Ryan Jenkins Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Ryan Jenkins
Todays guest, willing to spends some time with us Joining up dots, first began his working life as a sales professional in the technology industry after graduating from Miami University (OH) with a degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
And as he says in his own words “It didn’t take long for me to notice and experience first hand the friction between generations in the workplace.”
The guys that were happy to come to work everyday and do their stuff, because quite simply that is what they had always done.
And then the younger group. The next generation who thought and acted differently due to their belief that life should be different to that of their parents.
In fact it’s not so much as a belief, but is a firm expectation that things are going to move on, and they will be at the forefront of that movement.
So to better understand this workplace issue, our guest began researching, collaborating with industry experts, and interviewing 100s of Millennials to better understand their behavior, strengths, employer expectations, and career desires.
How The Dots Joined Up With Ryan
Which lead to him to write the book, “The GenEdge: Leveraging Millennials With A Next Generation Mindset,” which empowers leaders to think differently about the emerging generation in order to capitalize on their size and unique skills.
Now he shares his insights from the stage where he has spoken alongside fellow thought leaders from iconic brands like MTV, Facebook, and Uber for the last 7+ years.
He also shares his insights as a contributor for many different platforms, not least his own podcast.
Is there anyone who hasn’t got one of these?
So why was he so attuned to the friction that occurs within todays workplace, as isn’t it just a sample of what life is like anyway nowadays?
And does he see this friction as a great thing that will speed us on to greater and greater endeavours, or just keep the brakes squealing away as we try to move forward?
Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots, with the one and only Mr Ryan Jenkins.
Show Highlights
During the episode we discussed such weighty topics with Ryan Jenkins such as:
How he remembers sitting down at home, and asking himself when in his life had he been affirmed for a skill or talent in his past life.
Why he feels that the entitlement that is shown to the younger generations has caused a huge problem in society, and why we should get back to defining the winners and losers.
How success is built, or at last given a great chance to build, simply by showing up everyday and taking part.
Why the best way to build a product or company is to start it, ship it, and then look for the feedback that you are getting when its out in the world.
And lastly…..
Why you have to be intentional to stop for awhile and reflect on the past year, assessing the things that didn’t go well and of course the things where you hit a home run.
Ryan Jenkins Books
How To Connect With Ryan Jenkins
Return To The Top Of Ryan Jenkins
You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy
Full Transcription Of Ryan Jenkins Interview
David Ralph [0:00]
Today’s show is brought to you by podcast is mastery.com. The premier online community teaching you to podcast like a pro. Check us out now at podcasters mastery.com.
Intro [0:12]
When we’re young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here’s your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph
David Ralph [0:38]
Yes hello there world how are we already rocking and rolling episode all ready for rocking and rolling life getting off that sofa going out and grabbing the dreams. Well Hope you are because then you’ve come to the right place because this is Episode 334 of Join Up Dots. We’ve been coming to you seven days a week and we’ve got the kind of guy today that I’ve been chatting just before Hey, and he sounds good. He sounds like American DJ, he’s got a deep booming, ambience to him. So he’s, um, he is a guest who’s going to deliver and I know what he’s going to deliver because he has been spending time before joining up. He’s dots by working life as a sales professional in the technology industry after graduating from Miami University with a degrees in marketing and entrepreneurship. As he says, In his own words, it didn’t take long for me to notice and experience firsthand the friction between generations in the workplace. Yeah, it’s the old guys against the youngsters, there’s always a problem. They’re the guys that were happy to come to work every day and do best stuff because quite simply, that is what later was done. And then the younger group, the next generation, who fought and acted differently due to their belief that life should be different to that of their parents. And in fact, it’s not so much as a belief. It’s a firm expectation that things are going to move on and I will be at the forefront of that movement. So to better understand this workplace issue, our guest began with Searching, collaborating with industry experts and interviewing thousands of millennials to better understand their behaviour strengths, employer expectations, and career desires, which led him to write the book but Gen edge leveraging millennials with a next generation mindset, which empowers leaders to think differently about the emerging generation in order to capitalise on their size and unique skills. How he shares his insights from the stage is amazing where we have spoken alongside fellow thought leaders from iconic brands like MTV, Facebook and Uber for the last seven and a half plus years. He also shares his insights as a contributor for many different platforms. Not least his own podcast yet. Is there anyone who hasn’t got one of those nowadays? So why was he so attuned to the friction that occurs within today’s workplace as Isn’t it just a sample of what life is like anyway nowadays, and does he see this friction as a great thing that will speed is on to greater and greater endeavours or just keep the brakes squealing away as we try to move forward. Well Let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Ryan Jenkins. How are you, sir?
Ryan Jenkins [3:07]
Good to be here, David. I dig your energy. Thanks for having me.
David Ralph [3:10]
I’ll tell you what, it is not gonna last much longer. I’ve recorded seven shows I feel like I feel like I’m having an out of body experience
Ryan Jenkins [3:20]
hang in there man. Hang in there. You’re gonna crush it I can feel it.
David Ralph [3:23]
I’ve got a podcasting life support system around me I’ll be over where we’re get through this is a funny thing. If I wanted to research for you, when I was reading it again just been I thought to myself this Islamophobia isn’t it is not life are not the sort of the old guys the ones that don’t quite believe that life should be cake and eat it time and the youngsters are coming along. But they should have those big dreams and beliefs. Is that not how it’s always been which is seeing it move quicker nowadays.
Ryan Jenkins [3:56]
You know, you’re right. There’s always been generation friction. I mean, even if you look back to Socrates, Socrates use that you can find quotes where he points to the young generation saying, you’re lazy, you’re disrespectful. And so that’s always kind of been the case. Yeah, absolutely. The younger generation tends to be more optimistic. And they, they come in and try to disrupt, and then they kind of get set in their ways. And then the next generation comes in and it’s it just seems to be kind of hitting repeat exactly. And so, but what I think is really different about today’s day and age, David, I think you can probably appreciate and relate that. Really, what makes today different than any other time in history is technology and the internet. I mean, those are really the greatest equalisers. And so you have those two components, coupled with my expertise is the millennial generation, which is the largest generation on the planet. So you have you put all three of those together and that’s a brand new recipe that’s causing massive, massive amounts of disruption in the marketplace in the workplace.
