Dan Martell Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Dan Martell
Dan Martell is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast interview.
He is an entrepreneur who could quite rightly claims to have had two lives.
And in classic Join Up Dots style, both lives are so closely intertwined that one wouldn’t have been possible without the other.
As a young man, he was on a path that wasn’t good.
Getting into trouble with the law and spending time in jail on drug offences his life was heading one way and one way only.
But in all our lives we are provided opportunities in the strangest of places that can help us become what we want to be.
It’s whether we actually spot those opportunities, that is the true issue that faces us all.
How The Dots Joined Up For Dan
Well our guest did, and whilst in jail, Dan Martell discovered computers and set off on an entrepreneurial journey that would instantly lead to failure.
Then another failure, until finally gaining traction and success came his way.
He bootstrapped Spheric Technologies, a social enterprise consulting and applications company, which grew by 150%+ each year, raked in many business awards, employed over 30 employees, before selling it in May of 2008.
And now he is on a path that is based around his own passions to support himself and his family, whilst also giving back to the world in the form of several charitable organisations.
He now used his business brain to help hundreds and hundred of startups get going.
He has even put some of his own cash into the companies such as Unbounce, Udemy, and Intercom
So does he look back on his life and thank the dark times, for showing him the way?
And what made him try several times to get going in business, and still keep going when the road got hard?
Well let’s bring onto the show to start joining up dots, as we discuss the words of Steve Jobs in todays Free podcast, with the one and only Mr Dan Martell
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Dan Martell such as:
How he believes that no matter what happens in his life, nobody can take away two things from him….the connections he has built up and his mind!
The reasons why at a drive through he will buy a cup of coffee for the complete stranger behind him and not wait to see the reaction!
The amazement he felt, when after telling a personal story he had people lining up to hug him afterwards, and the relief he now feels telling that story!
Why he feels it is so much easier for people to get the life that they want nowadays compared to even ten years ago!
And lastly……
Why it is so important to reach out to people who are doing what you want to do at the beginning, and plain stupidity not to!
How To Connect With Dan Martell
Return To The Top Of Dan Martell
If you enjoyed this episode with Dan Martell, why not check out other inspirational chat with Jeet Banerjee, Pia Silva, Shawn Stevenson and the amazing Felicity Aston
You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy
Audio Transcription Of Dan Martell Interview
Intro [0:00]
When we’re young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling join up dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here’s your host live from the back of his garden in the UK David Ralph
David Ralph [0:26]
Yes. Hello there. Good morning world. How are we all? Are we rocking and rolling this is join up dots of course it is because you clicked and you found us. And hopefully you’ve been with us for the last 149 shows. Because the inspirational content that we provide on a daily basis is just getting better and better and better. And today’s guest is a man who really has a story, but is well, I’ll explain what it’s about. He is a man who could quite lightly claim to have had two lives and in classic join up dots style. Both lives are so closely intertwined that one wouldn’t have been playing without the other. As a young man, he was on a path that wasn’t good getting into trouble with the law and spending time in jail and drug offenses. His life was heading one way and one way only. But in all our lives we have provided opportunities in the strangest of places that can help us become what we want to be is whether we actually spot those opportunities. That’s the true issue that faces us all. Well, our guest did. And whilst in jail, he discovered computers and set off on an entrepreneurial journey that would instantly lead to failure. And then another failure until finally gaining traction and success came his way he bootstrapped disparate technologies, a social enterprise consulting and applications company, which grew by 150%. Each year right in many Business Awards employed over 30 employees before he sold it in May of 2008. And now he’s on a path that is based around his own passions to support himself and his family, of course, whilst also giving back to the world in the form of several charitable organizations. So does he look back on his life and fight the dark times? But showing him the way and what made him try several times to get going in business and still keep going? When the road got hard? Well, let’s find out as we bring on to the show, to start join up dots mo one and only Mr. Dan Martell, how are you Dan?
Dan Martell [2:14]
I’m great David thanks for having me on. I’m super honored to be on the hundred and 50th show is going to be good.
David Ralph [2:18]
It’s amazing. You know, when when you start these kind of things, you just you want to get to 10. And then you want to get to 20. And I remembered thinking What should I do for my hundredth show. And now within weeks, I’m thinking My God, what should I do for my 200th show? It really does sort of rattle on one day goes into another day and doesn’t it?
Dan Martell [2:37]
It does. It’s exciting.
David Ralph [2:39]
Well, what is exciting in your life, and you seem to be somebody I’ve been doing a bit of virtual stalking on you. And you seem a man who’s got many sort of fingers in different pies and stuff.
Unknown Speaker [2:49]
Other ones that
David Ralph [2:51]
sort of wake you up each morning and go, Oh, don’t really fancy doing this. And there’s others that go on. This is brilliant, or have you constructed a life now, which would literally every day you went come and go, here we go, this is gonna be a good one.
Dan Martell [3:03]
Yeah, no, I’m honestly blessed to be able to, you know, jump out of bed excited and kind of tackle the day, it’s, you know, it’s been a few years now I’m on my fifth company, you know, I’m 34. I feel old in the tech industry, because most of the kids now are 18 or 20 years old. So I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, and you know, my life, you know, I’ve got two young boys, I’ve got a great wife, great company called clarity that I get to run with some amazing smart people. So honestly, every day is an exciting day, just because I’ve got so many great people that, that take the less desirable things on, you know, I love to hire people that work at the things are playing the things I work.
David Ralph [3:40]
So one of the things that you don’t like, and we are going to touch into you actually creating these companies, because that’s the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that the story does. But I know just doing what I’m doing back there is so much of my day that I can’t be bothered with this, you know, setting up tweets, and God knows what is the social media thing that kind of gets me down? What was the kind of things that you know, I’m gonna hand that over, he’s not going to be part of my life anymore.
Dan Martell [4:04]
Yeah, I mean, it’s pretty much anything that I feel that I’m not uniquely qualified to work on. So long time ago, I think many, many of your, your listeners they haven’t they should, you know, I read a book called The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. And in the book, he gave a really simple framework, he says, Take your, you know, your hourly rate. So if you’re making 100,000, a year, even 50,000 years, you know, divide that by two, and then divided by two again, so, you know, 50,000 years, $25 an hour 1215 hours is the number if you can outsource that activity in your life to somebody else, it’s worth doing. So I mean, I’ve been at this for so long now it pretty much all the things from checking my mail, like physical mail to you know, doing any physical labor, lawn care, maintenance, etc. I have a, you know, just a bunch of great people that support our lives. So I can spend my time doing the thing that I’m most qualified and uniquely positioned to do, it creates value,
David Ralph [4:59]
the boy workweek, I know it’s quite old now. But I’m looking at his on my bookshelf as well. And it was a life changing book for me. I remember page 44. I’ve said this in numerous shows, when I read it, and I thought to myself, I’m never going back, because this was a mindset shift for me. But what you’re saying is absolutely true about outsourcing. But of course, when you’re starting your scrapping around for pennies, were you able to outsource right from the very beginning? Or is it just something now that because you are quote unquote, more successful, you’ve got that ability, so our listeners out there who are starting on this entrepreneurial lifestyle, they will obviously be trying to do everything themselves? Is that a wise thing to do? Or should they go? No, actually, I know, it’s going to cost me some money. I don’t think I’ve got that money, but I could find if I want to, and it’s going to be money in the bank.
