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061 Happy Money w/ Ken Honda 8 Million Bestselling Author

Happy Money w/ Ken Honda 8 Million Bestselling Author Follow Your Different™ Podcast

Ken Honda has authored over 50 books and sold over 8 million of them. Today, he joins Lochhead in a riveting conversation about his latest book, Happy Money and how you can have a powerful relationship with it.

“Next time you have a hard time feeling happy about writing checks, just say, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me the opportunity to bless people with my money.’” – Ken Honda

Happy Money Defined

Ken exemplifies happy money through the news he watched prior to coming on the call with Lochhead. Someone delivered a speech about taking care of all the student loans of hundreds of college graduates. Without getting anything out of it, the person was lifting this particular burden, which kills lots of people, off of these graduates’ shoulders.

“Happy money is money that makes you smile when you receive it. And also, it gives you joy when you spend it.” – Ken Honda

This is a fascinating way of thinking about money. After all, most people and authors espouse how-tos of making, saving, budgeting and other money mechanics.

Money Healer Ken Honda

Often called the money healer, Ken not only teaches financial independence. His focus also lies on how to heal one’s relationship with money. People tend to worry about it too much that they cannot have a healthy life.

We have become so restricted because of money issues. Ken took up the mission to help people be free of these constraints.

Everyone Has Money Wounds

In Happy Money, Ken writes about money wounds. This less than positive relationship with money stems from the simple truth that we all are frustrated with money in one way or another. And by all, he means not just the financially challenged people who have a hard time making ends meet.

Middle class people manage to make ends meet, but barely. Meanwhile, those in upper middle class feel disadvantaged and feel the need to work hard to graduate, land a job and pay back their loans. And the wealthy people feel some kind of guilt about sitting at the top.

“If you can somehow heal your money wounds and transform your relationship with money, you can then be happy forever. It takes a little practice, but not too much.” – Ken Honda

To hear more about bettering your relationship with money from Ken, download and listen to the episode.

Bio:

Ken Honda is a bestselling author of self-development books in Japan, where he has sold more than eight million books since 2001.

While his financial expertise comes from owning and managing several businesses, his writings bridge the topics of finance and self-help, focusing on creating and generating personal wealth and happiness through deeper self-honesty.

He is the first person from Japan to be voted into the Transformational Leadership Council.

Fluent in Japanese and English, he has lived in Boston and currently resides in Tokyo.

Links:

KenHonda.com

Simon and Shuster – Happy Money

Goodreads – Happy Money

We hope you enjoyed Ken Honda on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on FacebookTwitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!

059 Bill Walton NBA Legend, The Power of A Positive Life

Bill Walton NBA Legend, The Power of A Positive Life Follow Your Different™ Podcast

In celebration of the NBA finals, we’re releasing a special re-issue of an episode with the legendary Bill Walton. Originally aired in February 2018, let us revisit this conversation full of Bill’s enthusiastic view of life through its many ups and downs.

“When you wanna get someplace, you have to have the dream. And then you have to have a teacher, somebody who has been where you wanna go because the surest way to find out how get there first is to talk to somebody who’s on their way back.” – Bill Walton

More Failures than Greatness

A lot of life’s greatest lessons come mostly from failures, Bill says. Sure, he has lived more than 60 years and has been part of some true greatness. Even then, he still felt cursed with his lifelong speech impediment and eventual injury.

“My life has been defined by meteoric rises to the top from [when I was] really young and then incredible crashes to the bottom all caused by orthopedic health crises.” – Bill Walton

In the course of those 60 and some years, Bill has completely changed as a human being.

Enjoying Life Including Change

After reading Lochhead’s Play Bigger, he came to realize the importance of willingness to embrace change. It is, after all, one of the things that athletics prepares you for. In life, things go wrong and things collapse and we need to get ready when they do.

To aid in his positivity-driven life, Bill lives by Coach John Wooden’s 2 sets of 3. Never lie, never cheat, never steal; don’t whine, don’t complain, don’t make excuses. Embracing change means embracing and working around what life serves you.

“When I see these guys whining, when I see these guys complaining and making excuses, I always tell them, ‘Look, I’ll listen to your problems one time. But from here on out, I wanna hear a plan on your path forward.’” – Bill Walton

Secrets to Get Someplace

Bill shares that he always tries to be a dreamer to get somewhere in life. He has learned to keep dreaming from the greatest influences in his life. In a world that tries to send him in other directions, he always turns to those who love to read, who dare to dream.

