The Innovation Edge
Jared Yellin
Visionary Dadpreneur Catalyzing the Next ERA of Venture Capital + Sustainable Philanthropy | Driving Tech Innovation ????
7 Non-Negotiables To Create Consistent Acceleration For Your Business And Life
“There has never been a greater time for the disruptors to disrupt, the innovators to innovate, and the changemakers to make change.”
- Jared Yellin
Innovation is your RIGHT…
Innovation is your DUTY…
Innovation is your RESPONSIBILITY…
YES, I am talking to you!
I don’t care if you are an employee of a big company, a student, a stay at home parent, an entrepreneur, a small business owner, a network marketing professional, or any other label you attach to your career life.
YOU must gain the INNOVATION EDGE…
Because right here and right now is when it all begins to matter…
The world is riddled with inefficiencies…
Inefficiencies on a community level…
Inefficiencies on an industry level…
Inefficiencies on a global level…
And you have a choice to make…
TALK about the inefficiencies
or
SOLVE the inefficiencies...
COMPROMISE on the inefficiencies…
or
DISRUPT the inefficiencies…
ACCEPT the inefficiencies…
or
ELIMINATE the inefficiencies…
And guess what the SOLUTION is to every inefficiency in the world…
INNOVATION!
What Is Innovation?
in· no· va· tion | \ ?i-n?-?vā-sh?n \
Definition of innovation
1: a new idea, method, or device : NOVELTY
2: the introduction of something new
I 100% agree with this definition, but there’s another element that I want to introduce because I am confident that when you see innovation through this lens you will make it your moral responsibility to innovate…
To ME, innovation is solving problems that prevent freedom.
PERIOD!
People are held captive in areas of their life where innovation is needed and once it’s deployed, their lives transform.
This happens inside of large companies, small companies, startup companies, and everywhere in between.
And someone must rise up…
Pointing fingers and expecting innovation to happen as a result at someone other than you means that you don’t want to solve problems that prevent freedom AND I know you do!
Personally, I believe EVERYONE wants to solve problems to catalyze freedom because of the sense of contribution, impact, and economics associated with solving these problems.
But, I also believe that nearly everyone does not know where to begin NOR do they believe they have what it takes to begin.
This was my motivation to uncover MY Innovation Edge because without trying to sound too arrogant, I am an INSANE innovator.
I see inefficiencies...
I solve inefficiencies…
I articulate my solution…
I take immediate action…
I create FREEDOM…
So, here’s what I did…
I decided to reverse engineer my FLAME because innovation is most certainly my FLAME and what I realized are the 7 Non-Negotiables To Create Consistent Acceleration For Your Business And Life.
The Most Important Skill You Must Master Is...
The single most important skill and responsibility of a leader is to sharpen their INNOVATION EDGE by deploying the 7 Non-Negotiables Of Innovation. This tried and true formula has allowed me to be the DAD I am committed to being, the HUSBAND that matters to me, the HEALTH fanatic that understands the importance of positive lifestyle decisions and the parallel ENTREPRENEUR who is making a massive impact in the world.
You may not know this, but I launched 20-tech companies in 5 months, scaled a SaaS company from 0-40,000+ active users with zero ad spend in 4 years, launched an Angel Investor Network in 8-days and then filled the founding member positions in 22 days, completely brought to life a crowdfunding platform in 4 weeks, and many other significant personal and professional milestones.
Most companies experience a painful plateau NOT because the market is too competitive, NOT because the market is too saturated, and NOT because the market is too distracted, but rather because the leaders of each company become complacent leading to a dull or non-existent innovation edge.
What I will share with you is exactly what I have done to get to where I am, which is a proven formula to take any idea from a zygote phase into a meaningful reality within 30-days by deploying the 7 Non-Negotiables Of Innovation.
Non-Negotiable #1: Define Your Non-Negotiables
“Most people don’t have what they want because of no reason other than they negotiate with themselves. They negotiate against their goals, they negotiate against their newly formed habits, they negotiate against their ultimate desires. The ONLY way to get what you want is to define and adhere to your non-negotiables.” - Jared Yellin
non· ne· go· tia· ble | \ ?n?n-ni-?gō-sh(ē-)?-b?l \
Definition of nonnegotiable
: not negotiable
especially : not open to discussion or reconsideration
a list of nonnegotiable demands
a nonnegotiable fee
Okay, the above represents the dictionary.com definition, but Non-Negotiables are even deeper than this…
Here’s the 4 ingredient equation I use…
What You Stand For
+Your Code
+Your Ultimate Desire
+Your Schedule_____
Your Non-Negotiables
Yes, this takes work, but it’s the type of work that will enable you to have the life you want and I can’t imagine there ever being something that is more worth it than having the life you want...
Let’s break this down…
WHAT YOU STAND FOR…
After working with and supporting over 100,000 businesses across dozens of industries, I have seen the pain that the entire business must endure when the owner and the team do not have crystal clarity of WHAT they STAND for…
From businesses who are constantly on defense (you can’t score points on defense!)...
To businesses who ebb and flow like a roller coaster…
To businesses that cannot retain any team members…
To businesses that are on the brink of death…
Lack of clarity of WHAT you STAND for is not only painful for you, but it is painful to watch since you are missing your North Star.
On the other hand, businesses who are hyper-clear on their stance in a way that is easy for them to understand and easy for others to digest as well are on a fast-track to success, impact, and FREEDOM!
I want to help move you down the path of CRYSTAL (yes CRYSTAL) Clarity because your BRAND is your STAND - and your STAND is not the perfect shade of orange for your logo, but rather it is the reason you exist as an entrepreneur.
AND GUESS WHAT…
All of this has NOTHING to do with business and instead it has EVERYTHING to do with YOUR LIFE!
People who don’t know what they STAND FOR can’t be an EPIC PARENT or EMPLOYEE or FRIEND or CHILD or ANYTHING…
Because when you STAND FOR NOTHING you are SWAYED BY EVERYTHING and if you are SWAYED BY EVERYTHING, you are missing the FIRST ingredient to defining and adhering to your NON-NEGOTIABLES!
Now What?