David Ralph [4:58]
In the United Kingdom, we don’t use the Millennials, it’s a sort of an American term because it wasn’t until I started doing the show that I started hearing that word come about. And I had to look it up. It’s not something that we actually talk about.
Ryan Jenkins [5:10]
yet. What do you guys call Generation Y?
David Ralph [5:13]
Probably? Yeah, I think he’s that. Yeah.
Ryan Jenkins [5:15]
Yeah, you know, it’s the same term, we kind of switch back and forth between millennials and Generation Y in the States. And I was at age, which was a, you know, the company at age the media company at age, they actually were the ones that coined the term millennials. And so, and I’m sorry, they were the ones that coined Generation Y. And it was some of the other generational experts that’s kind of said, No, you know, millennial seems to be a better term. Of course, the millennials, they raised their voice and said, Hey, we like that better. We want to be different. Let’s go with millennials. Because we kind of came of age during the millennium, and, and then at age would coin Generation Y they eventually came forward and said, you know what we liked Millennials better, let’s go with that. So, you know, who coins that the term for generations to? Who knows, you know, it’s kind of nebulous, but I tend to like the word millennials better, you know, rather than saying Generation Y, Generation Z, generation B, D, all that. So, go figure.
David Ralph [6:20]
Well, I would like to call it Generation Y w haitch. Why I would like, man, yeah, but we’re actually asking the questions. We’re saying, why can’t we have this? Why can’t we do that? Because there seems to be a problem in life. And I don’t know if you feel this strongly, that expectations do not match up with achievements. And that’s the problem that that’s what holds us in place. The fear of either going out and doing something and not achieving, or the fact that we think we’re going to achieve better than we do. And it sort of holds us back. So I like that why that’s what I would call it.
Ryan Jenkins [6:55]
Yeah, now it’s, it’s a, that’s I think there’s a couple books and some other folks that kind of That play on words as well. And I like it as well. And I think it defines a generation really well too because the millennials and the Generation Y they’re really a generation that is very optimistic, which is most younger generations are. But they’re really they define success different than any other generation they define success as doing meaningful work. And so they really do want to understand the why behind the you know, the companies that they go to work for, they weren’t really want to see the big picture, they want to have a sense that they’re contributing towards something beyond themselves. So you know, I always coach and and help organisations identify that why and help to communicate the why because that bigger picture is really what’s going to get those millennials hustling hustling for you within the organisations.
David Ralph [7:45]
So So tell us about how this epiphany occurred to you because it seems slightly strange, but you saw something that everyone sees because I’ve worked in corporate gigs with time and time and time again, and it’s just how it is What was it about your work environment that made you think I need to tackle this? I need to sort of make this a movement somehow.
Ryan Jenkins [8:09]
Yeah, I mean, I was, you know, my burden became my passion. And, you know, I was I was a millennial and I studied entrepreneurship. I knew I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I didn’t know how or what it was going to look like. And so I took a sales job out of college and was optimistic, full of energy, you know, ready to change the world. And then I got into my position, and I was just instantly deflated, that there was there was just terrible leadership. And I had been a student of leadership and just loved learning about leadership and I just got into this kind of poor environment and then the, the corporate infrastructure in
the corporate environment.
David Ralph [8:51]
Oh, I thought you said a poem environment. I I misheard you and I had to backtrack. I thought with this you
Ryan Jenkins [8:58]
had to but you definitely need to clear it.
David Ralph [9:00]
Yeah, this is the greatest workplace
Ryan Jenkins [9:02]
known Japan. Right? That was very different than I was expecting. No, yeah, corporate and corporate, you got it and, and really David, I just felt like I was oversold and I felt like I had this. You know that that feeling you get sometimes when you when you buy something expensive and you’re really excited about you buy it, you’re kind of in the moment you buy it and you get home and you’re kind of like,
David Ralph [9:24]
I don’t know if I should have
Ryan Jenkins [9:26]
bought that. That kind of buyer’s remorse. I don’t know. I’m sure you’ve experienced that at some degree. And maybe your listeners have as well, I’m sure so I kind of had that same feeling but when it came to career, it came to my career came to my future life, right. I’m thinking, I don’t know if I want to do this. This is a lot different than what I was sold in the recruiting process. And you know, I told myself I thought, okay, but I’m an entrepreneur. Let me sweep this under the rug. You know, I’m a little bit different. I’m probably not cut out for this corporate thing. Anyway, let me just sweep this under the rug, and so I did, but it wasn’t till later that I kind of bumped into Some of my other friends and colleagues and peers around the country that were experiencing the same tension. And I thought, okay, it’s not just me, there’s something else. There’s something else going on here. And that’s what really started me on this journey to try to figure out what is it exactly, that’s causing this friction in the workplace that’s causing so many hopeful and hungry and ambitious young professionals to not be excited about their work. And so that’s really was the catalyst for me was my own burden in the workplace
David Ralph [10:29]
is intriguing that because you’re at that moment where so many of us have been where we go, I don’t think I want to do this anymore. It’s not what I thought it was going to be. And for most of us, we will try to pull ourselves out of that environment. But actually, you did it. totally the opposite. You actually started going deeper into the environment to find your passion. There’s not many people that do that.
Ryan Jenkins [10:54]
Now, I guess, I guess yeah, I think I’ve always had a screw loose upstairs. So that seems about right.
David Ralph [10:59]
So What Why Why did you feel that you had to do that? Why did you not go right? Okay, I want to be an entrepreneur. I have seen so many people laying on beaches with their laps tops earning affiliate commission, I could go the easy route. Why did that burden become your passion? Have you ever asked that question? Probably you’ve asked it many, many times.
