Category Archives: The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

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The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: October 2

The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: October 2 written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch on The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur – October 2

It’s time for another episode of The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur. Once a week, I’m coming to you with a reading from my new book, due out in October 2019. The book is structured around 366 daily readings from some of the great works of the mid-19th Century, and then I share my thoughts on how that quote relates to the modern entrepreneurial journey.

Today’s Reading: Done Growing

“Lord, when shall we be done growing? As long as we have anything more to do, we have done nothing…Lord, when shall we be done changing? Ah! it’s a long stage, and no inn in sight, and night coming, and the body cold.”

Herman Melville Letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne – published in Memories of Hawthorne by Rose Hawthorne Lathrop (1897)

Here’s another question to ponder, when shall we start growing? Melville admitted in an earlier letter to Hawthorne, “Until I was twenty-five I had no growth at all. From my twenty-fifth year I date my life.”

Growth requires change, change is hard, so growth is hard.

Stop growing and life stagnates, but as Melville seems to express, it’s exhausting at times. Mainly because growth doesn’t happen by hoping or even setting audacious goals. It happens when you admit where you are now and accept all the chapters in your past without regret.

From this lucid place you can chart your growth.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we got a cake and celebrated each step in our personal growth, you know instead of simply acknowledging we lived another year.

Admit we don’t know it all—cake, realize we don’t have to react—cake, decide to leave a toxic job—cake, hug more, forgive sooner—cake, learn how to listen to and support team members—cake, admit, without blame, that our parent’s shortcomings don’t define us—cake.

Maybe those are our real “birth” days?

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot to unpack there! One of the things that became clear to me as I was doing research for this is how much the writers of that time knew each other and spent time with each other. A lot of the writings that I came across were letters back and forth amongst these famous authors, and it’s interesting to get that private perspective on these very public people.

But now to focus on the content of the reading itself. Wouldn’t it be amazing if, instead of getting a birthday cake just because we’d aged another year, we instead celebrated moments of growth? Maybe some years we’d get seven or eight cakes on our birthday, if we had a particularly growth-filled year. It’s worth paying attention to the fact that we are never going to be done growing. While change and growth can be scary, they become less scary when you consider the alternative.

And now for today’s challenge question: Do you tend to focus on the positive or negative traits of others? Why?

Want to learn more about The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur? Click here.

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!

This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by SEMrush.

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The Ryan Hanley Show Podcast – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

The Ryan Hanley Show Podcast – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

There are a lot of parallels to be found between the ideals of the transcendentalist movement and the precepts that guide today’s entrepreneurs. That’s what inspired John Jantsch to write his upcoming book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, featuring 366 daily meditations that help feed the entrepreneurial soul and spirit, while encouraging self-exploration on the journey of building your business.

On this episode of The Ryan Hanley Show, Jantsch discusses this upcoming book, and why self-reliance matters in business and in every other aspect of our lives

Check it out – The Ryan Hanley Show podcast with John Jantsch

9 Motivational Books That Will Make Great Gifts – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

9 Motivational Books That Will Make Great Gifts – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

John Jantsch’s latest book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, due out on October 22, 2019, has been named to Inc’s list of 9 Motivational Books That Will Make Great Gifts.

The book was inspired by Jantsch’s own 30-year entrepreneurial journey, and features 366 meditations designed to inspire and challenge readers. Each daily entry features a reading from authors who were part of the transcendentalist movement, which Jantsch identifies as one of the first movements in the United States to embrace and champion entrepreneurial ideals and themes.

Check it out – Inc’s List of 9 Motivational Books That Will Make Great Gifts

Project Distinct Podcast – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

Project Distinct Podcast – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

John Jantsch serves as guest host on this special episode of the Project Distinct Podcast. He speaks about his upcoming book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, and shares stories from his own entrepreneurial journey. The book is designed to guide entrepreneurs through some of the professional and personal challenges they’ll face on their own paths, and the Project Distinct team calls this episode a “must listen!”

Check it out – Project Distinct’s Podcast Episode with John Jantsch

Elaine Fogel Q&A – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

Elaine Fogel Q&A – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

John Jantsch, marketing expert and the author of several books, sits down with Elaine Fogel to discuss his upcoming book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur. Due out in October 2019, the book is a series of 366 meditations for entrepreneurs, featuring readings from famous transcendentalist authors and John’s musings from his 30 year journey as an entrepreneur.

In this Q&A, he shares what inspired him to write the book, why he chose mid-19th Century authors as the centerpiece for this work on modern-day entrepreneurial life, and what he thinks readers will take away from the work.

Check it out – Elaine Fogel’s Q&A with the Author of The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur.

