Day: June 26, 2019

Social Media Impact Heroes: “As long as you are making the little steps towards a better future…

Social Media Impact Heroes: “As long as you are making the little steps towards a better future, that is a good thing.” with Yumika Hoskin

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. But as long as you are making the little steps towards a better future, that is a good thing. I sell reusable bags and encourage people to bring their own bag with them everywhere. Have I been in a situation where I have gone to the groceries and didn’t bring enough reusable bags? Yes. What about buying products that have plastic packaging all over them to put into my reusable bags? Yes. Small steps and applaud any sort of effort. As long as the small changes are happening, it gets easier and easier. So don’t beat yourself up on days you feel guilt.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Yumika Hoskin, a TV Host, Model, Actress and Eco Warrior based in Singapore, who created her brand ‘Peco Bag’, in an attempt to use her influence to battle the war against single use plastic.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I started modelling when I was about 15/16 years old and casually did it through school. I pursued it more seriously when I was 23 to join a reality modelling competition tv show called Supermodelme in Asia, which then steered me generally into the entertainment industry. I then fell into TV Hosting.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

One memory that comes to mind is on an episode of the reality modelling tv show I filmed, one of the tasks they surprised us with was bungee jumping in Macau, Hong Kong. I don’t do rides. I don’t do roller coasters, anything that involves the “losing your stomach” feeling. The producer had even asked me prior, what activity I would never do, and I specifically said bungee jumping. So here I was in Macau, strapped into a harness mic’d up, asked to bungee jump and being told by producers, “It will show the audience and your fans you are leaping fearlessly from control and being open to the future.” I held my breath looked over the edge and .. no did not jump. I yelled “HELL NO” and scrambled through my brain on how to create a narrative on justifying why I didn’t jump. “Models are forced to wear fur on shoots when they want to say no. So here I am sticking up for my limits and saying NO.” .. This did not make the cut. However, it did teach me morals on not selling myself out for content and for what “the audience” wants.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

So I was presenting for the Premier League for the first year of tv hosting and although I did grow up around sports and my father and brothers influence of appreciating football, I am not knowledgeable with all the names. I was emceeing a screening of the UEFA champions league finale for ESPN, and I was feeling the pressure of sports fans and presenting live with a former Premier League player and seasoned sports host. We were screening live across digital platforms and in the midst of the chaos and the cuts and actions, I was asking a fan about his opinions on a veteran, world famous french player. Now when you are speaking a little fast, words can blurr and so it did… After my producer actioned “cut”. I walked off back to my resting area until one of the radio djs came running up to me in panic. He said I just mispronounced the players name to make it sound like I just called him “Buffoon”. Advice: don’t piss off a sports fan.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

It’s an incredible thought to be “followed” by strangers and have people be interested in what you do. Instagram is such an incredible platform to share ideas, inspiration and growth. So sparking interest in your recommendations and capturing attention is not only a great responsibility but fantastic exposure. I started posting more and more about “eco” related content. And used my skills as a TV presenter to create my own digital travel show that promotes eco tourism and shows viewers how to travel responsibly. Soon after, I launched my own brand ‘Peco Bag’, a reusable, foldable bag made from recycled plastic bottles that can hold up to 10kgs. This product was produced in an effort to encourage people to say no to accepting single use plastic bags by making it convenient, stylish and functional to carry around everywhere. The hashtag of the brand is “Change a habit, change the world.”, which is what the brand is all about promoting. Encouraging everyone to change one small habit and that effort being effective enough to start changing the world. By already having a following, I had the advantage of the immediate exposure. Friends who I knew from the industry were quick to want to support and post about the bags and the initiative too. I feel like I have more purpose when I post now. I am posting about something I am passionate about and helps to curb pollution. When you have pride over content you post and you’re posting with purpose in mind, you’re onto something good.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

I’m so happy to impact any individual. But the most heart warming and significant impacts I have had would be with my friends. All my friends were ready to support me, however after testing out my product, they were really surprised in realising it’s convenience and functionality. To a point where I had really changed their perspectives. They started to feel guilty like I did, everytime they forgot to bring a bag. They felt guilty everytime they were in a position holding a plastic bag and opted to stuff purchased items into their own backpacks or handbags. They started telling their friends about the Peco bags. They started posting stories every time they used the bags to buy groceries surprised about how much they could fit into them. They started sending me articles and tagging me on posts about countries banning single use plastic. They started tagging their friends. Started getting their relatives and friends the bags. The strongest marketing tool will always be word of mouth and when you combine that with a platform where everyone is free to express their thoughts and be connected to people all around the world with a single post, then you have yourself a power machine.In this case, all it was, was a bag that is convenient, created for a good cause and encourages people to change a habit and thus helping to save the world from single use plastic. That was the mission and that is why I created this business.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

