1 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:23,459 Stephanie Maas: Well, I'm super excited to be with you. So thank 2 00:00:23,459 --> 00:00:26,549 you for sharing your time, I would actually love for you to 3 00:00:26,549 --> 00:00:30,269 start with your background, because I think that sets a nice 4 00:00:30,269 --> 00:00:34,499 foundation for where you are today, walk us through a little 5 00:00:34,499 --> 00:00:35,369 bit of your background. 6 00:00:35,730 --> 00:00:38,400 Alysia Silberg: So it's a wild journey, and I'll do my absolute 7 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,010 best to share with your listeners, the stuff that I feel 8 00:00:41,010 --> 00:00:44,520 is most important in terms of their own journeys. So my dad 9 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,860 was an immigrant from Eastern Europe, you know, back in the 10 00:00:46,860 --> 00:00:51,930 day, so he was born in 1870. Sounds completely wild. And that 11 00:00:51,930 --> 00:00:55,140 was a very different time in America. So they went on boats 12 00:00:55,140 --> 00:00:58,890 to South Africa, arrived in South Africa in 1929, you know, 13 00:00:58,890 --> 00:01:02,070 these immigrants with just clothes on their backs. And he 14 00:01:02,070 --> 00:01:05,160 was very fortunate, he had a passion, which was the arts, he 15 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,760 was a chemist by training. And he made his way to America, you 16 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,980 know, an incredibly difficult thing at the time. And he 17 00:01:10,980 --> 00:01:14,520 trained under Max Factor, the makeup artist, and he became 18 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,550 somebody who worked on movie sets with the most famous 19 00:01:17,550 --> 00:01:21,450 celebrities in the world. And I think part of my madcap 20 00:01:21,450 --> 00:01:24,390 adventure inside of me comes from it comes from my dad's 21 00:01:24,390 --> 00:01:27,360 journey, he had to unfortunately go back to South Africa, even 22 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,110 though he was successful in America. And that started a 23 00:01:31,110 --> 00:01:34,860 journey for all of us in the sense that during the pot, I 24 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,700 created what was the world's only pharmacy and costume hire 25 00:01:38,700 --> 00:01:43,830 store. And I was born into this, as I say, wild environment. And 26 00:01:43,830 --> 00:01:46,620 I grew up in that environment. And whilst it was fun, it was 27 00:01:46,650 --> 00:01:49,440 also incredibly difficult, because there was always a 28 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,590 shortage of money growing up. So he was passionate about helping 29 00:01:52,590 --> 00:01:56,130 other people read it in the book, as a chemist, because, you 30 00:01:56,130 --> 00:01:59,010 know, apartheid, there was no doctors for the bulk of South 31 00:01:59,010 --> 00:02:02,220 Africa, give away medicines for free, he became this community 32 00:02:02,220 --> 00:02:05,610 doctor. So for us, we kind of suffered the consequences, 33 00:02:05,610 --> 00:02:09,270 because we were always short on money. And this whole, you know, 34 00:02:09,270 --> 00:02:12,930 he died in during a car accident very unexpectedly. And then we 35 00:02:12,930 --> 00:02:14,850 were going to lose the business because the business was 36 00:02:14,850 --> 00:02:17,430 crippled in debt. So they were coming for the house, they were 37 00:02:17,430 --> 00:02:20,430 coming for absolutely, everything we owned, I was 38 00:02:20,430 --> 00:02:23,340 telling my brother was six years older than me, my mother was a 39 00:02:23,340 --> 00:02:26,850 ballerina. So you know, that's the kind of skills she had. And 40 00:02:26,850 --> 00:02:29,970 it was a fight for human survival. And we started just 41 00:02:29,970 --> 00:02:33,150 like fighting for this business. We slept in the shop, which was 42 00:02:33,150 --> 00:02:35,580 extremely dangerous. You know, like, there's a lot, a lot went 43 00:02:35,580 --> 00:02:39,510 wrong. And I slept under costume rules for a long time. And we 44 00:02:39,510 --> 00:02:43,740 just worked 1820 hours a day for five years, we managed to save 45 00:02:43,740 --> 00:02:46,230 the business a lot with load. That's what took me on my 46 00:02:46,230 --> 00:02:49,800 journey to Canada, because we wanted more my brother and I, we 47 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,220 were obsessed with getting to North America. And eventually I 48 00:02:53,220 --> 00:02:56,550 made my way to North America. And today, I'm incredibly 49 00:02:56,550 --> 00:02:59,880 fortunate. I get to invest in startups after being a founder, 50 00:03:00,030 --> 00:03:03,270 I get to work with extraordinary people. And so I'm incredibly, 51 00:03:03,270 --> 00:03:06,600 incredibly grateful to be in the US and to be, you know, building 52 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,250 startups and working with startups. 