The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: September 25

The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: September 25 written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch on The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur – September 25

I’m back with another reading from my upcoming book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, due out in October 2019. For those of you who are just tuning into this special podcast series, the book is structured as 366 daily meditations for entrepreneurs, with readings from some of the great works of the mid-19th Century and commentary from me on how it all relates to the entrepreneurial journey.

Today’s Reading: Immortal Impact

Honor is venerable to us because it is no ephemera. It is always ancient virtue. We worship it today because it is not of today. We love it and pay it homage because it is not a trap for our love and homage, but is self-dependent, self-derived, and therefore of an old immaculate pedigree, even if shown in a young person.

Ralph Waldo Emerson – Self-Reliance (1841)

The true accounting for your contribution to the world won’t be complete until long after you are gone. That’s what Emerson seems to acknowledge.

But, he also seems to suggest that he realizes that in his work and accordingly urges us to work today with that idea of immortal impact in mind.

Do you recognize or even acknowledge that that decision you make today in your entrepreneurial journey have the potential for far reaching positive impact in the lives of thousands, maybe millions of people? Is that exciting or scary?

Honor is not a meme, it’s here to stay. Honorable work today, will be honorably recognized tomorrow.

Final Thoughts

Reading some of these works like Self Reliance can be a challenge. Honor is venerable to us because it is no ephemera – what he was saying was that we love honorable actions. We can expand that to mean dedicated work, adding value, consistency, because it’s not short-lived.

What I love about this reading is the way that he finishes it. Honor is not necessarily something that people grow to have. You can certainly develop more honor over the years – I like to think that I have – but I also like to think that I started with a certain degree of honor.

It’s always amazing when you come across someone that you know is just honorable in the way they carry themselves. It radiates, but it’s also something that is every day, out of sight, in the decisions that you make. It’s not just about telling the truth, it’s about having the point of view that the work you’re doing as an entrepreneur will impact people. You will have immortal impact. I think that’s a pretty cool thing to go after.

And with that, I hope you’ll ponder today’s challenge question: How do you know when you are making a good decision? How does it feel?

Want to learn more about The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur? Click here.

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!

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The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: September 18

The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: September 18 written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch on The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur – September 18

It’s time for another episode featuring a reading from my upcoming book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, due out in October 2019. If you’ve been following along, you know that the book is structured as 366 daily meditations for entrepreneurs, with readings from famous Transcendentalist authors and commentary from me on how it all relates to the entrepreneurial journey.

Today’s Reading: Find Your Gifts

But the great Master said, “I see/No best in kind, but in degree;/I gave a various gift to each,/To charm, to strengthen, and to teach.//”These are the three great chords of might,/And he whose ear is tuned aright/Will hear no discord in the three,/But the most perfect harmony.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – “The Singers” The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1854)

Poetry is hard for most so here’s the full context of what goes on in The Singers. There are three musicians and people can’t figure out which one is the best so the great Master assures them they are all great for different reasons and if you listen with that in mind all you can hear is the most perfect harmony.

Okay now go reread the stanza above and it may be much more lyrical.

So, how do you find harmony in a world of difference? How do you find yourself and your place in the band?

Or to quote Deepak Chopra, “There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.”

Your values, the things that mean the most to you in life right now, are the keys to understanding your gifts. The musicians in the poem above employed their gifts to charm, to strengthen, and to teach.

How about you? Journal, get alone, ask your three closest friends. Don’t sweat it – as long as you are actively looking – your gifts will find you.

Final Thoughts

I think there’s a lot of pressure today, particularly on entrepreneurs, to prove their success and self-worth. To some degree, that’s why you see so much nonsense on social media.

Deepak Chopra says, “there are no extra pieces in the universe,” and that idea that we’re all unique, connected, and here for a purpose? It’s powerful. I don’t know that I’ll ever find my purpose and my gifts, but I think it’s cool to live with the idea that I can relax because I’m meant to be here. My job is to insist on myself and never copy.

With that in mind, I leave you with today’s challenge question: When was the last time you got lost in the present and time disappeared? What were you doing?

Want to learn more about The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur? Click here.

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!

Want to learn more and take advantage of a 14-day free trial? Just go to intercom.com/podcast.

The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: September 11

The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: September 11 written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch on The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur – September 11

Each week this month, I’ll be doing a reading from my upcoming book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, due out in October 2019. The book is structured as 366 daily meditations for entrepreneurs, with readings from famous Transcendentalist authors and commentary from me on how it all relates to the entrepreneurial journey.

Today’s Reading: Solving Impact

The continuity of life is never broken; the river flows onward and is lost to our sight, but under its new horizon it carries the same waters which it gathered under ours, and its unseen valleys are made glad by the offerings which are borne down to them from the past,—flowers, perchance, the germs of which its own waves had planted on the banks of Time.

