2 Sugars, No Sleep

About this podcast

The one stop shop for the side hustle generation, students, young professionals, and anyone looking to create a better life for themselves on their own terms. Abraham Robertson and Malik Mbaye have spent massive amounts of time acquiring experience in the fields of entrepreneurship, professional development, branding, financial markets, and personal financial health. We use this platform to share our lessons learned along our journey. This platform is by and for ambitious millennials. If that sounds like you, join us in kick starting your career, your brand, and your life!

2 Sugars, No Sleep

Episodes

2021
Never Stop Learning Because Education is the Key: Keynote Speech from Dora Kennedy Graduation
"So as I sat there in my room… I thought about what would I tell that 13 year old kid who is about to go to high school. That kid who was nervous about fitting in. That kid who was a little bit unsure of himself. What’s the one thing I would tell them to give them the cheat code for the next 10 years… NEVER. STOP. LEARNING. BC ÉDUCATION IS THE KEY I DONT CARE HOW CORNY THAT SOUNDS. ITS THE TRUTH. you’re going to be faced with a lot of choices in these new places you’re going. You’re going to have to choose new friends. You’re going to have to choose what college you want to go to. Or if you want to go to college at all. You’re going to have to choose whether or not you want to fit in with the crowd. And the decisions you make are going to determine where you end up in life. And the only way to make sure you end up where you want to be is to NEVER. STOP. LEARNING. BC ÉDUCATION IS THE KEY. Start by learning about yourself and what you are passionate about. It won’t happen overnight. And you will change your answer a couple times. But that’s ok. Keep trying until you get it right. And you have to be curious. Explore what the world has to offer. Try new things. Step outside your comfort zone. Meet new people. Ask more questions. Because you’ll never know what’s possible until you decide to look around you and see. Travel more. Don’t limit yourself. You’ll be surprised how much stuff you can get for free if you just ask. Nothing is impossible. Impossible is just the opinion of people who forgot how to dream. Everything we previously thought was impossible was made possible by someone who asked « why not ». If you told people that you could make millions of dollars doing YouTube videos they would’ve told you that was impossible too. But you’ll never be able to do the impossible unless you NEVER STOP LEARNING. BC ÉDUCATION IS THE KEY. And finally, build your toolkit. Set goals for yourself. Whatever you want to accomplish you’re going to have to learn some new things to make your dreams a reality. Whether it’s business, how to make computer programs, or how to go viral. I don’t care if you like doing makeup (learn everything and be the best), if you like fashion, if you want to be a youtuber, if you like doing hair, if you like making people laugh, if you like being a sneakerhead, if you like art, if you like arguing with people. If you like french, if you like business, if you like building stuff. It’s possible. You can do it. There’s a lane for everybody. You each have an opportunity to create a life that you can be proud of. But the only way you’ll be able to create that life is if you have the tools to actually do it. And nowadays with google you’re never more than 2 seconds away from learning ANYTHING. And it’s your responsibility to educate yourself inside the classroom and outside the classroom. But you’ll never be able to create a life that you can be proud of unless you NEVER. STOP LEARNING. BC ÉDUCATION IS THE KEY."
January 12, 2021
30 min
How to build your portfolio without having paid clients
My tips: 1. Leverage school projects or online courses 2. Do work for small businesses for free to get testimonials 3. Create your own white papers and research 4. Write articles about things in your industry to show your POVs and Opinions 5. Partner with people who already have a portfolio and use their work to get clients. You can throw them a percentage of the deal or split profits or give a commission. 6. Leverage personal projects and side hustles. If you liked this. You want to check out my 4hr Masterclass on how to position yourself and close more sales as a creative consultant without doing any extra work. DM me for deets. This video is dedicated to @glory.na from Namibia! Also Shout outs to @skottywelch and @abrahamneitarob. Skotty’s a dope multi disciplinary creative, designer, and musician. Bram is my cofounder. A serial entrepreneur, teacher, and investor. You def wanna tap in. As always. Own your power. Give back. Leave no stone unturned.
January 5, 2021
25 min
10 business mistakes that cost me 6 figures
1. Customer service 2. Not hiring people and trusting them to lead 3. Not making informed product decisions 4. Not investing in product quality 5. Taking too long to make decisions and get feedback 6. Not thinking about customer lifetime value 7. Not segmenting personal revenue from business revenue 8. Stopped learning and growing 9. Not investing into paid ads 10. Not investing into optimization and testing
January 5, 2021
51 min
Don’t create for the masses. Create for the 1% who believe in your mission
