by Mike | Mar 1, 2017 | Business ownership, Finding Money, Million in the Bank, Raising money, Uncategorized |
Create an Opportunity
You can make millions from other people’s ideas.
What if you just can not think of a tried and true business to start and make your $1,000,000 in 3-7 years? You could try what Gabriel does, but it takes some skill. Gabriel has a unique business model that he calls a Business Incubator. His website can be found at www.TechStudios.net. This is not to be confused with a traditional business incubator where startups usually move into a shop. In this setting, they have mentors and peers to help them to try and grow their business idea. Gabriel does it all for you, he takes your idea and flushes it out.
Often, people have a business idea but they don’t know how to start, how to get the money, or more often just does not have the time. Gabriel will get the company started and tested. He will put the plan together, assemble the team, find the means to finance the operation and run the company. He will be paid a fee for this. Besides his fee, he usually retains a small interest if it is bought back by the idea generator. His company motto is “Ideas taken to execution.”
He will negotiate with the original idea generator a buyback agreement before they start. The idea generator can buy it all back later if he wants the whole company or whatever they have negotiated. In one sense this is a variation on asking your friends for ideas, except he lets clients bring ideas to him. Plus he gets paid to develop their ideas.
Be Sure It Can Make You a Millionaire
If it is your idea or if you develop someone else’s idea, be cautious to not just do anything to make money. Do things that lead to making enough to make you a millionaire. Decide on a business that will have the kind of cash flow and net profit needed. The goal is to make you enough to save $1,000,000 in 3-7 years. Do your research, make a business plan and get advisor help. Of course, you may need partners for the money to start and grow your idea. But a good plan and your own confidence can get you the money you need.
You can also find your way to the door of opportunity.
In my interview with Gabriel, he agreed with me wholeheartedly. Gabriel said that almost any business can get you to $1,000,000 with good execution, sales, and marketing. Get your head in the game…………..start your planning today to be a millionaire in 3-7 years.
Get the Book
Michael L. F. Slavin Author of 7- time award-winning One Million in the Bank: How To Make $1,000,000, Even If You Have No Money Or Experience
www.onemillioninthebank.com
by Mike | Feb 21, 2017 | Starting Out, Story, Uncategorized |
Can being Grateful Hold You Back?
Can being grateful hurt your ambitions or ability to think big? Being grateful is a very a good thing. The Bible and every religious text will tell you to be grateful, your parents told you to be grateful, there are complete books about being grateful. Plus there is scientific evidence that being grateful is good for your mental and physical health. Here is a very good article at today.com: Be thankful science says gratitude good for your health.
Story of Gratitude Holding a Man Back
Hispanic Man Ignores Us
I was in a restaurant’s small pickup area for “to go”. There were two young servers, a Hispanic man about 40, and me. I was telling the two young women about my book, starting their own business and having a chance at being a millionaire. They listened intently and asked questions. One young lady was trying to start her own business and was very excited with my message. The Hispanic man was seated in the only chair in the cramped waiting area, with working clothes and rough hands. He ignored us. He had his head down and was writing what seemed to be a long text on his phone.
Wakes Up Angry
After a while and quite surprising to us all, he looked up and started talking a little aggressively and defensively. “Being a millionaire is not important. Working hard and being grateful for what you have and taking care of your family is what is important. I had $9,000 cash stolen out of my truck. I was going to the bank to make a deposit and just stopped for a second to run into the grocery store. When I came out and it was gone. I couldn’t believe it. I was very angry. Immediately, I called and told my father. He tried to calm me down and told me to relax. He said it is only money and I could make it back. But then he told me something that really changed how I look at life.”
His Father’s Advice
The man was in his forties, but he was quick to quote his father. My father told me, “Ninety-nine percent of people in the world will never even have $500, so be grateful for what you have.”
I don’t know where he got that, but many people are extremely poor, with 80% of the people in the world living on less than $10 a day by some reports. The Hispanic man at the restaurant went on to tell us that he owned a business and it was not easy. He said he started as a boy with nothing. His parents were poor and his dad supported his family with 6 kids by fixing motorcycles. He started by sweeping the floor of his Dad’s business. Now he has a business doing motorcycle repair and he’ll buy and resell a car occasionally.
