboundinteractive.ca/ and https://twitter.com/calindaniel And you can get unstuck in your work at: http://projectunstuck.com  

Do you ever wonder if your work is making a difference? Are your projects big enough to solve the world’s biggest problems? You are not alone. Most entrepreneurs and creators suffer from the same type of doubt. And in this episode, I share with you a simple anecdote a friend shared with me that changed the way I think about my work. And it just may do the same for you.