Last night, we had our first ever Bold Academy team meeting through Google hangout. All seven of us arrived 5-10 minutes early, smiling ear to ear, eager and ready to show up fully for the next hour of our lives. 

Jokes were quickly cracked, laughter was abound, tears were shared, swear words were overused, and the incredible energy was palpable. Every single one of us felt a tingling sensation at some point during the call. And I can say, without question, is that it was one of the top three moments of my life.

This idea I had ten weeks ago, which according to my best friend, has been brewing in me since I was 13, is now becoming real. The team is real. The attendees who are confirming “Hell Yes!” are real. And not only are they real but they are ALIVE and ON FIRE about the vision and experience we are creating. 

As I sit now and reflect on last night’s call, still tingling, what I think is most notable about the team is how every single person is completely and utterly themselves. There is no holding back, quirks are proudly shared, skill-sets are noticeably complementary, and every person is imagining the possibilities around what happens when 30 change-makers are brought together to live under one roof for one month in Boulder, CO. 

As I think about how we went from idea to reality in a few weeks, I recall what the Heath brothers say in Switch: in the beginning of starting anything, don’t obsess about the middle… it’ll be different when you get there. Instead, marry long-term goals with short-term critical moves. Nathaniel and I never attempted to perfect the details or create a detailed plan of action. Instead, we knew exactly where we wanted to go long-term and we focused on each immediate milestone, and the critical moves to getting there. The middle is a beautiful roller coaster and journey that requires listening, quick reflexes, and modifying on the fly. So far so good. 

And as I embrace the range of emotions inherent in bringing my purpose to life, I feel grateful for being pushed so fucking far outside my comfort zone. Every day is a new adventure, with new challenges and opportunities, a chance to tear down the walls in my mind that define what I think I can or cannot do, and 24 hours to make it count. 

What’s equally terrifying and exhilarating is that this is only the beginning… It is only the beginning. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Thanks to The Bold Academy team for inspiring this post and Andy for reading the draft.

One of my clients, who is newly self-employed, has been struggling with how to manage his time to be as productive and effective as possible. 

He recently asked me, “How do you stay disciplined in how you spend your time? When do you stop working and go do something new? When do you stop playing and get to work? How do you make sure you get everything done?”

Being self-employed and completely in control of my schedule, I reflected on his question by thinking about my past few months.

Some days I’ll write and create non-stop all day, every day. This can go on for weeks. I’ll feel like a machine, in flow, as my most productive self. I’ll have so many thoughts and ideas flowing that I’ll fill an entire notebook in two days. These thoughts and ideas will immediately translate into forward motion on my projects. I’ll connect them with the right people and BAM! This is, without question, one of the best feelings in the world.

But on the contrary, some days I’ll do what feels like jack shit for days. I’ll feel writer’s block and want to run away from my computer. I’ll experience a deep craving to get outdoors, explore nature, and connect deeply with friends. This, while important and lovely, sometimes makes me feel “unproductive.”

But what I’ve come to realize is that both scenarios are work. Both scenarios are productive. They’re just different types of work. And each reflects a different need I’m experiencing in my life. 

That’s when I realized that, above all, it’s important to: Listen to what your body wants. Don’t fight it. Trust and go with it.

If you’re excited to work, work. Wake up extra early or stay up until the wee hours of the night to get things done.

If you want to hike and get outdoors, go explore nature. And leave your iPhone at home.

If you’re feeling lost or confused, enjoy the lack of direction while it lasts. Give yourself a week or two and you’ll have so much clarity that you’ll be pushing down doors. 

If you need some alone time with a book, make a cup of tea and dive in. Leave a notebook by your side to jot down ideas and connections. 

I’ve found that, in the long-term, I’m far more effective when I listen to my body and act accordingly. We cannot be productive all the time and I’m at my best when I simply listen to what I need. 

What does your body want you to do?

(And on that note, I’m exhausted. Body needs sleep. Goodnight.)

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Thanks to Nathaniel for reading the draft!

If you want to attract the right opportunities, people, and experiences, there’s one thing you must know—you must know your unshakable belief. 

For Chris Guillebeau, his unshakable belief is that you don’t have to live how others expect you to. He writes for people who want to “take over the world” and do something remarkable. 

For Simon Sinek, his unshakable belief is that people don’t care what you do, they care why you do it. He inspires people to do the things that inspire them. 

For Sarah Peck, her unshakable belief is that all ideas, goals, and dreams start somewhere. She helps you make things happen and do great work. 

My unshakable belief is that we all possess more potential than we realize. And once this potential is unleashed, it can make any dream and any vision a reality. 

