Welcome to the NoahGuy Blog. This Blog exists to inspire you to Live Outside The Box in business and everyday life. Entrepreneurship is my passion. Follow me as I embark on the journey.
Poker Bookmark & My love For Reading
I love reading, and have a great knack for finding great reads.
I am always itching to find a good book on leadership, business, entrepreneurship or a new skill.
But there is something I have always struggled with: Bookmarks.
I lose them like crazy.
I was stuck with using pieces of paper or receipts. Not ideal.
One day the light bulb turned on.
I have plenty of playing cards.
Why not use playing cards as my bookmark?
Boom! Problem solved!
I know this seems little, but is very significant in my pursuit of dreams.
Without my thirst for knowledge, I’d be lost.
Every day I am thinking about my Dreams and the goals to get there.
Reading books is a huge part of getting there.
There was a time that my thirst for knowledge was low.
In elementary, we were given the freedom to choose our books. I loved to read.
In Middle School through High School, we had assigned readings.
Thus the nose dive of my reading appetite.
Not a worthy excuse for some, but being that I am a kinesthetic and creative learner, I need freedom in my learning journey. Otherwise, I get bored quickly.
After graduation, while stationed on FT Hood, I found my thirst again. I couldn’t keep the books down.
Fast forward to today, my growth has been substantial.
The most important thing I have learned on my journey is this:
Education does not equal a college degree. Education comes by investing in personal growth.
If you are interested in a certain area, you have to be prepared to put in the work to get there.
If that means years of college, then so be it.
Being that it is the Digital Age, society is realizing that an expensive degree might not be necessary for success.
While I do have an Associates Degree, I think obtaining certifications and licensing and skills are more valuable than a degree.
Whatever your goals or dreams are, a love for reading must be a big factor.
We live in the Digital Age where information is readily available. go for it!
Thankful
Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash
In midst of racing toward my goals, I am concerned if will reach them in time.
It bugs me that I am behind on some of my 2018 goals.
But, I am kicking butt on other goals.
All this was on my mind this morning.
I was sitting next to my 2 year old daughter, reading my Bible, as she was eating her breakfast.
She laid her head on my stomach, and I couldn’t help but be super encouraged.
It reassured me that my Wife and Kids are more important than my goals.
I realized that I am not in a race, but a marathon. I should slow down and enjoy the season that I am in.
I am thankful.
I have Jesus by my side, a beautiful and intelligent wife, an awesome daughter, and a baby boy on the way.
I am thankful.
As thanksgiving closes in, I encourage you to think about what is most important to you.
Is success in meeting the goals we set important? YES. But is it more important than time with your family? NO.
Reach for success, but not to an extent where you forget about the people you love most.
Be Thankful.
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
SMILE
Whatever you are called to do on this earth, it is going to take a boat load of work.
One of the keys of putting in the work and dong it well is having joy in the process.
Working in corporate in America, it is evident that people are working without joy.
Whether they are doing something they dislike or work in a poor culture, the lack of joy in their work is crippling their life.
Life is short. Time is precious. If we are going to work, we might as well do it with a smile on our faces.
From a leadership perspective, we need to change work culture.
Whether you work in Corporate America or own your own business, be a leader of positivity and joyfulness.
It is our responsibility to work with Joy. When you do this, others will see it.
You could be tasked with most monotonous project there is; do it with a smile.
For me, my Joy is found in Jesus. I know that no matter what I am going through, He is right there with me. This gives me comfort and gives me a reason to get up in the morning. It is my motivation.
While I have Jesus, I still struggle with working in corporate America. Especially for a company that put profit over people.
But this only motivates me to keep going so one day I can create a culture in my company that makes people love coming to work.
Be apart of that revolution. The Joy revolution. Make people smile.
Whatever you do, do it with a smile on your face.
My Investment Journey
8 years ago I knew little about investments.
What I did have is the strong will to learn, and a foundation for investment success.
You see, I had an unique financial education growing up.
My parents were in debt up to their eye balls and I watched them climb out.
I left for the Army passionate for living debt free and building wealth.
What I would do to be able to advise my 18 year old self.
Can you say Bitcoin??
After 6 years of experience and growth, I was ready to start investing.
Something that helped me get into investing was Robert Kiyosaki’s book “Rich Dad’s Guide To Investing.”
I dug into this book and knew the best investment was starting a business. I grew a thirst to learn more about all the investing options: stock Market, business, real estate, Mutual Funds, ect.
About a month before my first child was born and at a ripe age of 24 years old, I started my Acorns ETF account. From there, I branched into individual stocks and cryptocurrency.
