396. Follow YOUR Curiosity! An interview with Kris Cody - CEO & Founder of Paka Apparel.

Kris Cody is the CEO and founder of a freakishly cool clothing company… Paka Apparel!

While in college… Kris took a trip to Peru and while he was there… he came across a sweater made with wool from alpaca fiber. He loved the thing… and when he came back to the states… he realized all of his friends wanted one too. As Kris started to dream about the possibilities… he was also struck with the thought of sourcing everything right from Peru… from the families that he’d interacted with on his trip. He also loved the thought of hiring local women to craft sweaters and clothing he could send around the world.

With that dream in mind… Kris started a company called Paka Apparel in 2017. He fueled the launch of Paka with a Kickstarter campaign that initially had a goal of $20,000 and they hit that in under 24 hours. Kris and the campaign went on to raise more than $350,000 in 30 days.

From that exciting start… Paka has now created a line of washable alpaca apparel and ethical performance outerwear, along with Paka's tried and true sweaters, hoodies and socks.

And get this. Paka Apparel… under Kris’s leadership… has been celebrated for their efforts to localize Paka’s supply chain:

All of Paka’s alpaca fiber is sourced from free-roaming herds in Peru.
90% of products are manufactured in Peru.
And… over 100 Quechua (keCHwa) women weavers are employed and Paka pays them a wage that’s 4x the living wage in Peru!

And the clothing looks awesome too!

I’m loving this story! And Kris is obviously living the DREAM THINK DO life… so let’s get to this!

MORE INFO ON KRIS:

Find out more about PAKA: www.pakaapparel.com/

Find Kris on Instagram: instagram.com/kris_cody/

Find PAKA on Instagram: instagram.com/paka/

You can learn more about Kris Cody here:https://bit.ly/3Plba2n

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A LIFE COACH? (Get YOUR score!)

Have YOU ever thought about becoming a Life Coach, Success Coach or Business Coach… but you’ve wondered whether it would be a good fit for YOU?
Let’s get YOUR predictability of success score: www.mitchmatthews.com/cpsa

That’s right! Download the Coaching Predictability of Success Assessment to see if becoming a successful and profitable Coach is right for YOU!

VIDEOS ABOUT PAKA AND KRIS’S JOURNEY:

Here’s some of the videos that Mitch and Kris referenced during their conversation.

Here’s more of the backstory on PAKA:

Check out mitchmatthews.com/396

Check out Mitch’s OTHER PODCAST:ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS

You can now check out Mitch’s new podcast called “ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS” anywhere you listen to podcasts.

It’s specifically designed for coaches, speakers and content creators and provides quick doses of inspiration, strategy AND… of course… encouragement!

Check out: www.encouragingtheencouragers.com!

Find it on Apple Podcasts: Click here

Find it on Spotify: Click here

Find it on Anchor: Click here

Find it on Google: Click here

Okay… NOW…I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

How about it!?

What did you think of Kris’s approach to life and how curiosity led him to start PAKA?

I just love out “curiosity” led him to take that initial trip to Peru. And how finding that one sweater led him to starting a MOVEMENT.

By the way… that’s exactly what I think PAKA is. Sure… it’s a freakishly cool clothing brand. But… I think Kris and his team are starting a MOVEMENT… one small step at a time.

How about YOU? How might you apply the concepts he was talking about to start a MOVEMENT of your own?

You sure don’t need to launch a clothing brand… but how could you “follow YOUR curiosity” to find more of the things YOU were put on the planet to do?

By the way… Kris is young and he started young. And that’s awesome!!!

But I think that his approach can be applied to ANY stage of life… especially if you give yourself permission to take small but intentional steps forward!

Want proof? Check out THIS EPISODE where I interview Shawn Askinosie about how he left a successful career as a criminal defense lawyer to start a bean-to-bar chocolate factory. He was in his mid-50’s when he started that journey… and he… as Kris would say, “kept following his curiosity” and he’s never looked back.

By the way… Askinosie Chocolate is a small batch, award-winning chocolate factory located in Springfield, Missouri. They source 100% of their cocoa beans directly from farmers across the globe. Askinosie Chocolate was recently named one of the 25 Best Small Companies in America by Forbes and Shawn himself was named by “O,” Oprah’s magazine, as one of the 15 guys who is literally saving the world. Very cool.