53 00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:11,820 Stephanie Maas: Okay, so South Africa and then Canada. Tell me 54 00:03:11,820 --> 00:03:12,480 about that. 55 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,900 Alysia Silberg: Sure. So we were poor. We had a very old car, we 56 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:19,080 would barely go but we had a call. And we lived in a very 57 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,290 dangerous neighborhood as well couldn't afford to leave. And 58 00:03:22,470 --> 00:03:25,410 one night and a Saturday night we got attacked was very intense 59 00:03:25,410 --> 00:03:28,440 attacking, and I got shot. My mother got beaten up, it was 60 00:03:28,470 --> 00:03:32,040 harrowing, even like, even by a Hollywood movie standards. The 61 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,950 moment that happened, I decided I was always obsessed with 62 00:03:34,950 --> 00:03:37,380 coming to America. From the day I was born. I think my dad 63 00:03:37,410 --> 00:03:40,350 wanted that seat in my mind. I was like, I'm going no matter 64 00:03:40,350 --> 00:03:43,410 what it takes, and my circumstances around me. People 65 00:03:43,410 --> 00:03:46,500 refer to it as a dead end life. That was my life in South 66 00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:49,500 Africa. And for many people, that's their lives. We got to 67 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:53,490 cap, I remember standing, bleeding, screaming my head or 68 00:03:53,550 --> 00:03:56,610 screaming sight, I'm leaving, I'm leaving. I'm going and you 69 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,550 have to help me leave. I made up my mind there. And then I was 70 00:03:59,550 --> 00:04:02,310 going to get to North America no matter what. And my brother and 71 00:04:02,310 --> 00:04:05,400 I came up with a very entrepreneurial venture, where 72 00:04:05,430 --> 00:04:08,760 we would create costumes, you know, from our crazy costume 73 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,390 shop, or the burgeoning Hollywood film industry in 74 00:04:12,390 --> 00:04:16,980 Canada. Sounds crazy. But this is economics tax. So basically, 75 00:04:17,010 --> 00:04:19,830 Hollywood, very expensive, create movies, New York, very 76 00:04:19,830 --> 00:04:23,130 expensive to create movies. And so that at that time, they were 77 00:04:23,130 --> 00:04:27,480 starting to do a lot more movies in Nova Scotia. And my brother 78 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,940 and I have been very good researchers. We figured this 79 00:04:29,940 --> 00:04:32,520 out. And we figured out that there was a trade treaty between 80 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,760 certain countries in Canada, and that you could apply towards 81 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,000 making this trade treaty. And you can get funding and you 82 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,450 could build a business. And so I was shipped to Canada to go 83 00:04:42,450 --> 00:04:44,850 pitch this to the Canadian government. I was 15 at the 84 00:04:44,850 --> 00:04:47,850 time, and I'm telling them about this amazing, amazing, you know, 85 00:04:47,850 --> 00:04:50,100 venture that they would of course, want to participate. 86 00:04:50,550 --> 00:04:52,860 They said yes, they were incredible. That was my first 87 00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:56,370 taste of what it meant to be in North America. In terms of being 88 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,940 an entrepreneur to see a well organized things are the 89 00:04:59,940 --> 00:05:02,760 opportunities. And no one laughed at me when said I was 90 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,640 stupid, and what I experienced changed my life. 91 00:05:06,030 --> 00:05:08,040 Stephanie Maas: Okay, so you did that at 15? 92 00:05:08,460 --> 00:05:11,370 Alysia Silberg: 15. And it was crazy. Like when I look back, 93 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,640 I'm like, Wow, a grown up mature version of me it was like, I 94 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,450 think it was adrenaline, as well as nothing to lose. I think that 95 00:05:18,450 --> 00:05:21,960 played a big role where your life is so bleak, that you're 96 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,260 like, I really have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I 97 00:05:25,260 --> 00:05:28,980 see homelessness in America. Yeah, I live in, in Venice in 98 00:05:28,980 --> 00:05:33,030 LA. And I see all those people. And I think about it every day. 99 00:05:33,090 --> 00:05:36,180 And I'm like, I could be one of those people. I just happen to 100 00:05:36,180 --> 00:05:40,380 be lucky enough that I had a drive to say, okay, my 101 00:05:40,380 --> 00:05:43,620 circumstances suck. And no one's going to come in to rescue us 102 00:05:43,620 --> 00:05:46,830 like this. And I'm going to try and I'm not going to give up to 103 00:05:46,830 --> 00:05:50,610 the state that drives me. I can never forget how close we came 104 00:05:50,610 --> 00:05:52,290 to having absolutely nothing. 