John Haydon Helps us Flip Our Middle Finger to Fear and Doubt – Episode 9

When Phil suggested we interview John Haydon for our show, I immediately did a Google search and within seconds responded with “YES!” You’ll understand why after you watch this episode. Not only is John a brave mofo, and a little bit of a jokester, you can tell just how genuine and passionate he is about being a good Dad and master of his craft (that is social media marketing for non-profits AND music).

(If you wonder why I’m laughing like a 12-year-old girl in the beginning of the episode, before we began airing John couldn’t remove the US flag from the lower third where you see his name. I made sure to dig into the US flag joke as much as I could as a result of that technical glitch.)

We love John for having such a great sense of humor and huge heart. We know you will too!

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited) 

Listen to the podcast

Share Some Shut Up Love –>  I learned that money can buy you a beautiful brass bed, but it can’t buy you a peaceful night’s sleep. @JohnHaydon via @_theshutupshow

Fun Facts:

  • John is the author of Facebook Marketing for Dummies among a bunch of other awesome books.
  • John attended Berklee College of Music and has been playing music since he was a kid.
  • John spent over 15 years working in sales and marketing roles in healthcare, advertising, and software industries.
  • John owns Inbound Zombie, new media branding for non-profits.

Defining Shut Up Moment:

Raised by a brave and strong mom who defied the odds and recovered from a brain aneurysm despite what doctors told her, John learned about bravery at a very young age. When John’s son was born in 2003, he realized he had very different responsibilities and a desire to set the example he was shown at a young age. The reality of wanting to be a good dad and mentor to his son while balancing a split life working a sales job by day and moonlighting with music by night was causing a lot of inner conflict for a long time.

By 2007, John earned a good living working at a software company and realized he was smart enough and ready to start a business on the side. It wasn’t an overnight transition. As Hugh McLeod taught him, “you gotta put food on the table, don’t be an idiot.” John began infusing his two “minds” together and for several years built the foundation for his business working long days and nights.

In 2009, John’s life would change completely. He was forced out of his job and from that moment on, he ran with the business he had been building and never looked back. As he recalled for us, “I felt like I was pushed off the building with an ‘oh and by the way, here’s a plane and cockpit. You’ll figure out what to do.’ Then I had to build cockpit on the way down.”

 Shut Up Tips:

3 Daily Habits John Practices to Embrace His Shut Up Mindset:

  1. Write down goals and look at them every day.
  2. Spend every morning and every night in Buddhist practice.
  3. Be with other people who will make you feel good.

What will my son remember about me during this period? Am I a coward? Scared and angry all the time? Or am I a father who has his fucking balls to the wall, shitting in his pants, but still taking action anyhow? – John

My mom showed me through her actions what it meant to have courage, dignity and consistency. – John

We live our whole lives in our identity. The only way we interact is through our 5 senses. Get with other people and help them out. It gives us more power. – John

Tranparency is giving people the information they need and not hiding anything. They don’t need or want to know what kind of underwear you’re wearing. – John

I only go to Facebook because of my friends. I don’t go to Facebook to find businesses. I go there to engage with my community. – John

“People don’t believe what you tell them. They rarely believe what you show them. They often believe what their friends tell them. They always believe what they tell themselves.” – Seth Godin (via John)

The practice as a small business owner or solopreneur is an understanding that other people do want me. That is a big deal. – Phil

I do not want to have this experience ever again. I do not want to be working for someone making a decision about what’s gonna happen to my future. That’s a terribly vulnerable decision. They can fire me any frickin day. I don’t want that. – John

I’m a smart guy. What would it look like if I did my own thing? – John

You have to be happy with what you’re doing because you’re going to be doing it till the day you die. You better love it. – John

You are the balls. You are the ovaries. – John

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” – Bill Cosby (via Berni)

Slowly but the surely the old voices go somewhere else. When they realize they are powerless, they eventually vacate. – John

Action is the biggest middle finger to fear and doubt. If you want to feel your limitless potential, then you act. – John

Nothing is ever going to happen unless you take action. Take action no matter how you feel. Action will get you results. Result gives you hope. Hope makes you feel great. You know you’re more powerful than the old tapes. – John

John Recommends:

Hugh McLeod – ignore everybody

Phil Gerbyshak – John attributes a lot of thanks to Phil for being uncompromising and “always looking at peoples’ potential.”

Chris Garrett – “The real deal” as John said. Chris was one of the few likable and trustworthy people John befriended early on in his career who actually helped him define his niche.

Find John:

John’s blog

John’s business page on Facebook

Tweet with John