The second key ingredient? A teacher who can show him the way.

To hear more about Bill’s secrets to positivity and its fruits, download and listen to the episode.

Bio:

In 1997, Bill Walton was selected as one of the NBA’s Fifty Greatest Players of all Time.

He’s an Emmy award-winning broadcaster and Forbes calls him one of the top 10 pundits in America.

In 2009, Walton was named one of the top 50 sports broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association.

In June 21, 2001, Bill was named as the inaugural inductee into the Grateful Dead Hall of Honor.

Bill is the bestselling author of “Back From The Dead” and a highly entertaining and engaging keynote speaker.

Links:

BillWalton.com

Twitter

Instagram

NBA Profile

ESPN Biography

We hope you enjoyed Bill Walton on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on FacebookTwitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!

058 1 Life Fully Lived w/ Tim Rhode

1 Life Fully Lived w/ Tim Rhode Follow Your Different™ Podcast

Tim Rhode, founder of the non-profit 1 Life Fully Lived, has helped thousands of people turn their lives around. On this episode, this favorite buddy of Lochhead’s talks about life design, going from entrepreneur to non-profit founder and more.

“Are you living in what we call the one life fulfillment triangle? Where do your passions meet your talents where there’s opportunity in the marketplace?” – Tim Rhode

Transitioning from Entrepreneurship to Non-Profit

Tim did not get a ton of non-profit experience prior to founding 1 Life Fully Lived. He was like any realtor who eventually became a mini-tycoon and founded the organization in a most unconventional way. He did not merely dump his cash in a foundation but was actually very involved in it.

The transition has been an amazing journey. Tim says that he owes it to the many talented people who know who they are and believe in 1 Life Fully Lived. With them, he is able to live every day in a state of flow, always seeking improvement.

“The journey has been getting to know who could most use all of this and how can we best serve—and what’s the real estate term—the highest and best use of 1 Life Fully Lived to help make a difference in a world that can certainly use a 1 Life movement now.” – Tim Rhode

Why People Struggle

Tim points out some of the reasons why people are constantly struggling on top of the economic uncertainties that bog them down.

“They’re struggling because they’re basically being taught to struggle by people who are struggling, not having quite figured it out themselves.” – Tim Rhode

This ecosystem knows nothing but struggle and people can get used to being part of it. Christopher concurs with this. When you grow up in such an environment, it is all you are going to think life is about.

Designing a Best Life

To overcome the ceaseless struggle, people need to be exposed to new ideas, thought processes and good role models. These models will then spark the question of what-could-be in those who are stuck and have yet to find their footing.

Most schools teach us that getting a degree and doing well on SATs is the only way to become successful in life. However, 1 Life Fully Lived seeks to shake up that system and teach people valuable entrepreneurial skills. And in so doing, they hope these people would have not only financial freedom by the time they’re old and gray but also the health and vitality to still “get the goods in the woods.”

To hear about people doing great things alongside with Tim and how to create a diverse, mission-driven network of people, download and listen to the episode.

Bio:

Tim Rhode sold over 2,500 homes when from 1986 to 2000. He bought and sold over 100 properties and coached more than 200 investing students for foreclosures.com.

Today, Tim is the founder of non-profit, 1 Life Fully Lived and co-founder of men’s mastermind group GoBundance where he helps thousands live their best lives.

Links:

1LifeFullyLived.org

Facebook

GoBundance.com

LinkedIn

We hope you enjoyed Tim Rhode on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!

054 Claude VonStroke Legendary DJ & Music Entrepreneur

Legendary DJ & Music Entrepreneur Claude VonStroke Follow Your Different™ Podcast

Hailed as the best DJ in America, Claude VonStroke regularly performs for five to ten thousand people and even more.

He shares his origin story, how his truly genius and original plan to learn from the best DJs made him America’s #1 DJ and how worked for 15 long years to make his dreams come true.

“I’m trying to tell you that going after the golden goose isn’t always the best path to success… only a few can get lucky so we don’t even try to go that route. We just try to be legit. We just try to be who we are, and because we do that, it works.“ – Claude VonStroke

Claude’s Early Foray into Music

In an industry that celebrates mostly teenage geniuses, Claude stands out as someone who did gain music production until he was about 32. He grew up in a realm where a youngster could not just find anything on the Internet. Nobody in the neighborhood played the music he wanted to create so he had to forge an unusual path.

