<![CDATA[Jake Kelfer

<![CDATA[Jake Kelfer - Blog]]>Wed, 20 May 2026 15:43:12 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[5 Key Ways to Maximize Productivity When Working Remotely... Especially If It's New To You]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:32:31 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/5-key-ways-to-maximize-productivity-when-working-remotely-especially-if-its-new-to-you

Photo Credit: Getty Images

More and more companies are starting to have their employees work from home.

Even under crazy circumstances like now, working from home has the potential to be extremely productive to all parties involved… but everyone needs to be on the same page for this to work.

For some people, working from home seems like an impossible task. People see it as a way to slack off or avoid putting in the same amount of effort as they would in the office. For people that rely on seeing their superiors or who struggle to self motivate, there is no one watching you to make sure you’re on task. There isn’t the motivation of seeing everyone working at their desks. Oh, and there’s all the distractions in the world at your fingertips.

For other people, working from home is a dream come true. It’s finally the time where you can show your team that you can get your work done from wherever and still deliver the results that people expect.

Here’s the thing… coronavirus is trending towards having everyone work from home to stop the spread.

So here are 5 things you can do to be productive when working at home:

1. Avoid Distractions
If you are anything like most people, the minute you get home is typically the minute you try to stop thinking about work. You change your clothes, you go to the gym, you hop on the couch, and you turn on Netflix.

Now, not only are you not supposed to do that, but you’re supposed to be productive. When working from home everything can seem like a distraction. Your routine is off and everything that can be a distraction is.

When you are at the office you have other people to prevent you from sitting in front of the tv for hours. When you are home, there’s less friction between you and the season finale of Love is Blind.

At home, there are way less triggers to prevent you from falling prey to distractions. To avoid distractions we recommend setting app limits, creating a designated work space, and removing all simple distractions like throwing your tv remote in the other room or blocking your Netflix account.

2. Set A Clear Schedule
When working from home, it’s easy to feel like it’s a day off. That’s why we recommend setting a clear schedule just like you would if you were in the office.

Schedule your meetings and calls and be clear with your colleagues on timing.

Start early in your day before you give in to distractions like your comfy bed or your pantry.

Try using the Pomodoro Technique which means setting a timer and working in 25 minute intervals to be more effective. Each pomodoro is followed by a quick 5 minute break.

When you create a clear schedule it will be easier to follow which ultimately helps you stay productive.

3. Identify Clear Priorities
Working at home has the potential for you to be more productive, but in order to do that you have to have clear priorities. If you typically wait for work to do, you’ll find yourself skating by. Instead, focus on being intentional with the work you have and identify which tasks are priorities. Focus on those before moving on.

It’s going to be vital for us all to focus on the key initiatives that move the needle. For many companies, this execution will become more and more important as we gather new information about the virus and other factors.

4. Make Sure To Take Breaks
Sometimes when working from home, especially if it’s new to you, you’ll feel the urge to work, work, work because you don’t want to let someone down or you don’t want people to think you aren’t doing anything.

Or, if you’re like some people I know, you’ll find yourself alone for the first time with no distractions and no one bothering you and get stuck staring at your computer for 10 hours straight.

It’s just as important when working remotely to take time for yourself. Take a 10 minute walk. Call a friend for 5 minutes. Take a snack break.

I have to remind myself of this all the time because I can get stuck working on my computer and forget that I still need to interact with others and take care of myself.

5. Have An Accountability Partner
If you’re a self starter working from home can be a huge plus. If you’re not, it can be worrisome to both you and your boss.

Depending on your personality, find someone who you trust to have half day or daily check ins. These aren’t meant to micro manage but rather to make sure you’re staying on track.

Not only will this keep you on track, but it will help you stay focused on key priorities.

When you focus on these things, I believe that not only will you be able to perform incredibly well, but you will also find yourself with time to get other things done - grocery shopping, laundry, exercising, reading the news, etc..

Personally, I think it’s key to identify how you work best. There’s a lot of trial and error when starting anything new and working from home/remotely is no exception especially if you’re used to working in an office. Try these things and then try some more until you figure out what works best for you.

Jake Kelfer is a lifestyle entrepreneur and life elevator. He is the bestselling author of Elevate Beyond and Elevate Your Network and a high energy motivational speaker on a mission to elevate and inspire millions of people to achieve personal success and happiness. He is the founder of the Professional Basketball Combine which helps NBA draft prospects turn their dreams of playing pro basketball into their reality. He and his work have been featured on Forbes, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, NBC Sports, USA Today, Bleacher Report, and many other major media outlets. Connect with Jake on social @jakekelfer!

]]><![CDATA[How We Raised Over $3,600 for 12 Charities in 1 Year]]>Wed, 22 Jan 2020 23:54:42 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/how-we-raised-over-3600-for-12-charities-in-1-year

We did it! 12 months of raising over $100 for 12 different charities.

