Connor Blakley: F*ck College, Real Advice for Young People, and Having the Tenacity to Accomplish Everything You Could Dream Of

The Ben & Tony Podcast: Episode 1

Hey there, play our episode with Connor Blakley here:

Anthony’s Thoughts:

Whether you agree with him or not, you have to admit that Connor has some of the most raw, authentic life advice that a young person could ever hear. You’ll be at the edge of your seat when you hear Connor tell the story of receiving an angry text from his high school principal as he walked into a meeting with the CEO of Sprint, all while he was 16 years old. Hearing Connor’s approach to life and belief in himself makes you question--why can’t you have the same level of confidence as Connor? Connor’s story might sound like a 21st century fairy tale, but he bases most of his work on foundational business principles that are applicable to anyone ambitious. You can learn a lot from him and you need to hear what he has to say.  

Ben’s Thoughts:

Imagine having a list of your top 100 influential contacts at the age of 21… Connor gives us a peek behind the curtain of the newly emerged influencer culture, and the emergence of himself as a young business leader. I was particularly moved by the image of a young man, swept up in the hype of it all, looking around him and realising he wasn’t surrounded with people who he cared about and who cared about him. Fiercely entrepreneurial, his resilience pulled him through that experience. Today he is a walking example of a ‘get out there and make it happen’ attitude, as shown by his new book ‘F*ck College’ and the pending launch of Bru, a Gen Z focussed beer brand.

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A bit more on Connor:

Connor was 16 years old when he left high school, set up his own Gen-Z agency and started working with Fortune 500 brands.

While Connor’s friends were studying for exams, he was building a business and cultivating a global network far beyond most people his age. Today, Connor is 21 years old and in the process of launching his own book and his own beer brand for Gen-Z. He also spends a lot of time writing country music. No matter who you are, you need to hear Connor’s story. In a world where many young (and old) people are encouraged to play it safe or follow a narrow path, Connor has taken huge risks and it has paid off so far. With so many years ahead of him, we find out what he’s working on next.

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What did we talk about?

• Connor getting kicked out of high school while walking into a meeting with the CEO of Sprint at the age of 15

• Connor selling his Gen-Z agency and then moving to Nashville to pursue a career in country music

• Connor’s latest pursuits - writing a book for Gen-Z and launching a beer brand for Gen-Z

• The foundational business principles that matter for young people in 2020

• The underrated power of cold e-mails and ‘digging your well before you’re thirsty’

• Believing in yourself and having the right mindset to achieve whatever you want

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Find Connor here: https://twitter.com/BlakleyConnor

Find Ben here: https://twitter.com/BenHart36

Find Anthony here: https://twitter.com/AnthonyMcG2

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Thanks guys, we hope you enjoyed this episode & we appreciate you taking the time to listen.

Your friends,
Ben & Tony