You must take action and NOT get too romantic with this. Trust me, Hallmark is not going to hire you based on what you stand for, but your IDEAL customer, client, and/or patient will OR your spouse, friend, child, parent, or anyone else that matters to you, so we need to get to work and I REALLY don’t want you to belabor this...just go through these five questions immediately…
Question 1 - What Do You Stand Against?
Question 2 - What Has Been Consistent When Looking Back On Your Journey To Where You Stand Today?
Question 3 - What Topics Allow You To Lose Track Of Time And Place Because You Are So Immersed?
Question 4 - When You Lost Track Of Time And Place, How Does It Make You Feel?
Question 5 - Define Your Stance In 30 Words Or Less And Declare… I STAND FOR ______________
And if you are wondering…
I STAND to simplify the COMPLEXITIES in life and business because COMPLEXITY equals CAPTIVITY and CAPTIVITY prevents FREEDOM and I STAND to help people experience FREEDOM!
+Your Code
I have gone into extraordinary detail on Programming Your Code and I encourage you to bookmark this article for a later read, but here’s the just of it...
“Some have defined their values, but few have programmed their CODE. Your values are what you believe while your CODE is how you live.” -Jared Yellin
EVERYONE has a CODE…
Most don’t know…
Few will ever find out…
And those that do - just have a better life.
And one more final point…
Your CODE is only for your eyes.
It can be a total mess…
It can make NO sense…
It can be grammatically all over the place…
It can be written in symbols…
It can be difficult to understand…
The only thing that matters is that IT’S YOUR TRUTH and YOU GET IT - like fully GET IT and IMMERSE yourself in it.
So, here we go with the FIVE steps…
Step 1: What is the single most important thing that people should think about when they think of you?
Step 2: Based on step #1 - What does perfection look like and be crazy specific?
Step 3: Now it’s time to take that chaos and write one run-on sentence that represents your perfection.
Step 4: But you are human - What will you do when you don’t achieve perfection with your CODE?
Step 5: Get hyper-specific into the areas where you expect perfection in your CODE and document your findings.
Your CODE is more than your VALUES because your CODE is for you whereas your values are for the world AND I can assure you that this is NOT semantics.
I have been LIVING my code for as long as I can remember and almost no one even knows what it is…
Because it’s not for them…
Whereas VALUES usually are…
Values are plastered on websites…
Values are discussed in conversation…
Values look and sound good…
AND YES, values are important, but they are NOT your code.
Your CODE is what drives the things you do, what you think, and what you say.
Your CODE is your catalyst in all areas of life.
Your CODE is the reason you are able to make progress when most can’t.
I hope you can see the importance of Programming Your Code and I encourage you to read this article for a deeper dive: https://www.jaredyellin.com/post/program-your-code
+Your Ultimate Desire
What do you even want?
And I don’t mean in health, finances, or your career…
I mean REALLY specifically what do you want…
For example…
I want FREEDOM so every action I take allows me to acquire more and more FREEDOM…
Recently, we moved our family to Naples, FL because where we were living was impacting our FREEDOM of choice.
PERIOD!
Ultimate Desire = FREEDOM!
But it’s not just in real-time…
Where do you want to live?
How do you want to construct your day?
What do you want to do during the morning, afternoon and evening?
Who do you want to spend time with?
What hobbies do you want to explore?
Where do you want to travel?
How much money do you want and need?
What is your ideal health?
Who are you as a parent?
What does your career look like?
Tell me about your nutritional plan.
When does exercise fit into your life?
Explain your quality of life.
What role do spirituality and faith play?
How do you want to learn new things?
What do you want to explore?
For me…
Every question on the list above moves me towards FREEDOM…
Parenting
Relationship
Health
Geographical
Career
Financial
EVERYTHING!
And the reason I have what I do is because I know what my ultimate desires are…
Fuzzy targets CAN’T get hit...PERIOD!
So, now what?
Do the ULTIMATE DESIRE exercise from above and layer in other questions that matter to you…
Document them for your eyes and your eyes only…
And DON’T let your voice of sabotage stand between you and your ULTIMATE DESIRES!
This is more than goal setting - this is ULTIMATE DESIRES - like the big, audacious, positively overwhelming desires you have for your life.
+Your Schedule
This is the make or break ingredient…
YOUR FREAKIN SCHEDULE will make or break your life…
And almost NO ONE takes this precious, delicate, essential structure seriously.
Your 24-Hour Schedule - YES, it’s a 24-Hour Schedule, will either enable you to get what you want in life or it will prevent you and if you choose NOT to structure your schedule I can GUARANTEE with a BIG BOLD G that you will NOT have what you want.
EVERY successful person I know - and I don’t mean just financial - OWNS their day…
They own every second, every minute, and every hour.
Nothing happens by chance and if/when the unexpected occurs, they are able to swiftly and quickly move things around to ensure everything gets done.
Let’s take one step back…
24-HOUR SCHEDULE?!?!?!
Yes, you better believe it…
I schedule when I sleep…
I schedule when I eat…
I schedule when I am a dad...
I schedule when I am a husband…
I schedule when I am creative…
I schedule my health…
I schedule my meetings…
I schedule my weekends…
And I know what you are thinking…
UGHHH, rigidity!
UGHHH, lack of flexibility!
UGHHH, I need time to just chill!
And guess what…
My schedule gives me the structure, flexibility, and time to chill because I SCHEDULE IT!
I schedule when I wake up at 4 am and when I go to sleep at 11 pm.
I schedule when I shut down for the day at 5 pm.
I schedule when I write articles like this.
I schedule when it’s date night.
I literally schedule every second, every minute, and every hour of every day throughout the entire year.
And if you can’t imagine doing this - then I better not imagine your ideal life because I have never met someone who has what they want in all areas without a precise schedule.
So…
Pick the things that MATTER to you and schedule them into your routine --- right now!
And to give you an idea, this is my typical schedule…
4 am: Wake Up And Create
5 am: Gym + Personal Development
6 am: Morning Nutrition and Self-Care
7 am: Creative
9 am - 5pm: Meetings
12 pm: Afternoon Nutrition
3 pm: Mid-Day Nutrition
5 pm - 8pm: Dad
8 pm - 9:30pm: Prep For Next Day
9:30 pm -11 pm: Husband
11 pm: Sleep
I get a TON done because everything is scheduled and I encourage you to adopt this discipline as well.
