Thinking remarkably with Guy Kawasaki
Canva's Chief Evangelist talks grit, God, and giving ourselves a break
This is the third installment of Not Til Now, a series that features never-before-told stories or first-time feats from artists, innovators, or anyone taking creative risks.
In my recent newsletter on the 8 things I never told you about how I published my book, I rained some love on Canva, the platform I used to design Mama Be Present.
This online graphic design tool has enabled me to create, promote, and teach with ease. For the last decade, it’s been the bedrock of every online program, presentation, and flyer I’ve put out there.
So, not long after that “8 things” post, I couldn’t help but send a little note of gratitude to someone who not only helped fund the company, but has been their chief evangelist since 2014: Guy Kawasaki.
In that note, I also thanked him for his book APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur—How to Publish a Book, which showed me all that’s possible with self-publishing. Then, out of nowhere, I tossed in a long-shot invite to be part of the Not Til Now series.
I thought I’d receive the same reply I got from Lionel Ritchie when I nudged him to post his own dancing-on-the-ceiling video: CRICKETS.
I assumed this Silicon Valley legend and former Apple Chief Evangelist had bigger fish to fry — like launching his sixteenth book (!!!), running his Remarkable People podcast, doing keynotes all over, and being interviewed by people with much bigger followings.
But Guy said yes!
Before I sent him questions, I read his soon-to-be-released, oh-so-inspiring book, Think Remarkable, and dug through tons of interviews and blogs.
It was quite a task to narrow down what to ask this seasoned author, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist who was originally responsible for promoting the Mac computer in 1984, called Steve Jobs his boss, consulted for Google, and soooo much more.
Most of all, it was tough to dig any never-before-shared ditties out of this open book of a man. But as you’ll see, it was easy to gather gems of wisdom from someone who’s on a mission to make people remarkable.
Brit: In many interviews, you explain that the Greek meaning of evangelist is “to bring the good news.” You talk about how Jesus brought the good news of eternal life, but you bring “the good news” of increased creativity and productivity through Macintosh and Canva.
In other words, you’re a clever marketer *and* you’re a Christian.
You’ve mentioned that your father-in-law brought you to God. What was the turning point for you?
Guy: My wife and her father indeed played critical roles in my spiritual journey. The turning point for me was recognizing the importance of faith in life and seeing its impact on those around me. It’s not so much about a single moment but a gradual appreciation and understanding of faith’s role as a moral compass and source of goodness.
When I learn about insects with my son or see an insane sunrise, I think to myself, God is the COOLEST Creator. Do you have these moments? What everyday things spark awe for you?
Absolutely, I experience moments of awe in the everyday. For me, it’s witnessing the creativity and passion of people who are dedicated to making a difference in the world.
Whether it’s an entrepreneur overcoming obstacles or an artist creating something beautiful, these are the moments that remind me of the incredible potential within each of us.
Oh, there is also the splendor of surfing. Every time I ride a wave, moving along because of a force of nature is magic. And I’m only surfing 1-3 foot waves!
To you, a person with grit is someone who is remarkable. But tell me about a time you quit something and how that actually changed things for the better.
Quitting is not necessarily a sign of failure; sometimes, it’s a strategic move. I quit law school after two weeks because I couldn’t take the pressure.
Honestly, I’ve never looked back or regretted it. My biggest fear was that quitting was a slippery slope, and I would become a quitter. This never happened.
In Think Remarkable, you talk about how Melanie Perkins, CEO of Canva, pitched the company to 300 investors before someone said yes.
On your podcast, she said that every single time she was rejected, it was an opportunity to refine the pitch deck. She wouldn't take no as a conclusion, but rather motivation to keep trying.
So. What product or idea have YOU received the most rejections on in your career? And did that thing eventually persevere?
When trying to make the transition from jewelry to tech, I faced dozens of rejections. This was back in the early 1980s. I couldn’t even get an interview in just about every computer and software company on the West Coast. I saved many of those rejections.
I was able to finally land a marketing job in a tiny educational software company called EduWare Services. That happened because an employee of the company got into a car accident, so there was a temporary opening. A little bit after that I got a job at Apple in the Macintosh Division. The truth about that is I got the job because of nepotism—my best friend from college hired me.
When I wrote my first book, The Macintosh Way, it was rejected over and over too.
And as recently as a year ago, my agent at the time rejected Think Remarkable and my publisher at the time rejected it too. Now, I hope they eat my dust.
What made you say YES to an interview with someone who randomly messaged you on LinkedIn, has an intimate following, and broke all the keep-it-concise tips you give for sales emails?
I don’t even remember. I don’t give a lot of thought to saying yes. I say yes almost by default. And I remember the days when I had to beg for interviews (actually it still happens to this day), so I like to help people when I can.
What comes around, goes around…
Do you get nervous before podcasts, speeches, or anything? How do you move past it? Please tell me your inner critic has a name like Julia Cameron's does. #whatsupnigel
Nervousness is a natural part of putting yourself out there, but I’ve put myself out there so much that I don’t get nervous anymore. I don’t have a name for my inner critic because I don’t believe that my inner critic is a separate part of me. It is woven in the very fabric of my being.
I do not like doing things—anything really—in a half-assed way. My father drilled this into to me. He taught to always do things well.
You’ve published countless books, given tons of speeches, and been interviewed all over. You seemingly share everything.
But there’s got to be something in the vault. A secret productivity hack? An edited fart from a podcast? An unusual fear? Sales numbers from your least successful book? Give us the gold, Guy!
I’m an open book. I really don’t have any secrets dark or otherwise. I’m kind of boring. And as I discover or learn “secrets of success” I share them.
Think Remarkable is an example of this. I don’t believe success is a zero sum game. I believe that the rising tide floats all boats.
You’ve said your podcast is your most favorite project yet. You've also said it’s the most under-appreciated. Why the latter?
My podcast, Remarkable People, is my favorite project because it allows me to learn from and share the stories of truly incredible individuals. It’s under-appreciated in the sense that it hasn’t reached as wide an audience as I believe it deserves, given the quality of the content and the value it provides to listeners.
On the day this newsletter goes out, I’ll turn 40. If I’m not getting bangs, Botox, or a back tattoo, I’m sure I’ll be wondering why certain things haven’t happened yet. I know I’m not alone in this mindset.
But, then, I look at someone like you, who’s not only had a remarkable career, but someone who didn’t find their two most favorite things until their 60s: surfing and podcasting.
So, what advice would you give to someone freaking out about their age?
My response is that everyone freaks out during life, so give yourself a break. And age is a mental construct that’s in your head more than anywhere else. Maintain the growth mindset that Carol Dweck evangelizes, and you can push past freak-outs and live a remarkable life.
Guy’s new book, Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference, launches March 6. When you pre-order, you get instant digital access, an invite to join his launch team, and more.
So.
What’d ya think of this one? What inspired you? What surprised you? As always, I’d LOVE to hear from you!
Until next time,
Loved and learned a lot from the questions and answers💗 Thank you and happy birthday!!
Loved your questions, and happy birthday! I’ll be joining you in the 40 camp in a month and a half.