5 Lessons from Neil Patel, Jay Samit, David Meltzer, Jeff Haden and Quentin Allums from the Humans 2.0 Podcast

I’ve spoken to many admirable individuals on the Human 2.0 podcast that made for a very memorable experience. I decided I’d repurpose the lessons from episodes into a lineup article for people to benefit and learn from without listening to the entire episodes (even though you should).

1. The Key to Disrupting Industries is Disrupting Yourself First - Jay Samit

Somehow I got the chance to talk to the legendary Jay Samit, a serial disruptor. Jay's been described by Wired magazine as "having the coolest job in the industry." 

“Embracing innovation has been a hallmark of Jay Samit's career...and that's the mindset all professionals should aspire to now. To successfully navigate today's professional landscape, you must understand the dynamics of disruption. As Jay teaches in this book, you can swim with the currents of change instead of against them. And when you do that, disruption can propel you toward new opportunities, new creative challenges, and prosperity.” ―Reid Hoffman, Founder of LinkedIn

Samit helped grow pre-IPO companies such as Linkedin and eBay. Jay has partnered with amazing innovators like Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, Reid Hoffman, David Geffen, Richard Branson, Paul Allen, and Pierre Omidyar. Combining his bold changing vision and humor, to motivate people to become disruptors within their organizations and start businesses. Samit is passionate about innovation, overcoming obstacles and in turn, helps others how to think bigger and embrace change.

Throughout the interview, Jay was spitting so much wisdom my mind was getting blown every 45 seconds. The biggest statement that stuck out to me from the interview was how to actually change the world. 

We all think of changing the world, but nobody thinks of changing themselves. It’s about changing the voice in your head that says “I’m not good at this or that.” Often times, we try to impact the outside without working on ourselves first. Look internally. Change the voice in your head that was planted in by parents, teachers, and other well-wishers that wanted to prevent you from harm. 

Learn More: Watch or Listen to the Full Podcast with Neil Patel on YouTube, iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

2. To Be Financially Successful You Just Need to Do 1 Thing Really Well - Neil Patel

Interviewing Neil Patel was a ridiculous surreal experience for me. When I started my business in November of 2016, a VR/AR agency, VU Dream, I learned all of the marketing and business knowledge from Neil Patel. Ever since I found Neil’s awesome content, I started messaging him on Facebook frequently about various topics. He responded almost every time and delivered amazing value that is invaluable. 

In case you happen to live under a rock, Neil is a New York Times Bestselling author. The Wall Street Journal calls him a top influencer on the web, Forbes says he is one of the top 10 marketers, and Entrepreneur Magazine says he created one of the 100 most brilliant companies. He was recognized as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by President Obama and a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 35 by the United Nations.

Towards the end of the nerve-wracking interview, Neil told me to be successful in life you just need to do one thing really well. You may not make as much money as you want, but you just have to do one thing really well.

In terms of business and making money, I couldn’t agree more with Neil. Specialize and lock down on one extremely specific niche and become the dominant authority. That’s how you win in today’s internet connected world. 

Learn More: Watch or Listen to the Full Podcast with Neil Patel on YouTube, iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

3. Detach Your Happiness from an Outcome to get an Outcome - David Meltzer

Another authentic and genuine legend, David Meltzer joined me in becoming the 53rd guest on the Humans 2.0 Podcast. David has a very interesting story from rags to riches to rags and then real riches. 

Dave Meltzer is the CEO of Sports 1 Marketing, one of the world’s leading sports & entertainment marketing agencies, which he co-founded with Hall of Fame Quarterback Warren Moon. Prior to S1M, he was CEO of the world’s first smartphone, the PC-E Phone, and later became CEO of the world’s most notable sports agency, Leigh Steinberg Sports and Entertainment. 

David is also the bestselling author of Connected To Goodness and Compassionate Capitalism. He was honored by Variety as “Sports Humanitarian of the Year” and is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Dave thinks that success is a matter of perspective and there are four things that will give perspective to a young entrepreneur. One is gratitude and Dave wishes somebody would have given him this advice. To take every situation and be grateful for it meaning everything doesn't happen in the timeframe that we want to so when things aren't happening the way we want them to as young people we have to actually have to be grateful and trust that the unraveling will happen. 

