Communal / SOCO Show

In our podcast, we explore imposter syndrome, a common feeling that can make us doubt our accomplishments. We share personal experiences and offer strategies for overcoming self-doubt and battling our inner critics. We discuss how social media and comparing ourselves to others can distort our achievements, but also offer tips for managing these feelings. We draw inspiration from business and martial arts experiences to highlight the importance of measuring success by our own standards. Additionally, we discuss how to confront insecurities and manage emotions, referencing insights from thought leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk, etc... We touch on topics such as artistic integrity, pricing strategies, and maintaining personal and professional integrity in business. Emphasizing the value of authentic relationships, we discuss how they can boost confidence and help overcome imposter syndrome. Join us on this journey of self-discovery and growth as we shed light on our struggles and victories.

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(0:00:01) - Understanding Imposter Syndrome

(0:09:48) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Vulnerability

(0:21:04) - Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt Symptoms

(0:24:38) - Negative Self-Talk and Learning From Mistakes

(0:27:00) - Types of Imposter Syndrome

(0:35:19) - Imposter Syndrome and Pricing Struggles

(0:42:33) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Achieving Integrity

(0:49:36) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Business

(1:01:24) - Building Authentic Relationships and Confidence

Join us as we explore the transformative power of flow state, where productivity meets passion and challenges align with skills. We discuss myths of multitasking, deep work environments, and rituals for productivity. Delving into mindfulness and the acceptance of failure, we uncover the keys to achieving and sustaining flow, emphasizing the balance between skill and challenge. Tune in to discover how to cultivate flow in your life, whether tackling projects or pursuing hobbies, and reshape your approach to work and creativity.

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(0:00:00) - Exploring the Power of Flow State

(0:08:02) - Characteristics of Flow State

(0:20:00) - Finding and Sustaining Flow State

(0:30:24) - Achieving Flow State in Work

(0:42:35) - Achieving Flow State in Work

(0:52:52) - Achieving Flow State Through Mindfulness

Renovating an old property can be as soul-sapping as it is sweat-inducing, something Greg has come to know all too well. It's during these times of sacrifice and relentless effort that the true value of hard work emerges—a topic we're unpacking with raw honesty in our latest episode. We cover the spectrum of dedication and the sometimes punishing path to personal and professional growth. Alongside, we raise a glass to the tenacity required to chase dreams, reminding listeners that while the journey is arduous, the rewards are in the richness of the experience.

Our conversation takes a turn through the intricate dance of earning and living—pondering if less money could mean more life. As Gene and Greg reveal our divergent strategies towards achieving our aspirations, we dissect the harmony between analytical planning and cosmic trust, and the universal quest for a life brimming with purpose beyond the monotonous grind. We debate, we reflect, and we invite you to reconsider the milestones that matter, all the while navigating the tricky terrain of maintaining momentum without succumbing to burnout.

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(0:00:10) - Ode to Hard Work and Sacrifice

(0:12:46) - The Importance of Hard Work

(0:22:23) - Hard Work and Life Balance

(0:28:46) - Challenges and Perspectives on Success

(0:36:54) - Work-Life Balance, Burnout, and Dreams

(0:43:55) - Preparing for Hard Work Success

Buckle up as we expose a fundamental truth: failure is not the end, but a critical step of personal and professional evolution. Let's shed some light on how our most poignant learnings are often born from the ashes of failure. Our objective in this episode is to tilt your perspective on failure, urging you to treat it as an opportunity for learning and growth, rather than as a roadblock.

We discuss the necessity of stepping beyond our comfort zones and welcoming discomfort. We highlight real-world instances where flourishing companies and individuals have employed these principles to achieve their objectives. Inviting you to join us in this quest, we urge you to confront new challenges and perceive failure not as a full stop, but a stepping stone to knowledge and growth. Listen in on this raw and real conversation, and together, let's redefine failure.

--------- EPISODE CHAPTERS WITH SHORT KEY POINTS ---------

(0:00:00) - Embracing Failure and Learning From Mistakes

Failure is a tool for growth, and its effects vary in different environments, allowing us to learn and develop skills.

(0:12:26) - Exploring Fear and Resilience

We explore comfort, failure, fear of failure, and supportive environments to develop resilience.

(0:16:48) - Building Tolerance and Resilience

Yvonne Schwinnard's example, David Goggins' philosophy, and taking risks to grow are discussed to increase capacity for success through discomfort.

(0:29:38) - Embrace Failure, Step Outside Comfort Zones

Risk-taking, discomfort, and pushing boundaries are essential for success, discussed through cultural business practices, parenting, and Instagram's example.

(0:38:31) - Embracing Failure for Growth Mindset

We discuss risks, growth mindset, and failure as opportunities to learn and grow.

