Sara Speicher Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Sara Speicher
Sara Speicher is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast interview.
She is an entrepreneur, business coach, and a lady who has a journey to where she is today that could be turned into a movie.
Which is is why she also made a second appearance on the show several years later – that you can hear here
She first arrived in the United States from Slovenia not with a dream to make it on the corporate ladder, and rise to the top of the business world.
Instead she was recruited by an NCAA Division I basketball coach to bring her vast knowledge of basketball to the states, and so she left her home town of only 10,000 and landed in New York
Well that for many people would have been scary enough, but just imagine doing the same thing when you can’t really speak the language of the country you were aiming to flourish in.
Well this didn’t stop her at all, and in one season she led her team to one regular season title, first WNIT appearance and a conference championship game. Wow!!
How The Dots Joined Up For Sara
And now she has taken that attitude of becoming a champion, and moved into the world of business where she helps other business owners realize their business goals and guide them to success as a virtual business manager and business consultant.
Her life has run the gamut of both setbacks and successes.
She has had the highs of winning streaks, the lows of unemployment.
She has struggled to find her entrepreneurial place, but now has built a business, and succeeded in creating one that is not only thriving but has helped other achieve their business goals.
And now with her book “BOLD! Helping YOU Unleash The Hero Within” she is helping the world to become a champion and all become hero’s.
But how did she first get found in Slovenia with the job offer from the states?
And did she have the same self-doubts that stop so many of us from trying something new?
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 Sara Speicher.
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Sara Speicher such as:
Why it is so totally important to be as authentic as you can in life even if that means that you annoy some people, and lose some business. The people that will love you will love you big-time!
How she never really had the dream to hit the big-time in America like so many of her other basketball playing colleagues in Slovenia, but still took the risk when it came her way.
How so many of us struggle to balance building a business with spending time with the families that we love in the beginning, even though the effort we put in is for the security and support of our loved ones
Why it is so important to delegate as much of our work as we feel comfortable with at the beginning to allow ourselves the time to deliver where our talents lie.
And lastly……
Why focus is the number on thing that can propel us all to the success that we crave, but is also the number one thing that we all seem to be poor at showing.
Sara Speicher Books
How To Connect With Sara Speicher
Return To The Top Of Sara Speicher
If you enjoyed this episode with Sarah Speicher then why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Kristin Addis, Steve Sims, Lolly Daskal or the amazing Alfie Best
Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from.
Audio Transcription Of Sara Speicher 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. Well, how are we all? Are we ready for another rocking and rolling episode of Join Up Dots. This is Episode 216. And as normally we spend a lot of time speaking to the lovely people in America. And and usually we are talking to a lady in America but she wasn’t actually born in America, she is part of, quote unquote, the American dream. She is a lady who has a journey to where she is today, but really could be turned into a movie, she first arrived in the United States from Slovenia, not with dream to make it on the corporate ladder and rise to the top of the business world. Instead, she was recruited by an NCAA Division One basketball coach, to bring her vast knowledge of basketball to the States. And so she left her hometown of only 10,000 and landed in New York well, that for many people would have been scary enough. But just imagine doing the same thing when you can’t really speak the language of the country you’re aiming to flourishing. Well, this didn’t stop at all. And in one season, she led her team to one regular season title, first w ni TT appearance, and a conference championship game. I say, well, that that meant absolutely nothing to me. I’m going to ask you about that. And now she has taken that attitude of becoming a champion and moved into the world of business, where she helps other business owners realise their business goals, and guide them to success as a virtual business manager, and business consultant. A Life has run the gamut of both setbacks and successes, she’s had the highs of winning streaks, but lows of unemployment, she struggled to build a business and succeeded, creating one that is not only thriving, but has helped others achieve their business goals too. And now with a book bold, helping you unleash the hero within, she’s helping the world to become a champion, and all of us become heroes. But how did she first get found in Slovenia? With the job offer from the state? And did you have the same self doubts, but stop so many of us from trying something new? And let’s find out as we bring on to the show to start Join Up Dots, but one and only Sara Speicher. How are you?
Sara Speicher [2:28]
Hi, David, I am very well, thank you so much. And this is a fabulous introduction, I just might have to transcribe it and use it my own way.
David Ralph [2:37]
It’s funny, so many people say that, but you can only do what’s out there. You know, I can’t make it up if you’ve had an amazing life, and it’s going to be an amazing introduction. And so you deserve it.
Sara Speicher [2:50]
Thank you.
David Ralph [2:51]
And you also deserve it. Because you can have a baby, you were telling me just beforehand, and I’m quite excited. And I would really like it to come out now. So this could be the first ever show but we deliver live that’d be great for the listening figures.
Sara Speicher [3:07]
Are you sure about that?
Sara Speicher [3:09]
I think I’m gonna hold on.
David Ralph [3:12]
Hold it. Hold it. Did you know what you had in
Sara Speicher [3:15]
my legs?
Sara Speicher [3:18]
No, and tried to find out but the baby keeps their legs crossed or sits on a foot. So we don’t know.
David Ralph [3:23]
But he but you would you would you would have liked to have known when would you
Sara Speicher [3:26]
it would make things a little bit easier since we do have a little girl at home. But in the end of the day, as we say in my own country, Sylvania, as long as the boys healthy doesn’t matter.
But now as long as the baby’s healthy, it doesn’t really matter.
David Ralph [3:43]
I always wanted to know what my kids were going to be. I just thought it was easier to prepare. I never saw the point of having a surprise at the very last minute.