In total we raised over $3,600, had over 100 donors from all over the world, and changed countless lives.

It’s because of you guys that we ended up with such a successful campaign.

In case you are new or weren’t able to support last year, the 2019 Giving Challenge was an idea that I had to help raise money for 12 different charities throughout the year. The goal was to raise $100/month for each of these charities through social networking.

I created this because I love to give. The only problem was that I couldn’t give the amount I wanted to, so I thought that if we combined our efforts and people gave $5 here and there, we’d be able to achieve something greater than ourselves.

Once again, the power of creating value and providing people with an opportunity to serve turned out victorious.

This project further confirmed that we all want to do good; sometimes, we just need a little guidance.

As the creator, I needed to find a way to collect money the easiest so here’s what I did. I made a monthly goal so everyone knew exactly what we were trying to achieve. Then each month, I created a specific fundraiser so everyone knew exactly where and how to donate. For some of the months, I was even able to say exactly what the $100 would provide for the specific charity.

As the person picking the charities, I needed to find charities that people would support. I asked people on Instagram and Facebook what charities they wanted to see. I picked some of those charities because I knew they would help lead the charge for the month. This led to more engagement, new audiences, and increased donations.

As a donor, I needed to find a way to donate easily that required minimal effort so I created almost every campaign directly on Facebook. All I had to do was enter the amount and my credit card. I didn’t even need to stop scrolling 😉

When you put in the effort and make life easier for others, you can create anything!

This year, I am not doing the Giving Challenge every month, but you better believe that I will be donating more money and more time. As I grow in life and business, I will always continue to give because if you aren’t giving then you aren’t truly living! I hope you feel the same way and will give however you can and as often as you want.

]]><![CDATA[Brain & Behavior Research Foundation - Month #12 of the 2019 Giving Challenge]]>Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:43:24 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/brain-behavior-research-foundation-month-12-of-the-2019-giving-challenge

The final month of 2019 has arrived! Can you believe it? There are less than 30 days left in the DECADE!!!

As we get ready for our final month, I can’t help but reflect on how awesome this experience has been. There’s no way I would’ve have been able to donate this much on my own, but together we’ve been able to donate over $3,500 to 11 charities across the globe. AMAZING!

For the final month which happens to also be my birthday month, I want us to ELEVATE our game to the next level and do 2 things.

Donate to our normal monthly fundraiser - Brain & Behavior Foundation which focuses on mental health in response to the Saugus High School Shooting which happened in my hometown
Create your own fundraiser for the month of December for your favorite charity. Set your limit at $25 or whatever you feel comfortable and let’s see what we can do TOGETHER!

Before we dive in, let’s look back at our year up till now:

Cystic Fibrosis - $620
Thirst Project - $110
Saving Innocence - $100
Feeding America - $150
Pencils of Promise - $670
Muscular Dystrophy Association - $105
Make-A-Wish - $130
LucStrong Foundation - $135
PSC Partners for a Cure - $1,321
Project Happiness - $120
Operation Gratitude - $100
Total: $3,561

The month of December is always one of my favorites. Selfishly, it’s because it’s been the month of presents - birthday and Hanukkah 🙂 With that said, it’s also an incredible time to give, to support, to set your intentions, to be the person you want to be, and to prep for the next 366 days. Yes, next year is a leap year!

Last week, I hosted an event called SCV Strong in response to the shooting that happened at Saugus High School which is in my hometown. When I first heard the news, I was flustered. I was mad, upset, scared, and a lot of other feelings.

So I created an event to bring together the community. We came together as one to talk about the challenges, the issues, and yes, the shooting. My mom who is a psychotherapist and USC professor spoke to help facilitate the discussion.

Following the talk, we all went out in the community and did random acts of kindness. Some people went to Starbucks and bought strangers’ coffees. Others went to fire stations and police stations and dropped off goodies and notes. Another group of people made hundreds of sticky notes with positive sayings and put them all over town.

For our final month of the 2019 Giving Challenge, we are going to raise money for Mental Health and specifically for Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.

You can donate here.

What is the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation?
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awards research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness.

]]><![CDATA[6 Educators on How to Help Our Youth Thrive In and Out of the Classroom]]>Thu, 07 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/6-educators-on-how-to-help-our-youth-thrive-in-and-out-of-the-classroom

You guys have really been enjoying the articles when I get quotes or stories from various people across different areas of expertise, so today we’re featuring educators from across the country.

As I speak more and more, I’m realizing it’s not enough to just teach students how to get by or to teach just the traditional curriculum. Instead, we should be teaching and encouraging the next generation how to thrive and create incredible lives for themselves in and out of the classroom!

