Hey There,
 
After two weeks of back to back strategic consulting days, my brain is fried! I always enjoy the challenge of finding the big idea and putting a structure in place to build a business or create an opportunity that defies industry norms. While many people search for the “thing” or “magic pill”, the reality is that nothing beats good ole fashion hard work. And if you listen to Gary Vaynerchuk, the social media king (who is coming to Australia by the way), don’t be afraid to “work hard” because you are setting yourself for great things.
 
While I enjoy the consulting days and working one on one with clients, I also know that many people have the goods but lack the opportunity and “fresh eyes” to give them clarity and direction. I remember when I use to be part of a business coaching group and would give away free advice during these mastermind meetings. My wife, my friends and advisers all told me off for giving away so much for nothing. But what they all forget about is the gift of building a relationship. Where are you building your relationships?
 
I find it no mistake that the current clients who have booked in are past clients who I have assisted previously. When you give people great content, advice and are genuinely interested in their success, they will invest time, energy and money with you. Remember, when it comes to pricing your services, it’s about the value you deliver and not the time you spend with your clients. If you are in the commodity business, where clients buy on price alone, consider ways you can create packages that defy comparison. For example, the last three letters I got from Fortune magazine to re-subscribe failed, however, the new offer with a “free book” got me to write a cheque and renew my subscription. Finding an angle to deliver your offer is one of the best skills that allows you to increase your income.
 
After the response from last week, I have been asked to continue peeling back the layers from the seminar game. I have been trusted as an innovator and adviser with great success. In fact, one promoter who lost a lot of money during his events said recently, “I wish I had your experience…” while another was able to fill 40% of their room from one strategy I shared with them. While there is a science to making money at an event, there is also an art in delivering an experience that values participants and makes them feel part of the community. 
 
Another issue I’m also asked is why is the seminar industry generally frowned upon by the mainstream. This is generally caused by a small handful of people who come into the market, rape it and leave their trail of destruction where customers lose their money. Make no mistake, it only takes one person to destroy a whole industry and I’ve witnessed 3-4 occasions now where the media storm hits and dramatically reduces seminar attendances. This occurs because there is no leadership in the seminar community. Too many promoters and speakers are so busy and so scarcity minded that they miss out on the greater opportunity to transform the “new education” landscape that benefits society long term. It’s quite ironic that we teach success and abundance, yet we can’t share the fruits of success with our fellow colleagues. We see them as competitors instead of collaborators and miss out on great opportunities to create new experiences for a seminar market that will be flat this year.
 
If you speak to leading speakers in the industry, you will discover they are constantly battling the negative stigma associated with their “get rich quick” business. While many speakers who have been around a long time, have established a “real” business, too many “opportunist” have focused on the short-term money gains and are prepared to lie and use hard sell tactics to extract money from people are just starting out. While there is no way to stop the sharks circling around the “weak minds”, I believe that with the power of social media, more people will be protected and have the opportunity to join communities that support their vision, values and goals.
 
I remember Dan Kennedy said that seminar promoters are a city away from bankruptcy because most people don’t realise the enormous costs of putting these large events on. Some events can cost over $150,000 before you even put one person in the room. My predication is that there will be at least two promoters who will be bankrupt this year as they fail to innovate their business and take advantage of the emerging trends appearing in the marketplace. People don’t just want to hear speakers anymore, they want to belong to a progressive community. You can’t keep teaching the same old material, you need to reinvent your message and stories to keep them engaged. (And doing the same presentation but changing the title doesn’t count)
 
In the last month of phone consultations and discussions with some key players, it’s become obvious that the seminar industry is full of lies. It’s difficult to believe testimonials unless you know the person. I’ve even heard of cases where promoters have written their own testimonials on their sales page without permission. These behaviours are very dangerous in a market where the law of attachment can make careers and can also destroy careers. Who you align yourself with determines how much you learn and grow.
 
And I’ve noticed a massive shift in the marketplace where “intuitive” and switched on business owners can actually see through a speaker before they even start speaking. So if you are a speaker, especially starting out, you need to make sure you are congruent with your message because your audience can google you while you speak these days. So don’t focus on creating that fake millionaire lifestyle, focus more on delivering a service and providing value and build your way up. (And if you want more speaking strategies and tips, join my six figure speakers group on facebook)
 
So if you are a speaker who is incongruent with your message, you can’t hide any more. If you are full of drama and desperate to make money, your crowd will not support you. If you run over time and disrespect your fellow speakers, they will not buy. And if you fail to deliver content or an engaging experience, they will simply switch off and walk out during your presentation. Times have changed and people are not only after a real solution, but they are building their “team of advisers” to help them achieve their goals. The best speakers who have the best support team will outlast the constantly changing market.
 
I hope you can see why I’m hesitant to release a large scale coaching or mentoring program because I don’t want to disappoint and promise things I can’t deliver on. I don’t want to be another person who offers a high priced program that fails to deliver and leaves people with the scars of massive financial trauma. Seriously, many of these over-priced programs are fuelled by egos and “fabricated” lifestyles that promote no work and all play. If that’s an illusion that you desire, I suggest you unsubscribe from this list because you will be getting real doses of reality and clarity with proven principles and passion.
 
I take those calls when people have gone through the gurus and still have nothing to show for it because no one ever took the time to sit them down and connect with them. It’s amazing to help someone discover their core gifts, their passion, their niche market, their hook, craft their message, create their systems and build their products that allows them to build a community of followers who subscribe to their big ideas. As Noah St John says, the first step of success is to have someone who believes in you, more than you believe in yourself. I tell all my clients that they will give up before I do because failure is not an option.
 
I have invested in certain upcoming people who I believe will deliver integrity, value and service to seminar students who are ready to join our expanding community. I also have the ears of some promoters who are looking to “blood” new stars so I find myself in a great space at the moment, being able to express my core gift as a connector. I’ve always wanted to contribute to the seminar community and love it. It has given me an amazing life…one that I could never dream of as a refugee coming to Australia in 1980 aged 2. So if you are in the seminar community, all I can do is ask you to step up and continue to provide incredible value to the marketplace and leave it a better place. We all have something we can contribute and when you discover your core gift and deliver it with passion and purpose, you leave your legacy!
 