He said that he is sure he has earned $1,000,000 or more, but the hard part is holding onto it. “ I don’t have much money,” he explained,” but I have a nice car and I care for my family. It is important to enjoy the money you have and get a few nice things.” He went on to say that he was very grateful for everything. He said everybody should stop being unhappy and wanting more. Everyone should be happy for what they have. Everyone should be grateful, and probably most people in the world don’t even have $300. He came down from most people never having $500 earlier.
It Was Not Open To Discussion
This was not a conversation at all. He had a firm point of view. This was a lecture, not open to interruption. The two young women glanced at me often and rolled their eyes while he talked. The both found an excuse and left as soon as they could. The Hispanic business owner never took a breath, he just kept going. It all felt very negative.
Our food finally came out, we both got our “to go” order and walked out together. He kept talking. I stopped for a minute to listen politely and finally I extended my hand and said, “It has been nice talking to you and I wish you lots of luck, but I really have to go.”
He abruptly stopped lecturing, shook my hand, and said, ”Thanks.” He walked to his big red pickup truck, I got in my car and that was that. But he had made an impression on me. I regretted not getting his name and contact information. If I had then I would like to have followed up and learned more.
What I think happened?
I think I unintentionally insulted this man who obviously was proud of what he had accomplished. He even mentioned he loved and respected his father, but it was hard for his father to care for his family. He told me he felt proud that he is a business owner and he knows his father is proud of him. He also told me, “I like to have nice stuff, like my new truck. And I have always provided for my family.”
This man must have had a profitable business, so he had a right to be proud. He also told me, “I don’t have $1,000,000 or anything close, but I work hard.” I had hit a nerve for sure.
What can be learned?
I didn’t have the time or energy to get into a meaningful discussion with this man. Plus he really didn’t seem like he wanted my opinion anyway. He didn’t seem open minded at all about this topic. Less than 4% of all business owners are millionaires.
This man seems like a classic example. I am sure he had no business plan; he told me that he learned the trade from his dad, and he stumbled into business. I tried to tell him about SCORE and the SBDC, but he barely paused to tell me he had never heard of them. But I don’t think he cared, he just ran over my conversation. He is paying his bills I suppose, but I think his idea of being grateful is either his reason for not trying to grow or an excuse. I honestly don’t know everything going on with this small business owner, but I’ll never forget this brief encounter.
Is Being Grateful an Excuse?
I don’t mean that a person shouldn’t be grateful for all the wonders that we have been blessed with in life. This includes being a human being in the world. But people should guard against being so grateful they are complacent. Complacency will definitely keep a person from trying to reach their full potential. Part of that potential, if a person wants it, is financial security.
Millionaires-80% Business Owners
If you take out the retirees, 80% of millionaire households are headed by a business owner. So if you are happy, and have no desire to have more money, that is fine. But if you would like to be a millionaire, just be grateful for what you have and also strive to reach your full potential. You can and should be grateful for everything, but just don’t let complacency kill your drive. You have a right to be everything you can be. I guarantee you can do more than you think you can do. Good luck!
Read the book:
Michael L.F. Slavin author of 7-time award-winning One Million in the Bank: How To Make $1,000,000 With Your Own Business, Even If You Have No Money Or Experience (on Amazon)
PS: If you like the book please write me a review on Amazon to help spread the word and he
by Mike | Oct 27, 2016 | Biggest Problems, Business ownership, Finding Money, News, Planning, Types of Business, Venture Capital |
Live Your Dream
Do you want to live your dream? Most people dream of happiness, freedom, and the ability to do the things you really want to do. Most people do not dream of having a stack of money, or dream of a bank statement that shows you have $1,000,000. Having $1,000,000 does not guarantee anything, except that you can say you have $1,000,000. But being a millionaire, and being careful and responsible, allows all the other things to happen more easily. In many cases without good financial resources, many people are stuck in a life they wish was better.
Good News
Opportunity is everywhere, we all know that, but then why hasn’t everyone made $1,000,000 yet? I have covered so many stories of people doing it with regular businesses everywhere. They are not extra smart, definitely not richer, and they don’t know the secret handshake. Opportunity is there, but you must take action. Recently in my Google+ Community, a man complained he had no head for business and has failed twice. I told him, his feeling that he has “no head for business” really was just not having the experience and training. I told him if he thoroughly researched his next business, identified his weaknesses and strengthened those areas, and also sought advice and help from others like the SBDC and SCORE-he might then just have a very good head for business.