I knew I always wanted to own my own business. The idea of the brand ‘Peco Bag’, came to me when I was in a bit of a dark place and I really wanted to do something with purpose in my life. Something I am passionate about and that helps in a bigger picture. My tipping point was when I was at the supermarket and for the last time, I stared in utter confusion and anger on why my margarine was placed in an individual plastic bag from the rest of my groceries. Why my eggs needed their own plastic bag. Why the sealed liquids, needed to be double bagged. I walked out of the supermarket to get myself a freshly squeezed juice. THE JUICE… the sealed juice was given to me in a single use plastic carry bag. Why do we need a carry bag to carry a juice that will be gone in 3 minutes? I looked around me and everything that was being purchased was being handed out in plastic bags. Some which were just torn off and put in the trash 10 steps afterwards. It was a “this needs to stop” moment. From then on, it was me and a war against single use plastic.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Individuals: Everyone needs to start changing one small habit. That can start as simple as saying no to single use plastic bags and opting to bring your own or just carry. As you carry on, the next step is looking for an alternative way to get products without the packaging. So head to a re-fill store. You are the consumer of the supply and the consumer controls the “want”.
The companies: Reduce and dictate the supply. So many brands are changing their products to eco friendly options or implementing sustainable practices. Cutlery and straws at many restaurants are now “no plastic” or biodegradable options. Dictating the supply is a huge responsibility. So don’t rely on recycling and “out of sight out of mind” attitudes. Every single use plastic ever made still exists. Do not supply your customers plastic.
Politicians: Ban single use plastic state-wide and nationally. As lawmakers, governments hold the power and the responsibility to influence everyone the most effectively.

What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for a social good?

Well firstly test it by influencing your friends first and get them on board so you can start to build a loyal community. Then connect with other like minded individuals who also want to promote the same cause. I found starting conversations and collaborating was easier when it’s to promote something with purpose and substance. Many brands and companies are looking for ways to collaborate and join a sustainability movement. So show initiative and reach out via email and see if they want to collaborate. That way, you get instant access to their customer base. I joined a few women’s social enterprise start up support groups which I found was effective as everyone wants to support start ups. Find new ways to market your message. For example, Peco Bag is voiced in a cheeky language for all its captions, write ups and website text, making “being eco” more fun and sexy rather than another “the world is dying” portrayal.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

Disregard the change in likes. When you change your “image” you built on social media, people might not know how to react to the change in content. So when I did this, my likes and follows plummeted. From sexy bikini photos to posing in lush greenery talking about a no waste toothpaste will confuse some people. You may also get questions as to whether it is authentic. But stick to it. If they want to unfollow you, great. Build the audience you really want to connect with.
You don’t need to change your look, you’re just changing your lifestyle choices. I definitely wondered if I should dress more minimal to match my changes in consumption. Did I need to start dressing more like a hippy? It’s 2019, sustainability is sexy and doesn’t have a defined look anymore. So do you. Just live more consciously.
Practice what you preach. Social media gets more and more blurred with authenticity. What you might have thought was “goals” in reality might not have been or is inherently staged. Authenticity is so important and what helps followers connect with you and make you relatable. If you’re influencing a cause, you are teaching your followers.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. But as long as you are making the little steps towards a better future, that is a good thing. I sell reusable bags and encourage people to bring their own bag with them everywhere. Have I been in a situation where I have gone to the groceries and didn’t bring enough reusable bags? Yes. What about buying products that have plastic packaging all over them to put into my reusable bags? Yes. Small steps and applaud any sort of effort. As long as the small changes are happening, it gets easier and easier. So don’t beat yourself up on days you feel guilt.
Your friends become your best friends. Not only will the friends who love you support you and your cause, they may also have means to help you. Some may have businesses that have a huge customer database. If they haven’t already offered, ask them. Even being included in one of their newsletters is free and efficient marketing. Take all the support you can get.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Well I want to help save the world from drowning in plastic of course. So if I can influence everyone to always have a reusable bag on them then I would be pretty happy.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“You are your own hero” is a quote I made up.. Well it probably already exists out there.. I’m going to avoid googling that and stick to staying in the dark and believing I made it up. Either way, it is a quote that I not only truly believe in and practice but also the standing advice I give anyone who I come across that needs to hear it. I believe only you can truly save you and protect you. You are the person that knows you best and has the power to unleash your full potential. You will always be there for you so treasure yourself and start loving who you are.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

The one person who I would be star struck by and lost for words with would be Sir David Attenborough. He truly is my childhood influence and my inspiration as an adult today. I have watched and rewatched all his documentaries and he truly is the man who made me stay curious about the world. Curious about animals, eco systems, EARTH. If I could meet him once in my life, I would feel complete.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

You can follow my personal page on Instagram at @yumikahoskin and follow my brand @pecobag

Thank you for join us!

Social Media Impact Heroes: “As long as you are making the little steps towards a better future… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “I wish someone would have told me the importance of…

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “I wish someone would have told me the importance of being productive instead of just being busy.” with Jason Priest and Candice Georgiadis

I wish someone would have told me the importance of being productive instead of just being busy. There have many been times when I am doing “busy work” and it makes me feel productive. But busy work does not move the needle. In order to make the impact I want to make I must have massive production during the times I block out to work. It is something I have to constantly work at and there are still some times on occasion where I have to catch myself and avoid doing busy work and focus on maximum production.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jason Priest, who is a registered nurse, personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist. Jason specializes in helping busy Dads and professionals re-define their Dad Bods with sustainable health solutions. Jason has been called the Dad Bod Destroyer and is well known for helping high performers achieve great health. Jason has built his business from the ground up and is on a mission to change the lives of 1,000,000 men while making an enormous impact on the obesity trend in our country.)

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Absolutely! I spent the first 6 years of my nursing career working in an intensive care unit and during that time I saw some extremely scary and disturbing things. Many young people, some as young as in their mid-30’s, were losing their lives or having open heart surgery after procrastinating with their health for too long. The extra 30 or 40 pounds they were carrying around over the last 10 years was catching up to them. It was during those years when I realized how serious the obesity epidemic in our country truly is.