Okay… now you know the question is coming! Are you ready?

Here it is: What’s something (BIG or small) YOU want to do as a result of hearing THIS episode?

Lastly… PLEASE share this powerful conversation with a friend or family member who might be needing it… right now!

They’ll thank you!

And hey… remember… I believe in you!

Mitch

Episode Minute By Minute:

0:00 Welcome back! Let's talk about big dreams amidst doubts and fears.
4:17 Mitch shares his excitement about today’s guest, Kris Cody, and recounts Kris’s journey from discovering alpaca fiber sweaters in Peru to founding Paca Apparel.
6:50 Kris’s backstory of backpacking in South America, paying for his travels with high school savings, and working at an animal refuge in Bolivia.
8:19 The inception of Paca Apparel, from finding the original alpaca sweater to starting the company out of his dorm room at 19.
10:06 The Kickstarter campaign story: how Kris’s vision and a video of Peru's beauty and the people behind the clothing captivated the internet.
11:27 The importance of transparency and connecting consumers to the origins of their clothing, highlighting the problems within the apparel industry.
13:40 Kris reflects on feeling unqualified and overcoming imposter syndrome through authenticity, asking for help, and learning from mistakes.
16:48 Kris shares how he found mentors and advisors to help guide Paca Apparel’s growth and his approach to seeking advice.
18:34 The announcement of Paca Apparel’s flagship store in Cusco, Peru, to serve as a physical home base and an adventure center.
23:08 Mitch and Kris discuss the concept of traceable alpaca, allowing customers to know exactly where their garments originate from, highlighting Paca's commitment to transparency and impact.
27:56 Kris offers advice to dreamers: get in touch with yourself, ignore external noise, and understand the finite nature of time as motivation to pursue your passions.
37:17 Mitch's Minute! Biggest takeaways and action steps

The episode 396. Follow YOUR Curiosity! An interview with Kris Cody - CEO & Founder of Paka Apparel. from the podcast DREAM. THINK. DO. has a duration of 45:35. It was first published 08 Mar 08:00. The cover art and the content belong to their respective owners.

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401. 5 Keys for Starting YOUR Podcast NOW!

Well… as we celebrated Episode 400… I asked for YOUR questions. And you hit us with a ton of questions… and MANY of them were about having YOUR OWN podcasts! So… I created THIS episode to answer your questions, to help you to find the opportunities and most specifically… to help you to GET STARTED!

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Check out this FREE (strategy-packed) Training!

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It’s specifically designed for coaches, speakers and content creators and provides quick doses of inspiration, strategy AND… of course… encouragement!

Check out: www.encouragingtheencouragers.com!

Find it on Apple Podcasts: Click here

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Find it on Anchor: Click here

Find it on Google: Click here

A “STATE OF THE UNION” FOR PODCASTING:

The podcasting industry is booming.

Stats show that there are about 4.3 million according to Podcast Index and 3.2 million according to ListenNotes).
LOOKING BACK:
- There were approx. 203,000 new podcasts released in 2018
- In 2019… that figure jumped to almost 337,000
- THEN…2020 brought over 1,000,000 new podcasts
- In 2021… about 740,000
- In 2022… 244,000
- In 2023… 212,000

THAT’S STILL A BIG NUMBER UNTIL YOU SEE THIS:

Almost half (44%) of podcasts have less than 3 episodes!
Only about 20 to 25% (720k) podcasts have more than 10 episodes.
And… of those… ONLY ABOUT 25% (156k) release a weekly episode.

PODCASTING is a “BLUE OCEAN” OPPORTUNITY:

Here’s the article that Mitch was talking about from the Harvard Business Review about the “Blue Ocean” concept: hbr.org/2004/10/blue-ocean-strategy

Again… the “Blue Ocean Strategy” is a book written by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne.

The idea is a “red ocean” is an existing market with many competitors, where a blue ocean is a market yet to be discovered… or that’s newly discovered… with no competitors or fewer competitors!

According to Kim and Mauborgne…

“In blue oceans, demand is created rather than fought over.

There is ample opportunity for growth that is both profitable and rapid.”