This unshakable belief—and obsession with unrealized potential—is why I do everything I do. It’s why I write (to help people realize their full potential), share stories at revolution.is (to inspire people to take action on what matters), and am building The Bold Academy (to help people gain the clarity and confidence to live their most fulfilled life). 

This unshakable belief is why people apply to work with me for The Passion Experiment. It’s why brands like Unilever reach out and ask me to speak internally at their event about “doing more” in life. It’s why Fast Company was interested in having me be one of their “Expert Bloggers.” 

Knowing your unshakable belief helps you resonate with the hearts and minds of the right people. It helps people connect deeply with what truly matters to you and them. It also enables you to benevolently speak and live your truth.

If you want to live your most fulfilled life, where the right opportunities find you, here are 4 steps that will get you started:

1) Know your unshakable belief.

What do you believe without a shadow of doubt? Look at your past, what is the consistent belief in everything you do? Look at your now, what deeply moves you and/or upsets you? If nothing currently resonates, commit to doing stuff that interests you and you’ll figure out what moves you along the way. If you’ve always wanted to be a fashion designer, synchronized swimmer, comedian, chef… take the first step. Then assess: what is the belief that’s driving me?

2) Build a platform to share your beliefs with the world.

Your belief can’t grow unless it’s shared. Build a blog and online presence that embodies your unshakable belief. Then find more influential platforms to write for and contribute. Talk about it. Create things that align with your beliefs. Keep finding new ways to share and act on your beliefs.

3) Recommit every single day. 

This step is often the hardest. Your belief won’t spread unless you recommit to doing the hard work every single day. When it’s hard, remember that what you believe is powerful and has the ability to positively impact the lives of others. But only if you recommit every single day.

4) Watch the opportunities flock.

With hard work and sweat comes reasons to celebrate. Once your belief resonates in the hearts and minds of the right people, the opportunities will come.

What is your unshakable belief?

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Thanks to Nate and Liz for reading the draft!

As I walked through the busy Denver airport two days ago, I kept noticing kids who were completely in their element.

One young boy was singing like no one was watching. A little girl was dancing her heart out. And group of little girls and boys were skipping around the airport. 

I felt their joy, their truth, and their love. 

I also noticed a lot of not so joyful adults. An older woman frustrated and yelling about the security line wait. A husband and wife bickering about whether or not the husband was in a good mood. Many blank and smileless faces. 

I didn’t feel their joy, their truth, or their love. 

Even when the security line is long… is there an interesting stranger we can pick up conversation with? Or, can we take 30 seconds to feel grateful for the trip we are about to take? 

How can we, in our every day lives, skip a little more and sing and dance like no one else is watching?

These moments we have, we ought to enjoy them.

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A dear friend of mine came to visit me in Boulder today and within 20 minutes he changed my life and the trajectory of The Bold Academy.

His name is Ryan Allis. We became close friends last year when I helped him co-found a new division of his company. Most recently, as a 27-year old entrepreneur, his company iContact was acquired for $169M. I’m deeply grateful to say that Ryan has played a pivotal role in many of my business endeavors. Today, he agreed to be the Entrepreneur-in-Residence for The Bold Academy this July.

So back to those 20 minutes. It went something like this…

Me: “Ryan! We have SO MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE who’ve applied to Bold. We have EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE who deeply WANT and NEED this but cannot afford it, and they’re questioning whether they should apply. How can we ensure the most passionate, eager, caring and driven 24 change-makers are here this July? Oh, and there’s one caveat: we have to pay for a lot of expenses like operational costs and housing in the next two weeks.”

Ryan: “Oh, that’s easy. We shorten the application, create a fundraising platform for those who cannot currently afford it, pick the 50 most awesome finalists, and then bring the first 24 who submit tuition to Boulder this July.” 

And just like that… we had a solution. 

So here’s the deal… if you were thinking about applying but didn’t because of cost, you now have another option, so I highly encourage you to apply. The deadline is today, April 5, at Midnight PST. 

We’ll select and notify the 50 finalists on Monday, providing clear instructions for how to set-up the fundraising platform along with best practices for raising the cash. For those who have the $7,500 right now, we’ll have instructions for how to pay through Google checkout. 

And then, the first 24 to submit tuition will join us in Boulder this summer.

Think you’re crazy enough to change the world? Join us. 

So, to wrap it up, here are our three big announcements:

1) Ryan Allis will be our Entrepeneur-in-Residence this July

2) We’re creating a fundraising platform to help people pay for the experience

3) 50 Finalists will be selected and notified on Monday

Know you need to be part of this first class? Applications close today, April 5, at Midnight PST. Apply now. And please tweet and share this opportunity with your networks too.