Later in my career I got into corporate wellness and became a personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist and developed an extreme passion for fitness and nutrition. After years of trying all types of different diets and strategies I discovered a way to be able to eat all the foods I love while still maintaining a fantastic physique. It was during this process that a light went off in my mind. I decided I wanted to help other men do the exact same so they could be around to watch their children grow up to do amazing things and avoid becoming a statistic.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

Of course! I have a ton of interesting stories because of all the things I have witnessed in my life, especially working in ICU. So it is hard for me to choose just one. But I would have to say one of the most interesting stories which actually happens quite often is when one of my clients has what I call the “light bulb moment.” Because I am so passionate about what I do, it is truly fascinating to me when someone I am working with realizes how simple the process can be when it comes to feeling better and getting into great shape. The reason I find it so interesting is because 36% of our country is obese. I firmly believe that a large percentage of these obese people would drastically improve their health if they only realized their fitness journey isn’t as difficult as their mind often leads them to believe.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Absolutely! One funny mistake I made is when I started doing live videos. I actually thought the entire world was tuning in and I was extremely nervous at first. I would occasionally do live videos in my kitchen so my audience could focus on what I was cooking instead of staring directly at me while I was talking. During these live videos I would have 3–4 viewers so clearly I had nothing to worry about. Looking back, I realize that real people want the real you. Nobody cares if your hair is a little messed up. Nobody cares if you have a stain on your shirt. The lesson I learned is that the world is starving for real and when you just be yourself things get a lot easier.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

Of course! I primarily use Facebook and Instagram and show full transparency on both. I post a lot of mindset content relating to both my own life as well as the journey of my audience. I post a picture of every single dinner I eat. Dinner is the only time I have cheat meals and I want my audience to see when I am having cheat meals and when I am not. I want them to know that you don’t have to give up all the foods you love to get in great shape. I want them to know that health is wealth and getting healthy and being healthy is a fun process and it is something they should embrace. I do frequent live videos on Facebook providing as much value as I can to my audience. I do frequent stories on both platforms so my audience knows all of my health habits throughout the day. I want them to see how simple the process can be and my goal is to inspire them to take massive action.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

Yes! It’s funny because when I started doing this I had no idea who all could be impacted. I figured I was just adding value to the world and if someone benefitted from it great! I have people reach out to me fairly frequently and tell me they love what I am doing and that they have started making changes in their own life. But I received a message one day from someone I had never interacted with. The guy is from Australia and wanted me to know that my message is having an impact on him and his son all the way across the world. He told me they have been watching my videos and have started taking action on the things I was teaching. I thought that was a pretty awesome message to receive.

Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

Absolutely. Before I started my business I was extremely unfulfilled when it came to my career. Working in corporate wellness was never going to provide me the opportunity to make the impact on the world that I want to make. The amount of people I could help was quite limited and I believe my message needs to be in the minds of as many men as possible. I firmly believe most men simply want to feel better and by implementing some of the things I teach on a daily basis they can experience this much quicker than they actually believe.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Unfortunately the obesity epidemic isn’t going away anytime soon. We live in an immediate gratification society. People can get anything they want almost immediately from the computer that is always in their hands. Sitting has become the new smoking and more and more people are living sedentary lifestyles with high stress jobs. When you have high stress jobs, sedentary lifestyles and fast food restaurants on every corner, it is difficult to see this epidemic going anywhere for a while. It is projected that by the year 2030 around 50% of the United States will be obese. This is an extremely scary trend and I don’t think soda taxes or taxing high sugar foods are the answer. I do think community is the place to start. Community health initiatives and feeling like you are apart of something much bigger than just your own health goals is extremely powerful. That is a big reason I started my own community called The MAN UP Community. I wanted to give men a place to go so they could get helpful resources and support as well as accountability from a group of men working toward becoming the healthiest version of themselves.

To be honest with you the best strategy is being omnipresent. Content is king and when you put out content all the time across multiple platforms people are going to hear your message. There is a reason some of the best marketers in the world are all over the internet at all hours of the day. Showing up every single day and adding as much value as you possibly can to the world is my best tip. I post at least 3 times per day on multiple platforms and I do frequent live videos and frequent stories. This gives people the best chance to hear your message and implement the valuable lessons and teachings you are putting into the world.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. I wish someone would have told me how much family time I would have to sacrifice in order to build an empire and help as many people as possible. I know why I was put on this planet and I am on a relentless pursuit to changes the lives of millions. But in order to do so there are sacrifices that have to be made along the way. I have had to restructure part of my life so that I can be present in the moment with my wife and son. I have learned to stay off of my phone when I am around them so they know they are more important than whatever it is in the phone. It was not an easy lesson to learn but is has paid off big time.

2. I wish someone would have told me the importance of being productive instead of just being busy. There have many been times when I am doing “busy work” and it makes me feel productive. But busy work does not move the needle. In order to make the impact I want to make I must have massive production during the times I block out to work. It is something I have to constantly work at and there are still some times on occasion where I have to catch myself and avoid doing busy work and focus on maximum production.