And if you compare podcasting to youtube… there are plenty of podcasts… but “blue ocean” opportunities lean towards rocking the mic with a podcast!

NOW…I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

So… how about YOU?

What questions (big or small) do YOU have about the podcasting world… and/or starting your own podcast?

Leave a comment below and let us know! I’ll get back to you!

And seriously… we’d LOVE to hear from YOU!!!

Let’s do this!

Minute By Minute:

00:02 Welcome back! What's inside Episode 401.
00:32 Answering YOU questions about podcasting!
01:12 Deep dive into podcasting: numbers and opportunities.
02:04 Discussion on the growth and potential of the podcast industry.
03:10 Analysis of podcast creation trends and opportunities for new podcasters.
04:03 The state of the podcasting industry and how to leverage it.
05:00 Insights into podcast consumption and opportunities in the industry.
06:03 Understanding the podcast audience and adapting to changes.
07:11 Strategies for succeeding in podcasting despite competition.
08:05 Comparison of podcasting to other platforms like YouTube.
09:20 Discussing podcast longevity and competition.
10:06 Exploring the concept of "Blue Ocean Strategy" in podcasting.
13:27 Tips for starting and maintaining a successful podcast.
19:15 Discussing monetization strategies for podcasts.
26:46 Benefits of sponsoring your own podcast and monetization through affiliate links.
30:49 Encouraging guest appearances and leveraging personal connections.
36:19 The importance of starting a podcast with clear boundaries.
40:13 The significance of having fun while podcasting.
46:00 Mitch's Minute: Emphasizing the enjoyment and impact of podcasting.

BONUS: Celebrating 400 Episodes with YOUR Questions! - A solocast with DTD Founder, Mitch Matthews

Welcome to a bonus episode of Dream Think Do!

Hit play to hear a special Q&A Bonus from episode 400 or hear listen to the full episode now: https://mitchmatthews.com/400

400. Celebrating 400 Episodes with Stories and Strategies I’ve never shared before! - A solocast with DTD Founder, Mitch Matthews

Welcome to a VERY SPECIAL episode of DREAM THINK DO! It’s episode 400… and we’re so excited to get it to YOU!

Mitch shares stories (some powerful… some embarrassing) he’s never told before! Plus, he walks you through some strategies and truths that not only helped him to START DTD… but they helped him to keep going over 400 episodes!

Plus he shares a recent revelation that was mind-blowing for him! And… this concept has helped people who were looking at something that felt IMPOSSIBLE… and to see it as POSSIBLE! We think you’ll love this episode… so let’s get to it!

FREE RESOURCES:

Have you ever thought about becoming a Life Coach? Check out Mitch’s brand new training: MitchMatthews.com/coachlaunch

Check out this FREE (strategy-packed) Training!

3 Keys to Launching!
2 Steps for Creating Time!
1 Critical Strategy for Building Wealth!

CHECK OUT THE NEW DESIGN:

We decided with turning “400” that it was time for a new look for DREAM THINK DO.

So… check it out! What do you think?

EPISODES MITCH TALKS ABOUT:

How to START and LAUNCH your own PODCAST: mitchmatthews.com/350

5 Surprising Keys to Having a Great Ripple Effect (with Lisa Even): www.mitchmatthews.com/366

Episodes with Oscar-Winning Special Effects Artist: Howard Berger

Don’t blow up the house: www.mitchmatthews.com/074

Starting Small and DREAMING BIG: www.mitchmatthews.com/184

MOVIE MAKING MAGIC: www.mitchmatthews.com/365

Episodes with Author of “The Shack”: Wm. Paul Young

Joy as a Constant Companion: www.mitchmatthews.com/229

Experiencing True Joy and Real Freedom: www.mitchmatthews.com/364

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You can now check out Mitch’s new podcast called “ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS” anywhere you listen to podcasts.

It’s specifically designed for coaches, speakers and content creators and provides quick doses of inspiration, strategy AND… of course…encouragement!

Check out: www.encouragingtheencouragers.com!

Find it on Apple Podcasts: Click here

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Find it on Anchor: Click here

Find it on Google: Click here

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A LIFE COACH? (Get YOUR score!)

Have YOU ever thought about becoming a Life Coach, Success Coach or Business Coach… but you’ve wondered whether it would be a good fit for YOU?