=Non-Negotiables
Okay, the destination AND the beginning…
When you go through this process, what it helps you develop and adhere to are your NON-NEGOTIABLES.
Your NON-NEGOTIABLES become your filter for decision-making...
Your NON-NEGOTIABLES become your filter for relationships…
Your NON-NEGOTIABLES become your filter for what you do and what you don’t do…
Your NON-NEGOTIABLES will drive you forward with SWEAT (hard work) not BLOOD (muscling your way through).
Please read this at least 4x…
Your NON-NEGOTIABLES will make your life worth living….
Your NON-NEGOTIABLES will make your life worth living….
Your NON-NEGOTIABLES will make your life worth living….
Your NON-NEGOTIABLES will make your life worth living….
I can’t emphasize enough how critically important this is…
The REASON you are overweight...
The REASON you don’t have the relationship you desire…
The REASON you hate your career…
The REASON you are not financially abundant…
The REASON you don’t have the connection with your kids you want…
Is 100% because you have not developed or adhered to your NON-NEGOTIABLES!
And the REASON I DO have all of the above and more is because….
I DEVELOPED AND ADHERE TO MY NON-NEGOTIABLES EVERY SINGLE DAY!
And I have MANY, but here are a few so you can GET how this works…
- I live to make my children proud
- Kids first - ALWAYS!
- Health + Freedom...period
- I will never sell a product, service, mission or cause that does not deliver on the promise
- Remain loyal to your intimate partner
- I am in full integrity when I ruffle the feathers of a few to support the many
- Ego has zero space in my life
- Insecurity will be demolished in my presence
- Bringing others down to lift yourself up means I will demolish you
- Toxic-free is the only way to be
You might be thinking - Jared, some of these are harsh.
And my response is - YES, they are meant to be HARSH. They are NON-NEGOTIABLE!
AND AND…
I have many others, but instead of reading my NON-NEGOTIABLES, it’s time for you to create YOUR OWN!
Non-Negotiable #2: The Power In NO!
“Saying NO to the wrong opportunity will create space for at least 4 additional RIGHT opportunities. I have zero data to back this and I don’t care.” -Jared Yellin
What if you just say NO?!?!
Well, they might not like me anymore…
Well, they might not include me…
Well, what if it ends up becoming successful…
Well, what if they tell people not to associate with me…
Well, what if they hold this over my head…
OR…
What if you were to gain FREEDOM?
What if you were to gain CAPACITY?
What if you were able to focus on what MATTERS?
What if you now had space for your IDEAL?
What if you aligned with your CODE?
There is absolutely no more powerful word in your vernacular than these two letters…
NO!
No is not harsh…
No is not rude…
No is not condescending…
NO is what we call decisive.
NO is what we call certain.
NO is what we call a leader.
It’s not about saying NO for the sake of saying NO, but rather when you Program Your Code, NO becomes easy as long as you follow your CODE because you realize that saying YES to a NO is not only a setback, but it’s also a potential point of friction, pivot, or compromise that prevents you completely from getting what you ultimately desire.
Let’s Pretend You Only Had ONE YES…
This is such a profound exercise that I have shared with many thousands of people over the past decade or more and it’s called…
ONE YES!
What if you only had ONE yes in life for an intimate partner?
What if you only had ONE yes in life for a career opportunity?
What if you only had ONE yes in life for a client, customer, or patient for your business?
What if you only had ONE yes in life for a mission?
What if you only had ONE yes in life that would either give you freedom or steal it?
The problem is this…
There’s white out…
There’s erasers…
There’s coverup…
Since we know we have more than one YES we use our YES when we should be using our NO!
The power of NO is live-changing, because what happens is that it creates more spaces for YES’s but the moment you say YES to a NO is the moment you lose your capacity to say YES to a YES.
YES creates more space for more YES…
NO permanently steals space from YES…
Read this again and again and again…
YES creates more space for more YES…
NO permanently steals space from YES…
---
YES creates more space for more YES…
NO permanently steals space from YES…
---
YES creates more space for more YES…
NO permanently steals space from YES…
---
YES creates more space for more YES…
NO permanently steals space from YES…
---
YES creates more space for more YES…
NO permanently steals space from YES…
Yes, I had you read that FIVE more times and I am tempted to post it another 500 times so that you recognize how essential it is to get comfortable with NO!
“But I don’t want to be confrontational…”
I want to be accepted…
I want to be loved…
I want to be included...
I want to be empathetic…
And by saying YES to a NO…
You are the EXACT opposite of what you desire...where it matters!
Because where it matters will not have you because you said YES to a NO…
The people that matter...
The opportunity that matters...
The missions that matter...
The love that matters...
The freedom that matters…
When you say YES to a NO your kids don’t get you!
When you say YES to a NO your soulmate never meets you!
When you say YES to a NO your ideal client does not know you exist!
When you say YES to a NO you make $100,000 on your idea versus $10,000,000!
When you say YES to a NO you don’t experience the level of FREEDOM I know you desire!
I Said YES To A NO 3x Before I Realized This…
Here are THREE Yes’s that should have been NO’s and I am lucky that I have been able to course correct and get back to where I ultimately want to be….
YES #1 - Unhealthy Relationship when I was 23
This YES should have been a NO and everything inside told me to say NO, but I said YES because…
I thought I could save her…
I thought I could help her...
I thought I could change her…
And guess what…
By saying YES to a bad relationship by default I was saying NO to a great one!
I have since course corrected and have what I desire…
YES #2 - Taking on a MASSIVE thought leader client in year one of SYNDUIT
There are certain people that if they wanted to work with you it would be hard to say NO, but NO is power and I did not use it when I should have.
A massive thought leader approached me to become his marketing agency and agreed to pay me a percentage of all sales from this one product launch which would have been a $2,000,000 commission based on the forecast.
Hells YES (even though everything inside said NO)...
I knew this YES meant I was going to have to say NO to 50 ideal clients…
And guess what happened…
The launch failed and I literally almost lost the company because that is how powerful NO is…
I have since course corrected and have what I desire…
YES #3 - Business deal that completely did not align with my CODE
This was the most recent YES that should have been a NO although I learned a TON and feel grateful that I ended up saying YES, I am even more proud of my dedication to NO so that my YES did not linger longer than it needed to…
This is important!