Nothing is missing…
 
Simplify,
 
CHEN
 
P.S Thank you for all those comments about my Yoda profile pic. I enjoyed the feedback and seriously contemplated changing this weeks issue to “Conversations with Choda” (Thanks Jen)
 
P.P.S “You can’t build congruency when you divide yourself” – Remember, you are living two lives: the one that everyone expects you to live and the unlived life. If you want an opportunity to explore where you are and where you want to go, I encourage you to book a strategic day or strategic phone consultation to discover and accelerate your results. Please contact me through facebook and i have instructed my PA to give priority to CWC members this month

Hey There,
 
My eldest son started his first day of school last week and it was a great day. We took lots of photos of a very excited boy who looked very cute in his school uniform. I remember when I was my son’s age, I started kindergarten with no English. I loved school because it gave me the escape from home life, whereas my son gets to “escape his little brother”. I often think about trying new things for the first time. When was the last time you did something for the first time?
 
When you read this, the seminar season is in full swing. I love seminars and I got the opportunity to attend my first one this year. I was invited up to Leela Cosgrove’s “Productise” event up in Brisbane. It was a great event and she shared an excellent distinction with the “Unique Value Proposition” (UVP) which is designed to craft your message to your market and deliver tangible value. This concept alone was worth the whole day. If you get a chance to go to one of her events, you will find other business owners there and not “opportunists”!
 
The seminar industry has given me a great income and lifestyle. However, recently I’ve been warned about being too critical with the industry and its players. Listen, I don’t have any malice or “hurt”, my only pure intent is to hold a mirror to the industry so that you can see the game behind the game. It’s like in the Chiropractic industry. All through my student years, I was always told the enemy was the medical doctors and I took it hook, line and sinker! As I matured in the industry, I realised the cancer was from within, it was other Chiropractors in the profession that were destroying each other for position, pride and ego. (Sometimes, I feel that’s the same situation going on in the seminar world…)
 
I’ve been thinking and thinking for a while about whether to write the next part of not. Here’s why. What I’m about to reveal to you is “secret” information that you probably won’t hear from any guru. In fact, I have no doubt I will lose some friends over this but I feel it’s important to “protect” you this year. You see, I’ve been on the inside and behind the scenes on a lot of seminars and know exactly how the seminar game works. (In some cases, I’ve innovated programs and pitches for speakers who have gone on to make millions of dollars…)
 
Here’s the game in a nutshell: New promoters put on an event based on building their list from existing speakers and hope to get enough people in the room so that these speakers can sell them products at the end of their presentation. Nothing unusual here but here’s where the ugly truth appears…(I often wonder why speakers pitch their crowd to attend a seminar where they make half the revenue if their clients buys…Hmmm, interesting)
 
Speakers are not paid a cent to speak at the event and therefore many of them arrive at an event with thousands of dollars in debt. They have to pay for their own air fares, accommodation and meals plus any additional staff. While the experienced pros can afford this, many “newbie” speakers can’t and it forces them to spend more time “selling” their products than teaching because they want to make sure they make enough sales to cover their costs. Two quick stories. I know a speaker who sold nothing and put incredible financial pressure on him and his family because his expectations of the event wasn’t matched as the promoter failed to fill the room. Another story is of a speaker who “hit a home run” and did six figures straight out of the gate. The problem was he could not deliver on his offer and has since been discarded by many promoters and gone quiet.
 
So why am I telling you this?
 
To allow you to understand the game for what it is. There is good and bad in all industry’s and there’s always two sides to the story. Be careful what you hear. I don’t have an issue if someone buys a product and does nothing with it. I don’t have an issue with someone who spends over $100,000 at an event but fails to implement. And I don’t think buying success has ever worked. Everyone needs to learn their lesson. What I do have an issue is the outrageous promises made from the stage which aren’t honored. The failure of speakers delivering their products seems to occur more with new speakers who tend to be “one man shows” and lack the infrastructure to support an influx of new clients. So if you want to spot great speakers, a simple test is to determine how long they have been in the game.
 
So what’s the lesson. My advice is simple. Use seminars for their true value and that’s to network with like-minded people. The best lessons are always at the back of the room and many relationships you develop beyond the stage can impact you for years to come. I still have friends from the first wealth creation seminars I attended over ten years ago.
 
Last year, I worked on a project where the client paid for the speakers to be there. Flights, accommodations and some meals were covered so the speakers weren’t forced to “sell” to recover their costs but they had a great opportunity to teach and engage the participants. While not everyone sold their products or service, the handful that did sell got excellent results with a “soft pitch” approach which I walked them through the process. (there’s nothing more challenging than making a sale where a sale doesn’t exists…bring it on!)
 
Without being a speaker myself, I’ve found an intuitive ability to help speakers sell more and have developed a reputation for being the go to guy in the industry. I think the reason is because I know what the client wants and in many cases, it’s not a truckload of bonuses but resources, information and access they can use NOW. It’s always great to craft a great offer that makes a crowd move to the back of the room. Last week, I worked intensely with a client for two weeks. She closed 15 sales from 19 buying units in the room @$997 per sale. Needless to say, she was stoked.
 
I also received an email this week that I wanted to share with you:
 
“Two coaching sessions with Chen fine tuning my platform sales presentation have taken my 10% conversion rate to 76%, literally overnight. I’ve discovered that with his help, I can now earn more money in one week than I would previously make in 6 months! Chen has provided me with insights, tips and strategies to make this happen, and it is clear to me that with his coaching I can only continue to grow as a speaker. Chen has a depth of knowledge that is second to none, and has his finger on the pulse of the information marketing and speaking industry. Having someone of his unique talent ” in my corner” gives me a tremendous sense of confidence and clarity for my future and an unlimited view of what is possible for me to earn and achieve!”
 - Adam Gibson
 CEO & Head Coach
 Lifestyle Practitioner Academy
 http://www.facebook.com/l/fdada;www.lifestylepractitioneracademy.com
 
 
Thanks to Adam, it has inspired me to work with more people this year. After much deliberation with my wife, I will be opening up more strategy sessions and strategy days in the next 90 days. Keep a lookout next week’s CWC.
 
Attention “Winners”: If you are a winner, would you like to hang around other winners. I’ve been asked by several people to organize mastermind groups in brisbane, sydney and melbourne. If you are interested in joining one of these groups, please let me know. I’m interested in building a platform for the people where you get the help you need and not just another lecture. It’s a new project that seems to address a growing problem in the outdated seminar education model.
 