So many people take off half-cocked or not cocked at all. Just settle down, get started and systematically get ready, then start your business.
Don’t Pass Up Low-Risk Opportunities
This may not be a good example of a thorough plan, but it is for grabbing an opportunity for with low risk. What if you saw a school bus for sale on eBay for $350?
The $350 School Bus!
Drive Fron Maine
Would you buy it? I know of an individual always looking for business opportunities, Gabriel. He saw a bus for sale for $350, the ad said it was old but operational. He bought it sight unseen then found out it was in Maine if he wanted it, he had to go to Maine and drive it back to Texas. That is exactly what he did. On the way back he noticed an old Pizza Hut was selling its furniture He pulled over, bought several pieces for next to nothing and loaded it into the bus. He was thinking what a great way to redo the interior of the bus. He was already thinking of fixing it up and reselling it, or maybe rent it out as a party bus.
An Adventure
The whole trip was a great adventure and would give him some great memories. But on the trip, it gave him a lot of time to think about how to use his new bus. He did notice on the way back to Texas that the bus had a pretty good smoke trail coming out of the exhaust, he knew he would have to take care of that too. A new muffler cost more than the bus but it had to be replaced. The total cost of fixing it up to rent out was about $3,500.
Now a Party Bus!
He now rents it out for $450/night, 5-8 times/month and gets referral fees for when he is overbooked.
This is just another example of keeping your eyes open for opportunity and taking a small calculated risk as a way to make some extra income to help you get to $1,000,000 in the bank.
Create an Opportunity
Even more unique is Gabriel’s business model as a Business Incubator, which can be found at www.TechStudios.net. His company motto is “Ideas taken to execution.” If someone has a business idea but does not know how to start, how to get the money, or how to find the time, he will get the company started and tested. He will put the plan together, assemble the team, find the means to finance the operation and get the company going.
If you have an idea, look for help from SCORE, SBDC, or a consultant.
The original idea generator can buy it all back later if he wants the whole company. In one sense this is a variation on asking your friends for ideas, to be discussed later, except he lets clients bring ideas to him and gets paid to develop their ideas.
Live Your Dream Boldly
You have to be cautious to not do just anything to make money; you must do things that could lead to $1,000,000. Gabriel will admit his party bus will never make him $1,000,000. Maybe it possibly could if he got more organized, and maybe located party buses in different cities or maybe even franchise the idea. But he really did not want to pursue it. It is best to decide on a business that will have the kind of cash flow and net profit needed to make you enough to save $1,000,000. Do your research, make a business plan and get adviser help. Of course, you may need partners for the money to start and grow, but a good plan and your own confidence can get you the money you need.
Find Your Way to the Door of Opportunity.
In my interviews with people who have become millionaires from nothing, I agree wholeheartedly that almost any business can get you to $1,000,000 in the bank with good execution, sales, and marketing. A solid plan well researched and yet keep your eyes out for low-risk opportunities. Get your head in the game…………..start your plan to save $1,000,000. Allow yourself to live your dream.
Get One Million in the Bank today for yourself or someone you want to help. Also, I appreciate your comments and sharing the post if you liked it.
Michael L. F. Slavin Author of 7-time award-winning One Million in the Bank: How To Make $1,000,000 With Your Own Business, Even If You have No Money Or Experience
www.onemillioninthebank.com
by Mike | Jun 30, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Meet King Nahn, a 10-year old motivational speaker. This young man is a YouTube star turned motivational guru. And while normally I am skeptical of “Internet success” I can’t deny it’s working out in this case!
Spotting this article this morning reminds me that motivational speakers come in all shapes and sizes–and that’s a beautiful thing.
Finding Value in the Stories
One of the beautiful things about motivational speakers are the stories they bring to the table. The best motivational speakers draw upon their backgrounds to provide inspiration.
And, of course, these motivational speakers are humans. This means their backgrounds are filled with challenges, mistakes, and regrets. Things you can probably relate to.
