Joe Polish used to be addicted to all manner of drugs. Polish used to be so broke he could barely afford groceries. However, nowadays, Polish is one of the most successful and influential marketers of the modern era and probably of all-time. How did a man who was snorting cocaine with a friend instead of attending his high school graduation ceremony become such a skilled marketer?
The documentary Connected: The Joe Polish Story tells his story in an exhaustive, unflinchingly honest way. Jumping back and forth between the impressive talent that signed on for Polish’s Genius Network collaboration program and his life story, the movie moves at an incredible pace. Director Nick Nanton interviews, or otherwise features, such prominent entrepreneurs as Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, and JJ Virgin, to name a tiny handful.
“How did a man who was snorting cocaine with a friend instead of attending his high school graduation ceremony become such a skilled marketer?”
These people love Polish’s down to earth, no bs attitude. Indeed, during interviews and when talking about his troubled past, Polish never shies away from the more unnerving parts. His candor proves to be the movie’s secret weapon; as I am sure it is for his successful enterprise as well. See, that he is successful is nice and all. He found a niche and got in—the American dream and all that jazz.
However, knowing that he was abused as a child. Knowing that he was living to do drugs and nothing else in high school and after, and how destitute he was, gives his story a more significant impact. Nanton ably cuts between Polish talking about his life to interviews with those in his business or social circles now. The interweaving of these elements is seamless and perfectly highlights the catalysts we see pay off further down the road.
“…perfectly highlights the catalysts we see pay off further down the road.”
Connected: The Joe Polish Story does suffer from one minute issue. At slightly over an hour long, around 68 minutes I believe, the film kind of glosses over the Genius Network. Its inception as interviews with successful people in various fields is there. However, I don’t understand its overall intended purpose. It claims to help business people cultivate their next big ideas. But how exactly does it accomplish that? Adding a few extra minutes to the film to go over how this network helps Polish and other entrepreneurs do that would have been helpful.
I had never heard of Joe Polish until this documentary. He appears to be an affable, intelligent man whose life started rough. But thanks to hard work, dedication, and some helpful advice while on a jet skiing trip he pulled himself together. Connected: The Joe Polish Story tells this man’s incredible story in a spirited and engaging way.
Connected: The Joe Polish Story (2019) Directed by Nick Nanton. Starring Joe Polish, Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, Richard Branson, JJ Virgin, Dave Asprey, Peter Diamandis. Connected: The Joe Polish Story screened at the 2019 Dances With Films.
8 out of 10 Gummi Bears
Wow. Didn’t know. Will watch! Ran into his material and bought it 4 years ago by happenstance after seeing Peter Diamandis in LA at Nick’s event and later purchasing 2 of Peter’s books and signing up for his blog.