[quote style=”boxed”]Never stop learning from any source you can. I love to read, meet interesting people, and watch movies and documentaries.[/quote]
Chris J. Snook has spent over 12 years as an author, entrepreneur, and venture catalyst. Chris is currently the Managing Partner of TLEC’s portfolio, which includes several modern media-focused businesses, including The No Limit Publishing Group, Parallel6, VTV, and loopthink. Chris J. Snook has co-authored three international best-selling books entitled Wealth Matters 2007 and 2011 (2nd Edition) and Personal Trainer’s Burnout: How to Transform Frustration to Fortune in 2005. In his career as an entrepreneur, he and his wife and their core team have resiliently overcome up-and-down markets to create a holding company with company assets valued over 8 figures.
What are you working on right now?
On top of launching the loopthink thought leader council on March 30th, the first loopthink event in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this fall, and being in pre-production on 4 new internet reality T.V. projects, I am involved in finalizing the merger/acquisitions of both No Limit Publishing and Parallel 6, which would put successful exits on both of those investments inside of 2.5 years. I will continue to run day-to-day operations of the newly formed “No Limit Group” post-No Limit Publishing’s merger, which will be a full-service content marketing, brand development, internet marketing, publishing, and mobile media firm.
Where did the idea for loopthink come from?
In early 2009, I read a book, The Fourth Turning, and decided that I needed to develop a multi-generational and multi-disciplinary mastermind group for my own thinking. Over time, it has evolved into the concept we dubbed “loopthink.” We’ve taken the experience and data from our 3 years of personal practice; we’ve been re-inspiring the mastermind model into a public community that can distill multi-generational insight into systemic solutions. We have engaged several of today’s thought leaders into the first official member “loop,” and we’ll be scaling up from there.
What does your typical day look like?
I wake up between 5 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., depending on whether I work out or have projects to complete before the business day. I walk my dog, Jazz, and play with our son for a few minutes so my wife can shower, and I’m in the office by 7a.m. I make it home by 5 p.m. to have a family dinner and bathe our son before he goes to sleep around 7:30 p.m. Then, I either do some extra work or spend some time with my wife.
How do you bring ideas to life?
If I get excited about something, I create an initial plan and take immediate action. Then it’s a matter of influencing and enrolling the necessary people to create the final plan. I need a group that’s flexible enough to make on-the-fly changes to overcome the obstacles we encounter along the way.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
I am concerned about the lack of “thinking,” and the high level of “reacting” that’s prevalent today, in part, because of technology enhancements and snack-bite media. But I am really excited by the opportunity and shift I see in the younger generation, who are seeking more knowledge related to affecting positive change. They’re willing to get proactive and engage in the study and development of new ideas and assume responsibility to execute plans that move those ideas into form; our ability to help shape those conversations with our content is a very thrilling and fulfilling responsibility.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
In high school, I worked at a sandwich shop and actually got fired because a co-worker of mine was apparently dealing drugs, and I was declared guilty by association. It was an unfair and unjustified reason to lose my job, but I learned earlier on that who you hang around will have an impact on you. I have chosen friends and colleagues carefully ever since.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I don’t think I would change anything, not because I didn’t lose or can’t see decisions now that I would’ve made differently, but because I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without the collective lessons. I love where I am today, and where I’m heading in the coming years!
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Never stop learning from any source you can. I love to read, meet interesting people, and watch movies and documentaries. It makes me well-rounded, and I know a little about everything. I haven’t met anyone yet that I can’t have a valuable dialogue with, and I think it’s one of the biggest reasons I have been successful.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
We live in the age of the distributor! The best business idea I can give is to use content in all forms and formats to create a relationship with your chosen demographic. Nurture that list; keep it engaged and ever-growing, and you will be sustainable. Failure to build and own a proprietary and loyally engaged list of customers, first and foremost, is a doomed strategy. The world is craving relationship first and product second.
Tell us a secret.
It sounds trite, but I hate driving through Ikea or Wal-Mart parking lots because people walk so slowly and without purpose.
What are your three favorite online tools and what do you love about them?
I live inside of Google Apps for our business. Other than that, I like Flipboard and Zite for keeping me informed.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I recommend The Fourth Turning by Neil Howe and William Strauss. If you want to know what the next 10 years will look like and how to navigate them, this book is a must-read.
What’s on your playlist?
I don’t have one. We have two iPods somewhere, but I never use them. I am so old-school with CDs and stuff in that regard. I like Pandora or Jango, and I haven’t bought music via download more than a few times. It depends on the day and mood, but I can go between Living Colour and Metallica, to Tupac and Bruno Mars, or Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, and then way back to Sinatra and Buddy Rich. I love music; I just don’t buy a lot of it anymore. I love video podcasts of “O’Reilly’s Tools of Change” and Web 2.0 Summits on the iPad as well.
If you weren’t working on loopthink, what would you be doing?
Since loopthink is just one of our initiatives, I would be doing all the other stuff I’m doing, like curating and acquiring authors for the No Limit label, producing some internet T.V. properties, closing new distribution deals, and trying to make a positive impact on the world as a result of these collective efforts.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
You should follow me, @chrisjsnook, because you’ve read this far.
I recommend @briansmcgowan and his #socialqi because he is a game-changer in big data, social learning, and simple solutions for healthcare.
I like @stevefarber because he has the most relevant and effectively simple leadership framework that any company, individual, or organization can use to create an amazing culture.
When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
Last week, my wife laughed at something on the television. She has an infectious spirit, and I laughed because she was laughing so hard that it was cute and funny at the same time. That happens often, by the way.
Who is your hero?
I have several, but my dad and my mom are personal heroes of mine for different reasons. I have been extremely blessed to be their son. My wife, Brianne, is my day-to-day hero because she has ridden the rollercoaster of business for 8 years with amazing courage, support, love, and insight. She’s truly the most incredible person I know.
Who is on your immediate professional list to meet and do business with in the near future?
I’d love to work with Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic’s launchpad in Santa Fe needs to be a destination of the loopthink delegates this fall since it will change air travel in the coming years) and Jon Bon Jovi (great entrepreneur and fellow Jersey boy whom I respect).
What would you like your gravestone to say?
“He lived life Mach 4, with his hair on fire, and inspired others to live to their highest potential.”
Connect:
Chris J. Snook’s Website: www.chrisjsnook.com
Chris J. Snook on Twitter: @ChrisJSnook
Chris J. Snook on LinkedIn:
Loopthink ‘s Website:
Wealth Matters Book on Facebook: www.facebook.com/wealthmatterstome
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.