Max Simon: The Story Of A Big Soul In A Little Body
Thanks for visiting this page to learn a little more about me. It sure has been a interesting ride so far, and I’m just getting started!
OK, here’s where the story begins.
I’ve ALWAYS Loved Business
From working on a fishing boat during summers and going door-to-door around the neighborhood to sell my fresh catch, to becoming the #1 cell phone salesman for a Verizon chain in Southern California, to becoming the #1 loan officer in a mortgage bank while in college, I’ve always loved the game of business.
Then after I finished college, I had my first big break.
My First Big Break: The Chopra Center
With luck, fate, and some strong persuasion, I landed a job as the Director of Consumer Products for world-renowned self-help guru Deepak Chopra at the Chopra Center.
Over the course of 6 years, I completely re-branded the company to what you see today, developed 49 signature products (including his supplements, teas, massage oils, candles, and many more), built a new optimized e-commerce platform, and opened up multiple new distribution channels that added millions to the bottom line.
I also became the youngest instructor in the history of the Chopra Center and travelled the world speaking to tens of thousands of people about mind-body wellness, spirituality, and self-actualization all before I was 25.
It was an amazing time, filled with tremendous success and lot of great stories (I taught Gerard Buttler from the movie “300” how to meditate!).
Then I got the itch to start my own company, and that’s where things took a turn.
My First Business Was A Total Failure
It was called selfcentered, and it was a meditation training company for young people. I know, cool concept. But it was definitely way before it’s time.
Over the course of about 18 months, I burned through all my savings (including my $80k inheritance from grandma), spent countless sleepless nights trying to figure things out, and became (without-a-doubt) the most stressed out meditation teacher of all times. I know, ironic.
And while I did have some big wins like getting a celebrity endorsement from Apl from the Black Eyed Peas, and earning some killer press (Martha Stewart named me “The Next Big Idea” in Body & Soul Magazine), this business was a classic case of trying to sell something that people “NEEDED” instead of something they wanted.
It crashed and burned.
Big Vision Business Is Born
After some soul searching plus looking at what I was really good at (and what people kept coming to me for), I realized that digital marketing was definitely my sweet spot.
So I started a new company with my last remaining dollars that was designed to help experts use digital strategies to reach a larger audience, just like I had helped Deepak do.
Named Big Vision Business, I was finally experiencing some huge wins, and over the next 5 years, Big Vision Business would grow to become one of the most reputable and sought-after training companies in the digital marketing universe.
I sold over $10,000,000 in products and services, served thousands of clients, attracted 100’s of promotional partners, worked with some of the largest experts in the industry, built a loyal tribe of over 60,000+ people, and put on some of the most exciting and jam-packed events in the industry.
I was back on top! The only problem was, I was bored out of my mind, and this time, I had to dig deep inside to find out why.
Building A New Business That Did NOT Revolve Around Me
After more soul searching, I realized that I really wanted to build a business that had nothing to do with me as the product. I just wasn’t hungry to share my own message any longer.
So I started looking around for what’s next, and I found something that had SO much promise, but also had one fatal flaw right from the beginning.
With another respected leader in the personal development space, I started a new company called: “Skybrite” which was designed to be like the Netflix for audiobooks.
Over the next 18 months, I focused on signing content deals and acquiring over 15,000+ audiobooks and premium audio trainings from the world’s top audio publishers, authors, and experts. We accumulated an amazing library that spanned over 55+ different genres of content including fiction, fitness, sex, self-help, business, history, and much more.
My partner focused on building the mobile technology that would give people unlimited streaming access to the library through their mobile phones and devices.
Unfortunately, this is where I learned the importance of picking the right partner, because right at the most critical moments in our growth, I started to have extreme leadership and vision differences with my co-founder.
As it became clearer and clearer that we could NOT work through our differences, I decided to walk away since he had built the technology and thus it would be very challenging to take over without him.
Broken down, deflated, and having invested a huge chunk of money and time into this venture, I dusted myself off and started again.
You’re Doing What Now??!!!
After I left Skybrite, I started doing some consulting gigs and just staying “open” to what the universe had in store for me next.
Enter a friend of mine who’s building a fast growing company in the legal cannabis industry who was looking for some help.
I’m not afraid to say it now, but I’ve actually had a very long relationship with the plant, and have been a cannabis user for many decades. So when I got a chance to bring my business and marketing skills to this blossoming new industry, I dove right in.
After not too long, I saw a huge hole that I could definitely fill – creating online education for a worldwide audience.
Green Flower Media was born, and within one year, we became the largest provider of high quality cannabis education in the world, partnering with over 65+ different experts, building our own proprietary e-learning platform, and producing some massive virtual events (over 38,000+ people attended so far).
So that brings us to today.
I hope my little story inspired you, and also made you feel better about the opportunities in your life that didn’t work out so well.
God knows I’ve failed plenty of times. But each time, I get back up, learn from my mistakes, and get going again.
My greatest wish is that you do the same, and if I can support you in any way (in any of my companies), I’m here for you.
Until we connect again, think bigger, be bigger, and take bigger actions forward.
Much love,
Max Simon