Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Why Is Making Money So UNCOMMON?

Pillar TWO - 2. Initiative - dip.initiative - of our WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program is ALL about making money.

In this program we ask a simple question:

Why is it so UNCOMMON to find people making money, retiring wealthy and living a great life..?

We clearly provide the answers in our program... but it is a very good question for YOU to think about.

Why are the vast majority of people on this planet in financial difficulty?

Think about it.


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Monday, September 13, 2010

Wanna Make Money - Study Where The MONEY Flows

If you're really thirsty do you drive to the desert?

Or... do you look for where the sweet water flows abundantly?

So if you want to make money... try get into where the mainstream of money flows with abundance.

So where is that?

That's for YOU to research!

Here's a clue from Gary Vaynerchuk - check out his Crush It promo video (apologies for his language - not my style, but great content) and follow the flow of a trillion dollars in the near future

He provides some serious clues to taking INITIATIVE in the next few months and years.

Direct-to-Consumer is coming!

Let me know where else the money will flow... and let's put a hand in you taste/test the sweet flow.


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

WISDOMS Initiative Is All About MAKING MONEY

Pillar TWO - 2. Initiative - dip.initiative - of our WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program is ALL about making money… it is UNASHAMEABLY about making money… it contends that making money, retiring wealthy… and loving your life… is GOOD.

This section contends that making money… is FUN… and that YOU deserve to enjoy the experience. It only scratches the surface of the tons of opportunities available in this world to make money and have fun. It is deliberately not comprehensive and serves only to open and stimulate your mind to scratch and dig deeper into moneymaking areas that interest you.

This section, however, does not contend that money is the ONLY important sphere of your life.

There are many other important personal areas of your life that, for you, may well be equal to and even more important than money (e.g. your Spiritual life; your Family life; your Health; your Relationships with others; your Personal Values; how you Make A Difference in the world; etc.)

This section will deliberately not deal with these important topics in strictly keeping to its simple brief - making money.

This section will need just one simple requirement of you before we proceed - an OPEN MIND - to consider, thoughtfully and carefully, the simple ways of making money that we will discuss.

Why do I mention the above... because too many people think that focusing on making money is something 'evil', or overly 'material'.

Let's face it, it's better to have money, than not have it... and business is first and foremost about making profit... or MONEY!

Have fun learning about it... and doing it!


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Intellectual Schmaltz Is NOT Wisdom

I happened to catch Larry King interviewing Stephen Hawking on Larry King Live yesterday, discussing Hawkin's new book - Grand Design.

In on the discussion were co-author Leonard Mlodinow - physicist at Cal Tech; Father Robert J. Spitzer - Jesuit priest and president of the Magis Center of Faith and Reason and Spitzer Center for Ethical Leadership; Deepak Chopra - spiritual teacher and best-selling author.

Read the transcript - it's fascinating.

What struck me most is how intellectually stimulating they were, yet in the end they had no answers to the core question they were posing (whether they knew it or not) - does the Supreme Creator exist?

They knew everything, yet knew nothing of the most critical question probably reflected upon by most who have ever lived. Weird huh?

Gives credence to our view at WISDOMS... the more YOU know, the less YOU know!

Keep YOUR mind open... and beware the intellectual schmaltz that turns many into unthinking followers of hot air.


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

It's OK To Voice YOUR Concern

Phew, our family are just now recovering from a 3-week emotional roller-coaster ride.

We've all been laid-low from a virus contracted from my toddler grand-daughter's first foray into formal day-care, friend's lost their 21-year old son to cancer, and my cousin stopped over from America to grieve the loss of her 16-year-old son. Sleep has been sparse!

Boy, when YOU think YOU have problems, nothing compares to the pain that others carry.

Today, in bouncing back to this forum, I thought I'd share a lesson for all service providers: Never piddle-off your consumer!

This is a story of how a service-provider's poor attitude to her customer exacerbated a common problem that could easily have been resolved into a no-lose for the service provider.

Let me make it clear that everyone sees things from their own points of view. It's how you consider the other views that becomes important.

I will let you follow the emails in order of response:

Subject: Voicing Our Concern - Re: Taylor Nel - at home - sick

Hi K..

Despite being new and obviously not wishing to rock the boat with someone that we have just interacted with, I believe it more important to share our honest feelings openly.

I must voice our concern and frustration at having brought young Taylor (1yr 11 mths) into your establishment Tuesday last week and noticing just how many kids - and staff - were present with terrible colds and running noses (yellow and green mucous in the kiddies - clearly infectious).

This despite being led to believe that your policy is that those who are sick would be sent back home. I believed that this was so as not to infect others.

Within two days Taylor had developed a sniffle (after being free of any colds since birth)... and by Sunday this had broken out into an upper respiratory tract infection with a gurgling chest.

Now, both granny and grandpa (that's us, her full time guardians) are sick with same, and all of us have been knocked out of action for the entire working week..

Why I am voicing our frustration is that this exercise was primarily intended to give us more time to to do the essential work things that we need to do to generate critical income.

We have had a week of sleepless nights and long days nursing our little one... and basically are not able to get anything done. We're back to square one... and actually, are worse off.

We have kept her at home whilst sick, as we expect others to do... and to have done... and your establishment to have played its part.

It is costing us the money that we have paid to you, clinic visits and medicines... and obviously, we're not achieving our objectives!

We are so frustrated that we are seriously contemplating removing her and requesting a return of our money to find an establishment that will take their policies seriously.