Have a great week and remember, “if you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt Disney
 
 
Simplify,
 
CHEN
 
P.S I’m currently sifting through the entries for the your story and there are certainly some great stories. If you want to learn how to craft your core story and supporting stories to help you sell better, then you must attend the Cash Characters event…Heck, I think I”m even speaking at it now: http://www.facebook.com/l/fdada;www.chenurl.com/bu
 
P.P.S Naughty corner goes to michael cocks who promised me 10 mudcrabs and has only delivered one. Got a text from him that said “i’ve just put the crab pot out so start praying”. 
My response: “Lord hear my prayers…please give Michael Crabs…” (I think it got lost in translation…)

Hey There,
 
Thank you for the incredible response from my last Conversations with Chen”. I wanted to clarify a few things from the questions I have received.
 
If you are writing your story, make it impactful and short. Keep it down to one page. There is power and clarity in simplicity. If you don’t want to write but post a video of your story, then keep it to under 1-2 minutes and use the tag < “conversations with chen” my story> and send me the youtube link. Due to the response so far, I’m thinking of interviewing the winner for a segment in future issues. I will review each selection and personally select the winner.
 
I can tell from the feedback that not only you are enjoying my rants but finding real value. I’m looking forward to keeping you up to date and experimenting with some things to ensure you stay on top of your game! I know your time is valuable and won’t waste it…except for a few recommmended youtube videos every now and then…:-)
 
Just think of me as your “unreasonable friend”…now get back to work or play! Enjoy your day…
 
Chen
 
P.S Thanks to your support, it looks like Pete is going to include a bonus session. I appreciate those who helped out and it just shows you what can happen when you get the support of the community!

Hey There,
 
I love Australia Day…I really do. It’s almost like “Thanksgiving” for me because I’m truly grateful to be in a country that gives me the opportunity to live a great life and create opportunities for my family and friends. Our family arrived in Australia in 1980 and spoke no english and while I told people all through primary school that we came here on a boat, the reality is that we actually came by plane (Thai Airways). 
 
You have to remember that as a child, I just assumed that we came on a boat because we were poor. So I kept telling that story until one day, I bought some friends over and mum overheard me telling the story and felt a pressing desire to tell the truth. So you could imagine that my popularity with the girls diminished once they heard the real story. But that was okay, because I had a plan B. Plan B was my “arranged marriage” story and boy, did that story spread like wild fire through the school…)
 
What Levels You Out?
 
Have you noticed that when you are on a roll, your focus turns from expecting more success to expecting failure. It’s like you expect this good fortune can’t go on forever. I have learnt that the better it gets, the better it gets because I expect it. And when you live with expectations and have worked on building strong foundations, the streams of intentions become magnified with actions and deliver you your desired results. 
 
Sure, there will be challenges along the way. But these obstacles are merely opportunities for you to demonstrate your self belief and work ethic. Behaviour never lies. Too many people are held back because their beliefs and values instilled in them from their childhood. Did you know that if you don’t neutralise your past emotions, they can stagnate your growth and development. Such bruises and scars can remain hidden internally in our body only to manifest later as physical symptoms. When you release these emotions, you can sense renewed energy and faith towards your goals and dreams.
 
Isn’t it true that you can achieve a decade of results in just one year when you are in the zone. When you are experiencing this phenomenon, here’s my suggestion…Speed Up! I know it sounds counterintuitive but think about it, what’s the worst thing that can happen. You start again. If you are cruising on the freeway, why would you expect a speed hump. It’s this self-sabotage thinking that destroys many dreams. When your goals aren’t aligned with your values, there’s a massive disconnect and you need to learn the lesson before you move forward.
 
What you focus on expands. That’s why I despise budgets because the mindset reinforces your belief that your income is limited. Remember, your bank account never ever ever reflects who you are. Too many people “LIVE” like their incomes and forget about their bigger dream or purpose and settle for being comfortable because they never get out of survival mode. While increasing your income may give you more choices, the reality is you will bring who you are to the higher levels.
 
For example, I’m reminded of a couple who were awarded two free flights to the USA. Now you would think they would be excited and grateful for the opportunity but all that “feeling” changed when they also submitted an invoice for the travel insurance!!!!! There’s nothing worse than “poor” rich people because they are the ones they give the wealthy a bad name.
 
One of my core beliefs is that my income in unlimited. One of my mentors told me, his budget is “how much money am I going to make today?” What a great empowering question to ask yourself. I know my friend and client, Pete Godfrey has pre-planned “Money Sucking Days”TM because again, what you focus on expands. Do you have days where all you think about is where the new income is coming from and how to reduce your expenses. These two simple tasks implemented can be pivotal in attracting more money into your life. Remember, savings is about preserving your wealth and investing is about growing your wealth. Many people forget this fundamental principle and get disappointed when their “savings” don’t grow.
 (Exercise: I want you to write on a 3×5 card: “How Much Money Am I Going To Make Today?” and start your day with looking at this card…let me know the results)
 
You got to keep learning new things because it’s the raw materials that you put in today that will attract the people and opportunities to you tomorrow. I’ve found that TIME in the market develops your skills, knowledge and experience. You see, there are too many “instant experts” or “get rich quick” gurus out there and while you can get past the masses, when you start connecting with the pros, they can see right through you. I guess that’s why speakers and promoters see me as a “leader” in the industry because there’s only a handful of people that have a genuine pulse of what’s happening in the marketplace.
 
I know there are many upcoming speakers who read this and I wanted to give you some quick advice. Firstly, I can pretty much tell in the first 5 minutes whether they’ve got the goods or not. The rest is confidence and getting the right opportunities. So my advice to people starting out is: Find your voice. Discover that core story which allows you to connect with your audience on multiple levels and craft 3-5 stories that support your core story. Teach your best stuff and give people an opportunity to find out more about you. Make sure that system or product you sell has an element of support that allows you to build a relationship with the client. And practice, practice, practice. There’s no such thing as “fear of public speaking”. You either lack confidence, aren’t fully prepared about the topic or bought that story somewhere along your journey and it supports your current values and beliefs. If you want to learn more about speaking, you can join my @“six figure speakers” group on facebook as well.
 
I’ve had many great conversations on the phone with clients and new prospects and the general theme I can tell you is that there is a shift where “winners” who want more. They are sick of attending free seminars and pitch-fests only to see the same people swallow the same “magic pill”. These punters pour their savings into schemes and it’s not that these strategies don’t work, it’s just that they haven’t prepared their mindsets to give the program a chance. Sure, “the system” sounds great in theory but the program must be aligned with your core values and beliefs. Reprogramming your mindset takes time and your environment and the people that surround you will determine how quick you can reinvent yourself.
 