I asked a handful of Student Council Executive Directors, teachers, and coaches who I think do a fantastic job the following question to see what we can do across the globe to help our youth THRIVE!

What characteristic or skill set should we be encouraging our youth to develop to thrive in and out of the classroom?

Sara Nilles - Executive Director of Oregon Association of Student Councils
COMMUNICATION
I believe the strongest skill set we should be developing is communication. Within that there are a variety of separate skills sets. Public Speaking, Written & Oral communication and the one I feel is neglected the most is conflict resolution / difficult conversations. Too often these days "ghosting" is the way our youth handle situations that are difficult. With technology it's too easy to hide, not respond or ignore. I have found when we role play and prepare our students to have difficult conversations their confidence improves and opens up more opportunities vs shutting down and shutting doors along the way.

Karen Crawford - Maryland Association of Student Councils
3 R’s: RESILIENCY, RESPONSIBILITY, and RELATIONSHIPS
I think that students need to embrace three new "R's" in order to be successful in and out of the classroom. Yes, reading, writing, and arithmetic are still important, but let's add to those basic skills with some to make students a productive member of society.

1) Resiliency - students need to "recover" quickly from difficulties that they may encounter. Pouting or complaining is not going to solve any problem. Seeking help when appropriate and not letting others dictate or impose their feelings to shape your attitude is a necessity. That being said, owning your own attitude brings you to the second “R"

2) Responsibility - taking ownership in your own work ethic, your attitude, and your actions. Don't blame others - you have control over your own choices and actions.

3) Relationships - this third "R" is all about relationships. Inside or outside of the classroom, once you enter the workforce, relationships are important. Rare is the job where you work alone. Cultivating appropriate relationships with friends, family, and later with the people with whom you work equals meaningful and successful lives.

Greg Hayes - Youth Basketball Camp Director / Retired HS Teacher
LIVING IN THE PRESENT
My advice to teenagers in terms of characteristics or skill set really focuses more along living and thriving in the present. Too often adults, whether parents or teachers or counselors or college recruiters, etc., put a heavy emphasis on kids preparing for the future. With that can come pressure and even unrealistic expectations. It also produces a lot of underlying pressure as well an insinuation that you are not good enough now or are too immature to make a difference now, and that you have to prepare for the “real world".

My advice is to stay and thrive in the moment and recognize that you ARE living in your real world TODAY. It is real now. Most importantly, I would stress making choices to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health TODAY. Recognize your unique talents, abilities, and goodness to make a difference NOW and to feel fulfilled TODAY by doing that. Feel a real purpose in your youth through a life of love, compassion, and consideration of others. Don’t let older people sell you short. Be true to yourself TODAY and be healthy in your habits and in how you treat others.

And yes, develop your talents and prepare for you future ... but by being in the present and doing your best each day and living a life of purpose TODAY.. You are talented, good and passionate:ate NOW and can make a big difference NOW. The best way to be a good, talented, productive, person of character in the future is to be a good, talented productive person of character TODAY.

Sandy Ginger - Executive Director of Nevada Association of Student Councils
BALANCE
I think students need to learn BALANCE.

I don't mean "work hard, play hard," I mean prioritize, work smart and take time for yourself and for meaningful time with friends and family.

You can't be balanced if you have a single-minded interest so take some "me" time and dabble in a variety of activities/interests (knowing you don't have to be the best at everything!)

"Back in my day" there were many 2- and 3-sport athletes, but now it seems students are so immersed in 1 sport they don't try anything else. And as a result, they spend their time doing the same thing with the same people all year round.

We are so worried about "success" via GPA and test scores that we don't take classes for fun. Not only will an art class develop another part of your brain, but you will also meet an entirely new group of people.

Michelle McGrath - Executive Director of Wisconsin Association of Student Councils
CIVILITY, LISTENING, COMMUNICATION, and COLLABORATION
Students need to spend more time developing skills like civility, listening, communication, and collaboration. These skills and the experiences that go hand in hand with teaching them will allow them to experience how to maneuver into environments with unwritten rules, participate in conversations with people of differing opinions, and lead the change we all so desperately seek.

The most current research provides measurable data that shows the positive impact of effective communication, collaboration and student voice has on a multitude of educational outcomes. Research also shows that student voice is more than giving them a seat at the school board table or on your council; it is an approach to school improvement that makes the learning environment engaging, relevant, meaningful and more productive.

My journey with making these skills a priority has always been filled with an abundance of authentic examples of purposeful, meaningful, student voice and engagement. Connected, collaborative and engaged students are a necessary piece to safe schools.