But, I couldn’t of done it without a solid foundation, mentally and financially.
I have heard people call investing a form of gambling.
Gambling is a game.
Investing is a worthy risk and journey.
I started down this journey, not because I want a secure retirement, but because I am passionate about financial freedom. I want money to work for me, so that one day I can step away from my 9-5. Doing so will give me more time with the most important people in my life. My wife and kids.
Hopefully I can pass down the knowledge to my kids, so that they can live out their financial goals sooner than I ever will.
What is Excellence?
From Corporate America to Academia, you see the word Excellence thrown around often.
But do people really understand the meaning behind the word Excellence?
I feel like it is used carelessly.
To strive for Excellence, is no small task.
I think we need to take is more seriously.
We should understand what it means, or do not use it at all.
So let me help clarify the meaning.
About two years ago, I was in a Veteran Entrepreneur Bootcamp at the University of Houston.
I was discussing my business plan with my mentors and we were on the topic of Business Values.
With great thought and care, I came up with Excellence, Love and Diligence.
But the word Excellence struck a cord with one of the mentors.
It seemed to him, that it was too strong of a word to be a business value.
I respectfully disagreed and it is still a value.
Why? Am I stubborn? Some might think so.
No. I simply hate mediocrity. It is the bane of my existence.
People see Excellence and think “Perfection.”
It is not perfection, but the pursuit.
We are human. We are not perfect, and to expect perfection is stupid. We will fall short constantly and do daily.
But to expect Excellence is wise and manageable.
To expect Excellence from someone is to expect 100% effort, a great amount of care, and a positive attitude. Anything else, is not exceptable.
I strive for excellence in my work, and expect the same from people I work with.
Of course I am disappointed at times because excellence is not practiced enough.
If someone royally screwed the pooch, look for attitude and effort. That is something to work with.
To put it in a simple list, here is what Excellence is:
Attention to Detail
Continuous Improvement
Love/Care
Attitude
Dilligence
If you strive to do well in these 5 areas, you are striving for excellence.
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
Dear Facebook
Dear Facebook,
I have a love/hate relationship with you.
I love your group community.
I hate the newsfeed.
Often I open up my Facebook app to check notifications or explore the groups that I am a part of , but end up scrolling my newsfeed for too long.
Not long ago, you had this nifty group app, but chose to discontinue it.
I am very sad about this.
Many people like myself long for community and are tired of the newsfeed trance.
Maybe you should take notes from Reddit.com and make groups your main focus.
Just my .02.
Sincerely,
Shaston
Lessons From My First Business
In 2014, fresh out of the Army and full of energy, I started my first business.
NoahGuy Curb Appeal, a landscaping and lawn care service.
I started with a red Toro lawn mower, weed eater, electric blower and a 1996 GMC Sierra to haul it all.
Through networking, I was able to grow to 10 customers. 2 of them commercial.
While I was good at landscaping, it was not my niche.
After 5 months, I shut down the business to go to school full time to us my GI Bill.
It was at San Jacinto Community college that I found my niche of digital creation(content creation and software development).
Looking back, I came back with valuable lessons, that are the foundation for my future endeavors.
Niche
You can either be mediocre at many things or excellent at a few. You must find your niche. Find a skill, industry or area of expertise that you can master. Find your niche and strive to be the best.
Be a learner
Being an entrepreneur takes more than knowing how to make money. It takes an incredible thirst for knowledge. if you are not willing to learn on the go and on a consistent basis, you will fail. Not only must you learn, it also helps to enjoy what you are learning about. Thats where finding a niche comes in hand.
Agile
A lot of people in the corporate world have grand business ideas, but fear won’t let them take action. You must take a risk in business. On the other end, if you realize that what you have started isn’t right for you, jump off to the next thing. Keep trying until you find your niche. Fail quick and do not beat yourself up for mistakes or failures.
Diligence
Starting a business by yourself means you are workhorse. If you are not willing to put in the work, no one else will. That means getting up early and going to bed late. It means getting rid of the TV or playstation to make more time for your dreams. Time is precious. Diligence is making the most of that time.
Excellence
Excellence means to be diligent AND do things in the most efficient and crisp way possible. Excellence is adjusting to change and striving for continuous improvement. Excellence is taking time to make preparations for success. Excellence is dong things the right way.
My first business is a story of searching for my niche.
Do not be afraid to start new ideas or failure. Keeping trying.
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
Creative Business
Traditionally, starting a business was an analytical, black and white movie.
No color, no life.
Boom! The internet was born.
The internet created opportunities for the creator to start businesses.
No longer is business boring. To some crunching numbers, wearing ties and sitting in meetings is exciting, while others need the other side to business. The creative side.
