45 episodes
From Rock Bottom to Rockin' It Eric Gilbert-Williams | Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
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- Business
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5.0 • 8 Ratings
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From Rock Bottom to Rockin' It explores personal stories about those who hit absolute rock bottom. Then got back up, wiped off the dust, kicked failure to the curb, and now they’re rockin’ it like you’d never believe.
These interviews are intended to inspire, motivate, and give hope and vision to those in their rock bottom by sharing stories, tools, and the resources that our guests used to create their 'rockin' it' moments.
Host Eric Gilbert-Williams is a Canadian Entrepreneur who faced hardships as a youth like bullying, learning disorders, drugs, and crime before discovering success through his entrepreneurial pursuits. During his times through these teen social challenges, he found self-esteem and the passion to change his life through listening to the inspirational stories of others who overcame deep hardships to create great success in their lives.
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45: Teens & Parents, Mental Health, Drugs, & Healing as a Family Unit // The Story of Aaron Huey
Aaron Huey has been working with children, teens, and parents for over 18 years. After ten years directing camps and empowerment programs around the world, Aaron opened Fire Mountain because he wanted to work with kids and families on a deeper level. Over the first few years of running programs like Teen Rites of Passage The Warrior Phoenix Challenge, and numerous cries for help from parents, Aaron realized the need to turn his efforts towards teens struggling with drugs, alcohol and the behaviors and issues related to addiction. An addict in recovery since 2000, he felt a calling to put together an expert team and open Fire Mountain. His mission is to awaken confidence and leadership. “It‘s not about being better, it‘s about giving up the struggle to be different from who you are.” Aaron’s formal educational background is in acting. He graduated from the top acting school in the US, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1990. His skills in comedy and drama make him an influential speaker and presenter, and a favorite among the kids. His confidence, compassion, and humor set the tone for deep healing, and fun. Aaron is also trained as an EMT, a Wilderness Survival Instructor and Martial Arts teacher, all of which he weaves into the Fire Mountain RTC curriculum.
*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***
Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).
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44: Street Artist to Vice-President of Global Design Coca-Cola // The Story of James Sommerville
James Sommerville is the Founder of KnownUnknown, the world’s first decentralized design community working with Fortune 100 brands on brand design assignments and NFTs, leveraging their utility token ($KUDOS). From 2013 to 2018, James was the VP Global Design for The Coca Cola Company, where he led the design innovation and identity programs for many billion-dollar iconic beverage brands.
Prior to joining Coca-Cola, James was co-founder of Attik, a UK startup design firm that led the digital art revolution and changed the face of design in the 1990s, inspiring thousands of designers and creatives across the world. They were also responsible for the major redesign of Coke’s brand identity in 2006 and its visual identity strategy for 2010’s FIFA World Cup. He also worked with other famous brands such as Adidas, Virgin, Heineken, and Sheraton.
*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***
Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).
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43: Re-Inventing Yourself Through Entrepreneurship // The Story of Bryan Clayton
Bryan Clayton is the Co-Founder and CEO of GreenPal, an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals. GreenPal has been called the “Uber for lawn care” by Entrepreneur magazine and has over 100,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day.
Before starting GreenPal, Bryan Clayton founded Peachtree Inc., one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Tennessee, growing it to over $10 million a year in annual revenue before it was acquired by Lusa holdings in 2013. Bryan‘s interests and expertise are related to entrepreneurism, small business growth, marketing, and bootstrapping businesses from zero revenue to profitability and exit.
*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***
Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).
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42: The Kid With No Chance Who Built A World Class Podcast // The Story of Justin Schenck
Justin Schenck is the host of the top-rated podcast the Growth Now Movement and founder of Growth Now, LLC which is a full-service podcast production and coaching company. He has been named a Top 8 Podcaster to follow by INC Magazine and chosen as an ‘Icon of Influence’ in the new media space. What started as a way to connect with top people and inspire others has become a way of life. Now getting played in over 100 countries every single week he is able to make a greater impact than he could ever imagine. He not only speaks to organizations on how to overcome adversity and utilize podcasting to grow your business but he helps others launch and grow their own podcasts with www.beginpodcastingnow.com. His vision? To teach the world how to live happily no matter where they are today. “It’s about the journey, not the destination.”
