THE GUEST

Today’s guests are Neuro founders Kent Yoshimura (CEO) and Ryan Chen (CFO), an elite company that produces products that you can take anywhere, anytime to refresh your state of mind and do more by simply popping their gum and mints. Their products can be taken on nearly any diet and containing a documented blend of vitamins designed to energise the brain and body, without packing in dangerous chemicals and without that annoying crash afterwards! 

Both elite athletes, Kent and Ryan were inspired to create the original Neuro Gum product after Ryan was involved in a snowboarding accident that left him paraplegic. In their search for a product that would keep their energy high as well as their focus, they realized that there wasn’t anything on the market that would help them to accomplish more in a healthy and effective way. And thus Neuro was born.

In this interview, we discuss how they built the brand, product creation, how to maintain friendships especially during difficult times, building a community and what its like to take a startup from product to lifestyle brand. 

This is a great interview for anyone who has a dream of starting their own business, is letting fear hold them back or thinks they are not enough to succeed … let Ryan and Kent show you the path to success! 

LISTEN HERE

WHAT IS DISCUSSED

In this interview, we discuss gems like:

  • Who they are
  • The philosophy of Neuro
  • The era of the human guinea pig and the explosion in people’s interest in cognitive enhancers
  • How the initial product creation scene looked like a scene from Scarface!
  • The sharability of gum vs methods of consumption of current supplements
  • What affects men’s energy levels
  • The factors considered during product design of the new supplement
  • Why pick the name ‘Neuro’
  • How can someone reverse engineer a supplement by working back from the solution wished for
  • The use of a crowd funding method for their product
  • What do they see as the fear pressure points holding men back from chasing their dreams
  • Avoiding evil marketing strategies
  • The scientific research involved in product creation and marketing
  • How to market a product without spending a large chunk of your budget
  • How did they manage to build such a buzz in a crowded market and what did it teach them
  • How do you deal with negativity from friends and family
  • The inspiration and motivation to appear on ‘Shark Tank’
  • How they built and develop their friendship even during the really stressful times building the product and the brand
  • How have they found the transition from friends to business men and leaders of a company
  • Is this product suitable for all, athletes and normal people?
  • What is the best way to use Neuro to hit that Next Level in your life!
  • Ryan’s injury and how he didn’t let it defeat him
  • How you can connect with them

KEY POINTS TO REFLECT ON & LINKS MENTIONED

In this interview, a lot of jewels of self-improvement are discussed. Some of these include:

  • Neuro is aimed at building alternative to getting energy than shooting caffeine like it was going out of fashion. The guys realised that they needed something better to fuel their own performance and looked for it, eventually making their own. Imagine what you could do, if you stopped just following the norm and take steps into adventure and where it may lead you and the potential improvement to your own performance!
  • If you are on the side of the masses, maybe rethinking your approach is a good idea.
  •  To be truly next level, you need to balance the mind along with the body. Consider your methods and approach to diet, stress, sleep, hobbies etc. Consider what approaches work and what should you drop, in a honest and thorough look. Imagine where cognitive enhancers, mindset training etc could take you.
  • The fear of not doing FAR outweighs the fear of actually trying. Time will pass regardless, and no-one will really judge you (we are all too busy worrying about how others see us to actually judge others!)
  • There are groups, forums and companies in all areas of life. You do not need to know everything, and some successful networking can allow you to connect to people with the right skills, experience and abilities to grow, develop and sell your product or service. The age of one guy doing it all is over, lean on other people, network and delegate when possible. You will never know where a friendship, shared passion, common interests may take you now or when you chase that dream.
  • Don’t expect to get it right first time, or even the first hundred or thousand times. But if you keep going, you will eventually get something right or at least on the way to what you need. You don’t need to be perfect to start, but you need to start to be perfect eventually.
  • There are always ways to cut costs, save money and do the work yourself as you build up the business. The hard graft you put in now, can lead to the large amount of money that comes later.
  • Just because something is done a certain way in your industry, it doesn’t mean it is right, or the best method – use creativity and be willing to take a risk to see what is the best methods for your business and industry.
  • Be inquisitive over people you meet, be interested in who they are are, its a great habit to make, as it makes you a more likeable person, but you can use it to make amazing friends, great contacts and people to work with in the chasing of your dreams.
  • It’s ok to feel lost at first but not to dwell on and let that feeling hold you back. Remember, it’s only a feeling. This is your one life, your one shot, don’t go to your death with regret. Get after your goals and change the world!
  • Remember, the journey towards your own business, goal etc won’t be easy, it won’t be a easy journey, but the work to get there, the journey itself will be the part that you enjoy the most. Start today, get working and you will be shocked at where you can end up in 10 years! 

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Click on the links and social media handles below to connect with the guest: 

 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER LISTENING

These are some key actions that you should undertake after listening to this interview:

  • Buy Neuro – find a shop near you who sells Neuro
  • Consider what is sapping your energy now and look to reduce, reduce, reduce. Reduce toxic friends in your life, reduce overblown procedures or activities that do not work towards your goals, reduce your weight, reduce the amount you smoke or drink..
  • Got something that you want to do or create? Great, get after it. The Neuro guys have proved that you don’t need millions of pounds or a massive customer base to start and build something. You don’t need to be great to start but you MUST start to be great. Start now, chew Neuro Gum or pop some mints, and use the energy to work on your goals and achieve them. Start today, start now. 

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AFFILIATE PRODUCTS TO REVIEW

There are millions of potential products to buy, so how do you know which ones are worth your hard earned money? Simple! You go to www.nextlevelguy.com/affiliates and explore the products and services I recommend will transform, improve and evolve your life.

I have set up some awesome deals with some amazing companies and will recommend those products, books you should read and tools that I think you should buy.  I will only recommend products that I have tried or believe in and and all reviews and recommendations are 100% honest. Furthermore, on this page you will find any suitable special offers, listeners exclusive deals, and discount codes that I am sent. There really is something for everyone here. It doesn’t matter if you are buying for yourself, a special occasion or someone else, you can find whatever you need there.

There is a wide range of companies showcased on the page. Companies that will make you a better athlete, a better lover, a better man, better in all areas of your life. You can access the page by going to www.nextlevelguy.com/affiliates or by clicking on ‘Affiliate Deals’ in the blue ribbon at the top of the website homepage.

Please note that I do not receive any info on your or what you buy. The companies send me a small thank you commission for sending you to shop with them on my links. This does not inflate the price you pay and ussually allows me to help showcase cheaper options that if you bought directly as affiliates are allowed into special deals, lower prices and so much more. All your information is safe and secure with the company and nothing is shared with me so have at it.

Just click the graphic below and get in on the deals!

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TO MAKE ALL ATHLETES BETTER THROUGH PASSION, DESIGN AND THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF INNOVATION.

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About the Author
I’m a podcaster who interviews great examples of people to discuss and highlight the methods, hacks, tips and procedures you can use in your own life to help you develop and better your life. I would definitely not consider myself an expert, so to improve, I ask them and action it in my own life! My personal journey has been marked by awkwardness and awesomeness, OCD and ‘OMG’. I have suffered with depression, shyness, unhappiness and lack of focus and motivation so I know what’s it like to feel lost and hopeless. Back then, I wished I had a podcast to listen to and find actual fixes and concrete action steps and not just unobtainable suggestions and promotion of their products but couldn’t find it … so I made my own!
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