My guest is Brendan Synnott. Brendan co-founded the organic food brand Bear Naked Granola. He wound up selling the brand to Kellogg for $80 Million. Although it was a big win… there was a LOT of ups and downs and Brendan is very open about the fact that he battled depression after the sale.  But he got help and started to live life in a new way. In the years since the sale, he’s launched 5 other brands… oh… and he was also on Survivor! Now he’s taking on the $3 trillion apparel industry (the world’s second-largest polluter) as CEO of the organic, fair-trade cotton apparel company called Pact Organic.  During our interview, we talk about what it takes to get clear and go after a goal, what happens when the goal changes things (BIG TIME) and how to create a new mindset and set new goals too! I think you’re going to love this real and raw conversation!     Listen To The Podcast:     Brendan Synnott RESOURCES:   To find out more about Pact visit: www.WearPact.com. While you’re there… enter promo code:  DREAMTHINKDO Brendan is giving the DTD family 40% off for a limited time!!!   DETAILS: My guest this week is Brendan Synnott … who is a true renaissance man.   He was raised by a single mom and grew up in Connecticut.  Brendan went to college in Nashville and graduated from Vanderbilt. One of his first jobs out of school was as a production assistant on Saturday Night Live!  So his day job was to be a handler of celebrities as they’d come to do the show. While he was home for the summer (since SNL takes the summers off), he ran into a friend who was making organic granola cereal and selling it at farmer's markets.  Since he’d always been entrepreneurial, he asked if he could help. So they launched Bear Naked - organic granola.   They started to get their product on local grocery store shelves and it started to grow from there.  They had to fight through a number of peaks and valleys but they eventually sold to Kelloggs for $80 million.  That’s right… $80 million. During our conversation, you’ll hear that although it was a huge win… Brendan got hit by significant depression after the sale.  He attributes that to a number of factors. The wild ride. The fact that many of his friends worked for the company, so it was tough to let it go.  Plus, a lot of his identity was wrapped up in the brand, so it was tough when it was no longer part of his life. But afterward, he spent time figuring out life.     He went on Survivor.   He also met his wife… and they started their family.   Oh… and he also got clear on the type of companies he liked to start and be involved with.  For example, he realized he LOVES to disrupt industries by bringing products that allow for more transparency, more connection to the customer, and products that are better for the environment. For example, he launched PACT ORGANIC which is an organic, fair-trade cotton apparel company where he’s also the CEO. Obviously, this dude has packed a lot in and made life an amazing journey… and we’re going to talk about how he’s pushed through fear to do just that! Here’s are the specifics and time break down of the interview:   MINUTE BY MINUTE: 0:02 What to expect today! 1:02 Meet Brendan 3:47 All of Brendan's business ventures 5:65 When Brendan worked at Saturday Day Night Live 7:51 Why Brendan got into the granola business 10:05 Brendan's advice to anyone facing an opportunity 12:32 How Brendan handled investors 17:49 How Brendan survived his 20's 20:59 What Brendan learned from Survivor 23:31 The only thing worse than fast food 27:38 Mitch's biggest takeaways   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here

Let’s talk: TIME BLOCKING.  As you probably know… “time blocking” is a type of scheduling that helps you manage your time more effectively.  The key is scheduling specific blocks of time for certain tasks on a routine basis. These blocks enable you to focus on finishing big and small tasks… one at a time. This helps limit distractions, get things done faster, and leaves you feeling less overwhelmed. This is especially powerful if you’re working on something new or a side hustle, and you need to make/find time to get things done.  In this episode, we do a DEEP DIVE on the 5 keys to effective time blocking. Plus, we throw in a case study with one of my coaching clients who’s been experimenting with TB for a few months. We’re going to talk with him about what he’s learned and what he wishes he’d known earlier!     Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: DOWNLOAD the FREE DTD PDF GUIDE for this episode. To find out more about Mitch’s concept of “Calendar-Driven To-Do Lists,” check out: DREAM THINK DO: episode 237 Find out more about Justin Aldridge at  www.JustinAldridge.me   MORE ABOUT EPISODE:   As we’ve said, “time blocking” is an approach to scheduling that enables you to prioritize your time more efficiently.  