John Greenleaf Whittier – The Prose Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 2 (1866)

What problems are you solving? That’s the essential question in life and it certainly applies to business. It’s not that you should set your entrepreneurial journey in search of problems, the fun is in creating opportunities, making new stuff, building amazing relationships, but in the end, doing even these things solves someone else’s problems. Intentionally or unintentionally.

“. . . and its unseen valleys are made glad by the offerings which are borne down to them from the past . . . ”

The measure of your true impact, and hence the jolt you may need to keep at it, resides in your relationship to the problems you ultimately solve for others. This is as true in your role as a brother, friend, spouse, as it is in your role as a founder, manager, worker bee.

Problem solving seems a bit negative until you start to use it as a way to understand those you serve and interact with from their point of view. Think about it – being a good listener is solving someone’s problem, showing up when needed, having a frank conversation, celebrating a win, all problem solving.

Today, try this idea out as a filter for how you think about what you do, how you interact and maybe even the products or services you might provide.

Final Thoughts

Problem-solving is what we do all day long, whether it’s on purpose or not. And certainly understanding, as a business owner, that people don’t buy our products or services; they buy the problem that we solve. In a lot of cases, they don’t even really care how we do it.

So I think it’s important that you understand that. It doesn’t mean that you’re constantly on the negative, thinking, “Oh boy, I’ve got to solve a problem.”

Think about it this way: Being a good friend to someone during the day is solving that person’s problem. You may not look at it that way, it might not seem that grand, you may not enter into it with that intention, but if you start to think about interactions like that in terms of the value that you bring? That turns a negative into a positive.

I leave you with today’s challenge question: In a single sentence, what is the greatest problem you currently plan to solve?

Want to learn more about The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur? Click here.

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!

Want to learn more and take advantage of a 14-day free trial? Just go to intercom.com/podcast.

The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: September 4

The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur Reading: September 4 written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch on The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur – September 4

This is the first podcast in a series of episodes about my new book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, due out in October 2019. The book is structured as 366 daily meditations for entrepreneurs, with readings from famous Transcendentalist authors and commentary from me on how it all relates to the entrepreneurial journey.

In the weeks leading up to the release, I’ll be sharing a reading each week from that particular day’s entry in The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur.

Today’s Reading: Into Silence

What are the great faults of conversation? Want of ideas, want of words, want of manners, are the principal ones, I suppose you think. I don’t doubt it, but I will tell you what I have found spoil more good talks than anything else;—long arguments on special points between people who differ on the fundamental principles upon which these points depend.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. – The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table (1858)

Defending one’s position is a clear signal of a lack of trust – not in the person subjected to your defense, but in yourself.

Assuredness in a point of view sounds a lot like silence.

Yes, today’s call is to be still and listen.

This isn’t a knock on your ability to share or even the fact that you have brilliant ideas to share it’s just that when we choose to listen more, some beautiful things can happen.

In conversation, the economy of our words gives space for others to feel heard and valued. It invites people to find themselves and see you as a source of energy that allows rather than prescribes.

Listening draws ideas, relationships, stories, information, and clues that allow you to better understand the impact you have on others.

For most, but particularly entrepreneurs, this advice requires biting your tongue and reining in your natural inclination, but if you can ever allow yourself to embrace this and practice this, you’ll never give it up.

Today, try to speak only when spoken to and then listen with your entire body. Observe how silence feels and take note of your urges to burst out talking, but more importantly bask in the transformation of those who experience your active listening.

If you have a lot you need to say then write it down. Of course the sneaky little trick in this advice is that writing forces you to listen to yourself and for once observe just what you sound like.

Final Thoughts

I invite you to think about what you just heard me read—you may even want to go back and listen again.

The question of silence and listening is often tough for leaders. We get used to being the person that everyone turns to for the answers, and a lot of times, we want to share our thoughts and provide that guidance.

But there’s a valuable piece of advice I picked up from The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier. His book really hammered home the idea for me that, when someone comes to you asking for the answer to something, more often than not, they’re not looking for you to be prescriptive. A lot of the time, they’re looking for you to validate what they think, and to invite them to think up the solution for themselves.

So I leave you with today’s challenge question: Who will you listen to today?

Want to learn more about The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur? Click here.

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!

Want to learn more and take advantage of a 14-day free trial? Just go to intercom.com/podcast.

DUDE Agency Podcast – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

DUDE Agency Podcast – The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

John Jantsch, author of Duct Tape Marketing, shares how his marketing consulting firm grew from a book published in 2002 into a marketing system that’s used to help agency owners and their clients achieve great results.

He shares how he developed the system, what goes into building a successful agency, and what it is that keeps him hungry for success. He also shares a bit about his latest book, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, due to be published in October 2019.

Have a listen – DUDE agency podcast episode with John Jantsch