As you are reading this article, if you realize that you said YES to a NO, just make the change. Don’t keep holding - the moment you realize that a YES should be a NO just say NO and proceed with whatever actions you need to take.
Back to my YES that should have been a NO!
I launched a company with a few co-founders and very early on realized that there were many things about the people and company that did not align with my code.
First and foremost, this opportunity became a distraction for the thing I care about MOST - my kids!
Secondly, there were massive contradictions that were not public and I stand against DO as I SAY, not as I DO!
Third, I did not believe that the company would fulfill the bold mission it very loudly declared in the world.
Remember, YOU CAN AND SHOULD SAY NO TO A YES WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID NO FROM THE START!
I have since sold my equity and recalibrated my life and have committed to saying NO when my gut is telling me something is off…
Okay, This Is How To Say NO!
I hope you are open and willing to adopt the critical nature of THE NO!
Remember, every YES (when it should be a NO) will prevent you from what you want and what matters most in life is that you get what you want because you can’t be whole and serve others if you are not served first.
So, this is how I DO…
Step #1 - YOU must come first
There is no one on the planet that would say I am selfish, but I am selfish. I put myself first so that I can serve others. You must do the same to step into the power of NO!
Step #2 - Program your code
“Some have defined their values, but few have programmed their CODE. Your values are what you believe while your CODE is how you live.” -Jared Yellin
Read this article and you will understand why this is essential: https://www.jaredyellin.com/post/program-your-code
Step #3 - If I say YES, what am I saying NO to?
I always ask myself this question and it happens to be extremely enlightening because if you are honest with yourself, you will see that whatever decision you need to make is clearly a YES or clearly a NO based on this question.
Look in the mirror…
ASK IT...
Step #4 - Is it worth it?
If for any reason #3 is not giving me what I want and need - I take it one step forward with this question.
Is YES even worth it?!?!
Like I mean it…
Maybe it’s not a hard NO, but it ain’t a HELLS YES then make it a HARD NO!
Your time is too precious to do anything that is not a HELLS YES!
Step #5 - Commit and don’t second guess or look back or feel guilty
The final step is to commit to whatever comes from this process (YES or NO) and NEVER second guess and NEVER look back and NEVER feel guilty.
NO becomes EASIER the more you use it and it is guaranteed going to lead to the freedom you deserve and desire.
Non-Negotiable #3: Step Into Your Flame
“Every entrepreneur has a FLAME. Most don’t know what it is, but they do know how it feels when they are IN IT. The key is to uncover your awareness around your flame and find a way to step into it as close to 100% of your life as possible.” - Jared Yellin
I am absolutely fanatical about helping people uncover their flame and then prioritize the amount of time they spend inside of this glorious and rejuvenative and impactful place in their life.
Listen, life is busy and most people are running around, wildly out of control within their existence, and in a constant state of exhaustion.
I have people very close to me in my life and observing how they operate creates pain…
They have such a profound flame - that should be a bonfire - but they are unaware of its existence and too busy to even realize when they step into it.
Your success as an entrepreneur is 100000000% predicated on your FLAME WORK!
And your flame work is defined as…
What YOU are uniquely qualified to do AND what you do frictionlessly and almost effortlessly.
Like for me…
MY FLAME…
Where I am untouchable is in content creation like this article, helping entrepreneurs hone in on their ideas, structuring companies for limitless scale, building wild relationship capital and SELLING!
This is FLAME WORK for me and guess what…
I am inside of FLAME almost 100% of each day.
But I promise - this was NOT always the case.
My Company Plateaued And I Was Confused!
A few years ago, SYNDUIT, my first tech company, hit a wall. We were doing well financially, but we just hit a freakin wall and I was so darn confused.
The team was better than ever…
Our relationship capital was at a 9.9…
The marketing message we were pushing into the universe was stellar…
Our software was off-the-charts…
But we hit a wall!
This wall really put me in a dark place because I was just confused…
Maybe we reached our potential...UGH!
Maybe we reached our saturation in the market...UGH!
Maybe SYNDUIT was not what I thought it would become...UGH!
These thoughts were haunting me and it made me kind of depressed which is NOT a place I enter often or for long…
But I was stuck…
Until someone on my team, Alex, made a comment…
He said, “Jared, you are just in the way.”
WHAT?!?!?!
And he was right!
My FLAME WORK was maybe 2% of my time.
And the other 98% of my time was…
-Administrative tasks for the company
-Developing campaigns for our users
-Supporting customer happiness with their processes
-Planning new content for the creatives
-Attending sprint planning meetings with our engineers
-Testing new functionality
-Teaching skills that I am not passionate about during webinars
-And 50 other tasks that are too ANTI-FLAME to even mention…
Literally, 2% of my time was doing what I am UNIQUELY qualified to do…
And the 98% of my time was the reason I was literally in the way.
I WAS THE WALL!
I WAS THE CEILING!
I WAS THE FRICTION!
I WAS FREAKING IN THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Know Your Flame AND Know Your Extinguisher
When I realized I was in the WAY, I also realized that what was MY EXTINGUISHER (which is what puts OUT your flame) was someone else's FLAME!!!!
For example…
I detest the financial aspect of being an entrepreneur.
I hate payroll.
I hate budgeting.
I hate forecasts.
I hate financial statements.
I hate paying bills.
I hate credit card disputes.
These are all my EXTINGUISHERS…
But do you want to hear something CRAZY…
This is the FLAME of Tracey B. on my team who is my business manager and CFO!
She literally gets giddy when a vendor says they never got our check and in seconds proves them wrong…
She does back flips when our balance sheets balance…
She is in her glory developing budgets for the company…
SHE IS IN HER FLAME which allows me to ELIMINATE my EXTINGUISHER!
Below you will see a brief chart showcasing my FLAME and my EXTINGUISHER. This is not complete as my EXTINGUISHER list is a never-ending work in progress and already has 100’s of tasks listed.
My FLAME
My EXTINGUISHER
- Content creation like this article
- Helping entrepreneurs hone in on their ideas
- Structuring companies for limitless scale
- Building wild relationship capital
- Negotiating WIN-WINs
- SELLING
- Administrative tasks for the company
- Developing campaigns for our users
- Supporting customer happiness with their processes
- Planning new content for the creatives
- Attending sprint planning meetings with our engineers
- Testing new functionality
- Teaching skills that I am not passionate about during webinars
- Creating SYNDUIT Marketing Campaigns
- Project Management
- Scheduling Meetings
Just so you know, the first time I did the above exercise I was VERY excited and VERY uncomfortable because I realized how much I was going to need to delegate and trust.
