Ep. 43: Life as an Outlier: Rodman Schley on Finding Purpose and Building a Life That’s Yours
“At the end of the day, it’s you and what matters with you on the inside. If that’s not aligned . . . the other stuff won’t matter.”
~ Rodman Schley
Have you spent the last 20 or 30 years fitting into someone else’s version of what your life should look like?
Do you struggle with finding your purpose—or even believing you’re allowed to have one?
Are you just going through the motions most days, wondering when you’ll finally feel like your life is aligned with what you want?
If you’re ready to live a life that is designed by and for you, then this episode of The Gen X Shift is a powerful invitation to stop living in the middle of the bell curve and start living outside–like an Outlier.
In this raw, reflective, and reminiscent conversation, Michele takes a walk down memory lane with childhood friend turned serial entrepreneur, Rodman Schley. Rodman and Michele talk about growing up on the lower end of the economic spectrum in small town Nebraska, as children of divorce, and how that impacted Rodman’s entrepreneurial journey. Rodman also shares his story of childhood sexual abuse in the hope that it will allow others to find their voice and reclaim their power.
Whether it’s childhood adversity or entrepreneurial “failures,” Rodman wouldn’t change a thing because he knows it’s made him who he is today. His insights on 4 steps to becoming an Outlier, what it takes to find your purpose, and the importance of doing the work, will inspire you to leave the bell curve behind and step into becoming an Outlier who lives life by their own design.
🗝️ KEY TAKEAWAYS:
[30:20] Healing Through Childhood Sexual Abuse
[46:14] What it Means to Be an Outlier
[56:14] 4-Step Process to Becoming an Outlier
[01:12:08] Learning from Failures and Missed Opportunities
[01:19:47] Understanding Fear and Its Role
[01:23:41] The Role of Self-Compassion
[01:35:35] The Work Required to Become an Outlier
🎧 WATCH/LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
⭐️ RODMAN’S BIO
Rodman Schley is a purpose-driven outlier in entrepreneurship, real estate and media. Renowned as a serial
entrepreneur, Rodman is a real estate expert, an acclaimed television producer and host, a published author, an executive consultant, an entrepreneur coach and a captivating keynote speaker. His unconventional approach to entrepreneurship, business, real estate investment and leadership has garnered acclaim from entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders worldwide.
Rodman's keynote, "The Outlier Mindset: Living with Purpose and Evolving Exponentially," stems from his personal journey of empowering individuals to craft lives aligned with their passions and purpose, leading to greater personal and professional fulfillment and building a life by design. Through his talks, he guides entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and employees to reshape their thinking and strategies, harnessing their unique strengths for success.
With three published books, "Finding Your Fortune in Repossessed Real Estate," "Vacation Property Secrets" and "The Outlier Mindset,” Rodman shares his wealth of knowledge with audiences eager to unlock their full potential.
Having founded, sold or launched over 25 businesses, Rodman's entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds. From owning a television production company to spearheading a national poker tour, his companies span diverse industries. Currently serving as CEO of Blue Fusion Capital, Rodman focuses on short-term vacation rental properties. Additionally, he is the CEO of EvolveX Studios, and he hosts "The Outlier Mindset Podcast," which focuses on personal development and exponential growth.
Rodman's expertise extends to the real estate investment and valuation realm. As founder and CEO of Commercial Valuation Consultants, he has been responsible for the valuation of over $20 billion in residential and commercial real estate. His visionary leadership earned him recognition on the Appraisal Institute National Board of Directors, culminating in his appointment as the National Vice President in 2019 and National President in 2021.
Rodman's impact transcends business. As the creative force behind PBS's nationally televised show "Urban Conversion," alongside his wife Gina, he has championed the sustainability movement, earning over 30 Telly awards for social responsibility and education. The show was also nominated for an Emmy. The show's acclaim reached new heights with an invitation to film at the White House from First Lady Michelle Obama in its inaugural season.
Beyond television, Rodman has overseen poker programming and comedy specials, including "Delete," featuring Last Comic Standing winner and America’s Got Talent finalist Josh Blue.
Rodman lives in Arvada, outside of Denver, Colorado with his wife Gina and their two daughters.
📚 RODMAN’S BOOK
💫 CONNECT WITH RODMAN
The Outlier Mindset Podcast (and catch Rodman and Michele’s episode–From Lawyer to Life Coach: The Ripple Effects of Pursuing Your True Passion)
Vacation Property Secrets Website
Urban Conversion television series with Rodman and Gina Schley
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