Dan Martell [5:51]
And there’s, I mean, in today’s world, again, I started such a long time ago, there weren’t the tools and resources, I mean, for $5, this thing called Fiverr, with two hours dot com, you can get people to do the most amazing things from setup your website to create a logo, to transcribe documents to pretty much anything. I mean, you can even get somebody to sing a song for your friend’s birthday party for five bucks, right. And then there’s other sites like Elana and Odessa, where for $3 an hour, you can ask somebody to do research for you, or put together a document or create a presentation. And at a local level, just paying somebody to do your bookkeeping, you know, for a couple hundred bucks a year, so that you can focus on creating the value for your customer not sitting there on Sundays, managing paperwork, I don’t think there’s a point where anybody starting a business or even creating a project shouldn’t have some level of help. It may not be full time, definitely mostly part time. But you know, the the the investment in setting that up will just give you so much more time to do the thing that that really creates the value. It’s
David Ralph [6:52]
absolutely true. I started this and I haven’t had one person to help me every single thing. I’ve actually done myself. And I’ve got a mindset now to outsource. And somebody said to me the other day, why didn’t you outsource earlier? And I said, I wanted to know the ins and outs of doing this job. So that when I do outsource it, and the VA says, oh, it took me two hours to do I can say no, it doesn’t only takes you 20 minutes, because I’ve been doing it for the last six months. And so I’ve kind of gone that route. So I know it better than anybody else. Is that a wise way of doing it? Or should I just sort of hand it over to the powers?
Dan Martell [7:27]
I think I think it’s super wise actually last night. Funny enough, I was helping a friend of mine as a local, he has a bunch of restaurants I came over because he was interested in Facebook ads. And I think the the outcome he was hoping for was me suggesting somebody could hire to do it. But I suggested that he creates some ads and set up some landing pages himself, I showed him the tools, I helped them wire it up. Because when you do go to outsource or hire somebody to do it, you’re just going to be so much more knowledgeable about the terms and the way it works so that you can hold them accountable. And it just helps you just become a better entrepreneur and documenting it, adding your creative input to the certain pieces of it. Those are all important and just deferring to somebody else and hoping that they’re going to make you successful. I think it’s just dangerous. So it’s kind of a fine mix up, learn document, implement for yourself and then outsource. But there’s a lot of things like bookkeeping, I still don’t understand it, don’t need to understand it and would never want to touch QuickBooks.
David Ralph [8:24]
So So let’s take you back in time, because a couple of times in the conversation in the first 10 minutes, you’ve said, I’ve been in this game for quite a long time, but you’re still young man, you’re 34 years old. So when was the first time that you actually had the entrepreneurial vibe? What if we went back to say like an eight year old or nine year old or whatever, were you somebody out there washing cars and mowing lawns and trying to hustle to get a buck or two. You know,
Dan Martell [8:48]
it wasn’t I don’t know why it wasn’t really a monetary thing. But the first thing I remember ever doing was you know, I grew up in eastern Canada, but I so we have a lot of snow and I created this go for it and I would charge people to play in the snow for so I guess you could say I was in a real estate at a very young age is probably about eight or nine. But it was never for the money. It was just the pay me for what I created because this is awesome. And that kind of continued into tree forts and, you know, just other entrepreneurial ventures around flea markets. And you know, I one time I I got clever, and I bought some I bought some really popular items from one into the flea market and then started at the other end where people actually walked in. And I sold them the same thing I had bought for you know, 50% more just because I was there first. So I guess I’m always trying to figure out, you know how to create or extract you know, value from what I what I come up with. But yeah, I’ve never, you know, I never had a paper run or sold or had a lemonade stand. But I definitely was a builder.
David Ralph [9:51]
He’s a sweet lemonade stand business because the amount of Americans upset that I in the United Kingdom. I’ve never once seen anyone lemonade stand and I’ve never once heard anyone do it. But it seems to be something that is prevalent in American childhood. You’ve all seen up lemonade stands all over the place.
Dan Martell [10:10]
100% I think it’s just it’s just the thing you do I mean, newspaper as lemonade stands, you know, going door to door trying to sell flowers. It’s all part of the culture.
David Ralph [10:18]
Do people actually stopping by lemonade from a kid? Or did they think oh, my God, what’s he made? You know,
Dan Martell [10:23]
I mean, usually they set up a yard sale or some other kind of event. I always do. I mean, I guess just out of pure supportive of meeting a young entrepreneur, I you know, I always give them five bucks for 50 cents couple lemonade, but you know, and maybe that’s that’s what keeps it going forward is people like myself doing that. But yeah, I think it’s just part of our culture and something that we identify with
David Ralph [10:46]
that you must love you in the neighborhood, all these kids come along with $5. That’s like a fortune.
Dan Martell [10:54]
No, the smart ones actually know that I’m coming. And the other day, I stopped that one. And his parents told him if Dan shows up, ask him for $20 for the month, and I kind of laughed.
David Ralph [11:03]
And did you pay 2020
Dan Martell [11:05]
bucks, I did not pay 20 bucks, I negotiated as any good entrepreneur should do that absolutely
David Ralph [11:09]
dragged him down to reality. That’s what kids need in their lives. Let’s take you right back. Because your path is, as I said in the intro is two stories, really. But it seemed to me reading about you this week, it was two stories, I couldn’t decide whether the second part would have happened without the first part and the first part and vice versa. Do you feel bad? Or is it a very simplistic way of looking at it?
Dan Martell [11:35]
No, I feel that 100%. You know, it’s what’s funny about that story, the fact that, you know, I grew up in foster homes, and Groupon essentially got taken out of my house when I was 11. And, you know, got into drugs, I was about 13 1415 and ended up in jail and kind of went back there and eventually rehab and discovered computers. I never told that story for almost 12 years, it was something that, you know, after I graduated high school, and I started, you know, entrepreneurial things, I just felt like it was not something I obviously wanted to disclose. And after 12 years, I was speaking at a conference and somebody got up in the audience. And he asked me this question. He said, you know, why do you think you’re such a risk taker? Because, you know, as you’ve read my story, the first two companies are complete failures. And, you know, I finally figured it out. And yeah, I think risk taking and being risky as entrepreneurs is part of the game. And when he asked me that, I just felt so compelled to tell him the story. Because I, in my head, I’m laughing, the things that I do today, as an entrepreneur, compared to the stuff I used to do as a teenager, just not even on the same level, right? I mean, I used to do things that would literally put my life on the line, and still make those decisions. So, you know, worst case in businesses, you know, I make a decision that that means I go bankrupt, and I gotta sleep on my brother’s couch for a few months till I build things back up. Not even on the same same field. So I know that, you know, any success that I’ve had in my, you know, my life, my family, it’s because of what I went through as a teenager. But you, you’ve now got a powerful mindset, just the fact that you said when I could lose it all sleep on a sofa for three months or so. And I get it back. Now, that is powerful, isn’t it to be in that position, where so many people are either scared to actually enter into it. So they’re in a crappy job, and they don’t like it, but I think I’ve got to stick with it. You’re in a position now because you’ve seen both sides, you can go Yeah,
David Ralph [13:25]
I can go again, I can go again. So you are able to make bigger and bolder decisions? Because you know, the worst that can happen is okay, I haven’t got any money. And I have to cancel the Netflix for a few months. But I can get it back. Did you feel that?