And then something hit me which I will share below…
But first...now it’s YOUR TURN TO STEP INTO FLAME!
My STEPS To Step Into Your FLAME
Okay, you must be excited right now because I just helped you see a path to ELIMINATE the “stuff” that does not FIRE YOU UP so that you can step into a place where 100% Flame Work becomes possible and eventually probable and soon enough your NORM!
Here are the steps…
STEP 1: Fill out the FLAME versus EXTINGUISHER CHART
I gave you a mini-version based on my FLAME above so that you have an idea how this works, but pour your heart and soul into this exercise. IF you don’t fully complete this task, I promise you will not be at 100% FLAME WORK because you will still have some EXTINGUISHER activities in your life. You need this step to be all-inclusive AND you can add to it over time as you become more aware of EXTINGUISHER tasks.
My FLAME
My EXTINGUISHER
STEP 2: List Whose Flame Is Your Extinguisher
This next chart is absolutely LIBERATING because you should move all of the EXTINGUISHER tasks from above to the LEFT column and then on the right give people the opportunity to STEP INTO THEIR FLAME by assigning your EXTINGUISHER to them.
If you are struggling, move to Step 3 and then come back to Step 2 and I guarantee you will be ready and raring to allow other people to STEP INTO THEIR FLAME while you STEP INTO YOUR FLAME!
My EXTINGUISHER
Whose FLAME?
STEP 3: DELEGATE + TRUST
Just do it - now that you know your FLAME and WHOSE FLAME replaces your EXTINGUISHER, just get out of your own way.
STOP being the ceiling!
STOP being the point of friction!
STOP being the wall!
And read this final section for an INSANE realization...
Holding Onto Your Extinguisher Is Selfish!
When I did the FLAME vs EXTINGUISHER exercise the first time, I became VERY excited and VERY nervous like I shared earlier.
EXCITED because I saw a path for 100% FLAME.
NERVOUS because I would need to delegate and trust.
And then it hit me…
When I am doing extinguisher work, which is someone else's FLAME, I am BEING SELFISH!
I am stealing an opportunity for someone else to STEP INTO FLAME!!!!!
HOW DARE I!
HOW DARE YOU!
I mean it…
You are NOT uniquely qualified to do EVERYTHING…
You ARE however uniquely qualified to do YOUR FLAME!
And I know the naysayers are going to say…
But I don't have a team - so I must do EVERYTHING!
Then start small…
Find a way to delegate and trust with 10% of your EXTINGUISHER work!
10% Flame
90% Extinguisher
IS LIFE-CHANGING AND…
It will motivate the HECK out of you to increase your FLAME and decrease your EXTINGUISHER.
So, hire a VA, hire a business manager, hire a salesperson…
And STOP making the excuse that you can’t for whatever reason because what’s at stake is YOUR FLAME and I PROMISE it’s WORTH facing the fear of delegating and trusting because ONCE YOU DO…
FLAME is what you STEP INTO!
Non-Negotiable #4: Live With Intention
“Every action requires an INTENTION
Because an action WITHOUT intention…
Leads to a result without an achievement.
Achievements are by CHOICE
Results are by CHANCE
Be INTENTIONAL!”
- Jared Yellin
Intentionality is such a powerful force…
Many of you know I am the founder of a number of companies…
People often ask me how do I juggle the responsibility while also being a DAD first…
My answer is ALWAYS…
INTENTIONALITY
When you are HYPER clear on WHY you are taking any action you are taking the outcome becomes predictable.
And if you are NOT getting the outcomes you want in any area of your life…
It’s because you are not crystal clear on your INTENTIONALITY.
What Areas Matter?
This is something that ONLY YOU can answer…
- Family
- Health
- Relationships
- Spirituality
- Religion
- Career
- Finances
- Material Items
- Travel
- Alone Time
- Intimacy
- Quality of Life
- Vision
The list goes on and on and on and what matters most is that you define and declare what areas matter to YOU!
And I emphasize TO YOU because it does NOT matter what your parents, teachers, and preachers are telling you.
It does not matter that your best friend ends his day at 5pm so he can get home to coach little baseball…
It does not matter that your neighbor has a nanny watching their child as they pursue their corporate career…
It does not matter that your cousin is in a relationship with one person and wants to spend their life with this person…
All that matters is what YOU DECIDE…
So, I ask you again….
WHAT AREAS MATTER?!?!
For me, being a DAD is an area that not only MATTERS but is my number one focus along with being a HUSBAND and being HEALTHY and being an ENTREPRENEUR and being a LEADER and making MONEY by being in my PURPOSE all while LIVING MY CODE which is to do the RIGHT THING regardless of who is watching…!
YES a mouthful, but also something I am VERY VERY VERY intentional about.
And here’s why…
TIME gets wasted for almost every person on the planet…
They waste time scrolling…
They waste time watching…
They waste time unfocused…
And by wasting that time - they are living outside of intention - and when they live outside of intention - they are unable to create the outcome they desire (aka AN ACHIEVEMENT) because every action they take is missing that key ingredient…
INTENTION! (yes, I am being repetitive for a reason)
I Refuse To Live Haphazardly!
When you are taking actions without intention you are leaving your outcome to chance and I say living your life haphazardly…
And haphazardly does not only mean you will almost always miss your mark, but it also means that you might actually achieve your outcome but now know how or why or what to do to create repetition…
So, here’s my secret...
Slow down (for one second)
To speed up (for a lifetime).
I mean it - center yourself on WHY you are doing what you are doing and then take action.
WHY am I writing this email
WHY am I doing this webinar
WHY am I launching this company
WHY am I going on date night
WHY am I playing with my kids
WHY am I driven to lose weight
WHY - WHY - WHY
I am not sure if you read my blog on PROGRAMMING YOUR CODE: https://bit.ly/2Y6G8QT
I highly recommend it because once you KNOW your code and then you STOP negotiating against yourself AND you remain focused on your INTENT - you will get your outcome almost every time.
I NEVER make sports analogies, but this is too good not to share..
