Advice

Arthur Samuel Joseph: Own Your Power Through Your Voice

Rochelle Martin August 19, 2022 No Comments

The empowerment of others through voice is truly powerful. Arthur Joseph is known as one of the global leaders in communication. He believes that if you own your voice, then you own your power. Arthur is the founder of the Vocal Awareness Institute, where you are trained and taught to become a master of communication.

“THE ROOT OF THE WORD INTIMATE IS INTIMUS, MEANING INTRINSIC OR ESSENTIAL. IT IS INTRINSIC TO BE WHO WE ARE, AND ESSENTIAL THAT WE MUST BE.

What are the fondest memories you have of your childhood?

My fondest childhood memories actually begin when I was two, when my Mother took us to see the classic British film, “The Red Shoes” in 1948. The arts were always very important to her, so when she wanted to see something I accompanied her. The first transformational moment of my childhood occurred when I was four and I had my first accordion lesson. I knew then that music would be my life. At the age of 12, in the 7th grade, I joined the choral group, the Hi-tones, and knew that singing was my musical direction. My next seminal experience came at 15 when I began studying voice with my first teacher, Mrs. Julia Kinsel, whom I studied with for several years.

As a teacher with over 57 years of experience, when did your love for academia begin and what would you credit your success to?

My love for academia has always been in my DNA. Ever since childhood, I have been a voracious reader and loved learning. Discovery, researching and truly understanding a myriad of subjects are foundational to who I am.

Having had the privilege to teach for almost 60 years, I credit a good portion of my success to the originality of the work, my integrity and the integrity of the Vocal Awareness process. In addition, when someone works with me, they implicitly know that I care, I am passionate about what I do and am trustworthy. Voice is the most intimate art form. The root of the word intimate is intimus, meaning intrinsic or essential. It is intrinsic to be who we are, and essential that we must be. When one allows me to train their voice, they are also entrusting themselves to me, and that trust is sacrosanct.

How was your experience mentoring individuals, from politicians to professional athletes, and what did you learn from this?

One of the aspects I have always been fascinated with about my work is the breadth and depth of my relationships. There are certainly myriad numbers of voice coaches, teachers, and media trainers… but there is no other practice that I am aware of that trains across the board in virtually any discipline from the arts to athletics, singing, broadcasting, public speaking and leadership. Everyone learns the same Vocal Awareness techniques; learns to embody the same rituals. Depending on whom I am teaching, and for what purpose, the application may change, but the principles never do. One of my paradigms is, “Structure does not impinge; it liberates. Freedom without direction is chaos.”

“I WILL NEVER MAKE YOU INTO SOMEONE YOU ARE NOT; RATHER, I WILL HELP YOU DISCOVER AND MAXIMISE WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

How did you embark on your journey as the founder and chairman of the Vocal Awareness Institute?

I began teaching at 18. Vocal Awareness was fully concretised in my early 20s. My entire practice has virtually been built through word of mouth. From the very beginning, I have been cognizant, albeit it has certainly evolved over the years, that I am teaching Mastery. Mastery in any discipline is only achieved when one integrates mind, body and spirit. In that regard, I have had the same spiritual/meditative practice for 56 years and have literally never missed a day. I say this for no other reason than to say that whatever I do in life, personally or professionally, I strive to do while integrating mind/body/spirit. (Again, the root source of two important words in my lexicon—integrity and integration—have the same root source. They mean wholeness.) The point of sharing this is that from the beginning of my career to the present day, I and the work continue to evolve but the foundation has and will never change.

What tips can you gain from the programmes taught at the Vocal Awareness Institute?

I always tell my clients/students, “I will never make you into someone you are not; rather, I will help you discover and maximize what is possible.” I also say, “I cannot empower you; that is arrogant. But, I can help you empower yourself.” Thus, each of the 7 Rituals, beginning with Stature, which is preparation for the Rituals, are quickly and easily accessible by anyone. When you claim yourself as an individual of Stature, you immediately learn how to be who you are instead of present who you are. Or experiencing the 1st Ritual, which is to say “Thank you to Source.” In both instances, the body’s first impulse is to inhale. Thus, you are beginning to change state. In this regard, through these first two Rituals, we are beginning to establish new neural pathways.

I used to train the noted motivational speaker, Tony Robbins. He would refer to my 7 Rituals as ‘pattern interrupts’. He would say “To break an old pattern, you have to exaggerate behaviour to create a new one.” For us to break the patterns of ‘habit’ requires us to be in the 6th Ritual of Vocal Awareness, “Pay Attention; Deeper Listening.” We become very keen listeners inter- and intra-personally through this work.

To assure that I do not make you into someone you are not, I ask you to craft your Persona Statement. The root of the word ‘persona’ is through the sound. One’s identity is largely conveyed through the sound of the voice and an opinion established instantaneously. Thus, your Persona Statement answers the question, “How would I ideally like to be known?” Then going forward, everything we do in Vocal Awareness strives to align with your aspirational Self. There are certainly so many other critically important principles and techniques. Even with these few, you can begin to claim the person you desire to be.

What does it mean to change the world through voice?

My Mission – To Change the World Through Voice – has never wavered. Voice is vibration. It is energy. Over 50 years ago, I was at a seminar with the creator of Transcendental Meditation, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, when I heard him say, “I want to have a billion meditators on the planet to shift the vibration on the planet.” I want to have a billion people embodying Vocal Awareness to shift their own vibration and energy, claim their sovereignty and thus impact the vibration of the planet. As I approach my sixth decade of teaching, I realise this is my ‘legacy time’. I have been given profound work to share with the world. Thus, I am looking to create a movement I call the ‘Human Achievement Movement.”

I have created a teacher training program to enable this work to be carried on for future generations. I am partnering with my dear friend/student, the extraordinary Jennifer Hill, in creating a number of online courses. With another amazing student/partner, June Bayha, we have created a program for youth she calls Work Wonder, and Vocal Awareness is a critical component of their learning. I am also in the process of writing two more books. My Journey is a privilege, and I am truly blessed to share it with so many.

Over 40 Shred Icon Funk Roberts Reveals Top 5 Mistakes Men Make When Trying To Lose Weight

Editor @ Global Man April 13, 2022 No Comments

Over 40 Shred Icon Funk Roberts Reveals Top 5 Mistakes Men Make When Trying To Lose Weight

Former professional athlete turned Certified MMA conditioning coach, master metabolic trainer and entrepreneur, Funk Roberts, is now helping thousands of men over 40 transform their bodies, health, and lives for good.

