Yanik Silver

Evolved Enterprise

  • Blog
  • Meet Yanik
  • EcoVerse
  • Connect
  • Press

The “Silly” Cosmic Checkbox Experiment

by April Reyes 1 Comment

I want to share with you something so small…so easy…and so silly that you won’t believe it’ll work. 

It’s a way to be fully in flow with what you love to do most and have that open up in the most wonderful ways you couldn’t even imagine. (At least that’s been my story so far.)

What started as an interesting experiment turned into something so much bigger….

Here’s what happened….  

Originally I saw a challenge online for 100 days of art. It seemed interesting, but I dismissed it because I didn’t really think I could do it with all my travel and other things going on. In fact, I distinctly remember writing in my journal about my uncertainty but then working through to a realization that I’d just do it and see what happened. 

However, instead of just 100, I wanted to make it more meaningful and committed to 108.

Why 108?

In yogic traditions, 108 is a sacred number connected to the earth, sun, and moon. 

The very first thing I did was to create 108 empty boxes to check off as I went along. 

Here’s my actual page in the front of the journal. I started this on April 3, 2018, and each night I’d check the box as I created an illustrated picture and journal entry.

It felt incredible to check that box after I was done. 

So many nights I really didn’t want to sit down and work on a new entry. Sometimes it meant a few 4 a.m. nights, but I had made that commitment. I remember one night I literally fell asleep as I was drawing a quote and my pen slipped, but the entry ended up being so much more powerful with that “on-purpose mistake.”

Sometimes I couldn’t believe “I” had written it. It just flowed through me. Normally, I’d meditate and then just see what wanted to come through me. Pretty personal and sometimes a bit out there, these were direct downloads from the Universe. 

I created this Cosmic Journal just for myself and had no idea where it would lead. The only thing I focused on was checking off the “Cosmic Checkbox” each day. 

Draw. Write. Check.

Draw. Write. Check.

Draw. Write. Check.

And this creativity spilled over into all my other everyday responsibilities in my companies and at home. 

Try This Experiment 

You can give it a try too with your own “Cosmic Checkbox of Joy and Play.”

Is there something you would really enjoy that you could see progress on each day? 

Something that is fun, playful, and joyful? 

Something that’s challenging but makes you better?

It doesn’t have to be 108 days either, but just having that silly little Cosmic Checkbox will move you along further and faster than you can imagine. You just have to create the checkbox and then mark it off day by day.

As another incentive, I noticed the more prolific I was, the better the insights and drawings became. For example, on Day #78 or so, this page came out:

Originally it was just going to be the first few words of “You don’t need to see the full path…just the next step…”

And that would be it. But I trusted my intuition and kept going. The message started blending with exactly where I was in the twists and turns of the labyrinth too. It was magical. Totally in-flow and one of my favorite checkboxes earned that night. 

Now, I didn’t intend to publish my personal Cosmic Journal, but as I slowly shared a few entries with friends, they gushed about it and loved it. 

Then, very hesitantly, I put a couple out on Instagram and got a great response. And then I showed them to former Camp Maverick counselor Eric Lochtefeld at breakfast one day. He looked at them and could tell this lit me up. That’s all he cares about – investing in bliss. 

He said he would fund a limited-run published version, thereby ensuring I actually paid attention and made it a real book. I have to give a huge thank you to Eric for nudging this into creation.

I’ve never had a project like this or edited any type of book like this. I had no specific order to the pages when I wrote them for myself; it was just whatever showed up that night. 

I sent the original journal to get scanned and got back these little 2”x 2” squares for each page. My entire kitchen island was covered in these thumbnails as I figured out where they went. 

And I knew I was on the right track because I finished them at exactly 1:11 a.m. and same thing for the left-hand prompt pages – 1:11 a.m. Wow! Serious magic!

We published 888 copies of this special limited edition Cosmic Journal, available here until they’re gone: www.CosmicJournal.com.

Not all 108 entries made it in here, but you’ve got 101 in here, so if your Cosmic Checkbox is doing one journal page entry, you have time to get your copy. 😉

The Cosmic Journal can be read from beginning to end all the way through, or an even more powerful way is to use it like an oracle. Simply hold your question or intention in mind then flip to a page at “random” to see the perfect message awaiting you there from the Universe.

It’s almost uncanny how the signs, symbols, and synchronicities line up. 

Even if you have tried journaling but stopped or have never done it, you’ll love the Cosmic Journal. It’s totally different because it’s like getting a direct download from the Universe.

I’ve started calling it “The galactic instruction manual you were missing when you were born to RE-remember your destiny.”

