Editor @ Global Man – Page 4 – Global Man

Re-Wired: A Life on the Circuit

It’s quite a leap to go from electric guitar to electric car, but then again, Adam Kelbie is no stranger to remaking his career to suit his positive drive for happiness, as Yassin El-Moudden finds out.

The innovative founder of marketing firm, A Hand Online, and KLB Global Solutions opens up – on challenges he’s faced, why young men need direction and how he found himself playing Jackson Maine in a stage show adaptation.

And when the conversation turns to tech, the former All Together Now TV judge takes the chance to wax lyrical on his plans to bring the digital and social together: from cryptocurrencies and NFTs to tackling expensive fuel bills and building 8-minute homes!

All befitting for the Herts man who once set out on tours with his band, ready to “take on the world”!

 

“You just have to act and believe”

 

Take us back to a young Adam Kelbie in the early 2000’s music scene – what was the story behind you joining a band? Which groups influenced you and was there an element of you “finding yourself” through this musical journey?

 

Our music was a mixture of The Prodigy/Kasabian meets Madness. We were a very laddie band and I think that best describes this moment of my life.  I really learnt how to write good songs with the team and there was no bigger rush than being up on stage performing them. We were just 6 lads taking on the world and it felt amazing.

I definitely found parts of myself that I liked and also discovered areas that really needed work.  I learnt that you have to be persistent to achieve your goals.  There are a lot of promises made in the music world. A lot of hype that sometimes doesn’t live up to what you expect.  You could get down and disillusioned, or dust yourself off, believe in yourself and keep on battling.

 

Talk us through how you moved from travelling across the country on music tours to travelling across the world promoting the Formula E circuit. The last 2 years have seen any number of people switch and make radical career changes. How did you cope with adjusting and what advice would you give others?

 

For a couple of years after the music finished, I really did not know what to do with myself.  I was stuck in some dead-end promotional work – giving out free samples of products and the like – and I noticed I was starting to get very low.  I had NEVER actually thought about what I would do apart from music. In fact, I really did not know what I could do.  All I knew was that I’d begun to get frustrated with myself, feeling as if I was not amounting to my true potential.

During this period of my life, I struggled with some mental health issues – having no direction can do that to a person. Still, I refused to give up on myself and when I was offered the chance to join the Formula E PR team, it really brought me back to life!  All of a sudden, I had purpose. There were goals to achieve and I became part of a networking circle that you could only dream of being in.  This really kick-started my corporate career and encouraged belief in myself.

I have seen many people, including my own brother, restart their careers during the last couple of years. I believe the pandemic gave everyone a chance to reflect.  Are they happy doing what they are doing? Do they look forward to getting up and working on their own goals? Could they do something else?  The answer is YES.  You just have to act and believe. Then, you really can achieve what you want.

 

You moved into the world of business, with a focus on communication. You say that you helped CEOs out with improving their on-screen persona and networking at events. I note that you featured as a judge on a primetime BBC One talent show. To what extent would you describe yourself as an extrovert and does that stem from your touring days? Would you describe it as innate, or did you have to take steps to build your confidence?

 

Well, I am an entertainer at heart and I just can’t help but bring that into my social and business surroundings.  I like to know what’s going on in the room and I like to build a happy environment.  Does it make me stand out in a room because of my entertainment traits? Most certainly.

During lockdown, I asked myself “what is the best value that I can offer people?”.  I took for granted how nervous people can get in front of crowds, peers or in face-to-face business meetings.  For me, it’s always been a skill that I had to put aside or I would never have got up on stage or in front of the camera.  I had no choice if I wanted to succeed in this career.

In modern times, I believe that the CEO’s and top execs are the rockstars of the business world. This is something they might never have trained in and may find it very uncomfortable. A good CEO knows he has to break through his comfort zone, and so I help them to believe in that side of their persona. That may involve working a room at a networking event, standing up on stage and giving talks or doing a piece to camera.  It’s amazing how great these individuals are once they believe in that side of themselves.

 

“I’m an entertainer at heart and just can’t help but bring that into my surroundings”

 

At Global Man, we’ve recently been setting our sights on the future, from ecological sustainability to developments in new technology. As someone who has been involved in Formula E, the world of cryptocurrency and describes themselves as “a big campaigner for world energy solutions” (Hertfordshire Mercury), could you tell us some more about what draws you to this particular sphere, in addition to what you’re currently working on?

 

There are a lot of technologies out there that can really help the planet but unfortunately, they never see the light of day.  They get swallowed up by the big boys or ridiculed, as it goes against what the bigger companies’ plans are. However, I believe that the tide is turning and with the introduction of raising money through cryptocurrency, a lot more of these projects will soon come to fruition.

As for me, I’m now working on modular homes that can help with the UK’s housing crisis and reduce carbon footprint – and it’s amazing technology! They can literally put up a house in 8 minutes, I kid you not.

Another project that I’m currently spearheading and raising finance for, is an NFT project involving real estate. Now, real estate is quite a stable investment but you need to have a lot of money to get involved in it.  My project will ensure that anyone can invest in real estate and receive the gains, whilst also putting extra emphasis on building out social and affordable housing.

Banks don’t need to rebuild our nations and shouldn’t be the only ones to gain. We, the people, can both rebuild and reap those rewards.

In the past, I also raised money for waste-to-energy power plants. This is great technology and also should be paramount in helping to reduce the rising energy costs we’re all facing.

 

If I could pick up on your work and focus around affordable, social housing. Why did you decide to concentrate on the housing crisis as a matter to address? You’ve also used some profits to donate to the Red Cross. In light of post-pandemic developments, do you believe there needs to be a closer connection between business enterprises and social awareness, that they can’t be divorced from their surroundings?

 

Social and affordable housing is important to me because everybody needs and deserves a home. Home life is so important and there really is a shortfall of housing in the UK and across the world.

Raising money for the Red Cross is actually something I have been doing. I have been helping with an app along with some amazing guys over at a crypto currency platform. They are giving 10% of all proceeds to charity. Good on them.

There is definitely a responsibility that business leaders need to take on their shoulders in how we shape the world for the better.  That’s to say, it should always concentrate on what’s good for the collective and not just for personal gain, as I believe some huge greedy companies are doing.

 

Like nearly everyone, you were adversely affected by disruption brought about in the pandemic. You were cast in a stage show that was brought to an early end. How was time during lockdown for you? Was it a time of reflection and how difficult (or otherwise) was it?

 

Yes, the tour was brought to an abrupt end as the pandemic spread and shows were cancelled. So, I used lockdown to reflect on how being on stage made me feel, and why I had built up these stupid beliefs that I had to do one or the other.  Either be a performer or a businessman.  Rubbish! I can do both and I will do both.

 

Founder of A Hand Online, Adam Kelbie, puts his hand to acting in a new theatre adaptation

 

Looking to the future, your stage show “A Star is Born This Way” – a theatre adaptation of “A Star is Born” – is ready to hit the roads again and go back on tour. You’ve said that you no longer have to choose between business and music – now it looks like we can add acting to the list! Where do you hope this path will take you and what can say to those who feel that they have to choose?

 

Although I do like acting, the stage show I was involved in, playing Jackson Maine, only featured songs from the famous movie.  It was something I never expected to do again but when you are offered an arena tour and it’s a chance for your little nephews to see old Uncle Adam – you take it.