The core concept is scheduling specific blocks on your calendar for specific types of tasks on a routine basis.     These rhythms help you to focus and it helps limit distractions.  That way you can get things done faster, and have more clarity as you do!      This is incredibly powerful if you’re wanting to focus on a big project, launching something new or working a side hustle.  It will help you to make/find time to get things done. I’m going to walk you through the 5 Keys to effective time blocking plus, we’re going to hear from one of my coaching clients who’s been killing it with these strategies for the last few months.  We’re going to talk about what’s worked and what he wished he’d known earlier.   Here are the KEYS to EFFECTIVE Time Blocking:   KEY 1: Decide on HOW MANY hours you want/can work on your project/hobby/business MOST weeks.       When we dig into this KEY, we’ll discuss the importance of involving other key players in your life in this decision.  Plus, we talk about why this is so important early on. (And… why that number may be smaller than you’d like… but it’s still CRITICAL!!!)   KEY 2: Decide on WHEN you want to SPEND those hours MOST weeks.       The key here is sustainability and consistency.  It’s sooooo easy to try to force 5 lbs of almonds into a 2 lbs bag… but you’ll get more done in less time… if you block out appointments with yourself to get key work done in advance.     We talk about one strategy to help with those especially wild weeks and how to bring those back into check too.   KEY 3: Then SCHEDULE protected “meetings” with yourself to protect your TIME BLOCKS.        This is imperative and takes some time to get used to, but it will make all the difference.  It’s as simple as going to your calendar and making appointments with yourself for specific tasks.  You’ll need to check things against your day-to-day schedule… and then establish strategies for protecting your time blocks as the “wildness of life” comes.  (Because… as we all know… it will come!)     KEY 4: DECIDE on some “rules” to guide you on when you would cancel a time block and when you’d protect it!         This “key” is included because we’re using TIME BLOCKING in the real world.  As we said, “wildness of life” will come, but now’s your chance to prep for it.  You’ll want to involve other key players and stakeholders… so everyone can be on the same page when you’re making decisions to switch or stick with a time block.  Plus, you’ll want to decide on some “nice” ways to say NO.   KEY 5: DECIDE on what you want to ACCOMPLISH during a specific time block BEFORE it starts.

We’re talking with Chris Patterson.  Chris is the Founder and CEO of Interchanges, a strategic digital marketing agency, that has generated over a Billion dollars of revenue for their clients over the past 19 years.  Interchanges have worked with a wide range of companies ranging from Lamborghini to Palace Resorts to Hard Rock hotels. Chris's true passion is helping people get from where they are in life to where they want to be.  That passion came from making a lot of mistakes as a kid but then he met Zig Ziglar. Their life-changing relationship helped Chris shift his perspective so he could achieve incredible success and help others to do it too!     Listen To The Podcast:     Chris Patterson RESOURCES: Chris’s strategic digital marketing agency: Interchanges  Chris’s coaching site: Live Large Coaching.      Chris began life from very humble beginnings in Windsor, Ontario Canada.   He grew up poor and was forced to figure out how to survive at a very young age.  As a result, Chris will be the first to tell you that he made lots of mistakes. He experienced severe depression after getting mixed up with the wrong crowd and being fired from multiple jobs.  Things weren’t looking good.   Patterson's life took an incredible shift in 1995 when he reluctantly attended a success seminar with his dad.  Zig Ziglar was the featured speaker and he blew Chris away with his message of hope, success, and positivity.   That interaction with Ziglar started a sequence of events that would change Chris forever.  He started to listen to his “tapes,” yes… tapes. And more importantly… started to apply Zig’s strategies for living a full and successful life.   Fast forward 3 years and Chris was managing a fitness club.  Low and behold, his hero… Zig Ziglar walked in the door. Through some quick thinking, Chris made Zig an offer that he couldn't refuse.  "I will work on your physical health for free 3 hours per week  as your personal trainer if you agree to work  on my mental health for free just one hour per week."   Zig accepted the offer and changed Chris’s life forever.    