70. Lefty's Life Lessons: Face Challenges with Resilience

It's far too easy to get bogged down by negative experiences and let them define us. But Michael Zalle brings his experience of being born with a small right hand and losing a seven figure sale just minutes before the interview as proof that your experiences make you the person you need to be today. Join him alongside host Jim Schubert to discuss the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and how you can do well while doing good at the same time on this episode of Agents Growth Academy.

3 Key Takeaways

• In entrepreneurship, you have to learn to adapt.  Figure out how to work around it and don't let it stop you from moving forward.
• Don't take things so personally–not everything is about you. Accept that sometimes things happen that are out of your control.
• Don't dwell on setbacks. Pick yourself up and keep going (in 24 hours or less).

Resources
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
The Daily Stoic Podcast
LinkedIn
Website: goyellowbird.com

About Michael Zalle
Michael is the Founder and CEO of YellowBird. He is responsible for creating, building, and launching new concepts and companies, resulting in multiple successful exits over a 25-year tech career. He has built a career through a unique balance of commercializing novel business models, operationalizing innovative technologies and platforms, rapidly scaling operations, and building market-shaping ecosystems. Michael’s companies and purpose are ever focused on serving others. Whether it be satellite systems for First Responders, environmental products for flood and spill response, or time and economic support for difference-making organizations, Michael believes in “doing well while doing good.”

Michael’s college journey began at San Francisco State University and was completed at Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School while working full-time and traveling at age 19. As a lifelong member and mentor for the Amputee Coalition of America, he enjoys the time he’s able to invest in mentoring kids with physical challenges.

Married 22 years with two children, Michael spends most of his free time at lacrosse or soccer games chasing balls, applying band-aids, and handing out snacks. He enjoys traveling and engages in a variety of sports including golf and tennis; he ranks himself an incredibly average golfer and perhaps even worse tennis player.

ePayPolicy 
The simplest solution for insurance agents to collect credit card and ACH payments

Transcript

Show Notes
[00:00:01] - Jim takes a moment to share how MarbleBox and ePayPolicy have transformed how his agency operates and saves them hundreds of hours. 

[00:02:08] - Michael Zalle is the founder and CEO of YellowBird. He has been married 22 years and has two children. He is a lifelong member and mentor for the Amputee Coalition of America. 

[00:06:23] - Michael was born with a small right hand. It took him a long time to realize that this made him who he is, both as a human being, as a father, a friend, and as a business owner. This is the source of his “Lefty’s Life Lessons.”

[00:16:10] - Michael shares about a very recently-lost seven figure check and discusses the power behind acknowledging the loss and moving forward. Entrepreneurship is about resilience. Jim compares this to an example of his agency’s mantra to celebrate your victories and your defeats for only 24 hours.

[00:18:09] - Jim asks Michael to share what YellowBird is and how it helps insurance agents, partners, and carriers. It is the Uber of risk management and the largest consulting company with specialists that you've never heard of.

[00:30:31] - Michael answers the questions from Agents Growth Academy’s rapid fire round.