Brooke Morales - 7th Grade English & ELD Teacher / Freshman Girls Basketball Coach
MENTAL GRIT
As a teacher and a coach, the most important characteristic we can foster in our youth is mental grit and a determination to succeed, no matter what. In my class, we call this having a "Growth Mindset." Our talents and abilities can remain dormant within us, or they can grow exponentially depending on our mindset. I hear many of my students say, "Oh, I suck at math," or "I can't draw." This is an example of a "Fixed Mindset" - an attitude that says talents and skills cannot be developed. Many people believe that if we don't have a particular talent or skill immediately from the time we are young, we can never develop or improve in that area, which is just plain false. I see many of my students and athletes mentally give up long before they should because they don't see themselves ever improving in an area they struggle in, or if they experience failure, they internalize it to a point where they just stop trying. As someone wise once said, "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will."

Instead, we should encourage our youth today to have a "Growth Mindset," which recognizes that the brain is like a muscle - it requires challenges in order to grow stronger, and when it struggles, it is actually improving. So, whether you are on the court or in the classroom, encourage your students, athletes, and kids to develop a "Growth Mindset." Remind them that challenges are a normal part of our existence and they CAN improve and develop their skills if they are willing to persevere through difficulties that come their way.

I believe that we can improve if we are willing to work hard and not give up trying. Having an attitude of determination, fearlessness, and an eagerness to improve will make our youth unstoppable!

Bringing it All Together
As you can see there is no shortage of incredible thoughts and beliefs on how to help the youth and future leaders THRIVE in and out of the classroom.

The interesting thing for me is none of the skills shared are traditionally taught in course curriculum. I didn’t have a class on mental grit or living in the present, but as I experience more and more of life, I realize these are the skills needed to succeed.

As many people alluded, writing, math, and other skills are important and I don’t want to take away from the basics of education…

But, I do think it’s incredibly important for us to encourage our students, children, teammates, and colleagues, to learn about becoming a WHOLE success not just a CLASSROOM success.

Elevate in Action:

If you are a parent, which of these can you incorporate with your children?
If you are a student, are you learning these skills?
Take the advice that resonates most and write down how you can implement it into your daily life!

]]><![CDATA[Operation Gratitude - Month #11 of the 2019 Giving Challenge]]>Mon, 04 Nov 2019 17:13:51 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/operation-gratitude-month-11-of-the-2019-giving-challenge

Month #11 is here! As we head into the final 2 months of the 2019 Giving Challenge, I want to pause and say THANK YOU. We started this journey to raise $100 a month for 12 charities; what we’ve done is raised over $3,400 and built a network of people excited to change the world!

Before we dive in, let’s look back at our first 8 months:

Cystic Fibrosis - $620
Thirst Project - $110
Saving Innocence - $100
Feeding America - $150
Pencils of Promise - $670
Muscular Dystrophy Association - $105
Make-A-Wish - $130
LucStrong Foundation - $135
PSC Partners for a Cure - $1,321
Project Happiness - $120
Total: $3,461!!!

As always, thank you in advance to everyone who’s participated in the Giving Challenge by sharing my posts, donating money, or just believing in the mission of helping others and spreading the good word.

November is the month of gratitude. One of the first things I think of in November is Thanksgiving which is all about being thankful. It’s the time of the year when most people take a few minutes to reflect on all we have to be grateful for.

Personally, I think gratitude shouldn’t just be practiced around Thanksgiving, but rather it should be a daily practice. Gratitude is linked to more happiness, less social comparison, deeper social relationships and much more.

In the spirit of gratitude, I searched charities related to gratitude because I want all of us in the Giving Challenge to make this a month long practice, to think about gratitude and practice it whether it’s through a mini donation or reflective thoughts.

The charity that popped up first was Operation Gratitude which is our choice for this month! I wasn’t familiar with it originally but as I had time to do my research, I felt it was a great fit for the Giving Challenge.

With our goal of $100, we will be able to send 6 care packages to military and first responder heroes.

Whether you feel it or not, there’s a lot to be grateful in life! I think perspective has a lot to do with it, but at the end of the day we are alive. If you are reading this, you are alive and that is a beautiful thing.

Let’s practice gratitude by raising $100 for Operation Gratitude, sharing this post, or even reflecting about everything you have to be grateful for.

You can donate here.

What is Operation Gratitude?
Every year, Operation Gratitude sends 250,000+ individually-addressed care packages to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed overseas and to their children left behind. Also, to New Recruits, Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Heroes and their caregivers. Each package contains food items, hygiene products, entertainment, handmade items, and handwritten letters of support.

Operation Gratitude Mission Statement
To forge strong bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide.

]]><![CDATA[7 Uplifting and Inspiring Quotes from Elite Speakers]]>Wed, 30 Oct 2019 17:05:43 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/7-uplifting-and-inspiring-quotes-from-elite-speakers

There were so many value bombs dropped at Influencer 2019 in San Diego a few weeks ago! Hosted by Brendon Burchard the event was all about how to make a positive influence and build your online business.

