Here’s an interview with the renowned business guru Zack Friedman! His book The Lemonade Life is a great way to organize your life and achieve your financial dreams.
You can purchase his book HERE
Who are you and what do you do?
I am the author of the new book, The Lemonade Life. The Lemonade Life is a playbook on how anyone can achieve more happiness, more success and more greatness in their life. I’m on a mission to spread more happiness in the world. I want to inspire everyone to know that we have more power than we often realize to create the life we want. In The Lemonade Life, I share the secrets to more happiness today, which drives success tomorrow. It all starts with five simple changes that anyone can make.
I’m also the CEO of Make Lemonade, which is a leading online personal finance company that empowers you live a better financial life. Our website helps you compare the best rates for student loan refinancing, student loans, credit cards, personal loans, investing, banking and more. We also offer free financial content, comparison tools and product reviews. Make Lemonade helps bring more transparency to financial services, which I believe helps consumers make better financial decisions. Make Lemonade is also about living your best financial life, so we’re all about happiness and helping people fulfill their life goals.
What do you love about your job?
I love the ability to create impact. I love helping people to lead their best life and inspire them to lead a more purpose-filled life. Whether it’s their personal, financial or career life, the ability to help people reach a happier and more fulfilling life is very rewarding.
What was the game changer in your life when it came to failing and then succeeding?
I had the opportunity to eat lunch with Warren Buffett. As you can imagine, it was a life-changing experience. Warren Buffett is not only one of the most successful investors of all time, but he’s one of the most genuine and authentic leaders who I’ve met. During our lunch, I began to think about an important question: What drives success? For many who want to excel in finance, they flock to Wall Street. For others who want to create the next technology venture, they move to Silicon Valley. Warren Buffett built his empire from his home base in Omaha, Nebraska. He has a sunny outlook, lives by his own terms, understands what he’s good at, and does the work that has made him successful. My lunch with Warren Buffett became an impetus to write my book, The Lemonade Life.
What does it mean to have courage in your life?
There are many definitions of courage and many different types of people who exhibit it. I think of heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. I think of first responders like police officers, firefighters and EMT professionals who are at the front lines every day keeping us safe. I think of the brave members of our Armed Forces and their families who sacrifice to defend our freedom. I also think of other heroes who face tough circumstances in their personal lives – whether it be loss of a loved one, financial loss or just a tough shot at life. Courage is about mustering the mindset and strength to withstand fear, danger or difficult circumstances and to overcome and persevere despite the challenge. In The Lemonade Life, all it takes to begin your journey is an open mind at the courage to change. Change is a hard concept to many because often it means leaving the safety of your comfort zone. However, taking the first step can ignite a new and powerful path in your life.
Why did you write The Lemonade Life?
I wrote The Lemonade Life because I firmly believe that everyone has a shot at greatness. I believe in the power of the human spirit to overcome anything, and I wanted to write a playbook for anyone to achieve more happiness, more success and more greatness in their life. The Lemonade Life is a guide to remind everyone that they have the power inside of them to fuel success, create happiness and conquer anything.
If you could take one principle from your book and tell us which one comes to mind first? Which one is or was your favorite to write about?
No matter who you are, where you come from, what you do for a living, or how much money you have, I strongly believe that everyone has a shot at greatness. In The Lemonade Life, I share my best advice for leading your life with purpose and possibility at home and at work.
Every day, we all make a choice to live one of two lives: the Lemon Life or the Lemonade Life. The choice we make dictates the life we lead and the people we become. The good news is that you have the power to choose the life you want and create your own happiness. The Lemonade Life shows you how to lead your best life every day.
There is a stigma about getting a "business degree" what is your view on their effectiveness in 2019?
Getting an MBA is a personal choice based on your specific life circumstances and professional goals. Is an MBA required for you to be successful? Of course not. You can be remarkably successful without an MBA. For some, an MBA can provide a solid set of skills to enhance your career. For others, it’s helpful if they are switching careers. For others, it’s a wonderful opportunity to network and make lifelong friends. So, you can be successful with or without an MBA. Do what’s right for you and also consider the opportunity cost of getting an MBA, including the potential student loan debt you may need to incur.
To learn more about my perspectives on whether you need an MBA or even if college is required, please listen to my podcast interview with Travis Chappell.
What is more effective audio or physical books? What do you recommend?
I recommend both physical and audio books. For example, I wrote The Lemonade Life and I also narrated the audio book. The physical book has many life improving exercises that you can do in the margin of the book, which makes it helpful to have the physical copy. Also, I recommend readers use The Lemonade Life as a playbook, so you can refer to it again and again. That’s why it’s important to keep a physical copy so you can read it more than once.
The audio book is also helpful because it’s inspiring to listen to and it’s easy to consume everywhere. So if you’re in the mood to just listen and focus on the message, the audio book is a great way to go.
What advice do you have for small business owners?
The Lemonade Life is filled with actionable advice for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Hire great people. Lead with purpose. Invest in a great culture. Build long-term relationships with customers, employees, suppliers and others. Manage your inventory. Don’t rush to scale the business until you’re ready. Continue to drive innovation.
Fun questions
If you were stranded on an abandoned island what five items would you like to have with you?
I would bring my wife, three children, and a copy of The Lemonade Life.
Do drink coffee or tea?
Coffee and tea are both great.