“The bamboo tree which grows for four years a root system and the bamboo doesn't hardly grow at all and it reminds him of a young entrepreneur where they're growing their roots building a foundation and if they stick to it with a consistent persistent enjoyment of the pursuit of their potential. A bamboo tree after the fifth year tree can grow 80 feet but seemingly in year four if they were human beings most of them would quit and never experience the growth when all they've done is the universe has provided them the foundation in which to make them strong enough to support what they want to do. Big factor of success is what I call detachment we unfortunately attach our happiness as young entrepreneurs when this happens I'll be happy when this happens, I’ll be happy and what happens is happiness doesn't come so instead you need to set those objectives and goals but detach your happiness from the outcome and just enjoy that consistent persistent pursuit of whatever it is that you want to happen and it's that growth expansion and vibration that attracted you that will help other people get what they want rapidly and accurately." - David Meltzer

Learn More: Watch or Listen to the Full Podcast with Dave Meltzer on YouTube, iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

4. You Create Motivation from Consistent Action, AKA the Process - Jeff Haden

Jeff Haden is the Best-selling author of The Motivation Myth, LinkedIn Influencer, Inc. Magazine Contributing Editor and Speaker. The Motivation Myth overturns the beloved (but false) idea that motivation leads to success, instead, small successes lead to constant motivation - and let you achieve your biggest goals while also having more fun.

"Jeff Haden is one of the biggest writers working online today not because he's a genius but because he follows the advice in this book. It's not about motivation, it's about process--and hard work."—Ryan Holiday, author of The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy

It's comforting to imagine that superstars in their fields were just born better equipped than the rest of us. When a co-worker loses 20 pounds, or a friend runs a marathon while completing a huge project at work, we assume they have more grit, more willpower, more innate talent, and above all, more motivation to see their goals through.

When I was talking to Jeff Haden on the Humans 2.0 podcast he brought up an interesting point.

“You can apply this to anything else you decide to do because if you decide to take on something else that seems really daunting and you don't know quite how to do it, but you have big your goals and dreams you can stop and say you know what, I did it with my podcast I got through that I know how that works. I I know how to grind and hustle and learn and get to where I want to be, and that's in my pocket. No matter where you want to go you can always use that as a “I know how to do this” that's not so daunting after all and that's a cool thing about doing it too because it's a confidence builder. It's confidence not based on HOORAY sentiments and slogans and posters on the wall. It's based on I earned this feeling I can achieve, if I put in the work all I have to do is put in the work and I can do things that I want to do. That is probably the coolest feeling of all because it's very empowering you can say “yeah I'll try that because I know how to do that and that's an awesome thing. - Jeff Haden

All in all meaning, you can’t wait to be motivated. It doesn’t come from sitting on your couch all day drowning your consciousness out with Instagram and TV. You need to get up, move, take one deliberate step forward and at first, you’ll be bad. When you do anything for the first time you will fail. Expect failure because it’s a normal progression of the process. If you do it day in and day out, you will see improvement, and as humans improving feels really good.

This will create a cycle of consistent action and will create motivation practically endlessly. 

Learn More: Watch or Listen to the Full Podcast with Jeff Haden on YouTube, iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

5. Using Bad Emotions as a Great Temporary Fuel Source to get out of a Bad Position - Quentin Allums

I don’t agree with the advice that says “let your haters be your fuel.” Why? Because it’s shallow and not a very strong foundation for your character. 

However, sometimes in life, before we have that integral foundation established and we are plunged in life’s terrible moments, this could potentially be a good temporary fuel source. To preface, Quentin was telling me about his story where he lost everything like his job, girlfriend in a matter of weeks and he had no money at all.

“I feel stupid saying this but the hardest thing for me during that time…it wasn't the money, it wasn't not having food, it wasn't even not being able to feed my dog it was seeing my ex-girlfriend be happy with someone else and again that sounds so stupid like looking back but honestly that's what I was thinking about and it's okay I'm gonna get over this I'm gonna get over her and I'm gonna be successful and that was my thought process and I just focused on that hatred which isn't healthy but I think at the moment it allowed me to get over that and just focused on that hatred and I'm gonna get out of this and that that's what got me out of that situation.” - Quentin Allums

Quentin said once he did that he got 3 new clients for his business. I proceeded to ask #justQ “do you think that fueled your energy and effort into getting those three clients?” 

Q replied, 100%, it definitely fueled me but again like I was hungry like I had no dog was f**king literally hungry yeah like and when you have no food when you have somebody like you have to deliver but yeah that was my thought process at that time.” 

Learn More: Watch or Listen to the Full Podcast with Quentin Allums on YouTube, iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

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You can Listen to the Humans 2.0 Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, iHeart Radio or YouTube.