career in the field of personal development

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by ericwordelman

You can say it's my calling. It's my passion. It's my purpose. Nothing in the entire Universe can sway my decision and choice.

Less competition for me.

The adrenalin rush after delivering a talk is fantastic... and so it the satisfaction...

I do wish you the very best in your endeavors... and keep us posted...
.

[ericwordelman]

striving for success only means that you're already a failure..

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by ericwordelman

striving for success only means that you're already a failure..

It can also mean that you want to get out of your comfort zone...
.

[Jason S]

When I got into this field, I had the "wrong" credentials for the job I was doing. Over time, my credentials and my focus have evolved into sharper alignment.

I'd worry less about your credentials (or lack thereof) at the outset and focus on your clients and how you intend to help them. PD is not about what you've done, it's not even about giving people a reason to listen to you. It's about helping people solve their problems.

Ultimately, if you can solve someone's problem, that person will listen to you irrespective of your credentials. (You don't listen to Tony R. because he's done great things, you listen to him b/c you think he can help YOU do great things. As a coach, you're not looking for an endorsement like this: "Call Jason, he graduated from this place and did this and that, he's awesome," you want to hear: "Call Jason, he made ME a better person and he will do the same for YOU." That second endorsement will draw people to your presentations.) Prospects don't care about what you've done. They care about what you can help them do.

One thing I will say is, this field is far more than reading books and regurgitating information. It's about taking a genuine interest in others' success. If, when you speak (or coach), you are more enamored with what you have to offer than with how people can benefit from your knowledge/experience/etc., it will show. I'm putting this out there because it's not clear to me from your posts that you've made this leap in your thinking, from wanting to share to wanting others to buy from you because you have a deep conviction that you can help them. Maybe I'm reading too much into your posts... I'd just hate to see you underestimate what it takes to succeed in this field! Whatever you decide, good luck!

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Shamou

Could you give me the name of one person who has succeeded with a career in the PD field who was not already a huge success before he/she got started in that field...???
.

Anthony Robbins.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by impaul99

Anthony Robbins.

From post #11 in this thread...

"At 13 years old he decided he wanted to be a baseball reporter and within in a few months (and still aged 13) he had an interview with one of the best baseball reporter in the US at the time, Howard Cosell. His interview made it to the Los Angeles Times and by 14 or 15 years old he was offered a contract to be a sports reporter for for a paper and as well as a job with a television station.

Then at 16 he delivered a speech that lead him to upset his more popular competitors and become the student body president.

In his late teens he elevated himself to one of Jim Rohn's top sales people, eventually being a director of sales and earning $10,000 a month."

.

[ericwordelman]

Jason S. that was a beautiful post and I make sure that I install the belief that I want people to to listen to me or whatever because I know I can help them solve their problems.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Shamou

From post #11 in this thread...

"At 13 years old he decided he wanted to be a baseball reporter and within in a few months (and still aged 13) he had an interview with one of the best baseball reporter in the US at the time, Howard Cosell. His interview made it to the Los Angeles Times and by 14 or 15 years old he was offered a contract to be a sports reporter for for a paper and as well as a job with a television station.

Then at 16 he delivered a speech that lead him to upset his more popular competitors and become the student body president.

In his late teens he elevated himself to one of Jim Rohn's top sales people, eventually being a director of sales and earning $10,000 a month."

.

So delivering a speech to fellow students, and making $10,000 in a month?

Didn't Robbins then self sabate himself and make $30-$40k for the next 4 years? He himself said he was at a low point in his life.

When he found out his wife was pregnant it flipped a switch in his head and he made 1 million in 1 year doing self-help stuff. I don't think it's accurate to say that making a career in PD requires huge success prior to entering the field.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by impaul99

I don't think it's accurate to say that making a career in PD requires huge success prior to entering the field.

I guess you may not have to be able to do something yourself to teach it to others... but, I have been in the "PD teaching and seminar giving field..." I know what's it's like... It's probably one of the hardest field to get into... because people are highly skeptical... and they wants to make certain that they will get results for their money... and that the information offered is valid and will actually work...

For every Steve Pavlina or Tony Robbins there are literally thousands who will never amount to anything...

In most profession, it takes about seven years to become a success... but at least those neophytes can earn enough to eat and afford shelter... while working in their own field... but, I highly doubt that it is possible for the average wannabe guru...

In my case I was already a well known TV host... had given hundred of talks on PD without any remuneration in my community and was highly successful in my own profession... still... building a following was one of the roughest thing that I had ever done...
.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Shamou

I guess you may not have to be able to do something yourself to teach it to others... but, I have been in the "PD teaching and seminar giving field..." I know what's it's like... It's probably one of the hardest field to get into... because people are highly skeptical... and they wants to make certain that they will get results for their money... and that the information offered is valid and will actually work...

For every Steve Pavlina or Tony Robbins there are literally thousands who will never amount to anything...

In most profession, it takes about seven years to become a success... but at least those neophytes can earn enough to eat and afford shelter... while working in their own field... but, I highly doubt that it is possible for the average wannabe guru...

In my case I was already a well known TV host... had given hundred of talks on PD without any remuneration in my community and was highly successful in my own profession... still... building a following was one of the roughest thing that I had ever done...
.

I don't disagree with anything you're saying. It's kind of like that in any field. For every 1 person succeeding above just scraping by there are 99 who are just barely scraping by. However, how much of the "building a following" do you think was attributed to the world accepting you compared to you accepting yourself or having to take care of certain internal growth within you?