All we want in life is to be happy and I am happiest when helping others and being on stage myself.  Why I ever thought I had to choose, is only because I allowed other people’s opinions to influence mine.  Finally, I’ve realised that me being me – doing what makes me happy – is the only thing that brings the best Adam out in all walks of life.

Performance and Results Coach Alec Jiggins Explains Five Ways High Achievers and Leaders Can Overcome Self-Doubt

This “all in” coach helps clients become the fullest version of themselves, one conversation, one relationship at a time!

It is powerful when a human being steps into the work for which he was born and begins living his dream with authenticity and transparency.  At the core of almost every role since high school, Alec Jiggins was coaching others in some capacity. It was as natural as breathing to him. Although he was employed in various positions as a writer, journalist, teacher, principal, and school director, and his pursuits took him all over the world, coaching continued to call to him. After completing coursework and gaining certification as a coach in 2017, Jiggins established his own coaching business.

“As a coach, I can only take somebody through to the level of breakthrough that I’ve experienced myself,” he says. “I have been working with coaches on and off for the last 10 years. I hired a team of five coaches this year, each of them with a different speciality, each of whom takes a turn at digging into me. I have had some powerful breakthroughs! It is because I have been coached that I am able to show up for others with excellence as a coach.”

“For me, in coaching, it’s about the quality of relationships. I’m a believer in going slow. I want my clients to get the best out of me,” says Jiggins. His wife – an asset in his coaching business,  is a psychologist and counselor. Together they have created programs for relationships and teens. “I don’t aspire to do events for thousands of people,” he says. “That’s not where I see my business going. It’s about one conversation at a time, one relationship at a time. All of my clients have my cell phone number. When they are really, really, really stuck, they can pick up the phone.” Jiggins does have some small groups, but he tries to keep the size to 12 or less so that in a 90-minute call, each person gets individualized attention.

Jiggins has some helpful advice for overcoming self-doubt, which will be beneficial to everyone, especially high achievers and leaders.

 

 

No. 1 – Become aware of negative self-talk, and stop it!

“What we believe about ourselves and our capabilities, and the reality we live in, we created through language. Imposter syndrome comes from negative self-talk, which comes from feeling insecure. Insecurity stems from not being authentic. When we are truly ourselves, we don’t engage in CCJ: comparison, criticism, and judgment.”

No. 2 – Turn limiting beliefs into affirmations and goals.

“Negative self-talk is four to seven times more powerful than positive self-talk. That is why affirmations are so helpful and effective! Affirmations retrain the brain. If your self-talk is, “I’m not as good as that person; I can never achieve that; I’m too old; I’m too young – you are calling the negatives into reality, making them real and powerful. When you flip it around and turn your limiting beliefs into affirmations, you start to supercharge your reality. You have been telling yourself a story based on past beliefs about yourself, which is not the whole truth about you. Flip the story! Write the opposite. Describe how amazing your life is in the new reality. This is re-writing the script, creating a new reality based on the real truth about you, minus the limiting beliefs.”

No. 3 – Create the time and space to ask yourself hard questions.

“When you catch yourself in stories from the past, believing something about yourself based on experiences that happened long ago, take a time out. Create the space to ask yourself questions like, ‘Why do I find it difficult to trust people?’ Or, ‘Why am I terrified of public speaking?’ Your answers are buried in the past. Perhaps someone betrayed your trust or someone laughed at you when you presented an assignment in grade school. I ask my clients to make a two-column list on paper. On one side, I have them write down all the objective facts about their accomplishments and proven capabilities. On the other, they list their limiting beliefs from the past. In my own case, my issue was comparing myself to others and thinking they were better than me. I didn’t believe I was living up to their expectations. The reality was that I was doing an amazing job. My results were outstanding. It was the language I was using about myself that shaped my reality, which led to my self-doubt.”

“Eighty percent of the population say they’ve experienced imposter syndrome at one time or another. If the other twenty percent could get past ego and allow themselves to be vulnerable, they would admit they’ve suffered with it too. It is part of being human. We all need to learn to speak to ourselves with self-compassion. A great starting place is awareness of the language we use in speaking to and about ourselves. Ask yourself why. Recall what happened in the past.  Make your list, and examine facts versus fiction to uncover what you have falsely believed about yourself.”

No. 4 –  Visualise the outcomes you desire.

“If you can picture what you want in your mind and see it clearly and vividly enough, you can make it happen. Top athletes and performers all talk about how they have already created a win in their minds. Personally, I create a vision board and review it throughout the day. I write visualisation affirmations on my vision board too. It’s on my mind 24/7!”

No. 5 – Become aware when you are not living in integrity, and start now!

“When I’m working with a client, I coach them to get into ‘integrity.’ Integrity in this context means that people are whole, complete, and responsible for everything that goes on in their lives. If they say they will run a 10k in three months, but they don’t have a pair of running shoes, they are not living in integrity.  When I am in integrity, I keep my word. If I say I’m going to do something, I do it. If I have a step goal, I keep going until I get all of my steps in. If you are living in integrity, you are being conscious in creating your life. At the same time, you are being vulnerable and authentic. As a coach, it is my job to call clients out when they are not being authentic.”

Alec Jiggins believes in his clients. He says, “They are whole and complete. They don’t need fixing. They are not broken. As a coach, it is my job to help them become the fullest expression and best version of themselves, and to help them get out there and live this amazing life!” To tap into more of his advice and find out more about his coaching services, visit Alec’s website.

5 Ideal Gifts for Valentine’s Day

Valentine is near! It is an opportunity to express your love with gifts. And when these gifts are made with good taste, even better for your loves. What do women want? What makes them happy? What is that precious memory that they want to carry with them forever? Of course a precious piece of jewelry. We are recommending you 5 gift ideas that for this Valentine will surprise you your partner. For your convenience, you can find 5 of these gifts at Markis Jewelry, now also online.

Necklace

Make her have you in her heart with a diamond heart. This necklace will be ideal for this Valentine. She is in your heart, so this heart can now be in her neck.

Ring

Rings are a great gift, perhaps the most special and important. If you choose to propose on Valentine’s Day, be careful to choose the right ring. Be sure that no one can resist the precious brilliance (nor the desire to say YES)

Earring

Give more finesse and color to this accessory that will make your girlfriend even more charming. The earring are accessories that can be easily combined. And if they have precious stones, the more precise this gift becomes.

Emerald Necklace

If your girlfriend loves gemstones, this ring with emerald stones is ideal. Make her love the color green again and give the feeling that she is special, as much as this stone.

Rings with multicolored stones

Who said the ring should always have a proposal behind it? Maybe your girlfriend will be disappointed when she see that you’re not proposing her, but be sure that she will fall in love with the ring, as much as with you. So give her the ring she deserves.