Recommended resources: 1. The 1,000 true fans essay 2. Start with Why Ted Talk and Book by @simonsinek Today’s shout outs go to: ✅ @s.mourtallah a data analytics wizard and wholesome brother out of NYC ✅ @cidotci a fashion and style icon in the making with looks that kill ✅ @_cunnuh my day 1 homie and a multi talented photographer and videographer ✅ the homie Bayo who got me the Start With Why book almost 5 years ago as a gift. Still cherishing it to this day. Own your power. Give back. Leave no stone unturned. Black Lotus Out.
January 5, 2021
19 min
Why Your Creative Process is the Key to Closing Bigger Deals
Why Your Creative Process is the Key to Closing Bigger Deals
January 5, 2021
20 min
Job Hunting Strategies of the 1%
Well, the creme de la creme are getting recruited and headhunted. But for those on the offense, this video contains a breakdown of my textbook Job hunting strategy. I’ve seen this work consistently with the 100+ ppl I’ve coached. Key Tips: Get focused. Don’t apply to everything under the sun Don’t just go thru traditional routes. Get in front of ppl who are relevant to your desired role. Be they recruiters, team members, or ppl in the department youre interested in. Use your informational interviews to gather intel, sell yourself, and land a referral. Be aggressive in your follow up. When you get to the interview make sure you communicate: Why you want this job Why you want to work in this industry Why you want to work at this specific company What past experiences have prepared you for success Hope this info is helpful to anyone on their job search. If you liked this video, you may also like my Ultimate Career Toolkit course. It’s 12 hrs of content that break down everything from how to write the perfect resume to how to build your professional brand. DM me to learn more. Own your power Give back Leave no stone unturned. Black Lotus Out.
January 5, 2021
17 min
The psychology of personal branding (likes/followers don’t matter)
The psychology of personal branding (likes/followers don’t matter) Watch this if you’re someone who’s building a brand, or if you hate how the Instagram algorithm has affected your content/engagement, or if you’ve been nervous about putting yourself out there, or if you’re tryna figure out how you can convert your social media into actual revenue. This rant was inspired by @sxlly_442_ @john_kreutter and my new friend from Iran who discovered my content a couple days ago. The truth is.. likes/followers don’t matter as much as you think. People underestimate the power of micro creators with influence. What really matter is WHO KNOWS YOU. When people know who you are, what you can do, and what you stand for.... You are positioned to attract opportunities, grow, and monetize your brand/content. Over the last 10 years as being a content creator I’ve never had more than 2-3k followers. But I’ve created revenue, had countless viral content campaigns, and gotten my products in every single continent (except Antarctica). All while still having a fairly small audience and no real marketing budget. Don’t let the Instagram models fool you. So many people with huge followings have no idea how to capitalize on it and are actually struggling. We’re living through the golden age of the Internet. If you haven’t realized this you’re not paying attention. If you wanna take advantage, you need to share your truth and find your 1,000 true fans. Repetition > engagement. I mean think about it. If you spending all day on your phone anyway. Why not figure out how to get create some value off it? Probably wouldn’t hurt. Just a thought. Black Lotus Out.
January 5, 2021
31 min
How I manage multiple projects and minimize stress & burnout as a creative
Simple questions I’m always asking myself to guide my focus for the day.
January 5, 2021
9 min
4 Tips For Up and Coming Creatives Looking to Grow
Today in the inner circle, me @_cunnuh, and @_xprsv were brainstorming with Gabriel who is just exploring his creative side for the first time. Gabriel loves design, digital art, photography, and fashion. But he’s never had any formal training in these disciplines. So the question we were focused on, was how do you build your experience as a creative when you don’t know when to start. We shared 4 key tips to help Gabriel and any other creators in a similar position. Tip #1: focus on projects instead of courses. There are three types of projects you can work on: personal projects for yourself, projects that you’re working on on behalf of friends, or re-creating things that inspire you. Tip #2: Outside of different projects, you can also work on creating moodboards and cataloging your inspiration. This allows you to start building a design and visual language for yourself. This also allows you to start identifying what your taste and niche is. Tip #3: You should also make sure to document your progress along your journey, because that will help you in moments where it’s tough to hold onto inspiration. Tip #4: use leisure activities as a trigger for learning and development. So instead of watching Netflix use that as a trigger to go watch a video tutorial that is going to help you on your journey. The video explains these concepts in much more detail and gives you highlights from my journey where I’ve seen these principles pay off and pay dividends. Check it out and let me know what you think. Right now we’re living through a creative revolution, this is a golden age for the enlightened Creatives. Creatives are thriving now, and there’s no turning back. So if you’ve been on the edge for a while, questioning whether or not you can do it or whether or not creativity is some thing worth pursuing for you.... This video is going to give you some very actionable steps on how you can get started today. Hope this helps. Own your power. Give back. Leave no stone unturned. Black Lotus. Out.