So if you are a successful business owner, entrepreneur or determined to succeed, then you need to be in an environment filled with winners. Now, when I talk of winners, I’m not talking about millionaires, being a guru or someone famous etc. I’m talking about experiencing success and sharing that in an environment that supports you to achieve more. Did you know that your unique story can inspire the next entrepreneur? I’ll prove it. Send me your story and the winning story will get reposted in my “Conversations with Chen” plus you get an hour with me on the phone to work on your business or opportunity. Some people would value that over $1,000 but I know it will be worth more to you because a session with me will be the catalyst for new dreams and possibilities. The runners up will also get some cool gifts. Remember, this isn’t a competition, just your opportunity to participate and get rewarded. I’ve helped many people craft their story, pitch or product from scratch and love the process of seeing an idea birthed into reality. By the way, if you want to learn more about crafting your story, make sure you attend Pete Godfrey’s Cash Characters event. For more info, go to http://www.facebook.com/l/24f9e;www.cashcharacters.com
 (NOTE: And if you are a rebel or part of the “wolf pack”, can you hassle @Pete Godfrey to give me a session at the event because I want to share my secrets on creating a “six figure” pitch!)
 
Until next time…pursue excellence in everything you do!
 
Simplify With Passion,
 
CHEN
 
P.S The house move went very smoothly. My wife is just amazing and has made it painless as possible for me. Mind you, it’s taking me about ten times as long to unpack because I’ve rediscovered my Dan Kennedy, Rich Schefren, Tony Robbins, Eban Pagan, Frank Kern, John Reese, GKIC library etc… And there’s a whole bunch of articles from magazines like BRW, Fortune, Time, Inc, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Redbook, Oprah, etc… It’s like I’ve uncovered a secret research lab for entrepreneurs, info-marketers and speakers.
 
P.P.S Recently I read an article about immigration and why it should be reduced. Rubbish…I’m a big fan of immigration because this whole country was founded on immigration. Here’s my policy, for every new Australian we accept, we donate a dole recipient overseas. It’s a win-win because you give the new Australian a chance of creating a new life and they will work their butt off while the other Australian would appreciate this country more and hopefully be more committed to contributing something greater if we decide to let them back in! ? 
 
Happy Australia Day!!!
 
P.P.P.S And this issues Naughty Corner goes to @Kylie Bartlett for her post “Do you think society is sexist?” If you haven’t read it yet, it’s a very funny post…just shows you there’s popularity in talking about the sexes…take note! Brilliant!

Hey There,
 
I know the year has only just started, but can you already sense the big shift that is going on. Things are changing. Sales are picking up, business is getting back to normal and a new generation of “stars” is being prepared to inspire a whole new generation of entrepreneurs who continue to search for that one idea or breakthrough that accelerates their results.
 
Now that the age of the excess economy is over, it’s time to reposition yourself for the new expanding economy. What skills do you want to learn, what new knowledge do you want to acquire and who do you want to meet? And who do you want to be?
 
I am constantly learning and trying to find ways to sharpen the saw. You see, I understand how little hinges swing big doors and have always invested my time to learn these in order to help my clients develop a depth of distinction in knowledge and effective strategies to achieve their outcomes fast.
 
Recently I read an article in Fortune Magazine that said the best asset for a CEO in the new economy is a chief of staff. So what is a chief of staff? Well, it’s a top level adviser who’s part confidant, part gatekeeper and part all-around strategic consultant. I remember watching the tv series “Commander in Chief” (If you haven’t seen it, I strongly encourage you to get it and watch it. It’s very powerful and has great strategic lessons in each episode…key theme: how do you win when everyone is plotting your failure…) and and loved the role of the Chief of Staff and it’s the best description of the work I personally do and enjoy.
 
You know that’s one of the biggest questions I get asked, “Chen, what do you actually do?” Are you a coach, are you a speaker trainer, are you motivational speaker…etc. I learnt very early in my financial education from Dan Kennedy that the worst number was one. One skill, one profession, one job was dangerous. That’s why I’ve always worked on acquiring skills and did whatever needed to be done. That’s why I’m an all-rounder in cricket. I remember playing my first game and offered to be wicket keeper. Then one day, they discovered I could bowl and as my confidence increased, I started making runs with the bat and in 2004/5, I won the Lennox Head Club Champion Trophy which really blew me away. But it all started with doing “ONE” thing right and practising that skill until it was good enough. (note to perfectionist…I did say “good enough”)
 
So instead of focusing on the money or job, I’ve always focused on acquiring the skills and knowledge. Whatever money i made, I would always pour back into books, seminars, audios, homestudy courses etc. And if you are married, it doesn’t matter how understanding your spouse is, if you buy all this stuff and you haven’t expanded your income, then questions arise. And it’s not just the questions you have to deal with…it’s the tone!
 
You know what I mean. So how do you convert all that learning, resources and opportunities into money in your bank. Well, one of the most important lessons I’ve learnt about money is that while most people verbalise externally they want more money, they internally repel it simultaneous because they don’t value themselves. Most people get brought up with the internal battles of “you are not good enough”, “don’t be greedy”, “why would anyone pay me for that”. Money is the wrong thing to focus on because money is only a representation of value. 
 
Therefore, if you want more money, focus on delivering more value. Bitching and whining about your customer, job and how much you work won’t raise your income. It will make sure you gain significance temporarily, attract “losers” who love your “drama,” build up resentment and anger and it serves no purpose but to protect your own ego. Get over it. Never ever focus on the amount, always focus on the value you deliver. 
 
So the first step is to focus on delivering value. The next step is to have a system that supports your learning and implementation. I will explain that in future issues but the key is to watch your INFLOW and OUTFLOW and to make sure there’s a balance. Too much INFLOW means you will get overwelmed and nothing will get done. It means you become a hoarder (that’s me) and you end up moving homes because you’ve acquired too much stuff!
 If you think “Garbage In: Garbage Out”, it will help you focus on searching for quality products and services.
 
But the most important step is accountability. Who are you accountable to? Does that person respect you and guide you? It’s important to have someone to build your confidence but you can also trust them to give you critical feedback. Remember, feedback is just feedback, don’t bring emotion into it. Just like tennis, I always recommend you find someone who is playing the game above you but has time to share experiences so that you both can learn and grow together.
 
