MLM Issue No. 12: How I See it w/ COO Whisperer & $100M businessman Cameron Herold, plus...

Morning, Greg here! Welcome to Issue No. 12 of Midlife Male, the lifestyle magazine for midlife men, by midlife men. I wanted to personally welcome all our new readers, and if this newsletter was forwarded to you, subscribe below.

I’m in Boulder this weekend visiting my son and joined the guys on Barbell Shrugged for a new podcast. We talked about how to design your Midlife Action Plan and what mastering the middle really looks like. Here’s the link to listen to the full episode.

And if you’re looking to finish the year strong, and start ‘25 off even stronger, I'm opening up a few coaching spots. Click HERE to set up a FREE discovery call.

‘How I See It’ with Cameron Herold

Cameron Herold, known as "the COO Whisperer," is the founder of the COO Alliance and host of the Second in Command podcast. By the age of 35, he had already helped build two companies to $100 million. At 42, he led 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to remarkable success, driving its revenue from $2 million to $106 million in just six years. 

As a best-selling author, in-demand speaker, mentor, and coach, Cameron has guided hundreds of clients worldwide on how to double their revenue and profit within three years. He is also the top-rated lecturer at EO/MIT's Entrepreneurial Masters Program and a sought-after speaker at global entrepreneur and leadership events, both online and in person. Cameron is directly responsible for MLM Founder Greg Scheinman’s own career transformation and in this conversation they discuss what midlife means, vivid vision statements, personal coaching, the drawbacks to change, setting priorities and accepting when you need help.

Here is this week’s How I See It:

Greg Scheinman: You mentioned before we began recording that you are content to be in midlife. How do you define that?

Cameron Herold: I couldn’t be happier to still be midlife. I'm pushing 58, or actually, I am 58 right now. I don’t know exactly when I become a senior, but I think it's around 65, so I have a few more years left to enjoy being midlife. Historically, midlife seemed like a different phase, but now, I see it as something that extends further. My brother, for example, has competed in the long drive worlds three times, and their seniors category starts at 55. He jokes about getting senior discounts with his seniors card, but I always tell him, "You're too young for that!" 

I remember when I was 42, a doctor referred to me as midlife, and it made me nervous because I associated it with getting older. But now, as I’m squarely in midlife, I don’t feel old at all. In fact, I chatted with my grandfather when he was 96, and he once told me, "I don’t feel as old as you look." 

That was 15 years ago, and I was trying to grow my hair out then, clearly going through a midlife crisis. I weighed 40 pounds more than I do now, wasn’t happy, and wasn’t exercising. But today, at 58, I'm probably in the best shape, the best mindset, and the happiest I’ve ever been. I see midlife as stretching out to around 75. That’s when I’ll consider myself a senior—when I can no longer be active, like skiing, hiking, or walking the golf course without a cart.

Greg Scheinman: We first met at an EO speaking engagement in Houston about five or six years ago. Do you remember that?

Cameron Herold: Yes, I do a lot of these, but I remember my first EO Houston engagement back in 2007. That was during my midlife crisis. I was leaving 1-800-GOT-JUNK, deeply unhappy in my first marriage, gaining weight, drinking a lot, and not exercising. When we met, I was in a much better place, but I’m even better now.

Greg Scheinman: I can relate. Your talk about "Vivid Vision" really resonated with me. It helped me craft what I now call my "Midlife Action Plan." Can you share how this idea came about for you?

Cameron Herold: That’s exactly why I wrote my first personal vivid vision—my own midlife action plan. I had been using vivid visions in business for years, describing what my company would look like three years out, but I never thought to do one for my life. About a year and a half ago, my wife and I even wrote a vivid vision for our marriage. 

Writing a personal vivid vision helped me make serious, conscious changes. It forced me to confront my own issues and have honest discussions with my wife about what was important to me. Sharing it with friends and family also held me accountable and made my goals feel more tangible and real.

How I Completely Changed My Life in 3 Years with a Vivid Vision Action Plan (and You Can Too)

It occurred to me that many of the midlife men we feature may be completely new to you. Sure, I get to bring you stories from celebrities and big names, but the truth is that some of the most compelling stories and what’s changed my life most, has come from men you’ve never heard of—those who aren’t in the public eye. That’s exactly why they’re so interesting to me. Finding these men, often reclusive and introverted, and getting them to open up and share their experiences is one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. I hope you find as much value in their stories as I do, which is why I want to share a little background on this week’s How I See It above.

Five years ago, I was invited to an Entrepreneur's Organization event in Houston where Cameron Herold was the speaker. He was talking about his book, Vivid Vision. I was captivated by his speech, this notion that you could design your life three years into the future, what it looks like, feels like, earns like, plays like and operates like. I bought the book, and as somebody who is not a voracious reader, I tore through it - it's a short book, probably 100 pages or so. 

I set out to write my own vivid vision exactly as he laid out in the book…

Millions of stories are posted online every day and 99.9% are noise. We sifted through the nonsense to share standouts with actionable takeaways you can use to maximize your life in each of our 6Fs: Fitness. Family. Finance. Food. Fashion. Fun. Let’s go.

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FAMILY - MLM Spotlight: How Dan Orlovsky Juggles Being a Husband, Father of 4 and a Lead Football Analyst at ESPN

FITNESS - Why Greg’s trying the $400 Apollo Neuro Wearable and What it Does

FINANCE - America’s New Millionaire Class: Plumbers and HVAC Entrepreneurs

FASHION - The Perfect Pants for Relaxing on Your Couch or Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

FOOD - Sunrise Flour Mill: The Flour to Use When You Take Your Carbs Seriously

FUN - How to Escape Hustle Culture and Enjoy Today - A Great Conversation with NY Times Bestseller Oliver Burkeman

Listen to the audio book of Midlife Male, read by author/founder Greg Scheinman, on Audible today!

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