Like most people, Justin thought that it was his past that defined him. Because he didn’t come from a great upbringing and didn’t have the resources so many had, he thought that he was destined to fail. Then, at 19 years old Justin discovered personal development through a mentor. He became obsessed with the idea that he can have full control over the outcome of his life simply by choosing to grow. The realization that it doesn’t matter where he comes from, but the choices that he makes today to create a better tomorrow for himself and others is all that matters, was life-changing.
When Justin launched the Growth Now Movement podcast in 2016, he had no idea what it would become. Now it gets played in over 100 countries every single week, he speaks all over the country on overcoming adversity, and most importantly, he discovered that we all have the power to create our own happiness, to grow into the person we were meant to be and that we can all create the life we truly desire.
*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***
Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).
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41: Coming Out as Gay, then Creating a World Class Impact for LGBTQ Communities // The Story of Arthur Woods
Arthur Woods is a social entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ leader, working at the intersection of equity, inclusion and technology. He was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40 by BEQ. He is the author of the national best-selling book, Hiring for Diversity; he is a global keynote speaker, having delivered 3 TEDx talks; and has contributed to Harvard Business Review, FastCompany and Forbes.
He is the Co-Founder of Mathison, a venture-backed technology platform equipping employers with everything they need to manage their diversity hiring efforts. He is the creator of the first Equal Hiring Index to assess and benchmark inclusive hiring practices. Arthur came from Google where he led operations for YouTube’s Education division and oversaw YouTube for Schools. Arthur previously co-founded Imperative, a leading social learning platform; Out in Tech, the largest global LGBTQ technology community; and Social Impact 360, a collegiate social enterprise education program.
Arthur studied at Georgetown University, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and HBS online. He is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, GCT Entrepreneur in Residence, a New York Venture Fellow, SAP.io Foundries Fellow and sits on the Advisory Boards of LIFT and Second Day.
*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***
Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).
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40: Sexual Assault Victim To Impact Entrepreneur // The Story of Carlie Rioux
Carlie Rioux is the founder of Thea Caye, a social enterprise creating stylish and functional beach bags while making a positive impact in the world by creating jobs for survivors of exploitation, using sustainable materials, using bio-degradable packaging, and working with unknown artists to help them build their rep. Through this venture, they can provide scholarships to the children of the survivors to help break the cycle of violence. They support the Drop-In center in Nepal so that present-day trafficking victims have somewhere to go. Carlie and her team are also helping to create jobs in poverty-stricken areas by removing ocean plastics.
In her early twenties, Carlie was sexually attacked 4 times by 4 separate men: a friend, a boss, a date, and a massage therapist. Different races and different ages, different dynamics in different places. Since then, it has been a difficult journey for Carlie, but one morning everything changed for her. Her mom hated beach bags and so does most women she knew. This gave her the idea to start her own beach bag business, which also opened her eyes to the many exploitations happening in the fashion industry and all around her. Carlie knew she had to do something about it, which started her career in impact entrepreneurship.
*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***
Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).
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Customer Reviews
We are brothers from a different mother!
Boy oh boy!
How I wish I had someone to talk to, lean on or even share this kind of information with me when I went though the same things Eric did… I PERHAPS would have gotten out of rock bottom the 1st-2nd time VS 8th time and all by myself. Those were the darkest times.
This book sounds like a great tool for those either currently addicted and feels alone with no where to turn, or those already in addiction rehab, as an aid in their addiction struggle and recovery, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Every single household knows at least one person going through some sort of addiction in which they too can also use the critical information contained inside to become that pillar of support and give that crucial helping hand up from the darkness!
Lastly, if I may say my peace though, I believe every person has to find what works for THEM and with a little bit of trial and error it can be done. Always remember, “ You never know how strong you can be until being strong is all you have left,“ and that’s rock bottom… so no where to go but UP THEN :)
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