I know there are a lot of speakers and potential speakers that read this and I want to share an important lesson with you this week. Recently a lady wanted to be a motivational speaker but was afraid of public speaking. Now, unlike other “coaches/consultants” who follow “set” systems and forget to connect and intuitively read their clients, I called her bluff and said that it was absolute rubbish. You see, it’s not a fear of public speaking. The only reason why you are scared of public speaking is if you weren’t prepared and didn’t know your material or you didn’t get enough practice. I believe she probably bought that “fear of public speaking” story by someone else and lacked the confidence because she didn’t have the support she needed in life. Or maybe she was simply trying to protect her ego. Listen, we need to be real honest and see the situation without “emotion” because the emotion can cloud our judgement and decisions in life.
 
If you want to be a great speaker, you must develop great stories. And my client and friend, Pete Godfrey will be releasing his http://www.facebook.com/l/af566;www.cashcharacters.com event very soon. I encourage you to attend this event because stories is a fundamental art in the science of creating a six figure platform presentation. I have been responsible for creating several “six figure” pitches and assisted in one 7-figure pitch so I can definitely recommend his event. Remember, “stories sell, facts tell”. Just one idea or one contact can be the breakthrough or catalyst to your best year.
 
Nothing is missing. Celebrate your value with afformations today!
 
 
Simplify with Passion,
 
CHEN
 
P.S As we are moving house next week, there may be a delay in messages over the next few weeks. I will do my best. Remember, please post positive feedback on my wall. I appreciate your support.

Hey There,

 
Wow, what a great response to the special new year exercise. Many people appreciated the timing of the exercise and while I appreciate your honesty, many people did say that while they valued the exercises, they didn’t have time to do it. Or are looking forward to doing it soon. That’s why resolutions don’t work. A resolution without the discipline for planning and action is just a wish and most people used up their wishes when they were kids.
 
So unlike other mentors or coaches who tell you what to do, I’m going to reveal my answers for the first part. I was hesitant to share this as it’s personal, but I wanted to inspire you and give you insights to my life in the last 12 months. It’s really positioned me well for the next decade and I’m looking forward to it. Here’s my answers for the first part of the exercise:
 
1.) What was your biggest “win” in 2009?
 - Attending Andrew Reynold’s Entrepreneurs Bootcamp in London with over 6000 other entrepreneurs. It was the most incredible experience being treated like a rock star and having the respect and recognition from the UK’s leading entrepreneur. I also got to have dinner with Rick/Jane Otton and Brunch with Brad Sugars. It was an incredible experience and one that I will never forget. It’s amazing what you can do in 4 days in London! (Lesson: quality not quantity and never ever underestimate your power and influence)
 
2.) What was the greatest lesson you learned?
 - Don’t old grudges as they are negative energy which can stagnate in your physical body and trap you from within. Let it go. Your past can be an anchor that holds you back or a foundation for great things. You decide. It’s easier to forgive people if you accept that people do the best they can in the situation they are in. While it may be emotionally charged “in the moment”, it’s interesting to visit the same scenario in future years, especially from the other person’s side. After an exercise at Money & You, I called up my father and forgave him for the beatings I received as a child. I remember being angry with my father for most of my childhood and felt a huge sense of relief when I let it all go. Later, I understood that my father loved me and wanted the best for me and he treated me the same way his father did because that’s all he knew. (My grandfather had over 17 kids…). Not only did I learn about myself, but it made me understand why people would be angry with the world. We attach so much emotions to events and even though the event has passed, our body holds onto the scars and memories. Your emotions attach to an event, which will subconsciously determine how it affects your life. While most people endure a fear-based life like I did with my father, I promised to do the opposite. I chose to raise my children in a “love-based” world. And if you have children, you know that there’s nothing more magical than when they tell you, they “love you.”
 There’s many courses and people who can help you through this process and I recommend you do a course to give you the  skills to confront these issues. Be warned! If you focus too much on these “blockages”, you will get more. So deal with what you need to and move on. There’s many ways to release emotions in your body. So, here’s a quick and easy one to get you started. Firstly, sit down in a quiet place, bring up the emotion and then say, “I choose to let it go now…” . Do this a few times and you will feel a release in your body. It can be emotional and drain your energy so be careful. It’s probably best done at the end of the day.
 
3.) What was the biggest risk you took?
 - The decision to sell our house and buying a block of land to build a house. Seven years ago we bought two chiropractic practices and the freehold to a commercial premise for no money down. It was a case of jumping into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim. It went against all the professional advice we received and even our chiropractic coach said it was “out of gradient”. He was right. If I had my time again, I wouldn’t do it but I’m so glad I did because of the path it has taken me. (“don’t wish things were easier, wish you were better” J. Rohn) At the time, I remember we were both convinced we had the mindset, we just needed the opportunity. Our plan was simple, if my wife looked after the practice and admin side, I would look after the marketing…the synergy of souls aligned makes success a process of time. Take risks in 2010! 
 
4.) What was the most important relationship you worked on?
 - My wife. I realised in the chaotic schedule of life’s responsibilities and priorities, I had put her way way way down on my list. Probably somewhere around 9-10. A man’s natural hierarchy is towards work and finances while a woman is for nurture and support. It’s not right or wrong…it is what it is. Too many people are trying to implant their values and change others whereas the real challenge and learning come from communicating to people in their values as I have learnt from Demartini. I was presented with so many great opportunities that I kept chasing and made many sacrifices. And while my wife kept good communication, I could feel the emotional bank accounts entering in overdraft. So I changed my behaviour and priorities for the first six months of the year and gave her more time. 
If you are married, I highly recommend you continue to consciously create new “first experiences” for each other. While it’s great to grow as one, it’s also important to realise that your differences create the passion that drives the relationship.
 
5.) What was your biggest surprise in 2009?
 - I use to joke that the only camping I do under the stars is…FIVE STARS. I started to enjoy camping but I would never confess that to my wife. I feel that we live too much in a constant work mode that we really never get a chance to disconnect. There is so much power and grace in your moments of connection with nature. Energy is everywhere and you can tap into that natural source when you are walking in the bush, swimming at the beach or creek or sitting by a campfire.
 Anyone who knows me, knows how much I used to despise camping because I was born in a village so it was like de-evolution for me. But I realise it’s not about me, my boys love camping. They love discovering new things, watching real animals and communicating with new people. Sometimes, nature gives you some of the best lessons to learn in life.
 