“There’s no generational group of artists, every six years flipping over, that’s showing another group of younger people that, ‘Oh, you can be a huge techno DJ from Milwaukee.’” – Claude VonStroke

Cleveland-born, Claude’s musical influences evolved after moving to Detroit. From listening to Uncle Vic playing Journey in Cleveland, he went on and began listening to The Electrifying Mojo’s playlist of Prince and Run-DMC. As the kind of kid who was obsessed with listening to the radio every night, these artists shaped his music taste.

Fifteen Years in the Making

Claude didn’t always want to make music. In the past, he also wanted to be a film director. He took a solid fifteen years to realize that he “sucked” at the project and people management aspect of filmmaking.

“The path is just totally different. It’s like you need to be a real manager of personalities to be a great filmmaker. But to be a musician, you just kinda have to learn to manage yourself.” – Claude VonStroke

Music remained in the closet for years.

Claude knew he was good at it but he didn’t want to admit it and didn’t see that DJing could be a job. He didn’t start going to underground raves until he was 23.

A Genius Plan to Learn

To overcome the fact that he did not know anybody in the music industry, Claude put to use his filmmaking talent. He decided to make a documentary about some techno music and every music DJ who came to San Francisco after moving from Detroit.

In a fascinating turn of events, his inability to license songs forced him to make music that sounded like his interviewee’s. By the end of it, he not only got every single piece of information about these DJs. He learned to make the songs that they made, and the rest is history.

“My first record was big because I’ve been bottled up for 20 years waiting to release a huge record.” – Claude VonStroke

To hear more about Claude’s story of creativity, entrepreneurship and massive risk-taking, download and listen to the episode.

Bio:

Barclay Crenshaw (a.k.a. Claude VonStroke)

  • DJ Magazine says he is the best DJ In America
  • Billboard Magazine says his label, Dirty Bird is one of the top 5 Independence Dance Labels
  • Mix Magazine named Dirty Bird the label of the decade
  • He’s also got a critically acclaimed Radio Show and podcast called “The Birdhouse”

In this day and age of music cross-pollination, Claude VonStroke sits at the forefront of all that is good, proper and most importantly, fun.

VonStroke is just as relaxed in his home studio building beats as he is dropping massive underground records in a room filled by thousands.

DJ-wise, his relentless touring of every major city, festival and basement after-party around the world has only enriched his unique perspective on music.

As the owner of the record label, DIRTYBIRD, Claude also built an impeccable A&R roster signing acts like Justin Martin, Julio Bashmore, Catz n Dogz, Riva Starr, Tim Green, Breach, Eats Everything, Shadow Child and Shiba San, well before they broke out of their hometown scenes. (And even naming a few of these artists.)

Today, DIRTYBIRD continues to surprise and innovate in the underground dance scene, releasing an enigmatic combination of house, funk, dirty-bass and electronica.

Sonically, VonStroke has released three original artist albums, a remix album and several high profile mix and remix compilations.

Highlights include working with and on records for Bootsy Collins, Rihanna, Disclosure and Green Velvet as well as a few number #1 & #2 hits on Beatport.  

Most importantly, VonStroke has kept it original, fun and funky.

A lot of his success can be attributed to a good attitude. Claude does not scowl and look mean while he DJs.

He does not pretend to know everything and he truly loves his fans.

He is grateful to be curating, creating and performing music for a living and he knows that the reason people go to parties is to shake their booty and have fun.

Catch him play at numerous festivals, clubs or even better at his legendary DIRTYBIRD BBQ series of outdoor events.

Links:

ClaudeVonStroke.com

https://claudevonstroke.com/

Twitter

The Stroke Show

Best DJ: Claude VonStroke

10 MOMENTS THAT DEFINED CLAUDE VONSTROKE

Meet the Women Running One of Electronic Music’s Biggest Labels

The 5 Best Independent Dance Labels of 2017

#1 Label of the Decade, Mix Mag

We hope you enjoyed Claude VonStroke on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!

053 The Difference Between Fact & Stories w/ Dushka Zapata

The Difference Between Fact & Stories w/ Dushka Zapata Follow Your Different™ Podcast

Dushka Zapata joins us for another fun and life-affirming conversation. Dushka and Christopher talk about the origins of her soon-to-be-released book, how recounting something differently is valid, and how stories differ from facts.

