Hey There,
I had a great week away with my two boys for the first week of the school holidays. Our adventures started with a six hour drive to Taree. We also visited Combyne, Forster/Tancurry, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. The boys had a great time and the Pet Purpoise Pool in Coffs Harbour was a major hit. And it’s a great place to visit for entrepreneurs who want to see “experiential” selling at its best. Not only did I buy every upsell but I will definitely be coming back and telling others about it. I mean the product is so good, it sells itself and has won many awards. How often can you have real interactions with animals and experience dolphin kisses, seal kisses and feed penguins, fish and turtles. And for those who are organised, you can also go swimming with the dolphins which is definitely one on my bucket list of things to do. When was the last time you “experienced” something special and told others about it. Please post your answer on my CWC wall.
There were so many lessons this week but the big lesson I wanted to share with you is to “know your history”. History always repeats when you don’t learn the lessons. It doesn’t matter what industry or profession you are in or want to pursue, make sure you make the effort to do your research and know who stands out in the marketplace. Look for comparables and commonalities that support the direction of your growth and development. This step will help you develop an unique perspective and market intelligence that will give you the edge.
When I work with clients, I’m always looking for ways to change an industry. I find out what’s working, what everyone is doing and then find a path to flip it so that you can be a market leader. If you aren’t a leader, you’re part of the “mass” and the middle is thinning out whether you like it or not. Make the decision to change now otherwise you may be forced to change later. The only constant in life is change. There’s a great saying that goes, “if you don’t like change, you’re not going to like irrelevance either”.
Recently I told a patient that she had a life before marriage and kids and often it’s difficult to remember who you were before you started your new life. It’s the same with business. Before you decided on your entrepreneurial journey, you made decisions and sacrifices to improve your quality of life. But along the way, your business distracted you from “discovering your self”. Finding your “self” and your “voice” is the biggest gift you have in this new education era. Your certainty in yourself and your abilities will attract the right relationships and opportunities to you.
Remember, beyond the information age, people crave real relationships that engage and impact. The more people on facebook that click on your posts and respond to your messages are the same people who are more likely to invest their dollars with you. Be prepared to give before you get, but don’t expect it. Always give and watch people’s behaviour with no emotional attachment. Giving and releasing generates joy whereas giving and expecting to receive is ultimately just another transaction.
That’s why I immerse myself the last few days with learning about history. I watched a DVD of Dan Kennedy discussing the history of information marketing and success education. I also watched the documentary series, “The Ascent Of Money” which I recommend everyone watch and it will change your view on wealth forever. I re-watched a video of Tony Robbins’s discuss how he built his empire. And lastly, I am re-reading Richard Branson’s autobiography. Why? Because these distinctions give me further depth and allows me to predict trends in the marketplace. And I know you will experience a whole different perspective when you research and gather information with renewed purpose and intent.
History gives you facts, opinions and trends. And the way you interpret this information can determine how much of an impact you make today and in years to come. Seek information from real experts and people who have authority in the industry. There’s too many opinions and wanna-be experts who are tapping into the vacuum of financial pain for personal gain. Maybe it’s time to study the history of the industry and find out who’s been out there the longest. As one of my mentors said, “runs on the board” is one of the best measures of influence and success. Increase your influence…
Nothing in missing…alignment expands your mind and focus. It’s time you expect more in your life.
Simplify Life,
CHEN
P.S I’ve opened up more tickets to “Conversations with Chen” members for the TEDxByronBay event on July 31st in Byron Bay. What a great opportunity to have a break and learn from some of the leading progressive minds in the country. I assure you that this line up will never be repeated and may be the catalyst for your best year yet. Check out http://www.tedxbyronbay.com and register your place.