105 00:05:52,770 --> 00:05:54,210 Stephanie Maas: Tell me, I know you said you and your mom didn't 106 00:05:54,210 --> 00:05:57,390 always get along. What were some of the things you garnered from 107 00:05:57,390 --> 00:05:57,780 her? 108 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,540 Alysia Silberg: My ability to never give up? She pushed me 109 00:06:00,690 --> 00:06:04,800 extraordinarily hard. I think in some respects, it almost damaged 110 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:09,060 me. I had somebody who had a very tough life, and who kept 111 00:06:09,060 --> 00:06:12,270 pushing me harder, because she knew how tough life had been. 112 00:06:12,570 --> 00:06:16,380 And she wanted me to to have the best life possible. Even if she 113 00:06:16,380 --> 00:06:18,360 had difficulty in helping me create that. 114 00:06:18,690 --> 00:06:20,340 Stephanie Maas: Has she been able to see your success? 115 00:06:20,820 --> 00:06:23,970 Alysia Silberg: No. But th at's okay. I hope she's proud of me. 116 00:06:24,690 --> 00:06:28,110 Stephanie Maas: I'm sure she is. Sure she is. Let's shift gears 117 00:06:28,110 --> 00:06:31,020 ever so slightly and talk about technology? I just think there's 118 00:06:31,020 --> 00:06:33,750 an aptitude for technology. Some people have it, some people 119 00:06:33,750 --> 00:06:36,720 don't, I definitely don't have it. So that's very interesting 120 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,510 to me. So you're 15 years old? What technology did you have at 121 00:06:39,510 --> 00:06:43,080 hand? How did you figure out that that's kind of part of your 122 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:43,410 thing. 123 00:06:43,710 --> 00:06:45,750 Alysia Silberg: Thank you for your honesty, in terms of your 124 00:06:45,750 --> 00:06:49,140 ability to use technology. I understand. It's ironic, but I'm 125 00:06:49,140 --> 00:06:52,050 not good with technology. As funny as that may sound. I'm not 126 00:06:52,050 --> 00:06:55,350 natural at this. And I think that's important. But at that 127 00:06:55,350 --> 00:07:00,120 time, the Internet was so so so basic, like it was really basic. 128 00:07:00,540 --> 00:07:03,690 And when you asked about Canada, you got to picture these two 129 00:07:03,690 --> 00:07:07,320 kids sitting in deepest, darkest Africa, where the tip of Africa, 130 00:07:07,770 --> 00:07:11,580 were at an internet cafe. The internet was not like America, 131 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,520 we sitting there looking on the internet, and we want to go to 132 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,570 Canada. And we like, um, this place looks interesting. It's 133 00:07:18,570 --> 00:07:21,960 got a cute little bug. I'm not kidding with you. Okay, like a 134 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,990 cute little sailing boat. It's in the pictures. And it looks 135 00:07:24,990 --> 00:07:28,260 very sophisticated compared to where we coming from. And this 136 00:07:28,260 --> 00:07:31,830 is Halifax, Nova Scotia. And that was our interaction with 137 00:07:31,830 --> 00:07:36,120 the internet, that it was like this raw thing that gave us the 138 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:41,610 ability to build all our dreams. And that was the relationship 139 00:07:41,610 --> 00:07:45,060 I've owned with technology from very early on, were at each 140 00:07:45,060 --> 00:07:48,810 turn, I could do a certain amount. And then it needed to do 141 00:07:48,810 --> 00:07:51,840 something needed to do the rest. And it was always the 142 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,710 technology, there was always something that could help me to 143 00:07:55,710 --> 00:08:00,390 help myself get where I wanted to stay like people like us are 144 00:08:00,390 --> 00:08:03,960 involved in AI. I'm like, it's pretty simple. I'm a human with 145 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,560 a problem. And I've found that the technology helps me solve it 146 00:08:07,590 --> 00:08:11,280 like my accent. It's hard for Americans to understand my 147 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,520 accent. For me, it's very important for Americans to 148 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,490 understand me, I want to live here, I want to immerse myself 149 00:08:17,490 --> 00:08:20,190 in the culture. But in order to do that, people have to 150 00:08:20,190 --> 00:08:23,370 understand you. I was like, Okay, I'm gonna get an AI coach, 151 00:08:23,460 --> 00:08:26,040 I'm just going to practice and practice. I just started 152 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,220 applying it in every aspect of my life. And as I say, as a 153 00:08:29,220 --> 00:08:32,670 woman, it started giving me leverage, and I would have never 154 00:08:32,670 --> 00:08:37,050 had any other way. Because when I do things to almost make 155 00:08:37,050 --> 00:08:41,190 myself small, it would help me make myself big. And so that 156 00:08:41,190 --> 00:08:44,370 