Find these precious gifts and more clicking on this link

https://shop.markis-juwelier.ch/

 

 

Arif Anis: The Global Influence Magnate

 

Mr I’MPOSSIBLE to Exploring the Art of Possible

Arif Anis is an influence magnate. If you are in London, Dubai, New York or some other cosmopolitan European capital and moving in the circle of movers and shakers, then it is hard to escape the James Bondish charm of Arif Anis. You might notice him rubbing shoulders with the titans, royalty and newsmakers to Forbes richest alike; from the US president Bill Clinton to the British prime minister Boris Johnson and Pakistan’s premier Imran Khan, HRH the Prince of Wales to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Malala Yousafzai, Donald Trump to Richard Branson, Deepak Chopra to Tony Robbins, George Clooney to Angelina Jolie, Maria Sharapova to David Beckham and Amir Khan, Arif Anis might be visible everywhere uplifting people, businesses, organisations and inspiring lives for better. Heads turn when Forbes winner of the highest-earning woman in music and Time magazine’s “25 Most Influential People on the Internet” Katy Perry is found cooing along with him ‘I am Katy Perry, and I am possible.’ I’MPOSSIBLE is one of his ten mega-bestselling books that got translated into multiple languages.

Anis has been voted “Brain of the Year 2020” by the famous Brain Trust UK, a trophy previously awarded to the likes of Professor Stephen Hawking, astronaut and Senator John Glenn, former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov. The tale becomes further intriguing when we find how he started his life as a shepherd in Pakistan’s Soon Valley some four decades back and then became a success story by following and living his dreams. Anis’s tenth book and an anthology, “Habits of Success”, recently became a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller. I should not forget mentioning Arif Anis won the ‘Global Man of the Year’ award in 2019 at the Global Woman Summit. Anis was also praised by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Boris Johnson for founding the ‘One Million Meals’ campaign during the first lockdown in 2020. Anis is the president of Akhuway UK, part of the world’s largest interest-free microfinance loan provider Akhuwat with an over 1 billion dollars portfolio. Power100 placed him among the 100 most influential trailblazers in Europe in 2018. His initiatives have been featured by BBC, ITV, Sky, CNBC, The Telegraph, Yahoo, and many other global platforms.

 

Arif, what a fascinating story! How do you see all the dots connecting together when you look back?

It doesn’t interest me

how old you are

I want to know

if you will risk

looking like a fool

for love

for your dream

for the adventure of being alive.

“The Invitation,” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

 

I was born in the small village Anga in Soon Valley, a craggy and mountainous valley in the North-West of Khushab District, Punjab, Pakistan. Soon Valley is beautiful, with many lakes, waterfalls, jungles, natural pools, and ponds. Since ancient times, the Valley has been settled, including by the Awan tribe, whose descendants still live in the Valley. I was raised in a family of five. My father was a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) who had served in the British and Pakistani army. My mother was a typical housewife who looked after her kids and nurtured them with love.

In Anga, the school was located miles away from home around a treacherous path. The roads were not paved, and the village did not have electricity. The environment was more conducive to games, hunting, and fighting. Nerds were looked down on as a bit feminine. I found a treasure of a library in a neighbour’s deserted house and fell in love with books. The fantasyland of One Thousand and One Nights and other stories helped me survive the otherwise tough terrain and hostile environment of my early years.

Books became my refuge while growing up. These books introduced me to a world of fantasy, magic, and surrealism where anything was possible. I dreamt of being a warrior leading a pack of knights. Sometimes I was the Aladdin on the flying carpet. At the same time, the stories of the great men and women who left their fingerprints on history inspired me. The conquerors, adventurers, dreamers, fighters inspired me to become more than my circumstances. Due to the prevalent misery around me, I imagined being someone who could inspire lives, uplift people, and change them for the better with some magical, healing touch. These ideas kept transforming from a warrior to a career in the armed forces, a teacher to a counsellor, and a civil servant to an international speaker.

 

 

Well, you seem to have come a long way from being a shepherd to being endorsed by Katy Perry, the most influential artist of our times. How do you make sense of your journey?

A burning quest to find my purpose aided me to weather the storms on the way. I used to question the meaning of existence. Gradually, I realised that even if there might be no divine purpose for ordinary lives, ordinary lives could still serve some divine purpose. Consistency and perseverance were the main keys. It was not easy, but it was very much worth it.

In my teens, I was merely a spectator to the events of my life. It felt like I was tossed in the giant whirlpool of life with no rudder or oars. I slowly worked out my tenacity muscle to get hold of myself, growing it daily by going a few extra feet out of my comfort zone. When I looked back, I had travelled hundreds of miles by doing it, living it every day.

In those early days, books were just an escape from reality. But when I stumbled upon books from Jim Rohn, Paulo Coelho, Napoleon Hill, and Tony Robbins, they introduced me to another kind of world where my intentions could invoke some law of attraction and that could create miracles. The idea of personal development that one can write one’s fate was a game-changer.

I have met many twists, turns, and surprises during my journey. In February 2020, after a meeting in London with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, I was seated at the table with singer-songwriter Katy Perry, one of the greatest music icons alive, where I introduced her to my book I’MPOSSIBLE, and she was thrilled. “I am Katy Perry and I’MPOSSIBLE.” The “Firework” girl beamed at the camera while endorsing the message of possibilities. But she was not the only one. “I Am Possible and The Time Is Now” became a battle cry at thousands of places among the personal development junkies, at boot camps, seminars, and stadiums. Several heads of state and influencers endorsed this message. It is a One Thousand and One Nights tale for someone who was born a shepherd.

It was not smooth sailing. Every time I would fail and fall, I would hypnotise myself with the most powerful and inspirational quotations. I gradually found that obstacles led me to find my way; I must not resist the pain of discipline or struggle but rather find meaning in it.

 

One of your first books was ‘Follow Your Dreams’. How much of luck has to do with following and achieving one’s dreams?

Somehow, most of my craziest daydreams came true. They included a dinner with a US president, a toast with Ms World, and an official Buckingham Palace invite. I discovered that the harder you work, the luckier you get. You earn it by sweat and blood, by walking out of the comfort zone, by challenging yourself and shedding your old skin and habits. It is a GRIND, my friends. Luck can be a break or a chance, but that is it. Once, I conducted research and wrote an exclusive on the winners of the lottery. I discovered most of their lives got worse after the win. They became lost to addictions of various types and lived fractured lives. You will have your fair share of rising and falling, success and failure, applause and curses; no one is exempt. In my life, I have not come across anyone lucky enough not to be scarred by life. No one will come out alive, as they say. Higher awareness, compassion, and love are luck, and I have been lucky enough to receive them in abundance.

 

At the release of your ‘The New Psychology of Love’, we heard of how you found the love of your life. How did it happen, and how did it impact your life?

Well, as a hopeless romantic, I wear my heart on my sleeves. In my early twenties, I fell in love head over heels. It was a breathtaking place full of colours, songs, and sunshine. It still is. That time I was utterly broke and just starting on the ladder of life. Naturally, her family demanded a settled life and a career that was non-existent for me at that time. Culturally speaking, I had to throw a big fat wedding that I could not afford. However, through a strange series of events, somehow similar to the movie A Slumdog Millionnaire, I managed to win a million rupees jackpot in a TV quiz show after competing with over 50,000 participants. The top reward enabled me to follow my heart. It is still one of my most significant breakthroughs. After becoming my life partner, my wife Uzma impacted my life profoundly. We are a happy family of four with our two sons Sarosh and Fariqleet. My family means the world to me. They are also the biggest reasons for whatever I achieved or accomplished in my life.

 

You seem to have met some incredible people along the way. Who really influenced you?

