Secrets of Entrepreneurs Under 40 Exposed!

If I were in your position right now I’d be wondering if I really needed to read this section. However, if this is the first ‘Secrets Exposed!’ book that you’ve read, could I ask you to please resist the temptation to skip ahead, as I’d like to briefly share with you why this book has been created and how you can best use it to impact your life.

When I was growing up I heard somewhere that there are two ways to live your life: the first is through ‘trial and error’ and the second is through ‘other people’s experience’. At the time I dismissed it as just another one of those sayings that sounds good, but doesn’t make much sense. Then, like most teenagers I finished school with stars in my eyes thinking, ‘This is great! My education is over – no more books, no more lectures, no more people telling me what to do’. How wrong I was. After a few months of bouncing around, not quite sure of what to do next, I stumbled across the idea of personal development and started to hear concepts such as:

• Formal education will earn you a living, but self-education will make you a fortune.

• Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.

• You will be the same person five years from now, except for the people you meet and the books you read.

• Don’t wish that your job were easier, wish that you were better.

• You are your own greatest asset, so you must invest in yourself.

Since November 2000, I have been totally committed to becoming my own most valuable asset. After attending hundreds of seminars, listening to thousands of hours of CDs and reading shelves of books, I have discovered that the people who truly succeed aren’t any smarter, better looking or harder working than anyone else – they just think differently and have learnt to incorporate different values into their lives.

I am now in the very fortunate position of being able to travel internationally to present personal development seminars to teenagers and I am often asked, ‘What is the one thing you need to know to be successful?’ My answer is always the same: ‘The one thing that you need to know is that there is not one thing that you need to know to be successful’. I’ve learnt that success is multifaceted and that mastering one principle of success or area of your life isn’t going to take you to the top – the more you master, the more successful you will become. But if I did have to identify one of the most important success strategies, it would be this: ‘Find out what successful people do and do the same thing until you get the same results’.

That’s what this book is all about. The only difference is, instead of you going out and finding successful people, we’ve brought them to you.

You see, whatever you want in life, whatever you are shooting for, chances are that someone else is already living it. They have already invested years of their life and probably hundreds of thousands of dollars, they’ve made lots of mistakes, learnt from them and eventually succeeded. So why would you want to waste your own time, money and effort through ‘trial and error’ when you can fast-track your success by learning from ‘someone else’s experience’? As Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘If I have seen further it is because I have been standing on the shoulders of giants’.

Every time you pick up a book, attend a seminar or interview a successful person, you are compressing years of life experience into a few hours. With any of the ‘Secrets Exposed’ books, you can multiply that by between twelve and seventeen people and you’re looking at around 250+ years of experience and wisdom ready and waiting for you. It won’t prevent you from making mistakes of your own, far from it, but it will help you to make more calculated and purposeful decisions, rather than big, misguided and ignorant ones.

There is no shortage of information about how to achieve proficiency or even greatness in any area of life these days. Go to any bookstore or library and you’ll find the shelves sagging with titles from experts, all with their own theories and ways of doing things. But what I have discovered is lacking in almost all of these books is INSPIRATION. What’s missing is role models and mentors – the stories of people we can all look up to. People who started out exactly like you – with a dream in their hearts and with all the same fears and insecurities. Given the choice between reading a textbook or a dozen success stories about people who have actually done something, I’d take the success stories any day of the week. I’m not saying that theoretical information isn’t important, of course it is, but having presented hundreds of talks to all different types of audiences, I can confidently say that it’s always the stories that move people. It’s the whole, If he or she did it, then so can I that gets inside people’s hearts. When we’re inspired we get motivated and then we take positive action which leads to results.

The ‘Secrets Exposed’ books are not intended to be a one-stop-shop. They are an introduction to the wealth of knowledge available to you and to some of the real success stories of people who have reached the top in their chosen field of endeavour. That’s why at the back of each book you will find most of the contributors’ contact details and some of their other products and services that are available to help you continue your journey.

So, how did the whole idea for the ‘Secrets Exposed’ books come about?

