Behind the Brilliance

This week's guest is the smart and heart-centered Gunnar Lovelace. He's the co-founder and co-CEO of Thrive Market, an online market offering top-selling healthy brands delivered to your doorstep for wholesale prices. I'm a huge fan of the company and this conversation made me a fan of Gunnar. If you've ever considered starting a company based on a passion or if you're a current or aspiring leader of any kind, this episode is a must listen. I pull back the curtain on Gunnar's journey as an entrepreneur and big thinker. We covered a LOT including: -Gunnar's journey from growing up on a communal farm to running a $100M+ company -how Gunnar thinks about failure -how Gunnar chose his cofounders (great advice here if you ever want to start something with another person) -work/life harmony -why Gunnar kept pushing after being rejected by 50 venture capital firms (their most recent round was $100M so...yeah) -and much more! Let me know what you think of this episode: @LisaNicoleBell Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB96

The brilliant life strategist Rosetta Thurman joins me again to catch up on life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. As the founder of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta leads a thriving community of women aspiring to be, do, and have the best. In this chat, we cover a lot... -how Rosetta thinks about lifestyle design (and why she decided to move to Hawaii) -Rosetta's approach to romantic relationships as a successful woman -why Rosetta loves therapy and what she gains from it -Rosetta's advice to anyone feeling stuck or struggling to make a big transition in life -the time management habits that keep Rosetta relaxed and productive -why assistants, housekeepers, and other "fancy" services aren't unrealistic -the importance of being committed yet flexible with your goals -And much more! Let me + Rosetta know what you thought of this episode on Twitter: I'm @LisaNicoleBell and she's @HappyBlackWoman Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB095

This week's guest is the talented Christina Jones. She made the leap from graphic designer to full time writer without a publisher, agent, or a ton of time (she's a mom and wife). In this convo, we cover a lot of ground: -how Christina got her start as a writer -making the leap from amateur to pro at a creative craft -earning a living as a full time writer -managing time and energy as a creative -the calculated risk involved in putting your work out to the public -being present and authentic as an artist -marketing considerations for writers and creatives -and much, much more! Say hi to Christina on Twitter: @beingmrsjones Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBChristinaJones

This week's guest is therapist turned entrepreneur Bea Arthur. The self-proclaimed Beyonce of tech joins me on my virtual couch to talk about a cocktail of topics including: -Bea's journey as the daughter of Ghanian immigrants -How Bea found her way as a startup founder -Being ripped apart on Shark Tank (and how she bounced back) -Bea's advice to folks who want to do the startup thing -Why Bea decided to freeze her eggs (I'm curious, she's open, it works) -Bea's advice to folks dealing with anxiety and depression -How Bea sees failure -Why burritos are better than salads sometimes -And much more! Get into this episode and let us know what you think! Bea's Twitter: @BeaArthurLMHC Lisa's Twitter: @LisaNicoleBell Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB93

This episode is a conversation with the smart, heavily tattooed, and awesome Paul Jarvis. Paul started his career as a freelance web designer and then started writing advice for people who wanted to figure out how to balance the business aspects of their creative work. Now he's created software and is continuing to push the boundaries of his work. In this conversation, we cover: -How Paul got his start -How Paul designed his life to reflect what he enjoys most -Why Paul has pet rats (I know, but stay with us) -How to differentiate yourself from competition in crowded fields -How Paul handles critics -And much more! Hit Paul up on Twitter @pjrvs to let him know what you think! Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBPaulJarvis

In this solo episode, I answer two listener questions: 1 about my journaling process and another about how to deal with unsupportive family members. I share a lot of thoughts: -Why I journal and reasons I think journaling is helpful for everyone no matter what you do professionally -How I approach journaling (time, location, frequency, etc) -Benefits of journaling -Why other people not supporting you is not about you -The most important part of feeling "supported" -And more! Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTB091

This week's guest is attorney-turned-entrepreneur Rachel Rodgers. After realizing she didn't want to take a traditional path after law school, Rachel launched a virtual office and went on to make a business out of sharing what she knows. In this conversation, we cover a lot of ground including: -Why traditional careers don't have to be boring -How Rachel managed being the breadwinner in her home as an entrepreneur -How Rachel deals with critics -Rachel's advice for anyone trying to find their path -How Rachel bounced back from her darkest time -And much more! SHOW NOTES: http://bit.ly/BTB90 Follow Rachel: Twitter/Instagram - @RachRodgersEsq

This week's episode is a conversation with founder and superconnector Darrah Brustein. Darrah is the cofounder and CEO of Equitable Payments, and she is the founder of the fast-growing national networking event series, Network Under 40. In this episode, we talk about Darrah's journey to starting her business, her best advice for networking, and why she doesn't believe in ever being "too busy." Topics covered: Why Darrah studied Religion and Italian in college Why you should travel the world How Darrah found her path as an entrepreneur The hard truth about book publishing Darrah's networking advice (she runs the largest networking event in ATL) Darrah's approach to time management And more! Show Notes: http://bit.ly/DarrahB89

This week's episode features one of my favorite recordings - The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale. The recording lays out some compelling ideas about personal development and success. It's an older recording so some of the references are dated, but the core message is timeless. As something I listen to often, I decided it was time for me to share it with you. This week, Lisa Likes wardrobe capsules. Sometimes my schedule gets stacked and I need to reserve my cognitive space for important decisions. A wardrobe capsule helps me get up and out the door quickly without fussing over what I'll wear. I highly recommend it for busy people looking for extra time. Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBSecret

This week's episode is the annual birthday episode where I share what I've learned (and remembered) in the past year. Show Notes: http://bit.ly/BTBbirthday