Episode 13: “Seeing Opportunity In Disguise" with serial Entrepreneur ADAM HOUSE (#ThisIsMyEra the Podcast)
Ready to meet someone who’s not only made this his era, but whose career seems to already span multiple eras? Adam House is a successful serial entrepreneur who’s been building and selling successful companies since age 19. In addition, he’s a dedicated father (listen to the podcast to hear about his son’s entrepreneurial spirit!), a pro basketball player, and on the board of a major philanthropic foundation.
In this episode, Alexander Star chats with Adam about how success can follow an unexpected path, how life goals can be achieved out of the usual order, and about that all-important theme which undergirds the #ThisIsMyEra ethos: building a legacy. A
huge
takeaway from this episode is Adam’s philosophy on seizing opportunity. It’s sure to both motivate you and change the way you approach opportunities in your own life.
There’s no one right path to success.
Adam has always been a skilled basketball player, and he played in college and has even played professionally. But, unlike most pro athletes, he did things backwards: he dropped out of college to start several successful companies, and then he chased his dreams of going pro. He trained hard, tried out, and made the roster of the Rochester RazorSharks... when he was already in his thirties.
Doing things “backwards” meant that not only was Adam able to achieve this major life goal, but he was also brought on to help with team operations. He became owner and CEO of the team he played on. (Listen to the podcast to hear the full story of how this happened!)
Following an unconventional path can lead to unexpected and unique opportunities, and it’s never too late to chase that dream.
Recognize humble opportunities.
An early, pivotal moment in Adam’s career was when, in high school, he responded to an ad for a telemarketing job. Even though the job wasn’t glamorous, it turned out to be an opportunity to work for Dan Gilbert (founder of Quicken Loans and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers), and he gained some of the foundational skills he needed in order to become a successful entrepreneur.
If Adam had thought that job was beneath him, he would have missed out on a chance to learn the ropes from the best. His story is proof that opportunity often looks like hard work (as Thomas Edison once said) – and sometimes work that isn’t the most exciting will become an important building block for future successes.
[H3] In the end, it’s not just about the money.
As an entrepreneur, Adam has been hugely successful, building businesses that have brought him huge financial gains. But to Adam, wealth isn’t the true end goal. The real value in building a business is found in the impact you have on other people, and the relationships that you build along the way. Adam is also quick to acknowledge that much of his success comes from the support and hard work of the people he hires and surrounds himself with.
The importance of relationships is also reflected in Adam’s criteria for what makes an idea worth pursuing: does it solve a problem, or make life easier for his potential customers? All of entrepreneurship and success really comes down to serving, helping, and connecting with other people.
TAKE MASSIVE ACTION NOW
1) Reflect on opportunities you’ve taken, turned down, and missed.
In this episode, Adam says to explore every opportunity, but recognize when the opportunity isn’t the right one. In order to figure out which opportunities are right for you, take some time to be honest with your own track record when it comes to seizing opportunity. When did you take an opportunity that turned out to be the wrong one? Is there a moment when, in retrospect, you missed an opportunity in disguise? How can these experiences become a template for future actions?
2) Streamline your processes.
As Adam points out in this episode, there is a huge wealth of advice out there for entrepreneurs and goal-getters, and a lot of it is conflicting. The internet has revolutionized our access to highly successful people, but that can quickly turn into an overload of ideas and philosophies.
Adam’s advice is to pick one philosophy and stick with it. Of all the advice you’ve heard, and the thought leaders you’ve listened to, what resonates most with you? Strip away the noise, and commit to one philosophy and set of actions, at least for the next few weeks. Once you’ve done this for a while, check in: Has this brought you clarity? Is implementing these ideas working for you?
Episode Outline:
1:00: Introduction
2:00: What Adam was like as a kid, and where his entrepreneurial drive comes from.
3:00: Why he quit college after freshman year.
4:15: Adam’s unexpected big turning point early in his career.
6:00: The importance of mentorship, and how it can take many forms.
7:20: How Adam pursued his dreams backwards… and became CEO of a basketball team. (This story is incredible.)
11:00: Where Adam’s constant stream of new ideas comes from.
12:45: All about Adam’s current company, Source of Life
14:00: How Adam is making this his era.
16:20: How Adam is instilling entrepreneurship in his son.
21:00: The scholarship Adam runs for students at his high school, and the importance of giving back.
22:30: The surprising advice he’d tell his 16 year old self.
23:30 Why leaving a legacy is at the core of Adam’s values.
26:30: The best piece of advice Adam has been given.
27:30: Adam’s unusual book recommendation.
28:30: Why Adam serves on the board of directors of a major foundation.
30:10: Adam’s advice to listeners.
Episode Links:
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn.
Learn more about the Christian Community Foundation of South Florida, where Adam serves on the board.
Connect with #ThisIsMyEra on Facebook (@thisismyeraofficial)
Connect with #ThisIsMyEra on Instagram (@thisismyeraofficial)
Join the conversation across all platforms with the hashtag #ThisIsMyEra
Pull quotes:
“Humility can lead to gold… you never know what door you might be walking through.”
“You can’t read experience in a book.”
“When it’s your era, you take something complex and make it simpler.”