Jim Rohn, Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy, Chopra, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Ashfaq Ahad, the legendary British writer and creator of Mind Mapping Tony Buzan, all mentored me. Buzan and I travelled together to many countries to speak to big audiences. Buzan was one of the most intelligent minds I came across. Armed with a sheet of white paper and a fistful of coloured pens, he would sit in his office overlooking the Thames at Marlow, Buckinghamshire, “mind mapping” his day. An affable figure who always looked crisp and dapper, he had a rockstar persona. I still remember a critical lesson from him explaining “contact” and “connection.” He said, “It is not important whether you are in contact with someone or not; the most important thing is having a connection. Without having a connection, contact is merely a waste of time, energy and emotions.” He used to define “attention” in the simplest form as “staying there where you are.”

 

 

As an author and a thought leader, in your view, when is the best time to take off and live the life we deserve to live?

A human’s success is determined by the number of uncomfortable conversations the person is willing to have. We may not know the outcome of a choice we fear. The unknown road to the known destination paralyses us. We are petrified to even think about the time and the effort it may take to get to our final point. Heck, we are not sure if we are going to reach the end or not. It is a necessary risk we have to take. Our future is wrapped up in uncertainty. There is no amount of insurance that could cover it. When you gotta do it, screw it – just do it!

As Kurt Hahn says, “There is more in us than we know if we could be made to see it; perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.” You can’t fathom yourself exactly, and there is much more in you than you think. You are stronger, faster, and abler than you think you are. So don’t be afraid to give your fullest and roar with your might.

The words of Sven-Göran Eriksson offer great insight pertaining to personal desire: “To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.” Indeed, comparing ourselves to others is rarely a positive or productive experience; most of us have a tendency to idealise other people while undercutting ourselves. Partly due to this negative bias, many individuals end up concluding that they are years behind where they “should be” in life. Remember, you will arrive at your destination in your own time. You don’t need to spoil your journey thinking of your speed because this journey is more important than the destination.

 

I have heard your mantra of ‘walk your own damn path’? Isn’t that a tough choice to make in life?

What I learnt in life is that it is essential to walk your own path. Make your own path. Walk your own darn path. Don’t toe the line because it’s easy. Don’t copy your parents or significant others for emotional reasons. It must spring from your own being. Also, you must not be deceived by the trap that you are walking your own path while you are trudging along with societal norms. However, there is no harm in conforming to the norms but not because you cannot walk out of your comfort zone. Unfortunately, you will never embrace the essence of your existence until you walk your own darn path.

Life is not a straight road. There are bends here and there. However, a bend in the road is not the end of the road. Sometimes you will try so hard to accomplish something. Sometimes you can be so prepared and still fail. You will sweat, toil, labour, bleed, and it will amount to nothing. And every time you fail, it’s painful. It breaks something within you. It is a dark and lonely place. However, this is the place most visited by all the champions. A man’s character is not judged after he celebrates a victory but by what he does when his back is against the wall. So, no matter how great the setback, how severe the failure, you never give up. You pick yourself up, you brush yourself off, you push forward, you move on, you adapt, you overcome. Just never give up. You only lose when you give up. You are not beaten until you give up. So, never, never give up!

 

How do you see fear impacting our lives, and how we can outrun it? How o do it and who can help us do it?

There are two ways to live. You continue running or ducking away from what scares you. This will make a small bugbear grow into a monster. Or you face your fears, eyeball to eyeball, and in one second you realise that it’s the most blissful experience of your life. There’s zero fear. You realise that the point of maximum danger is the point of minimum fear. It’s bliss. Why were you scared in your bed the night before? What do you need that fear for? It just ruins your day. The best things in life are on the other side of terror, on the other side of your maximum fear.

Most of us waste too much time frozen by the fear of failure, fear of being judged, fear of everything. All it takes is one first step forward. No matter how small. You’re the tallest wall to climb. The longest bridge to cross! Because of your mental stoppers, you fail to reach your full potential and you betray your dreams every day. You can overcome all this by finding your true self, and tuning into the positive, hopeful voice in your head that’s pointing towards the light. Follow the light.

The truth of the matter is that no one else can do pushups for you. It is you, yourself, who has to run that mile, stay up that night, smile at that fear, face those demons, and walk up that road to your heart’s calling. No one else, however close to your heart, may determine your route.

Follow your heart, and walk that road. Others can walk with you, but nobody can walk it for you.

 

 

Giving seems to be a big part of your life. Tell us more about your ‘One Million Meals’ campaign.

Giving is a substantial part of my existence. I have mentored thousands of leaders in various industries. My protégés include coaches who have inspired countless lives, world champions, Olympic athletes and ordinary people with extraordinary dreams. Around one-third of my time, efforts, and resources are dedicated to charitable campaigns.

On 13 May 2021, the British Cabinet Office announced that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had awarded the Points of Light award to the One Million Meals campaign, acknowledging the four of us (Arif, Suleman, Bilal & Momin). I had co-founded and named the campaign on the outset of the Coronavirus pandemic in April 2020. The campaign was initiated to feed the National Health Service doctors, paramedics, keyworkers, and vulnerable people during the lockdown. Through June 2020, we had supported 203 locations across the UK, including 47 NHS hospitals. The campaign was recognised by Her Majesty The Queen, HRH the Prince of Wales, David Beckham, Amir Khan, and many others. We were thrilled when I managed to get backing from the world-famous band, ‘The Proclaimers’ who are a Scottish rock duo formed in 1983 by twin brothers Craig and Charlie ReidI. They dedicated their world-famous song, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” to the campaign to raise funds.

I am a trustee and lifelong supporter of Akhuwat, the world’s largest interest-free microfinance organisation with around a billion dollars turnover that has changed more than five million lives in Pakistan and abroad for the better.

 

You are among the top-notch coaches on the art of influence and impact building. You have helped prominent businesses and individuals in scaling up their impact. How could the readers benefit from your expertise in this area?

Noise is defining our current existence. Attention span has shrunk to a couple of seconds, with the world’s top corporations vying for their ‘nano seconds’ of the attention pie.

Power and influence are both used synonymously. However, these both are distinctive, and they work in widely different ways. Power is a zero-sum game as the more we give it, the less we have it. However, contrary to that, influence spreads and multiplies as it is distributed. Plato famously argued in The Republic that a tyrant, however powerful, ultimately suffers in the end by corrupting his own soul. Power is forced, while influence is voluntary. Power makes use of one-way dialogue while influence creates a conversation.

I help businesses and individuals to gain influence in their respective fields of choice through reputation management. Due to the shorter attention span, reputation management is the effort to influence what and how people think of a brand or person when viewed online. Put another way, a character is who you are, and reputation is who other people think you are. The world’s best brands use reputation to forge strong relationships between customers and communities. Through an extensive network of partnerships, collaborations and expertise and alliances, businesses and individuals are offered a one-stop-shop to position them in the respective markets, build their narrative and story, enhance their digital footprint and transform feedback from reviews, likes, listings, comments and clicks into their competitive advantage.

 

 

So what is next for a person of your dreams, calibre and ambition?

It is living to the fullest, creating more success stories, harnessing the fullest potential of individuals, institutions and organisations and enabling a world of influence where the hope is bigger than the fear. As an executive vice president of Tony Buzan Global, one ambition is to reach out to more than 500 million mind mappers, dreamers and practitioners globally to make this world a better place through mental literacy.