Let’s get YOUR predictability of success score: www.mitchmatthews.com/cpsa

That’s right! Download the Coaching Predictability of Success Assessment to see if becoming a successful and profitable Coach is right for YOU!

NOW…I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

LET’S HEAR FROM YOU!

WOW! It was so much fun… celebrating 400 with YOU!

Thanks so much for joining in the fun… whether you were able to attend the LIVE recording… or you’re enjoying the podcast… we LOVE turning “400” with you!

So… how about YOU?

What’s something that resonated with YOU… based on the behind-the-scenes stories behind the 400 episodes?

Or… what was one of YOUR favorite episodes… out of all 400?

Or… what questions do YOU have for Mitch?

Or… what do you think of the new design?

Or… do you want to say a little “thank you” to Mitch for the DTD journey so far?

399. 3 Secret Steps to Stand Out & Get Noticed [For Job Seekers and Entrepreneurs!] An interview with Entrepreneur & Podcaster - Trevor Houston

Trevor Houston is our guest this week!

Trevor is a successful entrepreneur and podcaster.

He’s the CEO of Clear Path Wealth Strategies…which specializes in helping job seekers navigate the financial impact of career transition.

Trevor’s networking strategies & outside-the-box approach have gotten him featured in Forbes magazine and on multiple podcasts because he often helps job seekers and entrepreneurs to get noticed and create opportunities!

In his spare time… Trevor hosts the "Who Ya Know" Job Networking Show… which is the top 2% of all podcasts. That’s where he interviews top industry experts to uncover their blueprint to success and look for actionable steps to becoming the best version of yourself.

Recently… I got to join Trevor in his studio in Dallas… when he interviewed me for Who Ya Know… and we had so much fun… I thought… I’ve got to have this guy on DREAM THINK DO!

He’s living the DREAM THINK DO life… so let’s get to this!

Website: https://whoyaknow.show

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorhouston

Trevor’s show on Apple: Click here

If you’d like to know more about the tool Trevor was talking about… you can go here: bombbomb.com/ NOTE: This is not an affiliate link. I don’t benefit financially from you checking it out. But I will say it looks pretty freeegin’ cool AND they do offer a 14-day free trial to check it out. So… hey… why not? Right?

Check out Mitch’s OTHER PODCAST:ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS

You can now check out Mitch’s new podcast called “ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS” anywhere you listen to podcasts.

It’s specifically designed for coaches, speakers and content creators and provides quick doses of inspiration, strategy AND… of course…encouragement!

Check out: www.encouragingtheencouragers.com!

Find it on Apple Podcasts: Click here

Find it on Spotify: Click here

Find it on Anchor: Click here

Find it on Google: Click here

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A LIFE COACH? (Get YOUR score!)

Have YOU ever thought about becoming a Life Coach, Success Coach or Business Coach… but you’ve wondered whether it would be a good fit for YOU?

Let’s get YOUR predictability of success score: www.mitchmatthews.com/cpsa

That’s right! Download the Coaching Predictability of Success Assessment to see if becoming a successful and profitable Coach is right for YOU!

Okay… NOW…I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

LET’S HEAR FROM YOU!

I don’t know about you but I loved this convo!

It’s such a simple but powerful concept and tool!

Plus… I think Trevor snuck in a whole lotta wisdom too!

I’m curious. What’s something that stood out to you?

What’s something that resonated?

More importantly… what’s something you’re going to try as a result?

I want to hear from YOU! Leave a comment and let’s hear from YOU!

And hey… keep bringing YOUR awesome!!!

Minute By Minute:

00:00 Welcome to episode 399! Sneak peek at episode 400.
02:02 Meet Trevor Houston, entrepreneur and podcast guru.
04:05 How to shine as a job seeker and stand out.
06:18 Setting clear targets for your career transition.
08:15 Mastering LinkedIn to connect with key decision-makers.
10:00 Using video comments to make an impact on LinkedIn.
12:22 Trevor’s ‘Trojan Horse’ strategy for getting noticed.
14:37 Tips for using video tools in job applications and networking.
16:44 Overcoming the fear of being on camera.
18:53 Trevor shares his struggles and triumphs with public speaking.
20:27 Try video strategies to boost your professional network.
22:10 Wrapping up and what to expect in the next special episode.
44:55 Mitch's Minute: Biggest takeaways and the power of networking strategies.

