Steve Schlafman (@schlaf) is a professional transition coach who helps high performers navigate complex work-life transitions and discover their next calling.

Previously, he was a Partner at several of the top venture capital firms in New York City.

Steve has received certifications and training from coaching and therapeutic schools including (but not limited to) The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership, Aletheia, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Men’s Emotional Leadership (MELT), Enneagram and more.

He graduated from Northeastern University and has lived a life of sobriety for the past 10 years (and counting).

Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, SpotifyOvercast, or your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Links Mention

Connect with Steve:

Website | Linkedln | Instagram

Photo by Vanity Stardom

Seth Godin (@thisissethsblog) is the author of 21 bestsellers book. That includes TribesPurple CowLinchpinThe Dip, and This Is Marketing. His new book is The Song of Significance.

His blog (which you can find by typing “Seth” into Google) is one of the most popular in the world. In 2013, Godin was inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame.

Two of his TED talks are among the most popular of all time. He is also the founder of the altMBA, Squidoo (the social media pioneer) and Yoyodyne (one of the first internet companies).

In this conversation, we spoke about:

  • How to attract talent to your company
  • As an employee, How to create change in big organization
  • And how Seth write books and ship projects at lighting speed

I am giving away 5 copies of The Song of Significance for FREE, put in your details here (sorry, Singapore residents only).

Listen to the podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotifyOvercast, or your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Links Mentioned

Connect with Seth Godin:
Website | Linkedln | Instagram

Show Notes

  • 02:49 Seth Godin on the creation and impact of The Carbon Almanac?
  • 09:24 What are the conditions to make significant work happen?
  • 12:50 Seth Godin on freelancer vs entrepreneur
  • 14:55 How and why can companies get more people to do significant work?
  • 25:27 How does a small group of employees shift to do more significant work?
  • 32:00 What role does non-profit play in society today?
  • 34:28 Who are the who should read Seth’s new book, The Song of Significance?

Special thanks to David Hieatt, Jo-Ann Tan and Kayla De Leon.

Photo by Jiajun, SidexSide

Chris Lee (@chrisasylum) is the founder of Asylum Creative, founded in 1999. His client list includes Aesop, Johnie Walker, Sony, Hublot, Harley-Davidson and more.

Notable projects include The Warehouse Hotel, 4fingers and Tangs.

His works can be found around Singapore, Shanghai, Chengdu, Beijing, Paris, Bali, Los Angeles, New York, Abu Dhabi, Tokyo, Venice, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul.

After winning all the awards (D&AD, Red Dot Design Award, Singapore President*s Design Award, Hong Kong Design Award and more), he judges them now (D&AD, Red Dot Design Awards, Golden Pin Design Award, The One Show, Tokyo Type Directors Club and more).

Chris has also founded many businesses and nonprofit which include (but not limited to), Artifactt, Fred Perry (SG, MY, ID), The Design Society, Asylum Shop, Assembly, CA4LA, Ally Social, Chocolate Research Facility and Fifth Ave Shoe Repair.

Chris never went to university.

George Clooney, might or might not, be related to him.

Listen to the podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotifyOvercast, or your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