In my view, COVID-19 is not just a medical challenge, but a spiritual challenge too. To defeat COVID humanity need to follow the path of self-purification, compassion, nonviolence, God and Nature. This pandemic raises serious questions about the way this world has been run in the last hundred years, by using greed, power, lust and obnoxious use of privilege. This pandemic has laid bare what was already obvious, but we buried our heads in the sand like ostriches.

We have a chance to do something extraordinary. As we head out of this pandemic, we can change the world. Create a world of compassion. A world where we are kind to each other. A world where we are kind no matter what class, race, gender, creed or the job tag we have. A world we don’t judge those at the food bank because that may be us if things were just slightly different. Let love and kindness be our roadmap. If the world after coronavirus is not going to be a much more greener, much more environmentally friendly, much more vegetarian, much more just and equal, then human beings will deserve a much worse virus than coronavirus.

Throughout the centuries, an earthquake or a volcano or a pandemic or a tsunami shake the world. There is always a message in the shake-up. Wake up! I am sure we would get rid of coronavirus. Say, in a year, or two or three. But I fear what comes next. We go back to our routine stupidities, namely the wars, supporting the dictators, fueling divide through extremism, voting for politicians without integrity or character, destroying the forests, killing earth’s climate etc. This is worse than the pandemic itself. Let’s finally wake up.

 

Corey Berrier: From Knocking on Doors in College to Becoming The Sales CEO

 

Tired of seeing businesses struggling to make sales, Corey Berrier entered the business coaching world in 2009. After creating the foundation for his sales career, knocking on doors in his college days, Corey built the ability to sell anything. As well as working with business owners, coaches and sales professionals helping them create 7 figure sales teams, ‘The Sales CEO’ began the ‘Successful Life Podcast’ with the mission to inspire.

 

Let’s go back to the beginning – who was Corey before sales?

The truth is I’ve always been a salesperson. Before I launched my personal training business in 2009, I had a bit of a rocky start. I was a heavy drinker and was heading nowhere fast. So I decided to quit drinking over 12 years ago because I knew I wouldn’t be able to achieve the success I wanted while drinking. To be transparent, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

 

When did you realise you wanted to take it one step further, transitioning from sales to business coaching?

My sales career began selling door to door in college, and it was brutal, but it gave me a solid foundation to sell anything. It also gave me the motivation to step into a more rewarding role. It gave me the experience I needed to excel in the future. 

 

In the sales industry, you’re working with customers who are most likely thinking ‘snake oil’ when they answer the phone. How does someone get past that barrier?

After selling my personal training company and buying a medical spa, I realized that my heart was in sales. I sold my medical practice and began working with business owners, coaches and sales professionals helping them create 7 figure sales teams with unbreakable confidence. 

I always label what the other person may be thinking. For example, “Hi, this is Corey Berrier, The Sales CEO, now you might be thinking I’m just another guy trying to sell you snake oil, you also may be thinking I’m just calling because I want money, you also may be thinking I’m just like the rest of the salespeople online, you also may be thinking I’m not trustworthy or that I’m going to take advantage of you?” The reason I label what you may be thinking is so you can relax and not feel threatened.

Autumn Harrison Photography

 

What are three key traits someone should work on if they want to be successful in sales?

The three key things you want to in a great salesperson is empathy, the ability to communicate from your customers’ point of view. The second thing is showing the customer you are different from everyone else. The way you show up online and in-person should be the same. Finally, every salesperson should have is the ability to read body language and micro-expressions. Why? Because you can have a poker face, but you can’t have a poker body. 

 

 

I always see salespeople as confident people who excel at public speaking. How much of your pitch is prepared beforehand, and how much is an in-the-moment speech?

Preparation always wins. The reason preparation always wins is because it gives me the confidence going into the sale that I need to be effective and not waste anyone’s time. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes some unknowns come up, and it’s your job as a sales expert to pivot like it’s part of the plan. 

 

 

You began the ‘Successful Life Podcast’ at the end of 2019, and since then, you have hosted numerous successful entrepreneurs. What inspired you to create your podcast, and what does the future hold for Successful Life Podcast?

I started my podcast so I could share important stories from people that have truly changed peoples lives, and have a positive impact on the world. I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest names in their industry, and selfishly, it’s also given me first-hand experience through the lens of these amazing people. I’ve learned so much by interviewing over 100 business owners, influencers and thought leaders over the past two years. I have just started another podcast called The Market Disrupters Podcast, where we discuss industries that are disrupting the current market. As for the Successful Life Podcast, I’m going to continue helping others through impactful stories. 

 

Dale Vincent Hancock: Our Challenges Are Our Catalysts To Greater Success.

By Cynthia Vera

Growing up, Dale Vincent Hancock was a victim of physical and emotional bullying which greatly affected how he perceived his value, making him an adolescent without any confidence or self-belief. His tormenting challneign only seemed to escalate when he grew into an adult, experiencing a draining romantic relationship, job losses, a car crash, and more. When enough was enough, Dale decided to take control over his life and use his challenges as a driving force to change and success.

Upon discovering his passions and true self, he finally became the person that he needed when he was in his most vulnerable struggle. Now a #1 best selling author and mentor, the confidence coach has impacted over 80,000 young lives by making space for children and young people to express their emotions, feelings, and find the confidence they need. For Dale, confidence is a key and virtual quality that must be taught to children and young people – “the architects of our future and role models for their younger generations”. 

You have over a decade of experience as a confidence coach, teaching young people how to find their own voice along their journey of growth. What made you follow this path and how did you realise this was your calling?

Pain. To put it simply. Throughout my adolescent years in education, I was physically and emotionally bullied. Now everyone has a bullying story, whether you were the victim, bully or witness. But, if you have ever been a victim at a young age and unconsciously live with the acceptance that ‘they are better than me, so I shall just put up with it’, then it will damage your living experience. Even worse, you could pass this on to your children. I ever want any child to feel manipulated, controlled, belittled or abused at the hands of unfortunate insecure peers around their age. The key in my 22 years of coaching and impacting children is … confidence. This is what helps a child say “no”, “stop”, “enough man”, and stand up for themselves. When you convert a child’s level of thinking based on their own beliefs and values – not mummy’s or daddy’s – then you see them stand 10 ft tall because they value their own self worth.

 

Unfortunately for me, I never had a coach to show me the social interaction life ropes and I put up with it. In my career, I was bullied by my deputy head. In my previous relationship, my partner at the time sought physical attention from other men for the entire relationship to which I forgave her for …foolishly, as it occurred numerous times after. When she fell pregnant with another man’s child, enough was enough. But I still went with her to the clinic to terminate it, which broke me.

Over the course of this time I lost my job, I had a car crash, my mum had a heart attack and I was in £15,000 worth of debt taking her off the mortgage. I felt like life was attacking me with no safe way out. Eventually, a now dear friend recommended a coach and after 12 weeks, I was a changed man; growing in confidence, getting my life back together. To prove to myself that I was who I wanted and deserved to be, I applied for a national TV show and won it! Undoubtedly confirming to me that confidence already existed within me, I just had to find the key. Now, it is my responsibility, mission, and privilege to help billions of children find theirs before it’s too late.

Being a coach who inspires hundreds of thousands of students and youths worldwide who will shape our future must be very rewarding. Why is it so important for you to focus your attention on creating a safe space for young people to find confidence in their identity?