And this still isn’t the end of the story….

My friend Jeff Walker introduced me to the president of Hay House Publishing (the same people that publish Wayne Dyer), and after a quick breakfast meeting, he said he’s never seen anything quite like this. So I immediately got a book deal for the Cosmic Journal and an oracle deck. They’ve fast-tracked it for November of this year…and if you know much about traditional publishing, that’s super fast! 

The revised Hay House version will be out soon, and you can already pre-order it on Amazon, BN.com, or any other bookseller online. (Save your receipt because we’ll be doing special bonuses for pre-orders.) Also, I’d really love your voices/help getting this out more. 

We’ve had a lot of people buy multiple copies of the Cosmic Journal as gifts for their audience or their team. You can buy them in package sets on the site. Or if you are interested in more than 100, let us know as we can do something special or custom for you.

Give the “Cosmic Checkbox of Joy and Play” a try, and see how it goes. I’d love to hear what happens as a result of your experiment.

Filed Under: Creativity, Happiness, Public, Transformation

Redefining Second Chances (Maverick and mavericks in prison)

by April Reyes 1 Comment

Mavericks joined other Mavericks in jail last month.

I never thought I’d write that sentence, but it is completely true.

Maverick members teamed up with Jayson Gaignard and his MMT community for a totally unique Hustle 2.0 Impact experience with co-founder Cat Hoke.

Hustle 2.0 provides incarcerated people with the training and tools they need to transform their lives, make an impact, and hustle. Hustle 2.0’s comprehensive curriculum is co-authored by industry-leading content experts and incarcerated people, with relatable, evidence-informed courses that are directly relevant to incarcerated people’s success while doing time and after release. In fact, the previous program, Cat, co-created with Defy Ventures, has an astoundingly tiny, single-digit percentage going back into prison as compared to the standard 70–80% recidivism rate.

I didn’t really know what to expect but was ready and open for anything.

Our day started with a 5:30 a.m. departure from LA and a very strict dress code. Many volunteers even had to buy new clothes just because certain colors were absolute NOs for the prison based on the colors the incarcerated population wears, what guards wear, or just gang colors. We were headed to Kern Valley prison, a Level IV Maximum Security institution in Delano, CA.

After a thorough process of being led through doors and barbed wire fences, we were greeted with a tunnel of joy. All the inmates who are part of the program were high-fiving and whooping it up as we ran through the entrance. And then we met the mavericks! That’s right!

To me, language is so important. Your words create your world, and Hustle 2.0 calls participants “Mavericks.” So Mavericks and Mavericks together in prison!

(Note: To make it clearer, in this article, I’ll use capital ‘M’ Maverick for members and lowercase ‘m’ for mavericks in the Hustle 2.0 program.)

Part of the mentoring and connection process is learning about each other. All of the volunteers had a quick moment to share their biggest business brags after a bit of dancing to the front of the room. Cat and Hustle 2.0 are definitely after our own heart when it comes to bringing fun and joy into an area that has the potential for a lot of emotional pain.

Before I went, several people asked me why I’d want to help murderers and violent criminals. My answer was, “If they are getting out anyway, I want to equip them with the empathy, tools, and thinking to ensure they don’t do it again.” There’s an inside part to this about feeling whole, seen, and loved, and there’s the practical part of having an economic opportunity.

That’s why two weeks before the event at Traffic & Conversion, a few Mavericks broke away to spend a few hours doing an exploratory brainstorm about developing an “Evolved Economic Empowerment Business-in-a-Box” idea for these returning citizens. Maverick #154 Damien Zamora, Maverick #304 Chris Koomey, Maverick #269 Tom Shieh, and Maverick #61 Mike Cline were in that room, along with a few more colleagues and our new Community Catalyst, Chris Hay. (Part of Chris’s role is working on accelerating impact projects and the ripple effect we can have.)

We made some progress, and there’s more to come. Certainly now, after experiencing an even deeper connection, I have an even better understanding of the situation.

And that deep connection came with one-on-one conversations and mentoring with Mavericks. Volunteers were seated in a circle around the gym, while Mavericks were on the inside. We did a few sequences of speed networking and mentoring sessions. After each session, you exchange words of appreciation on your “Sweet Sheet,” and at the end, you pick individuals to truly “see.”

These words of affirmation and acknowledgment make all the difference to people no matter what level they are at in life. (Many Campers tell us they hang on to their “Happy Camper” notes for years. I do too!)

