Alex Charfen - On Rebuilding After Bankruptsy

Summary:

In this episode, Dave interviews Alex Charfen, the CEO of Charfen: a company that coaches entrepreneurs. Listen as Alex shares his passion for entrepreneurship and talks about the factors that lead some people to constantly create, plan, and contribute.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

01:00 – Dave welcomes Alex 02:02 – American Dream U program: making soldiers successful in civilian life 03:55 – Alex’s background 04:10 – Alex sold his first business at 16; his second at 21 04:40 – Bankruptcy in 2008 led to the creation of Charfen 06:00 – Charfen ranked 21 in Inc.’s list of fastest-growing companies 07:20 – Struggling as a child 08:00 – Do entrepreneurs always feel different from those around them? 10:10 – Branded as ‘developmentally disabled’ 10:50 – Alex avoided social interaction and obsessively read about success 11:50 – Developing panic attacks from bullying 13:40 – Thomas Edison was considered backward; Einstein failed algebra twice 15:00 – “Business was a beacon” 16:00 – Finding a haven in building up businesses 17:00 – “Entrepreneurs start businesses because they have trouble with other people’s rules” 18:30 – The entrepreneur’s paradox: learning how to ask for help 19:07 – Is entrepreneurship about proving something? 21:50 – “The main drive for entrepreneurs is about making a greater contribution” 23:00 – Entrepreneurs are people with more energy, drive, jitters 24:40 – Edison’s incredible focus - today would be considered ill 26:00 – A standardised school system crushes people who are different 27:10 – The movie Idiocracy 28:00 – “EPT” - Entrepreneurial Personality Type 31:00 – Entrepreneurs: Feel different Are innately motivated Feel they need to give more 32:30 – Alex doesn’t feel connected to the world of emotions 34:00 – The state of being ‘in momentum’ - flow, zen 36:00 – Being in momentum is a chemical boost 37:50 – Constraint is what makes people break down chemically 40:00 – People at the top of the game are very physiologically sensitive 41:50 – The contribution equation 43:00 – Get healthy; reduce pressure and noise 43:55 – Start asking for protection and support 45:30 – getthirstynow.com 46:33 – Build a team to support you 47:10 – Alex’s article on ‘primal foot’ in the Huffington Post 48:10 – Footwear is the only place where people still accept ‘low risk, high reward’ 49:10 – Lower-body health is reliant on good footwear 53:10 – Entrepreneurs can become dysfunctional with pressure and no support 54:20 – The things that make us weird are what make us thrive 56:00 – There are so many entrepreneurs in the world: you aren’t alone 58:30 – Most of society’s systems are designed to repress EPT 1:01:10 – What’s next? 1:03:30 – Educating about Entrepreneurial Personality Type 1:04:10 – A preview of the EPT course

3 Key Points:

In order to thrive, eliminate the pressure and noise around you. Keep yourself healthy. Focus. Ask for support and protection. It seems like the hardest thing to do, but having a team makes it possible to learn and achieve far more. Don’t be scared by feeling different: almost every successful person in history has felt like that. Difference is what makes entrepreneurs thrive.

Resources Mentioned:

Entrepreneur's Organization – The EO Network Get Thirsty– Alex’s hydration programme American Dream U - Helping soldiers make a successful transition to civilian life Charfen - Alex’s current business, educating entrepreneurs Idiocracy - Film about being the only person to see certain things Primal Foot - Alex’s article on footwear in the Huffington Post

 

Credits:

Show Notes provided by Mallard Creatives