Don Mattingly used to be a first baseman for the NY Yankees and he said that each time he went to bat, he was able to slow down the ball once it was thrown by the pitcher to such a degree that it would be hard to miss it.
This is INTENT!
His intent was crystal clear and then he executed on it…
Which is my hope and desire and drive for you!
BECOME AN INTENTIONAL BEAST! :)
BECOME HYPER FOCUSED ON YOUR OUTCOME :)
BECOME WILDLY FANATICAL ABOUT ACTION :)
And finally..
LIVE With Intention
“Every action requires an INTENTION
Because an action WITHOUT intention…
Leads to a result without an achievement.
Achievements are by CHOICE
Results are by CHANCE
Be INTENTIONAL!
Non-Negotiable #5: Your Unfiltered Story
“When you hold back details in your story, what you are actually doing is suppressing the real, authentic, and perfectly imperfect you. People want that, people need that, and you should yearn to share it with everyone. ”
- Jared Yellin
Why do you consistently feel the need to hedge against yourself?
Why do you hold back when everything inside says to become bolder?
Why do you feel your message does not matter?
It boggles my mind when I hear someone share their FILTERED story…
I know what happened in their life…
I know if they gave themselves the permission to share, people would connect on a deeper level…
And I know they miss an opportunity each time they pass…
Listen, if you are holding back it’s because you have a limiting belief which is an anchor to your growth.
Every chapter of your life happens FOR YOU to SERVE YOU so that we can SERVE OTHERS!
Whether you had a drug problem…
Were cheated on…
Arrested…
Suffered from an eating disorder…
Experienced abuse…
Went through a divorce…
Filed bankruptcy…
Failed publicly…
Or the millions of other things that could have happened to you…
EVERY experience happened for a REASON…
And I am not just saying that like the cliche everyone shares all of the time with no substance…
I am saying…
FIND THE REASON
INCLUDE IT IN YOUR STORY
AND THEN SOLVE IT FOR OTHERS!
Don’t just utter those words, “IT HAPPENED FOR A REASON,” to try and water down your pain…
DO SOMETHING with the opportunity that you were presented, which has caused you suffering, challenge, and unnecessary levels of darkness.
DO SOMETHING that allows this chapter to SERVE YOU and SERVE OTHERS!
DO SOMETHING by sharing this experience in YOUR UNFILTERED STORY!
To suppress a chapter means you can’t serve at the highest level and my belief is we are on this planet to SERVE…
Ourselves first…
Others second…
I literally never watch TV, but someone recently told me about a biography of Paris Hilton.
Love her or hate it - it does not matter.
But this person could not stand Paris.
She stood against what she thought Paris represented in the world.
Until - she watched Paris’s UNFILTERED Story, which is a recent documentary you can find on YouTube.
She got to know Paris differently…
She identified and connected with her pain…
She deeply resonated with her vision to help troubled teens…
But NONE of this would have happened if Paris Hilton filtered her story…
The same way…
People will only know what you tell them about yourself…
And if you are holding back, all they know is what you are allowing them to see and feel…
But there's a part of you that is foreign to these people, and if they knew this foreign version, they would feel significantly more connected with you.
I can’t express how RIGHT I am RIGHT now…
The single reason why I am able to sell at such a high level and build such extraordinary relationship capital with people, you would think be untouchable, is because I have ZERO filters with my story…
I share it all…
From my parents' insane divorce…
To the restraining orders they had against one another…
To my roller coaster upbringing...
To poor decisions I made with relationships I had…
To lawsuits and what I learned…
To failure and challenge as an entrepreneur and human...
To difficulties I have experienced in my marriage…
To limiting beliefs that exist in my world…
And guess freakin what…
People LOVE me for it!
People CONNECT with me because of it!
People really UNDERSTAND why I am on such a mission to help other people HAVE IT ALL…
Because for the bulk of my life...I didn’t, and now I am frantically focused on LIVING it ALL and ensuring that YOU and everyone I can touch, because of YOU, can also experience it ALL!
This Is WHY Your UNFILTERED Story Does Not Only Matter - But Without It - You Will 100000000000% Fall Short In Life!
Your UNFILTERED Story is your choice…
I respect you if you don’t want to share it…
I respect you if you feel like others won't care…
I respect you if you feel too vulnerable…
But at the same time - I adamantly disagree with you!
And here’s my challenge + how to do it…
CHALLENGE ALERT - Try sharing your UNFILTERED story ONE time within the next 24 hours with someone you are meeting for the first time
HOW TO…
Step 1 - Write it out.
Step 2 - Record an audio of you sharing it.
Step 3 - Listen to your recording while looking at yourself in the mirror.
Step 4 - Document how your unfiltered story makes you feel as you listen.
Step 5 - Trust me and start sharing this version of yourself - the REAL YOU!
I would never steer you wrong and I also know how instrumental it will be when you follow through with this challenge…
WIN #1- You will heal at the deepest level.
WIN #2 - You will connect with someone on the deepest level.
WIN #3 - You give someone else the permission to have the courage you just displayed.
WIN #4 - You will become fanatical about sharing from this moment going forward.
If you don’t experience these FOUR WINS, then you have the permission to call me crazy and to filter your story for the rest of your life - but since I am 10000000% certain that these four wins are just on the other side of your UNFILTERED story, I am willing to put all of my reputation on the line right now.
Do you accept the challenge?
Non-Negotiable #6: Never Second Guess Yourself
“Innovating is taking something from good to EPIC, whereas second-guessing is not even reaching the point of good because your doubt is holding you back from fully committing.”
- Jared Yellin
Whenever I hear someone say that they have been working on their idea for 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 years and it’s still on a piece of paper I cringe.
What are you waiting for?!?!
Why don’t you believe in yourself to execute?
To try?
To see what’s possible?
Why do you feel the need to perfect the name…
Why do the colors matter…
Why does the opinion of someone who does not have what you want hold you back…
Where is your doubt derived from…?
Just so you know…
Doubt is the thief of innovation…
And innovation is what changes the world, makes you wealthy, and leads to your happiness.
Which means when doubt steals your ability to innovate, you can’t change the world, you can’t become wealthy, and your optimal happiness will be out of reach.
Just don’t be fooled into thinking you are innovating when you are actually second-guessing yourself...