Ryan Jenkins [11:20]
Yeah, you will, you know, you know, it’s it’s, it’s I guess it’s it wasn’t as quite as an epiphany as maybe I just construed it to be it was something that was just stirring in my soul for quite some time. And I guess the more kind of aha moment that I had was one day I came home from work and was just just it was just a, you know, a tough day extremely frustrating. And I sat down Dave, and I can remember I had this little tiny little wooden desk and I was living in apartment in Atlanta, Georgia in the US, and I sat down, and I don’t know where I came up with this exercise. It was just it was just creeping in the back of my mind from somewhere with a book or who knows where I heard it. But I sat down When I asked myself this one question, when in my life have I been affirmed for a skill or a talent? Just that simple question, when in my life have I been affirmed for a skill or a talent? And so it just began, I just began this reflection process of Okay, what like, when in the past, if I has some kind of something, I did something that people were like, Whoa, what was that? That was good. What is that? You’re good at that. And I think for most of us, it’s easy for us to just pass those by we get so many small compliments throughout the day. But really, I think those are the those are the signposts that that will lead us to greatness and really, where we’re truly fulfilled and we truly can, you know, play to our greatest strengths. And so for me, I looked back and there was two events that immediately cropped top of mind for me and it was when I gave a speech at my brother’s wedding, as the best man I gave a speech and people were like, what was that and they were they were talking about it all night. I thought, Okay, that was, that was cool. And then my my day Dad was a coach. He was an ice hockey coach in Colorado, and I would come back from college and actually give pep talks to the team before, before they go out and play. And they they loved it so much. They always asked me back and they eventually ended up winning the state championship that year. And of course, I take full credit for that and I give my dad zero credit for that championship. And so those two events cropped right at the top of mine, I thought, okay, I somehow I have a unique skill, I have some kind of something in my DNA about speaking and made perhaps this radio voice should have, that should have been a, an indicator sooner that I should have done something with my voice, right. And so I yeah, and so I said, All right, I need to speak. I don’t know how to how to do this. I don’t know if I could build a business off of this, but I need to speak more. And it was literally that week that I bumped into a colleague of mine who had just joined a Toastmasters club. Are you familiar with Toastmasters? Yeah,
Unknown Speaker [13:55]
yeah.
Ryan Jenkins [13:56]
Yeah. So it’s a great organisation International, any listener Probably wherever you are in the world, there’s probably a Toastmaster club nearby. And he had joined Toastmasters. I had never heard about it. And I was looking through the manuals that he had just got because he had just joined a club and I thought, Oh my gosh, this is it. I love this. And the next week, I went and shopped six other clubs in the Atlanta area, and found one where I was the most intimidated. There was the largest group largest club in Atlanta, there’s about 70 folks in the club, a lot of great speakers, a lot of really seasoned communicators. And I was I was the most fearful and intimidated by that group. And so I said, that’s the one I got to go into. And so I spent, I spent actually five years in a club, developing my skills and you know, I built my it started my business in between that time, but that was really kind of how I started into the speaking world. And then, you know, all throughout this process, I’m trying to land on a topic kind of what’s going to be my my topic and my my expertise and Then through that process, I really began to unfold and expose this kind of millennial and technology, friction that we’re experiencing. And so that’s where kind of brings me to today, I guess.
David Ralph [15:12]
Well, that makes that is a blueprint for success is now and when we talk about it here, we, literally every single day, Ryan, we talked about the fact that when you’re young, you will do things when money isn’t involved, and you love doing it. And one of the best ways and this is what you do, but one of the best ways is to ask your mom and dad can I root around in the attic and the law where they’ve stored all your swimming badges and your things that you did as a kid and they they’re not willing to throw him out. And you can look back and it can show you that you want a gold medal for drawing or gold medal for writing or whatever it is. And when you’re a kid, basically, more often than not you try to do the minimum don’t you just try to get it done task done. And the things that you win gold are the ones that you remember. Yeah, I love doing that. I really laid on the floor for hours and hours and that’s what you did you looked at when did my skill or talent really come to the fore and certainly I’ve done best man speeches I’ve done far better bride speeches and god knows what speeches and I know that is when your talent for speaking has to get fine tune fine tune fine tune and you prepare you prepare you prepare. And I think those speeches you work on more than any other speech you’re ever going to do. So you put your heart and soul in it. That is the benchmark of what you’re willing to do and that is the benchmark of where your talents lie often.
Ryan Jenkins [16:35]
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. That’s a great exercise yeah to kind of trace back and I’m you got my gears turning because I’m I’m getting ready to have a baby I know we talked beforehand that I don’t have kids but I’m expecting one here soon. And, and so that’s one of my one of my goals as a new parent is to, you know, relentless help my child to relentlessly pursue their dreams. Thanks. And so, how do I, you know, I’m trying to think through how can I make that easier? And how can I, as a parent be more in tune to their strengths so I can help guide them toward those strengths. So they can truly fulfil what they you know, what they’ve been put on this planet to do. And so I’m thinking about doing a blog that would just be private where I can write my ideas or if I can see something in my in my kid I can, I can jot that down. And so, you know, down the road when they’re, you know, older, I can kind of hand over that blog and say, Hey, here’s some of my thoughts that I’ve had while you were growing up and, and hopefully that’ll be a little bit more condensed, searchable, and make it a little bit easier for them to kind of uncover some of their talents and strengths versus, you know, up in the parents attic, rummaging around and looking at old trophies right. So I don’t know I just had that thought as you’re saying that. Oh, I think that’s a brilliant idea.
David Ralph [17:53]
Congratulations of having a baby. That’s wonderful DJ having
Unknown Speaker [17:59]
having a Girl having a girl I got four girls
David Ralph [18:01]
now, okay? I mean, we need to get offline and I need to take some notes from you. I think you know all that you need to know basically that you’re having a girl and you you’re not going to be in control for the rest of your life and you will. That’s the only thing that I can say Ryan, I say this to everyone, every new born a new parent to be take as many photographs of yourself now because you will never look this good again. It’s it’s gonna destroy you in the nicest possible way, but it will destroy your. But it’s an interesting point that what you’re doing is absolutely right. You’re a new parent, you’re coming along and you want to set your kid up for the best chance in life. And you will nurture that relationship and you will protect them as every parent should. But unfortunately, the passions that you will see in your daughter as she’s growing up, get beaten out of her when she’s not in your environment. You can be saying to her, yeah, you can do this, you can do that. But then she goes with our mates and she doesn’t want to sort of best foot forward for looking stupid and stuff. And I see that with my own kids bears, bears, definitely. I kind of detraction of their own personal belief as they get older, and they lose it. And you can’t do anything about it. I wish you could. But I don’t know if you could. Do you see that with your programme? You you’ve obviously done the millennials. But have you ever thought of doing a programme for the younger kids for that reason how to actually stop that. But detraction of their own personal belief and an inner power?