Links Mentioned

Connect with Chris Lee:
Website | Instagram

Show Notes

  • 00:00:41 Story behind the painting, “Climbing Mount Koons”
  • 00:03:04 The paradox of success in the world of fine art 
  • 00:04:37 How Chris Lee started out as a designer
  • 00:05:03 Why you can’t accuse a designer of selling out 
  • 00:06:38 The complications of selling art in the modern day
  • 00:07:55 Chris Lee’s affinity for businesses that start A
  • 00:10:03 The projects Chris is proudest of
  • 00:12:54 How design and branding projects are priced
  • 00:16:13 Why branding projects are priced differently now? 
  • 00:17:05 How do you bill for interior design? 
  • 00:17:48 The end of the Golden Age of Creativity
  • 00:19:53 The Age of Conformity
  • 00:21:00 Why will Chris turn down a project?
  • 00:23:11 Chris’s  thoughts on Frolick
  • 00:24:25 From awards to charity projects
  • 00:26:08 Why Chris doesn’t submit to awards anymore
  • 00:27:04 Why awards have lost their prestige
  • 00:28:22 Do awards bring in more clients? 
  • 00:29:55 What work goes into award submissions?
  • 00:31:39 How did Chris pivot, build and position Asylum?
  • 00:33:43 The importance of pricing your design work right
  • 00:35:46 How does Chris price his projects?
  • 00:37:39 Why Asylum won’t take on heritage brand redesigns? 
  • 00:40:16 The experience of creating the National Gallery brand
  • 00:46:27 Process of designing interiors for hotels
  • 00:51:43 Why Asylum doesn’t pitch projects for free?
  • 00:53:00 How Chris structures his business proposals for win-win deals
  • 00:54:44 Offering business advice to clients
  • 00:56:44 How to negotiate a brief to produce a successful design?
  • 00:58:40 How was Asylum formed?
  • 01:03:27 Process of selling a design company
  • 01:07:01  The Asylum shop, newsletter and books
  • 01:09:54 From wild irreverence to serious fun
  • 01:13:38 The development for Asylum’s Instagram
  • 01:14:52 Why every designer should own a business?
  • 01:17:23 Why the chocolate business was the hardest to let go?
  • 01:23:12 How Artifactt at Palais Renaissance was founded
  • 01:27:32 How Chris navigates difficult clients
  • 01:32:40 Anger in the workplace 
  • 01:33:44 How did Chris bring Fred Perry to Singapore?
  • 01:35:14 How did Chris structure his business with Fred Perry?
  • 01:38:26 Why did Chris keep his stores open through Covid?
  • 01:39:09 Managing long and short-term employees
  • 01:41:24 How does profit-sharing work in Asylum?
  • 01:43:23 How does Pentagram differ from Asylum?
  • 01:46:51 The value of Asylum’s company trips 
  • 01:51:20 How Chris motivates and manages his designers 
  • 01:53:57 When to pull the plug and start designing from scratch
  • 01:56:49 How to find peace and letting go of perfection
  • 01:58:46 How Chris Lee approaches fatherhood
  • 02:01:43 Chris Lee on his Wife
  • 02:02:33 What is the worst advice to give anyone?
  • 02:04:02 Chris’s 6-month sabbatical 
  • 02:07:35 How would Chris name the current chapter of his life? 
  • 02:09:24 Thoughts on retirement
  • 02:10:45 What Chris deems as success?
  • 02:13:05 How did Chris develop his mindset?
  • 02:14:22 Chris Lee’s experience with contemplation and a meditation retreat
  • 02:16:25 Why is it important to take a break?
  • 02:17:30 Chris’s insight on pessimists and optimists
  • 02:18:21 Creatives, mental health and Covid
  • 02:20:08 Chris on Jane, his oldest business partner.
  • 02:22:00 Does Chris have a favorite Singaporean brand?
  • 02:23:24 Chris’s favorite wine
  • 02:23:52 Chris’s favorite book
  • 02:25:25 Local design studios that are underrated
  • 02:25:53 Recent purchase under a $100 that has changed Chris’s life
  • 02:27:18 Chris’s advice to his younger self
  • 02:28:03 What does Chris aspire to be?
  • 02:30:27 Important routines and habits
  • 02:30:48 Common misconceptions about Chris and his work
  • 02:32:04 Advice for young designers

Special thanks to Khoo Guo Jie, Calvin Soh, Cherin Tan, Michelle Tan, Edwin Tan, Jason Tong, Yong, Yanda, Justin Zhuang, Weilee Yap and Jane Goh.

“You don’t want to do what they do, you want to see how they see”.
Nate Green

Nate Green, is an author of multiple books, marketing strategist at Precision Nutrition and a recovering fitness junkie.

Nate barely graduated high school with 1.7 GPA. Despite all odds, he became one of the most sought after writers and strategists in the fitness industry. 

He wrote one of the most popular blog post on Tim Ferriss’ blog, The Extreme Weight Cutting Secrets of UFC Fighters

In this conversation, we spoke about:

  • When it’s time be alone
  • How to make celebrity friends 
  • 80/20 guide to be good at marketing

If you’ve only got 5 minutes, here’s a short video.

Links Mentioned

Tynan, is an entrepreneur, personal coach and minimalist nomad. He is also the author of best selling books, Superhuman by Habit and Forever Nomad

Tynan pioneered the idea of Empire housing, to share home ownership with friends. With this, he brought an island in Canada and homes in Hawaii, Budapest, Tokyo and Vegas.

In a former life, Tynan is a pickup artist and instructor, best known as Herbal in The Game by Neil Strauss.

In this conversation, we spoke about:

  • What Tynan learnt as a pickup artist
  • How to make friends as an adult 
  • How to give advice that people listen

Links Mentioned

Email Terms & Privacy