You will find this is true of almost anyone who has accomplished big things.
The Strength is in the Response
So what separates high-achievers from those who never get very far in life?
It’s not age, or we wouldn’t be reading about a 10-year old motivational speaker. Nor would we read about 10-year old millionaire entrepreneurs, yet those are out there too. Age really is just a number–and of course it’s perfectly fine if you’re not a millionaire by the age of 10, since this is not a competition. Some of our household names didn’t get anywhere until their fifties or sixties, and that doesn’t really matter either.
It’s not privilege–many high achievers did not come from a wealthy background at all. I certainly didn’t. It’s not natural talent, or some magical quality of luck.
It’s the way these people have taken their stories and dug through them to find the wisdom and the lessons buried within. It’s how they applied those lessons, while simultaneously making a decision that they would never, ever give up on their dreams.
Motivational Speakers Who Are Motivated by the Right Things
Of course, there are always people out there who become rich and famous simply by cheating other people in some way. You can usually tell if you’re dealing with those sorts of motivational speakers because you feel vaguely “icky” after listening to them. You start to realize they only have one formula for success: be really charismatic, hit the speaking circuit and sell some books about how to make a lot of money at being charismatic, and hitting the speaking circuit.
Those guys–the ones who rely on “rah rah pump you up” stuff–are in it for the wrong reasons.
The motivational speakers who are in it for the right reasons are standing at the podium because their experiences have given them a road map. They didn’t like being sick, broke, and tired. Those were deep, dark woods for them. But they found a way out. And, having found a way out, they wish to help other people find the way out.
They’ve found the gifts wrapped up in the ashes of their bankruptcies, divorces, and trauma. They’ve dusted them off and have decided to share them with as many people as they can.
After all, if you learn a hard lesson from someone who has walked a hard road, then you do not have to walk that road yourself. You can take the lesson and you can move on.
Some people don’t even have to follow the motivational speaker’s specific road map. It’s enough for them to know someone found a way out. If others found a way out, they can find a way out too. This is enough to get many people up and moving as never before.
The World Needs More Stories
It’s a great thing to see so many talented motivational speakers out there, not just because there will be a lot of organizations who need to hire keynote speakers this year.
It’s because audiences will get the benefit of multiple perspectives. Audience members will have a greater chance to hear voices that sound like them and to see faces that look like them. And because it will give audiences a chance to see faces and to hear voices that don’t look like them.
We are all here to learn from one another. That’s the secret.
Finding Strength in Your Own Stories
Chances are, you won’t hear more than one or two motivational speakers this year, unless you like to collect recorded speeches and listen to them.
Sometimes, you have to provide your own motivation. Fortunately, understanding what makes successful people so successful will allow you to give yourself some motivational speeches that can drive you forward over the coming year.
It starts by recognizing where you are and where you’ve been–by defining your own story. This gives you a starting point, a sort of “you are here” in the deep, dark woods.
Of course, people do that all the time. The problem is when they do it, they are looking for sympathy which is akin to setting up real estate in the deep, dark woods. You’re doing it for a different reason.
You’re going to mine your own experience for lessons.
If you’ve made any progress at all, you’re going to take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve already come. It’ll become apparent that you’ve started building a road map of your own. You can take a moment to be proud of that.
Then, you simply want to imagine where you’re going to be next–perhaps you’ll be an individual who has one million dollars in the bank in three to seven years. After that, it’s simply a matter of understanding the way out is there, and you already have some of the tools you need to find that way out. You can then identify the tools and resources you don’t have, and set yourself to the task of acquiring them.
You’ll find you’ve done a lot, experienced a lot, survived a lot. You’ll remember the challenges that seemed insurmountable 5 years ago, which are no big deal today. You’ll find the gifts in the ashes and you’ll keep moving forward.
I know you will, because I know you’re one of those truly successful people who is motivated by all the right things.
Sources:
http://atlantablackstar.com/2016/05/24/10-year-old-motivational-speaker-presents-strong-argument-for-why-rappers-must-be-held-responsible-for-their-negative-lyrics/
by Mike | Apr 15, 2016 | Motivational Speaker |
One of the big pitfalls of hiring a motivational speaker is the danger of hiring someone who will “pump up” your audience in the short-term…without really empowering them to make lasting changes in the long run. In fact, this pitfall is behind a lot of the skepticism and satire that surrounds motivational speaking. There is a reason why many people believe hiring motivational speakers is a waste of time and money, and there’s a reason why people often make fun of the profession.