I heard quite a few stories that would break your heart. One of the mavericks I really connected with was “Jumping James.” Each of us put an adjective using the first letter of our first name on our name badge. Mine was “Yoda’cious Yanik.” So many people have referred to me as a Yoda so I’m embracing it, but it’s not an adjective, so yoda’cious I guess is my made up one.

James looked me directly in the eye and starting telling me his story and his dream. When he was finished, I saw a book he had brought with him – 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class by Steve Siebold. I recognized it because I have it on my bookshelf too but haven’t looked at in years. I opened it up, and James had underlined and devoured the book. And then we got to talking about other habits, and he told me he meditated each day. Wow! I had to look past the tattoo around his eye, but looking directly into his eyes, he had the spark – that light of being able to do something great if given the chance.

Part of the speed mentoring was each maverick sharing their business idea with you and then getting some quick advice from the volunteers. Then, at the end of the three rounds, you had one ticket to give to someone who you thought you’d invest in. By that time, James wasn’t in my area of the circle anymore, so I didn’t hear his pitch. But I was really proud because he was one of four or five mavericks who got all three tickets from the volunteers. That means all three volunteers thought his idea would work.

James circled back after that, and we grabbed lunch together and a quick picture.

Step to the Line

One of the most emotional exercises Cat facilitates took place after lunch. I had done it with my friend Gio and his Archangels group, where I had met Cat, so I knew a little bit of what to expect. I don’t want to spoil the process for you with too many details, because I’m sure many of the Mavericks will go at some point for this impact experience. The exercise is called “Step to the Line,” and it’s designed to help you see the commonality of what we all have. If a statement read is true for you, you step up to the line. If not, you walk away from the line. You are paired off with one person directly in front of you. My partner was Jumping James again. We made sure to be together.

With each statement, you learned a bit more about everyone around you with statements of “I’ve had too much to drink and still drove” or “I’ve contemplated suicide,” etc. It was incredible how many people on the volunteer side actually stepped to the line for that statement. In fact, when we had a moment of one-on-one time with our partner, that was what got James to cry. He was deeply moved by how many incredible people had considered ending it all. (In fact, I think suicide and depression are two of the hidden secrets too many entrepreneurs keep private and it’s something I’d like to do more impact work around.)

One statement was asking if you have fully and completely forgiven yourself for mistakes of the past. James and I both stepped OFF the line for that. Part of the program is helping to bring forgiveness because otherwise, that non-forgiveness shows back up in violence, anger, and revenge. James and I shared a deep, deep connection because of what happened there, and then I got a little tinge of “oh, oh!”

He told me he is coming out in five months.

I thought, “Am I for real, or do I just want to feel good in here and then ‘they’ stay where they are?”

But this is a guy I’d bet on – reading all the time, underlining, taking notes, meditating, etc. I told him later, before we left, “I believe in you.” And I do. But it was a real sobering moment to be aware of that feeling, and that also plays into what are other opportunities for people with criminal records, those who look “dangerous.”

After this experience, I have an even deeper sense that there needs to be more done with the prison system. Is it for punishment or rehabilitation? All the incentives of the prison system are set up to be a highly profitable mega business without truly delivering the value our society needs right now. I’m proud to have Mavericks and mavericks unite to help co-create new solutions to this pressing issue.

If you’re a successful entrepreneur and want to get involved in more solutions for making a greater impact check out the collective of Maverick1000.com

 

Filed Under: Adventure & Experiences, Impact, Public, Transformation

Conspicuous (Conscious) Consumption and Socially (Good) Signaling

by April Reyes Leave a Comment

Let’s face it. Social media has become a beast. It’s difficult to get away from what everyone is doing, eating, or thinking about or where they are traveling. Social media is the spot where many people want to “show off” what’s going on in their lives and look cool.

If I’m an ultra luxury buyer, I might flaunt something like this sitting in my private jet (per “Rich Kids on Instagram“):

But you can use this built-in behavior of “conspicuous consumption” to your advantage as an Evolved Enterprise.

This is something new I’ve been thinking about…

Inside the book, I mention artifacts that your customers/members want to share. I highlighted the charity, Falling Whistles and the social enterprise, Giving Keys as two examples that practically force people to ask about what the item is hanging around their neck.

I want to show you a few more and get you thinking….

As you know, our key focus last year was Global Goal #14: Life Underwater. So after understanding more about the issue and its importance, I want to continue making a greater difference. One of my favorite examples of a company really pushing their impact is Addidas, working together with social agency Parley. As they say on the site, “We are working with Parley to keep plastic from entering our oceans and transform it into high-performance sportswear.”