I wrote a full recap on the event highlighting my biggest takeaways but even after a few weeks I am still thinking about my experience.

Since the conference, I’ve spent a lot of time reaching out to several of the speakers, practicing what I learned, and trying new things to help create momentum in my business. The 7 quotes below are extremely powerful, but if you aren’t willing to act on your motivation, then you’re missing a great opportunity.

Knowledge is only half the battle; applying the knowledge is what separates you from everyone else.

Here are 7 inspiring quotes from Influencer 2019:

“Wealth is a mindset, not a dollar amount.” - Eric Thomas
“Share scars, not wounds.” - Natalie Hodson
“Money spends once but knowledge monetizes forever.” - Tom Bilyeu
“Don’t create for passion or profit - create for purpose.” - Lewis Howes
“People won’t remember that you posted. They'll remember you cared.” - Rachel Hollis
“No one can tell you if your dream is right.” - Jamie Kern Lima
“Bring the JOY!” - Brendon Burchard

Elevate in Action:

Take one of the quotes and reflect on how you can use it in your own life.

]]><![CDATA[4 Key Observations About Life After FaceTiming 50+ People]]>Thu, 24 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/4-key-observations-about-life-after-facetiming-50-people

I set out to have 100 conversations with 100 different people in 100 days with the goal of putting smiles on faces. I can honestly say that every single person so far has smiled during our call which has been so fun to watch.

When I first began this project, I wasn’t sure how people would respond and if they would want to participate. I mean, it can be nerve-wracking to jump on a FaceTime call with someone you’ve never met for 10 minutes.

What I’ve found though, is people are even more awesome that I expected! We’ve had over 50 people participate so far from teenagers to 50 year olds, from people in America to people in Italy, from students to executives and so much more.

So here’s how we use our 10 minutes together on FaceTime.

I ask every person a series of 5 questions and then we flip the script and people can ask me whatever they want. Sometimes, I dive deeper into a particular question, but overall the goal is to have a fun conversation where we both learn about each other.

Here’s what I ask:

What are three things you are grateful for?
When you think of happiness, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
What’s something that puts a smile on your face?
What are you most excited about?
What’s your biggest challenge right now?

Each one of these questions gets people thinking about their purpose and what is most important to them. When I created this, I wanted to ask questions that would create a bond between us. I didn’t want to ask basic questions but rather jump straight into the deep stuff.

I wanted people to have to think about their answers and to reflect on their life up to this point. These questions don’t typically come up in everyday conversation which has made for some awesome discussions about life and internal motivation.

Once I’m done asking everyone their questions, I flip the script and let people ask me questions so it isn’t one sided and they can learn too.

Some of the questions I’ve been asked include:

Why did I start 100 People in 100 Days?
Who has been the most interesting person I’ve talked to?
What are skills needed for success in today’s world?
What advice would you give to someone who is in college?
What drives me everyday?
What should you focus on to make a great first impression?
How am I so socially outgoing? What do you do if you don’t feel like talking to people?
How do I add value to people?
What is my favorite way to eat a potato?

The questions people ask me are always so fun to answer. I love seeing what people come up with from the serious ones to the funny ones like #9 above. When Ella asked me this, I was so confused at first but I think I came to the conclusion that my favorite way to eat a potato is french fries. The funniest part was when she started telling me all the ways to eat a potato, I felt like we were in the scene of Forrest Gump when they talk about all the things you can do with shrimp.

After 50 interviews with people, I’ve noticed some interesting things.

Everyone is searching for something.
Having a group of people who support you is key to happiness.
Animals and hobbies tend to be great for putting smiles on people’s faces.
People want to see other people succeed because it gives them a sense of pride and meaning.

Right now, we are a little over the halfway mark, both in days and people, so if you want be a part of 100 People in 100 Days you can sign up for a time here.

Elevate in Action:

Sign up for 100 People in 100 Days 🙂
Ask yourself these questions and be honest with yourself about your answers. See if it brings up something that you can discuss with a friend or family member.
Have a conversation with someone close to you and spend 10 minutes asking these questions and building a connection.

]]><![CDATA[6 Powerful Takeaways from Influencer 2019]]>Fri, 18 Oct 2019 15:12:14 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/6-powerful-takeaways-from-influencer-2019

The feeling you get when you go to a great conference is truly special. It’s hard to describe but whenever I go to a conference, I find myself leaving with a heightened sense of purpose. I feel motivated to take action and am giddy to try out all the new strategies and techniques I learned. Maybe it’s the people I met or maybe it’s because the conference made me feel some type of way.