3. I wish someone would have told me when I first started that showing up every day is the only thing that matters. Your content doesn’t need to be perfect. But you must show up. There will be times when you don’t feel like posting or you don’t feel like you have anything to post. There will be times when you don’t feel like making a video. But showing up every single day is what matters most. I learned later on that an average video or even a poor video will outperform no video at all. Your audience wants to know what you are up to. When you are providing influence, they want to know about your bad days and your good days. People like to paint a pretty picture on social media but your audience wants the real you.

4. I wish someone would have told me when I first started that there will be many lonely days along the way. In the beginning you are all excited to get your message out to the world. But there will be days of radio silence. There will be days when you feel like you aren’t accomplishing anything. Some of your posts will get little to no engagement. Some of your videos will only have one viewer. But you have to keep pushing forward. I have had many days when I felt like quitting and that is what makes me work even harder. I remember many times in the beginning wondering if I was the person for this mission. But I know exactly why I am here and what my purpose is. I will not be stopped until I help change as many lives as I possibly can.

5. I wish someone would have told me when I first started exactly what all the best options were when it comes to technology. I have failed miserably many times over when it comes to choosing the right platforms to work with. I have had to move all of my courses from one platform to another. I have had to switch accounts of many different programs I use. But it is all part of the experience. No business is run the exact same way and in order to have the largest impact possible you have to figure out which technology is best suited for you and your mission to serve others.

The movement I would inspire is the movement I am currently working toward. I want other Dads and men to be around for their kids, their family and their friends and live the longest life possible. Life is entirely too short for it to end prematurely due to a few bad decisions. We are put on this planet once and by getting my message out to the masses I am hoping to create an enormous impact. By creating my community, The MAN UP Community, I hope to be able to reach the lives of over 1,000,000 men and help them become the healthiest version of themselves and the leader of their families in every aspect.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Sometimes later becomes never. Do it now.”

This quote has been relevant in my life multiple times. Once when I had my own body transformation and once when I started my business. I often ask those who are contemplating making healthy lifestyle changes “why wait?” We live once and the last two words you want to use together in the same sentence are health and regret. I knew when I had become sick and tired of being sick and tired it was time to make a serious change so I took massive action.

In terms of my business I am a “late blooming” entrepreneur. But I vividly remember a discussion with my wife when I was feeling so unfulfilled and without purpose. The last thing I wanted to have happen was to look back 15 or 20 years from now and regret not starting my business and having the ability to help change the lives of so many men.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Narrowing it down to one person is tough because there are many people who I would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with. But if I had to absolutely choose one I would have to go with Jesse Itzler. The reason I would choose Jesse is because of how successful he is while remaining so passionate about his own health and fitness. I love how he inspires other entrepreneurs to take massive action but also prioritizes health above all. Jesse has many talents and growing and scaling businesses is obviously among them. But beyond his talents are his hard-working mentality and just showing up every day and putting in the work. Jesse’s wife Sara is also amazing and she is one of the best speakers I have ever seen in person. Having breakfast with him and getting to interact with him on a personal level would truly be a dream come true.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

www.dadbodhealth.com

Facebook.com/priest1130

Facebook.com/DadBodHealthOfficial

Instagram — @DadBodHealth

Linked In — https://www.linkedin.com/in/dadbodhealth/

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “I wish someone would have told me the importance of… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“To me, it’s important to be kind and to work to use your own special gifts to bring joy to…

“To me, it’s important to be kind and to work to use your own special gifts to bring joy to others” with Norbert and Candice Georgiadis

To me, it’s important to be kind and to work to use your own special gifts to bring joy to others — to make the world a better place. I think we can do more to help every person understand that they each have their own special gifts that can be used in a positive way.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Norbert, 3-lb. Therapy Dog, Author and Philanthropist. Norbert is a one-of-a kind mixed breed, 3-lb registered therapy dog, social media influencer with more than 1.9 million highly-engaged followers, philanthropist, and world-famous high-fiver. As the dog-in-charge of ‘Norberthood for Good,’ his mission is to inspire kindness, spread smiles to people around the globe, do volunteer and philanthropic work, and bring comfort to those in need. He believes that you don’t need to be big to make a big difference in the world. In addition to ongoing visits to hospitals, nursing homes, schools and special events, Norbert volunteers several times a month at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He has supported a variety of charitable causes such as, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, Be the Match, One Warm Coat, Lil BUB’s BIG FUND for the ASPCA, and For Kids’ Sake Foundation. His new heartwarming, and inspirational best-selling book Norbert’s Little Lessons for a BIG Life is available nationwide.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve never been taller than 7 inches. As a puppy, I often wondered what a creature my size could do in this great big world. When my momma, Julie Steines, helped me understand that my special gift is making people smile, we decided to become a registered therapy dog team to bring comfort and joy. We volunteer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and my visits there are humbling and rewarding.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

I’m particularly delighted that because of me, my momma met her future husband, Mark Steines. We were invited to be guests on a TV show he co-hosted. They met, fell in love, got married, and a year later my baby sister was born. She and I are good buddies. It’s a real-life fairy tale, (or doggie tale), if I do say so myself.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I don’t think there are mistakes, only opportunities for learning. I learned that if I don’t hold still for my photo shoots, the images can appear a bit blurry. Good lighting helps one’s head shots, too, don’t you think? My dad, Mark, is a terrific photographer, and he taught me a lot about photography.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I know other people call it a platform, but I call it the Norberthood. In our highly engaged worldwide Norberthood community of more than 1.9 million folks, we promote kindness and compassion. We believe everyone can make someone else smile. I love hearing from people, and I work hard to uplift and spread smiles.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

I visited a young boy who sadly had a serious illness. When he saw me, his big, wide smile melted my heart. I was able to help his family arrange a special vacation for him, and I am so grateful I had the honor of making a difference for him.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

At first my mom had a blog about our adventures, then my Uncle Jeff suggested we create a Facebook page. When I realized that people counted on seeing me to smile every day, I realized it was more than a fun thing to do; it was a responsibility to show up, and I took that seriously. The Norberthood community means a lot to me.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

To me, it’s important to be kind and to work to use your own special gifts to bring joy to others — to make the world a better place.
I think we can do more to:

1. help every person understand that they each have their own special gifts that can be used in a positive way.