Ryan Jenkins [19:40]
Yeah, it’s, it’s a great, great point and great question. And yeah, I mean, my most of our my research and keynotes and content on our blog is is is around the millennial generation. But we’re just now starting to research the Generation Z, which is really the youngest generation Right now, and it’s it’s hard to get a lot of data on them because you know, they’re not old enough to take surveys, right. And so there’s but there’s, there’s some data out there. And so it’s we’re starting to kind of put it together and kind of make some forecasts and trends on what they’re going to be like. But what I’m really interested in David, which I think is fascinating is is, is, what is the next generation of parents going to look like and I believe that the millennials, you know, about 80% of all of the new moms are millennials. And so you know, Millennials are kind of the digital natives. They grew up in a very hyper connected hyper social world. So they just think differently, they approach problems differently. And so ultimately, I believe they’re going to parent very differently. And so have you heard the term helicopter parents? No, I don’t think I have. So helicopter parents is is, you know, that’s kind of the baby boomers that raised the millennials. They were helicopter parents kind of back to your point right? That The boomers really kind of wanted to, they kind of hovered over their child and made sure that you know that they got a trophy for every sport, even if they just showed up. I mean, they were, you know, doing well in school. And so they’re always kind of around and just making sure that they that their kids were taken care of very noble, but it produced a very interesting breed of, of a generation, which are now the millennials. And they kind of that’s where some of the maybe the entitlement comes from and other things. But I think the next generation, they’re not going to be helicopter parents, but they’re going to be drone parents. And so what I mean by that is the millennials are going to leverage technology to stay connected and essentially parent their kids from afar, right? So we can use mobile devices and track the health of our baby or we can be in a different room and look at our mobile device and see exactly what our children are doing and even speak through the phone in a different part of the house and actually start Beat to the child. And so I’m going to, I think we’re going to see more and more technology coming out. And that’s really going to help optimise parenting. And so I think it’s very fascinating to see where that goes. And that kind of goes back to your question as far as, you know, how do we constantly keep encouraging them when they’re out with their mates? And, you know, I technology, I think there’s a component of that where we can do that and monitor some of that. Of course, there’s boundaries as well. But yeah, that’s gonna just going to be a lingering question for all parents, but I think the millennials are going to be the ones that are looking to technology to try to solve that.
David Ralph [22:35]
Well, when you were talking about the helicopter parenting, and you touched on the fact that you only have to turn up and get a trophy, and which is one of my bugbears. I can’t understand why you can’t just have winners and losers anymore, everywhere seems to be a winner. Does that cause friction with the generations that you’re looking at? But the older guys it is win or lose you you you do your best Then you achieve or you do your best and you don’t, but then you work harder next time, but the next generation seem to have it softer somehow. Does that cause friction in the way that you’ve you researched?
Ryan Jenkins [23:11]
Yeah, no, absolutely, it does. And so, every audience, I do an exercise and I asked them, you know, what’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word, you know, generations are millennials, and usually the top one or two or three is entitled, that’s usually the top one of the top responses. And, you know, I completely appreciate that. And I think there is a certain level of entitlement. But I really, you know, back to the example of, you know, I grew up playing soccer and, and hockey and at the end of each hockey season, you know, one year we won the state championship, which was amazing, and I expected a trophy, then a big one. In fact, they have an event I wanted a big trophy for a state championship. But after that, when we won, you know, certain if we didn’t When are we had a bad season? I didn’t look at my teammates and none of my teammates were saying, Hey, don’t we still get a trophy? It wasn’t us. It was it was our parents that were saying, Hey, no, everyone needs to get a trophy. Yeah. And so entitlements not a, it’s not a, you know, we’re not born with that behaviour, we learn that behaviour. And so that, that the, the, the millennials, parents, really the ones that saw them as entitled, and thought that’s why they kind of now have that stigma and they act in that certain way. And they’re a very confident generation, and they’re very optimistic as well. And so, yeah, that causes a lot of causes a lot of strife, but I think we gotta, we gotta stand back and understand how they got that way. And then I think we need to, we need to figure out, you know, how to how to, you know, be a little bit more realistic. And so we can find some common ground and build some bridges. But I think that the next generation, Generation Z, the youngest generation, I think they’ll be much more realistic because I think they, they’re looking at the millennials now who, you know are coming out of college and in a really tough economic climate right and having a hard time finding work. And so I think this generation will be much more realistic and they won’t be really have as much of that entitlement as that we maybe see today in the millennials.
David Ralph [25:19]
Well, let’s play some words. But I like to throw in round about this time in the show. And these are words that Jim Carrey said recently, and I think are one of the things but if you could get that book for your baby, and actually have an mp3 link, and she can play this every single day, I think is a powerful statement to make. This is Jim Carrey.
Jim Carrey [25:39]
My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you could fail at what you don’t want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
David Ralph [26:05]
Now, I seem to be asking this question more and more, but in your case, Ryan, did you take a chance on doing what you love? Or did you take a chance and found but love after you took that chance?
Ryan Jenkins [26:20]
Wow. That was a great clip, by the way gave me chills. He’s
a very powerful I. That’s a good question, David.