Recounting Things Uniquely

Dushka is very aware of her unique thought process that translates into her writing. Oftentimes, her recollection of shared experiences differs from that of other people.

She finds this fascinating. Regardless of what other people say, these instances remind her that she has the license to say things in a different way in order to tell a story. She knows it is not some conscious effort but her recounting of things as exactly as she can.

“I’ve known for a long time that I look at things differently than other people. I think that’s what makes me worth reading—because it’s less about what happened but more of my perspective about it.” – Dushka Zapata

Different is Valid

She will soon be releasing a book about stories from her childhood and her family. She shared some of these stories to her siblings and as expected, they were surprised with the way she saw things. And for such a book, what title can be more fitting other than, This is How I Remember It?

Her book not only celebrates the uniqueness of each individual’s perspective but also nullifies the notion that one point of view is superior to another. The memory of a loved one’s passing is generally painful, but for some people like Dushka, it can also be beautiful.

“I feel really strongly about the way I remember things. It matters to me about how other people claim that I’m not recounting something right… I think that’s a gift. I’m so happy that the way I remember things is like that.” – Dushka Zapata

A Thin Line Between Facts and Stories

Dushka puts simply the difference between facts and stories through an answer to a Quora question. We often make assumptions about people’s behaviors that seem out of the ordinary. And these assumptions, those add-ons, are usually the stories that embellish facts.

Failure to see the difference between the two results in struggles for most people.

“It’s a wonder we understand each other at all because we look at the world through our assumptions and our insecurities, but I also think that we look at the world through a lot of things that never actually take place.” – Dushka Zapata

To hear more about Dushka’s powerful answers to Quora questions, her deeper take on stories and facts, download and listen to the episode.

Bio:

Dushka Zapata is one of the most prolific and popular writers working today.

On question and answer site Quora her work has been viewed over 135 million times.

She’s the author of eight best-selling books.

Dushka has over 20 years of experience as a senior communications executive in Silicon Valley.

When she’s not writing, she serves as a communications executive at tech juggernaut Zendesk.

Links:

Quora Profile

Books on Amazon

New Book –  You Belong Everywhere: and Other Things You’ll Have to See for Yourself

Twitter

LinkedIn

Quora Answers:

We hope you enjoyed Dushka Zapata on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on FacebookTwitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!

052 Professor Scott Galloway on the Algebra of Happiness

Professor Scott Galloway on the Algebra of Happiness Follow Your Different™ Podcast

A powerful, researched-based look at happiness with Professor Scott Galloway from NYU. Professor Galloway is one of the most respected voices on the Internet today. He shares how the happiness curve dips in our 20s and 30s, the many “algorithms to achieving a happy life” and why “follow your passion” is the worst advice ever.

The Arc of Happiness

According to Professor Galloway, the arc of happiness starts off at a peak from the age of 0 to 22, when there’s not a lot of responsibility to deal with. Around 25, shit finally gets real. Everything we have been told is simply not going to happen and handed to us on a silver platter.

By the time we’re in our late 20s and 30s, we come to grips with the fact that as a species, we are competitive. We vie for the title of most successful, and when we fail at that, disappointments come in one after the other. At 35-45 years old, we reach the bottom of the smile, where we slowly work our way up once again to a more rewarding life.

“The happiest people in the world are probably the people who shouldn’t be, and that is, [the] seniors.” – Professor Scott Galloway

Algorithms and Equations to Happiness

Through his research, Professor Galloway found about 10 or 12 algorithms and equations directly correlated to someone’s happiness. A lot of factors contribute to happiness—financial, geographical and even demographic.

For instance, the difference between being poor and being financially secure is enormous in terms of contribution to one’s happiness. After all, money can buy you happiness up to a certain point. Where you choose to settle can also affect your chances at success and opportunities for growth, especially as a young person.

“You wanna get to where the snow and the waves are great such that you have the greatest opportunity to be good at what you do.” – Professor Scott Galloway

Why “Follow Your Passion” is Bad Advice

We have heard it time and again. Any speaker would typically sign off with doing what you love when they themselves achieved financial success through, say, iron ore smelting. And the notion that they are actually passionate about such a thing is utter bullshit.