Since an early prototype, they’ve really gone all-in, and it’s working. CNBC reported Adidas sold 1 million shoes made out of ocean plastic in 2017. Each pair of shoes has approximately 11 plastic bottles.

And I think there’s something big here that may or may not be their intentional strategy. Take a look at my shoes I bought:

They have lots of different models and versions now – but I picked ones that are bright blue/aqua like the ocean to “signal” what these are and what they are made of.

Signaling is a biological theory of how certain types of animals signal their status as a worthy mate or to establish their spot in the pecking order. On social media, signaling is what we show the world. It implies WHO we are, the identity tied to our behavior, and also our buying choices.  

But we can turn this in our favor for a greater impact with…

Conspicuous (Conscious) Consumption and Socially (Good) Signaling

I’ve now shared with multiple people about my shoes being made of reclaimed ocean plastic because a) It spreads this idea, and b) frankly, it makes me into someone with a stronger identity of caring for the ocean.

This is the same for your customer. Some people might think the shoes are ugly, and that’s a good thing. Really it is. I’d say more accurate is that they are conspicuous…hence our conspicuous (conscious) consumption. I also call these “conversation crutches.” I’ve told the story before of the cufflinks Virgin Galactic has sent to their future astronauts. It was brilliant because if I go to a black-tie event, I’ll probably wear them, and invariably I’ll have someone ask me what they are. Then I can share my love for space and Virgin Galactic in an organic way. Otherwise, I look like a complete jackass if I sit down and just start spouting off about how I’m going to space and how cool I am.

You can build this conversation factor into your product. For instance, one of the shirts I often wear is from the non-profit Not for Sale. The lettering is big and practically forces conversations about their work to stop sex trafficking. Actually, they have a really unique model of creating empowering businesses to develop economic opportunity in the headwaters of the Amazon, where they work.

The more distinctive, the better if you want those (socially good) signaling behaviors to be stronger. For example, there are now quite a few sunglass makers working with recycled and upcycled material. https://www.uniguide.com/recycled-sunglasses-eco-friendly-brands/ I really like the ones that have the most distinctive look and feel to them, so again, they force the conversation about the impact, like these from Norton Point.

Note: For a long time, they were sold out, so it seems this version was the most popular.

Another way to do this is by creating subtle distinctions like BMW did with their electric i3 car:

So the question to brainstorm is this:

“What can I do to make my product or service distinctive enough that my customers/members have to talk about the impact and enhance their own identity as someone who is part of the solution?”

Filed Under: Evolved Enterprise, Impact, Public

Why Drinking Could be Derailing Your Destiny of Greatness

by April Reyes 8 Comments

I feel like I’m going to get some grief for this, but it’s worth it.

First off, I’m not going to make an “always” or “never” statement here, but if this strikes a nerve or triggers an emotional response, there’s something here for you to examine.

So here goes….

Most highly talented entrepreneurs I know are drinking way too much to cover up for NOT doing their most important work here.

By drinking and partying, we don’t have to examine what our REAL purpose is or what our greatest expression of who we could become.

This really struck me when I took 33 days off from drinking a few summers ago.

I was drinking too much (at least for me) because I realized I hadn’t strung together more than two days concurrently without having a glass of wine, bourbon, beer, etc. It was never a lot, but it was enough that I couldn’t recall a long period of time spent not drinking.

No doubt, I had already cut back a bit on my hard-drinking days, but I wasn’t totally beyond it. And I noticed that at some events I attended or was a part of, the vibe was actually too much of a party. I used to love drunk conversations with smart friends, but I realized I was just fooling myself.

I was using alcohol to help me “loosen up.”

To help me socialize more. To assist me with getting my ideas flowing.

Or whatever excuse you want to use.

Frankly, drinking is just woven into so many social situations.

I get it. I play men’s league ice hockey, and after each game, we have beers in the locker room or parking lot. I meet up for drinks with friends. I have wine with dinner. I want something when I head to a restaurant, etc. The list goes on and on. But that’s not even the deeper issue. What I’ve seen is that some of the smartest and most talented individuals I know get hammered!

Why?

Perhaps it’s because we want to forget our “responsibilities” for a little while.

I’m not talking about responsibilities like putting the sheets in the dryer or taking out the recycling but more like our Destiny of Greatness and true Dharma. Yep, the BIG stuff!

I knew I had to change something because I was drinking so regularly. I didn’t have a problem necessarily, but I hated the feeling that something could influence me more than I could influence it.

So I did a little experiment…

I like 33 days for the length of time to experiment with because it’s a specific number, it forces you beyond just one month, and 33 has become quite symbolic for me in the last few years. (It actually shows up in some really synchronistic ways that are hard to explain as simply being coincidences. More on that another time.)