In Digital Age, people now create businesses for the purpose of helping people, and innovation.
Profit is important, but a new generation of visionaries are realizing a better way.
People first, profit second.
Not only did the internet allow more creativity, it expanded the freelance niche.
Graphic designer, web designer, copy editor, writer, consultant, advertising, marketing, content creator; you name it the internet will oblige.
If you have the drive to work for yourself, the inter web has given us that power^10.
So don’t just start a business; create a business. Do something extraordinary.
Profit while being creative. Even crunching numbers can be exciting; but it takes creativity.
Be Creative!
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
Embrace Adversity
Photo by Syed Farhan Ahmed on Unsplash
Do you work for corporate America?
Are you an inspiring entrepreneur?
Me too.
Sometimes, I feel shackled and trapped.
When work gets tough, it is easy to look over the fence for greener pasture.
Other times, and more recently, I have been inspired and enthusiastic about work.
I know God is preparing me for something bigger.
Everyday is a chance to get better and grow.
Be encouraged. Keep grinding and try to find joy in the corporate jungle.
Especially in big companies, adversity will hit.
When it does, stay strong, and keep working hard. Be the cream that rises to the top.
In my career, I have worked in hostile environments. I had a justified reason to look over the fence for greener grass. But, I stayed. I gave it to God and communicated to the appropriate channels to help ease the burden.
It is amazing what great leadership does for your work life.
What ever you do for a living, and whomever you work for, embrace the adversity. Take the opportunity to grow and shine.
One day, when you are living the entrepreneur life full time, while spending more time with family, you will smile and be glad you stuck with it.
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
Perfect Your Craft
Little Johnny dreams at night about being an author and starting a business one day, but his parents keep telling him he needs to go to college like everyone else. Why? Because college equals success.
Little Johnny is confused because his Dad went to college, makes good money, but hates his job. How does that equal success? How does misery in the workplace equal success, little Johnny ponders.
Before the information age, college was necessary to achieve an education.
Then Al Gore invented the Internet.
Boom! An information revolution was born!
Depending on what your interests and passions are, you can achieve a greater education from the internet than if you spent thousands of dollars and hours on college.
The internet gives us the ability to learn a vast amount of crafts. While college forces to regergitate knowledge and pushes you into the workforce.
The internet is a database for knowledge.
You no longer have an excuse for not being educated in America. If you have wifi, you have access to an education.
Wether you go to college or utilize the interweb, it starts with a thirst for knowledge.
Every dream requires a craft to build upon.
A trade, or a skill set.
A niche.
The internet allows you to find it and perfect it.
Because the internet is so personal, the learning environment is practical. Teachers on youtube or Udemy are not forcing you regurgitate knowledge to get a piece of paper.
They truly care about you learning and having success.
Its the information age, people are less stingy with knowledge. The more knowledge shared, the better.
Take advantage of Udemy.com, youtube or the 2 day shipping of books on Amazon.
Perfect your craft.
"Dreams don't work unless we do"
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
LIKE A SPONGE
There is a misconception in our society.
People seem to think that you need a college degree to be successful, but it is not the degree that dictates your success.
It is in-fact your thirst for knowledge.
Are you wiling to learn and put in the time that it takes to grow?
Are you spending more time on Netflix than you are reading books?
Are you spending more time browsing facebook than working on your craft?
Trust me. I have been there. But one day I woke up. I still struggle with idle entertainment, but everyday I am striving to get better.
Am I saying not to watch Netflix or browse social media? no. I am saying to have boundaries, and do not let it suck your time.
If you want that goal, that dream or vision you have for your life, you have to put in the time.
Replace your time on Netflix and social media with learning and perfecting your craft.
What craft does your dream require?
Soak in your craft. Be like a sponge.
You might have to donate your TV and cancel your cable.
People will say you are crazy.
Tell them you are a crazy sponge, named Sponge Bob.
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
Digital Age Innovators
Photo by James Pond on Unsplash
The Digital Age is an extraordinary time.
It has been a time of great technical innovation.
While many people have helped in the digital innovation, a select few have made the most impact.
Maybe you have heard about the Industrial Age Innovators? Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and Cornellius Vanderbilt.
Here are my pick for the top five innovators in the Digital Age:
Steve Jobs
The founder of Apple and the Father of the smartphone, Steve Jobs was always out in front of the digital tech race.
Larry Page/Sergey Brin(Founders of Google)
Without Larry Page and Sergey Brin, we wouldn't have the phrase "GTS",(Google That Sh*@T), or be able to respond with, "I don't know, just Google it."
The internet lives on Google.
