Jullien Gordon on How to Create Mindful Moments and Find Personal Best

In Chapter 2 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "When Are You At Your Best?"  Gordon finds his best in what he calls "first period" or the beginning of each day.  He makes it a point to listen to himself, set an action plan for the day, and then take action on what he needs to do.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  When are you are your best?

Jullien Gordon:  I’m at my best at the start of the day.  At the start of the day I mean that’s when I’m well rested, that’s when my energy is the highest, that’s when there’s no interruptions, there’s not email, there’s not phone calls it’s really just quiet time and I actually call that space in my life, first period, you know it’s the first period of my day and I can save that space for myself and that’s when I’m able to listen to myself and really get a good vision of what I’m supposed to be doing that day and how I’m supposed to be allocating my time and energy so I definitely think that the start of the day is when I’m at my best.

Jullien Gordon on How Purpose Motivates High Energy Performance

In Chapter 3 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "Where Do You Get Your Energy?"  Gordon references Daniel Pink's book, "Drive" and shares how he gets his energy by living in alignment with his purpose.  He understands living in his purpose acts as an intrinsic motivator that allows him to make the most out of each day.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  Where do you get your energy?

Jullien Gordon:  To be honest going back to Daniel Pink’s drive I think purpose is where I get my energy from.  When I’m in alignment with my purpose I get this wind behind my sail that allows me to do things that I couldn’t have imagined doing on my own.  When you’re in alignment with a current of energy it just takes you in places as opposed to trying to swim against the current like no I’m going up this stream no matter what.  No, I’m – when you’re in alignment with your purpose I feel like you’re going with this universal current and that’s where I think a lot of my energy comes from.  

My diet isn’t the greatest diet, I don’t exercise, I want to do all those things well but I do know that where my high level of energy comes from is this deep sense of purpose.  This intrinsic motivation that’s within me and that’s where I think my most powerful and my spiritual source is.  My purpose is my connection to my spiritual source.  It’s the single most important reason why I’m here.  

Now a lot of us go through life and we have all these to do this lists and we check off all kinds of things on our to do lists and by the end of life we’re like yeah I checked off all this stuff but the big question is did you do the one thing that you were uniquely created to do and I feel like I’m moving in alignment with that right now and so that’s where my energy comes from.

Jullien Gordon on How to Do What You Love and Attract Support

In Chapter 6 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "How Have Your Reconciled Your Personal Ambition for That Projected Upon You By Others?"  Gordon finds his ambition had to get reconciled with his parents' notions of success and security.  By continuing to do great work and share the results with them, he helps them understand his non-traditional career path and, in turn, receives support.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  How have you reconciled your personal ambition for that projected upon you by others?

Jullien Gordon:  I’ve taken so much ownership of my personal brand especially with my relationship with my parents because parents are a big influence on what we choose to do in life that – there hasn’t been too much outside influence or projection on what I should do or should be doing. 

My mother, she’s still concerned because that’s her motherly energy of you need to have this traditional career because she was a doctor you know what I’m saying?  She went to undergrad, then went to medical school, then whatever you do after that but the steps were laid out for basically until you’re after 30 years old for a doctor and that’s what she has known as success or security. But I listen to her but I still do my own thing and the way I actually prove to my parents that I’m gonna be alright is just by continuing to do great work and sharing those results with them. 

When they saw me spoke at – speak, when they saw speak at my UCLA graduation and my Stanford graduation they knew that I was gonna be alright, even if I was taking this non-traditional path and so – yeah, like I said going back to my purpose, my influences come from my spiritual source more so than anywhere else and even if you read Success Built to Last by Jerry Porras where he studied 500 of the world’s most successful people; Olympians, Nobel peace prize winners, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, US Presidents, they are more concerned with doing what they love than being loved and that’s a hard distinction for a lot of people to make. 

