I saw Brad Sugars, founder and CEO of ActionCoach, this week. A 3 hour seminar that I left after 1.25 hours. I’ve heard most of his 28 points before – and I can’t really buy into Brad Sugars and his multi-millionaire persona. (I’m not the only one with issues, see here.)

I have had interactions with local Action coaches before. Some are good; some are not. If you have never heard of Jim Rohn, Action looks like gold. If you have read Jim Rohn’s work, then the 28 points aren’t new. In fact, some of it sounds like Gerber’s E-Myth. But then who doesn’t borrow. (I do).

When Brad was spouting off about his investments passively making him more than his business (and talking about buying a new helicopter), it reminded me of Tim Ferriss of 4 Hour Work Week fame.

One point to remember: your coach and your financial planner should make more money than you. If not, how can they help you? There’s a theory that I heard from Loral Langmeier that if you learn from a millionaire, they can take you to $100K, because you can only take about 10%. It’s also important how they got their money. Obviously, if your Financial Planner is telling you to buy bonds, but all his money is in T-bills or a couple of mutual funds, you have to ask.

On to some of the points:

1) ATTITUDE. Are you playing to win or playing not to lose? Success requires growth.
2) FINANCIAL SEASONS. Reminds me of Jim Rohn’s Seasons of Life. Think like a farmer. Plant in the Spring, Work the farm during Summer, Harvest in the Fall, fix everything up during the winter as you prepare for another growth-harvest season.
3) THINK GLOBAL. I disagree with this, since so many businesses are local — and should focus on growing that market before growing beyond local.
4) RESPONSE ABILITY. I call this Accountability. You should participate in a Master Mind Group, to expand your view, your thinking, and be held accountable for your goals.
5) OPPORTUNITY. Everything new and different happens in th erealm of discomfort. Growth happens when you are uncomfortable. Fear is just Failure Expected And Realized. Anxiety is just fear before it happens. Get over it. Get uncomfortable.
6) GRATITUDE . Say Thank you. It creates a Relationship when you give thanks. Philanthropy doesn’t have to involve millions.
7) CELEBRATION. Celebrate successes – even small ones. Do you buy yourself a birthday gift? Focus on winning.
Brad did make a joke about TV shows. Now, they are named after the audience: Lost, Desparate Housewives, Biggest Losers.
9) Learn before you earn. Brad says to work for someone else to get a paid education before you start your own business. For many of his clients — small business owners — it’s a little late for that. That’s why they hire a coach – to teach them, to show them, to help them grow.
10) Everyone is in Sales. (I use this one a lot myself in talks). When you were a kid, you were a great salesperson. “I want it! I want it! I want it! I want it! I want it!” – Persistent and Pushy. Then we lose that and let No get in our way.
If you believe that your service or product can truly help the customer, aren’t you doing thema favor by being persistent?
11) Dream – Goal – Plan – Action
Have a Bucket List. Write down your Dreams.
12) BE + DO = HAVE.
13) LEVERAGE. Work Once / Get Paid Many Times.
15) It takes about 10 years to get Rich. Learn It. Ride It. Do It. Take Action.
16) CASH FLOW. There’s Passive and Active. Passive is best.
17) CAPITAL. Sell and Buy. I was out the door.
14) Employee -> Self-Employed -> Manager -> Owner -> Investor -> Entrepreneur

That’s the Ladder to climb. As Jim Rohn says, we make the tough stuff up higher, so you have to stand on the books you have digested to reach them. Brad says that you have more to learn to climb the ladder.

Brad also says to invest in Real Estate, Businesses and Stocks. Balance.

A Business is a commercial profitable enterprise that works without me. (I guess I am just self-employed then).

I just read this blog post, Can you sell your product using social media networks?

He states, “The Social Media area of the New Media is a listening platform, NOT a selling platform.” I believe that, but so many use it as a broadcast media. A PR machine. That doesn’t work for attention or selling.

Social media works effectively for Customer Care. Ask @XOCare, Comcast, JetBlue, SWAir. Why? Engagement.

Rule number 1 in sales is be Friendly. Make a friend. You can do that online. If you Listen first. Then have a conversation.

“Give generously and people will follow you.” That is the premise of Linchpins by Seth Godin. Be Generous. It’s one way to stand out or become an Expert.

The new sales process involves word-of-mouth, user reviews, online searches, and comparison shopping.

I have seen people test social network responsiveness of companies before buying from them. It’s a whole new world.

It’s definitely easier to sell things like Dell gear, hotel rooms or discounted airfare, than services on social media. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. It’s just more challenging.

There are very few commercials that work. By that, I mean that they reach me. It seems so many are just crappy creative work with no message.

I like this new commercial from Subaru.

Subaru Baby Girl Driver

It reminds me of the long distance commercials from the mid-1980’s. Emotive.

Ma Bell’s Reach Out and Touch Someone

Or the Coca-Cola commercials from the 70’s

Coca-Cola Like to Teach the World to Sing
Coca-Cola Christmas ad from the 70’s

It is political ad time – now until November – and the ads all suck. Even the YouTube videos. It’s all about what the opponent did wrong. If only the People-in-Glass-Houses rule applied. Voters are scared to death. A couple of smart ads would be good to see. It likely would be one of the Differentiators.