Dan Martell [13:39]
Yeah, well, there’s, there’s there’s two things that I learned a long time ago that that you
nobody can take from me, regardless of the financial side of the stuff that business, the employees that can all go away. But the two things that allows me to feel a sense of possibility is is mine is the people I know the relationships that I’ve built in, and the value or the the, the the goodwill that I’ve created amongst those people, and it’s it’s my mind, right, it’s my thoughts, my creativity, it’s my ability to communicate. And as long as those two things are good, I don’t you know, I don’t do something malicious, and take advantage of people and burn my reputation, or, you know, getting in some kind of accidents, it’s so bad that, you know, my, my, my mind doesn’t work the same way. I that is all I need. And I think it’s super powerful to think about that. Because I think most people in normal jobs, they don’t think about the value of the relationships and, and how powerful that is in creating things in the world. So as long as those people that I’ve done good for in the past are still around, and no matter what I’m going through, I just gotta ask for help. And and and they’re going to want to give back because you know, when when you do good for other people, there’s a sense of reciprocity, they want to do something for you, and they’re just waiting for you to ask. So that that’s the those two things are what allow me to take the big risk and go for the things that just seem so out there not possible because, you know, worst case, if it doesn’t work out, I get back up and do it again.
David Ralph [15:10]
Well, when when did that realization of providing value to people and giving, giving giving come to the fore. Because I, I have no drugs in my life. I’ve never known drug. So I’m just speaking totally from the top of my head. But I would imagine somebody who’s taking drugs is a very selfish thing you want to get high, you want to get more of it. It’s all Me, me, me, me. Now you flip that on your head. And you’re seeing that the more you give back to the world, the more powerful it is. Can you remember when that actual realization
Dan Martell [15:41]
came to you? 100% it was when I was about 17. in rehab, there’s this saying that they teach you which is you can only keep what you give away. And if you want sobriety you have to engage and help other people. And if you want love in your life, you got to give love for unconditionally without expectations. And it turns out that principle, that idea goes for so many things in business, if you want money, don’t act like it scares, give it away support other people, if you want to be successful. I mean, if you’re having a hard day today, I would suggest the number one thing you could do is go help somebody else it will it will help them it will get your mind kind of reset your attitude, your your energy, and just allow you to kind of tackle on bigger things. So, you know, I’ve always believed I only get to keep what I give away. And that that applies in all aspects of my life.
David Ralph [16:34]
I’m fascinated by this. And he’s an area of conversation I wasn’t expecting to get into. But it is so important for the listeners out there. Because I know how difficult it is to get things going. When they think that I’ve got to spend a lot of money. And you’re saying, but if you act as if you haven’t got any money, you will remain that way. And if you give it away, and you act sensibly, but like you have have got more money, ultimately, it will come to you. Is that what you’re saying?
Dan Martell [17:03]
Yeah, and it’s not, it’s not the dollar amount. That’s what’s crazy, right? I mean, one thing that I do on a continuous basis is if I’m going to line up in a drive thru for coffee is I’ll pay for the person behind me, right, and I’ll just, you know, I’ll give them an extra $5 and say, Hey, pay for whoever how many people that pays for behind me and I just drive away. And I feel like those moments of, of, and it’s really just it’s not because I want recognition or anything, I just know that you know, the universe rewards courageous decisions that rewards people doing things that are good for other people, I really believe that we’re in some ways all connected, right? So the more good you put out there, it comes back. And it’s not about the size of it. It’s really the thought. So I think, you know, one of the fun things I like try to do is creatively come up with ways I can do that, where it’s not a lot of money, but the impact is huge. I think
David Ralph [17:57]
I would want to see their Facebook. And when I’m at a coffee drive through and I drive away, I think I’d have to pull up somewhere just so that can see the shock on their face, even though they don’t get out of the car. And thank me, that is just in today’s day and age, that’s a bit strange to happen. They must be jaw dropping moments for these people.
Dan Martell [18:16]
You know what I hope for it, it hasn’t happened yet. And the reason why I continue doing it because someday I know that I’m going to drive up to that window and somebody would have paid for me.
David Ralph [18:26]
It just gonna come full circle you
Dan Martell [18:28]
pay it, will it someday it will spread as an idea in the community is a thing that we do. And when it comes back that that’s the day that I kind of smile and realize like, Okay, that was cool. And you know, it hasn’t happened. It’s been many, many years. But I don’t stop because I do believe someday Well, I do love that. I do
David Ralph [18:48]
love it. And I’m actually going to do that myself, then I don’t know what I’m going to do. But I’m going to pay for a stranger. And that’s awesome. And see what happens. So you paid it forward, you you’ve sent that vibe across the pond, and it’s going to spread like wildfire in the UK. Who knows. And then when you come over here, you’ll be in a pub one day, and there’s a pint already waiting for you will
Unknown Speaker [19:10]
be like do you know David? Do you listen to his podcast? Yeah, I do you know, this awesome,
David Ralph [19:15]
fascinating stuff. So when you when you were in jail, and I’m not going to spend too much time on that, because God forbid, I bet you’ve had so many podcasts when you’ve they’ve really dwelled on this part of you. But what was it that made you change? What was the when you suddenly said yes, I can’t be on the path. Because it was a path that you you chose. It was a path, but you went into twice. You got into trouble. And then you went into trouble again? What was it the moment when you went? No, this is enough is enough? I’ve actually seen a different way of operating. And it’s a better way than what I’ve got. I want that. Yeah, well,
Dan Martell [19:51]
the moment came. The second time, it was funny as the first time when I get out, you know, obviously you get out You think I’m going to change my life, this is never gonna happen again. I’m never going to see these people. And I remember saying that to the guard. And he just smiled. And he says, I’ll see you soon. And I said No, you won’t. And he said, Yeah, I will we always do. Right 70% of people that get out of jail, reoffend. And I added to that statistic, because a year later here, I found myself, you know, getting chased by police and a high speed chase and arrested and incensed. And, you know, while I was in that second incarceration, I got in a fight and locked down to what’s called solitary for three days. So for three days, you know, you get locked down for 23 and a half hours. You don’t see anybody. You’re in a small cell. And this guard Brian was the guy that came he had been on. It was the weekend, he came back and heard that I was I was in solitary, came to let me out and sat me down. And Brian was one of those guys didn’t say a whole lot kind of like the strong silent type. And he sits me down in this room that’s kind of overlooking the cell block. So there’s like two tiers of self. There’s like this glass room where the guards spend a lot of time and he brings me in there sits me down and just looks at me and asked me a question. He goes, What are you doing here? Right, I’m 16 at the time. 17. He says, What are you doing here? That’s like, wow, you know, I got in trouble with the cops. I got a high speed chase. He says no. He said, What are you doing here? He said, You’re not like that. And I, I didn’t understand what he meant. I was like, What do you mean, I’m not like that. He said, Dan, I watch you out there you’re studying, you want to do good. You’re smart. you interact with people you’re always playing. He says you’re not like the rest of them. You don’t belong here. And that was the first time David the first time in my whole life for about six years since I was 11. I got taken out of my home that I didn’t feel like I deserved the environment I was in everybody else always said that I was a bad person a bad kid hyperactive always in trouble. an instigator all these things. And I believed it and heroes for the first time my life at 17 years old. Somebody said I believe in you.
