How To Shortcut
Your Way To Success
You may not know this, but I graduated from High School in one year. I was 17 when my family immigrated to the United States. With the school credits I brought with me from Russia and hard work (night school, summer school, extra classes), was able to graduate and get a High School Diploma. That's nothing compared to what out today's guest has accomplished.
Brian Wong is the CEO of Kiip and author of "The Cheat Code: Going Off Script to Get More, Go Faster, and Shortcut Your Way to Success." He has skipped four K-12 grades, graduated from college at age 18, raised $24 million in venture capital to start his own company before he turned 25 and has grown that company into a global mobile advertising giant in just 4 years.
Called the youngest person to ever receive venture capital funding by CNBC and The Wall Street Journal, Brian has been recognized with many awards for his accomplishments and leadership, including: Business Insider’s Top 25 Under 25 in Silicon Valley, 30 Under 30 in Advertising and 18 Most Important People in Mobile Advertising; Forbes’ 30 under 30 three times; Mashable’s Top 5 Entrepreneurs to Watch; iMedia 25; and the AdAge Creativity Top 50.
Have you ever noticed that there are certain people who seem to get ahead just a bit faster than everyone else? You know, the types who always seem to be a bit ahead of the curve, to get noticed a bit more, and to achieve their goals a bit more quickly than the rest of the pack? And have you ever noticed how much this small edge can matter, and the outsized impact it can have on the trajectory of their careers?
Get ready to discover Brian's Cheat Codes and get ahead faster than everyone else on Episode 22.
[01:17] How the heck did you graduate from high school at 14 years old?
[01:49] Do you think it was specific to the Vancouver school system or anyone can basically do the same?
[02:47] You travel often. What are some of the most interesting stories that come to mind when you think of your travels?
[05:08] How big and at which stage is your company right now?
[06:59] How do you use your young age to your advantage?
[08:38] How do you manage your time?
[10:30] What are some of the things you notice around you, among your peers, on daily basis that you wouldn't do, or would do differently?
[12:38] What is your definition of success? How do you see it?
[15:20] Tell me a little bit about your book, "The Cheat Code: Going Off Script to Get More, Go Faster, and Shortcut Your Way to Success."
[15:42] What kind of books do you "consume"? Where do you get your continuing education?
[17:06] Through your book, how were you able to help your peers, entrepreneurs, business owners to go FASTER?
[19:38] How did you discover your strengths?
[21:47] Did you take any personality tests in addition to that?
[22:42] What is your most marked characteristic?
[23:45] What is your philosophy towards life?
[25:49] At the beginning, should the entrepreneur be good at many things or should they focus on one specific thing?
[28:11] What would you say is your biggest fear moving forward, at this point?
[28:55] Do you ever get bored? When you do, how do you deal with it?
[29:16] What has been your biggest mistake thus far?
[30:53] Would you say that your life has been easy compared to the rest of the entrepreneurs who go through so many things that they struggle with and face many adversities?
[32:50] What do you value in your friends the most? Do you have close friends?
[33:30] Did you consciously pick your friends or are they your childhood friends whom you have known for a long time?
[33:52] Do you have any "cheat codes" for when picking friends and people your surround yourself with?
[34:54] What is it about people that you find so fascinating and interesting?
[35:55] When you look back, what are some of the aha moments or things that you now take for granted that you thought differently about back then?
[37:43] Do you have any role models whom you look up to?
[38:22] What is your definition of a Thriving Life?
[39:44] What would you recommend those who are employed to do to start going "off the script" and avoid becoming a drone? What would be their first step?
[41:54] With your busy schedule, how do you "walk away" and relax?
[43:56] I know your definition of meditation is a little different. How do you see meditation?
Let's go over your book. There are four sections and I'm going to name the section and you tell me the big idea or one takeaway from that section.
[48:26] In one of your interviews you said that there should be part two to your book and it should be written by your parents. What made you feel that way? What do you think they should write in that book about?