That was definitely the case with Influencer 2019 which was created by Brendon Burchard, the world’s leading high performance coach. I had my hesitations about going to the conference (didn’t want to miss two days of work, didn’t want to spend more money, wasn’t sure if it would be worth it), but it was a 2 hour drive and some of the experts I look up to were going to be speaking, so the decision was made. Plus, I’d get to see one of my best friends Tony in San Diego.

The thing about conferences that I think people forget sometimes is you don’t need to have all of your problems solved in 2 days; you just need to walk away with some gold nuggets and new relationships.

The other thing I remembered is that everyone is motivated after a conference, but not everyone is willing to put in the work when they get back to reality so I made it a focus to write down several actionable takeaways that I could immediately implement following the conference.

In the spirit of taking action and reflecting on a great experience, here are 6 powerful takeaways from my time at Influencer.

"No one can tell you if your dream is right.” - Jamie Kern Lima
If you’re wondering who Jamie is, I was thinking the exact same thing. She was a last minute speaker addition and I had never heard of her until the moment she came on stage. But boy am I glad she spoke. Jamie is the co-founder and CEO of It Cosmetics which sold to L’Oreal for $1.2 billion. For an hour straight she captivated me and 2,000+ other audience members describing her journey.

One of my favorite stories she shared was about how the QVC person who turned her away when she was working from her living room ended up being on her Advisory Board and being one of her greatest supporters and mentors.

Rachel Hollis also mentioned the power of dreaming and said she’s one of the biggest dreamers out there. She told a great story about her rise to stardom and how people responded when Girl, Wash Your Face became a worldwide phenomenon.

She said people came up to her all the time and congratulated her on her first book. She said she’d laugh and say, “This isn’t my first book. It’s my sixth!”

Sometimes people won’t understand your dreams and that’s okay. Just because they can’t raise their level of dreaming doesn’t mean we have to lower ours.

I have dreams to sell out arenas like Rachel. I have dreams to be married to the love of my life and have amazing, healthy children. I have dreams to impact millions of people through a message. I have dreams to sell millions of copies of books. It's not a matter of IF, but WHEN!

Brene Brown is the GOAT!
I’d say half of the speakers, all extremely elite in their own way, quoted or mentioned Brene Brown in their talks. It wasn’t surprising because many people mentioned the idea of vulnerability especially when it comes to social media and building an online brand.

I told this to my mom after the conference and she immediately gave a copy of Brene Brown’s masterpiece Rising Strong. I'm 45 pages in and already starting to think about how I can be more vulnerable in my life.

There’s a difference between real and fake vulnerability and Natalie Hodson made sure we were aware of that. She talked about the importance of sharing scars not wounds.

Real vulnerability is being open and honest where fake vulnerability is being open because it’s what you think your audience wants to hear. Natalie talked about how she peed her pants after having kids, something I didn’t quite understand initially, but after that experience she was able to share it with the world and relate to women all over the world who have Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. I think I got that right… I’m still learning 🙂

The Roadmap to Success Exists!
Brendon Burchard, the host and creator of Influencer, laid it out for everyone to see. There are key things that every person does that makes them successful.

He talked about the 4 things he would do if he was starting over today - ebook or book, 1 on 1 coaching, online course, and subscription. Guess what? I’m going to work on those 4 things and find a way to add my own unique Kelfer flair to it.

Part of personal and professional growth is listening to what the experts say and figuring out how to replicate their advice and experiences in your own way. Copying them isn’t right because it’s not you, it’s them.

Taking what they’ve learned and applying it to your life can drastically cut down the time and mistakes we will make on our journey.

You Have More Control Than You Think
Anthony Trucks is a human rarity and continues to defy the odds of life. From foster care to the NFL to being broken to being on American Ninja Warrior, he taught us about the power of owning our shift. Anthony Trucks talking about shifts… get it?

He went through his story and gave us four incredible pieces of wisdom to “Own Our Shift” which are:

Design your identity
Develop your identity
Deploy your identity
Debrief your identity

Between him, Lewis Howes, Trent Shelton, and everyone who was there, a common theme was to take control of your actions and execute on the things that are important and meaningful to you in your life.

Most People Aren’t Willing to Do What It Takes
Tom Bilyeu, Founder of Quest Nutrition and Creator of Impact Theory, laid into the audience with his direct tone and confident appearance.

He asked two questions to everyone in the audience:

Who do you want to become?
What are you willing to do to get there?

I loved this because it reminded me of a simple truth. A lot of people have knowledge or an idea, but very few are willing to act on it and execute it.

There are millions of people in the world who want to start a business. Very few do.
There are millions of people who know that conferences can help them in their life. Very few go.
There were 2,000+ people at Influencer hearing the same things I was. Very few will actually do the work. The ones that do do the work will see great results in whatever they pursue.

Sure, I wish everyone would take action and succeed. I really do. I think there is enough room for us all to win in life. But unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t willing to put in the work and I hope that throughout my journey, I’ll be able to help people take action and create their own version of success that works for them.