2. stop bullying and putting others down to feel important; kindness and a generous spirit uplifts us all.

3. care for each other and our environment

I not only post cheerful and sometimes quirky photos of myself, I also like to share my point of view. I’ve authored five books with my mom and her mom. The first one, “Norbert: What Can Little Me Do?” talked about finding one’s way in the world. My most recent book, “Norbert’s Little Lessons for a Big Life,” has my own unique point of view with photos taken by my dad of, you guessed it — me! I’ve donated thousands of my books and my Norbert plush toys to charitable causes.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

Don’t be afraid to take a first step towards your dream — even if your dream is bigger than you. You just don’t know where it might lead.

2. Trust your heart. Even a small heart can hold a world of love.

3. Making someone smile might seem like a small thing to do, but it’s huge.

4. Even if you are too small to walk up stairs, you still deserve respect.

5. Love yourself even if you have shortcomings. Although I have quite a pronounced shortcoming, it’s actually what makes me unique. So be yourself.

I’m not a person, just a humble little dog. I would want all the great people of the Norberthood to spread care, generosity, love, and compassion. We need more kindness in the world toward each other, and we also need to care for our home, planet Earth.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My motto is, “You don’t need to be big to make a BIG difference in the world.” I guess by now you can see why.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

I would like to meet Betty White. I’ve heard she loves animals and her positive spirit is an inspiration to many, including myself. I think we would have a blast together.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

So nice of you to ask!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorbertDog

Instagram: @NorberttheDog

And my website is www.Norberthood.com

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The honor was all mine. You are my friends forever.

“To me, it’s important to be kind and to work to use your own special gifts to bring joy to… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “To truly live a clean and connected life, it is crucial…

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “To truly live a clean and connected life, it is crucial to learn how to feel and process our pain” with Brendan Burns and Candice Georgiadis

To truly live a clean and connected life, it is crucial to learn how to feel and process our pain, rather than stay distracted and use substances or possessions to cope. Some good first steps are to journal regularly and begin meditation, both great ways to face and move through your pain directly, rather than soothe the pain in unhealthy ways such as addiction.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Brendan Burns. Burns holds his Law Degree and M.B.A. from Cornell University, yet his story and upbringing began in a far more desperate place. On the outside, it would seem he had it all in his 20s — a career in Investment Banking and as a Hedge Fund investor on Wall Street. Now an Entrepreneur, Speaker, and High-Performance Coach, Brendan is on a mission to help others, save lives, and give back. His Business, Life, and Relationship Coaching Programs as well as his live events and destination retreats are for anyone. They have particularly helped people who have suffered abuse, trauma, or drug addiction and want to escape that nightmare and start living their best life. For example, he successfully helped a young woman end an addiction to heroin in just two sessions. Brendan has worked with professional athletes, including former NFL and MLB players, as well as C-level executives and clients from over 60 countries on 6 continents. Brendan manages the @brendanhburns account on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brendanhburns/), which has more than 100,000 followers, and he hosts The Brendan Burns Show, which is featured on iTunes and Spotify.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

While working as an Investment Banker, there was an analyst in my group named Ronen. One night around 11:00 P.M, Ronen and I received an email from our Vice President commanding us to meet in the conference room immediately and to prepare for a, “long night ahead.” At the time, I was actually hiding in an empty room on the 64th Floor of our Manhattan skyscraper editing my resume and planning my exit from this job. The email I’d received, like many before, implied that I wasn’t going home until 4:00 A.M….if I was lucky. I headed towards the conference room prepared for a long night filled with Excel spreadsheets and subtle emotional abuse.

When I came downstairs, I found Ronen having a stress-induced seizure triggered by many consecutive late nights and all-nighters. Someone from the group had called 9–1–1, and soon paramedics carrying a stretcher and medical equipment showed up to cart this recent Ivy League graduate to the nearest Manhattan hospital. I sat in my chair in bewilderment and stared at the mayhem. I was in shock.

For the first time in my life I asked myself, “What is life all about? At what point does sacrificing my health, my relationships, and my sanity become too great a price to pay for financial gain or being able to say that I am an Investment Banker on Wall Street?”

As they carried Ronen off to the nearest emergency room, I realized it was time for me to make changes in my career and in my life. That incident, coupled with a blindsided breakup from my then girlfriend and additional family drama, led me to the Self Help section at my local Barnes & Noble. There, I found powerful books and tools which ignited my own personal growth journey. As I learned and grew from my own personal transformation, I then began sharing these tools in person and on Instagram account, which grew from 0 to 100K+ followers in a year, and this journey evolved into a new career.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

After leaving the Investment Banking job, I joined a Hedge Fund where I worked for approximately 3 years while doing deep inner work on myself. I realized that my passion was become an Influencer, Speaker, and High-Performance Life & Business Coach. This was motivated by the influence that mentors like Tony Robbins and Jack Canfield had on me through their home study programs. As I grew my business and launched an online course, I found out that a former professional NFL athlete purchased one of my online courses, and he and his girlfriend listened to my entire program while a road trip to the Grand Canyon.

