When a company forecasts a bright and optimistic future for themselves, we call it their vision. So why, when a person does the exact same, do we call it a fantasy? The truth is, every success story began as a success fantasy — and we should all be writing ours down. That’s how Noah Kagan , Founder of AppSumo , did it — and his long string of entrepreneurial and career successes are testament to the power of giving yourself permission to achieve your wildest dreams.He joins the show to discuss how he achieved his, including:Why success comes from being unafraid to ask for thingsWhy the best business ideas come from solving your own problemsHow to overcome the fears holding most people back from living the story they really want to tell   For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your life consists of a series of interconnected systems. And you get to design each one of them to propel you toward your ideal life. Rob Dyrdek , founder and CEO of Dyrdek Machine, a full-service venture studio, explores this idea in his upcoming book, The Machine Mindset. In this episode, Rob and Erik chat about... How his sister's boyfriend helped launch Rob's legendary skateboarding careerThe story behind how Rob founded Orion TrucksPitching his way onto MTVHow Rob learned to start at the end  For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a kid, he had dyslexia and a speech impediment. He couldn’t speak and he couldn’t read.That made for a difficult childhood.But as a result, he spent a lot of time studying others and developing a sixth sense for human nature — a skill which, in adulthood, made him into one of the top real estate agents in the world.Who am I talking about?I’m talking about Aaron Kirman , President International Luxury Estates at Compass . Aaron’s company has sold some of the biggest listings in history, and today, they rake in $8 billion in sales.In this episode, we discuss:Breaking into empty luxury homes as a youth and pretending to sell themWhy real estate came so naturallyMaking the jump to luxury real estateWhy knowing what you want is the key to successCheck out Aaron’s luxury real estate listings at AaronKirman.com . For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Choosing film or business as a career can be challenging — marrying the two? A different kind of challenge altogether. To be successful at both requires equal enthusiasm, time management, and an eye for the right kind of opportunities. Fueled by inspirational parents and a drive to invest in early state companies, our guest Patrick Schwarzenegger , Strategic Investor & Advisor, joins the show to discuss his successes, strategies, and plans for the future. In this episode, we discuss:Patrick’s upbringing Entrepreneurial & film aspirations Sharing advice with the audience For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s an open secret among tech startups: Many of the most well-known AI-powered, automated innovations actually started off powered by old-fashioned, outsourced human labor.And for anyone who led such a startup in the last decade, the odds are good they’ll know today’s guest.That’s because, in this episode, I’m speaking with Jaspar Weir , Co-Founder of TaskUs , the go-to outsourcer for many of the most recognizable companies within the tech industry and beyond.We discuss:Jaspar’s entrepreneurial roots in the nightlife industryHow a love for Argentina eventually led to Jaspar becoming an outsourcer extraordinaireWhy TaskUs decided to go publicThe simple secret to improving culture within a company For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every successful person was once the little guy. They become successes, not by worrying about being the little guy… They get there by going big anyway.If you still don’t believe me, just look at today’s guest, Dan Fleyshman , Founder at Elevator.Studio . Dan is the youngest ever founder of a publicly traded company and once sold a million dollars worth of shirts… when he was still in high school.In this episode, we discuss:What it takes to become the youngest CEO of a publicly traded companyThe energy drink warsVictory poker and Black FridayHow to influence the influencers For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify, or wh erever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some people think that when you sell an uber-successful company and walk away with a huge payout, your whole life changes. Suddenly, you enter a world of champagne wishes and caviar dreams.But today’s guest, Jake Kassan , Co-Founder and CEO of MVMT Watches , knows from experience that that isn’t the case. In the end, more money doesn’t make you any happier, it just gives you time to figure out what’s next.In this episode, we discuss:Finding childhood heroes in entrepreneurs, not athletesGoing from selling lollipops to kickstarting MVMTFiguring out what the next challenge will be For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you land your dream job? Embracing change and finding work you excel at — because you love it so much it isn’t really work. Or, you know… by just wanting to leave Orange County.Both of these factored into the massive success today’s guest, Joe Drake, CEO of Lionsgate , has seen over his long career in the movie business — one spanning from Ski School to The Hunger Games.In this episode, we discuss:How wanting to leave the OC kicked off Joe’s careerJoe’s rise through the movie industry and how he achieved itWhy running towards change is the best career advice for young people For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes you go searching for a career. Other times, the career seems to find you.Which is exactly what happened for Marty Callner. Marty is a world renowned television director who has directed some of the biggest names on the planet (Jerry Seinfeld, Cher, and Garth Brooks to name a few) and learned a ton along the way. Oh, and he also started at HBO when there were 7 employees, and directed nearly every major music video from the 1980’s. But he didn’t grow up wanting a career in Hollywood. How did that happen then? It involved a three month bender, Nietzsche, and a chance interview at a television station as an out of work 22 year old. What we talked aboutHow his parent’s divorce tuned his eye towards the artistic.Why a three month bender on psychedelics opened his creative side.Joining HBO in the early stages.How he ended up directing the world’s biggest stars. For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a negotiator for the FBI requires a very special set of skills and experience. And if you had the skills to deal with a hostage or crisis negotiation… How well do you think you’d do negotiating your next business deal?Today’s guest is an expert in negotiation — Chris Voss , FBI Hostage Negotiator and Author of Never Split The Difference , and he’s figured out how to do just that.In this episode, we discuss:Chris’ career trajectoryThe importance of never concedingBlack Swan Negotiating and how it applies to business For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.