How to be productive during a Global Crisis
In March 2020, the world entered into a crisis which can only be described as un-precedented in most living people’s experience. COVID-19 sent the world into a panic, and hundreds of thousands of people around the world lost their lives. As we went into lockdown here in the United Kingdom, I made the conscious decision to use my time productively to help as many people as I could but first I realised that I needed more skills to deal with the problems put in front of me. It wasn’t going to be an easy task, I just needed some coaching, assistance and help to hone my skills developed over 35 years in business and community service to become better than I was. My mentor Jim Rohn said it best.
“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills”
Another thing that Jim taught me was that my attitude is greatly influenced by association and that I should never mistake the power of influence. Influence can be both powerful and subtle. Anyone can be gently nudged off-track by someone who may be constantly pushing their elbow into your back. A little nudge with the elbow every day can push you off track until you really don’t know how you ended up where you are. All of a sudden you can say “Wow! How did I end up way over here?”.
Having been an Independent (not in a political party) councillor/politician for 17 years, I found myself way off track mentally and emotionally, and so made the conscious decision to remove myself from the negative, divisive, adversarial, confrontational energy of the local town council, and get myself back on track. I got into it to help people, not be constantly attacked due to not being a member of a political party. Wow! What a correct and amazing decision that turned out to be! I resigned as a Town Councillor, and in so doing relinquished my position as Deputy Mayor of my town. It was the best thing I ever did and was so amazing to have those nudging elbows removed from my back!
Kyle Wilson’s Inner Circle
Talking to Brian Tracy - International Speaker, Author & Success Expert at Kyle Wilson’s Inner Circle Meeting - December 04, 2020.
Having met Jim Rohn’s 18 year business partner, Kyle Wilson, at a Success Symposium in Dallas in January 2008, I became a member of his inner circle. The inner circle was a way to associate with like minded Entrepreneurs, Speakers, Business People, Iconic Thought Leaders, Authors, Professionals, Musicians, etc. It was simply amazing! The difference between association with these people and local party political councillors is just simply indescribable. It gave me inspiration when the rest of the world appeared to be in desperation.
John Maxwell Team
At the 2008 Dallas Success Symposium, one of the speakers was John Maxwell. John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 26 million books, and was identified as the #1 leader in business by the American Management Association. In 2020, during lockdown, I finished my training which I began in 2016 to become an independent Certified Coach, Teacher, Trainer and Speaker with The John Maxwell Team.
So I had now changed my associations which affected the way I thought about everything, and had a qualification to officially be able to help people. I was very excited.
On a training call with John Maxwell - December 03, 2020
Being on Podcasts
So having joined Kyle’s Inner Circle, and become certified with John Maxwell, I began telling my story to people around the world via Zoom. In particular, I had adapted my story of swimming The English Channel, into applying the principles I learned into all areas of your life; Business, Personal, Sporting etc.
People started inviting me onto their podcasts and loved my story. It has been a truly incredible year talking and giving my presentation to so many people around the world! One of the highlights was being invited onto my first ever mentor, Larry Thompson’s ‘Millionaire Training Book Club’. Larry has recently release his original Millionaire Training Tapes which got me started in this business in 1987, in the form of a book. If you haven’t got it yet - I thoroughly recommend it! I actually could not believe it! Larry is probably the world number 1 living legend in the network marketing industry having been in the business for over 50 years. He is known as the ‘Billion Dollar Man’ because he has generated billions of dollars of sales in the companies he has been involved in - Herbalife was where I first met him. I was truly humbled and blessed to be invited onto this show live from Texas in the USA.
Co-Authoring a #1 Amazon Best Selling Book with Kyle Wilson
Throughout all of this time, in the background, I was working with the incredible Kyle Wilson in Dallas and Takara Sights in Los Angeles to co-author a book called “Bringing Value, Solving Problems and Leaving a Legacy”. My co-authors include Tom Ziglar - son of legendary speaker Zig Ziglar, speaker, trainer and CEO of Ziglar.com, Dr Denis Waitley - Iconic Speaker and Author, Rachele Brooke-Smith - Actress, Filmmaker, Speaker & Entrepreneur and Mitzi Purdue - Family Business Expert, Speaker and Humanitarian to name just 3 of the 41 incredible authors. It has truly been the most incredible experience and on the day of it’s launch, Tuesday April 13, 2020, the book reached #1 Best Seller Status on Amazon in 28 CATEGORIES and INTERNATIONALLY including just some of the following countries: The United States, Canada, Australia, France, Mexico and the United Kingdom! To cap it all, all profits from this book went to an amazing charity ‘Win This Fight’ - a charity setup by one of my co-authors, Mitzi Purdue.
So Why and I Telling You All of This?
The global pandemic has and is still causing major health problems around the world, both physical and mental. Many, many millions of people are suffering the effects of the lockdown isolation and it has had serious effects on people’s mental health. I have made it my challenge, my purpose to help as many people as I can to overcome the challenges we all face over the coming years.
What I have tried to show you above, is that who you disassociate yourself from and then who you associate with, can have a seriously positive effect on your physical health, your mental health and your financial future. If I can do it - you can do it. I’m no different to you - but we all need a little help. I’m here for you. As Jim Rohn said:
“It takes all of us to help each of us, and each of us to help all of us, and we can’t do it alone. Have you ever seen a rich hermit?”
Summary
I will finish this post by quoting Mitzi Perdue from her section in the book, because it sums up everything I am saying here. This is what she said:-
“I think most of us would like to look back on our lives and feel that we’ve made a contribution. The formula for getting there that I like is a) Don’t be afraid of failure, b) Do everything you can to grow your talent stack, and c) Act on what Aristotle said 2300 years ago:
’The only way to achieve true success in life is to express yourself in service to society.’ ”
So I am here to help YOU in whatever way I can. Sign up for my e-mail list, buy the book, be inspired and walk forward into the next few years with optimism.
Yours in health, wealth, happiness and optimism.
My name’s Paul, and I’m your friend.
🌍 Paul Hopfensperger - #BeTheDifference 👊