relationship, as I say was, again, survival allistic. But 157 00:08:44,550 --> 00:08:47,370 technology showed up for me in a massive, massive way. 158 00:08:47,910 --> 00:08:50,849 Stephanie Maas: Fascinating. So the things you talked about was 159 00:08:50,911 --> 00:08:54,664 early on, you were willing to take these risks, because what 160 00:08:54,726 --> 00:08:58,479 did you have to lose? Now you have stuff to lose. How do you 161 00:08:58,541 --> 00:09:02,169 still keep that unbelievable risk appetite that served you 162 00:09:02,231 --> 00:09:05,984 incredibly well, but now you have something to lose. So talk 163 00:09:06,046 --> 00:09:07,110 to me about that. 164 00:09:07,620 --> 00:09:10,369 Alysia Silberg: I think it comes down to our values. And I think 165 00:09:10,426 --> 00:09:13,862 the thing I value most in the world is learning. I can't get 166 00:09:13,919 --> 00:09:17,470 enough of learning. And I think that just drives me forward. I 167 00:09:17,527 --> 00:09:21,021 feel like physically sick when I'm not learning. Like it's it 168 00:09:21,078 --> 00:09:24,457 sounds insane. But it's that constant need to, to just keep 169 00:09:24,514 --> 00:09:27,378 growing. And it's like I'm constantly investing in 170 00:09:27,435 --> 00:09:30,700 startups. I'm constantly evolving and constantly creating 171 00:09:30,757 --> 00:09:34,136 some stuff work, some stuff doesn't work, but you know, you 172 00:09:34,193 --> 00:09:37,458 just keep on going. That's probably why I love AI so much 173 00:09:37,515 --> 00:09:40,837 because it grows and it grows faster than me, which sounds 174 00:09:40,894 --> 00:09:44,273 insane. But at the same time that keeps me on my toes. Like 175 00:09:44,330 --> 00:09:47,709 the times where I run into my own barriers in terms of like 176 00:09:47,766 --> 00:09:51,203 engaging with people because I've had impostor syndrome, you 177 00:09:51,260 --> 00:09:54,811 know, like it's stuck. There's realities of who we are. And in 178 00:09:54,868 --> 00:09:57,961 a work with the AI, I have conversations with with GPT 179 00:09:58,018 --> 00:10:01,397 around this and GP He loads faster than I do. And it adapts 180 00:10:01,454 --> 00:10:05,062 whilst than I do. And then I'm like, wow, that's interesting. I 181 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,613 have to stop, I have to think about this. I have to come back 182 00:10:08,670 --> 00:10:11,992 tomorrow, what I could see it didn't stop learning, it was 183 00:10:12,049 --> 00:10:15,543 comfortable keeping on going, my mind couldn't go any farther 184 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,208 that day. And that's been very interesting, because that forces 185 00:10:19,265 --> 00:10:22,759 my mind, in a positive way to keep on growing each time I get 186 00:10:22,816 --> 00:10:25,909 on a call with a founder. And each time I get to learn 187 00:10:25,966 --> 00:10:29,574 something new about what they're doing to solve a major problem 188 00:10:29,632 --> 00:10:32,953 in the world. For me, there's very few things that give me 189 00:10:33,010 --> 00:10:35,760 that kind of joy. It's a good way to be I think. 190 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,818 Stephanie Maas: I think that's fantastic. So let me ask you 191 00:10:39,893 --> 00:10:43,786 this. There's a ton of conversation right now around 192 00:10:43,861 --> 00:10:48,726 this idea of growth mindset. And it got me thinking, do you think 193 00:10:48,801 --> 00:10:52,170 the growth mindset is that nature or nurture? 194 00:10:52,770 --> 00:10:55,231 Alysia Silberg: Nurture. I took it upon myself to bold like a 195 00:10:55,286 --> 00:10:58,459 rewards challenge for myself, I've lived and died by these 196 00:10:58,514 --> 00:11:01,851 rewards challenges. So it's like mini habits, where I'll give 197 00:11:01,906 --> 00:11:05,352 myself like a walker rarely once as a reward. And I'll be like, 198 00:11:05,407 --> 00:11:08,635 I'm gonna break through on this thing. And for me, that was 199 00:11:08,689 --> 00:11:12,245 like, I could see I was fixed in a lot of areas. And that I never 200 00:11:12,300 --> 00:11:15,801 wanted to be, I knew that to get to America. To live the life, I 201 00:11:15,856 --> 00:11:18,810 wanted to feel the sense of fulfillment and joy that I 202 00:11:18,865 --> 00:11:22,366 sought so much, versus the pain and heartache. And as you say, a 203 00:11:22,421 --> 00:11:25,703 survivor that was still within me, even if externally it may 204 00:11:25,758 --> 00:11:28,986 not have looked so much like that. And as to do that I have 205 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,268 to change the wiring in my brain. Trust me, it was a really 206 00:11:32,323 --> 00:11:35,332 tough thing to do. But I think that was why it was very 207 00:11:35,386 --> 00:11:38,559 important for me to write the book because I could see how 208 00:11:38,614 --> 00:11:41,951 there was so much darkness that came with me so much pain, so 209 00:11:42,006 --> 00:11:45,398 much heartache so much just like yuckiness still inside of me, 210 00:11:45,452 --> 00:11:48,899 even though I was I had a lot of accomplishments. And to really 211 00:11:48,954 --> 00:11:52,017 do that I had to take on a growth mindset. And I have to 212 00:11:52,072 --> 00:11:55,573 say like, this is my life, like, this is what I'm going to do. I 213 00:11:55,628 --> 00:11:58,801 went from I Can't to I Can, because there were a number of 214 00:11:58,856 --> 00:12:02,412 times I wanted to get out. But I believe that I don't think a lot 215 00:12:02,466 --> 00:12:05,749 of people who have been through difficulty, have that growth 216 00:12:05,804 --> 00:12:09,195 mindset nurtured into them. But I do believe they cannot share 217 00:12:09,250 --> 00:12:10,290 it into themselves. 