From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2019. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL’s in these archive episodes are still relevant.

Rich Cardona is a Retired Marine Corps aviator, got his MBA and worked for Amazon but abruptly quit at 37 without a plan. He now interviews C-Suite executives, entrepreneurs, and veterans. He is alive!

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Resources

Rich Cardona – Rich’s website. (Sorry! This link was active when this episode was first published in 2022. This site is no longer available.)

FlyBysMedia – Rich Instagram.

Rich’s Email – Email Rich if you’re interested in supporting his 6-month Entrepreneur Residency Program!

3 Value Bombs

1) We only live once and we need to make the most of it

2) You need to be ready to fail a million times and just get back up every single time.

3) Slow and steady wins the race. No rush. Be Patient.

Sponsors

HubSpot: Learn how to grow better by connecting your people, your customers, and your business at HubSpot.com!

Conversion Fanatics: If you’re generating 7 to 8 figures + from your website, and you’re not doing conversion optimization, you’re leaving revenue on the table! Visit ConversionFanatics.com for a free proposal today and tell them EOF sent you!

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

Today’s Audio MASTERCLASS: Go after what you want before it’s too late

[1:20] – Rich shares something interesting about himself most people don’t know.

• Rich is deathly afraid of raccoons – to the point that he doesn’t take the trash out at night because he is so scared.

[02:34] – Why should Fire Nation be as terrified about settling as you are about raccoons?

• We always think that there is a pre-supposed path that we’re suppose to go on – whether it is school, or working your way up the corporate ladder (that we don’t actually want to climb)
• There are so many ways we approach things, and a lot of times we do it the wrong way.
• Rich is 38 yrs old. He had a sales and operations job at a very well-known company and did what he thought he had to do – thinking he needed to do it in order to drive an amazing amount of income for his family. But he felt miserable.
• After looking back on his life, he asked himself “How many things have I done because that is what I thought I had to do? ” 

[6:16] – Why do you feel we put shackles on ourselves when we don’t need to?

• We don’t know any better, and we are used to having access to the things we want when we want them.
• The more dollar signs there are in our bank account, the more irrelevant stuff we buy. We feel that these things in a way define who we are.

[10:18] – You said we needed to taste lots of flavors to determine what we want. Break that down for us.

• We only live once and we need to make the most of it. There is an hour glass, and we don’t want to be reflecting on thinking of these different flavors that we could have tasted all because we looked left and right before we did it.
• Ask yourself “What do you want to do and what is it that’s stopping you from doing it?”
• Everyone always comes back to fear, especially successful entrepreneurs. What separates you is that 99% of people aren’t going to actually do anything.
• You won’t know what you actually like until you decide to take action and taste more flavors.

[15:28] – How can being fancy actually set you back instead of propel you forward?

• We tend to over-celebrate, and our mind starts to shift. We start to get a couple more nice things, and then we start to feel the status and success… but in reality we don’t need to celebrate.
• Always remember that your venture – no matter how great the idea – might not work. So don’t over-celebrate. Play the long game.
• Don’t get fancy too quick, because there are plenty of people who over-estimate their status or success and then it fizzles out.
• Slow and steady wins the race. No rush. Be Patient.

[20:33] – Life is full of unpleasant outcomes; so how do we flip the script?

• Rich gives an example: He interviews entrepreneurs, C-suite executives and he doesn’t talk to them about business. Instead he talks to them about them.
• Life is just a cr*p sandwich. Period. There are highs and lows. A lot of us complain about what’s not working or how unfortunate we are or how we’re a victim of the circumstance.
• The aspiration for a positive outcome can lead to a negative experience, and accepting negative experiences can lead to a positive outcome.

[24:01] – A timeout to thank our sponsors, HubSpot and Conversion Fanatics!

[24:06] – Collect the dots, connect the dots: Why is networking the most talked about strategy that nobody wants to do?

• Meet people and find out what makes them tick – talk to them a little bit about yourself and have no expectations. Then move on and just keep in touch with them.
• When you think about networking don’t think about who can get you a job, or who can get you money, but think about who you can help – that is when things are going to happen, and it will blow your mind.

[29:16] – Authenticity and Consistency: It’s not one or the other…

• It’s both. Authenticity is being true to yourself. Just be you. That’s it.

[33:41] – How small victories can literally over time light you on fire.

• Do not worry, do not get scared if nothing happens. What’s important is you gave it a shot and you reached out to people.
• You do not need to over-exaggerate with small victories – you need to realize that it’s always practice.

[36:24] – Talk about investing in yourself.

• Shortcuts can kill you. And some of my shortcuts increased my debt. There are so many bright objects.
• Paying for help is absolutely necessary in a lot of cases, but you could easily find yourself on the other end of things – paying for things you don’t use.

[40:51] – Rich’s parting piece of guidance.

• Human beings are meant to be. This kind of state of tranquility where you are content. While we are here, we have to make it count.
• Go after what you want before it’s too late.
• Rich Cardona – Rich’s website (Sorry! This link was active when this episode was first published in 2022. This site is no longer available.)
• FlyBysMedia – Rich Instagram
• Rich’s Email – Email Rich if you’re interested in supporting his 6-month Entrepreneur Residency Program!

Killer Resources!

1) The Common Path to Uncommon Success: JLD’s 1st traditionally published book! Over 3000 interviews with the world’s most successful Entrepreneurs compiled into a 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment!

2) Free Podcast Course: Learn from JLD how to create and launch your podcast!

3) Podcasters’ Paradise: The #1 podcasting community in the world!

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