David Ralph [22:05]
So So did you believe the bad comments? Or did you play up to them? Did you want to actually confirm what they were saying? So that
Dan Martell [22:14]
was a bit of both? I mean, what I’ve learned in life now is it that people people expand the containers that they’re given? Right, and I believe this for for their environment, their friends, their relationships, the the conversations they have with themselves in their own head. So, you know, I think it was a bit of both, I think it was the people saying it, and then me, you know, feeling that it must be true and living up to it and proving them, you know, right. And, you know, it was it was one of those things where, you know, because of that, that moment where it changed my life. I decided, you know, you’re you I am you know, Brian’s right, I don’t belong here. And I’m going to do something to change it. And kind of I was a good person I wasn’t, I wasn’t the bad person. Everybody said I was, you know, I just didn’t at that moment, I’m always going to do that in the futures when I meet people I’m going to, I’m going to paint them into the, the kind of the picture. I mean, it’s the reason why I have two little boys one and two years old, and I called one Max and one Noah. And Max is Max’s is the oldest and he’s more quiet reserved, and I want him to be more outgoing and known as the second oldest, which means he’s probably going to be more excited and class clown, and you need to take them down a bit. So, you know, I truly believe that concept that you know, people grow into the containers that they’re given, you know, physically and, you know, with the words that they’re used,
David Ralph [23:33]
so so what what container Will you in? Was it just
Dan Martell [23:36]
p a bad kid, bad kid, always in trouble. Don’t spend time with him. Not saying crazy. If it was wasn’t you might set you hanging around with where you went you somebody was the adults always adults was that it was the adults it was the social workers. It was the psychologist it was the group home staff it was the teachers it was the principles it was, you know, my friends, parents, it was all these, you know, whatever you want to call them saying these things about me. Now, I think
David Ralph [24:10]
you are a hugely inspiring guy. And the only thing that you’ve said to me in this whole conversation that I think to myself, why why Dan, was, Why didn’t you share that story? Because that is the best a powerhouse story, isn’t it, but somebody that really had nothing, they had no opportunities has turned their life around so much. But they are, you know, an Uber success. If they’ve got online businesses, they’ve got companies they’re mixing with this are movers and shakers, I would have thought like in the very beginning, that would have been a badge of honor to us, that would have been a thing to say to them in these presentations. But, you know, you’ve got more opportunities than I had, and look where I am. You know, why are you holding yourself back? Why you’re not getting off your backside and doing these things? Why are you waiting till Friday? And then going back to work again on Monday? If you don’t like it? Why? Why? Why? Look at me, I’ve done it. And I had nothing. I think that would have been a powerful statement to me. Why do you think you’re held back on that?
Dan Martell [25:09]
I mean, I know it was, it was fear of being judged and a fear. And that judgment, the belief that I had that just didn’t serve me for so many years was I felt like I needed to achieve a higher level of success before I could tell anybody. And it was the craziest thing. I mean, I became a millionaire when I was 27. I’ve invested in 33 companies, as an angel investor, I’ve started five companies, two are complete failures, three, you know, two, I’ve ended my third successful one, raise venture capital. And still I felt like until I become a billionaire, that it wasn’t something I wanted to share. And that is the most ridiculous thing ever. Because when I told it for the first time, two years ago, when I launched clarity on stage in front of 300 entrepreneurs, after I get off stage, I had a lineup of a dozen people coming up to me hugging me in tears telling me that they had experienced something similar either with themselves, or somebody in their family went through it, I had one father come up and hug me He didn’t say anything. And later on, I had to find out why. And it was he was a foster dad, right, he had someone like me go through and always wondered if you would ever kind of figure it out and get it get through life. And I just thought, I’m never going to hold back and tell that story. Because the connections that I made when I came off that stage and and since then just with people one on one, hopefully with your audiences, it’s real, this is who I am. This is what I went through unfiltered. And I would rather have that conversation than the one that most people have with other people on a daily basis, which is, you know, positioned and, you know, super, you know, trying to look a certain way, and there’s no, there’s no depth to it. It’s not real, I want to connect with people on a real level. Well, you’ve certainly done it with me, you know that that would
David Ralph [26:56]
that was that that was life changing that story up. And it’s so instant. And the thing that I found interesting was that you wanted to be a millionaire, and then you wanted to be a billionaire. So really what you were trying to do was get as far away from that situation as possible, until somebody couldn’t look at you and go, I can drag you back.
Dan Martell [27:17]
Hundred percent. That was the fear. I was fear. I had a fear of being judged. I had a fear of if I tell people and I haven’t had the success, I thought I needed that my investors would decide that they wouldn’t want to be around me anymore, that people would would not listen to me anymore, that whatever I was doing was always going to be tainted as that guy that went to jail. And and it’s It was so far from the truth that, you know, I’m glad I didn’t wait 20 years, you know, it took me 10. But it’s, it’s one of those things where I think people deal with every day where they they have a story and they don’t want to talk about it for whatever reason. But it’s it’s through that personal connection of being raw and honest, where people start sharing their stories. And that’s where real really friendships are created.
