Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian & Yadia McAleer.
Hi Brian & Yadia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I (Brian: CEO & Co-Founder of Gent Life) wasn’t always a confident corporate employee or well-dressed business developer. I was a scared kid searching for a sense of belonging and significance growing up just outside of New York City. Never the best grades, garb, or grit. Nor did I have solid control of my emotions and mind. Sound familiar? Being picked on physically, verbally with occasional family tension through early adolescence seems like a prerequisite to real life, right?
Yet somehow, I earned a degree from Cornell University, competed as a worldwide hockey player, and climbed the corporate ladder at one of entertainment’s biggest brands, iHeartRadio. The experiences (or should I say experiments) I’ve had along the way have transcended the value of any Ivy League degree one could achieve.
How to fit in and more importantly, how to stand out, became clear with time, observation, and strong advice from an evolving network of personal & career relationships. Learning about the sacrifice of past generations, the cultural movement of baby boomer parents (and the music they branded on my brain) was followed by teamwork with elite athletes competing on the world stage.
Then, moving to 6 different cities in pursuit of corporate excellence while finding love and marriage with Yadia (COO & Co-Founder of Gent Life) has equipped me with skills I never imagined, keeping me balanced. What skills? We’ve broken them up into 4 pillars.
#GentsGuide: 1 on 1 coaching with me, Brian, where we’ll cover:
– Who is a friend/Who is an acquaintance.
– Getting into peak physical/mental state.
– Constructing a compelling argument.
– Acquiring assets/growing a portfolio.
– What love & commitment REALLY require.
#GentsGo: See the world!
-Growing status & know-how with airlines & hotels
-What to order on dates/on business.
-Seeing the world/understanding culture.
-Experience one of our favorite cities in one of our ‘casitas’ (coming soon).
#GentsGarb: Dressing for your moment!
-Dates, BBQs, interviews, weddings, and business summits
#GentsGive: Secret to living… is giving!
- Sharing your love & compassion with people who need it most.
- Encouraging involvement in some of our favorite movements locally in Central Florida & around the world
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If anyone has ever started a business and didn’t struggle… we’d love to capture them for tests and questioning.
We’ve invested thousands of our personal savings into multiple web designs, trademarking, marketing, consulting, etc. And continue to invest all the time. This shouldn’t surprise any small business start-up owner. Navigating the algorithmic challenges to get your content to the masses on social platforms is also not unique to Gent Life.
What’s most challenging, since the effort lies almost entirely on Yadia and me… is our marriage. We both play roles in multiple aspects of corporate and entrepreneurial life both together and separately which can create the feeling of ‘two passing ships.’ Further, as two unique and imperfect people, we don’t always agree on the vision. Creating hard boundaries isn’t always the easiest in this reality, thus… it MUST be your highest priority.
We don’t have a lot of open time for drop-ins, new friends, and spontaneity… and rarely on Wednesday night (our designated date night where phones are not allowed).
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Simply put… we make the impossible, possible.
Every human has their own unique obstacles (both physically and mentally) and we’re no different. What we intend to demonstrate to all our viewers and clients are opportunity and possibility. As Yadia and I continue to manifest goals and experiences we leave a trail of breadcrumbs behind us while shedding light on obstacles we encountered.
We’re most proud of the difference we’ve been able to make in people’s journeys using our own as context. This could come in the form of 1-1 career or lifestyle coaching, volunteering in a shelter, or helping someone pull the trigger on the trip they’ve only dreamed about.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Be genuine!
A business like ours can’t succeed without an emotional connection to our audience. To accomplish this, one must operate in integrity with one’s self. Like I mentioned earlier, we’re imperfect humans who have accepted business that was NOT a fit in an effort to ‘people please.’
This taught us the value of saying ‘no’ and remaining steadfast to what is in line with OUR principles. This fear of disappointing others can be traced back to our traumas of life (big or small) and is a focal point in #GentsGuide.
Pricing:
- $1800 – 3-month coaching package #GentsGuide.
- A la carte partnership offerings.
Contact Info:
- Email: Brian@GentLife.Com
- Website: GentLife.Com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gent.life/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GentLife
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gentlifetweets
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5kUpVcip99zxljf7t02r6A
Image Credits
Marc Gerard, Diane Parsons, Antoine Hart, and Kyle Ryan