Your positive comment in response will help us to decide on our actions going forward.

Sincerely

Trevor Nel


K's (name withheld) response:

Dear Trevor,

Thank you for letting us know, we hope she feels better soon and please send her hugs and kisses from us.

Kind Regards

K

After a few sleepless weeks:

Subject: Meeting to remove Taylor Nel - Re: Voicing Our Concern - Re: Taylor Nel - at home - sick

Hi K

Kindly arrange a meeting between ourselves this morning anytime between 10 a.m. to 12 Noon (can push to 1 p.m. if need be).

Unfortunately we have now spent three long weeks of extremely disturbed nights with a very sick grand-daughter (from one who had not a sniffle since birth prior to attending your facility)... and now, 3 concerning health issues in 3 weeks clearly picked up from your facility.

Last night... a dangerously high temperature for a little kiddie, which now is the final straw in this little exercise to free up our time.

We are trying to get her into the pediatrician today to assess how serious this temperature is, and will give you feedback as to what they believe to be causing it.

For us, it has been a fruitless and costly exercise as mentioned in first voicing our concern.

It is time to conclude this exercise as one that has not worked.

Please give me a call on the line below to confirm time... or I will phone in at 9 a.m. to confirm.

Sincerely

Trevor Nel


K's response and a telephone call followed at which she voiced her annoyance at my not being happy with her service:

Dear Trevor,

I have tried to phone you, but no answer, I did leave a message. Can you please get back to me and let me know what you would like to do.

Kind Regards

K


My response (her comments had now piddled me off... and changed my focus onto her attitude:

Subject: EFT details - Re: Meeting to remove Taylor Nel - Re: Voicing Our Concern - Re: Taylor Nel - at home - sick

Hi K

Without Prejudice

Thank you. Our telephone conversation of yesterday Tue31 Aug +-12 Noon refers.

I acknowledge that you have stated that you will refund the following immediately by EFT to:

Account name: et al - removed

i. R400 Stationery term fee

ii. R1300 Sep. fee paid in advance

I do recognise that customer service (satisfaction) is such a delicate and subjective issue in these cynical times. However, I still subscribe in my business interests to the age old mantra that - 'The Customer Is Always Right' - even when they may be totally wrong!

I note your reaction that you are 'annoyed' with me for wanting to remove Taylor, that we will be 'unwelcome' in the future, that you chair a number of such facilities in the area over which you have influence, and that my 'attitude' will be detrimental to Taylor's development in the future.

Whatever your perception, whatever the circumstances, the simple fact is that this exercise did not deliver the benefit that we were seeking and that we clearly discussed with you on signing in... and which concern I voiced clearly below (email sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 1:43 PM). In fact, it has got worse.

As I assess your reaction, I put myself into your shoes and assess how I would deal with a clear breakdown of a business relationship (whatever the cause) at so early a time in the relationship (my concerns voiced arising from the first week)... and it is quite simple, I deliver nothing less than a TOTAL REFUND and I keep my mouth and thoughts about the customer to myself (i.e. How can I make it right for you?).

There is no point exacerbating a customer-service problem that may very well not be of the business-owners making, it makes for a surprisingly pleasant customer experience... and it literally buys excellent word-of-mouth.

I would return the following as well:

iii. the R500 registration fee

iv. the R798 August pro-rata fee paid

However, I recognise that this is your business and your call.

The ball is your court.

Sincerely

Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790


K's response:

Dear Trevor,

It is with regret you decided removing your granddaughter from our school. As was previously explained to you it is not uncommon for children to become ill when attending a school for the first time. In all likelihood you will experience the same problems at the next school and the next until her immune system has had a chance to build a resistance to the various viruses and bacterial infections. It is rather absurd to blame our school for seasonal illnesses and even more so expecting us to send children home for every sneeze or snivel. As explained and you will find this at most schools, we only send children home should they have elevated fever or contagious disease.

You clearly do not like the way our school operates as it is your right to do and it is quite certain we cannot come to an agreement which will satisfy both parties.

However in light of the situation we will refund you to the amount of R1700.00 which consists of the monthly R1 300.00 half day school fee and the R400 toiletries/stationery fee. This amount will be paid into your bank account today and will be seen as the full and final refund settlement.

Good luck with Taylor’s future schooling career.

Kind Regards

K

Too late, her attitude on the phone had really upset me:

Subject: Objection - Re: EFT details - Re: Meeting to remove Taylor Nel - Re: Voicing Our Concern - Re: Taylor Nel - at home - sick

Hi K

Without Prejudice

Your first settlement of R1700 is noted. Thank you.

I am afraid that, having taken time over the weekend to digest your assertions from your point of view and analyse your reactions and latest response, I cannot accept your notice below as 'full and final refund settlement' as you state and offer you the opportunity to redress the remaining settlement.

Firstly, I raised our concern within the first week over what I am now of the opinion to have been a defective service on your establishment's part. (re-read below email: Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 1:43 PM)

This seems to have been acknowledged by an attempt to address the problem as stated by one B T

Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 5:55 PM ; Subject: Taylor Nel) - 'After your wife phoned the school we implemented a new procedure to help parents whereby we keep a log of whether our staff needed to wipe a child’s nose, how many times the child has been to the toilet, when nappies were changed, hands washed etc. This is part of our effort to minimize any possible risks to the children in our care. We really do try our utmost to make all our clients happy and want to thank her for the call.'

My wife did not phone the school, so clearly someone else complained as well!

We have since identified other schools in the area that DO regard 'green running noses' as highly infectious and a very good reason to instruct parents to keep their children at home, as we believe and did... and as opposite to your apparent assertions that you are 'forced' to keep such children in the school.

Secondly, you dealt with me on the telephone in a manner that was, in my opinion, either deliberately or subconsciously on your part, designed to be evasive, abrasive, petulant, arrogant, hostile, defensive, and intimidatory to the point of bullying the consumer. You clearly did not want to meet with me to discuss this face-to-face as I proposed. I find this to be highly evasive and weak customer-service on your part as business-owner. I now wonder if you are used to younger families being intimidated by such reaction/s. Your reaction has so upset me to the point where I intend to fully assert my/our rights to full and proper redress.

Thirdly, I have been quite accommodating in allowing you the opportunity to assess why you have not delivered the service we were looking for... and you have not taken up that opportunity.

This now highlights, again in my opinion, all that I consider to be immoral in the standard procedure adopted by an establishment such as yours... and I will now highlight those to all and sundry to ensure that adequate consumer protection (through the facility of the impending Consumer Protection Act - Oct 2010) is brought to bear to protect the consumer in this instance of:

i. withholding of the Registration Fee at so early a point of dissatisfaction of customer service is effectively an immoral penalty on the consumer (especially for young parents who cannot afford to lose such funds and have to find another such fee for the next establishment - effectively a double penalty).

ii. where consumer expresses timeously a dissatisfaction of service outcome (and is clearly adversely/negatively affected by such outcome) and does not get a refund of fees - it represents a loss of opportunity cost for the consumer. The whole exercise of identifying a school has to repeated - albeit with an acute eye now for the risks and dangers of dealing with those that deliver inadequate outcomes.

Sadly, when a business operator does what you have done, and withholds such fees as above, especially when the consumer has so clearly voiced their dissatisfaction, they garner nothing more than massive BADWILL (negative publicity, bad word-of-mouth) and little things that were not major issues also tend to be highlighted in the consumers mind. You would not be impressed to hear how we label your style of business in our discussions, and that purely comes from the way you have made us feel.

Finally, I have no interest in hearing how the vast majority of your clients feel (which you claim to all be highly satisfied), I only have my experience to go on... and it was not what we were seeking (see email: Sent: 01 September 2010 06:54).

Clearly, after assessing your reactions, and the negative affect on us at having put my/our faith in your service, nothing less than a total refund will satisfy me.

The ball is still in your court.

Sincerely

Trevor Nel


K's response:

Subject: RE: Objection - Re: EFT details - Re: Meeting to remove Taylor Nel - Re: Voicing Our Concern - Re: Taylor Nel - at home - sick

Mr. Trevor Nel Contact me urgently!!!!!!!!



Yes, Principal...!!! My response:

Subject: Re: Objection - Re: EFT details - Re: Meeting to remove Taylor Nel - Re: Voicing Our Concern - Re: Taylor Nel - at home - sick

Hi K
Your apparent arrogance in believing yourself to be the only one busy accompanied by your 'annoyed with you' telephone message comment of this morning on my answering machine, and your terse comment below, only serve to exacerbate my opinion of your customer-service problem.
I have no intention to be the target of abuse/intimidation by you via phone again.
This consumer is not your plaything to be 'summoned' to bow down to your terse beck & call.
You turned down the opportunity to meet to discuss my issues with you as I had proposed.
You are welcome to state whatever your points in writing in response to my previous email... or to redress the matter/s outstanding
My points and intention remain as stated in my previous email below.

Sincerely

Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790


K's response... a call to tell me my fortune and put the phone down.

My response:

Subject: Your 5:15 telephone call refers - notice of intention to seek court application for redress - Fw: Objection - Re: EFT details - Re: Meeting to remove Taylor Nel - Re: Voicing Our Concern - Re: Taylor Nel - at home - sick

Hi K
Without Prejudice
You clearly ignored the points made below and chose to deliver a further vitriolic call to vent your spleen via telephone and to put the phone down.
All rights reserved. Please receive this notice of my intention to seek redress by means of small claims court application should you not return the remaining R1298 to my account provided as final part of a total refund by midday Friday 10th September 2010.

Sincerely

Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790


K's final, final response:

Trevor,

Please check your account as the money was paid into your account with ABSA Acc Nr. this morning before 10am. Proof of payment was e-mailed to you. I went according to our records and paid the amount of R1280.00 still outstanding according to these records and your demand of a full refund.

I have now done everything you asked of me. Stop threatening and harassing me and my company as I will no longer tolerate your thinly veiled threats.

I sincerely hope I never have the misfortune of dealing with you again.

Regards,

K


A gnashing of teeth and snarling at the consumer until the end... ;-)

For me, it matters not who is right or wrong, deal with your customers with grace.

How would you have handled this issue from the suppliers perspective?

Does ATTITUDE play an important role in business?

Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Monday, August 30, 2010

It's OK To Say 'NO'

In a busy period of discussions and negotiations on possible joint venture collaborations we've had to be pretty forceful on driving for a WIN/WIN or walking away from the deal/s... we've walked away.

Found this article sent by one Trevor Kettler which underscores the point:

The ability to negotiate successfully in today's turbulent economic environment can make the difference between being successful in your daily business activities or a failure.

Below are 10 ways that could assist in your client interactions.


1. Everything can be Negotiated. To be successful you need to be assertive and not afraid to challenge everything. Being assertive means asking for what you want without demonstrating anxiety or anger. Assertiveness is part of the Negotiation process.

2. Listen and let the other party do the talking. By listening, you are taking the role of a detective. Detectives ask probing questions and then shut up. The other negotiator will tell you everything you need to know - and more. All you have to do is listen.

3. Gather all the facts. Acquire as many facts about the other company, their product, their current situation, what's in it for them by having a successful outcome, what their options are, etc. You can't make accurate decisions without really understanding their position. The more information you have, the stronger your position will be.

4. Be willing to walk away. Never negotiate without options. It is when you become too dependent on a positive outcome that you lose your ability to say "No". By considering the option to walk away, will force the other party to make concessions that may be in your favour.

5. Be patient. The more you rush the more likely you will make a mistake. The side that has more time flexibility has the advantage. The greatest amount of patience causes the greatest amount of devastation to the other party as they assume you are not under any pressure to conclude the deal. They become pressurised to do so and in turn offer you more concessions with the incentive of you agreeing to conclude.

6. Aim for best outcome. Be an optimist - if you expect the best you will open the door to receive the best. Sellers should ask for more than they expect and buyers should offer less than they would want to pay. If you aim higher you will do better. A low expectation will result in a less satisfying outcome.

7. Keep the pressure focused on the other party. It is human nature to focus our energy on our own pressure by highlighting our own situation. This is often recognised by the other party and subconsciously we give the power to the other side. By focusing on our limitations, we miss the big picture. Our job as the detective is to recognise their worries and concerns and see how these can assist our cause.

8. Focus on meeting their needs. By understanding their perspective places you ahead of the game. By helping them to achieve their needs is a sure way of them coming back to do more business. This is not saying we must give in to all their positions. We must ensure that their basic interests must be fulfilled not necessarily their demands.

9. Never concede without getting something in return. Always create a tie-in, "I will do this if you do that". Without a tie-in, you are causing the other party to add more concessions. When you concede and they are not expected to reciprocate, they will feel entitled to your concession and will not be happy until you give up even more.

10. Never personalise their attitude. Never get sidetracked by personal issues that are unrelated to the deal. Focus on solving the problem. Trying to understand their behaviour can sabotage the outcome as they may be using dirty tricks to force a conclusion. This will only frustrate you even further and you could be falling into their trap.


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The Grief Cycle & How it Relates To Accepting Change

In sharing the devastating news of an old friend's loss of his youngest son to cancer at the weekend, I was reminded of the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and the 5 stages of Grief that she identified.

Was interested to note that someone had extended her model to include it into an understanding of how one can accept change, especially when it comes along as a result of the dropping of a bombshell of negative news.

See: The Extended Grief Cycle


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Monday, August 23, 2010

LIFE - Can It Get Any Tougher?

This weekend we received the shock news that old family friends had lost their 21-year old son to a 5-month battle with cancer.

We're all heart-broken for them.

It's going to be tough saying good-bye this week.

Can life get any tougher than when experiencing the pain of losing a loved one... especially a child?

This, as my grieving cousin flies in from America, having lost her 16-year old son in a car crash during the last week of February. The grief and pain is still very raw. Will it ever dissipate?

Sometimes we just have to be GRATEFUL for the small things that affect us when compared to the giant challenges of others!


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Friday, August 20, 2010

LIFE - Sometimes YOU Just Have To Have A Sense Of Humour

In the immortal words of Robert Burns: "The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, gang aft agley." - To A Mouse

In order to get more time for myself to invest into WISDOMS... we sent our little grand-daughter to day-care last week
(granny & grand-pa are her full-time guardians). She's never been sick for even a day in two years.

Just four days, and hordes of snotty-nosed kids, later... and our entire family has been knocked-out with colds and flu since Sunday. It's Friday - 90% of what I was going to do this week has not been done.

And we're not looking like recovering soon.

As the Mexican's tend to say: 'Life, sometimes she is a beach'.

Deal with it!

I am not necessarily a believer that we are the architects of our own misfortunes... we are not bullet-proof... we are not immortal super-heroes.

Perhaps the Mexican's are right... sometimes LIFE just forces you to slow down a bit, lie in the sun... and just smile.. ;-)


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Every Cloud Has The Sun Waiting To BREAKTHROUGH

It didn't take Tony Robbins long to respond to the pulling of Breakthrough Insider by NBC after just two episodes airing.

Listening to Tony's response, shot on the shores of a Fiji island, we learn that NBC is in the process of re-organisation and perhaps looking for a new time slot to air the program to match the 2.9 million viewer demand.

We also learn that Oprah gets a similar viewership... go figure!

What interests me is the quality of the programming that NBC have chosen to replace it with.

Says something about the shallow nature of viewership demands for non-thinking (mindless?) entertainment on TV... doesn't it.

Hey... I like comedies and reality shows too. So is this a commentary on me?

The reality is that it is all about the numbers.

Tony Robbins deals with it well.


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Even The BEST Suffer Setbacks

Was amazed to hear that Tony Robbins' Breakthrough Insider was pulled by NBC after just two episodes airing - see: Breakthrough with Tony Robbins: NBC TV Show Pulled, Cancelled

I believe Tony Robbins to be one of the best in his field... even the best suffer setbacks.

It will be interesting to watch how he takes this failure and turns it into a learning experience.


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Wear YOUR Failures Like Badges Of Honour!

Was swimming at the gym on Friday when this thought entered my mind:

Wear YOUR Failures Like Badges Of Honour!

For some reason I was thrown back to thinking about an overly-arrogant business owner from my younger days who signed over franchise rights to myself because he 'claimed' I had stated on my CV that I was a varsity graduate.

Finding that I was making a small fortune from my rights, he wanted to find a way to take the rights back.

Amusingly, right from my early days I was always quite proud of the fact that a matric failure could persevere and pass matric in the end, and make his way to varsity only to be found out in his second repeat year... and still go on to do the things that I did in business.

I didn't know then that failure was a great learning experience... but I just found it to be honest and a show of integrity to state in my CV that I had spent a few years trying to get out of matric... and that my varsity career was incomplete.

Besides, I was able to highlight my sporting achievements - representing SA Universities at my favourite sport.

Seems that Mr. Arrogant was trying to claim that he misinterpreted that to mean that I had claimed a varsity degree - and that I had there by misrepresented my CV to him. All bull, of course. At best, he read what he wanted to read... at worst, he was just trying to diddle someone out of a contract (and failed... ;-)

To cut a long story short, this self-same individual was later jailed for his part in +- R250 million investor-fraud scam. Sometimes what one perpetuates with a lack of integrity catches up with one.

And... I have always gone on to broadcast my many years of trying to get out of matric and playing around and not succeeding at varsity (of which I am not proud) as critical learning experiences for myself.

So, for me, there has never been any shame in trying something (especially something new or out of your comfort zone) and not succeeding.

As long as YOU do it with the integrity of giving it YOUR best shot.

So here's a thought to explore:

Wear YOUR Failures Like Badges Of Honour!

Found this on Google search: Failure as a Badge of Honor


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Breakthrough - So YOU Think You've Got Problems?

Was just viewing the back-story episode to Frank and Kristen Alioto's breakthrough moments with Tony Robbins, and phew... the 44-minute episode misses tons of drama from 30-days of shooting the program that just couldn't be aired due to lack of time. Incredible!

Imagine celebrating YOUR wedding day and becoming a quadriplegic... making a breakthrough with Tony Robbins (Breakthrough Insider and click on Episode) and then... discovering that your mate has a brain tumor.

So YOU think that YOU've got problems, huh?

Here's what I'm doing right now... I've accepted the invite by Tony Robbins to participate in his amazing program.

Hi, It’s Tony, welcome to your Breakthrough Challenge course. Together we’re about to embark on a 6-week journey towards a more extraordinary quality of life. It's just 20 to 45 minutes each week, but I think you'll find that this small investment in yourself will give you huge returns.

Take your personal breakthrough challenge. I will post a new personal coaching session for you after every episode airs (don't worry I'll send you a reminder). In each session I will take the lessons from the show and teach you how to apply them in your own life in a very simple yet powerful way to create your own breakthroughs and help those you care for as well.

I look forward to our journey together… Let’s start!

Live strong and live with passion,

Tony Robbins

P.S. I really look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments on this program because we are utilizing this forum to refine this process into a course that we will be offering later to help people all around the world. Thanks!

YOU can participate too.

It's FREE... for goodness sake.

YOUR Personal Breakthrough Program with Tony Robbins.

What an opportunity!

I don't care who YOU are, or how together YOU are or not, how busy YOU are or not... this is an exceptional opportunity for a fascinating personal learning experience.

Go to Breakthrough Insider


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Breakthrough - Confront YOUR Real Issues

I cannot exhort YOU more to get along to Tony Robbins' Breakthrough Insider - and click on Episode.

Here YOU will view the story of... 'Frank and Kristen Alioto, a couple whose wedding night turned tragic after Frank suffered a swimming pool accident that rendered him a quadriplegic. With Tony Robbins' help, Frank learns to overcome his limitations and reclaim his life and marriage.'

If those Breakthrough Insider files are taking up too much bandwidth (as they do at my end), perhaps follow these sub-standard links that someone appears to have hacked to promote their own product. The Tony Robbins' message and content is the most important:

Step 1. Re-write YOUR Story
Step 2. Confront YOUR Real Issues

Step 3. Discover Your Inner Strength
Step 4. Redefine What Is Possible

Step 5. Exceed Your Expectations

Step 6. Change Your Belief System

Step 7. Own Your Breakthrough


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Are YOU About To Make YOUR Big Breakthrough In Life?

Had a fascinating group discussion yesterday with participants in our - WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program - process and witnessed the clear moment of breakthrough for a number in the group.

For them, I provide this link to perhaps the finest BREAKTHROUGH specialist in the world right now - Anthony Robbins:

Play all around this link, view everything - Breakthrough Insider

Enjoy - YOU are ready for this... :-)


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Friday, July 30, 2010

Winning Is Tough - How Tough Are YOU..?

Well worth taking another listen to Art Williams .

Just how committed are YOU?

Art has it right in this priceless clip from 1987.

Listen here:





Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Can YOU Be Better, Make Something Better? You Betcha!

Art Williams is a billionaire insurance executive with a simple message.

YOU can be better, create something better, do something better.

Listen to him.




Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Winning - Are YOU Almost There?

So what is the difference between winners and losers in life?

That's a question that many people ask.

YOU can do no worse than to listen to Art William's profound message. He gets it.





Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Monday, July 26, 2010

When A TEAM Win Is Better Than An Individual Win

Lance Armstrong - 7 times winner of the Tour de France - is perhaps one of the race's most iconic figures... and in his last Tour de France (2010) he was beset by all sorts of problems that left him in 23rd place overall.

Yet, still he engineered a team that was to take the First Team prize... and grab the headlines to highlight the challenges faced by 28 million cancer sufferers around the world (by highlighting the number 28 on the back of their podium jerseys).



Super-achievers are always looking for ways to engineer a win in everything they do.

Lance Armstrong is a master at this... on top of being one of the best athletes of his time!


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

How To WIN By Not Winning At All

Alberto Contador wins the 2010 Tour de France... without winning a single stage.

Think about it... there's a metaphor in there somewhere.

The race doesn't always go to the fastest, or to the best climber... it also goes to the smartest strategist who maintains a constant peak performance state to outlast the rest.

Here he is signaling his 3rd Tour de France win:



Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

How To Win When YOU Don't Feel Like Getting Out Of Bed

Ever had a sleepless night with bronchitis before an important day?

Ever just not felt like getting out of bed to face the day?

Of course YOU have... we all have!

What do YOU do?

That was Mark Cavendish's vexing decision to make after 17 tough, tough days of The Tour de France and a sleepless night with bronchitis before the 18th stage.

What he do.

He pushed himself up... got dressed... onto his bike... and began pedaling.

Five hours later he sprinted first across the line in Bordeaux!


Sometimes when YOU are not feeling well, it pays just to try to do things as YOU would normally do. If YOU are well-trained, prepared, disciplined... that might just carry YOU through to an incredible result.


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Enjoying YOUR Journey - Can It Be Done?

Watching Lance Armstrong's intense focus over the 16th stage of the Tour de France 2010 - the world's fastest-paced and most beautiful travelogue - one cannot help wondering if the professional riders really get to enjoy the journey.

Just take a look here at the sheer quality of the reporting online and at the beauty of the countryside that they go through.

Many metaphors could be extracted from the Tour de France, but the reality is that these professionals spend their lives training in these mountains, taking in the beauty during their resting periods, to get to the point where they can put their heads down to race flat out.

So YES... despite what YOU may see on one competitive day of a cycling race... YOU really can enjoy whatever YOU do... these riders do!

Life is a journey to be enjoyed!

Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

What Experience Does For YOU

Watching Lance Armstrong break away into the lead up the infamous Col de Tourmalet in his final Tour de France - 2010, one of the experienced commentators quipped: 'Lance is unlikely to have the speed in his legs to win in the final sprint, but what he does have is the experience to outwit and outlast the others'.

Well called. Lance narrowly missed crossing over the line first by a second or two... and that after a 200 kilometer race with the world's best

“It was full-gas all day,” Armstrong said. “I’m not the best on the race, but I still have the spirit of a fighter, I suppose. I focused on the stage. Tried to get in some moves, but I wasn’t fast enough in the end.” - quote.

And that is what experience gives YOU - the stamina to hang in longer than most.

YOU know how to deal with the pain that comes with peak performance.

YOU know how to work through the lows to reach those highs that will come.

Experience gives YOU the stamina to operate at a faster pace than most.

Experience keeps YOU in the game longer than most.

Build up YOUR experience... it pays in the long run.


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Monday, July 19, 2010

Do YOU Find The TIME To Do Mindless Things?

There's not much nicer than a roaring fire on a mid-winter's evening.

And once or twice a week, for some forty-five minutes to an hour, you'll find me swinging an axe to chop firewood.

My wife calls it a 'mindless' task and wonders why I just don't pay someone to do it.

But, here's the thing, it is not a mindless task for me... not only is it keeping me in some sort of physical condition, it also allows me to think through new business projects and ideas.

The other 5 days a week, I swim for an hour (3 times a week) or gym for an hour (twice a week)... again, 'mindless' activity, some might say... five glorious hours per week where I get some quality THINKING done.

As I think back to my many swimming & running training days...and younger days of paddle-skiing days in the surf (up to 3 hours at a time - if not much of the day if I could)... these 'mindless' activities were all great THINKING time.

THINKING time - the most precious time that YOU can have!

Do YOU do it?

Do YOU get out and walk, run, swim... participate in some 'mindless' activity.. ;-)

It might just be good for YOU and YOUR business. Do it!

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the twenty-second of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Seth Godin - American Entrepreneur, Author, Public Speaker - Permission Marketing & Purple Cow.

  1. quote: 'Cows, after you’ve seen them for a while, are boring. They may be perfect cows, attractive cows, cows with great personalities, cows lit by beautiful light, but they’re still boring. A Purple Cow, though. Now that would be interesting. (For a while.) The essence of the Purple Cow is that it must be remarkable. In fact, if “remarkable” started with a P, I could probably dispense with the cow subterfuge, but what can you do? This book is about the why, the what, and the how of remarkable..'
  2. quote: 'My goal in Purple Cow is to make it clear that it’s safer to be risky –to fortify your desire to do truly amazing things. Once you see that the old ways have nowhere to go but down, it becomes even more imperative to create things worth talking about. You must develop products, services, and techniques that the market will actually seek out..'
  3. quote: 'The Purple Cow is so rare because people are afraid. If you’re remarkable, it’s likely that some people won’t like you. That’s part of the definition of remarkable. Nobody gets unanimous praise– ever. The best the timid can hope for is to be unnoticed. Criticism comes to those who stand out. The winners will be companies that figure out what’s working fastest–and do it more (and figure out what’s not working–and kill it). The lesson here is simple: The more intransigent your market, the more crowded the marketplace, the busier your customers, the more you need the Purple Cow. Half-measures will fail. Overhauling the product with dramatic improvements in things the right customers care about, on the other hand, can have a huge payoff.'


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Do YOU Create 'Million Dollar Ideas' For YOUR Business?

The biggest fun one can have in life is creating really successful ideas that make a lot of money.

Do YOU know how to 'milliondollarize' YOUR business ideas.

Mastery, almost speaks for itself, and is defined as: outstanding skill; expertise.

That makes Business Mastery- the display of outstanding skill and expertise in areas of business.

Each and every one of our virtual Board of Advisers described below these posts has displayed some element of business mastery in their chosen field of business.

YOU can too.

At WISDOMS, the sixth pillar of our - WISDOMS - Powerful Peak Performance Program - Business Mastery - dip.bus.mastery was developed to stimulate the development of quality Million Dollar Ideas, Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances for practical launch in the market place.

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the twenty-first of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Simon Cowell - British music executive, television producer and entrepreneur - Pop Idol, American Idol, Britain/America's Got Talent, X-Factor.

  1. quote: 'When I was 30 the company that owned Fanfare went bust, and I effectively lost everything. I had to move in with my parents. In hindsight, it was the best thing that happened in my life because I learned the value of money: not to borrow money and not to live beyond my means. And I learned that getting there is more fun than being there. But one thing that I have always been able to do is to own up to my mistakes and not blame others.'
  2. quote: 'Work hard, be patient, and be a sponge while learning your business. Learn how to take criticism. Follow your gut instincts and don't compromise.'
  3. quote: 'If you've got a big mouth and you're controversial, you're going to get attention. I can't bear political correctness. I don't like a rule driven life and I hate the fact that you can't criticize a fat person. I actually really like Donald Trump. I think he's entertaining. There are so many unhappy billionaires, and he's a happy one with a great sense of humor. I didn't think I'd like him. I like people who don't take themselves too seriously.'


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Friday, July 16, 2010

Do YOU Have What It Takes To Be A True Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneur magazine - www.entrepreneur.com - defines an entrepreneur as: 'Someone who assumes the financial risk of the initiation, operation and management of a business.'

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."
- Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's

Well, okay, maybe... as an entrepreneur I sometimes think that a definition of what WE do is something akin to Einstein explaining the theory of relativity and Stephen Hawkings explaining the science behind the making of a black hole in the deepest recesses of our universe!

There is just so much to being an entrepreneur.

To keep it simple, YOU would probably count yourself to be a successful entrepreneur if YOU owned a business that generates handsome profits for YOU every month by providing goods/services to a hungry market.

Knowing how to do that will make YOU a true entrepreneur.

At WISDOMS, the fifth pillar of our program WISDOMS - Powerful Peak Performance Program - Entrepreneurship - dip.entrepreneur was developed to help our subscribers/delegates to acquire the essential entrepreneurial skills needed to develop and grow a quality business.

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the twentieth of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Bob Davis - the founder and CEO, President and Chairman of Lycos from its inception in June of 1995 through its $5.4bn merger into Terra Lycos in 2001.

  1. quote: 'Speed saves lives in all fields, of course, but in business today it is the great differentiator, an essential survival tool. We live in a world where a company is measured by its ability to accelerate everything from manufacturing to marketing, from hiring to distributing. If we can produce or process something faster, we can often do it for less money, serve our customers better, and get a jump on our competitors. For almost any business these days, speed is indeed life.'
  2. quote: 'Speed is of the essence, and needs to be ingrained throughout the organisation. With products, marketing, distribution, even people, you need to act swiftly. If you're a pro football coach, for instance, trying to build a winning team in a few preseason weeks, you can't afford to gently nurture someone's nascent talent. You build on the strong players and cut the weak.'
  3. quote: 'The quickest path to bottom-line growth, for instance, is revenue growth. A company needs relentless focus on increasing sales, expanding markets, and developing new customers.'


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Do YOU Inspire Others To Greater Heights?

Just love this old-timers quote on Leadership:

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." — John Quincy Adams quotes (American 6th US President (1825-29), eldest son of John Adams, 2nd US president. 1767-1848)

lead·er·ship (ldr-shp) n. is simply defined as: Capacity or ability to lead

Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. quote

At WISDOMS, the fourth pillar of our program WISDOMS - Powerful Peak Performance Program - 4. Leadership - dip.leadership - was developed to help our subscribers/delegates to discover the leadership skills and qualities needed to get individuals and teams fired up and performing to the very best of their abilities.

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the nineteenth of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Donald Trump - Billionaire; Real Estate Property Developer; Author; TV Personality.

  1. quote: 'Thoreau said: “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioned ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” That is not only an encouraging statement, it is also an empowering one. It means you can accomplish a lot by applying your brainpower and then moving forward with it.'
  2. quote: 'If you really want to succeed, you’ll have to go for it every day like I do. The big time isn’t for slackers. Keep up your mental stamina and remain curious. I think that bored people are unintelligent people.'
  3. quote: 'Business is full of complexities. That’s what makes it so interesting. Anyone who thinks it’s boring hasn’t given it much thought.'


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

What Fires YOU Up?

As a spark is to firing up a car's engine, a match to lighting a house-warming winter fire in the family-room fire-place, a shovel of coals into a steam-engine furnace... so INSPIRATION is the spark and fuel for getting and keeping successful people fired up, motivated, consistent, unwavering on their chosen paths through life.

So what fires YOU up?

What keeps YOUR engine revving at the pace YOU want to go?

What is YOUR inspiration?

Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, life-long?

Where do YOU get YOUR inspiration from?

in·spi·ra·tion (nsp-rshn) n. is defined as:

1. stimulation or arousal of the mind, feelings, etc., to special or unusual activity or creativity
2. the state or quality of being so stimulated or aroused
3. someone or something that causes this state
4. an idea or action resulting from such a state
5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) the act or process of inhaling; breathing in

Don't YOU like the idea that inspiration is to your life as breathing is to your body?

Without it you will die!

Said Zig Ziglar (for 'motivation' read INSPIRATION):

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. Zig Ziglar

So it is for INSPIRATION... it is the special something that gets YOU out of bed, fired up and ready to go, to achieve YOUR dreams.

INSPIRATION is the daily, hourly, minute-by-minute spark or fuel that keeps YOU going.

Do YOU focus on it enough?

Do YOU recognise its importance in YOUR life?

At WISDOMS, the third pillar of our program WISDOMS - Powerful Peak Performance Program - 3. Inspiration - dip.inspiration - was developed to help our subscribers/delegates to find, explore, experience, have fun with, all manner of inspirational inputs that they can use to fire up their lives and achieve their dreams.

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the eighteenth of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Steve Jobs - Silicon Valley - Inventor: CEO Apple; past CEO Pixar Animation Studios & board member Walt Disney Company; Pancreatic Cancer Survivor

  1. quote: 'It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them'
  2. quote: 'I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.'
  3. quote: 'It is hard to think that a $2 billion company with 4,300-plus people couldn't compete with six people in blue jeans.'


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Do YOU Show Initiative?

The one attribute that most successful people show above all else is... INITIATIVE - the ability to making things happen - in their lives, in their businesses and in their communities.

initiative [ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪv -ˈnɪʃətɪv] n - is perhaps one of the most exciting action-oriented words in the dictionary and is defined as:

- the power or ability to begin or to follow through energetically with a plan or task

- enterprise and determination

- readiness to embark on bold new ventures

- the first step or action of a matter

- the ability or attitude required to begin or initiate something

Until One is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come his or her way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. - Goethe

At WISDOMS, the second pillar of our program WISDOMS - Powerful Peak Performance Program - 2. Initiative - dip.initiative - was developed to help our subscribers/delegates to identify and stimulate within themselves the initiative to make positive things happen in their lives.

Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the seventeenth of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Wendy Evans - internationally renowned marketing strategist, professional speaker and author of How To Get New Business In 90 Days.... and keep it forever! :

  1. quote: 'You must have a set of goals with actions and costs for the future, a strategic plan by which to guide your business and promotional plans for your individual product or service.'
  2. quote: 'Most of all, it doesn’t matter what you do so long as you get out there and do something.'
  3. quote: 'The prospects that are nearest you can be the richest mine of your life.'


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program

Monday, July 12, 2010

Do You have The 'RIGHT Attitude'?

Watching Spain win the 2010 World Cup Final in Johannesburg, and Lance Armstrong's amazing resilience as he gets up off the tar 3 times - his chances of winning fly out of the window - in the 8th stage of of the 2010 Tour de France, I was reminded of what it takes to compete at the highest levels in this life.

Can YOU imagine the highs in Spain's dressing room... and the lows in Holland's?

Can YOU imagine the joy of Andy Schleck's win in the Alps... and Lance Armstrong's immense disappointment that his last Tour de France is now ruined by endless crashes?

How do the 'losers' recover from their disappointments?

How do they get back to their winning ways... feeling good about themselves?

It's all about having the 'RIGHT Attitude'.

It's all about knowing that life presents YOU with peaks and valleys, and that 'failing' is nothing more than a learning experience that YOU can apply to YOUR next challenge... it's about having the ability to bounce back, to give everything YOU do YOUR 'best shot'.

Our WISDOMS program was born out of a need to find/develop people with the right attitude, the initiative to make positive things happen in their lives, the ability to source continual inspiration to stimulate high-levels of self-motivation... and then to provide leadership skills to others to help them get where they want to be in life and business, to know what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, and to advance into the world of business mastery - high-level business success, joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions.

See: WISDOMS - Powerful Peak Performance Program

1. Attitude - dip.attitude
2. Initiative - dip.initiative
3. Inspiration - dip.inspiration
4. Leadership - dip.leadership
5. Entrepreneurship - dip.entrepreneur
6. Business Mastery - dip.bus.mastery


Let's close today's thought with an 'interview' comment or 3 from the sixteenth of our potential virtual Board of Advisers:

Jim Collins - Business Consultant; Author; Stanford University Graduate School of Business - Lecturer:

  1. quote: 'Good is the enemy of great. Get involved in something that you care so much about that you want to make it the greatest it can possibly be, not because of what you will get, but just because it can be done.'
  2. quote: 'The ultimate throttle on growth for any great company is not markets, or technology, or competition, or products. It is one thing above all others: the ability to get and keep enough of the right people.'
  3. quote: 'The purpose of a compensation system should not be to get the right behaviors from the wrong people, but to get the right people on the bus in the first place, and to keep them there.'


Today's thought is brought to you by:
WISDOMS - Powerful PEAK Performance Program