Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Lazarus.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jeff. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m an idea guy. I always have ideas; some good, some great… really great. Others, well, you know. My modus operandi is to look at what’s possible, what can be created and what the potential is, in any given situation. I am not only the person who will connect the dots, I’m the guy who will create the dots in the first place. Humor is also the logo on the tail of my airplane called life.
There were always signs and symptoms of my creativity throughout my life. I won multiple awards for essays and papers in grade school (an unrecognized hint to the future). Performing in theater as a child was also fun and so was learning to play guitar.
Starting a rock band, and writing songs, as a teenager, was the first time I understood my own outward form of expression (and that the myth of girls falling for guys with long hair in bands was real). Writing short stories in a creative writing course in college was awfully fun and the reward of having one published in a student journal was a nice accolade. Just an accolade. Nothing more… at the time. I would read my papers to my dog, Sammy. To this day, I’m really not sure if she liked them or not.
Who in their right mind would predict that a sarcastic answer to a question, on a first and last date, could change one’s life? Not me. Likely not you either. Well, it happened. Here I was, minding my own business going through life with a job for a global corporation. Albeit a good job, I was skipping along through life as we are supposed to (or told to). I had my dog Roamy, my four-legged sidekick. He was hilarious and unbelievably cute. It was a single moment in my life when I casually asked a woman at a conference to meet me on a Thursday at a highly-rated sushi bar. We met. No love connection… at least for me. No harm, no foul. Upon exiting the establishment (with lots of wasabi and ginger in my belly), she asked me, “What religion are you?” To my surprise and unwillingness to go down this black hole, I answered jokingly and exclaimed, “Dogtology!”. She laughed and so did I.
No more global corporation, no more “regular job”, no more predictability. How can a person sustain these when they have to support DOGTOLOGY, an international bestseller, CATAKISM, an international multiple #1 bestseller and LISTEN LIKE A DOG, a bestseller in multiple languages! Beyond that, I am supporting my fellow authors through coaching, representation to publishers and publishing them myself. I had endured the painful path of agents and publishers and was motivated to help others. After being in this new world for a few years, I came to realize the gaping hole in the entrepreneur/business world known as personal branding. This has become one of my 1,001 passions; to discover and evolve one’s personal brand. It’s incredible to see the evolution in someone when it clicks.
If you know me at all, you know one thing, I won’t stop there. This fascinating set of dots that I created has been expanding since. Today, I have a representation agency for subject matter experts where I am able to serve them holistically. We are all-things publishing, a paid speaker’s bureau, digital marketing and media, personal branding and product licensing. Fun? Every day! You can be a clean slate without an idea in the world and come to me. The caution I give you is the size of the dream I will provide – it will be big!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing worthy is ever easy. It’s really true. Even when it seems easy, the road to get there is usually filled with challenges. I had plenty of recognition from agents and publishers that my writing was solid and creative. I also had plenty of recognition from agents and publishers that I was unknown. Ugh. It’s not exactly easy to become known overnight, for most of us that is. The key? Belief. Perseverance. Strategy. I have altered the expression to, “where there’s a will, there’s always a way”. Sometimes you have to just do it and go against popular belief.
I had people telling me that I would never make it on my own and that I needed to keep a steady “job”. I don’t want a “job”, I wanted a fun and rewarding life! Becoming an agent wasn’t easy either. When did I become one? When I called a publisher and told them I was an agent. Yep. Now I have offers for my own label. I face challenges most days of the week so I’m just like everyone else. My key is strategy. I am strategy. No matter what the situation is, strategy will find my way out and get me ahead.
I am also a creative. Creativity is a really good way to show people your unique value. Creative approaches are often eye-catching and have provided great things for me, such as celebrity clients.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Branded With Authority story. Tell us more about the business.
Creativity, strategic thinking and getting shit done. There it is. Simple. We are mostly recognized for the ability to take someone’s current status, issue or opportunity and not only maximize it, but create new avenues. As a visionary, I want to build the big picture with you. We do that through the development of your personal brand, the publication of your literary work, building your talk with you, finding unique ways to show you off on social media, getting your name on products. All of these have one thing in common; we help you to become known.
Influencers have noted my rare combination of creativity and ability to be the “get it done” guy. I don’t know of any other way. Because I operate with vision, I will bring together two elements, or two people, that seemingly have nothing to do with one another. I will show you how they do. My equation for collaboration is 1+1= 3… or 4 or 5 or 1000.
One thing I am most proud of is not only have I created a fun life every day for myself but that I can do that for others. I am also proud that I have been able to inspire others and open new doors for them. I certainly appreciate it when others do that for me.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
As an avid hockey fan, I am terribly superstitious. I can’t eat certain foods or wear certain things during the playoffs. It’s not easy, and probably worse for others around me. Do I believe in luck? Sometimes. I know one thing for sure, it’s paramount to put yourself in situations where “luck” can happen. In that sense, we create our own luck. It’s a numbers game too. Put yourself in 100 situations and it’s more than likely that at least one of those will turn out well. Probably a lot more than one. I don’t see my path as being lucky. There was no shortage of “no’s” along the way, and there still are. Undesirable things happen for all of us. It’s all about picking myself up from the ground and moving forward. Just as I said, perseverance is a big part of how I operate. It’s really true. Unfortunate circumstances or “bad luck” can happen to anyone. It’s all about what we do next. Never give up. Never!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brandedwithauthority.com
- Phone: 9493799624
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
