Overview

On this episode of Build Your Network, Host Travis Chappell interviews Gareb Shamus, CEO of ACE Universe and world-renowned pop culture expert.

Topics Discussed:

• About Gareb Shamus
  • Working with his brother back in the superhero business, trying to reinvent the world they started.
  • Building a global community of fans around the world.
  • He’s an abstract painter and his friends are comic book illustrators.
  • Once he started networking with the right people he got gallery shows, etc.
  • He never imagined himself being a professional artist.
• Gareb and Travis talk about the difference between passion and profession.
• How does ACE Universe flesh itself out on a daily basis?
  • They started the company the middle of last year to do new comic cons.
    • They wanted to do these conferences in a unique way.
    • The goal was to bring in the biggest celebrities in the world.
    • The whole early part of their lives were about being accepted.
  • What kind of transformation have you seen in the audience members and attendees of comic con events?
    • Back in 1990, the audience was 95% male ages 14 and 15.
    • The audience started growing and aging.
    • When the material got more mature, women entered the audience.
    • The generational aspect then came into it.
    • All of a sudden, there was a father-son aspect of the audience.
    • Now the industry is large and diverse.
    • There was a huge spike of interest when the movies started coming out.
  • Do you believe that what you know or who you know is more important, and why?
    • Networking is the most important life skill that you can have.
      • It enables you to move in and out of almost any aspect of your life.
      • Over time you build up an incredible network that allows you to get into the business you want.
    • What were some practical ways you connected with people before social media and have you completely transformed since then?
      • He doesn’t limit himself to calling or email, he starts to look at his network and see who his common connections are.
      • It’s much easier to access people now.
      • His success rate is still very, very low – you still have to do what it takes in terms of the research.
      • When you fail, that means you’re not even trying.
      • When people reach out to him just to say hi, he doesn’t have to figure out why they’re saying hi in the first place.
        • The more information you can give, the more likely he is the respond.
      • How do you recommend people deal with rejection?
        • He didn’t let it bother him.
          • He just worked with the people that said yes.

The Random Round:

• • • What profession other than your own do you think it would be fun to attempt?
      • Technology and app development
    • If you could sit on a park bench with anyone for an hour who would it be, and why?
      • Mark Zuckerberg
    • How do you like to consume content best, books, blogs, podcasts, or videos?
      • Articles, social media, and videos
    • Give us a glimpse of your morning routine
      • Get up and check social media, stocks, news, etc.
      • Responds to people and gets into work
    • What is your go-to pump up song?
      • Over My Head by The Fray
    • What are you not very good at?
      • Confrontation
    • What is one place where we can find you online?
      • Instagram @garebshamus

Tweetable Quotes:

• Failure is not trying.
• When you say no, you’re telling me to call your competitor.

Resources Mentioned:

Buildyournetwork.com– Podcast website

BYN.media/fb – Facebook Group

Gareb Shamus website

Ace Universe website