This strong story-to based on a conversation with Gumgum CEO Phil Schraeder, who has a successful Side stimulation appearing as a competitor in play shows. The part is edited for length and clarity.
I am originally from a small town outside Agoikagos. My brother, sister and I were on the swimming team in the summer, which meant at the beginning of 6am. This was again in the 80s, where after the swimming practice, you would go out and play with your friends up to the dark, but in the morning, no one else was awake. So when we returned home from swimming practice around 7:30 am, my mum would make us breakfast and wear on TV – and my sisters and I would watch Games.
I became fixed on them Gamesthem as Price is appropriate AND The sale of the century, And I would play them with my sisters and sisters. I'm super competitive. I love the winning trivia and awards.
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Quick forward to after I was finished by college: I worked in Agoikago for a short time before deciding that I had to find myself. I wanted to get out of the closet. I felt very kept by mine authentic I wanted a difference, so I moved with a friend to Los Angeles.
When I arrived, all I had was my car and what I could get inside it. I had no work, and I was inside credit card debt. I had to understand a way to make money. Fortunately, I have always been focused on accounting and finance. My background is in business. So, I didn't worry about being able to find a job, but I still needed a way to fulfill goals in the short term.
This is when I started a fun and unique Side stimulation: Competition in play shows. I ended up continuing Price is appropriate With Bob Barker – and won. I left with $ 900 in money, a basket of fun park and a grandfather hour. I was like, Wow, that's extraordinary. Not only did I love the experience, but I was also living my childhood dream. I also loved me to know that my family was able to enjoy seeing me doing it.
Even as I progressed in my finance career, eventually becoming a VP, I continued with Side stimulation and kept a pulse in the possibilities of playing the game. Because Los Angeles is the world's entertainment capital, many game shows for the first time have their start there, and they look for contestants in the country. So it's not so competitive to apply; It is not a nationwide search.
When I heard about the new show Are you smarter than a 5th grade?I knew I wanted to apply. And, being a 29-year-old finance and business accounting Professional from Agoikago, I offered an opportunity for them to try a race that was not in the entertainment industry. However, it was a long audition process. But I was invited to the show and gave me about 10 days to prepare.
I would not destroy the case. I went to the children's home school shop and bought all the third, fourth and fifth grade books. I bought world geography. I bought measurements. I bought presidents' postcards. Everyday after my life partner WES and I woke up, I would study, then go to work. At my lunch break, I would study more. Later in the evenings at home, I would study until I fell asleep in bed.
I ended up earning $ 175,000 in the show. Gave me a lot financial freedom.
This side haste provided other interesting chances to money Over the years. I also appeared in Dick Clark Pyramid Showwhere I earned $ 22,500. I literally took the day of rest, called my brother after winning and said, “Oh, it was a good day of work.”
But this type of side acceleration comes with some restrictions, too. You can only continue so much Games over 10 years. Now, if the right opportunity was presented, I would consider getting it. I still love the games and I appreciate that they helped me to set me financially, but at this point in my life, I am in another situation, so if I were to appear in one and win, I would probably give money.
My Side Hustle game show definitely helped me shape me as a businessman.
At first, I was afraid that he could not take seriously as an executive business professional with experience in finance because I liked to compete in play shows. But these were my ideas for social expectations and getting into boxing, and actually helped me understand how CEO and leader themselves, I don't want anyone to feel their interests or hurry adversely affect how they are professionally perceived. We want to celebrate those interests and side hurry; We want to encourage them.
In Gumgum, we are in 20 places and have over 500 people, so I have applied what I call “starting class”: whoever started in Q1 of this year would be in the starting class Q1 2025. And I ask them many questions. What are some people hurry? What do they care about? Amazing is amazing to see everyone staring. There are DJs, Macrame craftsmen, influencers and opera singers. Then, I think about how we can translate those passions into our culture and encourage and support each other in the community.
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From my experience in Are you smarter than a 5th grade? In particular, I learned the value of listening to yourself and following that instinct. I was in a situation where I was not sure of the answer and had to decide if I wanted to risk it all and go with the child's response. If the baby's answer was correct, I could have earned $ 300,000, but if it were wrong, I would have dropped to $ 25,000. Since the baby was not sure of the answer, I stuck with mine and kept $ 175,000.
As it turned out, the child's response was right, so I would have earned $ 300,000. But it was still an important lesson to hear myself – because although it would feel good to earn $ 300,000, it would feel much worse to lose $ 150,000. After all, I was completely good with not to win more in order to protect what I had already. You should stay For what works for you and with what you are satisfied. Do not think about what others may have or do, and then compare yourself.
My Side Hustle play show also taught me a lot about my personal motivations – and how those values can be translated into leadership.
IN Are you smarter than the 5th grade?I received a surprise video message from my mother, who is an educator and my fifth grade teacher. I'm exciting on the show because my mother is wishing me good luck. That moment made me realize that, yes, this is super fun, but whatever it is, it is nothing compared to how lucky I am with other aspects of my life. He reaffirmed what really matters.
When it comes to business, the most successful leaders will be the ones who can go very deeply in the humanization of us and ourselves. I try to stay away from encouraging leaders to be “authentic“Because the opposite of this is” unauthentic “, and I don't think people try to appear inadequately. They are simply trying to be more transparent.
So this is a big push, especially as it relates to advertising: If you are a leader in this area, the ultimate goal is to connect with someone deeply to an emotional level or a level of needs. The best drivers should appear prepared to do it every day.