People are Awesome!
I met so many cool people at the conference! I met someone from Australia, someone from Singapore, and people from all over the United States. It’s such a cool experience to be surrounded by people who all have dreams and goals to create a better life for themselves and their families.

Everyone has something unique to offer and I heard countless stories of what people want to change in the world. One person wants to help people live in flow. Another person wants to help students in Asia learn important life principles vs just focusing on grades. One science teacher wants to help students learn science concepts in a way that benefits their future rather than just checking off the boxes. One person wants to help nurses live a happier life.

People are absolutely incredible! One fo my new friends, Chris, is creating something extremely powerful and I can’t wait to support him along the journey. Literally, as I am typing this he texted me asking what actions I’ve taken since the conference. So cool!

If you want to have influence in the game of life, lead by example. Listen with an open heart. Learn with genuine interest. What was your biggest takeaway from this article?

Elevate in Action:

What is your big dream?
What action can you take today to make the dream a reality?
Tell yourself, I CAN DO IT! every morning when you look at yourself in the mirror for the first time each day.

]]><![CDATA[5 Tricks to Eat Healthy for $10 a Day]]>Tue, 15 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/5-tricks-to-eat-healthy-for-10day

I am not the most healthy person in the world. I don’t make food calendars or meal prep. I eat what I want and where I want… for the most part. I shop at Trader Joe’s and I eat out once or twice a week. Outside of my wildly complex dietary restrictions consisting of no dairy and limited raw green vegetables, I can pretty much eat what I want.

Sure, there are plenty of other foods I don’t love like mushrooms, peppers, cilantro, and quite a few other things, but that’s not the point. The point is, eating on $10 a day is a very realistic and viable option.

Trick #1: Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting and yes, I’ll ignore all the eye rolls for all the fasting haters out there, has been a fun experiment for me these past 6 months or so. Essentially, the way I intermittent fast is I eat between the hours of 11am and 7pm… most nights.

When I first started, I was incredibly hungry every morning and getting to 11am was a huge challenge. I craved my waffles with maple syrup or my egg and salami sandwich with melted dairy free cheese on toast, but over time those cravings went away. Now, I can make it to 11am most days without a hitch. Sometimes, I even go longer just for the heck of it or if I get sidetracked.

This has not hindered my performance physically or mentally. As a matter of fact, I think it’s had a net positive impact on both.

But, this article isn’t about fasting…

Intermittent fasting has had a huge impact on my overall spending when it comes to eating food. Instead of eating 3+ meals a day, I eat pretty much whatever I want in my designated time frame. Since I only have 8 hours to eat, I make sure to be intentional with what I consume.

I think being intentional is a key characteristic to success. Whether it be fasting or you wanting to treat people better, make more sales, or whatever, being intentional with your actions is key to growth and improvement.

Trick #2: Food Discipline - Portioning Is NOT One Size Fits All
For me, one of the leading causes for stomachaches is eating too much at a time, getting bloated, and then having to take a 30 minute break from my day either to nap or to hit the john. Every once in a while, you’ll hit the jackpot and do both at the same time. Ok… TMI, I get it.

But, we’ve all been there. Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs and we either get too full because we don’t want food to go to waste or we have just enough extra food that we decide it’s too much to eat now, but not enough to save for later ultimately wasting the food.

I feel like whenever we hear about portioning it’s in the sense of dieting, often in a negative light. Instead, I think choosing the amount of food you eat is not a one size fits all option. It’s a personal preference, but it requires some honest self assessment. Some of us need to eat more than others, so find the size that works for you and your health goals. Be honest with yourself and become aware about how much food it takes you to hit your marks.

When I go out for lunch, I love to eat half during the meal and then save the other half for a few hours later once I know I’m good.

When you portion your food right, it can prevent you from over eating but also it can help you plan for future meals.

Trick #3: Think Ahead
When you think ahead and plan ahead, you can break down the science of food costs. I love math, and I don’t mind doing this, but I also don’t spend every second calculating how much each meal costs.

What I do do though, is be aware of what I consume.

Here’s a sample meal for me from Trader Joe’s.

Orange Chicken - $5.99
Frozen Broccoli Florets - $1.99
Frozen Brown Rice - $3.99
Total: $11.97

Since I live alone, I always tend to have more food than I can consume in one sitting, so I make sure to plan ahead. I also try to do my best to portion out my foods so I can prevent unnecessary stomachaches. With the above food items, I can easily break this into two meals turning the price of a meal of orange chicken, brown rice, and broccoli into less than $5.