Elon Musk
Elon wants to simply change the world and humnanity. So far he has done that. Elon's entrepreneurial genius helped start widely known companies, PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX.
Jeff Bezos
The founder and CEO of the online giant, Amazon, Jeff Bezos has built a digital empire.
Mark Zuckerberg
Starting in a Harvard dorm room, Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook, which changed the internet forever. Facebook has formed a tight online community and a digital escape. Facebook also started a social media revolution, with Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, and Reddit starting after.
Who are your top Digital Age Innovators?
Could you imagine a world without a smartphone or Google?
Live Outside The Box
START
Many people have great ideas, but never act. Fear keeps them still.
Our society has the idea that doing what you do not enjoy for 20+ years is acceptable so you can retire and relax for the rest of your life.
What a waste of time and resources.
I say start doing what you enjoy now and do it for the rest of your life.
I am not saying life is perfect and you are going to enjoy your work right off the bat, but you can start working toward your dream now.
Turn off the TV and delete that netflix tab.
Start your dream today.
Start your dream out as a side hustle and work toward it full time.
This allows you to build a foundation while bringing in income to live on.
I have heard a person say, "I will start a business when I retire."
What? Why?
Start your business today.
Build it slowly, carefully and debt free. Build a foundation that will last generations.
Doesn't that beat retirement filled with sitting around, getting old and relaxing in the hospital?
That is not putting your retirement check to best use.
But if you start building a business now, you will have something substantial to enjoy the fruits from and pass on to the next generation.
Start today.
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
Joy in the Mundane
The other day I started an exciting task:
The process of backing up all of my GoPro images and videos on the ICloud Drive.
Thank you the Lord I have already have my content files on the iCloud.
As I was doing this mundane task, I had a thought.
I would rather do a mundane task for my hobby or side hustle than for corporate America.
File management for my blog and content is not fun but it is rewarding. It is contributing to building a foundation. A foundation of freedom.
No matter what company you work for, big or small, you are replaceable. All that hard work you put in, is for someone else's vision.
This makes leadership that much more important. How you treat people makes a difference.
Some companies, look at their people as robots or numbers. Sure, they say they value you. They throw vacation time, merit raises, and bonuses in the pot. You name a benefit, they have it. It is the corporate trap. At the end of the day, they will and can replace you.
Other companies truly value their people. They see them as their heart and soul of the organization. People are their most valuable asset. Without people, they wouldn't be in business.
A lot of us work for a company that does not value people. Learn and grow as much as you can, and start your own brand to love people.
Remember that if you don't build your vision, someone else will hire you to help build theirs.
Be that leader that makes people want to be a part of your vision for reasons other than employee benefits.
Build your own vision and take joy in the mundane tasks in the process.
LIVE LIFE OUTSIDE THE BOX
SQUAD
I dream of a day when no person or corporation dictates my schedule.
On a Monday,I want to wake up early, exercise, spend time in God's Word and know that if I choose spend the entire day with my family I have full freedom to do that.
But to have that freedom, it takes more work and commitment than any company would ever require.
It takes discipline of time and true diligence to build financial freedom.
If you are like me, you want freedom from Corporate America.
Entrepreneurship creates Financial Freedom, Wealth, creativity, etc, but the most important thing that it creates is freedom.
It creates the freedom to plan work around your family.
To me, besides living for God, building relationships is the most important thing on this planet.
The first two people in my life are my wife and daughter.
Sometimes work gets in the way of spending quality time with them.
Entrepreneurship takes a lot of work, but it also creates freedom to choose how you work.
I want the freedom to work around my family. My squad.
My daughter is two years old. I am going to blink, and she'll be 18.
I want her growing up seeing Dad build a foundation that she can incorporate into her family one day.
Create freedom for your SQUAD.
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
CREATIVE LIST
Dear Digital Age,
Thank you!
Love,
Entrepreneurs.
Now is the best time for Entrepreneurs. Ingenuity and Digital Technology are meeting head on.
Pat Flynn, went from Architect to Blogger/Author/Podcaster/Entrepreneur.
The same could happen for you.
I work full time in Corporate America, but on the side, I am using my creativity to build a foundation. It also keeps me sane.
My dream is pursuing my passions full time.
Investing, content creation(blogging, writing books, graphic design), and software are my potential income generating passions in life.
Then there's Jesus and my family.
Using investing, content creation and software development to create income, will allow me to spend more time with Jesus and my family. The two most important things in my life.
While you are working your 9-5, what do you dream of doing one day?
It starts with a creative list.
You may work to 9-5. But you have lunch, time before work and time after. Make a list for that time.