When Funk Roberts contracted a rare lung disease over 3 years ago, he never would have imagined being on a journey that led him to the revolutionary discovery that his fitness programs could help other men over 40 get into shape.

This life event changed the trajectory of his life forever.

At 52, Roberts is the powerhouse entrepreneur behind Funk Roberts Fitness and Funk Supplements. He is a best selling author, former professional volleyball coach, and the mind behind the effective workout program for men called The Over 40 Shred Nation.

Roberts has spent most of his career obliterating assumptions that your “glory days” are reserved only for the younger generation.

Using his 20 plus years’ worth of knowledge and experience he has helped men lose weight, burn fat, build muscle, improve athleticism, increase energy and better their overall health and fitness levels to become elite.

The multi-talented King of Athleticism has shared his knowledge of hormones and health tips with thousands of people worldwide. His Shred app is the #1 workout app specialising in HIIT, and Metabolic training workouts, while Roberts’ books have even hit number one on Amazon’s must-reads.

Roberts has created communities of people who support each other through their journey. “We have men all over the world, all religions, all shapes, sizes, everything everybody under the sun. We don’t talk about politics or pop culture. We focus on helping each other,” says Roberts.

But when it comes to helping his fan base of over 690,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel alone, there are a few things that Roberts feels his clients or future workout enthusiasts are glancing over when it comes to shredding that extra weight.

Here are his Top 5 Mistakes Men Over 40 Make When Trying to Lose Weight:

1. Experimenting With Various Nutrition Plans

“Not All Nutrition Plans Are Marketed To Men”

Naturally, increasing your testosterone levels is essential for knowing where to start. One of the most prominent mistakes men over 40 make is choosing the right diet plan specifically to support their testosterone levels..

Genetically, men tend to have more muscle and less fat mass than women due to higher testosterone levels, so they need to eat more calories than women to maintain the same weight. But this also differs in age, especially when it comes to men.

People diet for all types of reasons as there is no shortage of reasons for wanting to live a healthier life. However, there are such a wide variety of options for selecting a diet that many people don’t often know where to start in today’s world.

From Paleo to low-carb, Keto to Veganism, there is the general consensus that because there are so many different types of bodies, there is no one diet or one lifestyle that fits all. But Roberts believes that following what he calls ‘feminising diets’ is a no-go when choosing the right plan for older men.

Instead, he recommends following his Over 40 Shred program, where he discusses proven ways to increase your testosterone levels naturally. Alternatively, by visiting your local doctor, they can provide you with a class to work with.

Not all nutrition plans suit the older male body.

2. Following Standard BodyBuilding Workouts

“Men Need To Remember That At Our Age We Are Built Different”

A funny thing happens on the way to 50 and beyond; your body doesn’t respond to exercise as it did earlier in your life. Fatigue, muscle and joint aches, along with increased injuries seem to happen with greater frequency.

Men over 40 need to cater to their bodies and not follow everything they see. For example, instead of focusing on one muscle group at a time or doing ‘leg-day’ or ‘arm-day.’

Roberts’ solution is to do complete full-body workouts or have multi-range movements in your routine. “As we get older, our body doesn’t recover as fast,” he says. “We need to be metabolic and move from one exercise to another with little rest in between to help out our growth hormones and help us build muscle while we burn fat during and after sessions.”

3. Exercising To The MAX.

“You Need Balance And Plenty Of Time To Let Your Muscles Rest”

On the other side of the spectrum is doing too much exercise. Doing too high-intensity circuits i.e. CrossFit could lead to severe injuries, which could, in return, direct you back to the beginning of your fitness goals.

When we plan to start a workout or write down our targets for weight loss training, our minds can sometimes spiral into overdrive, thinking that we need to do everything we can to succeed.

As many as 10% of high-performance runners, and possibly an equal number of bodybuilders, have an exercise addiction.

A set plan or routine with moderate physical activity is enough to help prevent things like diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Too much exercise can lead to injuries, exhaustion and even depression. It can also cause lasting physical harm.

Following a healthy balanced exercise routine and then giving your body time to rest is the key to reaching your goal.

4. We Are Not Focusing Enough Time On How Much We Sleep.

“People Don’t Realise That Getting Enough Sleep Is Vital For Your Journey To Success”

If you’re trying to lose weight, the amount of sleep you get may be just as crucial as your diet and exercise. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, about 35% of US adults sleep fewer than seven hours most nights, which is not enough. Experts say that between seven-eight hours of shut-eye per night is ideal.

Not many people connect the two, but sleep is associated with shedding weight. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces ghrelin, a hormone that boosts appetite. Your body also decreases the production of leptin, a hormone that tells you you’re full.

Together, it could be a dangerous combo for late-night snacking. Not enough sleep could also lead you to be more stressed, which leads us to the final mistake – stress.

5. Not Dealing With Chronic Stress.

“We May Not Ever Be Stress, Free But Dealing With It Helps”

The fifth biggest mistake that men over 40 tend to forget is not dealing with stress.

We need to give ourselves time to take a break and work on our breathing, whether it’s meditation, yoga, or recovery, things that will keep our cortisol levels down and keep our chronic stress down.

Whether it causes weight loss or weight gain can vary from person to person — and even from situation to situation.

Stress may lead to missed meals and poor food choices in some cases. For others, stress may cause them to lose the desire to eat altogether. Often, this change is only temporary.

By dealing with stress and ensuring that we live our healthiest versions of ourselves, our mindset shift will change to help us succeed at our goals faster.

Final Thoughts

By employing the five suggestions above, these mistakes and misconceptions on your weight journey can ultimately lead you to success when recognised. The power in these five suggestions is using them in combination with each other and having the discipline to operationalise these ideas in a meaningful way.

“Your best body, health and LIFE is ahead of you!” – Funk Roberts

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

Editor @ Global Man February 3, 2022 No Comments

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.

How to Sanitise Your Golf Equipment

Editor @ Global Man April 13, 2021 No Comments

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:

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

How to motivate and inspire yourself to achieve better results

Editor @ Global Man February 18, 2020 No Comments

Before working in sales, Jenci Declerck has worked for several years in the food & beverage industry. Following a hospitality, school instilled his passion for restaurants and hotels, with a focus on serving customers. Today he works in sales, but his ultimate goal is to become a General Manager, ideally for an international luxury hotel. He shares with us his passion for tourism, sales and traveling, giving some insights for anyone interested on a career like his. Finding a mentor and finding your own purpose is a crucial thing for a happy and fulfilled life.

