Productivity and Work Life Balance | Behind the Grind, Episode 006
In this episode of Behind the Grind, Brian and I speak through the difference between hustle and productivity, which leads into a deeper conversation about work life balance.
It is an episode that I thought aligned well with current conversations about hustle, and how that term has changed into something negative when it is in fact something positive when it is productive.
As always, would love your thoughts on the conversation!
About the Behind The Grind Series:
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.
Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!
About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.
Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.
Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.
He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.
Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!
Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/
Interface Flooring (China) Factory Visit | Rich Brubaker, vlog Episode 006
In this episode, I go to the Interface Flooring factory in Taicang, China to learn more about what makes them one of the most sustainable companies in the world.
It's founder Ray Anderson was not only a pioneer in proving the business case for sustainability, but over the last 20 years has shown that through the lens of sustainability, Interface was able to achieve the full potential of a firms people, product, and processes can be achieved.
I have had a number of opportunities to work with them, and every time I do am inspired by the people, the culture, and the commitment of the organization to creating a truly circular economy where no waste is created and no virgin materials are required for the production of their products.
There are so many lessons to be learned through studying Interface, and I hope through this video you will be inspired to take the time to learn more about their work and find ways to apply what they have done so that you too can summit your own "Mount Sustainability".
About Me:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.
Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a former Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.
Follow Me:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
Contact Me:
[email protected]
#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation
Teaching Social Entrepreneurship in Thailand | Chris Oestereich, Circular Design Lab
In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Chris Oestereich about his work in Bangkok teaching social entrepreneurship at Thammasat University while standing up his own social enterprises, Full Circle Filament and Circular Design Lab.
Lot's of lessons in here about how to engage students on topics, and why we should be optimistic about the future!
About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.
It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action.
To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market.
About Chris:
Chris helps communities and organizations shift towards the circular economy. He’s also a writer, publisher, and the director of the ASEAN Social Innovation Review, the publishing unit at Thammasat University’s School of Global Studies where he lectures on topics related to sustainability, social innovation, social enterprise, and advocacy.
Follow Chris:
Website: https://chrisoestereich.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoestereich/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.oestereich
About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.
Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.
Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
Contact Rich
[email protected]
Managing Burnout & The Delusions of Entrepreneurship | Behind The Grind 005
In this episode of Behind the Grind, I speak with Brian Tam about managing burnout.
It is a topic that when discussed is largely done in passing, and through this episode, I hope to change that through speaking about my own experiences with burnout & anxiety... and how I have come to recognize, and pay attention to, the signs (earlier).
About the Behind The Grind Series:
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.
Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!
About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.
Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.
Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.
He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.
Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!
Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/| Behind The Grind 004
Hydroponics and Agtech Entrepreneurship in India | Dhrav Khanna, Triton Foodworks
For the last 10 years, I have spent the majority of my time looking at sustainability as a function of urbanization, and the resource footprints of urban residents, in Asia.
Particularly how will Asia' urban systems be challenges by the movement of the next two billion Asians moving into cities (by 2030), and what the role of entrepreneurs and innovators will be as THE force to deliver the solutions required for sustainability in local environments, economies, and communities.
So, while the news surrounding Chennai's water shortage is now top of mind, and in keeping in mind there are dozens of other cities in India that are under similar threat, earlier this year I met with an amazing entrepreneur named Dhrav Khanna of Delhi based Triton Foodworks and interviewed him about his work for the Entrepreneurs For Good series.
It was an amazing discussion, similar to those I have had in Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and while I was impressed by his systems, and saw similar challenges in business model, the one thing I really appreciated was in his approach to measuring how much water his systems saved against traditional farming.
About the Entrepreneurs For Good Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.
It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action.
To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market.
About Triton Foodworks:
In 2014 Ullas Samrat, Dhruv Khanna and two close friends cofounded Triton Foodworks, a hydroponic agriculture startup. They initially were interested in urban rooftop farming, but in order to attain volume they set up full-scale commercial farms on the outskirts of major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Triton Foodworks is now a leader in the hydroponics industry in India, producing more than 700 tons of residue-free fruits and vegetables every year.
Follow Dhrav:
Website: http://www.tritonfoodworks.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khannadhruv
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dhruv_khanna
About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.
Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.
Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
Contact Rich
[email protected]
Confidence, Success, & Overcoming Negative Thoughts | Behind the Grind, Episode 004
In this episode of Behind the Grind, Brian and I answer some questions from our followers about what gives us confidence, how we define success, and overcoming negative thoughts distracting us from taking the next steps in our mission.
A mission that we accepted from the first step, but as the hills grow steeper and as exhaustion sets in, the challenge becomes a mental one for the entrepreneur to push through.
For both Brian and myself, this is where some of the most important battles need to be won, and through this episode we speak through our process for reminding ourselves of the mission, orienting ourselves in difficult times, and learning to trust our instincts when the path isn't clearly visible.
It isn't a process that is easy, but to make process, overcoming negative thoughts it is requirement for progress to be made.
About the Behind The Grind Series:
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.
Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!
About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.
Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.
Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.
He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.
Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!
Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/
5 Key to Becoming a Successful Social Entrepreneur | Rich Brubaker - Episode 005
In this episode, I introduce what I believe are 5 key steps to becoming a successful social entrepreneur.
Each of them come from my observations of others, as well as through a regular reflection of my own path down social entrepreneurship. A path that was not always straight, or easy, but through the lessons of success, and failure, have born out some of the truths that I share during this video.
A video that I hope will help you find success (and impact) more quickly by leapfrogging the pitfalls that I fell into in my early years, and through the implementation of processes that I have learned throughout the development of multiple organizations.
Organization that regardless of profit motive, were built differently, had different measures of success, but all required me to spend time focusing on each of the five keys prior to making any progress at all.
I hope you will find the video instructive as you look to build your own organization!
About Me:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.
Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a former Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.
Follow Me:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
Contact Me:
[email protected]
#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation
Managing the Stress of Nonprofit Leadership | Tom Stader, The Library Project
When I met Tom Stader nearly 15 years ago, both of our organizations were just getting off the ground, and over the last couple of years he and I have spent a lot of time together hashing through EVERYTHING. Including the challenges that both of us faced as we built out our organizations, the stress of that work, the impacts of that stress on us, and how we look back on that now.
Topics that I have rarely seen addressed publicly, but ones that I am honored Tom agreed to share as an update to his first interview with me two years ago. When everything was seemingly on the cusp of going to the next level.
It is an interview that I would say is the most important to date, and I hope that viewers will see that while the work we are all doing is "good", it is really, really, really tough sometimes.
Not a reason not to do it, but something that needs to be more honestly approached, and for which founders need better support.
About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.
It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market
About Tom Stader:
Tom Stader is the Founder and Board Chair of The Library Project, an organization that donates libraries to under financed schools and orphanages in Cambodia, China and Vietnam.
He believes that education is the key motivator to breaking the cycle of poverty that exists in the developing world. In 2006 at the age of 32, Tom had a simple idea to donate libraries to two orphanages in Dalian, China. Soon after those libraries were complete, Tom founded The Library Project.
Since then, Tom and his dedicated team have completed 2000 library donations, impacting over 1,000,000 eager young readers. Tom is passionate about International Social Entrepreneurship and improving rural literacy.
About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.
Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.
Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
Contact Rich
[email protected]
Is Building a Product or a Service Based Company Easier? | Behind the Grind 003
In this episode, Brian and I speak about my experience building product and service based companies. Was a great conversation about a topic that I have been thinking a lot about as I have spent the last 18 months building a product.
Something I have really enjoyed, but like with a service based business, has its own time, place, and purpose.
Was another really interesting discussion!
About the Behind The Grind Series:
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.
Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!
About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.
Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.
Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.
He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.
Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!
Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/
Why I Bet on Social Entrepreneurship over Corporate Sustainability | Rich Brubaker - Episode 004
In this episode, I speak to the fact that while corporate social responsibility, and corporate sustainability, have been hot topics that have produced a lot of really interesting programs, the biggest opportunities for fixing the problems we face will be landed by social entrepreneurs.
Individuals, and organizations, who have a mission for change, can build a platform that actually delivers a solution to the environmental, social, or economic problem faced.
About Me:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.
Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a former Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.
Follow Me:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker
Contact Me:
[email protected]
#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation