The Emotional Journey of Being an Entrepreneur l With STEVEN DUFRESNE & ERIC MURPHY from Anthros
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March 30, 2023
TLDR: In this episode of GaryVee Audio Experience, Gary discusses with Anthros' CMO and CEO about creating a comfortable office chair, health and wellness, personal fitness journeys, standing vs sitting while working, and lessons learned when losing everything.
Learning and Connecting at the Business Super Conference: Gary Vaynerchuk emphasizes the importance of perseverance and shares his personal experience of overcoming challenges with the help of a dedicated trainer. The Business Super Conference offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn and connect with industry leaders and innovators.
The business super conference, featuring speakers like Busta Rhymes, Deepak Chopra, and Steve Bartlett, is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn and connect. Gary Vaynerchuk, the host of the podcast, shared a personal story about his own entrepreneurial journey and the importance of perseverance, especially when faced with challenges like a bad back. He highlighted the impact of his trainer, Jordan Sayed, who helped him through years of pain and taught him valuable techniques. The conference, taking place May 18th to 20th in Indianapolis, Indiana, promises to be a must-attend event for anyone interested in business, pop culture, and innovation. Don't miss out, get your tickets through the link in Gary's bio.
The Importance of Proper Sitting and Anthros' Mission: Anthros founders' dedication to creating comfortable office chairs stems from their experience working with the disabled population, addressing the negative effects of prolonged sitting.
Sitting for long periods of time can lead to pain and health issues, similar to how smoking harms the body. The founders of Anthros, Eric Murphy and Steve Dufresne, have dedicated their careers to creating the most comfortable and supportive office chairs to help alleviate these problems. Their extensive experience comes from working with the disabled population, whose intense sitting requirements demanded the highest level of chair design and functionality. Sitting may seem like a simple act, but for Anthros, it's a complex issue that can significantly impact one's life and performance. The importance of proper sitting and addressing the negative effects of prolonged sitting has gained more attention in recent years, as the conversation around health and wellness continues to evolve.
Find the right balance between sitting and standing: Alternate between sitting and standing or take frequent breaks to minimize health risks and improve focus
Both sitting and standing have their pros and cons, and it's essential to find the right balance between the two. While standing engages more muscles and can improve focus, it can also lead to discomfort and even injury if not done correctly. On the other hand, sitting in a proper chair can help reduce muscle tension and improve focus, but prolonged sitting can lead to health issues like back pain and poor posture. The key is to find a routine that works best for you, such as alternating between sitting and standing or taking frequent breaks to move around. It's also important to ensure that you're using the right equipment, whether it's a good quality chair or a standing desk, and that you're using it correctly. Ultimately, the goal is to find a balance that allows you to work comfortably and efficiently while minimizing the risks associated with prolonged sitting or standing.
Creating solutions for essential aspects of life: Understanding underlying issues and finding practical solutions can significantly improve people's lives. Focus on making essential aspects easier and more accessible.
Creating solutions to make essential aspects of life, such as sleep and posture, easier and more accessible can significantly improve people's lives. The speaker shared his personal struggles with sleeping and maintaining good posture, despite putting in the effort to do so. He emphasized the importance of understanding the underlying issues and finding practical solutions. The speaker also highlighted the prevalence of the desire for shortcuts in various aspects of life, including health and fitness. He suggested that inventions and startups focused on providing training wheels or making things easier could be impactful and successful. The speaker's personal experience of investing time and effort into improving his health only to have it undone during a global pandemic served as a reminder of the challenges people face in maintaining positive habits. Overall, the conversation underscored the importance of addressing the root causes of common struggles and finding practical, accessible solutions.
Design for human needs: Anthros chair: Anthros chair, designed for human needs, is FDA-registered as a sitting orthotic, proven more comfortable and effective than leading office chairs, and helps improve posture and prevent back pain.
The Anthros chair, designed with the principle of catering to a human's needs, can significantly improve posture and help prevent back pain over time. The chair, which is FDA-registered as a sitting orthotic, is more comfortable and effective than the leading office chairs, as proven by university testing. The founder of Anthros, who turned 47 during the discussion, shared his inspiring story of starting a business at the age of 27 to bring a power wheelchair with a unique feature to market, only to face adversity and eventual success. The chair's ability to change posture over time, combined with its comfort, makes it a valuable tool for individuals seeking to improve their overall well-being.