We built a relationship and I invited him onto my podcast, The Brendan Burns Show, which is available on iTunes and Spotify (https://www.brendanhburns.com/podcast). Then, later that year, he invited me to attend the Super Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia with him. A few days before the game, I was attending a player networking event in Atlanta when out of the corner of my eye I saw Jack Canfield, who is one of my biggest mentors and the person who completely changed my life with his personal growth program that I took.

Even though the room was filled with former NFL athletes and even “Dr. J,” Julius Erving, one of the best basketball players in the history of the NBA, the only person I wanted to talk to at that was Jack Canfield. Just as I realized who he was, Jack left the room. I felt disappointed, thinking I had just lost my chance to meet my hero. Luckily, he came back into the room and I was able to tell Jack my story and explain how he changed my life. He was incredibly kind and generous with his time, and we were able to talk more about our lives and careers. I left the conversation elated and so excited to continue growing both personally and professionally. It was a powerful life experience.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The first time I met Tony Robbins was after one of his events in the New York City area. Like Jack Canfield, Tony has had an enormous influence on my personal development, and I had the opportunity to come on stage and speak with him one-on-one.

His programs and advice deeply impacted my life, so I was naturally excited to meet him. I also happened to be wearing a name tag that I received at the beginning on his event. He came up to me and gave me a big hug (he is 6-foot-7) and said to me, “What’s your name?” I froze in that moment and forgot my own name, so I looked down at my name tag and read off it and said, “Oh, it’s Brendan.” And he and I both laughed about it.

What I learned from that experience is to always be yourself and practice inner presence no matter who you are interacting with or what the external situation happens to be. After meeting Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, pro athletes, and other notable people, I’ve learned that we are all people. I also learned not to play myself down. We’re all special, we all have a purpose, we all have great talents, and there is no need to be nervous when interacting with a very accomplished or notable person. The majority that I’ve met with are very kind, gracious, open and warm. I’ve learned to be myself with whoever I’m meeting with.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

My Instagram account first took off when I began sharing my travel and food photos. I love traveling and that allowed me to obtain my first 15,000–20,000 followers on Instagram. However, I then began to share content related to my personal development journey of overcoming abuse, trauma, addiction and depression and my account took off from 20,000 to well over 100,000 followers. Now, my Instagram is primarily focused on sharing inspirational and motivational messages with my audience.

It’s also a great place to connect with people — I’ve had many people reach out to me about coaching or my programs such as Mastery Academy through Instagram and other social media platforms. We have a fantastic private group coaching program and community called Mastery Academy (https://courses.brendanhburns.com/p/mastery-academy),and I see people impacted by my mission every day. My mission is to share my best business and self-development tools to help people achieve high levels of success, fulfillment, and most importantly, happiness.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

I have a client who saw my content and got in touch with me regarding her daughter’s heroin addiction. After working with her for just a few sessions, we were able to get her daughter off of heroin and into an outpatient rehab program using my coaching strategies. It’s not easy to set boundaries with loved ones and we often enable their addictive behaviors without realizing it. I helped my client break the pattern and it was an extremely powerful experience. To this day I receive messages and see social media posts of her celebrating her newfound life.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

When I began my own journey of personal development, I did a lot of deep inner work. As I healed my past and reclaimed my true self, I began to move away from the Wall Street culture of money, drugs, and dysfunction. Yet I was afraid of letting go of this identity and life that I had known for so long, and I couldn’t give myself the final push to get sober and healthy.

I received my final wake-up call when my hedge fund coworker and best work friend, Jessie, lost his life to a drug addiction. I knew the job was taking an emotional toll on him, but I had no idea that he was using drugs. He continued to show more and more unhappiness with his work and life, but I had no idea how severe it was. His passing left me angry and devastated. And as I mourned his loss, I couldn’t believe I was allowing myself to stay in a situation that could lead to such tragedy. I quit it all in a heartbeat — the money, the drugs, the dysfunction.

Leaving my steady paycheck was scary. Yet two months after Jessie’s passing I never felt so alive as the day I walked out of those office building doors and said goodbye to Wall Street forever. I immediately bought a one-way ticket to Hanoi, Vietnam and began traveling and growing my Instagram account as a fun pet project, assuming I would come back to New York in 6 months or so and find a more quality-of-life finance job such as working at a Mutual Fund or in the Finance Department of a company with a good culture.

However, during my trip, I started posting a lot of travel content as well as personal growth tools that I had been implementing in my own life. When my Instagram account @brendanhburns blew up to more than 100,000 followers, I realized there was an opportunity to monetize it and use the platform to share my passion, personal development information, and use it as the foundation to start my own coaching and speaking business (https://www.brendanhburns.com). It became abundantly clear to me how much I enjoyed helping people, and I knew that was the life I wanted to pursue.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

1. More awareness on Mental Health

There have been great strides made in Mental Health awareness in recent years, yet as long as there are negative stigmas around getting support, we can do more.