A lot of people move through the world and they try to be loved, right?  And in the process of being loved and people pleasing, end up hating themselves but what I found is when you’re doing what you love, the only thing that you can attract back to you is love.  I’ve only met amazing people like you, other Capture Your Flag alumni and you’re doing what you love and that’s what’s attracting these Capture Your Flag alumni to you is because you’re doing what you love, people want to be around that kind of energy.  So it’s just easier to just do what you love if your ultimate goal is actually to have love in your life.

Jullien Gordon on How to Maximize Quality of Life on Your Own Terms

In Chapter 7 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "Why Do You Differentiate Between Cost of Living and Quality of Living?"  Gordon finds quality of living and cost of living are not necessarily positively correlated.  He finds financial freedom does not always create time freedom and chooses to have time freedom as he lives.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  Why do you differentiate between cost of living versus quality of living?

Jullien Gordon:  Wow!  So I think in regards to the American dream, we bought into this notion that our quality of living increases with our cost of living, that they’re correlative, right?  But I found that knowing what my cost of living is, what is enough for me has actually given me the freedom to actually move more powerfully with any excess income that I have beyond my cost of living. 

My cost of living is a lot of lower than a lot of people yet my quality of living is a lot higher and so we bought into this notion and played this game of income maximization as if financial freedom is actually always gonna give us time freedom and that’s not always true.  If you’re working 80 hours a week for $150,000 a year you’re actually losing out on time freedom and you have to delay your time freedom until the end of life called “retirement.”  I’m actually having my time freedom as I go along life and even Gallop did some research on well-being where they showed that the average retirement age of people who live beyond the age of 95 was 85 years old.  It wasn’t 65 years old, right? 

So this notion of “Oh I want to retire early” most people who want to retire early actually hate what they do and so since our career is such a big chunk of our lives we need to figure out how to make that fulfilling, make it feel like vacation when you’re doing your work because you love it so much and there’s this hidden tax that we have on us when we’re doing things that we hate, psychologically and physically that we don’t acknowledge until our clock stops ticking and so I’m more concerned with quality of life than anything and so to be honest my cost of living though I’m – I don’t have kids and I don’t own a home, my cost of living is about $3000 a month and that’s with my student loans and my quality of living is through the roof and so for me that just breaks this assumption that cost of living and quality of living are directly connected or correlated.

Jullien Gordon on How to Use Your Network to Make Big Life Decisions

In Chapter 8 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "How Do You Use Your Network to Get Help Making Career and Life Decisions?"  First, Gordon makes it a point to establish a network and one way he creates this is by hosting monthly potluck dinners.  Second, Gordon chooses to "network up" and build relationships with a select group of more experienced advisors.  Lastly, Gordon makes sure to find quiet time to reflect on what he learns from his network and how he applies it to career decision making.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  How do you use your network to get help making career and life decisions?

Jullien Gordon:  First and foremost I make sure that my network or what I actually call my community is there before I need them.  So by hosting monthly potlucks at my home over the past four years in New York, I’ve met over 400 people through that space. And so these are 400 people who know who I am, know my vision, know what I’m about and are there to support me when I need them. 

When I think about tough decisions, I actually use my network up, that’s what I like to call which is my personal board of directors.  So these are my mentors, these are my advisors, these are seasoned professionals, these are experts in certain areas.  So I reach out to them for advice on certain decisions.  At the end of the day they don’t necessarily influence the decision, they give more information to consider, but the ultimate decision actually has to come from me and the best way I like to make decisions is by getting in a place of stillness and quietness after I’ve gotten the information that I need and then making the decision from there.

Jullien Gordon on How Standup Comedy Facilitates Self-Discovery

In Chapter 9 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "What Did Taking a Standup Comedy Class Teach You About Yourself?"  Gordon notes how the experience helped him "uncan" himself, allowing him to loosen up, be himself, and be corny and silly in his life.  Gordon learns to use humor and comedy to get people to open up and be more receptive to the more challenging messages he delivers.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  What did taking a stand up comedy class teach you about yourself?