218 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,749 Stephanie Maas: I think one of the things that is going to be 219 00:12:13,809 --> 00:12:17,361 so relatable to you, I mean, let's face it, most of us have 220 00:12:17,421 --> 00:12:21,033 not grown up in some of the extreme situations that you have 221 00:12:21,093 --> 00:12:24,765 been faced with. But despite that, we still struggle with the 222 00:12:24,826 --> 00:12:28,980 same things that you mentioned, the I can't, the imposter syndrome... 223 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,530 Alysia Silberg: I was carrying so much baggage, though, even if 224 00:12:31,530 --> 00:12:34,650 I wasn't aware of it. And the idea that I put on paper, and I 225 00:12:34,650 --> 00:12:37,740 highly encourage you and everyone listening, it's an 226 00:12:37,740 --> 00:12:41,910 incredible exercise to actually sit down. And writable I highly 227 00:12:41,910 --> 00:12:46,320 recommend anyone that thinks that they really got a gift and 228 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,290 they want to share it, I call it superpowers, you have that gift 229 00:12:49,290 --> 00:12:51,930 yourself however long it takes just keep going, just keep 230 00:12:51,930 --> 00:12:54,420 going. And as I say, it's worth it. 231 00:12:55,020 --> 00:12:57,180 Stephanie Maas: That's awesome. So I love your transition, 232 00:12:57,180 --> 00:12:59,640 because the next thing I want to ask about was this superpower. 233 00:12:59,970 --> 00:13:02,940 What is your superpower or powers? 234 00:13:03,630 --> 00:13:05,640 Alysia Silberg: Well, let me start by saying, I'd love to 235 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:09,240 know what your superpower is. Me. It started with a pair of 236 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,920 pink rode estates sounds insane. But I'm five years old. Everyone 237 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,070 around these got these rode estates, and I realized we can't 238 00:13:17,070 --> 00:13:20,070 afford them. And I knew better to have off my parents was just 239 00:13:20,070 --> 00:13:22,500 like, not something I'd ever do. Because I didn't want to make 240 00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:26,250 them feel bad about themselves. And so that's how I figured out 241 00:13:26,250 --> 00:13:29,100 the solution. But for me, I learned to fall in love with 242 00:13:29,100 --> 00:13:31,740 selling like, it sounds crazy. But I learned to fall in love 243 00:13:31,740 --> 00:13:35,610 with like bullying companies selling and literally of solving 244 00:13:35,610 --> 00:13:38,400 someone's problem for them. Somebody has a problem. And I 245 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,860 can delight them with the solution. And the memories 246 00:13:40,860 --> 00:13:43,650 people have of me being in the shop, and I could barely stand 247 00:13:43,650 --> 00:13:47,040 over the counter. And I'd be stretching up and I'd be smiling 248 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,850 and I'd be selling and it was just it was like every time I 249 00:13:50,850 --> 00:13:53,430 message someone on behalf one of my companies, and I'm like, 250 00:13:53,430 --> 00:13:56,970 Please, we help them please, we don't you want to quit call and 251 00:13:56,970 --> 00:14:03,390 say no. Like, that's all I see without it. So I think that 252 00:14:03,390 --> 00:14:06,390 would be my one superpower. And I think the other one is maybe 253 00:14:06,390 --> 00:14:09,630 pattern recognition. You know, being a survivor, I learned to 254 00:14:09,630 --> 00:14:12,930 recognize patterns very early on, just in terms of survival. 255 00:14:13,290 --> 00:14:16,560 And in terms of like, keeping safe. And I think it's helped me 256 00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:21,420 a lot in terms of like, making investments and just learning to 257 00:14:21,420 --> 00:14:24,750 see where the world is going, which are in and out just like a 258 00:14:24,750 --> 00:14:28,260 joy to do that kind of thing. But I think pattern recognition 259 00:14:28,260 --> 00:14:31,920 too. I think many people comes down to curiosity as well, where 260 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,500 you're like curious, hey, what's happening? And then like making 261 00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:36,870 these fun predictions for yourself and practicing making 262 00:14:36,870 --> 00:14:39,330 them until eventually they kind of just become like this like 263 00:14:39,450 --> 00:14:40,770 game you play with yourself. 