Ever felt a pull to take a leap into the unknown? Alicia certainly did. Trading her corporate career for becoming a life coach and digital nomad, Alicia's journey is truly inspiring. She was the first employee of the outdoor gear company Arc'teryx, but after attending a transformational leadership summit, her life took a completely new direction. Alicia shares her journey from being a 9-5 employee to a life coach who now guides others to embrace change and fulfill their potential.

Alicia's path is far from traditional, but it was her mentor’s advice to 'never waste a crisis' that sparked a significant change in her life. She and her partner chose to live a more meaningful life, a life beyond just financial gains. Alicia’s optimism and coaching skills played a crucial role in helping her partner switch from an unfulfilling job to a more satisfying career. Listen in as Alicia discusses her experiences, her decision to live abroad and the unique insights she has gained throughout her journey.

Alicia's travel stories from the US, Belize, Costa Rica, and now to Panama are more about people and relationships than destinations. In our discussion, Alicia talks about her decision to move to Panama with her family, the challenges they are facing, and the life lessons they are learning. She shares how embracing a new culture and environment shaped them. As they prepare to move to Panama in two weeks, Alicia reveals her plans to build a co-working space in the Panama jungle and shares her dream of living a more meaningful life with intentional work-life integration. Her inspiring journey of transformation provides us with a fresh perspective on embracing change and finding meaning in our lives.

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(0:00:01) - Life Coaching and Pursuing Non-Traditional Paths

(0:13:23) - Embracing Change and Pursuing Possibilities

(0:26:57) - Reflections on Travel and Personal Growth

(0:36:42) - Choosing Panama

(0:47:48) - Moving to Panama

Have you ever wondered how to gracefully juggle leadership roles without losing your authentic self? Curious about how to keep that spark alive in your personal life without dropping the ball at work? Grab a chair, sit back, and join us as we navigate the thrilling yet challenging terrain of balancing leadership and personal life. We approach this intricate subject with insights on different types of leadership, highlighting the importance of leading with less ego, while also emphasizing the significance of resilience and working through problems.

As the conversation unfolds, we tackle the art of maintaining authenticity and transparency as a leader, striking a balance between being open and strategic. We dive into the essence of self-care amidst our busy schedules, underlining the importance of carving out time for oneself. We share our intriguing concept of 'no zero days', stressing how the simple act of completing one task daily can supercharge your productivity.

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(0:00:01) - Balancing Leadership and Personal Life

(0:07:34) - Hope, Resilience, and Embracing Challenges

(0:17:43) - Navigating Authentic Leadership and Transparency

(0:30:27) - Managing Work and Personal Life

(0:39:40) - Self-Care for Busy Schedules

(0:46:06) - Time for Self-Care and Work-Life Balance

(0:50:23) - Questions, Sales, and Helping Others

Fiona Martin, the triathlete, marketer, environmentalist, and farmer is this episode's focus. She shares her entrepreneurial journey into the digital marketing world and her zeal for sustainable farming, get prepared to be engulfed with inspiration from each word. Her Scottish-American upbringing and the influence of her family, not only add a unique flavor to her story but become the cornerstone of her life decisions.

We couldn't help but delve into the captivating concept of a worker's own cooperative, a business model that allows people to pool their resources for growth. As we unravel the critiques of capitalism, we discover how cooperatives have often come to the rescue. Fiona throws light on how to create cooperatives that can outlive their creators and serve as exit strategies for business owners. Be ready to have your thoughts stimulated by the insightful discussions surrounding the incorporation, benefits, and challenges of this model.

Fiona's life as a competitive triathlete is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The motivation, the intense regimen, and the effect on her personal life- Fiona spills it all. She embodies the power of prioritizing goals and balancing life. These conversations about goal commitment, trade-offs, and the mental strength required for ambitious pursuits like long-distance events will make you rethink your own life choices. Fiona's perspective on creating and breaking habits and making sustainable changes in life is an eye-opener. Get ready for an enriching ride into Fiona Martin's world!