Jullien Gordon:  Oh wow.  I really enjoyed that experience.  The term I like to put to it is that it really let me un-can myself because being a professional coming from Stanford and just being in this business world, often times we can ourselves and we have these prepackaged ways of delivering ourselves to other people and taking a comedy class just loosened me up and allowed me to be more of who am I. At the end of the day I’m really corny.  I’m really corny.  I make corny jokes at home with my friends, they even know me as corny and it allowed me to bring that corniness into every space that I’m in and not be ashamed of it and so I really loved that experience.

 Ultimately when I speak I bring the truth to people to the best of the my ability or the truth that I see just so that they can be exposed to it but when I would just deliver the truth, a lot of people might close off.  So through comedy and humor I’m actually able to open people up so that they’re smiling in the way that you are and then once people are open they’re more receptive to the messages that you deliver and then I can give the harder things that people have to consider.  So it has really helped me become a better communicator, a better speaker and so I’m really grateful for that experience.

What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Marc Ferrentino

In Chapter 1 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, cloud computing technology executive Marc Ferrentino answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?"  Ferrentino notes how as his kids age, he finds parenting more approachable.  This also comes with finding the children schools and getting them enrolled.  He notes how challenge boils down to managing time, schedules, and commitments to stay balanced with the kids and each parent's respective career.  Ferrentino is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of cloud computing at BMC Software.  Previously, he was Chief Technology Architect (CTA) at Salesforce.com.  Previous to Salesforce.com, Ferrentino worked in mobile and Internet startups and at Goldman Sachs.  He earned a BSEE in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.

How to Use Your Network to Make Big Life Decisions - Marc Ferrentino

In Chapter 2 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, cloud computing technology executive Marc Ferrentino answers "How Do You Use Your Network to Get Help Making Career and Life Decisions?"  Ferrentino speaks about career and life challenges, especially at forks in life and how networks can help.  He notes how specialization makes the network more valuable, especially around career choice, family, and financial planning.  Ferrentino is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of cloud computing at BMC Software.  Previously, he was Chief Technology Architect (CTA) at Salesforce.com.  Previous to Salesforce.com, Ferrentino worked in mobile and Internet startups and at Goldman Sachs.  He earned a BSEE in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.

How Marriage Exemplifies Teamwork - Marc Ferrentino

In Chapter 3 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, cloud computing technology executive Marc Ferrentino answers "What Has Marriage Taught You About Teamwork?"  Ferrentino notes how the relationship with his spouse is a peer relationship built on trust, communication, and shared responsibility.  He notes how having a sounding board enables improved iteration and collaboration which provides support in a two working parent household.  Ferrentino is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of cloud computing at BMC Software.  Previously, he was Chief Technology Architect (CTA) at Salesforce.com.  Previous to Salesforce.com, Ferrentino worked in mobile and Internet startups and at Goldman Sachs.  He earned a BSEE in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.

How Work at Home Parent Stays Productive - Marc Ferrentino

In Chapter 4 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, cloud computing technology executive Marc Ferrentino answers "How Do You Manage the Balance Between Working from Home and Being a Parent?"  Ferrentino shares home office challenges, including face time with colleagues, and benefits such as eliminating a commute to spend more time with the kids.  Over time, he learns discipline that increases his productivity.  Ferrentino is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of cloud computing at BMC Software.  Previously, he was Chief Technology Architect (CTA) at Salesforce.com.  Previous to Salesforce.com, Ferrentino worked in mobile and Internet startups and at Goldman Sachs.  He earned a BSEE in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.

What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 1 of 15 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Ramsey Pryor answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Harder in Your Life?"  Pryor notes how raising his children is entering an easier phase that requires less oversight.  With regard to what is getting harder, Pryor speaks to getting older and confronting the challenges that come with entering a middle aged period of life.  Pryor is currently a product management executive at IBM focused on cloud-based communication and collaboration software.  Previously he was VP Product Marketing at Outblaze, acquired by IBM.  Pryor earned an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and a BA in Economics and Spanish from Northwestern University. 

What Marriage Teaches About Teamwork - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 2 of 15 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Ramsey Pryor answers "What Has Marriage Taught You About Teamwork?"  Pryor notes marriage is the ultimate team.  He shares how building a marriage relationship requires continuous commitment.  He shares how a recent roadtrip exemplifies how coming together around a goal shapes experiences.  Pryor is currently a product management executive at IBM focused on cloud-based communication and collaboration software.  Previously he was VP Product Marketing at Outblaze, acquired by IBM.  Pryor earned an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and a BA in Economics and Spanish from Northwestern University. 

How Parent Sets Boundaries Working From Home - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 3 of 15 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Ramsey Pryor answers "How Do You Shut Off Work and Turn on Dad or Vice Versa to Give the Best of What You Do Personally and Professionally?"  Pryor accepts the boundaries between working at home and being a parent blur; however, he makes it a point to not multi-task between the two.  Pryor is currently a product management executive at IBM focused on cloud-based communication and collaboration software.  Previously he was VP Product Marketing at Outblaze, acquired by IBM.  Pryor earned an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and a BA in Economics and Spanish from Northwestern University. 

How Children Inspire Parents - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 4 of 15 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Ramsey Pryor answers "How Do Your Children Inspire You?"  Pryor finds inspiration in children's honesty and transparency.  He also finds inspiration experimenting with different ways to raise the kids, learning from these decisions along the way.  Pryor is currently a product management executive at IBM focused on cloud-based communication and collaboration software.  Previously he was VP Product Marketing at Outblaze, acquired by IBM.  Pryor earned an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and a BA in Economics and Spanish from Northwestern University. 

How to Break Out of a Comfort Zone and Live More Fully - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 8 of 15 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Ramsey Pryor answers "Where is Your Comfort Zone and What Do You Do to Break Free of Living in It?"  Pryor discusses the benefits of immersive moves and travels to change scenery.  He also details how becoming a parent and raising children evolves his approach over time.  Pryor is currently a product management executive at IBM focused on cloud-based communication and collaboration software.  Previously he was VP Product Marketing at Outblaze, acquired by IBM.  Pryor earned an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and a BA in Economics and Spanish from Northwestern University.

What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Andrew Hutson

In Chapter 1 of 17 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Andrew Hutson answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?"  Hutson better understands how he works and, as a result, has achieved an improved work-life balance.  He notes the increasing challenge of dealing with and responding to failures.  As he advances his career, Hutson feels more is at stake in the failures, takes them more personally, and finds the recovery process longer and more difficult.  Hutson is a senior project manager at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where he advises corporate partners such as Wal-Mart on sustainable supply chain initiatives.  Hutson holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MEM from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment.  He earned his BA from Michigan State University. 

How to Define and Measure Success in Life and Career - Andrew Hutson

In Chapter 2 of 17 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Andrew Hutson answers "How Do You Define and Measure Success in What You Do?"  Hutson looks at objective success measures that be tracked over time.  He also looks at how this impacts personal life and career goals, noting how a successful project may not necessarily raise personal or professoinal wellbeing.  Hutson is a senior project manager at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where he advises corporate partners such as Wal-Mart on sustainable supply chain initiatives.  Hutson holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MEM from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment.  He earned his BA from Michigan State University. 

Managing Conflict the Gandhi Way - Andrew Hutson

In Chapter 5 of 17 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, Andrew Hutson answers "Where Do You Find Value Reading Autobiographies and Biographies of Great Leaders?"  Hutson notes daily policy and corporate issues managing conflict.  He finds insight and inspiration by reading great leader autobiographies to guide his own problem solving approach.  Hutson is a senior project manager at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where he advises corporate partners such as Wal-Mart on sustainable supply chain initiatives.  Hutson holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MEM from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment.  He earned his BA from Michigan State University.