David Ralph [28:01]
So it’s a human trait, do you see it quite often that people are trying to leave behind their pasts because on this show, we actually consciously embrace the past. Because I believe, and the listeners believe, because I get so many emails confirming this now, but the things that we are doing an adult life, when we are successful, as you were doing, you know, you were building your sort of igloos and all those kinds of stuff. And what you were effectively doing as a kid was not trying to make money was trying to prove yourself about the creation. Now you in an adult situation where you’re creating companies, and you’re moving on from company to company, it seems once again, to me, you’re doing the same thing as you were doing as a kid you are creating, and then looking for other opportunities to create again, and that fulfills you. Do you think that humans are missing a trick if they try to separate their past from where they are now
Dan Martell [28:55]
100% I mean, it’s what’s weird about my story is I actually still enjoy and and have been for every year three or four times a year, I would visit portaledge or the rehab center, I went to and meet with the kids and talk to them and you know, sponsor and help with fundraising. So like, I live this dual life where, you know, my family might know that I was doing that, but I would never share it with my best friends. I mean, even my wife that for a year, I never told her right. And it took two years till I told her parents and it was just, you know, it’s it’s, it’s funny how all what you’ve done will shape you into what you can accomplish. And instead of leveraging that story for positive action, it really hurts us. And I think you you know, the sooner you can make peace with that. And, and and not hold it back. I think it’s just, you know, my life has expanded tenfold, since I decided to, you know, take the risk and be vulnerable and share that story. And the the the friendships that I’ve made since then are just on a whole new level. And I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t go back. So I don’t know how to interact somebody to take the steps. But you know, it really, it’s really one of those things that, you know, once you go there, you’re just your mind expand. So I just feel really blessed that I learned that, you know, a couple years ago and not another 25 years.
David Ralph [30:15]
Well, let’s leave that part of your life behind other than to say, do you keep in contact with Brian? You know,
Dan Martell [30:22]
what’s funny is I tell that story. I’ve never reached out to Brian yet. And it’s it’s on my list. So everybody usually goes oh, you should tell him and I will I told that story. Maybe Brian seen me tell it. But I haven’t seen him since I was 16.
David Ralph [30:36]
Because that would be the ultimate recognition. That would be the ultimate buying a coffee for somebody, wouldn’t that receive something from you totally doesn’t expect it. You don’t know whether it’s been received well or not. But you’ve done it, you’ve paid it forward. It seems strange, really. But you’re a chap who is quite willing to reach out in kindness to complete strangers, somebody who fundamentally changed your life hasn’t had the recognition, and probably doesn’t even know about that one conversation did change your life in such a positive way?
Dan Martell [31:09]
I don’t think he does. You know what, it’s enough excuses. I’m going to do that today.
David Ralph [31:13]
There you go. We both changed our lives, I’m gonna buy a copy for somebody. And you do that. So let’s get back to that moment. He’s He’s had a word with you. And you decided to change and you go into entrepreneurial ventures. And as most of us do, the first one is a failure. And the next one’s a failure. When you said, when I finally worked it out, is it a structure? Is it something that you can work out? Can you have X amount of failures? And bingo, yes, I can see why that one failed. But one Bell, but one failed, and bring it all together?
Dan Martell [31:47]
Hundred percent. The thing that changed for me when I was 26. And I finally figured it out. And I and I didn’t fail yet again, was that I reached out of desperation, because essentially, I was going bankrupt again, not not bank, like the company was failing. Was I found three people that had been there before and that have done it. And I think it sounds trivial, it sounds so simple to actually reach out to people that have had the level of success that you want, ask them for advice. But you know, two and a half ventures in and I still had never done that. But that was a woman in it.
David Ralph [32:23]
That’s a common human trait. You feel that they’re going to go, I’m too busy. You know, but they don’t do baby, they will No,
Dan Martell [32:31]
no, I mean, I think the fear is, is you know, I’m not worthy. I don’t want to bug them. My ideas are probably stupid. They’re not going to respond to me, they’re going to listen to me and think that, you know, I have no clue what I’m doing. They’re going to tell me things I don’t want to hear, they might tell me things I know I should do that I’m scared to do. There’s 100 reasons why you don’t. But the truth for me is I didn’t even know that that was a good idea. At that age. I mean, it sounds crazy. But again, I grew up in a small town of 100,000 people. And the the best entrepreneurial person in my life was my good friend, Nick, that owned a sign shop. Right? He made signs for businesses. And he used to I mean, his advice was so crazy. He’s argue with me that you should be late for meetings with customers so that they know that you’re busy, and they should want to work with your business. And that’s, you know, that was the quality of advice I was getting. So I didn’t even know until I was 26. That that the right thing is to find people that have been in that level. I mean, I always joke Most people, when they have big life decisions, they turn to their parents. And unless your parents have the level of success that you’re trying to achieve, I would argue that that’s probably not the right person to turn to to make that decision. Yet 80% of the population does that?
David Ralph [33:43]
Well, when I decided to have my leap of faith and leave my nine to five job, I wasn’t expecting to do this, I was going to go in and be a web developer. And I decided very quickly, it was going to do my brain in being a web developer, so I just couldn’t do it. And I did what you said I reached out to to people who were already doing this, only to sort of say to them, I’m thinking of doing this, you’re a huge inspiration to me, thank you so much. I didn’t even ask anything from them. It was just my way of actually going. I’ve connected somehow I’ve connected with people that are doing it. And in the online world, you can connect virtually or you can connect with with a person attached, can you you’ve got so much power, even if it’s to type in how to you will find out how people have achieved certain things, you know, like WordPress, and all these kind of stuff that box you down, doesn’t take you long to type in a few words. So you have got the ability to connect with people and ease the way very, very quickly.
Dan Martell [34:43]
Yeah, well, it’s funny because you know, when I started, there was no LinkedIn, there was no online directory, no Twitter, no Facebook, no searching of, you know, I couldn’t find a list of entrepreneurs in my city to unless I had to go door to door and ask people. So I mean, the tools and the information that’s available now is tenfold. But for some reason, I don’t think we have 10 times or 100 times more entrepreneurs. So it’s really a cultural thing, a psychology psychological thing. And really, maybe just an awareness that that’s why like to me, whenever somebody asked me, what’s the number one thing you would suggest an entrepreneur should do? It’s fine. Find an advisor, a mentor, somebody who’s been there before, and I usually show them how to do that, because that is going to be the the most impactful thing you could do. And I still do it every day. I did it last night. I mean, I’m working on a new project, I’ve never done this before I reached out to a dozen people, and I spent time with one of them last night. I mean, that’s it’s just how I operate now. And I think that the sooner you can learn that action, that process that approach the the more success you’re going to have in life. And this is personal to if you want to have a great personal life with your family and relationships. Find somebody that you admire that has that and ask them how they’ve done it. Did you think
David Ralph [35:57]
it is all part of the journey, though? Did you think that people have to in their head, expect that is not going to be an overnight success. Because we benchmark ourselves against people who are bad in front of us. And we only see them when they are in front of us and they are successful. Do you think that people rationally have to go, it’s not going to be overnight is going to be six months, it’s going to be a year, it’s going to be two years, whatever. But as long as I put enough effort into it, and I keep on persevering, it will come true.