Children find it tough to express themselves and when they do, they often get shut down, told to “be quiet”, “sit still” “shhh….concentrate”. I wonder when the education system will recognise that it is crucial for a child to express feelings and emotions with guidance and nurture? Because after teaching for 12 years, I have noticed a huge rise in mental health disorders and this was way before covid. Let’s not forget children are the architects of our future and role models for their younger generations. When a child understands themselves, they operate with an air of certainty and little to no self-consciousness. We need to help them grow in confidence and self assertion for a more sustained future and progressive society.

You have over a decade of experience as a confidence coach teaching young people how to find their own voice along their journey of growth. Can you explain what you might do in a session to help people?

Help them see their miracle. It’s difficult for children not to see themselves as part of a tribe, whether it be a family tribe, friend tribe, class tribe and when children construct this mentality, they cultivate behaviours of just ‘fitting in’. I don’t want children to fit in, I want them to stand out but after years of society, parents, school, and peers condemning them for talking out or acting differently, children get unconsciously locked into this mindset. After impacting over 80,000 children globally, the best way that I have found is to combine the physicality and the psychology to show a child what they are capable of and where to find their confidence within themselves.

When you’ve been faced with challenges, how did you overcome them throughout your journey?

At the time I allowed them to consume me because I had no previous experience of how to deal with these fearful situations. I accidentally stumbled across a Tony Robbins YouTube video, which was incredibly strange because I had never searched his name or personal development prior to this. I felt as if Tony was solely speaking to me, his voice penetrated my being and shook my foundations to the core. It immediately motivated me to take physical action, so I ventured to the gym. In doing so, I bumped into an NLP Master practitioner and the way he articulated sentences with the words he used, again, further blew my mind. He recommended I research personal development and I later met his coach who helped me release my capabilities, my challenges served me and showed a light in the area of my mind that I never knew existed; exposing my confidence and zest for life. This confidence manifested into fearless self belief that I used to apply for a National TV Show called Cannonball. To this day, I cannot explain the thoughts knowing that I was going to win. I actually told the producers before the final that I was going to win and it came from an authentic place in my heart, not arrogance. As you know, the rest is history. I am not telling people around the world to discover their worth, they must win a TV game show, far from it. To discover our worth and grow our courage, we must face our fears and challenges because those challenges are not there to block us. They are our catalysts to greater success.  

Are there any defining moments from your career that stand out from the rest?

Many. But the one that always sticks out to me isn’t speaking in the House of Commons, winning a TV show, hanging out with celebs, speaking around the world or even financial freedom, it’s the messages from children and parents. I received a private message from a once broken parent. Broken due to the suffering and struggle her son was enduring, endless bullying, daily anxiety, and frustration believing they were a “useless” parent for not having the answers. The uselessness could not be further from the truth because this powerful mum reached out to me and after a month, a message popped up on my phone whilst I was having dinner. My partner looked across to me concerned, noticing my crestfallen facial expression and asked me what was wrong. As I began to cry, I explained that nothing was wrong, everything was right as that once broken mum sent me this: “I can honestly say, Dale, that you have saved my son’s life”. These are my defining moments.

You’re a #1 Amazon best seller of Raw Confidence – a book you wrote to your 10-year-old self about how to be unapologetically yourself. What does confidence look like in young people to you?

It’s hidden, unfortunately. Children learn not to show their greatness, they learn that commending themselves is arrogant, they get told to sit still, be quiet, don’t climb, and so much more. It is alarming how adults are placing their own insecurities onto children and it is simply robbing them of their self confidence. A child’s early years should involve as many mistakes, exploratory moments, emotions, new things and relationships as possible. Not barriers or judgement. Give opportunities for children to try new things that require consistent practice. Teach them the value of effort and to strive for their personal best, rather than measure up to someone else’s. It is not quick and certainly not easy, but will take time and consistency. Our role as parents is to support our kids in their efforts, showing them the correlation between effort, and achievement. When this progress occurs, you will see the confidence shining from within. I see confident parents impacting the young lives they have the privilege of guiding by doing it themselves so that the child can absorb. 

How does a lack of confidence and direction impact young people’s mental health?

In my book, I share the 3 main areas that when a child shows confidence in these areas, it will show up for them in life. The 3 S’s are Self, Skill and Social. When we have a healthy relationship and progress with confidence, it will greatly affect our life journey. But, what if we had low self confidence? In my research, I have found that children seek a ‘low confidence confirmation’ in other areas of their life to almost confirm their suspicions and give them the comfort of knowing they were right. This could show up as low self worth, low self esteem, poor self body image and in turn allow others to possibly take advantage of you. It is clear to see that any of the above has a damaging effect on one’s mental health.

The conversation around mental health has always been a taboo one with stigmas attached to people experiencing such hurdles, leaving many to struggle alone. However, in recent years, mental health awareness has been steadily gaining more recognition. What can we as individuals do to facilitate an open and welcoming environment to discuss mental health?

We can understand and respect each other. We must see that everyone on this planet is completely and utterly unique and in that same thread, will have endured many different experiences. Some that challenge, some that hurt and some that power. Either/or each one has helped design the person we are today, and if we can learn to love that person, then we give others permission to love us too. Support, encourage, and motivate others to be better versions of ourselves yesterday. 

Bobby Del Rio: Chase Passion, Not Stardom.

By Cynthia Vera

For some, their career path is one that is planned and pursued with the intention of fulfilling this purpose. For Canadian actor, screenwriter and director Bobby Del Rio, the path to the filmmaking industry revealed itself slowly and soon enough, Bobby fell in love with filmmaking.
With a career spreading across two decades, the storyteller follows his heart with every project he takes on like utilising the expressive creativity of screenplays and turning into a theatricalisation of anti-racism and activism.

Now with a foot in the door of Hollywood, Bobby Del Rio will continue to do what he always does: “star in, write, direct and produce whatever” is in his heart. Finding passion to create new stories and share a message with his audience, the actor values the pursuit of purpose in every one of his projects in the film industry. As seen with his new feature film “The Market” that’s been described as “cinematic brilliance” by the Jagran Film Festival.

1.You’re a multi-talented man with a career in the entertainment industry spanning over 20 years, from directing, producing, writing to acting. Where does your story begin within the world of filmmaking? What made you fall in love with entertainment? 

I never intended to become a filmmaker. I worked as the Canadian Feature Film programmer for ReelWorld Film Festival in Toronto. I did that job for 5 years, then fell in love with filmmaking. I loved supporting the work of filmmakers, then decided I wanted to try it myself. 

2.Aside from filmmaking, you’re also involved in theatre with your play “Professionally Ethnic” gaining critical success at the 2017 SummerWorks festival and published in the prestigious Canadian Theatre Review. What was this experience like for you? What motivated you to create a play?

I was a notable anti-racism political activist in my 20s. “Professionally Ethnic” was the theatricalisation of all my activism. I wanted to educate an audience on everything I learned being on the front lines of race politics for so many years.

3.Your most recent project is the well-received feature film “The Market” which you wrote and directed. It’s been called a “cinematic brilliance” by the Jagran Film Festival, so what can you tell us about the film? How did it come to be?  

“The Market” is the film I wanted to make before I died. It was my best play in my 30s, and I wanted people to see my best work. It’s special to me because it took so many years to make, and has subsequently opened more career doors for me than any other of my works. I had never directed a film before when I decided to take that on, but I always believed in my heart I could do it.

