Philosophy, Felines & Becoming A Footballer’s Wife

On Friday 13th I wrote my usual brilliant “Note From Nicola” (*grin*) and then had a big problem with my new laptop, which Steve tried to fix, and in the process, my NfromN was deleted completely.  Now anyone who blogs, comments on blogs, writes anything at all, will know how heart-breaking that is.  As I was off to speak for “Recession Free Seminars” and “Build Your Wealth” at the weekend, I had to leave it (just WALK AWAY from the computer) and try again today.

Being of a philosophical but obviously non-woo-woo nature, I’m reflecting today that it was meant to happen.

Because if it hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you about the biggest thing to happen to personal development blogging, yet.  A new site has launched and if I told you that a new best-selling author has been born, I wouldn’t be exaggerating.  If you loved “Wife In The North” and the rather risque “Belle De Jour” blogs, then you will love this…..Ta da!

Danny The Guru Cat is a jaded, cynical, slightly scary cat, whose owner Graham Wendes (aka Softboy) has empowered Danny to share his thoughts on life, love, the universe and everthing.  Danny has a half-sister called Winnie who is dispensing the softer element of the blog, in her “Ask Winnie” section, but don’t be surprised if it’s Danny who answers the questions!

Now, I’m the least soppy person about pets you can imagine, having taken back to the shop our Cockatiel called Elvis because it was too damn noisy, it’s a miracle our five goldfish are still alive, so blogs by animals leave me cold usually….

But because I’ve been experiencing the power, wit, vulnerablity, tough love and wisdom of Danny The Guru Cat via our private Money Gym Google Group for a while now, I’ve been looking forward to his writing debut and it doesnt’ disappoint.

Check it out for yourself and subscribe to the RSS feed by email if you like it.  We have to keep Danny blogging!

Friday 13th was also Red Nose Day, which necessitated Phoebe creating a striking red outfit to wear to school in honour.  Now she says she’s too shy to go on the stage but if this isn’t a star profile outfit I don’t know what is!

We boo’ed and donated our way through the evening and the highlight for me was David Beckham’s face as he tried not to laugh at the dressing down the England team got from actor James Corden, Smithy from Gavin & Stacey.  Watch it here >>>

What a good looking lot those England boys scrub up to be eh?  I can almost see the appeal of being a footballer’s wife now, LOL.

So, two speaking gigs in one day, this last weekend, now that’s what I call time management.  I experienced one of those rare moments of pure happiness on the train, whooshing through the sunset listening to Nu Yorican Soul and twittering from my new Blackberry.

Then I arrived at one of the hotels the organisers had mentioned, only to find it was not only not a 4* or 5*, but it was about a 1* rating.  My heart sank and I nearly got back in the taxi again.  I was hoping to hook up with a load of the speakers and delegates but there was NO WAY they would be staying here.  Serves me right for not doing more research!  No bar, no restaurant……..However when I got into the room (with a KEY!!) I found it was relentlessly 80’s decor but spotlessly clean, warm and very comfortable so I went for it.  No internet connection working so I was forced to wander out onto Esher High Street where I found a good selection of restaurants including a Carluccio’s (Judith, make a note for when you get stuck in Esher!).  Very posh and couple-y though….

So I thought I would pop into the rather nice looking gastro pub next door for a drink first as it was still early, and then Alan, who was marketing the gig, rang me back and told me that they were staying at the Hilton up the road (of course they were!) but they were going to the promoter’s house, for a curry with some of the speakers, and would I like to come.  O yes!  Into a taxi to Weybridge, through a security gate, round a very, very nice private estate and up to the front door of a house that was just jaw-droppingly beautiful.  Saved!  A very nice evening with some great company, accompanied by a VERY good curry from the No #1 all-natural-ingredients curry house in the UK apparently.  Loads of property investors from Cyprus there too!

I woke up at 6.30 to a sunshine filled bedroom and breakfast in a sunny dining room helped a lot too!  A totally empty Sandown Park Racecourse was an interesting venue and the balcony overlooked the sunny and beautiful “Owners Enclosure” which reminded me of our outing to Brighton Races last year (my first time).

While I was wondering if I could get the energy levels up sufficiently for the second, I found it easier than I thought!  However, I was a bit thrown to find, while sitting on Esher train station, that @Paul_Elliott who comperes at Build Your Wealth, was twittering that he was listening to Topher Morrisson…..and I suddenly realised that this might mean I was on stage next!

Do you know Topher?  I haven’t heard him speak before but all our Money Gym gang rave about him and he’s an NLP expert and supposed to be a very charismatic speaker (so the last thing I wanted to do was go on right after him!)