Dan Martell [36:27]
Yeah, the whole word failure is kind of funny, because, you know, I learned how to make $1 on the internet, you know, when I was 1718. So if that’s fair, I mean, as much as it was a failed, you know, business enterprise, you know, because I picked a really small target market. And, you know, I couldn’t scale the business I learned so much. So it’s, it’s kind of one of those things where I don’t even like the word failure, because I feel if you’ve learned something that you can apply to the next business and you don’t stop that your head. So. But that being said, I think that in your business on a daily, sometimes, you know, weekly, monthly basis, you will try things that don’t work out the way you do. And really learning how to deal with that situation and move forward is is the thing you need to learn how to do so you can call it failure. You can call it challenges. You can call it opportunities, right or you call them learning moments is really that decision on when things don’t go the way I expect them to how do I react to that and building a positive, exciting, mature approach to that that’s disconnected from emotion and not beating yourself up too much, I think is is what makes great entrepreneurs, great entrepreneurs
David Ralph [37:33]
keep on moving forward. When you get a punch in the mouth. Just keep them
Dan Martell [37:36]
going. Have them say I mean, the best quote I’ve ever seen recently, Elon Musk is super famous for creating Tesla, SpaceX, Solar City built PayPal sold it, you know what I would consider one of the best entrepreneurs of the century, I would even argue better than Steve Jobs. And I’m a huge Apple fan. So that says a lot You all must said, even if you know it’s going to fail, sometimes it’s it’s important to do you must do it anyways. And he said this for Tesla. He said I didn’t expect the electric car to work. But I needed to do it because I felt like it would show people there would be a better way. Yeah. And I thought that’s powerful.
David Ralph [38:13]
Yeah, well, that that that is, isn’t it? It’s the old thing. You know, I I’m on the start of my journey. But I was interviewed on the show a little while ago. And the chap who was interviewing me said, You know what, you look back and go, yes, that was a failure. And I said, Well, I don’t be arrogant, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a failure. There’s been things that haven’t worked. But I’ve learned from them. It’s the classic learning 1000 ways not to make a light bulb, isn’t it?
Dan Martell [38:36]
100% that’s why like, I know that, you know, people that have not experienced that the language, they use this failure. And, and the unfortunate part is they want to hear the success, right? Like you started off this podcast talking about kind of, you know, the things that I’ve achieved, and that is, that is human nature. So it’s kind of I call it success theatre, like, I gotta go on stage, talk about my success. But then my approach is, here’s how I screwed it up. Here’s the lessons I learned. And here’s what I would do different and what I do different today, because that’s my approach. Some people don’t do that. I’ve never heard Donald Trump admit to screw anything up. And that’s probably why I have no emotional connection with the guy. I don’t admire him whatsoever. And I wouldn’t want to spend any money to be around him. Because I don’t think it’s real. So, you know, I think that a lot of times, we have to talk about this thing called failure, and then talk about success to get somebody engaged. But at the end of the day, we know that they weren’t failures, because they just added to the knowledge that allowed us to do bigger things after the fact. Absolutely. Let
David Ralph [39:41]
me play some motivational content for you. This is one of my favorite speeches. And it took me by surprise when I saw it because he’s not from a source, but I would have expected it. This is Rocky Balboa, how the listeners, you know,
Unknown Speaker [39:53]
buddy is going to hit as hard as life. But ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take a keep moving forward. That’s how when it is done.
Unknown Speaker [40:09]
Now, is that is that true?
David Ralph [40:10]
Is it the fact that we’ve got to accept that we’re going to get punched, but we brush ourselves down and keep going?
Unknown Speaker [40:17]
Is it I humans now
David Ralph [40:19]
being programmed to the fast route the the American Idol route where you suddenly sing a belting song, and suddenly you’ve been plucked, and you are a star overnight? Do we need to get back to realism and say, we’re on a journey. And it’s part of the journey that we gain the experience for the next part of the journey.
Dan Martell [40:39]
It’s so tough because that quote, you know, that rocky conversation it kind of talked about, we just we just suggested, right? It’s kind of here. Here’s the part that’s tough with that question is, I admire these these young 1718 year old entrepreneurs that just want to take over the world that believe in their heart that they’ve got the billion dollar idea, the next Facebook. And I don’t want that to stop. Right, even though that I know that it’s going to be a lot harder. I call it uninformed optimism, right versus informed pessimism. I think it’s something that we should cherish, but at the same time, be there to support them when it doesn’t go that way. So I don’t want to I don’t want to be the guy that says you shouldn’t think that way. And it’s going to take longer, and all these things because it may not and there’s examples of it, of it of being an you know, it’s never an overnight success. But it’s definitely a rocket ship, right, like Uber would be an example of a new company and, and whatnot. But I think it’s just we got to get to a point where we support people thinking crazy, right? And not not try to bring them down to earth too much. Because it’s actually in those crazy thoughts where magic happens, right? It’s, it’s in those moments of uninformed optimism, that somebody and like yourself just decides one day that I don’t want to do this anymore. Regardless if it makes sense financially or to your parents or your friends and family. And, and I think that we should support people to think that way. And just be there when reality hits to keep them moving forward.
David Ralph [42:15]
So you couldn’t be a judge on say, American Idol, you couldn’t be assignment cow who goes, No, you haven’t got it, you would be the one that kind of goes, look, it might not be right now, but keep on going.
Dan Martell [42:26]
Keep on going. I mean, that’s the problem with my I invest in other tech companies now that I, I do essentially the deal with my add, when I see Cool, cool industries forming and I and I would love to start a business in that industry. I just invest in it through another entrepreneur, and when I meet these entrepreneurs, even if I think the idea is bad, I just I just suggested the approach. Because the other thing I’ve learned, you know, is it my opinion doesn’t matter. And the thoughts on how you’ll be successful, if you are successful, probably not even going to be the right approach. Because you’re not me, and I’m not using and there’s just different contacts. So the best thing I can always do is just suggest, you know, this a high level framework for them to move forward and and really just listen and learn and adjust. Because who knows, right? Every every idea from PayPal wasn’t, you know, wasn’t supposed to be what it is that became successful, right? Facebook wasn’t the way Facebook is today isn’t what it started off as that end up being successful. And I just think that that that’s more important. It’s a more honest and appropriate response to young entrepreneurs than to just be the harsh critic. Now, that doesn’t make it TV. So I get why Simon Caldas.
David Ralph [43:39]
So so with your your life, and you’ve you’ve gone through multiple companies, and you’ve built companies, and then you’ve sold them, why have you done that? Why have you moved on? Do you get bored with the creation? Are you somebody that is always looking for the next shiny thing? Or do you just go note that that’s what I wanted of it? And I can’t do any anything more?