4.The Covid-19 pandemic has heavily affected the entertainment industry and put many performers’ lives on hold. How has the pandemic and resulting lockdowns made an impact on your career?

To be honest, the pandemic blew up my entire career. Not sure if it was luck or good timing, but I ended up getting a distribution deal for my film “The Market” at the beginning of the pandemic. And I became one of the top film moderators of Clubhouse by having so much time available to devote to it. While the pandemic has been a terrible time in our history, I have to admit that many good things surprisingly came out of it for me personally.

 

5.Where do you find inspiration for storytelling?

 Whatever is in my heart.

6.Does your writing process change with every role/project? 

My writing process is fairly consistent. It’s actually quite boring. Once I align a concept with a premise, I write the first draft very quickly. Usually in 3 days or less. Then, I undergo readings with actors, and rewrite until I feel the script is ready to be produced. While my first drafts are known to happen very fast, I take months or years for subsequent readings – based on actor feedback.

7.You’ve had a very impressive career, with credits as the Creator & Showrunner of “IRL the Series”, a director of the short film “Dusk” which was nominated for a 2020 Leo Award, playing the male lead role in both seasons of the web series “My Roommate’s an Escort” , and much more! What moments from your career are most proud of and why?

I’m most proud of any moment in my career that changes somebody’s life in a positive way. While I have been blessed to have lots of individual successes, everything I do is for the audience. If I have helped somebody in the audience move forward in a significant way, I have done my job.

8.Have there any step-backs you’ve had to overcome throughout your journey?

My entire career feels like setbacks. I have had to struggle for every single inch – while at the same time having considerable success. I do believe that success and struggle are tied: if you do not struggle, you cannot know what it takes to succeed.
Our setbacks prepare us for our victories. Nothing comes easy, but everything is possible.

9.What direction do you see your career heading into for the next 20+ years in the filmmaking industry? 

I’m now legitimately starting to work in Hollywood. I will continue to do what I have always done: star in, write, direct and produce whatever is in my heart. I am blessed to be playing at the highest level in the world, and I’m eager to tell important stories to international audiences.

10.With a long and seasoned career, what advice would you give to those wanting to pursue the path of filmmaking and acting? 

My advice would be to chase passion, not stardom. Money & fame come and go, but the work always remains. Those who chase the spotlight are always unhappy, but those of us who tell the stories that scream from our souls are very content. The only reason to be in the film industry is the work itself. The field is too volatile to pursue it for any other reason.

Per Bristow: The importance of voice in music, in business and in life

Per was a music teacher when he first realised that everything he knew about the human voice could serve many more people than just his music students. This realisation led him on a different career journey which placed the emphasis on the human voice as a crucially important component for everyone – not just musicians. In this interview he also reveals the importance of voice in the field of business as well as how important our voice is in developing our character and our confidence.

As a ‘Voice Coach’, is it important to have a good voice yourself?

As a coach, to be able to be somewhat of a role model for what you are teaching is definitely important. Then again, we are all unique so we could all have very different opinions of what ‘good’means.  I have trained my own voice extensively and what I would like to encourage everyone is to realise that any voice can be improved significantly. This doesn’t mean we are ‘changing’ your voice or making you sound like someone else. It’s about releasing a greater version of you and of enhancing you. Yes, we are all unique and my job as a coach is not only to improve and free the physical voice, but to free and empower the inner voice.

When did you decide to become a voice coach and how did you first make that decision?

I was a full-time music teacher after high school, mainly because I was already known as a musician. I’ve always loved teaching and coaching to help someone discover their greater abilities within. My method was born out of my experience as a musician, but also from being an elite youth athlete, which made me interested in anatomy as well the aspects of performing under pressure. As I came to Los Angeles from Sweden and began coaching voice, clients were getting wonderful results and I soon realised that I had a unique method in the making.

Can you tell us more about your work with famous singers? How much do you help them and what are their most common requests?

I’ve actually never considered how famous a client is. I am, however, empathetic to the fact that ‘fame’ often adds additional pressure and fears. As I moved away from coaching one-on-one to one-to-many via my online training programs, I seldom know who has done my online training. However, I often receive messages from people who have been helped through the home-study training. That includes high in-demand singers who’ve overcome voice problems through my online training. The most common problem for a high-in demand singer or speaker is indeed when a problem occurs with their voice. Understandably, this causes them enormous pressure and fear, as their livelihood is at stake. Just as for the athlete, we need to heal and condition/strengthen the voice to be able to perform at high levels.

Is it more difficult for you to work with an individual, or work with a famous name?

No, it really makes no difference to me. However, every life situation brings with it different fears and pressures as mentioned above. Much of my training also goes beyond voice training to developing peak performance skills. These are things like becoming a more effective and influential performer/presenter, improving health to be more creative and productive and to be able to perform at high levels on stage and in life. So however famous or successful we might be, we are still just human beings.

As a professional, can you tell us how important communication is, not just in the business world, but also in other areas of life?

Communication is vital and key to any business success in my mind, whether it is to communicate with prospects, customers, business partners or teams. The ability to positively influence, inspire, guide, negotiate, and sell is directly related to your income, as well as to your personal relationships. It all goes hand in hand with how you are able to resonate with the person you communicate with. It’s not necessarily always about what you say, but the resonance and energy of you voice that makes the difference.

How much does the voice help in self-esteem?

Enormously so. Our fear of expressing ourselves may go back to our childhood needs to belong, fit in and be loved. Many times, being silent as a child became a good strategy to not disturb the peace. Many people have grown up with the belief that a child should be seen and not heard, or that their voice and opinions aren’t important.  Likewise, when we experience a problem with our voice, our ability to connect and influence is severely impacted. A restricted voice goes hand in hand with a restricted personality. A timid voice goes hand in hand with a timid personality. A forceful voice goes hand in hand with a forceful personality. A free and resonant voice goes hand in hand with a free and resonant personality. When the voice becomes freer, you become freer and that dramatically affects your confidence, self-esteem, feeling of self-worth, and how others are impacted by you.

Have you ever considered yourself in another profession? If so, what would you do best?

Well, I think that what I do is a blend of many professions. Coach, performer, singer, speaker, media creator, entrepreneur, marketer. Much of my coaching incorporates voice, expression, negotiation, selling, presentation, health, creativity, sleep and also attaining peak performance.

Do you have any messages for all those who are in the first stages of their career? What advice do you have for them?

Implement your ideas in order to discover greater ideas from doing that. Embrace the love and art of constantly learning and discovering. And enjoy the beautiful experience of making a fool out of yourself in the process 🙂

Hitesh Anand: How I changed the textile industry for the benefit of employees and for nature

Hitesh was still a child, growing up in a large family, as he watched his father and uncle discuss family business. Little did he know then, that one day he would be the one to turn a business into a healthy way of living. Today, he successfully runs a textile company that cares not only about the health of his employees, but also seeks to protect nature. Returning to old traditions, he has found a practical and ecological solution to the problem of textile dyeing. His passions and his life have changed since the pandemic including transferring his attention from the gym to the kitchen!

How was your childhood and how connected are you with those memories?

I was born in the small town of Ayodhya in India. Growing up I have watched my dad and my uncles’ build our family business and working very hard to expand it across the length and breadth of India. I never actually got involved in my family business but I have witnessed my uncles’ and my dad discussing their business like founders of most businesses would do, though I wasn’t even aware of the words‘founders’ or ‘start-ups’ then. For me, it was just a business run by my family. Those memories of living in a big family running a joint business – with far too many people around me and at home – always stayed with me.