--------- EPISODE CHAPTERS ---------

(0:00:10) - Fiona Martin

(0:10:42) - Cooperative Models in Capitalist Economies

(0:19:27) - Creating a Workers' Own Cooperative

(0:33:50) - Prioritizing Goals and Balancing Life

(0:40:45) - Trade-Offs and Commitment in Pursuing Goals

(0:44:59) - The Importance of Sustainable Change

The Power of Essentialism in Pursuing a Focused and Fulfilling Life

In this episode, we dive into the book "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown, exploring its principles and how they can help individuals struggling with burnout or feeling overwhelmed. We discuss the importance of focusing on doing less but better and giving full attention to what truly matters in both our professional and personal lives. By examining the framework of essence, explore, eliminate, and execute, we consider how to shift our priorities and create a more fulfilling and balanced experience. We also discuss the pervasive issue of burnout and the importance of identifying what is truly essential in our lives to combat it. We explore the concept of "less but better" and how it can impact our lives positively by focusing on the things that truly matter to us and learning to say no to requests that don't align with our priorities. Additionally, we delve into the importance of routines and the idea of starting small to generate big results, emphasizing that continuous improvement is more valuable than attempting to achieve perfection. Throughout the episode, we touch on tools and approaches to better understand and apply the concepts of essentialism, highlighting the importance of context when forming and building better habits. We also emphasize the importance of discipline in implementing these concepts and maintaining progress over time. Join us as we unpack the principles of essentialism and share insights on how to create a more focused, fulfilling, and efficient life.

Chapters:

(0:00:01) - The Pursuit of Less

(0:05:57) - What Matters in Life?

(0:10:37) - What Matters When Nothing Matters

(0:24:09) - Protecting What Matters

(0:29:34) - Practicing Habits for Improved Efficiency

(0:37:46) - Making Things Effortless

(0:46:38) - Mindful Momentum

(0:57:17) - The Discipline of Essentialism

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of time management and productivity, a challenge faced by many ambitious individuals and entrepreneurs.

We discuss the difficulties of balancing work and personal life, as well as the importance of leveraging tools, skills, and resources to make the most out of our limited time. Our guest, Starlight Miller, shares her experience as an entrepreneur in residence at Richland Library, where she provided mentorship and inspiration to aspiring business owners. We explore the importance of learning from others on similar journeys and the concept of doing more with less. As we discuss the creation of a new company centered around helping people make better decisions with limited information and disconnected systems, we delve into the complexities of optimizing time management and understanding oneself.

We emphasize the significance of ensuring that a process works before attempting to optimize or automate it, to avoid amplifying existing issues and inefficiencies. Throughout the conversation, we touch on the importance of self-awareness, finding one's optimal "lane" in business, and navigating the challenges of transitioning from an employee to a business owner. By focusing on what brings you joy and conviction, you can build a sustainable business that aligns with your values and goals. Join us as we investigate the concept of connecting technology with human behavior and preferences for better time management and productivity, and explore the idea of building a for-profit community-based company.

We also reflect on the importance of considering our goals and aspirations in the early stages of entrepreneurship, especially when aiming to build a company bigger than ourselves. Tune in to this insightful and thought-provoking episode as we discuss our struggles with time management, learn from each other's experiences, and share valuable insights to help you optimize your life and achieve success in your personal and professional endeavors.

Greg & Gene discuss tools and tactics for looking back at your year and setting goals for the next one. How it can be a helpful and rewarding process.

Here are some steps you can follow to make the most of this exercise:

1. Reflect on your year: Take some time to think about the events, experiences, and accomplishments of the past year. What went well? What didn’t go as planned? What did you learn from these experiences?
2. Identify your values and priorities: Consider what is most important to you in life. This could be things like family, career, personal growth, or health. Understanding your values and priorities will help you set goals that align with what matters most to you.
3. Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals: To make your goals as effective as possible, try to make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, instead of setting a goal to “exercise more,” you could set a goal to “exercise for 30 minutes, three times per week.”
4. Make a plan: Once you have identified your goals, think about what steps you need to take to achieve them. Break your goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks and create a plan of action.
5. Track your progress: As you work towards your goals, make sure to track your progress. This can help you stay motivated and see how far you’ve come.
6. Be flexible: While it’s important to have a plan, it’s also important to be flexible and adapt to changes that may come up. If you encounter challenges or setbacks, don’t be afraid to adjust your goals or your plan as needed.

Overall, the process of looking back at your year and setting goals for the next one can be a valuable opportunity to reflect on your past experiences and chart a path forward. By setting SMA

Erinn Rowe serves as CEO of Harvest Hope Food Bank, managing the organization’s operations through its three locations in the Midlands, Pee Dee and Upstate of South Carolina. Prior to joining Harvest Hope, Erinn worked with Bank of America for 10 years as the Senior Treasury Sales Analyst for Commercial Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In this role, Erinn and her team worked with companies that had revenue ranging from $5 million to $2 billion annually, proactively providing relevant insights and integrated financial solutions to help those companies succeed. Before banking, Erinn owned and operated a franchise of Young Chef’s Academy, a children’s cooking school which promoted healthy eating and skill-based learning for kids and adults of all ages. Erinn and her family live in the Midlands of South Carolina.

Why is running your business such a lonely adventure? It doesn’t have to be that way. Find your people, your group, your mentors to help you on your journey.

What is SOCO FORUMS?

Peer mentoring and coaching designed to help passionate, hard working entrepreneurs like you make a life and not just a living.