2. Treating mental health holistically — instead of defaulting to medication

A big part of my coaching approach is focusing on the root of the problem instead of trying to cover it up. While medication can help in certain instances, our first attempt should be to treat mental health holistically.

3. Funding programs and people in the personal development and self-improvement space

I’m a firm believer that the best investment you can make is in yourself, and one of the best ways to do that is get a coach or therapist. However, these resources can be expensive and I would love to see that space open and accessible to everyone in the world.

I operate with a “Freemium” model where I share a lot of video and audio content on my social media accounts and podcast to help people for free. It gets my content into the hands of more people and it’s easier to support people through video versus a written post. Ultimately you want to connect with people the best you can, so exploring different ways to share your message is a good way to start.

My podcast, The Brendan Burns Show (https://brendanhburns.com/podcast), has been integral in advancing my cause. Hearing stories from people around the world with similar missions is very inspiring and has created a lot of valuable connections. You have to connect with people to advance any cause.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. You have permission to do whatever you want and are most passionate about

You have one life and you should live it in a way that makes you the most happy and fulfilled.

2. Be vulnerable and put yourself out there

Vulnerability is the only way we can truly grow and succeed.

3. Trust that everything will work out 100% if you put in the work with the right strategy

As long as you are trying your best and constantly striving to improve, things will fall into place how they’re meant to.

4. Have fun and take care of yourself

You can’t pour from an empty cup. What’s the point of working hard if you never get to enjoy your life?

5. Focus on human connection, especially when a solopreneur

Don’t get into the mindset that you have to do everything on your own — no one accomplishes anything great by themselves. There’s a reason that Oscar speeches always go overtime…there are a lot of people to thank.

The movement I want to inspire is Using our mobile devices and social media for personal development. It would be great to see more people following accounts similar to mine that are focused on positivity, optimism, personal development and self-improvement for the greater good.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Every addiction arises from an unconscious refusal to face and move through your own pain.”

-Eckhart Tolle

During my first few years working on Wall Street in New York City, I used a lot of externalities to avoid my pain. Expensive restaurants, excessive alcohol consumption, international travel and shopping were some of the main ways I avoided my true emotions and pain. I very fortunately picked up a copy of Eckhart Tolle’s, The Power of Now, which is one of the most influential and life-changing books I have ever read.

In Tolle’s guide to enlightenment, he discusses how addiction doesn’t actually have anything to do with the substance, product or distraction that is weighing you down. He writes:

“Every addiction starts with pain and ends with pain. Whatever the substance you are addicted to — alcohol, food, legal or illegal drugs, or a person — you are using something or somebody to cover up your pain.”

Many of us are taught from an early age that feeling or expressing emotion is a sign of weakness. Women are “allowed” to feel sadness, and men anger, but what about shame, fear, guilt, insecurity, loneliness, and pain?

To truly live a clean and connected life, it is crucial to learn how to feel and process our pain, rather than stay distracted and use substances or possessions to cope. Some good first steps are to journal regularly and begin meditation, both great ways to face and move through your pain directly, rather than soothe the pain in unhealthy ways such as addiction.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Eckhart Tolle. His spiritual writings, such as The Power of Now and A New Earth, were extremely powerful and impactful on my growth on a deep level, I would want to ask him more detailed questions about his teachings, what his daily practice looks like today, and build a relationship with someone I perceive to be living a peaceful, purpose-driven, and impactful life. His philosophy and view on life seems extremely spiritually mature to me, and it’s a powerful lens that if humanity looked through could change the world in a way that could impact billions or people. Incorporating his practice into my life has been extremely powerful with working through emotional pain and breaking my addiction to my mind.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendanhburns/

Podcast: https://www.brendanhburns.com/podcast (The Brendan Burns Show on iTunes and Spotify)

Website: https://www.brendanhburns.com

Publicist: Carolyn Barth of https://digitalcontentstrategy.com

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “To truly live a clean and connected life, it is crucial… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Reading individual books is like a life hack course.”

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Reading individual books is like a life hack course.” with Devon Devon Horace and Candice Georgiadis

I never used to read. I always thought there was a video for everything. Once I started reading, I felt like a whole new world opened up for me. I learned from others experience and reading helped me by providing tips and tools found in the passage to help me in my life. Reading individual books is like a life hack course. A lot of the things I read help me learn from others journey. If it’s somewhere, I want to be, and I implemented it in my life. I’ve learned that fear prevents people from doing a lot of things. It’s natural for people to close off when they aren’t comfortable with changes. That’s where I was making a mistake. Change is going to happen. I love learned to be open-minded and embrace change.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Devon Horace, investor, personal finance, and business strategist, and founder of Horace Consulting, LLC. From $47,238.38 in debt to millionaire, Devon now helps other young professionals achieve their personal finance and business goals through Horace Consulting, LLC. His goal is to increase financial and business literacy in his community.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

When I graduated college in 2015, I had a large amount of student loan debt $ 37,238.38 to be exact. I was always engaged in social media, and I thought, maybe I can document this journey to get out debt to add to my content and find others out there like me. Through posting on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, I found there was a whole community out there of people paying off their student loan and consumer debts (credit cards, car loan, etc.) I knew this was something I can jump on board with and provide value.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