When did you start preparing your self to be an entrepreneur?

I think it started during my school days. I used to see my dad sitting with piles of papers working on his investment portfolio and planning his next moves. I started taking an interest in what he was doing and eventually I took over his portfolio and then started managing myself in terms of making money for dad and also a bit for myself too. It was then that I started learning about companies and how they function and how to deal with valuations and finances, etc.

What were the first steps of the business and what were the first difficulties you encountered?

The first step is never easy. I started out as an engineer and then transformed my career into the textiles business. I had to read lots of research papers and books and I also spent time with the factory workers to learn all the basics about the textiles industry. It took me a couple of years before I had a good understanding of the industry that I had now jumped into. But I must say, it was a wise decision to learn about the industry first, so I could avoid getting my hands burned at the very beginning.

It seems that some of your work is quite revolutionary in terms of the people who work in factories. Can you tell us how you changed these old models of working?

While I was working in the textiles industry I learnt many new things almost every day – but I also witnessed the dark side of the industry. The textiles industry is one of the most polluting industries on the planet and the working conditions of the staff are just terrible. Although there are many laws and certificates that were created to make sure that the manufacturing process is done ethically, the actual ground reality is not always the same.

I was especially concerned about the conditions of the workers in the dyeing industry where they have to work with toxic chemicals all day. You don’t even have to touch these chemicals to get sick, the gases are enough to cause harm and these workers’ hands were drenched in the chemicals all day whilst working. I saw many with severe skin problems and fatal conditions. So for this reason I didn’t want to be part of that industry anymore.

But running away from these types of problem would never bring a solution. So,instead, I thought I would try to do my bit to bring about a change in the industry. That’s when I started looking for alternative dyeing methods and came across ‘Ayurvedic dyeing’ which was the way India use to dye before chemicals started to be used instead.

Can we say that returning to this older tradition of dyeing was a way out that helped you in your business?

Returning to tradition was a very important aspect. Our old way of living, which we call ‘tradition’, was about being closer to nature and in many ways the traditions evolved or existed because of nature.The traditions of celebrating the harvesting of crops, the tradition of fasting in Indian culture and the tradition of eating certain foods at certain hours of the day are all derived from nature.

I also wanted to bring these traditions back to the masses just like with Yoga. Ayurvedic textile dyeing is part of a 5000-year-old science which can improve our wellness, elevate our mood and enhance our aural energy.For us, going back to tradition meant going back to nature – and yes it has certainly helped our business.But my goal was more than that as there is lot more to our business than just being eco-friendly.

How much have you changed this industry today?

Textiles is multi-trillion-dollar industry today. By creating just a small impact we will still be a billion-dollar company, but that is not the prime focus. We want the world to know that an alternative way exists and if consumers start demanding cleaner/greener/ethical products then more companies like ours will also start to change the industry. We have just started and there is still a lot that needs to be done. I can assure you that we won’t sit back and watch the devastation of our planet at the hands of those who lust for fashion and good looks. Thankfully the consumer choices are now beginning to change towards sustainability in almost every industry.

Tell us about your life away from work and business commitments?

There are two parts to this answer. Pre-Pandemic and Post-Pandemic. Pre-pandemic I liked going to the gym every evening and also taking a break to travel every six months.Post-pandemic I have developed a love for cooking which is very cathartic and helps me to unwind.More recently, ‘Vedic Astrology’ has grabbed my attention. It is fascinating to know how accurately the positions of the stars and planets were described by our ancestors more than 5000 years ago and what we can learn from them.

How to Sanitise Your Golf Equipment

As lockdown measures ease, more golfers will be preparing to take a swing out on the course. But it is essential that care still be taken whilst teeing off.

Not only should we continue to observe social distancing but making sure golf clubs and equipment are cleaned to prevent the spreading of germs is vital.

Eager to help prevent spreading of the Covid-19 virus, experts at GolfSupport.com have provided tips on the best ways to clean golf equipment:

 

  1. Golf club heads

After a long day at the course, your golf clubs are bound to collect dirt and debris. Follow these simple steps to keep them sparkling and germ-free:

Add 2-3 teaspoons of dishwasher liquid or soap to a bucket of warm water (enough to cover the club heads). Ensure it isn’t hot, as this may loosen the club head from the shaft.

Submerge dirty club heads into the water for 5-10 minutes to loosen any dirt.

Remove each club one-by-one and use an old toothbrush or soft-bristle brush to scrub away any stubborn dirt, ensuring you catch the back, front, bottom and each individual groove.

Run the cleaned club heads under water to wash away any remnants, avoiding getting the shaft and grips wet.

Dry with a towel. Ensure nothing is left damp as this is when rust can develop.

To give club heads an extra shine, gently rub in steel or chrome polish in circular motions and leave for a minute. Then ensure you remove all the polish – any remaining grease could negatively affect your game!

 

  1. Golf club shafts

Golf club shafts can also be prone to dirt. To remove dirt, use a damp cloth and clear any grime from the shaft, drying it thoroughly with a towel afterwards.

If your club becomes rusty: according to a study by End of Tenancy London, vinegar comes out on top for the best multi-use disinfectant. So why not utilise it for your golf clubs too? Apply a little vinegar on the shaft with a cloth and gently remove any residue, ensuring you don’t scratch it. Finish by drying thoroughly.

  1. Golf club grips

Golf grips are the most touched area of the club and can easily get dirty/worn from sweat, so they require regular cleaning.

Clean golf club grips after each session by using a damp cloth to wipe the entire grip’s surface, ensuring it isn’t too hot as this could damage it.

  1. Golf balls

During a typical 18-hole round, golf balls are battered, beaten and subjected to all the elements. Not to mention the hundreds of tiny dimples that are experts at finding dirt.

Dirty golf balls can affect your game more than you’d think! Add soap, dishwasher liquid or our trusty friend vinegar (for a deeper clean) to a bucket of warm water and soak the balls for 15-20 minutes. If necessary, use a sponge and/or toothbrush to remove dirt that won’t budge. Don’t forget to dry them fully with a towel.

  1. Golf bags and club head covers

Whilst unconfirmed and still a matter of debate, the coronavirus could live on clothing and canvas materials for up to two days. Remove this risk by cleaning your golf bags and club head covers as follows:

Remove all contents from the bag/clubs from their covers.

Depending on the material, lightly spray water all over the surfaces.

Using a soap and warm water solution, scrub the bag and covers clean with a cloth. Be careful not to scrub too hard – you may damage the material.

Use a hose to rinse/run them under clean water and assess for any further stains.

Remove any stubborn stains by spraying with a stain remover, then allow them to rest. Gently scrub it if required.

Once clean, allow the bag/covers to dry overnight – avoid leaving them to dry in the sun as this can discolour them.

  1. Golf clothing

To clean dirty golf clothing, simply run them through the washing machine after each session. However, for clothes that smell or are particularly dirty, consider:

Avoiding using fabric softeners – they stop the odours and sweat from being washed out, in fact locking in the smell for your next practice.

Adding baking soda to laundry – one cup per wash deodorises and softens clothes.

We hope these tips on cleaning golf equipment can help avid golfers enjoy the wonderful sport whilst preventing the spread of coronavirus!