“Jared, I have been innovating on this idea for the past five years and I feel like I am almost there.”
WHAT?!?!?!?!
In a CILA Labs pitch session the other day this is what an entrepreneur told me…
Innovating for FIVE years without anything to show for other than an idea on paper?!?!
This is when people fool themselves into thinking that they are innovating because innovating is a cool word thrown around the entrepreneurial community.
It’s IMPOSSIBLE to innovate an idea…
Please read this again…
It’s IMPOSSIBLE to innovate an idea…
The only thing you can innovate is something you have already created…
Product
Service
Mission
Cause
It MUST exist and it MUST either make money and/or have people using it or part of it or experiencing it.
IT can’t be on a piece of paper.
IT can’t be in a slide deck.
IT can’t be in your mind.
This wonderful human who made that statement is NOT innovating…
Rather they are second-guessing….
And second-guessing means they are in doubt.
And like I shared earlier…
Doubt is the thief of innovation…
As my call with this wonderful human began to come to a close, I asked him if it would be okay to speak my truth about this “innovation,” and he was excited to hear my thoughts…
“First off, congrats on even giving yourself permission to think about your innovation for five years. Most people are too lazy, too busy, or too something to even allow their mind to go towards finding a solution to a problem that could change industries, communities, or the world. That said, I am going to be bold right now because our paths crossed for a specific reason. You need to hear what I am about to say because you will do one of two things…
1 - Cuss me out under your breath and keep innovating
2 - Appreciate my candor and start believing
So my friend, what you need to hear is that you are afraid, you are petrified of what others will think of your innovation, and I hate to break it to you - you don’t have an innovation, you have an idea on paper which is burning a hole in your soul, because you know that you have wasted five years thinking, documenting, and second-guessing yourself. But today is a great day because you will either continue innovating and get nowhere OR you will start executing and get somewhere. I will leave you with this…
Innovating is taking something from good to EPIC, whereas second-guessing is not even reaching the point of good because your doubt is holding you back from fully committing.
I believe in you and it’s time that you believe in YOU.”
Is That What You Needed To Hear?
Maybe or maybe not…
Maybe you loved it…
Maybe you don’t agree…
Maybe you now hate me…
But I’m all good because I don’t want people confusing innovation and second-guessing themselves.
I believe in radical transparency with the world, but even more importantly, with yourself.
And if you are in a constant state of innovation around an idea sitting on a piece of paper or a powerpoint or in your mind…
You are NOT in a constant state of innovation but rather in a constant and neverending whirlwind of second-guessing aka doubt and like I said before…
Doubt is the thief of innovation…
So, now what?!
Well, I will post that question to you…
NOW WHAT?!?!
What will you do with the idea which is burning a hole in your soul?
What will you do with the idea that you have second guessed for too long?
What will you do with the idea you know needs to see the light of day?
Innovate OR Second-Guess
If you choose INNOVATE, then what you are actually saying yes to is EXECUTING and then eventually INNOVATING once you are making money, have users, etc.
If you choose Second-Guess, then what you are actually saying is this idea will just remain on paper until I have the courage to execute and then eventually innovate.
Non-Negotiable #7: Execute
“I never utter the words ‘CAN I’ because this question allows your NO energy to show up so instead I always declare I CAN, I WILL, I MUST which creates space for only one energy...I call this energy TIME TO EXECUTE!”
- Jared Yellin
I want you to accept a challenge from me…
Let’s say 30-days…
Anyone can do anything for 30-days…right?
And what I am asking you to do is not intense…
It’s not a 30-day juice fast…
It’s not a 30-day intense exercise program…
It’s not a 30-day sprint to launch a company…
It’s not a 30-day accelerator for your relationship…
Here’s what it is…
30-days of NEVER saying “CAN I,” and only saying…
I CAN, I WILL, I MUST
This is the single reason why I get what I want...100% of the time.
I take personal responsibility…
I don’t ask myself questions…
I boldly declare what will happen…
And then, I say…
I CAN, I WILL, I MUST
Wait, So You're Telling Me Jared Comes Off Of A Weekend With 2-3 New Company Ideas Every Weekend?!?!
There is a wonderful woman on my team named Katie who is my kindred spirit as an entrepreneur.
Her title is Director of Implementation for EVERY company we have founded. She told me a story the other day about a conversation she had with her mother about ME…
Her mother said, “Wait, So You're Telling Me Jared Comes Off Of A Weekend With 2-3 New Company Ideas Every Weekend?!?!”
Katie responded with, “Umm, OF COURSE!”
Now, why does this matter and WHY should it matter to you…?
This is how I roll…
EVERY idea that emerges whether it’s business related, with my children, with my wife, for my health or ANYTHING that comes to mind, is immediately met with…
I CAN, I WILL, I MUST
I live a life where I believe EVERYTHING is not only possible AND it’s not only probable, but it WILL happen because…
I CAN, I WILL, I MUST
I get it...I am beginning to sound VERY repetitive, but that’s just how important those three declarations are in order for you to get what you want both personally and professionally.
STOP asking yourself questions that will elicit a less than desirable response…
STOP asking yourself questions that give you the permission to fall short…
STOP asking yourself questions that keep you safe, secure, and mediocre…
And instead…
Start DECLARING I CAN, I WILL, I MUST!
But This Is WAYYYYYYYYYYYY More Than Just Words…
Just declaring I CAN, WILL, MUST will absolutely lead you know where, but it’s at least better than asking questions that are guaranteed to lead to nothing…
But the next step once you collide your IDEA with I CAN, WILL, MUST is to take immediate action…
For example…
I had an idea to launch an Angel Investor Network on Wednesday, November 25th (day before Thanksgiving) and the network was LIVE on Monday, December 7th. This is ONE WEEK and this is what we accomplished…
- Setup the LLC
- Got EIN number
- Launched the bank account
- Finalized an Operating Agreement
- Hired business management firm
- Setup the website
- Built a backend portal
- Integrated the merchant account
- Got at least a dozen legal agreements completed
- Hosted a webinar
- Onboard 50+ angels
- Etc.
- Etc.
- Etc.
When the idea for the Angel Network emerged the first step was…
I CAN, I WILL, I MUST
And the second step was to MAKE IT HAPPEN with immediate and consistent action.