I hope you take the lessons within the lessons from above. I hope by sharing my life experience, it inspires you to make a difference in the world because that’s one of the things I strive for. I believe that everything i have done has lead me down this path. The seminars, the people, the opportunities have all been created to give me the knowledge, skills and traits that I need. And I believe it’s the same for you.
 
You see, I started my journey with nothing and through constant implementation and desire to create a life by choice and not chance, I transformed my beliefs and behaviours and started playing the game at the level I wanted to play in and not from my current situation. I am a by-product of the seminar education/wealth creation game and that’s why leading speakers and promoters consult with me because I really understand the psychology of the customer and can create offers that compel them to buy.
 
Behaviour is everything as you strive for success. I know if you just change that one part of your life this year, it will make a massive difference to your quality of life. While it’s worked for me, there’s no guarantee it will work for you so the best lesson you can take from this is find the parts that resonate with you and take action. And not just any action, a committed action that you are prepared to do regularly until you get your desired results.
 
So if you haven’t done the exercise, I encourage you to make time and make yourself a priority. One of my beliefs is that life is about creating yourself and here’s your chance to put yourself first. Remember, your attitude and behaviour towards this, is a reflection of what you are like in life. Let me be that unreasonable friend and encourage you shut out the world and be selfish for that 30 minutes and complete the exercise. 
 
I realise this is a full on piece but I felt it was important to share with you. You know why wealth creation seminars work? It’s the high impact, high frequency of breakthroughs and networking opportunities that changes your life. Just one idea, one contact or one opportunity can put you on the path to prosperity. I hope this is a seminar experience for some of you and just like seminars, you can feel good while you are there or use it as an opportunity to make a pivotal decision that changes your life.
 
Have an outstanding week!
 
 
Simplify with Passion,
 
CHEN
 
P.S One of my goals is to get Conversations with Chen to 500 members by the end of the year. If you are getting value out of this, I encourage you to share it with your friends. As requested, I will be adding more “recommended resources & events” in the following months. So you’ll be getting access to an incredible learning lab with proven results.
 
P.P.S Next week, I will give you an advanced marketing tip for the year. If you have a business or want to create an additional income stream, then you must create ONE defined entry point. What does that mean? Stay tuned next week…

Hey There,
 
Happy New Year! I appreciate you joining me for another year of Conversations with Chen. I am committed to making it bigger and better this year and as requested, there will be extra levels of information and support if you are serious about making 2010 your best year. I have some very special surprises lined up…
 
I know that this will be your best year because you are reading this and are taking the time to invest in your education. I know that’s been a big part of my success and I continue to add to my library of resources regularly. It’s important to not only educate yourself, you must ensure your continue with your “achievement” side. If you can bridge the gap from idea to implementation, you will be able to accelerate your results in all areas of life.
 
I’ve spent more time in the last few weeks working out my education curriculum for the year and I know the person I will be in 12 months time will be totally different to who I am now. And I feel you will experience the same thing because nature hates a vacuum and if you are filling your space with great education and opportunities to network with like-minded friends, you will be presented with great opportunities in 2010. (make sure you got a good filtering system in place…do you have criteria that determines how you invest your time, energy and money)
 
If you haven’t done it yet, you should review last year and answer the following questions. (Just thinking about this process will create shifts in your mind. The next step is to write it down and the third step is to pick up the phone and tell someone. You will be blown away by the energy that will surround you after doing this exercise…play at the level you want to play life at!)
 
1.) What was your biggest “win” in 2009?
 2.) What was the greatest lesson you learned?
 3.) What was the biggest risk you took?
 4.) What was the most important relationship you worked on?
 5.) What was your biggest surprise in 2009?
 
Now that you have built a foundation of knowledge and experience from last year, what are you seeking in creating in the new year.
 
Here’s some questions to consider:
 1.) What will be your biggest “win” in 2010?
 2.) What will be the greatest lesson you will learn?
 3.) What will be the biggest risk you are willing to take?
 4.) What will be the most important relationship you work on?
 5. What will be your biggest surprise in 2010?
 
I am a strategic adviser to speakers, coaches and seminar promoters and I can tell you, if you aren’t grateful for what you have, the universe won’t give you more. So, if you want more money in 2010, then get your finances in order. If you want more health, then get active and eat well. If you want better relationships, become a better person that communicates according to values, not words. When you manage what you have well, the universe will give you more. And forget about recovering your financial “losses” from last year…there are no losses, only lessons. Take the lesson and move on.
 
I just realised, there’s a few exercises here already, but I promised to share a special exercise with you. Here’s that special Frank Kern exercise I want to share with you last year. This is the brief version but here’s how it works:
 
Work out your number of what your lifestyle will cost and how much passive income you require to live that lifestyle. (If you are starting out, it can be combination of passive and active income) Be realistic and set a level one that you can achieve. 
 
So let’s say we want $200,000 this year for our lifestyle and expenses. The next step is to work out how much do you charge for your widget (your product or service.) Let’s say it’s $1,000.
 
So you take $200,000 and divide $1,000 which gives you 200.
 Divide that number by 52 (weeks) and you get 4. Can you sell an extra 4 widgets ( your product/service) per week to achieve your income target.
 
I know this sounds simplistic but when you do these calculations and break them down, the goal doesn’t seem to daunting. Get yourself a calculator or excel spreadsheet and run some models.
 You’ll be very surprised with the numbers you get.
 
NOTE: If you are still selling ONE TRANSACTION or ONE ITEM, it’s time to package your products/services and upsell them. If you haven’t done that yet, this could be your biggest breakthrough in 2010. I had a Yoga client who ran two classes and found there was always a drop off from the basic class (6 weeks) to the advanced class (6 weeks). What I did was reinvent the structure and we came up with a basic class (6 weeks) or deluxe class (12 weeks). If you went deluxe, you also got a free yoga mat and extra bonuses. When he presented it to his class on Monday, all 14 people took the deluxe package and it was the first time he got a 100% close for the upgrade with no drop off.
 
Wow, I hope you can see that I’ve tried to help you get the year off to a great start. I recommend you print this one out and over the week, work with it. If you are ready, I’m ready to help guide you and coach you this year because a new generation of “stars” will be created this year with the power of social media and influence and it could be you.
 
Be your best and remember, nothing is missing…
 
Simplify with Passion,
 
CHEN
 
P.S If you want to share your answers with me, then please email me with the contact form on http://www.facebook.com/l/f4a6e;www.chentay.com
 
Click on the link here: http://www.facebook.com/l/f4a6e;chentay.com/?page_id=21
 
P.P.S If you enjoy this, please share it with your friends. I’ve had several people on facebook tell me that this is one of the best messages they receive all week and look forward to it. If this is you, then I would appreciate if you let your friends know.