However I duly arrived at the venue, was slightly thrown to find Warren Borjse hanging out behind the registration desk (isn’t he supposed to be in Australia?!!) and the lovely Gary Vurnum hanging out at the back of the hall (just for fun apparently!!) and yes, Topher on stage, doing his charismatic thing!  I see why everyone raves about him now, he’s great!

Eeek.

Then I spotted some Money Gym gang in the throng, Karen from TimeBomb T-Shirts & Online Rock School and Matthew Green who has been to some of our Cashflow Games.

Always nice to know that you have some supporters in the audience, so I took some deep breaths, reminded myself to just be authentic and me, and go for it.  And I did a good job, better on the second gig than the first I think.  Karen supported me wonderfully, she’s a star/creator profile for sure.

Nice to connect with Gary, Daniel Priestly (and able to hook him up with some potential business), Paul Elliott, Warren again but from a speaking/selling point of view, both gigs were only moderately successful, even though I got a good reaction, as the audience are really unbelievably un-clued up about the internet……….although half put their hands up to being self employed or having a business, out of 200 odd, only about 4-5 put their hand up to having a website, or knowing what a blog was, so I’ve got to re-think what I’m presenting to that kind of audience.  Membership sites are great but they are just too advanced, in my opinion, for the “starter” wealth creation crowd. Only two people who had heard of Twitter for heaven’s sake and both of those were our Money Gym two.

We need to advance our plans for the Money Gym “Money Box” product and fast!

But first it’s our big day on Saturday……….the Property Extravaganza.  Only about 40 – 50 tickest left now ….. and every time I click “send and receive” another 5-10 or so have gone.

This is going to be one of the biggest days in this year’s property calender….anyone who came to the Brett McFall weekend knows the atmosphere we get when 200-odd Money Gym maniacs get in the room together.  For a whole day, the recession and credit crunch will be forgotten, as folks connnect, re-connect, find out how they are making money in spite of the doom and gloom, and generally have a great time.

You really can’t afford to miss it – and you will be helping us help the Big Issue, help the homeless help themselves.

http://www.TheMoneyGym.com/events/property

C’mon, you know you want to.

If not, have fun, we always do.

Nicola

Business Success: One, Two! One Two!

I’m planning a major new report thise week – the working title is “Back To Front Marketing (Killer Wealth Creation Strategies For The 21st Century Business)” but it’s only a working title.  I have a better – shorter – one in mind.

As all good ideas do, it came to me in the shower, and luckily my memory cells are sufficient that it lasted past the hairdryer and breakfast and all the way into my new work space, the dining table, which is conveniently close to the sofa, my new convalescent day bed.  Handy for naps.
 
The article grew out of my thinking about several events coming together, as is the way, synchronistically (is that a word? if not it should be!) First of all, a rather intriguing new magazine arrived yesterday from The Entrepreneur Channel and it caught my eye because it’s got an article by Duncan Ballentyne from Dragon’s Den (cor) although the man on the front cover is Andrew Reynolds, whom I have only met briefly but know to be a VERY SERIOUS business person.  
 
I first came across Andrew when he pretty much singlehandedly put 1200 bums on seats for the World Internet Summit UK (the year after I spoke for them sadly!). 

He’s a quiet man, but knows how to enjoy his wealth  – he recently had a lot of fun at his 50th birthday party, including having Elton John playing for the guests live! 

Then I met him briefly at the secret filming for Alan Forrest Smith’s product for Entrepreneur TV, and we discussed the possibility of my working with them, but nothing has come of it (yet).

His dad and grand-dad were aspiring business men, but as Andrew recounts in this magazine, they were always working to a flawed business model so never made any money.  He talks very eloquently about the look of “despair and rage” that he regularly saw on his father’s face, and this still drives him today.  Andrew grew up in very poor circumstances indeed – one pair of trousers and shoes at a time, always cold in winter- and so he worked very hard in corporate life, albeit miserably, until he came across an business opportunity that resonated with him, offered by someone who he already knew of, liked and trusted, so he jumped in with both feet.
 
Two interesting points there.  No matter how entrepreneurial you are, and how hard you work, if you have a flawed business model, you are never going to make money, let alone become rich, via the business lane of the Wealth Highway. It’s one of the two main Lanes most multi-millionaires use to become seriously wealthy but it’s a minefield if you don’t know what you are doing. 
 
How can you know if a business model is flawed?  Well, you won’t unless you have learned by bitter experience or you have a mentor.  Some business people discover a successful model by trial and error but many, many more give up before they find one.
 
This is my own experience.  I must have started about 40 business since I was eight years old, but it was only after meeting my wealth mentors that I realised that there is a blueprint for business success, especially business success that leaves you free to enjoy your life, but that hardly anyone – unless they have been successful themselves – can tell you what that blueprint is.
 
The real hidden danger in business, the sargasso sea of this lane, is actually ….

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