Well, in 1998, when I was around seventeen, my nan gave me a copy of a book titled Collective Wisdom, by Brett Kelly. In it were transcripts of face-to-face interviews with a whole lot of prominent Australian personalities. And it was a fantastic read. Since then I have seen a handful of random ‘success story’ books, but the challenge I find with most of them is that they are either transcripts of interviews, that never really make complete sense in the printed form, or they are written by writers who paraphrase someone else’s story. The result tends to be a diluted message that doesn’t really allow you to get a sense of the individual’s personality or character.

In around 2001 I read my first Chicken Soup for the Soul book and realised that there were dozens and dozens of related titles designed to meet the needs of different people’s areas of interest. I thought that was pretty neat.

It wasn’t until January 2004 that the ‘Secrets Exposed’ idea boiled over. I was in my hotel room in Singapore relaxing after six straight days of presenting to hundreds of teenagers. I was reflecting on the ideas that had been shared with them. One of the most important was to seek out those who have already achieved what you want and ask them lots of questions. I was plagued by the thought that only a small percentage would act on that very valuable advice and that most would never take the step due to a lack of confidence, fear of rejection or an inability to contact the people they needed.

That’s when it hit me...‘What if I could find the people and put together a number of books covering a range of different areas?’ I knew it would take a lot of effort, so for the next three days, I sat in my hotel room and developed the basis of an entire system to make it happen.

Based on my experience with other books, I decided that these books had to be non-time specific and be written (not spoken) by the people themselves. This way the answers would be planned and well thought-out, providing richer content and more interesting reading. I also wanted to make sure that there was an even balance between practical ‘how to’ information and inspirational stories that gave an insight into the highs and lows of people’s real journeys. I also wanted to ensure that a percentage of every book sold was donated to a charity relating to the nature of that particular book.

When I arrived home I got into action. However, between working out of a tiny one-bedroom flat and trying to manage two other demanding businesses, my plans were a little slow in the beginning and I had to be resourceful. So I bought a plastic tub and turned the boot of my car into a mobile office! Anytime I could find a spare hour or two, I’d park myself at the gym or a nearby coffee shop and make calls from my mobile phone.

Putting these books together has been both time-consuming and demanding, but it has also been a real privilege for me to have the opportunity to work with each of the people involved in the various books. Thank you, to each of you, for making it possible!

Well, I think you’ve heard enough from me. Now it’s time for you to discover for yourself the wonderful wisdom contained in these pages. I hope that you enjoy the read as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. And who knows, maybe one day we will be reading your story?

Dream Big!

Dale Beaumont

Creator of the ‘Secrets Exposed’ Series

Sydney, Australia

Download Your Free Audio Gift

Exclusive to readers of the ‘Secrets Exposed’ series...

In this 1 hour 43 minute recorded interview, author Dale Beaumont intimately shares the inner workings of the ‘Secrets Exposed’ series. Discover in greater details how he came up with the idea, how he managed to secure personal interviews with over 200 of the countries most successful people and what he believes are some of the most important business and life principles from each of the books in the series.

Simply visit the web page below and follow the directions to listen to or download the entire interview direct to your Notebook or PC.

www.SecretsExposed.com.au

Foreword

It is my great honour and privilege to write the foreword for this book for two reasons. First, Dale Beaumont has displayed true entrepreneurial flair over the years I have personally known him. His tenacity and foresight have been just two factors in his success. When I first met Dale, I could see in his eyes that he craved the success that he is now experiencing, so from where I sit, it is well deserved. Second, discovering entrepreneurial flair is something that I personally enjoy bringing out of people every day.

As you will see throughout this book, there are many different ways that you can reach success and if you tap into some of what you are about to read, you may just reach those heights that you desire.

Dale’s success with his book series is a direct result of understanding what the reader wants to know, and due to that you are about to discover some hidden gems in the following pages.

You will see throughout the book that youth is not a setback, it is actually an asset that has been used and captured by the people featured.

When I started my first business (Attitude Gear), I had no idea what I was setting myself up for, but with determination and focus I was able to steer that business to international success, along with my speaking and books. That success has now transferred into my new business www.trustytradesman.com.au.

Throughout this book, you will have the opportunity to read how other people have faced and cleared their hurdles, giving you a greater insight into how you can overcome whatever hurdles you may have.

This book is an invaluable tool in your journey toward your desired success. You are about to tap into the mind-sets of some very successful members of the younger generation. Forget about Generation Y or Generation X, just become part of ‘Generation Now’ – determined to achieve your goals and start your journey NOW!