January 5, 2021
22 min
Mindset for Digital Innovators and Creators: Everything You Need is Within You
Closing remarks for the UN keynote. Often when we introduce people to new concepts they immediately jump to all the ways it won’t work. But I wanted to remind us all that everything we need is already within us. You’re standing in your own field of diamonds. Just like the Persian farmer, Ali, who sold everything he had looking for something he had all along. You are the future. You are the variable. You are the multiplier. It’s that simple. But remember, it’s not going to be easy. However long you think it’s gonna take to get to where you want to go, it’ll probably take 10x longer than you think. So it’s important to find a process you fall in love with. Not a goal or outcome. Because getting to the top of the mountain will few like an unending endeavor. But such is life. We each have our path. The Creator doesn’t give us more than we can handle. In those hard times. Just hold on. Go a little harder. Meditate. Take a break. Know when to push harder and when to pull back. If it’s been done before, that means you can do it. Young Motiv8 believes in you. Own your power. Give back. Leave no stone unturned. Black Lotus Out.
January 4, 2021
14 min
Keynote from United Nations, JA Youth Dialogue on Education & Innovation: Ensuring inclusivity in the era of COVID-19
The Digital Innovators Playbook: I was invited by the UN of Jamaica to give a speech on education and innovation in a post COVID world. The content starts a few minutes in. The core message was simple. But don’t let that fool you. You must first understand that we are living in a new world. The old rules no longer apply. With digital there is a new playbook. Many parents don’t understand. Being a creator is a legitimate career that can be as lucrative as you want it to be or as low lift as you want it to be. This new world means you must become an autodidact, like @abrahamneitarob says. This means your education is your responsibility. You must teach yourself. You must develop an insatiable curiosity and become a life long learner. The rate of innovation is so fast that if you’re not constantly pushing your own limits, you will be left behind. The best way is to have something that pulls you. Not something you have to push yourself to do. Then you must become a creator. Don’t be scared. I didn’t say “artist” but you must be an active citizen online. Creating doesn’t have to be hard. Just share or repost what you wish you knew yesterday. Creating allows you to connect with your inner authentic self. It allows you to create artifacts that get you closer to your goals. And it allows you to help the people coming up after you. From there don’t worry about the vanity stuff. Likes and comments don’t matter as much as you think. It’s about getting your message out there and in front of the right people. If they don’t know you, they can’t flow you. People need to know who you are, what you stand for, and what you can do. This is a prerequisite to attracting opportunities online. Don’t worry about followers either. I’ve never had more than 2-3k followers on my personal social. But I’ve generated well over 6 figures in revenue with almost all organic content marketing. I know people who have audiences that are 10x-30x larger than mine but haven’t been able to do anything. To keep it simple. Find a process you can obsess over. Then start now and share the journey. You’re building an asset. Brand is digital real estate. It can pay you handsomely. Start now. You got it Episode Log: Why we are all creators and why you should create to: learn, grow, and give back: ~20:00 Why you shouldn’t worry about vanity metrics like likes/followers. Focus on getting your message in front of the right people: ~23:00 How law of attraction can work for you in the digital world: ~27:00 Conclusion and wrap up: ~30:00 Moderator comments and wrap up: ~31:00 Q&A with recommendations for individuals and Jamaican government/policy makers: ~35:00
January 4, 2021
48 min
2020
How to Level Up in Your Career by Adding Value and Keeping a Paper Trail of Impact
This is a great episode featuring Connor who talks about why he feels like he should be getting paid more. This episode is an excerpt from our inner circle mastermind group. We were wrapping up the personal finance course and we were talking about the importance of adding value and how he can transform your career. This episode is special because a lot of us are sometimes scared that we are not getting paid what we’re worth even though we are working hard. However this episode reminds us that it is actually the norm to be underpaid but when you understand the importance of creating an impact and keeping a paper trail you allow yourself to rapidly increase your income because you now have proof of concept and proof of work. This simple concept of keeping a paper trail and documenting your impact seems like it is tedious but when you realize how important it is when you are jobhunting or preparing to pivot into a new job you will realize how transformational the simple practice can be. If you are going through a tough time in your career where you feel like you are being undervalued don’t worry because as long as you are keeping a record of all of the value you are creating you can use this experience to pivot into a new job or opportunity whenever you are