Dan Martell [44:00]
No, it’s really I mean, every time I make that decision, it’s it’s really about just opportunity costs, right? I don’t believe that I’ve got all the time in the world, and that I’m going to live to be 150 years old, you know, I kind of look at my life, and what do I want to accomplish over the next five years? So, you know, with the company spirit when when the opportunity arose? For some us firms to reach out that wanted to acquire us it was really just, you know, what’s the number? And can I take that that capital and invested in something else that I feel like I could have a bigger impact faster sooner than if I continue down this path? And the answer was yes. And the same thing happened when I started flow town. And two years later, you know, we raised venture capital from some amazing investors in Silicon Valley. And, you know, there was this opportunity to sell the company, and we looked at the numbers, and I just asked myself, it’s like, do we keep going down this path, raising more capital and trying to accomplish this? Or can we create more value and have more impact if we if we take the outcome and sell now, and I think that, for me is is is the right way to approach life. Because most people, you know, I don’t really care. Like, I just want to work with brilliant people and have customers that I love and solve a problem that I’m passionate about. And in the biggest way possible, if that means selling the company to an acquire that’s going to that has more resources at the moment and more expertise, and it’s going to be able to amplify that then the answer is yes. If I feel that they can’t, and I can I keep building. So it’s it’s, it’s not about losing faith in the product or getting bored with it. It’s really just that decision of impacting what I want to accomplish in my life. And if you look at every company I’ve done, everyone has been you know, magnitude or bigger, more impactful, and scaled faster. So you know, I’ve been in I’ve been in it now for 10 years, I’m 34. Now I started spirit when I was 24. And three companies and millions of exits, and I’m feeling pretty good with it.
David Ralph [46:00]
Well, and there’s no sort of an emotional attachment. There’s no kind of, you know, like when Steve Jobs he created Apple, and when they got rid of him, and he went into a black hole, you know, because this was my company and I hadn’t finished it. It was it was still he’s Baby, you’re quite happy to go. It was my baby. But now it’s a young man. And he’s, he’s leaving,
Dan Martell [46:21]
I’d be full of crap. If I said that was true. The first one spirit guy, I went through that I after the company was bought. And you know, I woke up I remember the day I woke up and I started having anxiety attacks, because for the first time in a long time, six years since I’ve been starting companies, nobody cared if I got out of bed. It was the weirdest feeling ever it was, you know, it was so bad, I get these anxiety attacks eventually to go see somebody. And he he made me walk around with a rock in my pocket and squeeze it every time I felt that way. And I thought what’s going on any any explained to me that what I was feeling was no different than a parent losing their job, Kyle, right, where I had this attachment, this company that was was an extension of who I was as a person and everything, you know, up to that point for the last four years, hundred hour weeks was was what I invested my thoughts and time in and to have that not there anymore, was a huge loss that I didn’t even realize until after the fact. And that taught me a huge lesson to disconnect the company and my value to the world and self worth to the organization because they’re just not connected whatsoever. And I should never have approached it that way.
David Ralph [47:35]
So So what scares you now then, so you’re going into bigger and bigger things? So generally, you’re going into areas that you haven’t been in before. So out of your comfort zone? Are you surrounded with such a close network that they will protect you from decisions that you might be making that maybe aren’t right? Because you haven’t got the experience? are you sticking to what you know,
Dan Martell [47:58]
oh, I never stick to what I know, I mean that the fun part of building is creating things that you’ve never created before. You know, I mean, if I just sat down and painted the same painting every day, I’d probably want to jump off a cliff. So it’s always about pushing, you know, what, what I’m interested in and new boundaries and new approaches. And just for me, the beauty of technology companies and that’s that’s the world I live in is we’re creating innovation that’s never existed, right, like so my current company clarity allows, you know, anybody around the world to connect with somebody else over the phone to get advice in something that they need to move forward on. It’s kind of like it’s it’s, it’s the same thing is if Google index everybody’s brains for expertise and advice, and it created a marketplace that would just allow anybody to tap into and talk to those people. That’s that’s the, that’s what I’m trying to solve. And we have solved that scale of data, couple hundred thousand calls in the last 18 months. So I, I have smart people around me, but I still take big risk. But I guess I always have to calculate the risk to impact and potential so that I don’t gamble too much so that everything dies. So I take risk, but it’s always calculated, and you have a fight, you have a trust, but it’s going to be it’s going to work out all right for you. Yeah, well, I have a faith that I’d rather so my belief is if there’s a 10% chance that I can have an impact on a billion people or 100% chance that I can impact 100 people, I would rather take the 10% on a billion because the outcome of potential 10% of a billion is a lot more than 100. And that’s my approach to risk.
David Ralph [49:41]
I mean, that’s a sensible approach, isn’t it?
Dan Martell [49:44]
I think so. But I don’t, you know, I don’t think it’s the common beliefs or common approach to life. But, you know, I think that that’s, it’s I don’t know, it’s just more fun. And again, maybe it’s because I’m, I’m always looking for the next exciting thing to take on within my company. But that’s the way we kind of prioritize the initiatives in our company.
David Ralph [50:05]
Because I remember when I started this, the very first episode I released, I got a couple of emails, and it blew me away, but I got a couple of emails. And then I started getting 10 1520 emails. And that was even more exciting. When it got to a point of I don’t think I’m going to be able to cope with this, you know, what my opening up here. Unfortunately, it stayed level at about sort of 20 emails a day, which is still a lot for me to sort of respond to, but that that potential of my God, this is a global market. And when you suddenly see things coming to you, from Arizona, and Kenya and Australia, it really is scalable, isn’t it? Once you click that computer, you have got a global market. And I say that, but until you actually in it, you don’t realize what the potential rewards are.
Dan Martell [50:50]
I think that that was what I experienced. When I was 17. I started I went I learned to program and I built my first website and I published it, there was this moment where I’m sitting there and I realized that that anybody with the internet in the world can see what I just created by going to this link. And contrasting that with my father’s career who was a, you know, an electrical kind of engineer, then that worked on mortars, like I don’t really know what he did. I’ve never seen anything, he’s dead. He’s done. I don’t know, what he did day to day. And and here was this opportunity for me to actually build a career around things that people anywhere in the world can just see and use. And I mean, clarity, we’ve done calls across 62 countries. And I just and I just blows my mind that that abilities there. And again, people don’t take advantage of it. Because it’s accessible to all of us in our pockets on a phone. It’s magical.
David Ralph [51:45]
Well, let’s bring the words of somebody who created a phone, which many, many people are quite fond of. This is the words of Steve Jobs and this is really the theme of the show whether we can actually join up dots and we can connect the path that has brought us here. So I’m going to play the words. And once he finished, he’s been I’m going to ask how relevant by Dr. Dan Martel. This is Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs [52:04]
Of course, it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards. 10 years later. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leaves you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference
David Ralph [52:38]
of it the kind of words that we should have in the education system.
Dan Martell [52:42]
100% I mean that that is that is everything?
David Ralph [52:48]
What What does it mean to you? What what words do you take from that? You think yeah, that really is spot on?