Unknown Speaker [26:33]
I think
Ryan Jenkins [26:34]
I mean, I think both I mean, I still feel like I’m taking chances every day and I feel like just, you know, showing up to the table and like, I feel like I’ve I was dealt a good card in life. I have great parents and I had a stable upbringing. So I’m lucky in that in that regard, but at the same time that I show up to the table every day willing to play and play hard and and I took the chances and Really, I don’t know if we want to say changes I maybe it was sacrifices, right as sacrifices when it was hard when, you know, friends were going out or we, you know, could have done trips and this and that and I elected to, to work and to dig in and self reflect and try to figure out what is it that I am uniquely called to do and what is it that I can, how can I serve the world in some unique, small way. And it was just those small decisions over an extended period of time that really began paying off and so they were small chances and I never really thought of it as risky or chancy. I just thought of it as as just sacrificial. And I just had I had faith in the long term, I had faith in my ability.
And yeah, so I don’t know, I don’t feel like I really taking a chance. I mean, I’m sure when I have
the new baby, there’ll be a whole nother level of chances and risks that comes to mind. But at this at this point, it’s really was just kind of steady.
Steady sacrifices that I took along the way.
David Ralph [28:04]
I think the key phrase that you said really jumped out at me and I thought yeah, that’s it was you kept kept on showing up. And and that’s, that’s how it gets done, isn’t it? That’s the thing when, when you don’t feel like it, but you still go out and do it. That’s when ultimately all those little things start finding their feet and building something around you and when you don’t, and I used to see in corporate land a lot when somebody would phone up and go, account come in today, I feel really I’ve got flow. And the next day, they’re coming in with perfectly all right, and you go eat in that flow, you’re just not feeling very well you just get up and come into work. And I see that the people that would come in every day, were the ones that ultimately they wouldn’t have real because they just knew I had to show up. They got on with it. And you you you are somebody that has always shown up even when things were getting tough.
Ryan Jenkins [29:00]
Yeah no absolutely yeah and it’s um you know my favourite quote David is his sweat in peace so you don’t believe in battle and I think that’s just my battle cry is just I’m constantly putting myself in uncomfortable situations stretching myself when it’s peaceful because knowing that that storms coming knowing that that battle is going to happen I don’t want to be I don’t want to be bleeding on the battlefield I want to be prepared and ready and so yeah just constantly just showing up and it’s just you know tired or whatever it may be just just come into play just keep showing up just moving the needle just a little bit and it’s just that you know, it’s over you know, it just starts exponentially building on it and you know, at some point you look back and go wow, that’s that’s that’s what happened that’s what all those little decisions added up to it’s pretty extraordinary and well worth the ride.
David Ralph [29:50]
Well you’ve you’ve done it, haven’t you? You You know how it builds. But so many people don’t and so many people see the get rich quick schemes and The colonic cutting exercises. There’s there seems to me now There seems to be a movement. Maybe it’s in the environment that I’m in, but people are starting to assess. But there isn’t a quick route. We’ve gone through years and years and years of following the fads. And it seems to me now that people are almost getting back to buying into what their mums and dads and their grandparents used to say that you have to put the work in, you have to put the work in and whether you end up on a beach with a laptop, it’s not going to happen overnight. You still have to put it in. Did you think that is something that you gain from your parents, the fact that you’re showing up? Is it the fact that you’ve always been involved in sports teams where the last thing you want in the sports team is that the player doesn’t turn up when the team needs them? Where did you get that from?
Ryan Jenkins [30:48]
Yeah, you know, I think it was like a little bit DNA. I think it was kind of natural, but I had great parents. My dad at a very early age encouraged me to read a lot And, and so he always, always encouraged me to read. And so I’ve always been always just been reading, leadership management, personal growth, all that kind of stuff. And so that was a big component of it. And then certainly, yeah, sports I think there were so many so many things I learned from sports and and I was fortunate enough to be amazon for varsity sports and in high school and I was captain of three of them. So just kind of had this natural leadership knack, but I was I was a kind of a quiet leader, I lead by example. And so for me, it was it was kind of instant accountability, right? If I was the leader of this team, I had to show up for every practice, and I had to be the one that was first off the line and the last one to leave the field. And so, you know, I think there’s always just been that that hunger and drive in me. And I think, far part of its DNA part of its just reading and I think one of the greatest catalysts for Anyone that’s that’s creative or a thought leader or wanting to build a business, I think is consistent input. And so for me, like if you know, we, I write two blogs every, every every week, and we do a podcast as well. But I can feel the creativity pipeline getting dry, when I’m not having a consistent source of input. So if I if life gets in the way, and I’m not reading and not reading blogs, I’m not listening to podcast, whatever it may be, that’s when I start not having as many ideas not being as encouraged not being as excited to to get work done and focus and be disciplined. So creating those, those systematic and automatic points in your day where you’re having that source of positive input is so crucial and it’s something that I kind of discovered early on and it’s just always committed to always feeding myself something positive and healthy. That could, you know, when when I was down or didn’t want to do it, I could rely on all of that consistent input of healthy positive stuff. So I think that was probably
David Ralph [33:11]
instil is a big piece of it. David, did you suffer from sort of overload? Do you suffer that? You’re going to do the podcast and all the blog posts? You do get points when you just think are all the time? lock myself in the downstairs toilet and not come out for a week?
Ryan Jenkins [33:26]
Yeah, cheese. Absolutely. No, it’s Yeah, it’s Yeah, it’s I mean, we live in such a cluttered world. There’s more clamouring for our attention than ever before. So we have to be diligent, we have to say no, I mean, that’s something I’m constantly learning more and more is how to say no, and how to really just figure out what’s the priority, what’s important and try to execute against it.
David Ralph [33:49]
And yeah, and it’s really overwhelming if you’re not quite sure what it is that you’re going to do or what the dream is, because then you’re just you’re reading everything and everything looks like a new opportunity. And that’s super hard. So now I know my niche, I know my lane. So it’s easier to start reading something and be like, Nope, that’s not a fit right now, or this doesn’t apply to what I need to do and kind of discard that and move on. So yeah, it’s tough these days, I define it as a tree. When you find your thing, you start growing a tree, and you’re live the roots for a long, long time. So you’re just doing the work and the roots are growing, grow and grow. And then the trunk starts coming up. And for a while, you’re absolutely focused, because this is the tree you want to grow. And you keep on working on it, working on it, working on it, and then an opportunity comes along and you think, okay, is this part of the tree? Is it going to be a natural fit? Is it going to be a branch, and if it is, that’s why you can go down it and you can sort of do what needs to come and any leaves and stuff that’s part of your tree. But if you look at it, and you think that’s not life, that’s not part of this tree vein, you shouldn’t go down there and I had this vision in my head quite a lot. And it helps me focus on where I want to go. But as long as it’s part of my tree, Ben, I will go with it. And if not, then I’m going to say no. Where before I literally used to go yes to everything. And I hadn’t defined what tree I was working on, if that makes sense.
