Summary

In this episode, Marty the Pirate and Nick Rayburn discuss various topics including social selling, embracing one's weirdness, the Band of Brothers mentoring organization, and the power of play. They also share their love for Batman and discuss the importance of being a positive male role model. Nick talks about his upcoming book on the power of play and the benefits of integrating play into our lives. The conversation explores the negative impact of excessive screen time on children and the importance of being present and engaged as parents. They discuss the addictive nature of social media and the need for self-awareness and self-care. They also touch on the role of technology in shaping the younger generation and the potential mental health consequences. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the importance of knowing oneself and embracing one's potential.Keywordssocial selling, embracing weirdness, Band of Brothers, mentoring, power of play, Batman, male role models, screen time, parenting, social media, addiction, self-awareness, self-care, technology, mental health, knowing oneself, potential

Takeaways

• Embrace your weirdness and be fully yourself.
• Being a positive male role model is important for younger generations.
• The Band of Brothers organization mentors at-risk young men and helps them find a better path.
• The power of play is beneficial for adults and can improve relationships and overall well-being.
• Nick is writing a book on the power of play and its integration into daily life. Excessive screen time can have a negative impact on children's development and relationships.
• Being present and engaged as parents is crucial for healthy child development.
• Social media can be addictive and affect mental health.
• Self-awareness and self-care are important for maintaining a healthy relationship with technology.
• Knowing oneself and embracing one's potential is key to personal growth and success.

Chapters

[00:00] - Introduction and Connection

[02:18] - Nick's Work in Social Selling and Embracing Weirdness

[06:19] - Band of Brothers Mentoring Organization

[09:11] - Shared Love for Batman and the Power of Storytelling

[16:15] - Nick's Book on the Power of Play

[23:19] - The Impact of Fatherhood and the Importance of Play

[31:51] - The Negative Impact of Excessive Screen Time

[37:08] - Disconnecting from Screens and Connecting with Nature

[44:28] - The Dark Side of Social Media and Junk Content

[50:30] - Carving Out Space for Self-Care in the Morning

[57:56] - Children are Sponges: Modeling Behavior and Emotional Awareness

[01:00:43] - Embracing Our Potential and Overcoming Fear of Success

🏴‍☠️ Avast ye me hearties, in this here very special episode of your favourite podcast, an old colleague and friend of mine drops by for another one of those lively chats this Captain is known for across the Seven Seas 🏴‍☠️

None other than Tim Brandt joins me in conversation about our checkered past lives and Tim's career trajectory. You see, Tim's story is a true fairytale to begin with. A Hollywood Dream come true.

Tune in as he shares the tall tale of a wee kid from Michigan making it big in LaLa land with nothing else than a computer engineering degree, a tiny suitcase and dreams big enough to fit a proper galleon ⛵️

Gasp in awe as he reaches for the stars, driving around Beverly Hills in a limo packed with A listers and tech venture capitalists, before landing his dream job at none other than the (in)famous Snap 😎

But just like Icarus flying too close to the Sun, he gets burned pretty bad by the gnarly Tech Layoffs of 2023 we've all grown to loath, and the fall down is long and hard...

Fret not, me hearties, for this tall tale has a happy ending after all. Indeed, you'll learn with undivided interest how Tim, like a phoenix raising from its ashes, finds his center again with the help of a headhunter with a heart of gold ❤️

A story for the ages, I tell ye, so what are you waiting for?

Timeline

[00:00] - Introduction and Reunion of 2 old salty dogs

[06:15] - Computer Graphics - a Ticket to Hollywood?

[13:20] - Pivoting into iOS Development on the LA Tech Scene

[16:50] - Building an App in Beverly Hills

[21:00] - Bringing it all together with AR at Neon

[25:58] - Life in the Pressure Cooker that is Snap

[29:30] - The Infamous Tech Layoffs of 2023 rear their ugly heads

[31:56] - A Hero's rebirth with the Help of a Headhunter with his heart in the right place

[36:15] - Parting Words of Wisdom

Links

Walker Smith, a Headhunter with his heart in the right place: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walkertmsmith/

Summary

Join yer favorite Captain in his humble Cabin for a lively chat with his buddy Makson Serpa, product designer at Meta and all-around great guy 😛

Makson and I discuss his journey as a designer and the important lessons he learned along the way. Like how his early passion for doodling in class led him to a full-fledged career in product design, for instance.

Funny stories and anecdotes along the way too, you know how it goes in the Cabin, right? There's one involving unexpected objects he had to work with, you don't want to miss that one.

But fret not my Tech Pirates, there's also a treasure trove of advice to be found, especially for you newcomers to the graphic design trade. Like the importance of finding yourself a mentor early and seeking feedback to improve as a designer, as well as the value of smart networking and building connections in the industry.

And yeah, of course we discuss the elephant in the room, heck, the elephant in EVERY room these days it seems, the ubiquitous AI and its impact on various industries, including art and design.

Enjoy 🏴‍☠️

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[00:00] - Introduction and Podcast

[00:29] - Introducing Makson, the Product Designer

[03:25] - Cabin Gossip: Makson's Journey to Becoming a Designer and Other Graphic Tales from the Trenches

[13:56] - Tips and Advice for Designers Looking for Jobs

[18:15] - Importance of Networking and Mentoring

[25:53] - Craft and Excellence in Design

[30:42] - Building a Portfolio and Pro Bono Work

[34:06] - Reaching Out to Companies and Applying Strategically

[38:46] - Taking Strategic Pay Cuts for Career Growth

[43:23] - Having a Roadmap for Career Growth

[46:27] - Aim High and Dream Big

[47:23] - The Importance of Mindset

[48:16] - The Captain's Rant - The Impact of AI on Art and Design

[01:05:20] - Parting Words of Wisdom