Live your dreams,

Justin Herald

International Speaker, International Best-Selling Author

www.justinherald.com

Introduction

If you have read any of the previous ‘Secrets Exposed!’ books, you will know that each has its own personality, its own character – usually determined by the blend of people featured in that particular book.

In Secrets of Entrepreneurs Under 40 Exposed! we see two powerful forces collide. First, we explore the whole idea of what it means to create something from nothing and succeed in business. And second, we expose the ideals of Generations X and Y, which represent our future.

As you read each of the chapters of this book you will see consistent themes begin to emerge. Are they really that unique? Will understanding them show you what the future holds? Without giving too much away, here are just a few of the standout themes to whet your appetite.

Lifestyle-driven – rather than seeing business as their life, it is clear that these entrepreneurs see their businesses for what they really are – separate entities of their own. They view and use their businesses as vehicles to create lifestyle and wealth. And once this is obtained, they take the time to enjoy the fruits of their efforts by rewarding themselves. Unlike their predecessors in previous generations, these entrepreneurs exude a ‘tomorrow will provide for itself, so why not live for today’ attitude.

Enjoy defying the odds – for this generation the words ‘sorry, it can’t be done’ simply don’t register. For some, these words are like adding fuel to a fire, spurring them on to find a way to make it work. It’s this never-say-die attitude, coupled with a creative spirit, which proves the old adage – ‘where there is a will, there is always a way’.

Obsessive learners – some may go so far as to say that the entrepreneurs in this book are anti-mainstream education – let’s just say that they see the limitations of formalised institutions. Instead they prefer the do-it-yourself approach to education by devouring everything and anything, putting it into practice and coming up with their own theories and formulas.

All about leverage – generations X and Y are often labelled as the impatient and, at times, lazy generations. The entrepreneurs in the book express the upside of what others would see as flaws. By being impatient they ask themselves, ‘How can I do this better, how can I speed up the process and how can I outmanoeuvre the competition?’ And by being lazy they ask, ‘How can I use technology to automate this process?’ or ‘Can I create a system so I can leverage this task to someone else?’

It’s not about me – it’s clear that there is a very strong belief among all of the entrepreneurs in this book that ultimately it is not about what you can get, but what you can give back. This is in stark contrast to the popular business philosophies of the eighties – ‘greed is good’ and ‘profit at any cost’. In fact, some even measure their business success in terms of the amount of money they donate to charity, or the number of smiles they create on any given day.

So how closely are you aligned to these ideals? The truth is, it doesn’t matter. You will be pleased to know that each of the people in this book started very differently. As these entrepreneurs have shown us, you can begin from wherever you are, chart your own path and form your own business ideals. All you need is a desire to start and the determination to persist and stay in the race.

In Secrets of Entrepreneurs Under 40 Exposed! we’ve assembled an amazing group of 14 highly successful business builders who are eager to share their experiences and pass on what they’ve learnt. By reading each contributor profile you’ll see that we have again covered a lot of ground:

• They range in age from 23 to 39.

• Their business turnover ranges from $250,000 through to $15 million.

• Their number of staff ranges from four all the way through to a team of 63.

• Some started their business career before the age of eight, while others had to wait until their late twenties before they discovered their business passion.

• Some have academic business qualifications while others learnt everything through experience.

This book covers content ranging from idea development, conducting market research, business planning, capital raising and company formation to sales and marketing, branding, hiring and motivating staff, leadership, delegation and time management, financial matters, public relations, strategic alliances, web development, online marketing, implementing technology, franchising, licensing, buying and selling businesses, future trends, national and international expansion and much, much more.

To further assist you in your own endeavours, a number of contributors have also very generously offered valuable gifts to all of our readers. To receive them, all you need to do is visit the specified website and follow the steps to download the bonus gifts – absolutely free.

At the back of the book we have included the contact websites of every contributor. You’ll discover that a number of them have their own books and educational materials, which we strongly endorse and encourage you to investigate further.

Finally, remember it’s what you do after you read this book that is going to determine its real value to you. So go out there, apply what you’ve learnt and when you reach a goal – no matter how big or small – let us know so we can share your success story.

