Warning rant ahead: I met this guy last week and he pissed me off big time!

blog 2015
Written By Andrew Ford

Last week I met the guy in this picture who pissed me off! He also changed my perspective on business. He got under my skin big time because of all the work I had put into my business skills seemed like a waste of time. But on reflection it made me ponder what business was all about: the money or something more important? 

World Ventures, Andrew Ford rant

 

BACKGROUND

For those who don't know me, let me give you some background for context. I have always loved business. My grandparents ran a small office stationery business in a northern suburb of Melbourne in the commercial area of Preston.  As other family business people would know, it was the heart of our family. It provides incomes, cars, jobs for relatives and was often talked about when the family got together. I loved my grandparents so much and they taught me that if you work hard you can get somewhere in life. To me it was a special point of pride that my family owned a business. I couldn't wait to go work there on school holidays and ended up working there for nine years before life took me in a different direction.

The difference between my grandparents and my family was chalk and cheese. My grandparents and Uncle, who both worked in the business drove Mercedes cars, had overseas holidays, new clothes and never seemed to want for anything. My mother through various circumstances didn't work and had three kids by herself. It was difficult for her and although I went to a private school and lived in a nice suburb (all paid by the business) we were cash poor.  

I saw what they had and wanted a bit for myself so I followed grandpa's advice and worked hard. I studied for 14 years at night school, climbed the corporate ladder and saved. I invested in property, shares and myself. According to my accountant and my friends I was doing well. After 20 years of effort I had a net million dollars. I was technically rich. House was paid off and money in the bank - life was good, for a bit...

RICH! THEN NOT...

After the GFC we had to have, a divorce and some reckless spending (as you do when you are not fulfilled in your life) I lost a bunch of money.  It was earnt slow and spent so fast. So I started again. I created my own business in the vision of what my grandparents created. Social Star is my baby and I'm proud to be doing what I love most. I help people build their dream careers and businesses through authentic and powerful personal branding. It's fulfilling work that I am inspired and grateful to do everyday. I love it so much sometimes I do it for less than I can afford just so I can help others. Good for the soul but not for my bank balance! But I am growing and doing pretty well. Then I met this guy and he turned it all upside down (see his Ferrari!)

THE DUDE

This guy was 27, no degree, no experience and a multimillionaire. Not only was he a multimillionaire, her earnt a million dollars every year! Surely there is 15 years hard work behind the instant success? Unfortunately no. Surely he created a once off app or social media product that just happened to take off - a freak like those Instagram guys? Nope.  Surely he is super smart and talented, nup!  DAMN! The worst bit is anyone can do this now. The barriers to entry to make money have dissolved so my hard effort really isn't worth what it once was.

He is a regular guy who sells some stuff. He is good at selling and in three years worked his way up a system to be the best in his area. Hard work, sure. But not as hard as 14 years of business school whilst holding down a corporate job. The worst part is (for me, awesome for him) he has an annuity revenue without doing much at all. CRAP! They didn't teach me that during my MBA!

I now ask you a question, is all his money and success the end game? Is that the real measure of success? For us entrepreneurs, yes it is. Of course we want to help people along the way but he does that too. In fact he helped his brother become a millionaire at the same time. I'm about to cry, sniff...

WHAT'S NEXT?

So what to do about this new realisation that you don't have to follow the traditional path of hard work to be successful? You either get pissed off like I did, or you join them. I chose the first for awhile before I realised the second was a better option. Don't fight the tide of change, it will not help you at all.

I still run Social Star because I love it and it helps people around me. But I also run this other business which helps people become rich so they can do what they love most. For some it will be spending more time with family, for others like me it will take the pressure off the business so I can help more people. 

Will I make millions? Maybe not, but I will make enough to have a great life with my kids. How well I do is completely up to me. I'm going to give it a red hot shot! Sounds great, yes? Join me if you want but know it isn't some get rich quick scheme.  It takes effort and persistence, like all businesses.  The difference is this one is so simple, easy and profitable that other businesses models just don't compete. Uber and AirBnB are the start of the sharing economy, it's just going to get bigger and this is one where you get a part of the cake.  

CONCLUSION

This guy really did piss me off. But he also taught me a valuable lesson. I teach people how the world has changed with social media, but built a business on the old economy. Now I know that to be really successful you have to join the new economy. Jump in with two feet and realise the world will never be the same. Join me and don't look back.

If you are interested in learning more about World Ventures travel business read more here.

If you liked this blog don't miss out on the next one! Subscribe now to get them in your mailbox each week. What's the worst that can happen, you can always cancel and you just might learn something valuable :)

 

 

 

 

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
Previous

Monopoly Vs MBA - Five reasons why you should play with your kids rather than save for business school
Next

More Travel, More Holidays, More Free Time, More Kid Fun!! But How? Hint...BYOB