Whether you are A type or B type. Architect or Graphic Designer. First responder or Military; the creative opportunities are endless in the digital age.
Take your creative skill, and put it to work.
Make a creative list.
Live Outside The Box
Goodbye Time Suckers
Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash
Humans chase money their entire lives, only to lose a more valuable asset. Time.
If you are a dreamer like me, you have a huge vision for your life.
That vision takes time.
I am learning that in order to get to that vision, you have work on it every single day.
But there is something in the way.
Time suckers.
Also known as TV, video games, or Facebook.
While all three things can be used in a healthy way, I feel like I am in need of some unplugging to make major progress toward my goals.
I have been asking God to help me be more productive and be a better steward of my time.
It is clear now, what I should do. It is time to get rid of the Time suckers.
Good bye TV.
Goodbye Playstation.
Goodbye Facebook newsfeed.
Hello Freedom and productivity.
Hello more time for writing and reading.
This is a radical move in 2018.
What are your goals and dreams?
What do you need to consistently move forward with momentum and passion?
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX
Failure
What others see as Failure, God sees as development. Do not quit!
What is failure?
Some people believe failure is making a mistake, like failing a test or a mental lapse at work.
This definition is 1,000 % wrong.
The correct definition of Failure is giving up.
While some condemn mistakes, visionaries see mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Why do life, if you can't embrace mistakes and learn from them? True leaders understand this.
Since I honorably discharged from the Army in 2013, I have been searching for my Entrepreneurial niche.
I tried my hand in different areas.
In the summer of 2014, I started my own landscaping business, called NoahGuy Curb Appeal. After 4 months, I closed it down to go to college full time.
Two times, while using my GI Bill, I tried financial advising. I had a vision of starting my own advising company one day. I soon discovered that I am not passionate about selling a product that is not my own.
The Summer of 2016 I tried business coaching. The NoahGuy brand carried on with NoahGuy Brand Appeal. Again it wasn't my niche.
Right before graduation, I thought about joining the Houston Police department to help the city I love. I chewed on it and realized I wouldn't be able to use my creativity to the fullest potential.
Throughout all this God helped find my niche. The digital niche. Software development and content creation. Today I am active in content creation with blogging and I am learning software development for the future.
Finding a niche, is like dipping your foot in the pool to test the temperature. You have to get wet.
In a perfect world, I would of been more patient, and hope to be more patient in the future, but we are human. We make mistakes. Learn from them, and grow. Then help others with that experience.
Along the way, I had a mentor who criticized me for trying too many things. In his mind, I was being indecisive.
In my mind, I was stepping out and testing the water.
Do not be afraid to test the water, and ignore the critics. Keep digging, but have some patience along the way.
God will lead you to your niche. Trust Him.
LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX.
The Digital Age
The digital Age is the best time to be alive. I can read my Bible and trade cryptocurrency all in one morning.
Photo by Ash Edmonds on Unsplash
"If you could choose which era to live in, which one would you choose?"
I choose The Digital Age!
So should you.
But today we have a lot of people that are not with it yet. They are not grasping the incredible opportunities and beauty of the digital age.
Today is the best time to be alive.
I can read my bible and trade cryptocurrency all in one morning from my phone!
With one single post, I can inspire millions of people through the tool of social media.
I can write a viral blog post on Medium.com.
I can trade the stock market from the Robinhood app or check my ETF portfolio on the Acorn app.
I can order my daughter valentines gift from the Amazon app.
Later I can record my first NoahGuy Podcast and post on the iTunes store through the Anchor app.
When Henry Ford invented the Model T, people scoffed.
Today, people scoff at the digital age and everything it produces.
The Digital Age has opened up many opportunities and advantages to make our lives simpler, so why not take advantage of them?
Seek Peace. Digital Peace.
New Year Vision
Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash
On Jan 2nd my life returned to normal. I was back from Christmas vacation, and had to wake up in time for work. But something was different. I had a different mindset. I had a new year vision in my head that I had to get down on paper.
Part of my vision was already in place.
On New Years Eve, I completely reorganized my office. Ask the wife. It was a wreck. And three garbage bags later, it was practically new.
When the new year rolled around, I was ready to kick it off right in my own space.
So Tuesday morning came. I made some delicious coffee from the Keurig, and with caffeine in hand, I was able to enjoy some quiet time with God in my own space. It was then that I started my New Year Vision.
This is something I have never done.
It felt great.
So without further adieu, I give you my New Year Vision for 2018.
These topics below are what I am striving to work on this year.
What does your new year vision look like?
Photo by Ricky Davis on Unsplash. Graphic created by Shaston "Noahguy" mcnaspy.