Hey There,
 
I hope you had great Christmas celebrations with your family and loved ones. I know that as our kids get older, there is much excitement and energy around this time of year. I hope you got the presents you wanted and enjoyed the great food. For me, it was simple. Wii Sports Resort which has been entertaining our family for the week. Thank you to clients and members who sent gifts. It was totally unexpected and greatly appreciated.
 
The conversations at this time of year are also interesting with the wider family. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a year where people have wanted to forget. But my concern is that if we don’t learn the lessons of the past year, they will repeat themselves. 

I recently just finished Kiyosaki’s new book “Conspiracy of the Rich” and it provided a few great insights.
 
The most important one is the people who created the problem are being asked to solve it. This is alarming because you can never solve the same problems with the same level of thinking. 
The whole economy is now driven by debt as more and more people provide less and less and expect more and more. It’s a recipe for continual disaster. And I can’t see it changing in next year. In the new year, I will be sharing with you insights and giving you strategies to make the most of the new expanding economy.
 
Before I leave you, remember, it’s a great time to review your year. What have you really done? What have you achieved? It’s amazing when you start to write it down because you can find yourself naked staring at a full length mirror. (Note to men, while it may be true that men don’t notice anything from the neck down…I mean, who would wear budgie smugglers. It’s important for you to ask others for feedback! Caution, be careful who you ask.)
 
When I look back, I wanted to share some key lessons I’ve learnt (and re-learnt) this year:
 
* “Don’t wish things were easier, wish you were better” – Jim Rohn
 
* Your actions and behaviour are a reflection of your values and their priorities
 
* Play the game of life at the level where you want to be, not where you currently are
 
* Engineer the environment you want by placing psychological triggers around you
 
* Know your numbers, both what you want and your “safe harbour”
 
* Don’t say “no” to yourself, allow others the opportunity to deny you
 
* To be a money master, you must study the history and principles of money to acquire it
 
* History always repeats until you learn the lesson
 
* The GFC magnified people’s behaviour around money
 
* Grudges will always hold you back, let go.
 
* Have 3 – 5 year plans, but live in the power of now
 Until next time.
 
Simplify with Passion,
 
Chen
 
P.S Sorry this is late. At this time of year, it’s crazy to expect to get stuff done with extended family around. Also, I know I forgot to give you that special exercise and I’ll make sure it makes it to the next issue. Take care.

 Hey There,
 
Firstly, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I will try and keep this message short as I know you probably have more pressing issues to attend to like planning trips, learning new ways to avoid relatives and breaking promises before you make them*. (…*yes, this year I am not going to have a third serving of Christmas pudding…I promise! I really appreciate your support and hope that you take time out and celebrate with your family, friends and loved ones. As entrepreneurs, I know for some it’s difficult to take time off and disconnect. But I promise you, it’s a great time to do it. It’s time to celebrate!
 
At this time of year, I always think about my life before I married an Australian. (And despite the rumours, no…I didn’t marry her to stay in the country!) You see, when I was growing up, Christmas was just another day. No Santa, no presents, no feasts. In fact, before I married Margaret, the only thing I did that would be considered “festive” would be watching Carols By Candlelight with Ray Martin on Christmas eve! That was Christmas to me. Our family never celebrated Christmas. Although, in the late eighties, I believe my aunty bought us a christmas tree. And before you get excited, the only reason why she bought it was because it was “on special” at Target. (Note: proves you can make a sale where a sale didn’t exist) And another side story, although we never celebrated Christmas, we would still put up this Christmas tree and it became a tradition. However, the novelty wore off when we (us four boys…i.e. lazy) would still have the Christmas tree up in April…And I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced this but when you have your Christmas tree up in April, you start thinking, “hang on, Christmas is only 7 months away…it’s almost easier to leave it up than to pack it away and rebuild it later. I remember one particular year, we put a series of towels and blankets over the Christmas tree but that didn’t work because you could still see the lights flashing. (In hindsight, it could have been a fire safety issue) We ignored it for as long as we could but we realised it started making our aussie friends feel uncomfortable when they visited us. Ah, the good ole days!
 
So, please don’t feel sorry for me. I know many people think I’ve missed out but the reality is it’s only now that I appreciate everything that is Christmas. The giving and receiving and the love that is shared with family and friends. The energy and excitement my two boys experience each day is amazing. I’ve never spoke so much about Christmas in my WHOLE life than these last couple of weeks. I don’t think it’s just our place, but my boys have been talking about Christmas for like 3 weeks now and they are beginning to count the number of sleeps left. It’s quite fascinating experiencing from a “foreigners” point of view. It made up for all my “non-christmases”. 
 
Earlier this year, I bought a “Santa statue” from Harrods in London. I figured if I’m going to spend that type of money, I want something that will last for years. And my wife absolutely loves Christmas. Even before kids, she would always try and get me excited but she just didn’t understand the gap from not celebrating Christmas to celebrating Christmas. Initially, I didn’t buy it. I mean, it was so predictable. The same food, similar presents, same people and the same “tradition”. One year, I joked that Christmas was a celebration of “guilt”. Guilt from parents who neglected their children with their work, guilt from relatives who know they should contact you more but don’t and guilt because as a child, you know you haven’t been “good” all year. What started off as a joke has definitely stirred some conversation in practice this week. Christmas is a time to celebrate.
 
So if you want a challenge for Christmas…don’t get stuck in the pattern and be predictable. Plant seeds of unpredictability in your day. For us, we have a French Christmas theme which is great, the only problem is no one knows what it means. But I like the idea of french food with the lovely ham my mother-in-law always makes.
 
So, get rid of that agenda and schedule for a while. Only plan what you need to and give your schedule more flexibility. Just try it for a week, you may be surprised how you do. And once you have done that, get back to your strict routine and see how much more you get done. One of my clients says that planning is a great process, even if you don’t implement the plans or carry out the actions. While this may be contrarian, I would agree with him. Things happen when you take committed time aside and THINK. In fact, thinking is one of the hardest exercises you will do especially in such a cluttered world.
 