The 33-Day No-Drinking Experiment

About 3 weeks in, I had “amnesia” about what date I said I’d stop. I knew the date, of course, but was considering if I had somehow miscalculated. Finally, at midnight on the final night, I was so excited to drink again that I grabbed a semi-cold hard cider and sat on my front steps.

Hmm…moving into an observer role here and realized I hadn’t really changed too much, but I was still proud for completing this experiment.

The next summer I tried again. This time after the 33 days, I did cut back on my drinking a bit. It eventually took one more 33-day period to really get this to stick and for me to develop a new practice. I’ve realized I can be much more mindful, intentional, and conscious about it. Previously, it was just habitual. Of course you have a glass of bourbon at 5 p.m. after back-to-back meetings because that’s what you do.

It’s fascinating watching your friends react in social situations. The big question is always “WHY?” I play ice hockey, so the boys never got it, but I stood my ground.

Now I’ve become more aware and exacting about when and what I’ll drink.

If I’m having a great meal, I might (or might not) want to pair up a good wine with it. Or if there’s a big celebration, like the BVI Art Reef sinking, I’ll have some champagne. On a recent trip to Necker, Richard wanted to do our signature shot. I had never actually done shots with him over the many years we’ve been together, so I figured this was a moment I wanted to share. (We have a special shot called the “BBG” on Necker that’s become a Maverick tradition.)

Or enjoying Patron with John Paul DeJoria, the co-founder of Patron, at his family’s ranch with other Mavericks a few years back? To me, that’s a good moment to enjoy this spirit.

It’s interesting that the word “spirit” references both the alcohol and our inner essence.

I’ve  realized when I am aligned with my greatest purpose, I really, really want to be at my optimal so that I don’t miss any moments or subtle insights. Full awareness. Pay attention. For me, I definitely feel less intuitive for about 2 days after drinking. It’s subtle, but these subtle energies are where the greatest “downloads from the universe” come from like my Cosmic Journal.

Perhaps this is an experiment you want to take on?  (Let me know if you do.)

Filed Under: Creativity, Happiness, Transformation, Truth

What will you say “YES” to?

by April Reyes Leave a Comment

For me, I decided to take this 100-day project challenge (The100dayproject.org) of one creative art piece per day. I’m 10 days into it now – and I picked journal illustrations as my project.

It’s funny, I wasn’t totally sure if I wanted to actually commit 100 days. Wasn’t sure if I could come up with enough of my own ideas for full pages, putting in the time each day while traveling, etc. But I decided at the end of the 100 days (actually I’m doing 108 days because it’s more meaningful to me) I’d have something really interesting regardless. It would be worth it.

Maybe I’ll publish the illustrations maybe I won’t. Not totally sure.

But I can tell I’m really enjoying this process of having a focused block of creative time each day to draw and write. I’ve already seen it carry over into other areas of my life. I feel like it’s opened even more creative capacity in my businesses and what I’m doing.

I’m including a few illustrations here if you want to check them out. Would love your comments and more importantly try the “YES” Experiment:

Write the word “YES” in a journal or calendar on a random page or date ahead.

  1. Be open to saying “YES” that day.
  2. Share what happens. #yesexperiment

Even bigger idea is what are you hesitating to saying, “yes” to in your own life?

Update: I’m sharing quite a few via my Instagram account – follow me: www.instagram.com/yaniksilver

Update #2: I finished all 108 days of this challenge and it’s been the most in-flow project I’ve ever created. You can see some more here about how it happened and the end result is the Cosmic Journal! Available here or anywhere you prefer to buy books.

Filed Under: Abundance, Creativity, Happiness, Public, Truth

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Change The Way Business Is Played

Subscribe And Get The First 3 Chapters of my Evolved Enterprise Book

Categories

  • Abundance
  • Adventure & Experiences
  • Family
  • Happiness
  • Impact
  • Internet Lifestyle
  • Truth
  • Popular Post

Connect With Yanik

Evolved Enterprise

Change The Way
Business Is Played

Get The First 3 Chapters of my
Evolved Enterprise Book





…And you’ll also get occasional timely updates & insights (don’t worry you can opt-out at anytime).

“…It’s time for evolved entrepreneurs, visionary creators, and change makers to rewrite the rules of business for the 21st century.”

Tony Hsieh

, NY Times bestselling author of Delivering Happiness and CEO of Zappos.com

Connect

© 2021 Yanik Silver | Innovated By Vision Tech Team