[ericwordelman]

I think this all goes back to the concept of competition. If you truly believe in competition then it's a pretty grim outlook. But if you're serious about something you're going to "succeed" no matter what. The only person that's going to make you fail is yourself and you would only do that if you decide you truly don't want it. If you really want it, it's already yours. I think the 99
% thing applies to many things including Taw kwon do. 99% don't make black belt but that's only because they never even had the thought/goal/aspiration etc to make black belt, they were just in tae kwon do probably because they didn't know what the hell else to do, they were unconscious. But if you consciously know and plan to go all the way, you'll go all the way, it's not hard, life is not hard, it's easy, if you follow the rules you'll make it no doubt.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by impaul99

However, how much of the "building a following" do you think was attributed to the world accepting you compared to you accepting yourself or having to take care of certain internal growth within you?

You wanna have fun... give a conference on motivation in your hometown... place some adds in the newspapers... put some posters in store windows... do the radio talk shows... call your friends and those who don't hate you too much... and see what the turnout will be if you charge a measly $20.00 for entrance...

I don't care who you are... or how good you are... or how much charisma that you have... if you get ten people there... you'll be damned lucky...

The average Joe is scared shitless of motivation and assorted topics...

You want to make a hit... give a talk on the end of the world... and you'll fill the room... even if you charge fifty bucks a seat...

PD is reserved to the precious few... studies have been done showing that the average person will spend less than fifteen dollars during their entire lives on motivational material...

I did build a a considerable following... but you would never believe the work and energy that had to go in it...

BTW - I don't have any personal hangup or personal issues... I am healthy, I have financial security, all the toys that I want... and married to the seventh wonder of the world...
.

[ericwordelman]

Shamou I can relate to your comment of time and energy. I have spent an enormous amount of time and energy in this field thus far and really don't have much to show for it. I have grown individually a ton but as far as creating a business and whatnot I haven't even started and I've given a ton of my energy to it already and have barely little to show for it. I guess it's what seperates the boys from the men :-P

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Shamou

You wanna have fun... give a conference on motivation in your hometown... place some adds in the newspapers... put some posters in store windows... do the radio talk shows... call your friends and those who don't hate you too much... and see what the turnout will be if you charge a measly $20.00 for entrance...

I don't care who you are... or how good you are... or how much charisma that you have... if you get ten people there... you'll be damned lucky...

The average Joe is scared shitless of motivation and assorted topics...

You want to make a hit... give a talk on the end of the world... and you'll fill the room... even if you charge fifty bucks a seat...

PD is reserved to the precious few... studies have been done showing that the average person will spend less than fifteen dollars during their entire lives on motivational material...

I did build a a considerable following... but you would never believe the work and energy that had to go in it...

BTW - I don't have any personal hangup or personal issues... I am healthy, I have financial security, all the toys that I want... and married to the seventh wonder of the world...
.

It really sounds like you attracted a lot of "proof" that you are right about how hard it is.

I *know* I could get 10 people to a seminar at my HOUSE for $20, and I live 30km's out of town. I'm not trying to judge you, I totally hear what you're saying, but I also believe and utilize Law of Attraction every day, and I know that if you hold a belief like "The average Joe is scared shitless of motivation and assorted topics..." then no wonder I can't attract anybody, and if you also believe "PD is reserved to the precious few... studies have been done showing that the average person will spend less than fifteen dollars during their entire lives on motivational material..." that will also affect what you attract.

There's the way I would look at it. There is this guy named Tony Robbins. He puts on a seminar charging $5000/person and 1000+ people show up. If he can do it, I can do it.

or

There's this guy named Eckhart Tolle. He puts on a seminar and people show up. If he can do it, I can do it.

or

There's this guy named Deepak Chopra... etc.

See what I mean?

Anyway, I think the reason you see things this way is because you don't believe in LoA. Because of this, you see that the best beliefs to have are those that are most accurate by scientific standards, so you seek out "proof" to support the difficulty of your situation. You find a stat like $15/person spent per lifetime etc. If you believed in LoA you would never seek such stats because you'd know that you're creating them by seeking them, therefore you would only seek stats that support your DESIRES and thus create those.

Anywhoo, I've gone way off topic here. To the original poster, I will say this however. I have read over 500 self help books. Why? Because I love this industry. I've worked in different industries and I do know one thing. Hard or easy is debateable, but one thing that isn't is that in order to be successful in any industry you must have a PASSION for what you do. If you're going after the money aspect of it, you will most likely not do very well. Unless making money is your passion in itself (investment broker etc.)

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by ericwordelman

I guess it's what seperates the boys from the men :-P

You wanna be an "overnight" success in the field... move to a different country... they'll love you... nobody is a prophet in his own country...

The largest audience I ever had in my Province was a little over 150 people... in Texas, I spoke to audiences of over 1000 people... the farthest you come from... the best you apparently are...
.

[munish]

Originally Posted by impaul99

If you're going after the money aspect of it, you will most likely not do very well. Unless making money is your passion in itself (investment broker etc.)

This is what steve pavlina calls,a Lightworker/Darkworker.

At one time money and success in business were very motivating to me, but now they’re empty and hollow when compared to other pursuits.-S.Pavlina.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by munish

At one time money and success in business were very motivating to me, but now they’re empty and hollow when compared to other pursuits.-S.Pavlina.

I wonder if Steve pounds his chest like King Kong whenever he sees people quoting a line from his writings like that. It's funny how people use quotes of his like that in these forums, lol. By funny I mean cool.