398. 5 Ways to be DRIVEN but still experience more INNER PEACE!

Is it possible to be a driven entrepreneur… a high-achieving leader… an industry-changing innovator and… at the same time… have inner peace?

Our guest… Rob Dube believes it is.

In fact, Rob recently wrote a book called “Shine: How Looking Inward Is the Key to Unlocking True Entrepreneurial Freedom.”

In the book… Rob and his co-author Gino Wickman… talk about 10 simple disciplines… they believe you can use to make a bigger impact while increasing your personal freedom and true creativity.

I haven’t been able to read the book yet… but I’m excited for this conversation… because…

We’re going to talk with Rob about what these disciplines are… why they matter… and most importantly… how you can use them to dream bigger… think better and do more of what you’re put on the planet to do!

Let’s do this!!!

RESOURCES:

Website: robdube.com

Rob’s new book SHINE: Click here

Runs the “donothing” Leadership Retreat

New book: SHINE https://the10disciplines.com/shine

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A LIFE COACH? (Get YOUR score!)

Have YOU ever thought about becoming a Life Coach, Success Coach or Business Coach… but you’ve wondered whether it would be a good fit for YOU?

Let’s get YOUR predictability of success score: www.mitchmatthews.com/cpsa

That’s right! Download the Coaching Predictability of Success Assessment to see if becoming a successful and profitable Coach is right for YOU!

RELATED PREVIOUS DREAM THINK DO EPISODES:

We’re talking about our BIG… AUDACIOUS… Dream of working together to launch 1 Million dreams… this year! Here are two episodes to help:

WHAT A HORSE TAUGHT ME ABOUT INNER PEACE: Check out this episode on a very special experience and what it taught me: www.mitchmatthews.com/171

A PRAYER FOR YOU (and YOUR big dream)!: Here’s an episode to offer a specific prayer for YOU and to get to experience more peace as you’re working towards your dreams: www.mitchmatthews.com/314

A SIX-WORD PHRASE TO HELP YOU BEAT COMPARISON: We can all experience “comparison” and it can often rob us from feeling more PEACE… so I dive into a specific phrase to hel you to overcome it… once and for all: www.mitchmatthews.com/276

Check out Mitch’s OTHER PODCAST:ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS

You can now check out Mitch’s new podcast called “ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS” anywhere you listen to podcasts.

It’s specifically designed for coaches, speakers and content creators and provides quick doses of inspiration, strategy AND… of course… encouragement!

Check out: www.encouragingtheencouragers.com!

Find it on Apple Podcasts: Click here

Find it on Spotify: Click here

Find it on Anchor: Click here

Find it on Google: Click here

Okay… NOW…I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

Okay… what did you think of Rob’s outlook and approach to experiencing more clarity and more peace… more often?

And… more importantly… What’s something (BIG or small) YOU want to do as a result of hearing THIS episode?

Lastly… PLEASE share this powerful conversation with a friend or family member who might be needing it… right now!

They’ll thank you!

And hey… remember… I believe in you!

Mitch

Minute By Minute:

00:00 Welcome to Today’s Conversation on Achieving Inner Peace and Success!

04:58 Introducing Rob Dube: The Man Behind 'Shine'

06:08 The Genesis of 'Shine': A Tale of Friendship and Discovery

10:18 Unlocking Entrepreneurial Freedom: The 10-Year Thinking Discipline

16:27 The Power of Taking Time Off: Discipline for High Achievers

24:08 Diving into Discipline Number Five: Maximizing Your Time

24:21 The Importance of Knowing Your Limits and Protecting Boundaries

25:13 Finding Your Perfect Work-Life Balance

29:27 Introducing Discipline Number Six: The Power of Saying No

30:24 Applying Discipline Six: Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing

34:46 Reflections and Takeaways: The Impact of Disciplines on Achieving Inner Peace

39:09 Mitch's Minute: Reflecting on the Conversation and Looking Ahead!

Every Podcast » DREAM. THINK. DO. » 396. Follow YOUR Curiosity! An interview with Kris Cody - CEO & Founder of Paka Apparel.