Orange Chicken (2 servings for me) - $3
Frozen Broccoli Florets (4 servings for me) - $0.50
Frozen Brown Rice (3 pack, 6 servings for me) - $0.67
Total: $4.37

Here’s another great example.
Chipotle is a great restaurant and provides a full meal at a fair rate, but sometimes I don’t want to go all the way to Chipotle to get my meal. Sometimes, I want to make my own burrito bowl.

Frozen Chicken - $6.99

Before you freak out on the healthy factor, I’m aware there are healthier options but this is what I prefer since I am on the road a lot and don’t always have time to eat everything super fresh.

Frozen Brown Rice - $3.99
Beans - $0.99
Tomatos - $2.99
Salsa - $1.99

Again, I think ahead and whenever I can, I make two meals.

Breaking this down, the average cost of a burrito bowl for me is less than $5.

Trick #4: Buy Food You Like
I am a big snacker and I have an extreme sweet tooth, but during the week I try to curb this as much as possible to focus on good eating habits. However, I have found several snacks that satisfy these needs to a certain extent.

Cheap snacks that I love:

Apples
Cucumbers with hummus
Clementines
Grapes

Sometimes, though, you want something more. You want something that will fill you up and satisfy your needs. In this instance, I indulge in trail mix consisting of purely cranberries, almonds, and cashews. It’s sweet and salty and it lasts a long time.

When you buy food that you like, you aren’t constantly searching ro something else to eat to satisfy your craving.

Trick #5: Don’t Buy Unnecessary Items
I’ve found that a big part of my success for eating on a budget is not splurging on things that I don’t need or that I shouldn't have. I don’t buy the tub of Lactaid ice cream every time I go to the store. I ignore the bucket of cookie dough. I try to hold off on special food items so they don’t become expected in my mind. That way, when I do get these items, I see it as a treat not a necessity.

In the world of studying happiness, there’s what’s called the hedonic treadmill. Essentially it says that the more we have something or experience it, the less exciting it becomes. For example, the first chocolate bar is delicious, but by the time you’ve eaten five, it’s not nearly as enjoyable as the first one.

When it comes to your eating habits, treat yourself every so often, but find a unique variety of cheap and healthy options to keep your taste buds excited about each meal.

Bonus Trick: Treat Yourself
Every so often, you should treat yourself for something you love. Don’t be afraid to hit Taco Bell for a $5 lunch here and there. It really reduces your spending and for me, it increases my happiness. The little splurge I make at my favorite fast food chain makes all the difference in the world.

If you aren’t a Taco Bell person, no worries. Hit a local In-N-Out and grab your favorite double-double.

If you don’t have either or these, then you’re missing out.. Just kidding. But, seriously, treat yourself with something you crave.

I’m not perfect and I don’t eat this way all the time. However, I love to eat and when I do eat I want to enjoy myself. I’m not really into eating the same things everyday or being extremely disciplined like some of my friends are. We all know that one person who hits the gym every single day and has abs of steel but only eats chicken and rice. Yeah, no thank you.

When it comes down to it, you can eat a healthy-ish diet on $10 a day if you want to. You have to decide that it’s right for you and you have to put in the work to make it happen.

Elevate in Action
1. Which trick resonates the most with you?
2. Identify your cheat day/meal and commit to it once in a while.
3. What are some of your favorite healthy snacks? Get them the next time you go to the market.

P.S. People think it's weird I say market instead of grocery store. Deal with it ;)

]]><![CDATA[Elevate Your Network Turns One!]]>Mon, 07 Oct 2019 15:35:26 GMThttps://www.jakekelfer.com/blog/elevate-your-network-turns-one

It’s been one year since the release of Elevate Your Network and what a year it’s been! From speaking about the book in China to traveling all over the United States, Elevate Your Network has had a huge impact on me and thousands of people across the world.

I really appreciate everyone who’s picked up a copy, shared one of my posts, or talked with me about the book. It’s so exciting and I am so grateful for all of you who have been with me on this incredible journey.

A couple of highlights from the past year since the book came out:

EYN became a multiple category bestseller on Amazon
Over 100 NBA Summer League interns received a copy
Traveled to a handful of new states to spread the message of elevation
Started 100 People in 100 Days
Started the 2019 Giving Challenge
Wrote my first TV show
Took hundreds of Kelfies 🙂

Overall, this past year has been a memorable one for me. It’s been filled with incredible learning experiences and tons of new opportunities.

If there is one lesson that has been constantly reinforced it’s this. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE! We are all people and our relationships with each other play a huge role in our success, happiness, well being, performance and so much more.

Be kind to each other. Add value to each other. Focus on WE not ME. Ask genuine questions. Show interest in others. Have pride in being a good listener.

The more we focus on our relationships and the people we have the privilege of connecting with, the more fulfilled we can be!

Thank you again for being a part of this incredible journey! If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you can get started elevating here.

To celebrate the one year anniversary, I’ll be posting several giveaways and special offers so stay tuned!

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