Everyone has a super power. It depends on whether you have enough patience to realize and strengthen your superpower.
It depends Tom’s roomthe writer and celebrity interviewer behind The Tow Show.
“At the end of the day, I’m an ordinary dude with few identifiable skills of any kind,” he laughed during a chat with Benzinga. “In my case, I’m good at one thing and that’s talking to people.”
Before hosting his own show in Los Angeles, Ward was in sales. But its main goal is to continuously improve – the lifestyle strategy of Kaizen.
“It took me many years to get to where I am now. It didn’t happen overnight, and I’m getting a little better with every interview, pitch and production,” he said. “It all adds up over time, and that’s my intention. .”
“Reinventing You”
Ward, originally from New Jersey, was an average child from a middle-class family. He found little passion in the worldly careers he pursued after dating Rutgers University – Camden.
“Some of the coolest people I knew back then were salespeople and entrepreneurs who owned their own businesses,” he said. “They dressed cool and were friendly.”
Ward previously sold cars to Mercedes-Benz Group MBGYY, Porsche Holding Automotive POAHYand Toyota Motor Corporation MT dealerships near Philadelphia and Phoenix. He also worked for Illinois Tool Works Inc.. ITWwhere he sold equipment to grocery stores, including Amazon Inc.-belonging AMZN Whole foods and Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. SFM.
With “little oversight” and a company American Express Company AXP card came a “sense of freedom” that made the gear-selling gig tolerable for about a decade before Ward passed away.
“If I have to go to another trade show and stand in front of an oven for three days, I’m going to kill myself,” he recalls.
At the time, Ward was reading “Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future” by Dorie Clarkrenowned consultant, lecturer and teacher at Duke University and Columbia Business School.
“Dorie’s thing was to interview people,” he says.
As a result, Ward sat down with local entrepreneurs over coffee, asked about their motivations and asked if they had any tips for success.
“The other thing Dorie taught me that changed my life was to write.”
Life Lessons from Rick Rubin
Ward often consumed and blogged content on various interests, including hip-hop. An interview that caught his eye was Tim Ferris’ interview with the music producer Rick Rubin.
“The following week I was still thinking about the interview and writing about Rick Rubin’s life lessons,” Ward said, adding that he expected little to happen after.
To his surprise, Jessica Albaof all people, found the blog and posted it on his social media.
Graphic: LinkedIn post by actress and businesswoman Jessica Alba.
Clark eventually connected Ward with Forbes where he became a contributor. Despite feeling like an “impostor and a fraud”, Ward “seized the opportunity” and started writing, focusing on marketing and social media, while maintaining a job in sales.
Pitches from PR houses were often turned down. But one instance where Ward deviated paid off.
Jacques-PaulRepresentatives of launched a conversation about the influencer’s interests beyond the media.
“I was like, ‘Who the hell is this kid with 20 million followers that I’ve never heard of,'” he asked. His answer was an emphatic “Yes”.
There followed a two-hour conversation with Paul at his home.
“We talked business and I learned a lot,” Ward said. “He wasn’t just a kid who made videos. He was a thoughtful businessman who had goals and a plan.
The two exchanged phone numbers and, after finishing the article, Ward sent Paul a link to the story and a message expressing his gratitude.
Paul, acknowledging Ward’s article, posted the article on social media.
Graphic: Twitter Publish by Jake Paul.
After what felt like 15 minutes, the article generated around 100,000 views, well beyond the 500 clicks that Ward’s articles would typically get.
Writing, Ward realized, was a serious business he could tap into to impact others and build a monetizable brand.
Ward’s work has permeated the influencer community. On paper, he “had nothing in common” with his interlocutors. But that didn’t matter. He “was the only one who took them seriously,” and that was saying a lot.
Through a new connection with Paul, PR reps, and word of mouth, Ward managed to chat with a variety of influencers and creatives, including Kate Hudson, Emma Chamberland, Griffin Johnson, Josh Richards, David Dobrik and designer John Varvatos.
The next evolution: YouTube
But Ward wanted something more than 800-word articles and advertising. So he decided to create a YouTube channel.
“I would pay a cameraman to shoot and an editor to edit,” he said. “I lost money for three years while my colleagues at my real job laughed at me.”
Ridiculousness aside, Ward looked at ambition as many do in sports; interviews were a hobby, and Ward’s family offered full support that “meant everything.”
All YouTube monetizations or sponsorship proceeds were funneled into an account that Ward tapped into to help fund the cost of production.
“I was 44 and I knew I couldn’t do my day job and do it well, at the same time,” Ward said. “It really touched me when I left for Paris Hiltonafter talking about bakery ovens for hours.”
Knowing he had reserves ready to run out, Ward took a chance, quit the sales job and turned to interviews.
“Although my opinions are down, I don’t care. That’s what interests me and it keeps me in touch with the Dobriks and Charli D’Amelios who want to talk about business and the things they are launching.
“Dobrik and D’Amelio can even give me advice on how to grow,” he said. “That’s invaluable advice.”
Graphic: Tom Ward interviews Charli D’Amelio.
Ward’s show also aims to share uplifting stories from entrepreneurs of all ages, races, genders and identities.
“I’m just a guy looking to learn,” he said. The videos and articles are “riddles, and there’s no manual,” he explained. He is even ready to take on new challenges, even if it means not making money next year.
“My savings will go towards keeping the wife happy and keeping the lifestyle unchanged. I have this budget where I can pay for production and editing for next year, getting in shape for potential brand deals. that could make it a profitable business.
If the business isn’t working, Ward sees it as a great learning opportunity. “I’m working a lot harder and I’ve never been happier.”