Jordan Paris: Don’t Make a Living, Design a Life

Jordan Paris is a 21-year-old author, podcast host, and former college athlete seen in Men’s Health, Yahoo! Finance, Market Watch, and NASDAQ.

Jordan’s podcast, Growth Mindset University, was ranked #3 in Apple’s Training category and #5 in the How-To category. In Education, one of Apple’s most competitive categories, the show was ranked #15. On the show, he interviews young up-and-comers and the most successful people on planet earth like James Altucher, Kevin Rudolf, Mark Manson, Dan Millman, Naveen Jain, and Dan Lok.

Jordan founded The WordPress Rocketeer, where he focused on developing engaging websites to launch his clients’ dreams to infinity and beyond. Now, he and his team have shifted their focus to doing marketing for serious podcasters.

His approach to life and business is simple yet powerful: Don’t make a living, design a life. With this creator’s mentality, Jordan has been able to produce outstanding results for himself and challenge others to rise above circumstances, break the mold of society, and take control of their lives.

How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?

I’m 21 years old with two younger siblings. One of the coolest things is when my brother and sister are proud to talk about me to their friends and when their friends want to meet me. It’s nice to know that they look up to me and that I’ve set a good example for them to follow. My parents like to ask me for advice on what to do with my siblings in certain situations. Sometimes, for better or worse, I feel like a third parent. So, I’ve taken on a new role the past few years since I’ve forged my own path. It’s interesting.

How do you define success?

“Don’t make a living, design a life” has been in my Instagram bio for over 2.5 years, not because it sounds good, but because it actually works.

I’ve designed my life around three criteria:

1. Make a lot of money
2. Help a lot of people
3. Have a lot of fun

If a specific activity doesn’t fit​ at least​ one of these three criteria, I either don’t do it at all, or I outsource it.

​Success is when what you do every day aligns with all three of these criteria.​

What piece of advice would you give to college graduates who want to become entrepreneurs?

Dig the well before you’re thirsty. Start developing relationships with all types of people now. Don’t wait until you need relationships because, by then, it’s too late to leverage them. Then, treat everyone like they can get you a cover story on Forbes Magazine. Even if someone doesn’t have an opportunity for you right now, you never know what opportunity they might have for you or who they might be able to introduce you to three days, three weeks, three months, three years, even 15 years from now. Play the long game, and you’ll win.

If you had a magic stick, which are the three things you would change in the world?

Nothing. I enjoy the world the way it is right now but am ready to embrace change when necessary.

Q: What business-related book has inspired you the most? (or, what is your favorite book?)

A: Choose Yourself by James Altucher, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson, Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards, and Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. When I finally got to interview all of these authors on Growth Mindset University, it made the journey feel full-circle!