Professor Galloway says that we are most passionate about finding what we are good at and becoming great at it. Only then can we become one step closer to happiness.

“The financial and psychological and emotional accouterments that come with being great at something will make you passionate around whatever it is.” – Professor Scott Galloway

To hear from Professor Galloway about the state of young men in America today and why love is ultimately the key to being happy, download and listen to the episode.

Bio:

Scott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business where he teaches Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing to second-year MBA students. He is the author of the Digital IQ Index ®, a global ranking of prestige brands’ digital competence.

In 2012, Professor Galloway was named “One of the World’s 50 Best Business School Professors” (Poets & Quants).

Professor Galloway is also the founder of several firms including:

  • L2, a subscription business intelligence firm serving prestige brands;
  • Red Envelope, an e-commerce firm (2007, $100mm revs.); and
  • Prophet, a global brand strategy consultancy with 250+ professionals

Professor Galloway was elected to the World Economic Forum’s “Global Leaders of Tomorrow,” which recognizes 100 individuals under the age of 40 “whose accomplishments have had impact on a global level.” Professor Galloway has served on the board of directors of Eddie Bauer (Nasdaq: EBHI), The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), Gateway Computer, and Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

He received a BA from UCLA and an MBA from UC Berkeley.

Links:

ProfGalloway.com

NYU Faculty Bio

Twitter

Medium

TED Speaker Bio

Vox Interview

Penguin Random House Author Bio

We hope you enjoyed Professor Scott Galloway on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!

051 Should I Start a Business?

Should I Start a Business? Follow Your Different™ Podcast

On today’s special episode, Christopher answers a question from a young woman who wants to know whether she should start a business. He touches on two points: the effect of formal education on entrepreneurial success and the distinction between missionaries and mercenaries.

Entrepreneurship is Not for Everybody

Christopher received an email from a 20-year-old woman thinking about leaving school to starting a business. Perhaps inspired by his own story, she sought out his help.

With very few options after getting thrown out of school at 18, Christopher started a business. Entrepreneurship was a way out of a life of struggle for him. However, even a huge proponent of entrepreneurship like Christopher thinks it is not the answer for everybody.

“It’s an interesting thing that for many entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship is the only root that we have.” – Christopher Lochhead

Education Remains Valid for Most

The first thing that you should ask yourself when you consider quitting school to start a business is whether you are really ready. True, a lot has been said about success after dropping out and how college is slowly dying.

But according to the Kauffman Foundation, adults without formal education are much less likely to be entrepreneurs than their educated counterparts. Research also shows that the more educated you are, the more you are going to make. While the media portrays lots of dropout-turned-rockstar tales, the truth is that most entrepreneurs get some education.

“This is coming from a guy who didn’t go to school. but I think you need to think twice before dropping out because for most people, school pays off.” – Christopher Lochhead

Are You on a Mission?

Another question to ask: are you a missionary or a mercenary? Christopher’s buddy Eddie Yoon makes this very important distinction. If you are the latter, then you are going to tap out when it gets hard.

There will be massive losery along the way and the disappointments will be huge. Things that will make you want to quit will happen on a fairly regular basis. Being mission-driven, like what most top VCs dub successful entrepreneurs, is the way to charge forward.

“Your commitment to the mission is what will get you through the hard parts. And there will be hard parts and the hard parts will be way worse than anybody ever expressed to you.” – Christopher Lochhead

To hear more about Christopher’s take on whether you should start a business, download and listen to the episode. Got a question for Christopher? Email him at bl*******@lo******.com.

Link:

Quora – What would be your advice for a 21-year-old starting a company?

We hope you enjoyed this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on FacebookTwitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!

049 How to Build a Business that Works for your Life with Ever Gonzalez

How to Build a Business that Works for your Life Follow Your Different™ Podcast

On this episode, we have a podcaster who is loved by entrepreneurs Ever Gonzalez.

Ever and Christopher had a fun and informative conversation about designing business that serves your life, not the other way around, and what he’s learned in talking to over 400 success entrepreneurs on his popular podcast.

“I would much rather take it a little bit easier and have the things that are important to me my family, freedom, time than to hustle, hustle, hustle and have all the money in the world for what reason.” – Ever Gonzalez

Outlier On Air

Ever had an amazing journey in his life, a great career, and he a successful run as an entrepreneur running a freight management company all starting his podcasting in December 2013.