What is your prior experience in the hospitality industry?

Before working in sales, I have worked for several years in the food & beverage industry, as well as front desk through internships and short-term contracts. Initially, when I was 12 years old, I wanted to become a Chef. That was the main reason I went to hospitality school at the age of 14; to learn how to cook and manage a kitchen crew. At that time, I had no idea I would work in sales one day.

My family always respected my choices and supported me a lot; they just wanted me to be happy and successful in life.

I am very grateful for the freedom they gave me in terms of study choices; I disagree when I hear parents forcing their kids to do studies they are not really into, often for their own image and status. I am convinced it creates the wrong outcome and reduces the possibility for kids to be at their best in whatever they want to be.

What are the challenges you have faced throughout your journey?

Leaving home as a 14 years old kid to go on boarding school was quite hard, especially as an only child very close to their mom. The first year was very tough; I did not have many friends, was struggling with my sexuality, and missed my family. On top of that, I actually did not really like the “cooking” classes and especially the kitchen atmosphere, but showed more interest in the service part of the restaurant business. The three other years were much more productive and reinforced my passion for restaurants and hotels, with a focus on serving customers. Later, during High School, I also faced difficulties with my level of English, which was not good at that time. That is why I later decided to study four months in Vancouver, which helped me a lot in improving and practicing the language.

How do you balance work and life?

I travel a lot, and when I am not traveling, I like to cook or decorate my home. I also love to dine out, with friends or family. I actually do not mind traveling alone; it allows me to reflect, giving me positive energy and makes me enjoy the smallest things. Since I see work more as a hobby than a “job”, it is honestly sometimes hard for me to disconnect, but leaving the country helps me a lot to forget about emails and to-do lists. I also try to travel at least once a month to Belgium, my home country, to see my family and friends.

What advice would you give to those who want to have a great career like yourself?

Firstly, pursue your own dreams and never give up. Secondly, find a mentor. Finding the right mentor will help you better understand the path you need to cross and the things you need to undertake to reach your goals. Even better if the mentor has a similar career to the one you aspire to achieve. Having a mentor will also inspire you to become a leader yourself and coach others to become like you. Furthermore, you need to ask yourself the right questions, to make sure that what you are doing suits what you are aiming for. I also believe that anyone can achieve anything whilst remaining focused and bringing together all possible efforts.

What are your goals and plans for the future?

My ultimate goal is to become a General Manager, ideally for an international luxury hotel. For now, I am enjoying my experience in sales and would like to continue growing and learning from my leaders while developing my client portfolio. On a personal level, I would like to live in several countries to expose myself to different cultures and learn more languages. If through all of this I can also find the right husband, that would be nice too (laughing).

There are no failures, only feedback

Editor @ Global Man June 20, 2019 No Comments

Paul Boross – There are no failures, only feedback

By Fatima Gorezi

Paul Boross — aka The Pitch Doctor — is the award-winning ‘Best Corporate Speaker’ who specialises in the “art and science” of corporate communication. Drawing on a career that has taken him from primetime TV, music and stand-up comedy to production, development, consultancy and motivational psychology, Boross works regularly with such power players as the BBC, Google and MTV, training executives in communication, presentation and pitching. His frontline experience of performance — his credits include a 12-year stint at London’s legendary Comedy Store — coupled with a strong commercial grounding enable him to deliver effective and focused skills to clients from a range of industries, from media to medicine. His latest book, Leader On The Pitch (co-authored with rugby legend Scott Quinnell), is rising fast up the Amazon charts.

How did your life look like before being an entrepreneur?

I was an entertainer. I had a band called “Morris Minor and The Majors”, and we had a couple of pop hits. I also was in a comedy and music duo with my good friend Ainsley Harriott, who is now a famous chef. We were an act together for eight years playing at places such as The Comedy Store, The London Palladium and all over clubs in New York and Los Angeles.

Whilst it wasn’t a traditional business, it was still reliant on having an entrepreneurial spirit with getting gigs, marketing and working to convince record companies to sign us. We got a deal with Virgin and that was when all the hard work started, because I realised that getting into business and making those kinds of commitments means that other people have much higher expectations of you.

Have you always been entrepreneurial? What led you to taking that first step and setting up your own business?

I think that the entrepreneurial signs have always been there in me. As a child, I used to buy raw materials like felt and make soft toys which I would then convince parents to buy for their younger children.

Whilst in my youth I had various jobs – like working at the post office at Christmas and doing a few weeks on a building site – for periods of time, to earn money. I really was a self-starter and preferred to create my own enterprises. When I was at school most of my friends had jobs working in shops on a Saturday or newspaper delivery rounds. I found out that you could earn more by being in teenage ‘photo-love’ magazines. Once I had been in a couple, I discovered that you could earn three times as much as my friends earned by also writing and directing the stories. Basically, I was always a person who said ‘I can do that’ and had the courage to go for it. I think there was certainly an element of showmanship in this too, but I don’t think you need that to be an entrepreneur. I think you just have to find something that you get a buzz out of, because that gives you the energy to keep going.

What has been the role of luck in your success?

Of course, I am lucky. I am lucky to have been born in a country where, if you worked hard and smart, you could achieve. I believe that luck is an attitude.

My father – who was a Hungarian refugee, arriving in this country with nothing but the clothes on his back, – always said that he was lucky. That was despite the fact that he had been in the 2nd world war at 17, gone into Berlin with the Russians in 1945, been put into a prisoner of war camp for six months. Then, eleven years later had to escape from Hungary and spend 5 months in a refugee camp. He had many more tough times in his life but he always told everyone how lucky he was. I believe that luck is all about that attitude, of seeing the opportunities that life presents, to know that while you’re still breathing you’ve still got a chance to get to where you want to be.

What is the one accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am not sure that I have achieved it yet! Like most people who succeed, I am always looking forward rather than backwards. I suppose part of the entrepreneurial spirit is the belief that you can always do a little more, or a little better. Or sometimes, a lot better!

Overall, I am proud of having raised a son I love and admire. I am proud of making my living in some of the toughest professions, namely, music, comedy and the media. I think we can only judge our life’s work looking backwards. Perhaps this is what drives me to achieve more.

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently? And what advice would you have given to yourself if you could only relay one piece of advice to your former self?