Unknown Speaker [35:17]
Yeah, no, I love that.
David Ralph [35:20]
That was powerful one there. Yeah, that was powerful pose, man. I was, wow, I wasn’t ready for the next question there, Ryan.
Unknown Speaker [35:28]
That sounds like it sounds like a book,
David Ralph [35:30]
David. I’m gonna throw all these ideas to you. And as long as I get a little mention at the beginning, you can have them all of them. All right. I’m not going to put the work in. So I want to play some words now. And these are sort of another little speech, but I’ve got hold up and I just think it really blends in nicely with the Jim Carrey. Now Jim Carrey was very inspirational or I’ll just take a chance and go for it. But this is what Oprah says
Unknown Speaker [35:59]
the way through The challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, Oh, I got all of this. What is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move, and the next right move, and not to be overwhelmed by it. Because you know, your life is bigger than that one moment, you know, you’re not defined by what somebody says, is a failure for you, because failure is just there to point you in a different direction.
David Ralph [36:30]
Now, I’m really fascinated by that statement. In so many ways. It’s so simple, but it seems to me one of the most perfect blueprints for building success into your life, making a decision, having a look, was it the right one? Was it wrong? And then then going again, and just going again, and there’s no such failure? It’s just part of the journey. Do you buy into what she’s saying that?
Ryan Jenkins [36:56]
I do. I think there’s a lot of truth to it. You know, I think what Oprah saying, I think so many other people have said it in a different way. I think one of my other favourite ways, is is well, Seth Godin, he kind of says just, you know, just ship, you know, ship your product, just ship, it doesn’t be perfect, just ship it. And then Dave Ramsey, who’s a, you know, famous kind of financial radio host, here in the US, and he says, he just talks about going and pushing stuff around, go into the market and just push stuff around. Like, as soon as you start pushing something, something happens and you get to evaluate and is that is that effective? Was that not? And so? And so? Yeah, I totally think it’s just it’s a matter of doing we’ve got to do it. And that in this day and age, I mean, look at all the tech startups, right. It’s all about, it’s all about, you know, shipping it when it’s not ready, and then getting all this feedback and then tweaking it and then re shipping and then getting feedback and then tweaking and reshipping. And so we live in such it. We The Internet. levels of change and just growth organisations are or I probably argue individuals as well as a lot shorter than it used to be. And so absolutely, I think, yeah, just what’s the next right thing? Absolutely. And I think one of the other great things to think about is john Maxwell, who’s one of the world’s authority on leadership. He’s written over like 60 books on leadership. And he says that experience isn’t the best teacher, but it’s evaluated experience. That’s the best teacher. And so we can have all this experience we can have done all these things. But if we just keep moving forward and pushing forward, that’s sometimes that’s going to be more hurtful. So I think at some point to we have to pause and you have to reflect you have to reflect on all those decisions. You made all the experience that you have, and then gather some insights and then turn around and then move forward make that next right decision. So I think Oprah’s right, you know, just get going. Move. Make a decision act on something. But then at some point to pause, look back reflect. And then maybe create somewhat of a somewhat of a plan, I guess, and then move forward with making those decisions frequently. Again, that’s a great statement for the listeners out there who have got these ideas. But like, they want it to be perfect before they show it to the world. And I remember doing numerous online projects in my earlier day when I would spend the days messing around with a logo or trying to get the bright orange colour or something like that. And
David Ralph [39:33]
yeah, and I look back on it now, and I think, who cares? Who cares? It’s the wrong orange. Just get it out there. Just get it out there. And then, as you say, once it’s out there, you can say to people what you love about it, what don’t you and and start building it from that point, but it is it’s difficult, isn’t it? When when you have got that dream, and you want to change your life, and I get so many emails from people, and they say to me, you know, I’ve got this idea, what do you think and I go to them Other people doing in the world? And they go, yes. Okay, well, that’s a good start, first of all, because there must be money there. And then, you know, what do you like about their products? and What don’t you like and, and just sort of research it in that way. But they, they almost feel that it’s not right, looking at what other people are doing. They’ve got to create their own thing. And, you know, why do we reinvent the wheel? i? I was watching the social media the other day. Have you seen that? Facebook? Phil?
Ryan Jenkins [40:27]
Yeah, the social network?
David Ralph [40:29]
Oh, yeah. The Social Network? Yeah, sorry about Facebook. And I found that fascinating. But he didn’t create anything new. He just kind of did something better and quicker, but it was already out there. And right when I was looking at it, I thought, yeah, that is the way to do it, isn’t it that is the way to do it. You find out what’s already popular. You look at finding what is good about that and what’s not good. And then just go with the good stuff. And then you will find your own little audience and hopefully you can build it to sort of greater and greater success but it’s out there already. You’ve got a podcast I’ve got a podcast is not different. Is it to all the other hundred thousands around there?
Ryan Jenkins [41:06]
Yeah, no, I mean, yeah, you’re totally right. Like you just you have someone’s already doing it that’s not a sign to to not do it. It’s just a matter of how can you bring your personality or your unique experience to it to add value to another, or a new set segment of folks. So, yeah, I think there’s a lot of truth, then I’m a firm believer to that none of us have original ideas. There’s no such thing as original thought, right? We can’t think up something that’s never existed before, like a new ideas, just a combination of other ideas or experiences or thoughts. And so that’s the key is just, you know, find if you’re excited about something or want to enter a new market. There’s already people there, that’s great. But what is the other little tweak or thing that makes you stand out or that makes you that much more unique, or maybe the special sauce that’s missing from all those others? And so I think that’s what’s important to start. to kind of think about
David Ralph [42:01]
and that can come naturally as well, Connie, you can find your authentic self as you move down. It is very difficult to be something totally unique and authentic when you start that comes in once in a blue moon. And when you see the wheels are movers and shakers, most of them will sort of admit that they were actually inspired to be like somebody else when they started. And it was on that journey, but they started to find out but actually doing their own thing was easier because they weren’t playing the part they were playing to the strengths that they got and being Ryan Jenkins is damn sight easier for you. And being David Ralph and David Ralph is definitely easier to me than being Brian Jenkins is you playing to your unique strengths but it comes, doesn’t it?