Take the time to declutter, disconnect and design your life. You’re worth it and the time you spend on it will repay you back many times. Start with a blank canvas and create the outline of your magnificent life. Start with simple categories like health, wealth, career, family, relationships, social etc and isolate ONE thing you want to achieve in each category and why it’s important to you. While everyone is in the spirit of giving gifts, take the time to give yourself the gift that keeps giving. Remember, You are worth it and deserve it.
 
Have a very Merry Christmas with your family.
 
Until next time,
 
 
Simplify with Passion,
 
Chen
 
P.S Next week, I want to share an exclusive exercise with you that has totally changed my thinking and I hope it will change yours. It was shared by Frank Kern at this years InfoSummit and I know my Roadtrip members who attended have found it very valuable. While it’s an exercise that I have been doing lately, Frank gave those little distinctions which have made it more powerful. This exercise is a gift.
 Remember, Frank is one of the geniuses I have studied this year and I really have admired how he has tried to move the whole internet marketing industry forward in a good way. His evolution is a classic example of what you need to do in business…find your market, craft your message, deliver great content and product and look for ways to reinnovate yourself through delivering great content and growing your network of influencers.
 
P.P.S The other thing I really look forward to at Christmas time is…the Boxing Day Test Match from Melbourne!

Hey There,

What a week…

It’s hard to escape the news, but two of my heroes have had a massive fall from grace recently. Both at the peaks of their profession and in less than a week, have had their careers tarnished for life. While I’m hesitant to fuel the flames, I know there’s some powerful lessons we all can learn. Remember, one of the things I learnt about mentors is not only can they show you what to do, they can also show you what not to do. And sometimes, it can be rather painful when you have to learn from someone you respect during their most challenging times.

Do you know anyone who has lost their whole career literally overnight because of one decision, one rumor or an “engineered downfall.” (maybe you’ve experienced it yourself one time in your life.) The two people are Westpac CEO Gail Kelly and Tiger Woods. I think there’s valuable lessons to be learnt especially from a personal responsibility point of view.

Let me start with Gail first. I’ve always admired Gail and her rise to the top job. She always delivered much value and leadership to the companies she worked for. She’s widely admired by many around the world. But her decision to raise interest rates above the reserve rate has fractured the foundation of trust she built with her clients. I wouldn’t be surprised if she took the fall for this decision as the media and public backlash has been severe. The stories and reactive comments since have further compounded the issue because when you start promising things you can’ t fulfill on, the market will always remember. I believe when you are at the top of your game, it’s more important to reinvent yourself and lead than to listen to your advisors. (unless they are at the level of thinking you are at) Remember, you are responsible for you life and you must never take sight of what you are building and trying to achieve. Too many great entrepreneurs and leaders experience the downfall when they disconnect from their alignment or believe in their ego too much.

In terms of Tiger Woods, what can I say? I was initially deeply shocked but the reality is he is just another man. And with any man, we are incredibly flawed. I’m not going to be the moral police as there’s so many out there but I do want to raise an important point that I learnt recently from Dr. John Demartini. John said that “whatever is suppressed, will be expressed eventually.” We all have our dragons and skeletons and when you live the public life, everything is exposed. Your choices determine your destiny.

Remember, Life is an experience. While no one is perfect, so many people try and live a perfect life. They appear to have the perfect job, perfect spouse, perfect house, perfect relatives etc… everything appears…well…perfect. But what if you saw beyond the house and saw the 95% mortgage on it. Would it make you feel any better?

In my experience, the truth rarely reflects the reality. That’s why if you want to see through people, just watch their behaviour. They can fake it, but they can’t hide it for long. Recently I had a conversation with client and friend, Pete Godfrey. We were not only talking about how flawed we are individually, but we also touched on the increasing amount of so-called gurus/experts who are in the “business” of helping others to make money business.

In other words, these people have never run a successful “real” business but they saw an opportunity to make money in the “making money” business. Now, in my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with this, however, I believe as Brad Sugars points out, there’s a process to the entrepreneurial process and if you follow it, you build a foundation for great success. If you don’t and think yourself a entrepreneur without going through the levels, you’re in for a rude shock. I’m so glad I was an employee, then went through the management process, then became a business owner and investor to reach the entrepreneurial level. That’s why these days, I still enjoy doing the Chiropractic business. It’s a real service business that allows me to connect to people and experience the reality of life because I feel sometimes we live on the “superior” bandwagon too long.

There is a duality to life. Like Jekyll and Hyde, Yin and Yang and Dumb and Dumber…(okay, ignore the last one…that was my lame attempt at social commentary) Because you don’t have money, someone in the world has plenty of it. Because you are wealthy, someone in the world is poorer.There’s nothing you can change but the only thing you can change is your decision of which group you want to belong in.

You have a choice to be rich or poor. You have a choice to marry someone or not, You have a choice to have children or not. There’s no mistakes, everything happens for a reason.
It may not be relevant when you are caught in the emotion or drama, but I assure, time heals everything. Over time, Gail and Tiger will be forgiven but their reputations will always be tarnished and scarred.

Next year, you will have the choice of who you want to connect with, which events you want to attend, which books you want to read and which coaching program would suit you?
The decisions you make will ultimately determine your destiny and you will make those choices based on your current thinking, actions and experience.

Having read hundreds of success books, attended hundreds of courses and listened to hundreds of hours of audio, I the only thing I can conclude is there are no “secrets” but only things you don’t know. And once you discover those things, you realise it’s the little hinges that swing the big doors and provide opportunities for you to achieve your goals and dreams. And those little hinges often come to your life as “decisions”. Dan Kennedy said at one of his high level trainings that the meaning of life was “decide”! It’s your time to DECIDE!

(Before I sign off, I want to apologize at how fragmented this issue is. Too many things to cover, I really could have written something everyday last week. Plus I also had my brother up from Melbourne to entertain. So please, I assure you…it will be back to regular broadcasting next week!)

Simplify with Passion,

Chen

P.S Now, for those that are really analytical and read behind the lines because they are looking for hidden lessons within the lesson (honestly, I don’t do it intentionally…) but you would have noticed I included a third part: “engineered downfall” earlier. Yes, you may find it hard to believe but there are always people outside your circle trying to “engineer your downfall”.
In Australia, it’s called the Tall Poppy Syndrome but it exists all around the world. Trust me, while you succeed, there are people in your circle that secretly hope you fail so it makes them feel better about what they are doing…or not doing.

P.P.S One of my past mentors has one of the best sayings about it. He says that in Australia “we are the lucky country, we allow everyone to rise to the middle class!” How true!
As soon