Alexander Mendeluk is a Creative Director, Filmmaker, Entrepreneur and Brand Strategist living in the City of Angels. Spirit Animal: Flying Cossack Leopard Squirrel. He is best known for: co-founding SpiritHoods, weird dance moves and helping social ‘treps build awesome brands. Interested in: Renaissance minds, social entrepreneurship and trans media story telling. He is also working on a new mentorship and education platform for social entrepreneurs, called Visionary Startup (www.visionarystartup.com). Follow him @mendeluk.
Who is your hero?
My father has fearlessly taught me to create at all costs. My mother has had to put up with all that creativity. And Napoleon Hill has helped crystallize my views regarding the power of the mind in creating our own reality.
What’s the single best piece of business advice that helped shape who you are as an entrepreneur today, and why?
Three pieces of advice have helped shape me: Stay naive, visualize daily and love as much as possible.
Being naive in your industry can allow you to run on an instinct that others in your space with experience might no longer be able to tap into. Often times preconceived notions or “experience” can get in the way. Try to bridge that gap — be curious and use your experience to translate what you find.
I strongly believe that the distance between where we stand right now and achieving anything we desire is only as far as we SEE it to be. Thoughts become reality. They are an unlimited resource that can be called upon at anytime and don’t cost a thing.
I think The Beatles said it best with “All you need is love.” Translate that into your business and the world will have an incredible way of helping you out.
What’s the biggest mistake you ever made in your business, and what did you learn from it that others can learn from too?
The biggest mistake I made was placing blame on mistakes made. I ended up blaming myself and blaming others which was completely counterproductive. I soon learned that mistakes aren’t actually mistakes. They are necessary opportunities to grow. When I stopped expecting certain things, I was forced to confront my own problems and work through them.
What do you do during the first hour of your business day and why?
Visualize. I never fully began achieving what I desire until I have a crystal clear vision of it in my mind every day.
What’s your best financial or cash-flow related tip for entrepreneurs just getting started?
Don’t do it! (Just kidding.)
Start small, think big, market test, pivot (if necessary) and fund growth with an online store.
Quick: What’s ONE thing you recommend ALL aspiring or current entrepreneurs do right now to take their biz to the next level?
Discover what you want. Set realistic goals you believe you can achieve, and visualize that goal twice a day. Ask for a plan and follow the answers once you find them. Don’t hesitate when the doors of opportunity present themselves. And find a mentor!
What’s your definition of success? How will you know when you’ve finally “succeeded” in your business?
I believe that success can come at any point when three things are in balance: Your environment, your health (body and mind), and your business.
At the end of the day I don’t want to succeed, I want to be succeeding. As soon as I succeed, I die.