Ryan Jenkins [42:47]
Yeah, it does. Yeah, it absolutely comes and I think you know, I certainly come from the aspect of abundance, right like I you know, I’ve heard of other people that have given you know, similar talks, as Mine and that sometimes I wonder if they even just ripped off my content. But to me, I’m like, that’s fine. Like, you know, I want to share this and I give all of my audience members, copies of my slides and access to all the content online and, and it’s just this idea of abundance. And I think that I always see our humans and as rivers and not reservoirs, right. You know, that moment that I tried to put my hands around thoughts and ideas or my intellectual property or my things that I don’t think I’m going to get a steady flow of new things. And so for me, I just consider myself a river of new thoughts. And that’s what just be abundant with it. And I think, yeah, it takes a while to I think you’re right, as far as kind of letting your personality come through. I mean, if you probably, well, probably not the case with your podcast, David, I’m sure episode number one, you were just as Rockstar ish as you are today. But for other podcasts, there’s the first couple episodes, probably a little shaky. They’re not quite they haven’t quite found their voice yet. But it takes That launching it takes the actually making the decision and executing to get you to the point where you’re your true self or your, you know, kind of in your sweet spot.
David Ralph [44:11]
Yeah, I think actually, if you do go back and listen to my shows, you’ve got to go on the website now because iTunes does this weird thing that after 300 shows they start dropping off at the bottom. So if you go over to the website, Join Up Dots and you listen to episode naught point five and one. It’s It is very much me, but without the competence. I am a subdued version of myself because I can actually hear some of the jokes I made in episode one. I could sense that I’d written them beforehand. I obviously stood in the shower for weeks leading up to that thinking visibie funny and it was a contrived version of what I’ve become now. Now, I don’t even know the first word I’m going to say when I press record. It just comes out of me and sometimes it’s great. Sometimes it’s rubbish, but hey, it’s the show in a way we Go. So it does take its time. But I think if you find the thing that you should be doing, you’re not a million miles away from it when you start, I think you’ve got a head start, I think is what I’m saying. And I bet with yourself, when you started to think I can do this. It was just simply going back to those affirmations, those those about you were affirmed for your skill or talent in the past life, you’d already built up those foundations to move on.
Unknown Speaker [45:29]
Yeah, well said,
David Ralph [45:30]
Oh, I’m getting good at this. You say this about a third time you’ve said Well said. Yeah, I should have you want to add we show? Well, I’m going to play some words. Now. These are our last speech. I don’t normally do all three speeches. But this is the last one. And these are great words. And I would love to say this chap. Well said because he said these 10 years ago, and they they literally were life changing the first time that I read them and I’ve heard them every day since and they get stronger and stronger somehow. This is Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs [46:00]
Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards 10 years later. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference
David Ralph [46:35]
to bind to those words Ryan.
Ryan Jenkins [46:39]
I do I do hindsight is 2020 right i mean looking back it’s it’s it’s easy, but I think it’s it’s difficult for people or where people get get hung up is they just let life get too busy. They just let life pass them by and they don’t actually like we were just talking about right experience isn’t the best teacher but it’s the value of experience that’s the best teacher. And so you’ve got to be intentional about stopping and looking back. And you’ve got to stop and look at those dots and you’ve got to take the time to connect them because it’s not something you take five minutes to do. I mean, you know, I do these things every probably two or three times a year, I call them purpose weekends, David, and I, I’ll just go away, I’ll go away, I’ll just do some hotel and some outside the city somewhere, somewhere in some kind of typically some beautiful kind of off the beaten path place. And I’ll just spend time just reflecting looking back on the year and planning ahead, and, and it takes a whole weekend or really kind of get in the weeds and figure out what’s next. And what did I learn what did I learn? And so it is and so I think, I think Steve Jobs is spot on, but it’s it’s it’s a lot more effort than he probably alluded to there is in a short little quote. So
David Ralph [47:57]
when when you do that, and you actually go off to these these hotels. And it’s interesting that you said off the well worn path, which were the same words that he said as well. Yeah. Did you feel that the key to that is being quiet? Is it disconnecting? I imagine that you don’t have your mobile going and your cell phone and all those kind of things.
Ryan Jenkins [48:18]
Well, I’m a millennial. I can’t I have to have those on. I can’t I can’t. I can’t shut those off. No. I know. It’s just for me. It’s it’s the just the actual proximity. That’s that’s the disconnect, right? is getting out of the city, getting out of my routine, being somewhere where I’m not, you know, you know, I’m not I’m not looking, you know, look out the window and see the lawn is too long and I gotta go mow it, or Oh, and then I need to go get some fertiliser. And I gotta go to the store and get that and come back. Oh, the dog needs to be walk. Right? So there’s to be in a place where the life’s not going to get in the way. And so, I used to tell people, hey, I’m going away. So don’t bug me or, you know, I’m going to be dark on email. But at this point, you know, I just kind of go And I’ll still plug in the email and do some things. And sometimes I actually, like I did one purpose weekend where acts were actually created the podcast, right? I spent a whole weekend learning how to podcast, all that stuff, creating all the, you know, not all the content but creating a lot of the marketing stuff. And so I basically launched and created a podcast and a weekend. And so sometimes I’ll do projects like that, but if I am reflecting, yeah, it’s just about being somewhere in nature, where it’s, it’s quiet, fresh air helps. But just the physical, just removing yourself from the business and kind of the day in day out is extremely, extremely helpful.
