[34] Rui Boom: Breaking free from routine and embracing the unknown."

03/16/23 • 82 min

Buckle up and get the popcorn ready; it's a longer podcast worth listening to every minute.
When your guest opens the conversation with a profound quote from Confucius - "We have two lives; the second begins when we realize we only have one" - you know you're in for a deeply personal conversation.
Rui Boom grew up in Portugal and wanted to become an international soccer player. However, he followed his parents' wishes and pursued a more conventional path as a Finance major. What happens next? He takes a leap of faith, "embraces the unknown" and moved to another country.
Here are key insights from Rui's journey:

Why did Rui abandon his Finance college degree and trade it for sales and marketing with Unilever? Hint, Rui quotes Mark Twain, "I have never let schooling interfere with my education.”
Who was the person who changed Rui's life forever? He still doesn't know.
What does Rui mean when he says, "I was 27, but it felt like I was a baby again?"
What happened within five minutes of Rui landing in Japan?
What is the most critical aspect of early-stage start-ups?
Learn about the dynamics of mentoring start-up founders and what they must have in order to benefit from the engagement.
"The best way to become an entrepreneur is to be an entrepreneur."
What does Rui mean by "Profit is F$^% Money?"
"Older players understand there's no such thing as...."

Connect with Rui here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rui-bom/

Why did Rui abandon his Finance college degree and trade it for sales and marketing with Unilever? Hint, Rui quotes Mark Twain, "I have never let schooling interfere with my education.”
Who was the person who changed Rui's life forever? He still doesn't know.
What does Rui mean when he says, "I was 27, but it felt like I was a baby again?"
What happened within five minutes of Rui landing in Japan?
What is the most critical aspect of early-stage start-ups?
Learn about the dynamics of mentoring start-up founders and what they must have in order to benefit from the engagement.
"The best way to become an entrepreneur is to be an entrepreneur."
What does Rui mean by "Profit is F$^% Money?"
"Older players understand there's no such thing as...."

Connect with Rui here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rui-bom/

Previous Episode

[33] Ferol Vernon: "Hey Dad, we're out of gas."

Vernon grew up in an entrepreneurial family: His father ran a hotel, and his mother was an artist. His introduction to running a business started when his father told him, "I'm done mowing the lawn; it's your job now."
Vernon and his wife "bet the farm" and took the plunge into entrepreneurship. They own a media company that helps authors and publishers to connect with more readers, a tough problem in a challenging industry. Their mission was to offer authors an effective, reliable channel for book marketing at a time when other book promoters often "took advantage of authors' hopes and dreams by promising them the world."
Their solution is self-service and done-for-you book promotion, where authors manage their book promotion at a budget they can afford.
But, as Vernon explains, to be a successful book publisher, authors must understand the concept of "the lifetime value of a reader" so their art can become a commercially viable product.
Listen to find answers to the following:

The biggest lesson Vernon learned mowing lawns
What did he mean by "I didn't know how good I had it?"
What kind of a job do you get with a Classical Civilization degree?
The difference between art and design
What did Vernon say when he chose entrepreneurship, and why is this the last thing any entrepreneur ought to say or think about
What is entrepreneurial inertia?
What is the #1 reason why business (nonfiction) book authors fail?
"The one thing we missed that everyone leaping into entrepreneurship must recognize and prepare for."

Connect with Vernon and learn more about his services:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferol/
https://www.freebooksy.com/for-the-authors/

Next Episode

[35] Peter Murphy Lewis: "The human return on investment is superior to anything else."

Peter was born crosseyed and, for years, was bullied by his schoolmates. He had corrective surgeries when he was two, four, ten, thirteen, and nineteen. When you listen to his crazy (and adventurous) journey, you can understand how this experience shaped his tenacity and grit.
At twenty-seven, in the middle of his Ph.D. studies, a non-malignant colon cancer diagnosis sparks a "midlife crisis" and propels Peter into entrepreneurship; he quit school and dove into entrepreneurship by opening a biking, walking, wine, golf, and high-end luxury package touring company.
This is when Peter discovers that "when you spend your own money, you learn very quickly."
Other highlights from Peter's incredible story:

The one thing Peter's dad told him that changed his future trajectory
Why learning to speak a foreign language is critical to understanding human behavior
How Peter was able to interact and assimilate with the homeless population in Boston
Why the best way to master a foreign language is to date your teacher
What Peter did after a tumor diagnosis in his colon was not what the doctor ordered or what you would expect
Why and how a risky tip-based travel business was a success
The one memorable thing Peter does on a blind date with his future wife
The wake-up call in Peter's life in Chile that led him to his new career in Long Term Care (LTC)
Why Peter decides to get certified and work as a CNA "Certified Nursing Assistant)
Which book changed Peter's life, saved his marriage, and gave him the most valuable perspective on human relationships

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermurphylewis/