We all need someone to look up to. A role model. A source of inspiration to guide us through tough times and to reassure us that it’s okay to dream big dreams and to screw up from time to time.
I’ve owe much of my success, at least in economic terms, to two people – one of whom I’ve would never have honour or privilege to meet.
As a child I was blessed growing up in a loving family but we didn’t have a lot of money. Because of this of I spent much of my time reading books and watching movies. I loved movies.
This was the first turning point in my life. At aged 8. For I saw my first Bruce Lee movie.
For those of you who are around my age or older, this chap will not need much by way of introduction.
I grew up idolising Bruce Lee. The pioneer of mixed martial arts and cultural icon known throughout the world remains very popular among Asian people and in particular among the Chinese.
He portrayed Chinese nationalism and upheld the Chinese national pride at a crucial time in history and also of Asians through his movies which reached every part of the known world – including my TV screen.
As a child Bruce Lee was my larger than life ‘hero’. As a teenager through to this day, he remains my inspiration for he was no longer just a guy who could kick ass, but a testament to how much a person can achieve if you had a goal and remained focused and truly believed in yourself.
In fact I learnt the importance of ‘goal setting’ through Bruce Lee long before I picked up any self-help book or audio tapes. I have framed in my office a copy of Bruce Lee’s famous ‘My Definite Chief Aim’ statement he wrote to himself before he became an iconic figure as the world now knows him.
“I, Bruce Lee, will be the first highest paid Oriental Super Star in the United States. In return I will give exciting performances and render the best of quality in the capacity of an actor. Starting 1970 I will achieve world fame and from then onward till the end of 1980 I will have in my possession $10,000,000. I will live the way I please and achieve inner harmony and happiness.”
Bruce Lee – January 1969
(note: his goal was achieved in 1973)
I place this on my desk. To remind myself the importance on having well defined goals, to have a true sense of purpose in life and most importantly, to believe in yourself.
My second inspiration and mentor is someone I’m sure many of you will have heard of through either his books, audio CD’s or even stumbled across him on YouTube.
His name is Anthony Robbins.
During my late twenties I was making pretty decent money by anyone’s standards. More than any doctor, lawyer or CEO, but I soon hit a brick wall. I just couldn’t break through to the next level. This plateau was getting me down and I began to have doubts within my abilities to grow my business further. I knew deep down it wasn’t the skills or techniques I needed more of, it was the battle within myself I had to contend with. In short, I didn’t know what was going on inside my head.
This was when I developed a pursued interest in self-help books and it was through reading the materials of the late, great Jim Rohn, I found Tony Robbins – peak performance coach and master motivational speaker, or as he puts it – the ‘why’ guy.
I began exploring Tony and his teachings further and it made more and more sense. In one of his books he explained that the emotions I was experiencing didn’t make sense on an intellectual level but when I understood how the human behaviour works I could break through the barriers that that only existed in my mind.
So I studied, absorbed and applied the principles Tony outlined and before long – my income shot through the roof but more importantly, I grew as a person.
I saw first hand the results I achieved through his books and audio CD’s so I took it to the next level and bought myself a place at one of his flagship seminars – Unleash the Power Within (UPW)
This was a three day ‘conditioning’ event of total immersion to face your unconscious fears, to really find out what’s stopping you reaching the next level. During the event participants are challenged to perform the synonymous ‘firewalk’ – a metaphor for overcoming your own phobias, fears and limiting beliefs, but the coals were very real!
Storming across ten feet of hot coals was truly a euphoric and liberating experience. A pivotal point in my life.
I began to really understand how to turn fear into power and to use momentum to follow through.
I came out of the event with new found beliefs and much higher standards. I would no longer settle for anything less than I could be and as a result, I made my first million pounds a year later and it was truly this event that set the ball in motion.
The positive energy I felt of being in a room of 10,000 people was unbelievable which you just can’t find anywhere else. I learnt that in order to become successful then you simply need to surround yourself with successful people.
The seminar changed me so much I took it to the ultimate level and bought myself a place at Tony’s Platinum Partnership.
The Platinum Partnership was a rare opportunity to spend a week with Tony himself on his private island in Fiji, being coached personally by him and his Business Mastery team – limited to only a hundred individuals. I’m sure many would see the $65,000+ fee as astronomical, and while I agree it is a high price and out of reach for most people, it was without a doubt the best investment I’ve ever made.
Reading the books and listening to Cd’s set me on a path to unbelievable success, attending his UPW event took me to the next level; but to be coached by Tony in person at his private island in Fuji and to be surrounded by other like minded, living life to the full entrepreneurs has been so far an amazing and unmatched experience.
This to me, was the ultimate investment in my personal growth. I’m not going to lie, looking back when I first signed up to the Platinum Partnership I did it for myself.
I wanted more success, more freedom and more money. And yes I learnt all of that – a great deal about gaining financial prosperity, but what I didn’t expect was to take away with me was a huge lesson in humility.
The art of giving.
The single and biggest lesson Tony taught me was ‘the secret to living is giving’
Giving back to society, making a change, making a difference in someone’s life because I can.
And this is why I chose the path I have. To help other people achieve their dreams because the feeling of knowing I made a positive and lasting difference is a far greater feeling than any amount of money I can ever make.
So there you have it. Two of my greatest inspirations that made me the person I am today.
Thank you Bruce Lee and Tony Robbins.
I hope you too have inspirations of your own to help motivate you in whatever you choose to do.
Simon