“But Jared, I don't have a team so I can’t do what you do.”
Listen, the reason I have a team is because I did this and more with the same speed and intensity when I was by myself.
As a result, it created the cadence for others to not only follow, but enjoy.
My team LOVES the need for speed and immediate execution.
My team is EXCITED when I have another idea that requires I CAN, I WILL, I MUST.
My team is OVERJOYED when they have the opportunity to complete something with a hard deadline that seems unrealistic yet, always is delivered upon.
But I suppose my strategy is not for everyone…
I guess some people would rather “think things through…”
I guess some people would prefer to “take it easy…”
I guess some people would enjoy “not push themselves…”
But I guess that MOST of these people are settling, compromising, and being mediocre.
YES, I am being extra harsh, but it’s only because I know what’s on the other side of your excuses…
I know what your life looks like when your excuse becomes a distant memory and instead your declarations are driving you into action.
I know what it means to NOT give yourself an out and instead to CAN, WILL, MUST…
And Remember - I Am Only Asking For 30-Days!
It’s only 30-days to not ASK yourself BS questions when an idea emerges…
It’s only 30-days where you live on the perimeter of your comfort zone…
It’s only 30-days where you do HARD to EASY because YES it’s hard to execute on CAN, WILL, MUST, but it will become progressively EASIER once you do.
And if after 30-days you stand against this approach and it did not produce what you desire, then I invite you to berate me, ridicule me, and challenge everything and anything I have brought to the world.
I am certain that your 30-days will be a breakthrough for you which is why I am certain that I have zero risk of my reputation being hampered by this challenge not performing.
As always, the choice is yours, but just so you know…
Here’s what is on the other side of I CAN, I WILL, I MUST…
- Your Health
- Your Love
- Your Wealth
- Your Ideal Career
- Your Dream Travel
- Your Optimal Geographic Location
- Etc.
- Etc.
- Etc.
All that I can say is this…
Take it from me - I CAN, I WILL, I MUST - is not only WORTH IT - but it will sustainably change your life forever.
Do you accept the challenge?
Now What?
“Grab the craziest idea that lives in your mind RIGHT NOW and run with it for the next 30 days.” -Jared Yellin
One of the coolest things about CILA LABS is our ability to RUN, SPRINT, and SOAR with ideas…
Just ask any of our portfolio companies that we are creating as we speak…
Our speed of innovation is INSANE and the reason we FLY is because of this very simple fact…
The world around us is in a constant state of motion…
When you sleep - someone else is awake.
When you perseverate - someone else is taking action.
When you talk - someone else is doing.
This is why the first 30 days that your crazy idea enters your mind is the make or break time…
If you commit to a daily - ritualistic - action plan to make progress for the next 30-days you will build enough velocity to determine if this idea is a hero or an iteration.
But if you just think about the idea for the next 30-days and DON’T take ritualistic action - then it’s guaranteed that your idea will NOT be a hero as it will never see the light of day.
Innovation and immediate action are directly correlated and this does not mean you become careless, but it does mean that you see the innovation and then develop a daily plan to make progress as a mechanism to test your idea.
Here’s an example of a 30-day immediate action plan to bring your IDEA to LIFE…
Day 1: Jump on Facebook Live and explain the problem you are committed to solving and ask people to DM you if they want to learn more and/or support
Day 2: Complete a competitive analysis to see what other solutions exist
Day 3: Document how your solution will solve the problem with details around the product or service
Day 4: Think of a name
Day 5: Think of a slogan
Day 6: Get a logo
Day 7: Write your first sales letter where you are selling your idea to an investor or a high-level vendor
Day 8: Document what your ideal role is within your idea
Day 9: Document what gaps exist and the type of skills you will need to recruit
Day 10: Who do you know that might support your idea and invest time
Day 11: How much capital do you need to launch an MVP version of your idea - do research!
Day 12: Schedule 2-3 vendor calls with companies that can help build your idea
Day 13: Share your idea with 10 different people over the next 2 weeks and take note of their thoughts and feedback
Day 14: Build your financial model
Day 15: Jump on Facebook Live and give an idea update
Day 16: Develop your go-to market strategy
Day 17: Organize your relationships based on how they can win with you
Day 18: Pitch an investor and see how they respond
Day 19: Objectively try and find holes in your idea
Day 20: Who would be your ideal partners that would accelerate your idea forward from a sales perspective
Day 21: Explain what people are doing today that is inefficient and then write up how you will make whatever they are doing efficient
Day 22: Get objective data to prove that you have a solution for a large enough problem
Day 23: Develop a financial forecast of good, better, best.
Day 24: What would your MVP product do?
Day 25: Put together an investor deck and/or product/service deck
Day 26: Interview 2-4 people who will help bring your idea to life
Day 27: Speak with an attorney to understand opportunity and risk associated with your idea
Day 28: Incorporate your company if this idea is ready for you to take the next step
Day 29: Connect with CILA LABS if your idea is tech related because we might just be able to solve every need you have
Day 30: Get on Facebook Live and share what you found...hero, iteration, or _________
So...
Are you exhausted or excited by the list?
Are you paralyzed or ready?
Will you do it or not?
There are countless people I speak with who have been sitting on their idea for months or even years and they have already missed that 30-day immediate action window.
The longer you wait - the harder it is to act.
Trust me - I have had dozens of ideas sit for too long and found it extremely difficult to get them in motion once they crossed that 30-day threshold.
And yes, this exercise is NOT for the faint of heart NOR is bringing an idea to life.
Idea generation is for the changemakers…
The innovators…
The disrupters..
This is why CILA LABS exists because we want to meet people who have ideas for days, weeks, or months and help them take their idea from a piece of paper and transform it into a disruptive company.
We stand to eliminate and disseminate inefficiencies in every industry, in every community, and in the world…
There are inefficiencies in healthcare, education, marketing, sales, chiropractic, insurance adjusting, social media, television, mobile apps, podcasts, real estate, data, and EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY that exists…
My question for you to ponder as you step into your 30-day action plan to bring your idea to life is the following…
Will you SOLVE the inefficiency or CREATE the inefficiency?
Neither is good nor bad - just decide - and I encourage you to follow our 30-day plan from above and/or connect with CILA LABS.
Love and appreciate you - time to rock!
Live with Intention,
JY