Fast forward to today, Chris has become a very successful entrepreneur who runs two successful businesses. Chris is grateful to say he’s become a multi-millionaire from the wisdom he learned from Zig and many of the other mentors in his life. Now, he’s passionate about sharing stories and strategies to help others break through setbacks and tough histories… to live a life they love.      In our conversation we talk about: 0:02 What to expect today! 1:30 Get to know Chris Patterson 2:20 Chris’s hidden superpower 5:07 How Zig Ziglar impacted Chris 9:01 How Chris landed Zig as a client 12:30 The biggest nuggets Chris took away from Zig 19:01 The power of authenticity 21:27 The art of knowing when to stop 22:24 How to connect with Chris 23:36 Wisdom of the week 25:08 Mitch’s biggest takeaway’s   What stood out to YOU?  Leave a comment with your favorite tip, story, or strategy from the episode.  I can’t wait to hear from YOU!   Listen to Mitch Mattews Top Podcast here

We’re doing a deep dive into a strategy I used to meet 50 interesting people in a year.  It came at a REALLY important time. I had just moved to a new area. I was trying to launch my business but I didn’t know anyone and no one knew me!  I HATED (and still do) typical “networking” style meetings, so I needed to find a different way. I uncovered a strategy along with 5 specific questions that made all the difference.  It helped me to connect with some incredible people and grow some rich relationships. Plus, this “people-meeting” strategy was sustainable for me… even though I’m a PROUD introvert! In this episode, I will walk you through the story, the strategy, and the questions that I still use every week!  We all know that if we want to make an impact in the world… we can’t do it alone. This strategy will help you to build your tribe, make some new friends, and have a positive impact on the world in the process!     Listen To The Podcast:     RESOURCES: PREVIOUS DTD EPISODES DEALING WITH THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME: “3 Questions to Breakthrough Fear” with Amy E. Smith - www.MitchMatthews.com/231    “Getting out of Your Own Way!” with Susan Baroncini-Moe - www.MitchMatthews.com/176  “Beating the Fear of Public Speaking” with Felicia Slattery - www.MitchMatthews.com/174    THE FIVE QUESTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED:   “Tell me something I should know about you.”  “What’s something you’re working on right now? “What’s something you’re excited about?” “Who are you needing to meet?” “Who else should I meet?”   TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODE:   All right. I'm excited about this. It's been a while since we've done a deep dive where it's just you and me talking, so I'm excited about this.  I'll tell you what, the topic for this particular episode came from one of my coaching clients. He's a newer entrepreneur doing some really cool stuff, really trying to grow his business in different ways. He's got something that he's growing that I believe is going to be global, but he is new to his area, really kind of trying to establish himself. He's trying to establish his brand. He came to me, and one of the things we were talking about was how do you do that? How do you grow your network? How do you grow your connections? It really led to an interesting conversation and a memory, maybe an insight, that I've realized is at the core of my business, but sometimes don't you need to just have conversations that help to draw out some of that stuff out? It's like those core beliefs that are always around you. You're living by them, but maybe you don't always recognize that, right, until you have a conversation or somebody asks you a question. Well, that was definitely the case, and one of the things we started to dig into is this strategy that has really been foundational for me as an entrepreneur, but it's also been really important over the last almost two decades, it's crazy to think about, for growing my business, but also more so, maybe more so, growing rich relationships in my life. Because I believe it's important to have a good, solid network. It's good to know people. It's good to be connected, all of those things. If you're just doing that for networking's sake, that's pretty gross. Do you know what I mean?  I'm an introvert, so there's going to be a lot of biases that I share with you that might just totally be biased towards the introvert, but I can tell you, it's one of those having a bunch of relationships where I kind of know one or a few things about a lot of people, but not have any rich relationships. It doesn't sound all that satisfying to me. Plus, I look back on how my business got started and kind of where it is now, and I've realized, one of the ways that I've grown what I'm wildly blessed to say is a business that I love is really trying to provide value. Meeting people, connecting with people,