Enjoy!

Dale Beaumont and Shaun Stenning

Email: info@SecretsExposed.com.au

Business To Wealth

Jamie McIntyre

There hasn’t been a single holiday that didn’t make me at least ten times more money than it cost me. And I wasn’t waiting for that ‘one day when I’m rich’ to start living life!

Profile

Jamie McIntyre

Jamie McIntyre is a young Australian who is making a big difference to the quality of people’s lives around the world. He is a sought-after success coach and has travelled the world meeting and learning from some of the very best teachers, including former presidents and leading industry professionals.

He became a self-made millionaire in his twenties after founding the 21st Century Group of Companies, including 21st Century Academy, an education organisation that provides a valuable and relevant modern-day education to Australians and New Zealanders. He has been responsible for educating over 225,000 people worldwide through his DVD courses and seminars.

Jamie is a leading advocate for real-life education, including financial literacy, to be implemented in all Australian high schools. He believes this will give teenagers the most important skills they will need to excel in the 21st century, and improve what many say is an inadequate and flawed education system.

He is also an advocate for changing the biased practices of the financial planning industry. Jamie wants to see financial planners produce real investment results in their own lives before being allowed to advise others in financial planning. Currently, he is lobbying for improvements to superannuation to ensure Australians can fund themselves in retirement. He has also established a non-profit organisation called World Solutions Institute to educate people about global warming and other serious challenges facing the world today.

Jamie is also a sports fanatic who is especially fond of rugby league. In between travelling the world, you can often find him enjoying time in the country on his farms.

What was your very first business venture and what did you learn from it?

When I was a teenager living on the family farm, near Glen Innes (northern New South Wales), my dad offered me a deal: if I helped him develop a new paddock every year – pick up and burn the sticks, plough and sow paddocks, build fences (even in 35 degree heat) – I could sell the crop of Swede turnips that were sown with the grass and keep the profit.

As I was highly motivated – my goal was to be a millionaire by 18 – I worked hard and started a Swede turnip business. I sold them to the Brisbane markets every winter, and in a good year I would sometimes make $1,000 in a weekend. Ironically, I was making more money than my schoolteachers back then, which made me realise that being at school during the week cost me money.

Through this business arrangement I learnt many things, including:

• the value of teamwork, as I employed many of my school friends and cousins to work for me

• how to make work fun by creating competitions and incentives for myself and the workers

• to make hay when the sun is shining – some years you will make a lot of money and other years you may not

• to focus on the end result and not the hard work the organisational skills required to manage and run a team

• to have a strong work ethic and be highly motivated

• that I didn’t want to be a farmer when I was older!

In the beginning what were some of the skills you were lacking and what did you do about it?

I believe that school and university effectively teaches us to become a specialist in an area, such as being a doctor, accountant, nurse, builder, mechanic and so on. This is great for getting a job and is important to society, but it neglects to teach us far more valuable skills. These other skills helped me become a millionaire faster than I ever imagined possible. I call them ‘generalist’ skills. They are used in almost every profession or career and help us to:

• negotiate effectively

• communicate effectively

• market ourselves and/or a product or service effectively

• think creatively to solve problems.

I learnt these skills through attending seminars, buying audio programs and reading books. I then put them into practise by modelling successful negotiators, marketers, problem solvers and communicators.

Who are the mentors that have inspired you? What important lessons have you learnt from them?

I had numerous mentors, but I was particularly inspired by a millionaire I worked for about ten years ago. I learnt a lot of financial strategies involving real estate investing, running a business, and how to sell and negotiate. He was both an example and a warning of what to do and not to do, as he was a workaholic. I didn’t want to end up like this so I structured my future businesses in systemised ways so that they could grow and work without me. By doing this I have been able to achieve true financial freedom in that I can spend more time with my family and friends, and travel regularly to avoid becoming an obsessed workaholic.

Anthony Robbins, who had a big impact on my life and helped shape my speaking career, also inspired me. Anthony taught me the value of controlling one’s emotions – by controlling my emotions I could ensure I was naturally motivated to take action and overcome fear.

Can you describe the benefits of running your own business?

I regard lifestyle as being very important. No matter where I am or what I am doing in life, I always ensure that my lifestyle is given priority.