The most interesting thing that happen to me so far has been people coming up to me calling me “The Pasta Guy.” During my debt freedom journey, one way I was able to save money was cutting my grocery expenses down. I did that by eating pasta for a year straight. About $1.53 for the pasta and about $5.00 for the pasta sauce.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Well, I wouldn’t say it’s the funniest, but one major mistake I made when I first started was not engaging with people who were leaving comments. I used to think, oh that’s cool, people like my post and I would just like their comments. I’ve learned that you MUST reply to ALL comments on your post. Not only does it help you build your brand and community, but it helps people know that you are real, and you appreciate their support.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I use my platform to teach others about business and finance for the everyday person. You always see memes and advertisements about “Get rich with these five steps” or things about passive income and cash flow for entrepreneurs. Yes, some of the material is good content, but it’s not for the everyday person. Some people want to know how to save a little more money each paycheck and how to write a business plan and file for an LLC. I’ve kept all my content through my journey of business and finance for people to look back at and refer too when they need help. If I can help just one person learn new things about business and finance, I hope they spread the message which will help others around them.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

Yes, this particular client asked to remain private, but I can share their story. One of my clients had $11,239 worth of credit card debt. I ask them, before hiring me as a consultant, to check out my profile and see if I may be a good fit for them. Once we got through that phase, I was able to partner with the client to come up with a plan to get rid of their debt. They did not like what they had to do to achieve their goal of being debt free, but I kept telling them to remember the bigger picture. It is just temporary. Through our engagement, I was able to teach the client about interest rates, loans, credit card factors and much more. It took my client 15 months to get rid of their debt, but thanks to their cooperation and trust they paid their debt off.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

The tipping point was seeing how many people didn’t know how to achieve financial stability and common business goals. Student loan debt is about 1.5 trillion dollars. Some people can’t even go to college due to their sibling or parent(s) owing money themselves. I’ve learned that, due to credit scores, some people can’t even get a job because the score is so low. At this moment, I knew there was something that I could do. I don’t come from much. I am thankful to have had a roof over my head and clothes on my back, but the area I lived in was rough. I had friends who didn’t have clothes and lived in rougher places to afford rent. I know everyone is different, but I hoped if people like me, where I am from, can see me succeed they will be motivated to do so as well.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

I believe the community can offer more programs to teach about becoming a business owner and finances, teach children about finances in school and growing a business, and make data-driven decisions. We live in a capitalist country so it’s only so much you can ask from the government. But reparations for the black community would be a great start.

Some strategies I have been using to promote my cause is offering free advice on my social media platforms, being a part of speaking panels in different cities to pass on the message and being someone, people can contact about their questions in the field.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

I wish someone told me to keep fighting, never quit, read more, be open-minded, and to represent myself and others with the utmost respect because you never know what that person is going through. There were times I would feel like a particular goal was too hard. I would try, but I didn’t give it my all. And the moment I give up, I miss out on opportunities. I’ve now learned that things will be tough, things won’t go as planned as you thought it would, but never give up. Keep fighting. Know that this moment is just temporary. I never use to read. I always thought there was a video for everything. Once I started reading, I felt like a whole new world opened up for me. I learned from others experience and reading helped me by providing tips and tools found in the passage to help me in my life. Reading individual books is like a life hack course. A lot of the things I read help me learn from others journey. If it’s somewhere, I want to be, and I implemented it in my life. I’ve learned that fear prevents people from doing a lot of things. It’s natural for people to close off when they aren’t comfortable with changes. That’s where I was making a mistake. Change is going to happen. I love learned to be open-minded and embrace change. Once I started doing that, I took my personal growth to another level. You know the story where people tell you to be on your best behavior because you never know who’ll be your boss? Well, I have an account similar to that. I was interested in investing in this small business and on my way to meet the CEO at their office. On my way there I saw two women standing on the bus. One of the women was older, and I offered my seat. The younger lady refused for, the older women said they were ok, but I couldn’t accept that offer. I was taught to respect my elders and help open the door and or offer my seat to women. A bit old fashioned, but it’s a matter of respect. So, I told the younger lady, please take my place. If my mom would see me seated with two women standing in front of me, she would give me a whooping of a lifetime. She laughed and finally accepted my offer. We got off at the same stop, and I let them walk out ahead of me. We walked up to the same building, and I held the door open for them. And yes, you may have guessed it. The younger lady out of the two was the business owner. Since I showed her and her mother so much respect, she was willing to be open-minded about negotiations and accept me as a new partner. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a huge difference. Respect can be that difference.

Wow! It would be the be somewhere in economic for the ADOS black community. I would want to be a part of decisions for the cost of living, wages, and wealth building opportunities in ADOS black communities around the country.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” — Maya Angelou, this is relevant to my life because I grew up in a rough neighborhood, in a single parent household, and 1 of 8 children. My older siblings didn’t graduate school before me, and I didn’t have a blueprint to go further in life. I didn’t let that stop me. I knew if I wanted to change myself, I had to change the energy and environment around me. People, places, and things. I created my path to become motivation and hope for others.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Another big question! Well, if there were anyone, it would be Mark Cuban. I love his story, love his energy, and the man is smart. I feel like he can teach me so much and sit down with him having a real conversation may spark something in me. I hear him talk about money, business and being at the top of your game. It just gets me fired up and ready to take on the world. I never met him, but he’s my mentor.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Please follow me on Instagram at @D.Horace Twitter at @D__Horace and LinkedIn at Devon Horace.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “Reading individual books is like a life hack course.” was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.