ready. When you start to understand that you work for yourself before you work for your company your whole mindset changes because everything that you’re doing is now an investment into yourself and not wasted on a job. When you understand that nothing is ever wasted you allow yourself to begin leveling up. However if you do not have a paper trail you do not allow yourself to actually reap the benefits of your work because there is no history of your impact, so it’s basically like you did nothing the entire time. That’s what happens when you don’t keep track of your work. Which is why the resume impact secrets method is so powerful. Tune in to hear more about how you can add value, change your mindset, and level up by keeping a trail. Shout out to @_cunnuh and @mr_arday BIG POWER RANGER ENERGY. If you’re interested in joining the inner circle you can sign up here: www.bit.ly/ultimatecareerkit
October 12, 2020
20 min
3 Tricks To Jumpstart Your Resume Writing (References, Bullet Structure, and Measurement)
Once you've brainstormed all your content, it's time to get down to brass tax. There are 3 things I'm always mindful of when it's time to write. 1. Never start from scratch In most cases, no matter what job you want there's always a reference you can look to. At the very least, there are people who work at that company in that role you can look to as an example. So instead of trying to come up with your resume yourself, take time to understand The Job description and everything they're looking for (Read it until you know it by heart) The general standard for resumes in that industry. You can find this through a quick Job Hero search. And how REAL HIRES are talking about their role. You can easily find all of this info by searching on Google and spying on people's Linkedin pages. I love using the 3rd tactic bc it shows you what a successful example looks like. Once you have that, you know how to talk about your role and what to emphasize. You'll also start identifying key themes across all those different sources in terms of vocabulary, key responsibilities, and required skills. 2. The bullet formula is your foundation From there, you can move on to actually crafting the Bullet. Start with a very strong action verb that captures the essence of your role. Then describe the core of what you did/how you did, then quantify. Simple. If you're stumped on what words to actually use, check out this list of 180 powerful action verbs broken down by project type. I've been using this as a resource for years and I still love it. 3. Quantify EVERYTHING Then when it comes down to Quantification, this is where most people check out. They always forget to quantify. The two biggest reasons are: They don't remember the exact impact they achieved They don't know how to actually get to a number If you don't remember the impact you achieved. ITS OK TO ESTIMATE. Don't kill yourself about it lol. What's important is that the ESTIMATE is REASONABLE. It should fall within some standard deviation where you don't feel like you're BSing when you're giving it out. As long as it's reasonable, you're good. Feel free to round up or down on a case by case basis. To get to the number, you really just have to go through a funnel. Start at the most macro level and continually refine until you get to the number you need. Anytime you say you did something, you should ask yourself: How much? How many? What was the before and after? Start with what you know, and then make logical assumptions for what you don't know. It will feel like a brain teaser exercise, but that's normal. It's all a part of the process. But this is pretty much it when it comes to the actual writing of the resume. Keep those 3 secrets in your back pocket and you'll rise above the rest. In the next post, we'll go through a couple REAL examples that got REAL results. We have a Creative Professional, a Chocolate Salesman, and a Construction Manager. It'll be fun! Lol get ready
September 29, 2020
19 min
Affirmations for Success, Self Confidence, Focus, and Achieving Your Dreams
Another one of my favorite affirmation tracks Full disclosure, I didn't create this content. All credits go to VYBO. As always, listen to affirmations for 30 days or more to maximize the benefits Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/vybo Spotify 👉 https://spoti.fi/2udjVV8 Soundcloud 👉 https://soundcloud.com/vybo-1 Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/VYBOco Twitter 👉 https://twitter.com/VYBO1 Youtube VId 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYcpHb-LVs&ab_channel=VYBO
September 20, 2020
61 min
Overcoming Resume Writer's Block: How to Brainstorm Content
We all know we should do it, but we hold off until later. Later turns into someday. Which isn't on the calendar last I checked. #ResumeWriting can be daunting because you don't know where to start. There's so much that you do on a daily basis that it's tough to keep track of it all. That's how I felt until I discovered a simple hack: WWHI --- What, Why, How, Impact. If you keep track of those 4 things, you'll never worry about a #resume, #casestudy, or #performancereview ever again. If you watch till the end, you'll see how it all comes together in a live example where I use that same framework to tackle an impromptu interview question on the spot. If you master this, your resume and interviewing skills will be unbeatable. But you can't just jump to the finished product. It's a reflective process and it will require you to sit down and think. But to make it easier for you, I created a custom project tracker so you never forget past accomplishments. Once you have this, you'll have all the puzzle pieces for a killer resume. All that's left is putting it all together. And in the next post, we'll go through 3 secrets you can use to turn your resume into a Golden Ticket. #ResumeImpactSecrets #2SugarsNoSleep #TheInnerCircle Get the full workshop at www.UltimateResume.Me