#hellyes

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Every day, we get one chance to really live our day to its fullest—to challenge ourselves, make forward progress, and live in a way that’s consistent with our truth. 

As I was flying back to Denver from Austin last night, reflecting on my 12-day visit and the things I did or did not do, should or should not have done, I started to feel a bit restless. Realizing these feelings, I pulled out my moleskine and began jotting down what my ideal day looks like—what it takes for me to feel like the best version of myself, each and every day.

In about 15 minutes, here’s what I came up with:

After jotting down this list, I felt refocused and reenergized, reminded of the big and little things that make me feel like the best version of myself.

Ready to feel like your best every day? Here’s an exercise for you: take 15 minutes to answer this question: On my best days, when I feel like the best me, I…

ps - feel like you’re bound for greater things, but don’t know where to start? Apply for The Bold Academy before applications close this Thursday. 

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Thanks to Nathaniel for reading the draft.

Yesterday I found myself in an Austin barn-turned-yoga-studio, positioned in Downward Dog pose, reminding myself to release the “shoulds” from my life. 

“Should I be writing right now?” I thought to myself.

“No! You’re half-naked, upside down, and sweating bullets right now for a reason.”

“Should I have eaten and licked the plate of that chocolate molten cake last night?”

“Absolutely! You savored every damn bite. And it was delicious.”

“Should I shower before meeting up with my friend after this class?” 

“Hell yes, woman! You’re sweating like a mo fo right now.” 

Think envy is a negative force? Think again.

Envy indicates unrealized potential. It indicates areas of growth so deeply important that it sparks a profound reaction. 

With envy, we can react in one of two ways. We can become jealous or we can see it as a beautiful opportunity.

Every person we meet is a mirror into our own potential for growth. Their track record of success, fit body, loving relationship, ability to articulate ideas or captivate a crowd… whatever it is about another person that sparks a feeling of envy, pay attention. This feeling indicates a part of you that you have yet to fully realize—but absolutely can if you notice and focus on it.

So pay attention to envy—it’ll guide you toward positive growth.

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Thanks to Nathaniel for reading the draft. 

I’m going to get straight to the point (and then I’m going to explain why): We’re opening up The Bold Academy to all ages and applications are open for two more weeks. 

Why?

If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past three weeks of taking an idea and bringing it to market, it’s that the number one aim in starting anything new is to close the gap between what could be and what actually is.

Let’s begin with what could be.

The Bold Academy started off as a lofty dream and vision of the world. I see too many people held back by fear, doing what they think they should do, too afraid to discover what they’re meant to be doing. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes it’s difficult for us to see the value, potency, and potential in who we are, no matter how far along we are in the game. 

The Bold Academy was born out of this vision. Taking this aim, we decided to target college students because we’ve noticed a deep need and anxiety for them around figuring out “what’s next?” This market seemed appropriate and ready to unleash their full potential. 

We wondered… what if we can PREVENT college students from pursuing a path for 5 years that ultimately leads them to question, “What the F am I doing with my life?” 

In theory, this sounded great.  

But then we were struck by reality and what actually is.

Since opening up Bold Academy applications two weeks ago, we’ve discovered that the college student market may not be the best fit for the experience we’ve envisioned. 

How do we know?

Here’s the major feedback we’ve received since opening applications:

• The vast majority of applications aren’t from college students - they’re from recent grads and twenty-somethings.
• We’ve been flooded with emails from people saying, “I need this! But I’m not a college student. Why can’t I apply?”

That’s when we realized the disconnect between what could be and what actually is.

We know we’re designing a kick-ass experience with a bad-ass team. We know it will be life-changing and unforgettable, and you can read all about it here. 

But college students only? The market wasn’t responding and when we took a step back to evaluate why we were targeting college students only, we didn’t (and still don’t) have a good answer. 

The truth is, the most profound experiences our team has had all stem from cross-generational programs. The emphasis has less to do with age and more to do with readiness. Whether you’re 21 or 35, what matters is a deep sense that you’re dedicated to making the most of your talents and making the world a better place.

So we’re closing the gap.

Applications to The Bold Academy are now open to all ages, and we’re extending our deadline an extra two weeks to give people a chance to hear about it.

If you have an idea floating around in your head and/or are in the process of creating something new, I encourage you to push it out into the world as quickly as possible. It’s only by closing the gap between what could be and what actually is that you’ll create something that sticks. If it doesn’t stick, revisit your intent, what the market is asking for, and make changes accordingly. 

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