264 00:14:41,550 --> 00:14:43,292 Stephanie Maas: Very interesting. Hey, one of the 265 00:14:43,345 --> 00:14:46,250 things you talk about is obviously the name of the book 266 00:14:46,303 --> 00:14:49,525 Unemployable. You took a career aptitude test and it said you 267 00:14:49,578 --> 00:14:52,800 are not employable. How old were you when you took that test? 268 00:14:53,220 --> 00:14:56,100 Alysia Silberg: I think I must have been 19 at the time, and it 269 00:14:56,100 --> 00:14:58,800 had a profound effect on me. 270 00:14:58,590 --> 00:15:01,072 Stephanie Maas: Like why do you think that was so profound, 271 00:15:01,130 --> 00:15:03,960 because 18 or 19, you already had some successes. 272 00:15:04,500 --> 00:15:06,420 Alysia Silberg: I think we have to start with, if you look back 273 00:15:06,420 --> 00:15:10,230 on the circumstances, so we're blue collar, all intensive 274 00:15:10,230 --> 00:15:13,440 purposes, if you look at our quality of life, not proper 275 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,480 writing, you know, they turned off the water regularly, they 276 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,060 turn off, you know, the power regularly like this was, this is 277 00:15:18,060 --> 00:15:21,480 the way we learned wasn't food regularly. And so the idea that 278 00:15:21,690 --> 00:15:25,950 I was able to join a fancy bank, in inverted commas fancy 279 00:15:25,950 --> 00:15:29,550 sophisticated investment bank, was that to some extent, 280 00:15:29,580 --> 00:15:33,000 especially in our culture, while I've made it, so I think it's 281 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,200 important for us, this is Jiu Jitsu. So the idea that being 282 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,470 Jewish going into banking was like, a prestigious thing. So 283 00:15:40,470 --> 00:15:43,650 finally, I cleaned up well, for lack of a better term, you know, 284 00:15:43,650 --> 00:15:47,220 like, I made my family proud. And we're finally moving into a 285 00:15:47,220 --> 00:15:51,360 different class structure, I suppose. And the idea that, at 286 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:55,230 that last moment, I take this test, I've never failed a test 287 00:15:55,230 --> 00:15:57,750 before I've been told my entire life, you've got to be the best, 288 00:15:58,020 --> 00:16:01,020 no option, the best, and whatever cost to compensate the 289 00:16:01,020 --> 00:16:04,320 best. I've been to expensive fancy Jewish school on a 290 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,800 scholarship. But the idea that I got told, we don't want you 291 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,520 here, you have no place. Yeah, you don't belong here. Once 292 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,820 again, you're an outsider, in your own community. So everyone 293 00:16:14,820 --> 00:16:18,630 around me had, you know, been to these fancy schools being to 294 00:16:18,660 --> 00:16:21,690 work in banks, it was a cultural thing, where that's what people 295 00:16:21,690 --> 00:16:25,230 do. And the idea that I got told, you're an entrepreneur, 296 00:16:25,380 --> 00:16:29,250 I'm thinking, Oh, no more, no entrepreneur never allowed, you 297 00:16:29,250 --> 00:16:33,540 know, into the system. And your researcher, okay, you stating 298 00:16:33,540 --> 00:16:36,270 the obvious these two things I can do. But I don't want to only 299 00:16:36,270 --> 00:16:39,480 be able to do these things, I want to be able to hold my head 300 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,570 up high, I want to belong somewhere. And the idea that 301 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,600 I've bought the frame on my family, that was very painful. 302 00:16:45,630 --> 00:16:49,590 The idea that once again, and being thrown out of the insider 303 00:16:49,590 --> 00:16:53,160 club, always the outside, never the insider, it was ironic 304 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,980 because they were basically complimenting me. And they were 305 00:16:55,980 --> 00:16:58,110 saying, well, you're very good at what you do. You have to 306 00:16:58,110 --> 00:17:01,530 develop mastery at what you do, stick to what you're doing. But 307 00:17:01,590 --> 00:17:04,230 it wasn't well received in that community. And that's why I 308 00:17:04,230 --> 00:17:07,140 wanted to come to America. Because in this country, it's, 309 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,500 it's noble, to be a founder, it's noble, that if you fail, 310 00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:12,900 you get up you try again, and I'm gonna judge you. 311 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:16,988 Stephanie Maas: I do think when when we're doing it, right, as a 312 00:17:17,060 --> 00:17:21,130 country, we allow you to make your own club. And that is 313 00:17:21,202 --> 00:17:23,310 certainly what you have done. 314 