September 17, 2020
24 min
The First Principles of Impact Resume Writing: What it Means and Why it Matters
At Google I learned the avg recruiter only spends 6 seconds looking at your resume. After coaching 100+ students over the last 4 years, the biggest thing that's always missing is a clear articulation of impact. Many give vague descriptions of their responsibilities without showing why anybody should care. That defeats the whole point of the resume 🥴🥴 "Impact" comes down to: 1) What you did (specific role/contributions/deliverables) 2) How you did it (skills leveraged, process observed) 3) Why it matters (Results, recognition, outcomes, significance) If you do those 3 things, you're cookin with grease 😛 Although simple, it takes time to craft your story and brand. In 6 seconds, recruiters are looking for indicators to qualify you. Everything from format, type, to verbiage impacts their perception. So where do you start? In the next post we'll do a deep dive on how to brainstorm your resume content. You'll get: ✅ 4 things to do to make your recruiter's life easier ✅ The most common types of resume bullet types ✅ A custom template to track your projects and remember key accomplishments ✅ BONUS: Live example of me applying these concepts as I answer the infamous "Tell me about yourself" question For the full workshop and slides checkout www.UltimateResume.Me
September 16, 2020
9 min
The Good Life Affirmations for Success, Fulfillment, Happiness, Inner Peace (Listen Daily)
Another one of my favorite affirmation tracks from VYBO. This one focuses on feelings of joy, peace, and abundance. So not just affirmations about accruing wealth but affirmations about being your best self, being at peace, and tapping into a deep sense of joy. Full disclosure, I didn't create this content. I just found it and wanted to share with the community. All credits go to VYBO. Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/vybo Spotify 👉 https://spoti.fi/2udjVV8 Soundcloud 👉 https://soundcloud.com/vybo-1 Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/VYBOco Twitter 👉 https://twitter.com/VYBO1 Youtube VId 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8hVUaVnZkk&ab_channel=VYBO
September 16, 2020
63 min
How I Went From 1.5 Years of Rejection to Landing Dream Job By Tweaking Resume
There's a big difference between having a #resume.... And having a resume that creates #opportunities for you. That's why the workshop I led with Yielding Accomplished African Women meant so much to me because I know what it's like to be on both sides of the fence. I remember waking up at the crack of dawn every morning, scrolling like a zombie on job boards until my eyes hurt. I wrote so many applications. Each time hoping -- "this is the one" Everything felt like a shot in the dark. The recruiters didn't give me feedback no matter how many times I asked. So if you're going through a tough time in your job search right now, ITS NOT YOUR FAULT. Building your professional brand is tough. There are a lot of gatekeepers and hidden rules. I was lucky to have a community of people who took time to coach me, guide me, give me feedback, and help me understand the secrets to success. That's why we created the Inner Circle to pay it forward. A group for people early in their careers to connect as they pursue a better career, business, financial foundation, and future. For starters, we'll be releasing our Resume Impact Secrets workshop for free. Tune into the next post for a refresher on the first principles of showing impact and why it matters. If you're interested in joining the circle, let's connect: www.bit.ly/join-theclub
September 12, 2020
10 min
Millionaire Money Affirmations to Attract Success, Wealth, and Prosperity (Listen Daily)
Millionaire money affirmations to attract success, wealth & prosperity. Program your mind to get rich with these money affirmations combined with luxury visuals so you can vibe & visualize the success you want to attract in your life. All credit for this goes to VYBO. If you like their content, check out their channel. These are some of my all time fav affirmations tracks. The voice actor and music combination is insane. If you wanna check out their content -- Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/vybo Spotify 👉 https://spoti.fi/2udjVV8 Soundcloud 👉 https://soundcloud.com/vybo-1 Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/VYBOco Twitter 👉 https://twitter.com/VYBO1
September 11, 2020
63 min
Lofi Hip Hop Affirmations for Self Love, Positivity, Success, Forgiveness, Hustle
I love affirmations. But Ive always felt many tracks are missing "the cool factor" And since hip hop invented cool, i thought to mix the two So I made a lo-fi hip hop affirmation track Unique lofi hip hop affirmations track to help you subconsciously change your inner beliefs about yourself. Affirmations focus on love, excitement, joy, positivity, peace, hustle, self forgiveness, self love, positive attitude. 60 minutes of self love and positivity over a dreamy mix Listen to affirmations every day for at least 30 days for maximum results
September 6, 2020
64 min