I genuinely wouldn’t do anything differently. There are no failures, only feedback. When I failed, I learned to get up quickly and move forward. Everything that didn’t turn out how I planned was part of the journey, and I would not be where I am today without those faltering steps.

As for advice to my younger self… I would remind myself that nothing is so important with the perspective of time. The old saying of, ‘this too shall pass’ is something that you should live by as much as possible. This applies to good times as well as bad times of course, and I think it helps to have a perspective that averages all of the ups and downs. Even thinking of a time as being good or bad is only a matter of perspective, because we never know where something will lead.

The only things I ever regretted were things I didn’t do but thankfully they were few and far between. At 19 years old, there was a very tall beautiful Australian woman that I didn’t ask out when I had the chance. I still think about that from time to time!

What is your experience of working with women? And what is your opinion about their talents and skills?

I have always had a very good easy relationship with women. As a teenager, I had both girlfriends and friends who were girls. Being able to share and talk with young women gave me an insight that I think hold me in good stead today. I now work with very influential and powerful women and men and I treat each with equal respect.

It is a generalisation but many women are better at listening to their intuition than men. Men can be overly analytical and practical at the expense of trusting their innate feeling. In business, it is crucial to be in touch with your instincts. Perhaps that’s a result of the environment that we’re working in, where many men feel that they are expected to be strong and decisive, and women are given more leeway to be intuitive and emotive. In that regard, I think men and women equally benefit from expressing those capabilities.

Where I do see an issue at times is where someone is trying to fit in with a cultural stereotype which doesn’t fit them. Whether that’s a female executive thinking she has to be tough and ruthless, or a male executive trying to be emotive and gentle. These stereotypes don’t help the individual to be at their best, and I don’t think that, in general, we take enough notice of the individual’s unique strengths.

I don’t see that men and women in general have any different skills; certainly when it comes to mental or creative skills. Of course, there are some physical jobs which are better suited to the male stereotype, or vice versa. But in terms of the majority of jobs around today, I don’t see a difference, and certainly the world of work that younger generations are getting into now is a much more level playing field than it was a few decades ago.

Cover photo credit: Emma Hughes Photography

The passion that drives to success

Editor @ Global Man June 19, 2019 2 Comments

Ronny Barthel – The passion that drives to success

By Fatima Gorezi

Ronny Barthel is a professional photographer, very talented specializing in media design, photography and video production.He has worked for some insanely powerful companies and from 2018 he has worked as photographer for coaches, speakers, coaches on the way in the field of personality development and spirituality. He shares with us some great details from his life and speaks about the passion that drives him to do what he does every day. Photography is his muse, his true profession. He says that he don’t photograph things, but only the way they make him feel. He aim to engage the reader through his photos; to focus on interesting subjects. He also loves snapping quicky and unusual things encountered in daily life. Portraits are a particular favourite. He says that it’s a joy seeing individual history reflected through people’s eyes and mapped on their faces.

Can you tell me a bit about how you became a photographer? What was your first exposure to photography?

My beginnings in photography were more than 10 years ago. At that time, I photographed portraits with analogue cameras and developed them myself in black and white labs. Then, over the years, I’ve been more and more concerned with photography. When exactly I get the first camera and why I do not remember exactly.

How big a role did photography play in your life before? When did you start taking photographs?

The role of photography has always been there but not the primary one in my work. I think that was due to the fact that I had to gain experience first of all because even with me this was not laid in my cradle but through much practice and repetition.

Who were your early influences?

I do not really have big names from photography that influenced me. I’ve always been an outsider in my youth, doing my thing in my own way and not looking at others that much. I still do that now.

Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?

Basically, I photograph everything that has to do with people. Photographing beautiful landscapes does not really motivate me. I would like to capture people with emotions and hold them forever. In my work, I like to do the most idle snapshots as well as my lifestyle shoots. These are already provided but should nevertheless look as natural and unimpressed as possible and depict the person in front of the camera as authentically as possible.

Whose work has influenced you most?

Most have influenced me rather good wedding photographers but these are rather not so known in public. I have photographed weddings for several years, sometimes up to 40 per year.

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

There is no special thing because I now know that all things are related. Capturing people with emotions is very complex and I do not mean that in terms of technology. In order to capture someone authentically and in the emotions, there are many qualities that one has to possess. You have to be authentic yourself, have a certain empathy, your own energy has to be very positive and attractive, you have to own personality yourself.

How do you get inspired? And what inspires you the most? Movies, books or magazines? Or is it just what’s around you?

Meanwhile, I am most inspired by myself and my environment. I try to be as outside as possible, but simply with me, to see where I want to go, what I want to achieve and implement this easily. The environment is a very important factor, which Feedbach gives you for your work, supports and guides you.

Has the industry changed a lot since you started shooting, or is there still a lot of work there?

Yes, of course, like everything else in the world, everything is always changing faster and faster, and it’s important to stick to it so you do not lose yourself. Twenty years ago, technology was still the limiting factor, it was expensive and harder to learn. Today, in the age of cell phone cameras, photographers are in need of completely different skills. It will only be successful and stay with the times, dealing with the new technologies and using them for his benefit.

What can you recommend to other photographers trying to find their niche?

You should just try different things and not stiffen. Especially with photography it is very important that you love the thing that you do otherwise it detects the opposite and there is simply no connection. For example, I had thought about making money with travel photography, but I did not know how to do it. Now I have come to the niche by chance coaches, speakers, coaches and entrepreneurs to photograph and photograph in Germany and also at their events, retreats and create your images for all social media channels.

What are you passionate about besides photography? What do you do in your free time?

In my free time I like to do sports (jogging, swimming, snowboarding), I like to listen to podcasts and I am also involved with personality development. I like to go to the movies and spend time with my son. I like to travel and experience crazy adventures and meet new people.

What are three things that people need to know about the photography business?

– Make the photography out of passion

– Be the best in your niche

– You have to be authentic to represent people authentically

The world through the lens

Editor @ Global Man June 19, 2019 No Comments

Fadil Berisha -The world through the lens

By Fatima Gorezi

The successes of Fadil Berisha – internationally renowned photographer – are consecutive, as he has transformed his work into art, bringing a unique style of world-wide photography. While browsing his photos, whether of Hollywood celebrities, or people not necessarily with a public profile, create the idea of visiting a real art gallery where colors, energy, style, elegance, thought, sensation beauty, deep artistic spirit, and so on.

The conversation with her looks as interesting, as exhausted as possible (with returns on the past and the present), just as her photograph would surely know to withstand time and generations, changes and technological overthrow. He has a special relationship with Albania and Kosovo, two countries that he has always kept at heart. Undoubtedly, this explains why he is one of the most beloved personalities among Albanians, and his contribution to the Kosovo war, where by his art he managed to make the world aware of the size of the Kosovo tragedy of that period, thus sparking the political response.

Fadil has today the exclusivity of photos for Rolex and is the official photograph of Miss Universe and Miss USA; with contributions to sound magazines such as Elle, Vogue, Glamor, Seventeen, People Magazine, Harpers Bazaar, Esquire, Vanity Fair, GQ and others.

He has also photographed many personalities such as Halle Berry, Tyra Banks, President Bill Clinton, Snoop Dog, Sugar Shane, Hostly, Jenifer Beds, Beverly Johnson, Robert Evans, Jamie Lynn Sigler etc., which further demonstrates the magnitude of his universal success.

Among the lines, you will learn from Fadil talking about his art and important moments that have marked his life and career, as an existential meaning for a man who has seen the world from the wonderful window of his camera.

How do you remember your early life, your childhood? You have left your country when you were 9 years old. What trace did Kosovo leave in what would happen next to you and your life in America?

I had a beautiful childhood … with very beautiful memories and surrounded with lots of love. These beautiful feelings I have taken with myself into the art of photography by pointing out the beauty.

Fadil, you’ve been working on many fashion fairs by promoting campaigns for global brands. Your work is featured into the front pages in many prestigious magazines. Going back in retrospect, how do you remember the beginning?

The beginning has been incredibly difficult … I did three jobs to get and collect income just so I could go to school.

What are the most difficult challenges you have faced during these years of your journey?

Among the hardships associated with the profession are many trips for work reasons in different places and coordination of photographs in my private studio, as well as my effort to help every young Albanian artist.

What would you classify as your most special picture, which carries a special memory for you personally, emotionally?

One of the most special pictures I have realised is a picture of Miss Albania, Hasna Xhukici and Miss Kosova Marigona Dragusha. Both girls qualified in the ten of the most beautiful girls in the world and Miss Kosova was second in this so prestigious female beauty contest.

What is beauty for you? Should the subjects of your focus be necessarily beautiful?

I like classical beauty! I think everyone has something beautiful… somebody’s eyes, somebody’s neck.

How much do you think has changed the image of women and the concept of beauty over the years?

I believe classical beauty goes and comes. As the saying goes: ” class is forever ”. At this time the concept of beauty is exotic, but always returns to the classics.

Has the technology changed / influenced photography? Is this a positive or negative change?

The digital photography has changed the art of photography and I think this change is positive.

As you look at the range of your photos, it seems that the portraits are your strong point. How easy or difficult is to point out their character/ personality?

It is difficult to point out the character’s personality, but it is important to gain their trust in highlighting the best that those people have.

Is it a public figure you want to photograph but still have not done?

Maybe I want to photograph Angelia Jolie, it’s a classic face to me.

What is the report that you have today with Albania and Kosovo? What keeps you connected tightly to your mother country?

I go back often because it is the passion and love that I have for my people.

People who deal with art, creativity, usually have a deeper understanding and perception of social life. How do you see the situation in Kosovo and Albania today? I mean from an economic, political and social point of view ? How is your image for them in your mind?

Albania and Kosovo have advanced a lot. There is art everywhere!

What is your greatest ambition in life, as a human being and as a photographer?

My personal ambition was to open the doors for Albanian artists to inspire them with my art and I think I have achieved this; in some ways I have become a tie.

How many photo albums does Berisha family count? How is your relationship with your children and wife?

Maybe not so much. I have many pictures of the children when they were young. We have a very good family relationship.

You are well acquainted with being a philanthropist and participating in charity campaigns. Can you share with us some more details about this?

I am always ready to support various issues, including organisations against various diseases. Charity is important to me. It is also important to give your contribution to the human community.

Shaping the future

Editor @ Global Man June 10, 2019 No Comments

Richard Sibalier – Shaping the future

By Fatima Gorezi

Founder of Richard Conseil Consultants, Senior Consultant Executive Coach and Corporate Trainer. He advises and helps leaders to make distinctive, lasting, and substantial improvements in performance.

Richard believes that continued self-development is something very important and one of the pillars of growth. In this cover story for Global Man Magazine he shares with us some important details of his journey, his experience in coaching and why he believes that coaching can help people to get results in their projects, business and everyday life.

He speaks about how to build a real business and not just one to be self-employed. He also goes into detail about what’s needed at this time when technology is flowing and how some things in the modern workplace have changed and improved.

What can you tell us about your childhood and upbringing and how it has influenced you?

I came from business family: my father was a well-known businessman.

I grew up close to him, accompanying him in every step in his business life since I was child.

Being surrounded by this professional business life influenced me a lot to be an entrepreneur.

Who are your family today and what are your personal interests?

I have a beautiful wife with three adorable successful children. At the main time my personal interest is business clubs membership, voluntary work, community involvement, blogging and sports.

Being an entrepreneur, how much would you is due to nature, your genes, and how much is it instinct and nurture?

To be an entrepreneur is something to born with. It’s something in your DNA. But this alone is not enough. These genes must be refined with study, hard work and experiences.

What attracted you to become involved with coaching?

I believe in the power of sharing our experience. The key to make your life really unique Is to share what you know. I wanted to share my experience with the world, because when you discover something, it only has a value if it provides benefits to the society. The first thing that you should think about is: How can I share it with the world? And How can I make it available for everyone?

Why do you believe that continual personal development is so important for everyone?

I believe in change; change is one of the pillars of growth.

The continual personal development is a powerful tool to raise skills and competitiveness.

You are a very Corporate Trainer as well. What are the common challenges faced while training coordinators?

There is a big gap between what people learn in universities and in the real business life. The way of theoretical training must change.

Corporate trainers must be more than typical trainers. They have to be interactive course designers and must deliver real value.

After 20 years of experience, I express my corporate training philosophy in one sentence: “I don’t teach words, I teach a real business experience”.

What life and business lesson did you learn from these experiences?

Life is a journey of tenderness: the more you give, the more you take.

How do you see the role of women in business and as speakers on the big stages, now and in the future?

Nowadays we see a lot of successful feminine leadership across all business sectors. Women have started to take their real place in business life. It is inspirational to see keynote speakers on the big stages, help and influence more women into leadership.

Why and how did you find your passion for empowering people in business?

The idea to be useful, making an impact and changing the business life of someone to become better naturally attracted me.

My passion is to transfer my experience and to help entrepreneurs to fulfill their ambitions to achieve growth and to turn their passion into a successful business.

What words of wisdom would you give to our readers, either already successful or aspiring to succeed?

If you ask me to describe myself in one word, I will tell you that I am the risk itself. So take the risk and enjoy the journey of entrepreneurship.

As someone who’s built successful, large-scale teams, I’d be curious about your leadership and people-management philosophy?

“Human capital” is our most valued asset.

“My management philosophy is to provide an environment that leads to productive employees. Provide guidance, direction, leadership, and finally set an example to subordinates.”

Our group established a training center to train our employees. The programs cover all areas of:

Strategic management
Strategic Planning
Brand Management
Marketing strategy
Sales strategy
Customer Experience

What are some of the characteristics you look for in the people you hire?

Actually there are “10 Qualities to Look for in New Hires”

. Long Term Potential

. Enthusiasm

. Ambition

. Putting Skills to Action

. Team Player

. Responsiveness

. Communication Skills

But the most important thing is to be Passionate about our group and about what they do.

How do you ensure that you enjoy brand loyalty among your customers?

Loyalty Is not a given, it needs to be earned,

It needs to be earned and constantly nurtured. Loyalty is all about the customer.

The biggest misconception brands have when it comes to the loyalty question is the definition of where it starts and what it looks like.

Too many brands make the mistake that loyalty begins and ends with great offers and meeting the customer’s needs at point-of-sale.

Any brand can offer great discounts. Any brand can undercut competitors and make an offer a customer really can’t refuse.

That’s a good offer, but it doesn’t build loyalty.

Instead, the wider customer experience is key.

Customers don’t buy PRODUCTS !

They BUY Stories, Relations, Emotions.

We determine who we are and what our brands stand for.

Our group are loyal to our DNA.

Our brand identity tells our customers who we are, what we do and why we do it.

Best Brands are built on great STORIES. We have an authentic story, so they are passionate to be part of our story and to our brand. We built a strong strategy that makes our customer experience uniqueness in each visit to our shops.

What are the main reasons why people attend your workshops and seminars?

Actually I am not an academic professor; I am an executive with 20 years of concrete experience.

I don’t believe that one size fits all; every company is different. I have to design a customised & tailored training program for each company depending on the needs and the weakness points of a given company.

I help my audience to achieve sustained massive success with confidence & to take their business to the next professional level. They will benefit from my 20 years of international experience in strategic management & business development.

I design & conduct 100% innovative & dynamic tailored-made trainings, workshops, career paths, coaching programs that incite the desire to change. I am constantly looking to give something different to my audience, to add value in a way that others don’t. And I provide the best services by offering innovative solutions to answer their needs. I’m going to show them how they can make it happen.

Where is your company heading to in the next 5 years?

Since it’s birth to what is now known as the CHIC Group 1960, we made a promise that we will be the leading partner for luxury business across the Middle East.

After 50 years of doing business internationally CHIC group keeps building bridges and strong relationships between the Middle East & the West.

The wide experience and the unique history with the High reputation will led the CHIC group to become a REFERENCE for luxury business internationally in the next 5 years.

How have you incorporated technology to deliver a better experience for your customers?

Technology has had a major impact in the modern workplace, revolutionising the way businesses conduct their daily activities.

Whatever industry you are operating in, technology helps our customers access all the information they need to successfully interact with our group. It can also help staff perform their jobs more efficiently.

Technology allows businesses to speed up production processes, maximising productivity. Technology improves company’s flexibility to deal with queries quickly and efficiently. Interactive websites, online chat support services and 24/7 customer service via social media set us apart from our competitors and help us to increase our profits.

And finally email marketing can also be effective, allowing us to reach out directly to our customers with news, updates and special offers.

Skip Archimedes – ‘How positive psychology is influencing wellness coaching’

Editor @ Global Man December 10, 2018 No Comments

By Fati Gorezi

Skip Archimedes is a ‘Transformational Coach’ and internationally acclaimed Speaker and Author, dedicating his life to helping people overcome the physical, financial, personal, nutritional, emotional and spiritual problems in their lives to become the best they can be. His mission is to bring back energy, positivity, achievement, health and vitality into the lives of those who have lost that focus along the way. He says that we should all be living healthy, vibrant, fulfilled lives up to and beyond the age of 100 and improving all the way.

What are a few of your success stories regarding your journey as an entrepreneur?

The first one I remember clearly like it was yesterday, was an idea I came up with at school and came very close to being expelled. I had a very simple idea of selling 50 numbers from 1 to 50 for £1 each totalling £50. I would then draw 3 numbers after I had sold all 50 numbers and the 1st prize was £15, 2nd prize was £10 and 3rd Prize was £5 and I would keep £20. Without knowing any of this was wrong I ran this for many months and everyone including myself loved it. Even though I was totally innocent I was introducing gambling to the school. When the teachers found out I got called in to see the Head of the school and I was told I was going to be expelled from school for the behaviour of encouraging people to gamble. It was only when my step-dad spoke up saying that I had showed great signs of an entrepeneur by not lying to anyone and actually generating an income through initiative. They spoke for some time and it was agreed that if I stopped my little lottery then I wouldn’t get kicked out of school. This hooked me into making things happen and spotting and creating opportunities.

After being told I would never walk again, I learnt from Bruce Lee about activating the Mind, Body and Spirit and getting in tune with universal energy. When anyone does this, the most phenomenal things start to happen in their lives simply because all resistance is gone and flow states emerge. I went back to gymnastics and won the English ‘Sports Acrobatics’ championships. I then got approached by an agent who said I had a very commercial look and would be great for doing acrobatics in TV commercials, pop videos and for live shows etc. I soon landed my first TV commercial and got paid £10,000 for a single day of filming which I loved because I had never earned that amount of money in that short time before and this was over 20 years ago. What I soon realised was that I started getting creative with ideas for things that I could do in shows and for filming that no one else had thought of. I spoke to the clients to find out what they were looking for and then I started making suggestions whilst on set for ideas that I thought would add more value. The response was amazing and soon I started to be the ‘go to’ guy for bringing acrobatics into different environments and I ended up working with incredible companies like ‘The Royal Opera House’, ‘X-factor’, many TV commercials and pop videos, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, ‘The Royal Albert Hall’ and artists/bands that would fill stadiums. Basically, I would come up with ideas for adding a flavour of acrobatics into the mix. This was before ‘Cirque Du Soleil’ became popular – so basically I was in the right place at the time with the right talent and creative ideas and I loved it because each contract was a different adventure. And, as far as the business side went, I could literally charge what I liked because no-one else was doing what I was doing – so for a short period I had an open market which was great.