Forums was designed by SOCO, a thriving platform and community focused on supporting indie workers, creators and entrepreneurs JUST LIKE YOU.  We’ve spent nearly a decade working with hundreds of entrepreneurs to help them build a life and not just a living.  It’s our passion, our “zone of genius” and what gets us out of bed in the morning.

https://soco-work.com/forums

Dr. Padgett is a humble man. He's a living legend as far as i'm concerned and will never admit it but probably one of the more important figures (even if behind the scenes) that contributed to the music lore of Columbia through the 90's. Through his love of music and booking for his now legendary venue Rockafellas. He is wonderful to talk to, let's all try to learn from his words in this latest episode of the SOCO Podcast.

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Dr. Scott Padgett is a music writer, producer & archivist dating back to his college days as a program director at WUSC radio in Columbia, SC. He followed that with radio programming & production work in the new frontier of the 'FM underground'.

A stint as music editor at the southeast's pioneering alternative newsweekly Osceola Magazine led to becoming the first music writer/columnist at Free Times Magazine. His work appeared in Billboard, the Village Voice, Rolling Stone and practcally every other regional art/political outlet extant through the early nineties.

After a stint in radio in Los Angeles & later at Warner Brothers Studios, he returned to the south where he and co-conspirator Steve Gibson vowed to bring live spectrum-spanning music to the masses. Thus was born the legendary Rockafellas music venue and artist management company.

Working through Ian Copeland's legendary musical talent booking firm FBI, the likes of Soundgarden, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, et. al. were initially exposed to club venues all over the U.S.

He is a contributor and social media monitor for semi-important e-music rags as well as several fly-by-night blogs and has a music industry specific twitter account @AntiBonIver which draws on a digest of 104 music news outlets for content.

Founder of Words First Content Strategy and Words First Community

Bailey guides digital teams to create more human, intentional content that connects with their audiences and help people do business with them online.

She teaches next-level content strategy tactics and processes for organizations all over the globe, with the goal of improving her clients’ business and, at the same time, bettering the digital world we all spend so much time in every day.

Greg and Gene talk through some of things that you may encounter in your life as a business owner or dreamer. Working hard is often something that we are praised for and for good reason but what happens when you find yourself constantly trying to reach for that ever unreachable horizon?

For many, living in the gap can be a tremendous motivator, pushing you to achieve more, create more value or impact more people’s lives.  But for a lot of us, it represents a moving target that we’ll never reach…leading to tremendous frustration, angst and dissatisfaction.

Andi is one of those people that you just want to get to know. She is a strong leader who leads from the front with a strong sense of confidence and a solid dose of humility to boot. Through starting her agency in 2005-ish to recent acquisitions and move from the beach to the mountains that we all dream of this is one conversation i’m sure you’ll get some great advice from.

In her own words: “All great opportunities start with a conversation. An idea shared, a connection made, and a dream sparked into reality. Those conversations can take place almost anywhere and at any time. It’s my job to make sure your voice is strong, consistent, and memorable.”

Happily creating opportunities via Open Source. All Things Open, Open Source 101. The most grateful person you're likely to encounter today.

I've known Todd for over a decade, we met way back when during his first Open Source event he was producing. He's been a creative force in the tech / open source conference scene for a long time. Let's check in with him and see how his events are shaping up and how they've handled the world during and post pandemic.

Todd has been building open source conferences, events and communities for more than 10 years, and working in the technology industry for more than 15. He created and now chairs All Things Open, the largest open source/tech/web event on the East Coast of the U.S. as well as the Open Source 101 event series. In addition, he’s served as an advisor for other influential events around the country you’ve probably heard of.

Tyler is an art director/graphic designer, illustrator, and all-around creative force born in Lakecity, SC. Holding a degree in Visual Design he went the traditional route of working for a creative agency as an Art Director eventually leading to him spreading his wings as a full time single minded force of visual creativity. 

Located in downtown Greenville, SC, Fireforge Crafted Beer is a locally-owned, small-batch craft brewery, taproom, kitchen and pleasure garden focused on ever-changing beers inspired by the people, places and culinary palates they love.

In addition to a range of in-house brewed beer, Fireforge offers wine, cider, non-alcoholic drinks, shareable snacks, sandwiches, house-smoked BBQ, charcuterie boards and desserts. The menu is seasonally-inspired and locally-sourced. On Friday and Saturday evenings, enjoy local, regional and original live music.

Driven to create with passion and serve with enthusiasm, the Fireforge team is on a quest to deliver the greatest beer-centered experience to each guest.

Starlitt is a focused, inspired and driven entrepreneur. It was an enlightening conversation as we explored both the creative and analytical sides of her continuing story.