Unexpected opportunities from building relationships: Meeting a billionaire investor through a handshake led to a significant investment, teaching the importance of trust and the unpredictability of life. Building relationships goes beyond transactions, it's about genuine connections and new opportunities.
Building strong relationships can lead to unexpected opportunities. The speaker shares his experience of meeting a billionaire investor through a letter and a handshake, leading to a significant investment in his business. This encounter not only changed the course of his business but also taught him the importance of trust and the unpredictability of life. Despite the sudden turn of events when the investor passed away, the speaker remains grateful for the experience and the lesson learned. Building relationships goes beyond just business transactions; it's about making genuine connections and being open to new opportunities.
Even in the darkest moments, keep hustling: Despite setbacks like business failure, divorce, and financial ruin, never give up and keep hustling to rebuild your life.
Even during the most challenging moments in life, such as business failure, divorce, and financial ruin, it's essential to keep hustling and not give up. Steve's story illustrates this perfectly. After losing his business, being divorced, and losing all his assets, he found himself homeless with only a pallet of clothes, two speakers, a gas grill, and his yellow lab. But instead of giving in to despair, he hustled for two years, taking any job he could find. The experience taught him that when you're hungry, you don't have time to feel bad for yourself. Though he may have felt bitter about his circumstances, he understood that his perspective would change as he aged. The lowest point in his story was when he had to drive his moped to the auction and hitchhike his way back home in freezing temperatures, crying the whole way. But he didn't let that define him. Instead, he used it as motivation to keep moving forward and rebuild his life.
Comparing yourself to others can lead to negativity: Focus on personal growth and progress, not external comparisons, for a positive outlook on life
Comparing your life to others can lead to unnecessary self-deprecation and unhappiness. The speaker shared a personal experience of feeling lost and behind in life when they thought they would be ahead of their peers. They were particularly affected by social media comments and the perceived success of others. However, it's essential to remember that everyone's journey is unique, and comparing oneself to others can result in negative thoughts and feelings. Instead, focusing on personal growth and progress can lead to a more fulfilling and positive outlook on life. The speaker's story highlights the importance of staying true to oneself and not getting bogged down by external comparisons. It's a reminder to focus on personal growth and progress, rather than comparing oneself to others.
Personal stories of reevaluating decisions: Initial reactions or decisions may not align with our true passions or potential. It's important to reevaluate and consider the long-term impact on personal growth and happiness. Observe role models who inspire us to push beyond limitations and pursue passions.
Sometimes our initial reactions or decisions may not align with our true passions or potential. The speaker shared a personal story about turning down a job offer in the wheelchair community, only to experience an emotional breakdown and later regretting her decision. She was inspired by her uncle, who defied societal expectations with his tenacity and entrepreneurship in a wheelchair. This experience led her to reconsider her initial rejection and eventually find fulfillment in the wheelchair community, serving it through seating solutions. The story highlights the importance of reevaluating our decisions and considering the long-term impact on our personal growth and happiness. It also emphasizes the value of observing role models who inspire us to push beyond our limitations and pursue our passions.
Entrepreneurship born from dissatisfaction and a desire to help: Dissatisfaction with current leadership and a passion to help those in pain led to the creation of Anthro, emphasizing the power of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Passion and the desire to improve things can lead to entrepreneurship and innovation. The speakers in this conversation met 15 years ago and have worked together on bringing products to market ever since. However, around 8-10 years ago, they both felt a sense of dissatisfaction with their then-president and decided to take matters into their own hands. This moment marked the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey, leading them to create Anthro, a company aimed at helping people who have experienced chronic pain and are chasing their dreams. The speakers shared personal experiences of struggling with pain and the importance of gaining strength, emphasizing that people don't have to accept being in pain. They encouraged listeners to explore ways to improve their situations and shared their support for the new venture. The conversation also touched on the importance of gaining strength, both physically and mentally, and the significance of perspective and mentality. Overall, the speakers' shared passion for finding solutions and their determination to make a difference inspired the creation of Anthro and highlighted the power of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.
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