David Ralph [49:36]
So So what is your big dot then Ryan, when when you look back on your life, what’s what was the moment?
Ryan Jenkins [49:42]
Yeah, and I guess before I answer that.
The other thing about the Steve Jobs quote that I was thinking about is that I think where people may be missed the mark is they don’t create dots, right? I mean, you just sit around and play video games and You know, you go to work and you come home and you play video games and have a couple beers and you repeat and, and, and then you in 10 years you look back on I’m trying to connect the dots Well, there wasn’t any dots you didn’t do anything. Right. So I think it’s all about taking that risk and, and, and joining a Toastmasters club or, you know, you know befriending someone or or go into this go into that trying this, you know, testing out a podcast, trying a blog, whatever it may be. So you’ve got to actually do things you actually got to create a dot for it to be someday reflected on. So I think that’s the other thing is really the action. I think that that scares people to write. We’re just humans we love routine. And so it’s easy for us to just settle into our routines and not creating a dots so I’d say that’s kind of a another Asterix on Steve Jobs quote there.
David Ralph [50:49]
So so if we could combine some sentence that have got the the kind of personality of what Jim Carrey Oprah and Steve Jobs said that would basically encompass Life Wouldn’t it that that that would be the blueprint.
Ryan Jenkins [51:03]
Yeah, totally. Yeah taking chances executing which is what Oprah said. And then basically Steve would with his reflection and being purposeful in that.
But something tells me you kind of knew that that those were the Those were the those three quotes connected dots. I have a feeling you had that you had that cued up there, David.
David Ralph [51:27]
I can see it now but I can honestly say when I started doing it, it was just that I liked them. You know, I just
Ryan Jenkins [51:33]
oh, they’re great. threw them out. And I
David Ralph [51:35]
hope I hit that powerful statements, but now listening to them time and time again. I just think that’s it. That’s got to be it. That’s what people are coming to this show to hear. Not me, not you. We could just play those and then just sit there and chat to ourselves. You know that that’s the essence of what Join Up Dots is all about I feel.
Ryan Jenkins [51:54]
Yeah. And you asked me about my big dot and and I think it’s just a lot of little one. But I’d say probably probably the biggest dot would be probably giving my, my first my, probably my first paid speaking opportunity. And it was just kind of this like out of body experience where I was just like this meant to do this. I love doing this. The audience is reacting, they’re learning stuff. They’re excited. And it was just that raw moment that like, Okay, this is it Lock and load, like, let’s take this to the next level. So that was a, that was a bigger dot than most for me.
David Ralph [52:35]
Spot on. When you know it. You know it, don’t you? That’s right. Well, this is the end of the show now. And this is the part that we call the Sermon on the mic when we’re going to send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And if you could go back in time Ryan, and speak to the younger Ryan, what age would you choose and what advice would you give? Well, we’re going to find out because I’m going to play the theme tune and when it fades out, this is the Sermon on the mic. We go
Unknown Speaker [53:06]
with the best. The show.
Ryan Jenkins [53:23]
Right? Hey Ryan, don’t be alarmed. This is your future self Ryan talking to you. And I know you’re only 20 at the moment, but I’ve got some pieces of advice for you. And I’ve, again, I’m from the future. So take these with what you will. But first, the first tip that I have for you, young Ryan is you have what it takes. You absolutely have what it takes. So I know and then in the coming years, you’ll you’ll wonder if you’re too young to start a business you’re too young to impact people’s lives that are older than you and you’re too young. You have you’re inexperienced and all that don’t believe it, that’s the resistance inside you that will get the better of you just know that you do everyone and you specifically to have what it takes and you have unique experience that will serve others. So continue to exploit that and explore it. Number two, I’m gonna give you young Ryan is hustle patiently. That’s right hustle patiently. In the you know, the world that you live in now is very busy, but it’s only going to get more chaotic. There’s only more that’s that’s clamouring for our attention. And it’s going to seem that the businesses around you and the individuals that you want to emulate have had overnight successes and that’s simply not the case. Every success is is just different events and it’s it takes experiences and insights to for those people in those businesses become who they are. So be patient, but never Stop hustling. So hustle, hustle patiently my friend. And then finally number three is don’t compare yourself to anyone else. I think you’re going to have a tendency to look to others and say well okay, they’re there then I should be there too. But you have a different journey you have a different message. So just be patient and continue to just have faith that what you have inside you will be something of value at some point. And don’t look you know, you can look you can look over the other lane or look over the fence for as an indicator, but certainly don’t look over there long enough where you veer out of your lane and out of your expertise and out of your strength zone. So don’t compare yourself too long to others. So without those Ryan be well and Godspeed, my friend.
David Ralph [55:48]
Ryan, how can our audience connect with you, sir?
Ryan Jenkins [55:52]
Yeah, this was great, David. Thanks for having me on. Yeah, the audience can go to Ryan dash Jenkins calm. So that’s ROI. As hyphen je n k AI, ns and we post twice a week on that blog we talk about leadership and millennial’s and communication and we do a lot of productivity hacks as well. That’s all free but you can sign up to get those in your inbox for free. And all of our social networks are there as well if you want to connect with me on any of them I millennial’s, so I love me some social networking. So happy to connect there. So again, Ryan dash Jenkins calm.
David Ralph [56:27]
We will have over links on the show notes. Ryan, thank you so much for spending time with us today. joining up those dots and please come back again when you have more dots to join up because I do believe that by joining up the dots and connecting our past is the best way to build our futures Mr. Ryan Jenkins, thank you so much.
Ryan Jenkins [56:44]
Thank you, David.
David Ralph [56:47]
Thanks for listening to today’s episode of Join Up Dots brought to you exclusively by podcast is mastery.com. The only resource that shows you how to create a show, build an income and still have time for life that you love. Check out podcast is mastery. com.
Outro [57:03]
Now, David doesn’t want you to become a faded version of the brilliant self you or wants to become. So he’s put together an amazing guide for you called the eight pieces of advice that every successful entrepreneur practices, including the two that changed his life. Head over to Join Up dots.com to download this amazing guide for free and we’ll see you tomorrow on Join Up Dots.