While all this was growing, I started to come up with my own stage show ideas and soon ended up owning and producing shows and sending these shows out on tours all across Europe. One that became very popular was an explosive and dynamic show that involved dancing, acrobatics, fire, stunts, great showmanship and this particular show was a male cast only and was produced for female audiences so we added the element of tease into the production which made it a very unique type of show. I had no clue that this was going to explode, driving audiences crazy all over Europe. I ended up with 16 guys working for me and we would do sell-out theatres with audiences from a few hundred to thousands of women at each event. No one before had produced such a show and we literally dominated the European market and had lots of copy cat groups pop up. But we were known as the industry leaders. It was a great way to see many countries, meet so many great people and I soon found that travelling was becoming one of my best teachers because I learnt that there are so many different belief systems and some serve and some don’t. I feel blessed to have had that chapter because not only did we have lots of fun with so many celebrations, there was millions of pounds made – which is always great.

Since then I invested some of the money I made and owned different businesses, but found that the ones I always did best in were the ones I had passion and drive for that served a specific need. The businesses that really make positive changes in peoples lives are the one’s where that sense of fulfilment really shows up because in my mind, success without fulfilment simply equals failure.

I have faced many challenges, as we all do, but learnt how to turn my challenges into my blessings. I got asked to share these techniques with others and before I knew it I started public speaking to share these life changing nuggets with more people. I then started running my own live events, workshops and retreats around the world. I could see that the processes and experiences I started taking people through were helping people to transform on so many levels. I had never experienced this before and I found it so humbling to be able to assist in improving the quality of people’s lives through these powerful teachings.

I care deeply about doing my part in helping to create a better world, plus I had a real hunger for serving at the highest levels. It became apparent very quickly that a lot people were, and still are, feeding their minds and bodies with things that are draining them of energy and having detrimental effects on them.

I also started to learn the truth about truly nourishing the body and mind – and found that we have drained essential minerals from our soils on a global level. For example, our fruits and vegetables only contain 5-20% of the nutritional value compared to 100 years ago. Natural food is simply a shuttle system to be able to get the nutrients in the food into your body. If the minerals are no longer in the soils then how do they get into our bodies? The answer is – they don’t! This quote got me doing my research: “You can trace every, disease, every sickness and every ailment to a mineral deficiency” – Dr Linus Pauling. This amazing gentleman is a 2 X Nobel Prize winner which, in itself, is pretty remarkable. I didn’t find anyone who contested what he said and through my deep intensive research I soon realised that eating healthy wasn’t enough in todays world if you want to really get the most from your mind, body and life. I knew supplementation was needed, so I looked into that world and continued my research.

I couldn’t believe that all the supplements and superfoods I found weren’t at the standard I would be satisfied with putting into my own body. This, to me, was shocking because these were being sold as health products but were actually doing people more harm than good long term. I ended up starting my own line of ‘Superfoods’ and didn’t put in any bulking agents, fillers or sweeteners and only used the highest quality of ingredients – and also ‘no cheat’ farming techniques. If people knew what was going on behind closed doors and what the harmful effects are of so many supplements I think people would be seriously shocked because the industry isn’t regulated yet.

My strategy was to create the most effective superfoods available that would serve the human body and mind at the highest levels. I knew this would not satisfy a lot of people’s sweet palettes for taste and thus would potentially put off sales. Not a good plan for a business! However, I was looking at this from the angle of simply serving the human body and mind with superfoods and nutrients at higher levels than what was already available. I had to let people know that “It tastes so bad, that you know it’s good for you!”.

Ironically, serving at that level, people really starting noticing a difference in the way they looked and felt and then – as their taste buds started changing – they actually started liking the taste which was great. It’s funny that when you eat and drink things that don’t serve you, you get addicted to those things. And the things that are actually good for you don’t taste good. So many people are out of balance because of poor dietary choices and unfortunately for them, they are suffering for it.

To be able to produce these superfoods that are helping people every time they ingest them is something I’m super proud of. I could have sold out and used cheaper ingredients and cheat farming methods that so many brands use to simply earn more profit. However my motivation was in producing something that was of the highest quality available. I never wanted my name or face on the Superfoods but all the experts around me said that people don’t buy into brands today as much as they buy into people. It was said that I’m a living breathing version of someone who has daily demands and responsibilities at high levels. I’m doing business all over the world and travel all the time in and out of different time zones so I need to be on my game consistently. I’m running and working on so many projects and need to have constant clarity, focus and to take actions so that we continue to grow and serve more people. It didn’t make sense from a business point of view to have my name and face on these superfoods but it felt like the right thing to do – to be a living example that these superfoods serve those with a busy lifestyle. They want to be sure that their body and mind can still be nourished at the highest of levels on a daily basis. For me these superfoods are the building blocks that help me to recover, detox, nourish, revive, recharge and energise so that I don’t just survive but I really thrive. And that’s what these do for others who use them too, which of course is a great thing.

Tell me a bit about your professional background?

I never had any formal training in business which I’ve found does have it’s advantages – because today things are moving so fast. I was lucky because I owned my own Companies so always had the mindset of serving at that level. All the responsibility ultimately ended up on me – so I would always have to figure things out to make things work. Of course I made lots of mistakes, and usually we learn the most when we know what doesn’t work, so we can learn to do what works. I’d like to think I’m a fast learner and learn from my mistakes. Its important to move on and to keep adding as much value as you can. I’ve found myself doing all sorts of tasks and jobs and as long as I bring a good vibe to the table I seem to find the needed solutions always presented themselves at the right times. I have been really fortunate to have had so many great CEO’s, Managers, Business owners and Celebrities that include movie stars, pop stars and one of the Dragons from the TV show ‘Dragons Den’. They all say that my teachings have had the most profound impacts on their lives which is always very nice and humbling to hear.

What inspires you in everyday life?