We’ve all been to presentations that were mostly full of “rah rah” fluff. We’ve all felt extremely excited and energized while sitting in the audience, only to find, later, that we hadn’t walked away with any concrete ideas on how to create meaningful change. In fact, these sorts of presentations have grown even more ubiquitous after the release of The Secret. Rehashes of “the power of positive thinking” and Think and Grow Rich abound.
Here’s a secret. If you want to hire a motivational speaker who is worth the investment, you need to stop looking for a “motivational speaker.” There simply isn’t really such thing as a “motivational speaker” per se.
“Speaking” is just what the person is going to do once you get him or her to your event. “Speaking” is a vehicle for helping participants at your function receive information. Often, these participants could get the same information, insights, or ideas by reading the speaker’s book or blog. But you’re not paying speaking fees only for the benefit of that person’s ideas, nor are you paying them simply because they’re delivering a good speech.
You’re paying to give your audience the benefit of this person’s leadership. Thus, you need to set out to hire a leader with public speaking skills, rather than setting out to hire a speaker.
How can you snag the leader you’re looking for? What can you do to separate the wheat from the chaff so you don’t waste your time, or your audience’s time?
Examine the speaker’s leadership track record.
Often, the people responsible for hiring keynote speeches look for “speaking experience.” But speaking experience isn’t enough. While it’s nice to know your speaker won’t bore your audience to tears, it’s even more important to know what the speaker has accomplished when he or she isn’t standing in front of a podium.
For example, did he or she form a business or organization? If so, is it accomplishing its goals? Are the employees and volunteers at that organization happy and productive? Do these ventures display a high degree of ethics and integrity? How impressed are you by the things the speaker has done?
Can the speaker describe other people he or she has personally mentored or helped succeed? Can he or she share stories of other people who have used the techniques or ideas the speaker wants the audience to implement? Do those stories contain concrete evidence of real, significant change?
You also want to avoid speakers with a “me, me, me” mentality, or with a message that boils down to: “if you start publishing books and speaking like me, you can live the high life, too!” Often, these individuals have not really accomplished anything that didn’t have something to do with their careers on the public speaking circuit.
Remember to verify these things independently. Speakers have the gift of gab by their very nature. If they can “pump up” an audience they can get you temporarily excited about themselves, too. Spend some time reading, digging, and asking around before approaching the speaker. Speaking fees are expensive, and due diligence matters.
What is the vision?
What kind of vision will your speaker bring to the table? Vision is vital. Vision is the cornerstone of leadership.
Forbes contributor Carmine Gallo notes that vision is a fundamental characteristic of inspiring leaders. The vision has to be something your audience can get behind. Gallo writes:
“For a vision to really grab the imagination of the team, it has to incorporate the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of those you are attempting to lead. ‘If employees can’t see themselves in the picture, then they can’t imagine it’s a possibility for them.’ In other words, the vision cannot belong to the leader alone.”
When you discuss the engagement with your motivational speaker, ask him or her to describe his or her vision for everyone in the audience. Ask how he will make that vision accessible and do-able for them. If the answers or vague—or the speaker can’t answer at all—move on. You should also keep shopping if the vision doesn’t really align with your own goals for the event, or for the organization or group of people you’re trying to influence. All motivational speakers are not right for all audiences at all times.
Your audience deserves someone who will work to bring them to new and better places, and who can show them, viscerally, the reasons why their lives will be better for doing the things the speaker is going to suggest they do.
Remember…
When you hire a motivational or keynote speaker you’re not just trying to be entertaining, and you’re not just trying to fill a hole in an event agenda. You’re trying to change lives, build teams, or produce better results. Focusing on leadership gives you the power to accomplish these things, and allows you to demonstrate a true return on investment well after the speaker’s fees have been paid and the event has drawn to a close.
Sources:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2012/09/06/7-sure-fire-ways-great-leaders-inspire-people-to-follow-them/#2ee76e3a5c61
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