Dan Martell [52:54]
Well, it’s kind of like all the stories that I’ve shared with you today. They all in hindsight, they make sense, right? Like when I launched clarity, when I came up the idea for it, it occurred to me, you know, my belief that you should only get advice from people that have been through before I learned when I was 17 in rehab, because the rehab center that I went to is unique in the sense that all the staff that work there were ex drug addicts, because that’s what works for me is getting advice from people. When you’re down in that hole and you’re feeling like crap, and you’re trying to figure out how to get your hands and feet position to climb out of it. The last thing I wanted was some guy that just showed up that read a book, trying to tell me what to do, versus somebody that’s actually been in that hole and guiding me through it. And I think that, you know, when I look at my career path and the things that I’ve done in the way that I interact with my friends and my family today, and I and I’m fortunate I mean, I have amazing relationship with both my parents and my brothers and sisters. And none of those things would have happened if I didn’t go through the things that I went through and strive to create the things that I’ve created. And you know, there was no connecting the dots looking forward on only in hindsight. So I’m, that’s why I think it gives me more faith in taking on new things, knowing that there’s a reason why I even came up with these ideas that I should move forward on, because somehow it’s all going to make sense.
David Ralph [54:18]
So you are more sort of gut intuition more than anything.
Dan Martell [54:21]
I’m 100% gut and intuition backed by data.
David Ralph [54:25]
Oh, that’s a powerful statement. So So you had you had that? Hmm, this is a good idea. But then if you crunch the numbers, and it doesn’t seem quite you, you will leave it behind.
Dan Martell [54:35]
Yeah, it’s kind of like, again, the opportunity potential it’s it’s you crunch the numbers and make sure there’s a market you make sure that their actions that people might do or are doing in a different format. And then it’s just a probability thing saying, I mean, people don’t understand, like when they watch extreme athletes go down the mountain and hit these jumps and spin in circles and land, like these are very calculated thoughtful athletes, like they’re not just going to get drunk, jump on a ski and do something crazy, like these people have started at the beginning. And they started with, you know, hitting a little jump. And over the years, they’ve gotten to the point where they’ve, they’ve progressed to what they’re doing. But people think they’re crazy, but they’re not they’re no crazier than, you know, the Steve Jobs or the Richard Branson’s or, you know, the mark Cuban’s of the world where their first move was in a billion dollar company. But for them to do a billion today is like somebody doing 100,000 it’s it’s just, they’re just more zeros. And but it’s, it’s they progressed to that level. And I think that’s the way you got to look at life.
David Ralph [55:36]
I agree totally. You you’re preaching to the converted here, you know, I was just glad to get 10 listeners, and when it went to 1000 listeners, and then it went to, you know, 16,000 listeners, and then I’m kind of thinking, wow, where’s this going to go. But it’s, it’s no more scary. It’s, it’s only me doing this, hopefully, to the best ability that I can do. And that’s the scalable thing that I keep on coming back to. And I say to my kids, now, you know, they’re 12, and then nine, so hopefully, they’re getting grabbed at an early age, where I can say to them, you know, at the end of the day, dream big and Ben dream bigger, because the bigger you can dream, the less competition you’ve got out there, because so many people don’t. And all I’m trying to say to them is, you know, find something. And if you can scale it, but doing the same amount of work, then that is really what you need to aim for.
Dan Martell [56:26]
Hundred percent, I believe that the difference between the guy that starts a million dollar company and a $10 million company is that he decided that is it, they decided that it’s not more work, it’s not more time, it’s the same amount of time, same amount of work, but it’s different actions, because they made a different decision at the onset. And that is when I realized that that I can create a company that will have a positive impact on a billion people. And and the only reason that I can or can’t do that is because I make a decision and be deliberate, that that just unlocked it for me. And that’s all honestly what I learned moving to San Francisco and being around some of the smartest people in the world is I learned to think in a way that and because I got to see it firsthand see that it was possible that I can never go back. I could never create anything with less impact than that. Because I know it’s possible. And it’s worth doing. And it’s and even if it fails, I’d be okay, having tried doing that. Versus failing at doing something that was mediocre.
David Ralph [57:25]
You became conscious, you became conscious opportunities. Yeah. Right. This is the end of the show, Dan, I really don’t want this conversation, I should make it a three hour one. But um, this is the part when I send you back in time on the Sermon on the mic, and I’m going to play the theme tune. And as it’s playing, you’re going to be transported back into a room where you will have a one on one with your younger self. And if you could have a one on one, why each Dan Martell would you choose and what advice would you give him? Well, we’re going to find out because this is the Sermon on the mic.
Unknown Speaker [58:00]
Go with the best. The Show.
Dan Martell [58:19]
Hey, little Dan is big Dan. You know, I wanted to share a few things with you because I want to help you do more sooner and and take bigger, bigger risks sooner. Step one, I’m going to say that don’t feel like you aren’t a good person. That’s, that’s number one. I think you are a good person. People love you. You You are thoughtful and caring. And just because you had some challenges in your life doesn’t mean that you should continue feeling that it’s your fault. So that’s, that’s the first thing I want to tell you. The second would be be that, share openly and honestly about who you are and what motivates you and what scares you and what excites you, with people, you know, find, find things you’re passionate about, and then discover them and play with them and Tinker and then teach other people and share that passion of discovery with anybody that’s willing to listen and find good people to spend time with. And I know On that note, the last thing I want to say as soon as possible, find somebody that that you admire for what they’ve done in their life. And it doesn’t have to be huge. It could be the fact that they’re always smiling in the world. And you think that’s remarkable. Or it could be that they’ve started a company and created a product or service that you use that you love, going to visit or buying and, and approach them and just letting them know and seeing if they’re willing to spend time with you. Because, you know, spending time with those people and hanging out with those that make you feel good will mean the world it’ll just allow you to be happier sooner faster in a bigger way. So those are the things that I hope you take in and implement today.
David Ralph [1:00:17]
Big 10 How can our audience connect with you sir?
Dan Martell [1:00:21]
That’s a great question. I’m on Twitter at at Dan Martell. Two L’s to Martel. My blog is Dan Martell calm. I’m on clarity if you want to check that out clarity.fm slash Dan Martell. But the best way is to follow me on Twitter. I share all inspirational things, business tips and ideas and stuff that I’m trying on Twitter and I love to engage and hear from you. So just tweet at me and say hi, if you you listened.
David Ralph [1:00:50]
Well we will have all those links on the show notes then thank you so much for spending time with us today joining those dots. Please come back again when you have more dots to join because I do believe joining those dots and connecting our past is the best way to build our futures. Dan Martell, thank you so much.
Dan Martell [1:01:07]
All the best thanks for having me
Outro [1:01:09]
David doesn’t want you to become a faded version of the brilliant self you are wants to become so he’s put together an amazing guide for you called the eight pieces of advice that every successful entrepreneur practices, including the two that changed his life. Head over to join up dots.com to download this amazing guide for free and we’ll see you tomorrow on join up dots.