00:17:23,460 --> 00:17:25,575 Alysia Silberg: It's a very special country. I think you 315 00:17:25,626 --> 00:17:28,824 have to grow up elsewhere. And Americans are like, we're going 316 00:17:28,876 --> 00:17:31,920 through so many problems. And I'm like, you have to grow up 317 00:17:31,971 --> 00:17:34,911 elsewhere, to know how special it is. And it's very, very 318 00:17:34,963 --> 00:17:37,542 special. And it's worth protecting because there's 319 00:17:37,594 --> 00:17:40,947 nowhere else like, like, there's nowhere else that gives the kind 320 00:17:40,999 --> 00:17:43,629 of opportunities like it's suffering, Americans are 321 00:17:43,681 --> 00:17:46,776 different. Anything's possible. And the fact that you can be 322 00:17:46,828 --> 00:17:50,026 building basically anything, and you always find a customer to 323 00:17:50,078 --> 00:17:53,224 support you, you will always find an investor to support you, 324 00:17:53,276 --> 00:17:56,010 you'll always find employees to be on your team. It's 325 00:17:56,061 --> 00:17:59,260 incredible. If I could run for president and run for president 326 00:17:59,311 --> 00:18:01,530 just because I want to protect the country. 327 00:18:01,980 --> 00:18:04,050 Stephanie Maas: Well, I think it would be an honor to have 328 00:18:04,050 --> 00:18:07,530 someone of your character run for president. I understand 329 00:18:07,530 --> 00:18:10,650 there are laws that prevent that. But that would be a breath 330 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:15,270 of fresh air. So since that's off the table, what is next for 331 00:18:15,270 --> 00:18:18,360 you? What are your eyes set on next? 332 00:18:18,780 --> 00:18:20,940 Alysia Silberg: So I want to build a community around 333 00:18:20,970 --> 00:18:24,300 unemployable of force for good at a time where as I say, I'm 334 00:18:24,300 --> 00:18:27,330 very involved in AI, we've seen a lot of change in terms of the 335 00:18:27,330 --> 00:18:31,440 economy. And we see a lot of, you know, tech layoffs. And so 336 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:35,640 for me, the idea that people see this as more than a book, but 337 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,520 more as a platform where they're like, Hey, I'm worried about 338 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,730 losing my job, or I lost my job, or I just want to build 339 00:18:41,730 --> 00:18:45,000 something. And the idea that they see the lessons in the book 340 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:50,340 as an inspiration, and give, it gives them that sense of courage 341 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,400 to be like, Okay, I'm going to use this information. And I'm 342 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:56,910 going to start building because as we were talking, each person 343 00:18:56,910 --> 00:19:00,480 has a superpower and use the power of internet. I keep saying 344 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,690 to people there 3 billion people online, you don't need 3 billion 345 00:19:03,690 --> 00:19:06,750 customers with all you know, there's so many studies you need 346 00:19:06,750 --> 00:19:09,930 1000, Boston was to build a very nice business for yourself, that 347 00:19:09,930 --> 00:19:14,250 can sustain you in a very great manner. So the idea that people 348 00:19:14,250 --> 00:19:18,360 say, Okay, I'm going to bold, I'm going to build a company for 349 00:19:18,360 --> 00:19:22,050 myself. I think that inspires me beyond beyond measure. My 350 00:19:22,050 --> 00:19:25,590 personal goal for myself is NSC 100,000 companies. And people 351 00:19:25,590 --> 00:19:28,320 say to me, where do you want those companies founded? And I 352 00:19:28,650 --> 00:19:32,040 have American 33 So Delaware based company sounds crazy, but 353 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,100 I'm very proud of the fact that people contribute to the US 354 00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:38,490 economy pay tax and bite people in that I think it's great. And 355 00:19:38,490 --> 00:19:41,700 so that's that's a big big goal for me is that I see that 356 00:19:41,700 --> 00:19:45,150 succeed and you know, invest heavily in AI. I got a free AI 357 00:19:45,150 --> 00:19:49,020 newsletter, which I hope people join subscribe to, they can ask 358 00:19:49,020 --> 00:19:52,500 me questions. We've put a lot of work into it. I have a team or 359 00:19:52,770 --> 00:19:55,950 and it's like tools, it's all kinds of things that I encourage 360 00:19:55,950 --> 00:19:59,280 people to just start looking at. And people be like, Wow, that's 361 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,220 a bit scary. You know, I'm just starting out, I know nothing 362 00:20:02,220 --> 00:20:05,940 about AI. And that's fine. Just start looking at it, if you're 363 00:20:05,940 --> 00:20:09,330 interested in on, look, look at the images and be like, Wow, 364 00:20:09,330 --> 00:20:13,410 that's AI generated on the cover of the book. These AI generated 365 00:20:13,410 --> 00:20:16,230 images in the