2 Sugars, No Sleep

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

2 Sugars, No Sleep

Episodes

Never Stop Learning Because Education is the Key: Keynote Speech from Dora Kennedy Graduation

How to build your portfolio without having paid clients

10 business mistakes that cost me 6 figures

Don’t create for the masses. Create for the 1% who believe in your mission

Why Your Creative Process is the Key to Closing Bigger Deals

Job Hunting Strategies of the 1%

The psychology of personal branding (likes/followers don’t matter)

How I manage multiple projects and minimize stress & burnout as a creative

4 Tips For Up and Coming Creatives Looking to Grow

Mindset for Digital Innovators and Creators: Everything You Need is Within You

Keynote from United Nations, JA Youth Dialogue on Education & Innovation: Ensuring inclusivity in the era of COVID-19

How to Level Up in Your Career by Adding Value and Keeping a Paper Trail of Impact

3 Tricks To Jumpstart Your Resume Writing (References, Bullet Structure, and Measurement)

Affirmations for Success, Self Confidence, Focus, and Achieving Your Dreams

Overcoming Resume Writer's Block: How to Brainstorm Content

The First Principles of Impact Resume Writing: What it Means and Why it Matters

The Good Life Affirmations for Success, Fulfillment, Happiness, Inner Peace (Listen Daily)

How I Went From 1.5 Years of Rejection to Landing Dream Job By Tweaking Resume

Millionaire Money Affirmations to Attract Success, Wealth, and Prosperity (Listen Daily)

Lofi Hip Hop Affirmations for Self Love, Positivity, Success, Forgiveness, Hustle