At first, it was strictly for entrepreneurs, but halfway thru it, he became curious with other authors and people that he wanted to know more. He’s enjoyed talking about business and people and now, it has over 422 episodes.  

Unpacking Hustle

A lot of people today wants to be famous and they are losing money trying to follow this dream because they were hustling. As we get older, we have to step back, think and slow things down in order to get good results.

Ever said that he’s living a life that he can control, a life that provides him freedom, still makes some money and working on projects that he’s passionate about.

“Hustle is a no shit, Sherlock. You can go back and look at any book, of what anybody who’s ever been successful, it takes hard work.” – Christopher Lochhead

Finding the Right Pace

Most people don’t know how to value time and being in balanced is something that is hard to do especially working in entrepreneurial businesses.

In reality, what we shared with younger entrepreneurs is that there will be plenty of time and they will be less effective, if they burn themselves out.

Remember the point of all of this work is to deign a legendary life, not kill yourself “hustling”

According to Ever, he had seen the ups and downs, but it’s the mental health that scares him.

In a lot of ways, success is about learning to manage you own psyche.

To hear more about Ever a podcaster who is loved by entrepreneurs, download and listen to this episode.

Bio:

Ever Gonzalez is an entrepreneur, CEO, a top podcaster and the Founder of OutlierHQ, a media and events company that provides resources to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale their businesses. He is also the host of Outlier On Air, a weekly podcast that interviews Founders, Disrupters, and Mavens.

Links:

Outlierhq.com

Twitter

LinkedIn

We hope you enjoyed Ever Gonzalez on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, TwitterInstagram and subscribe on iTunes!

048 How to Make Any Career Creative with Tania Katan

How to Make Any Career Creative Follow Your Different™ Podcast

“Every rockstar business needs a punk.” – Tania Katan

On this episode, the incredible Tania Katan has a riveting conversation with Christopher about how to put the spark of joy back into work and life, how she overcame breast cancer and how it shaped her life.

Tania is a powerful example of someone who “used her different” to make her place in the world.

She shares the captivating story of how she went from acting, to working in enterprise technology, to becoming an advocate for women in tech, to becoming a successful author and more.

Tania is famous for starting the empowerment campaign #ItWasNeverADress. 

“We don’t need to be in a job or a field that is uniquely creative in order to be uniquely creative within the work we do.” – Tania Katan

Authoring Bestseller “Creative Trespassing”

Tania wrote the book as a dialogue and a monologue.

This reflects the way she holds her book tours and keynote speeches. She lets her audience talk and give her feedback while she listens to them.

Real conversations inspire her.

When she went to record the audiobook, she brought a photograph of her friends, family and other people who inspire her to the studio. This allowed her to feel that she was sharing her stories with them.

Unpacking the Dedication

Tania says that she was born as an outsider.

She wrote about the reality of her life and how she found a way to use “outsiderness” or “misfitness” to create a value for both companies and the people around her.

Her being different is how she makes a difference.

“Embracing the fact that we are misfits and we are flawed allows us to actually take risks and know that the outcome is going to be better than ‘okay’.” – Tania Katan

We Teach When We Most Need to Learn

At the age of 21, her breast was removed to save her life.

Following this event, she felt less—“other”—until she came to a realization when she became an adult.

Nobody is perfect.

Being an outsider can be painful for some people, and this is the epitome of irony. Every human being goes through the same dilemma and we all can feel uncomfortable and scared of becoming misfits.

This is where Tania’s need and desire to speak for them came from—the need to learn herself.

“To be perfect is like to be invisible.” – Tania Katan

By finding a way to harness her different, Tania is the epitome of “why fit in, when you can stand out”.

To hear more about how Tania went from theater to tech industry and how she thinks every rockstar business needs a punk, download and listen to this episode.

Bio:

Tania Katan is an inspirational speaker, creative consultant and co-creator of the #ItWasNeverADress campaign. She is also the best-selling author of the book, Creative Trespassing.

She has been a featured speaker at CiscoLive!, S.H.E. Summit, Business of Software, Expedia, Uber, Etsy, Humana, Google, Amazon, Comedy Central Stage, TEDx, and more. 

Links:

TaniaKatan.com

LinkedIn

Twitter

TaniaKatan.com/book

TaniaKatan.com/audiobook

We hope you enjoyed Tania Katan on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, TwitterInstagram and subscribe on iTunes!