book are AI generated, we work very hard to 366 00:20:16,230 --> 00:20:19,890 create those one of my founders. And so finding something you 367 00:20:19,890 --> 00:20:22,800 interested in when it comes to the AI too, and just say, hey, 368 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,260 at least he's got some articles on those things. Then you read 369 00:20:25,260 --> 00:20:29,100 about me message. me ask her a question. When me that's very 370 00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:32,430 important, because I want people to be left behind the exciting 371 00:20:32,430 --> 00:20:35,580 time to be living. So those are my priorities right now. 372 00:20:35,580 --> 00:20:38,592 Stephanie Maas: That's awesome. Okay, so I know you have a 373 00:20:38,663 --> 00:20:42,895 thirst to learn. I would even say it is almost for you like 374 00:20:42,967 --> 00:20:47,055 breathing. It just naturally brings you joy, which by the 375 00:20:47,127 --> 00:20:51,573 way, I mean, of all the things to love. That's a good one. You 376 00:20:51,645 --> 00:20:56,163 love it so much people will ask you if you're on drugs, that is 377 00:20:56,235 --> 00:21:00,682 saying, Wow, that is fantastic. I mean, really? Okay. But what 378 00:21:00,753 --> 00:21:05,128 are your guilty pleasures? What do you secretly love to learn 379 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:09,145 about that people might be surprised or didn't know, or 380 00:21:09,216 --> 00:21:11,010 whatever the case may be. 381 00:21:11,010 --> 00:21:13,595 Alysia Silberg: I love learning about art, I think it's because 382 00:21:13,650 --> 00:21:16,950 there's so much to understand that you don't you create your 383 00:21:17,005 --> 00:21:20,140 own interpretation. But at the same time, there's so many 384 00:21:20,195 --> 00:21:23,495 layers to it, like I recently watched, I'm obsessed with the 385 00:21:23,550 --> 00:21:26,685 Renaissance. We're living through modern day Renaissance. 386 00:21:26,740 --> 00:21:29,985 And I was just in Italy, and just celebrate the book coming 387 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,450 out. I learnt about some pieces by Leonardo da Vinci. And they 388 00:21:33,505 --> 00:21:36,420 had as a result of the technology, there were so many 389 00:21:36,475 --> 00:21:39,445 layers on this piece that no one was aware of. But the 390 00:21:39,500 --> 00:21:42,690 technologies enabled us to see it. And they were like five 391 00:21:42,745 --> 00:21:46,100 artworks on one artwork. And it was just so incredible, to be 392 00:21:46,155 --> 00:21:49,565 able to wow, like, I wonder what he was thinking about in that 393 00:21:49,620 --> 00:21:52,975 version. I wonder what he was thinking about an effort and it 394 00:21:53,030 --> 00:21:56,275 was just so fascinating. And so for me, the entire house is 395 00:21:56,330 --> 00:21:59,190 covered in OT and OT and audiobooks. I can never buy 396 00:21:59,245 --> 00:22:02,545 enough audiobooks. So I think that's an again, the privilege 397 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,010 of living in the US. In South Africa. We had no art galleries, 398 00:22:06,065 --> 00:22:09,035 museums, art galleries, everything was stolen. And the 399 00:22:09,090 --> 00:22:12,335 idea that I can get at a home for free to an art gallery, a 400 00:22:12,390 --> 00:22:15,525 different art gallery every Sunday. Wow. That's my guilty 401 00:22:15,580 --> 00:22:17,670 pleasure. And I never get tired of it. 402 00:22:18,450 --> 00:22:22,006 Stephanie Maas: Your humility is so sincere. And it comes through 403 00:22:22,078 --> 00:22:26,433 so much in your just gratitude, which Oh, it's so endearing. 404 00:22:26,505 --> 00:22:30,570 Really appreciate your willingness to give of your time. 405 00:22:30,930 --> 00:22:32,850 Alysia Silberg: I think you've been incredibly generous with 406 00:22:32,850 --> 00:22:36,210 your time and so thoughtful with your questions. I really 407 00:22:36,210 --> 00:22:38,700 appreciate it. If people are looking for the book, they can 408 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:41,130 find it on Amazon, I think that's the easiest place to find 409 00:22:41,130 --> 00:22:45,240 it. And one of the feedback is don't try to ferret like I'm 410 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,390 obsessed with radical open mindedness and allowed learning. 411 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,390 So if this stuff I can take away from the book, right in your 412 00:22:51,390 --> 00:22:55,140 review, like be honest, and message me reach out to me, and 413 00:22:55,140 --> 00:22:58,530 I want to engage with people. So whatever your feedback is, just 414 00:22:58,680 --> 00:22:59,880 reach out to me, let me know. 415 00:23:00,210 --> 00:23:01,853 Stephanie Maas: But if it's mean, I'm going to respond, you 416 00:23:01,891 --> 00:23:03,000 don't need to be mean people. 417 00:23:04,140 --> 00:23:06,240 Alysia Silberg: Thank you, again, incredibly, incredibly 418 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,120 appreciative for this beautiful, beautiful conversation.