I now find that the simple things in life inspire me; like nourishing my mind and body with great nutrition, moving my body in fun ways, getting out in nature, meditating to help let go of what isn’t serving me and reconnecting to what will serve; creating and building great relationships and basically living what I teach. Plus, I enjoy working with teams on common visions. I’m sure you’ve heard this: “teamwork makes the dreamwork”. I love feeling those goose bumps all over my body and this is a sign for me that we are on the right path with something and I feel blessed because these always happen multiple times throughout each day. In short, for me its all about helping to raise consciousness and to bring about more awareness to people’s lives so that they can truly live their dreams.

‘’Living Forever Young ‘’? Is this possible?

A massive ‘YES’ jumps out of me to answer that. Firstly I’m living proof because, at 45 years old, I literally feel better today than I did in my 20’s. As well as teaching this amazing lifestyle to people all over the world, the person I’m most proud of is my mother. She was overweight, in and out of hospital with many operations, had high cholesterol, low blood pressure, arthritis, a cupboard full of pharmaceutical drugs and couldn’t walk from one side of the room to the other without being in serious pain. She came to one of my retreats and afterwards lost 28 pounds in body fat and started ‘Living Forever Young’ and continues to do so today. She only started when she was nearly 70 years old and has turned into someone who is hungry for life again. She is a living example that it’s never too late because she now does yoga most days, swims about 100 lengths when she swims, and is more active now than she was 10 years ago.

In the last few years my mum has travelled all over the world for different adventures which she never thought was possible at one point. To see those positive shifts in someone whom I care deeply about and having nothing but love and admiration for is one of the best gifts ever – because she has added another 30 years onto her life and she gets to enjoy the freedom we all deserve. Of course this works especially great for business people because we must learn how to override the stresses of the corporate world and be in a position to add great value BUT the first person we need to learn add value to is ourselves.

What is the formula to ‘Living Forever Young’?

Unfortunately it isn’t something I can write in a single paragraph because its combination of many elements working in harmony with each other but the formula is contained within my book ‘Living Forever Young’ and the secrets can only be uncovered when you actually apply to them to your daily life. This book is a game changer because nothing tastes as good as ‘Living Forever Young’ feels. You basically handle all forms of stress better and lock into a way of living where you thrive in every environment because your mind and body function better – and the side effects are more productivity whilst looking and feeling better, which we all need more of.

What is your greatest strength?

One thing that many people comment on is my everlasting energy. And we need energy for everything in our personal and business life, otherwise things can get on top of us and once the stress takes over (whether its physical, emotional, financial, mental or nutritional) it’s game over for thriving. Along with having this abundance of energy I’ve found that keeping a child-like (not childish) spirit, keeps me learning new things everyday. Some may say I should grow up, but children learn faster than most adults. They seem to naturally have more natural joy and wonder plus they have more energy. They speak more truth and they are now teaching the elders new things because of technology. It’s so important to be able to learn fast in todays society otherwise you can get left behind and by keeping some of the powerful traits that children have, I think it adds more strength and wonder to one’s life. Plus you dream bigger, and, as an adult, you then get to enjoy making those dreams come true.

What is special about your lifestyle?

I simply live what I teach and that means everyday I get to do things I love and am passionate about. Every month I’m in pretty much in a different country and time zone so I get to see so many beautiful places around our amazing planet with amazing people which I’m very grateful for. Whilst on my travels and adventures I always make sure that I have lots of fun creating as many memorable and magic moments as possible whilst serving. There was a time when I never dreamed this was possible – but I’m living proof that this lifestyle works on so many levels.

How are the current innovations happening in positive psychology influencing wellness coaching?

Anything positive is always a good thing and there are many coaches all using different techniques to help their clients. I personally feel that if you’re going to take on responsibility to coach someone then you need to have a high level of understanding psychology in depth – otherwise you simply won’t be able to serve at levels that really help the client to breakthrough their challenges. Taking a holistic approach to the study of human strengths can only be a good thing because all the successful people I meet seem to create positivity and find strength from that.

In your opinion what is the mindset that new entrepreneurs require in order to actually succeed in a digital world?

I actually think that the mindset needs to direct all entrepreneurs so that they never sacrifice their own health for their wealth. In my seven week online programme called ‘Connect NOW’ (for Limitless Empowerment) I teach entrepreneurs how to activate themselves and to create the right balance so that the body, the mind and spirit can all function at higher levels which will help produce better results. You’ve heard the saying, “use it or lose it” and the same goes with your mind, your body and your spirit. So many people then take action but in the wrong direction which then does them more harm than good.

If you don’t use your mind, body and spirit correctly and consistently, they won’t function well and you may even risk things shutting down on yourself which could be disastrous for yourself and your loved ones. Through the seven week journey on ‘Connect NOW’ you simply use the activations for your mind-body-spirit and let the force of life start working through you. This plugs you into life where you have more balance, more alignment, more energy, more creative solutions and a lot more fun – even if, at present, you have a busy and stressful lifestyle. The reason this is essential is so that we spend time away from things that are digital to work on ourselves – so that when we do use technology we learn to use it efficiently and productively. This, I actually think, is something very important to address because technology is only going to keep evolving. But we, as humans, must unplug from the addictions that can cause the body, mind or spirit to suffer. Learn how to activate your body, learn how to properly activate your mind and learn how to open up – so that life, universal intelligence, source energy – call it what you will – can pulse through you at these high levels. Then you’ll want more and more because this is life at its best – and ‘Connect NOW’ assists in giving people this. This entire programme is actually digital but it does teach you how to go inside to find the answers you seek whilst helping you to create the body you’re proud of inside and out. The only thing that is with you from the day you’re born to the day you pass is your mind and body and this will teach you what most people never get to learn in their lifetime. The digital age is one that I think is serving humanity and business well in general, because ultimately it allows more truth to be shared. Ignorance isn’t bliss in today’s world so learn what you can from the digital world because it is great. But you must also learn how to unplug from it too.

I would like to gift a place on my ‘Connect NOW’ for Limitless Empowerment by sponsoring someone. Simply send me a private message on facebook explaining why I should gift you this seven week journey where your mind, your body and your spirit will be activated within you, so that you function as the best version of yourself. I look forward to seeing why I should select you for this life changing experience. You must be committed to your greatness and committed to serving yourself and others at higher levels. This will have so many positive impacts on your business because you will become a better leader. I believe we need more honest and authentic leaders in our world today and it would be my pleasure to assist you on that journey.

Do you have a favourite quote regarding business/entrepreneurialism that you would like to share with the readers?

“As soon as something stops being fun, I think it’s time to move on. Life is too short to be unhappy. Waking up stressed and miserable is not a good way to live” – Richard Branson.