Sara Speicher [3:53]
It’s interesting, because when I think back, and before I had my first daughter, I always thought you know, why would you want to spoil such a unique surprise? there’s so little left to surprises these days. Why would you want to know but yeah, we found out of the first one we tried the second time around. So be careful what you wish for, I guess.
David Ralph [4:17]
Well, congratulations to you and your partner as well. So if that does, and please let us know when it pops out. That’d be exciting news. So your journey is is a movie, isn’t it? It’s one of those ones that when you read it, you kind of go wow, this is this is a big life you’ve had when you was a little girl and we take you back in time. And I’m going to take you back in time quite quickly on today’s episode because it’s such a stretch was the sort of United States and basketball and all those kind of things was that on your radar, or were you a normal getting Slovenia doing kind of girly stuff.
Sara Speicher [4:59]
Believe it or not, I was never into girly girly stuff. I still am not. Interestingly enough, the few pieces of jewellery that I have actually my daughter goes after and not me. But I started play sports just to have a different outlet to have something to do in the afternoon my friends played basketball. So I figured why not was really good at it was really clumsy, very uncoordinated. But I never had that vision. Like some of my teammates had one of them specifically She dreamt about playing in the states and making it big. And you know, to me, it was just yeah, you know, put in hard work, enjoy what you do. be loyal to the team, be loyal to coaches, be loyal to friends, and have fun with what you’re doing. And then just one thing led to another. But thinking back now, I think that was that’s why things happened for me the way they did, because I never put that pressure on myself and was never put pressure on myself by anybody else as well. Because when you think about what some kids are going through with making sure you know how you have to get the scholarship, you have to make the team, its enormous amount of pressure to handle and not everybody’s built for it. So I’m really lucky that I didn’t have to deal with it from such a young age,
David Ralph [6:25]
the GG thing that’s a key point vent alive, because that’s a kind of opposing view. So many people say you’ve got to have a goal, you’ve got to have a strategy early on in life, but you’re kind of going, just enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself and like what you’re doing as a kid. Because the kind of hard stuff, you’re going to spend all your rest of your life doing the hard stuff. So enjoy yourself when you’re younger.
Sara Speicher [6:47]
I think there’s a fine balance between it.
On one end, you definitely need responsibility, you definitely need goals, and you definitely need disappointments, to prepare you for everything. But on the other hand, it’s Hey, your kid just once you know, and I don’t know, maybe just me, it really depends who you’re listening to, I can just start knocking in the woods right now for all the Lucky, lucky stars that have shine on my life so far. But um, it’s an interesting question, I really have to give it a second thought, to be able to give you a more specific answer.
David Ralph [7:26]
You you think about it, and we’ll have you on again later on. And you come back. So So you are somebody that is very practical, obviously, because you are a lady that’s rocking and rolling in the business world. But it interested me that you you sort of used the phrase, which so many people out there use as well, about the sort of stars aligned. So do you think that kind of things happen for a reason? Or is it up to us to make sure that those things happen?
Sara Speicher [7:56]
Both. I am a firm believer that nothing happens until you make it happen. But on the other hand, you know, you have to have a lot of faith in whatever you believe in, to kind of keep you alive and keep you grounded and keep you motivated and get you going. And it’s interesting, because I know this is a theme of your show, aligning the dots looking backwards. And it’s completely true. You know, there are moments when you’re present. And you’re looking in the future when you’re just trying to understand what the heck am I at this particular position that I am now because I want to be at such and such place moving forward. And it’s a rack, it’s hard. It’s awful, you know what’s happening. But once you pass this, and once you’re looking backwards, everything happens for a reason, there was exact reason why certain struggles came up to your way and why there are some victories you have because every single thing led to where you are and where you’re supposed to be. believe in that.
David Ralph [9:01]
Did you think the struggles are a good thing? Because Personally, I went through a hell of a struggle on this show. Not starting it. But looking back, that was quite easy, really. It there was a mid bit where the show became more and more successful. And I couldn’t free myself up from it. It became like a ball and chain. I was loving doing it. But I couldn’t take it to the next level because I just didn’t have the time to do it. Now I look back on it, I think yeah, thank God, I went through that, because it’s made me stronger. It’s made me more knowledgeable about the process. So is that a good thing as well in life? Is it good to have the struggles? Should we embrace the struggles instead of trying to run away from them?
Sara Speicher [9:40]
Oh, exactly. Absolutely. And the funny thing is, you know, everybody says Don’t be a failure, don’t be a failure, failure, you’re not a failure, failing happens. But you’re only a failure. If you give up. You know, and if you say to yourself, oh, I’m done, I’m not doing it. But if you learn something, it’s a stepping stone in something learning experience. And every single struggle brings you something for you to learn from. I could only imagine that you learn to do things a little bit differently, schedule your time a little bit differently set different boundaries moving forward, and things get a lot easier. It’s pretty much could have done that. Yeah. Yeah, it could have been done it if you haven’t experienced the struggles. And it goes for any aspect in life.
David Ralph [10:25]
What What do you think, Ben, because we are going to sort of take you back to Slovenia, again, because there were there was that leap of faith, but you may when you couldn’t speak the language, but somebody found you and said come across to America and that that, to me, even reading it out seems pretty frightening. But why is it vain that people will look at the success. And they will look at what you’re doing in life. And I look at what other people are doing at life. But they don’t believe that the effort is going to be rewarded by doing it themselves. And I hear that so many times when I speak to people in my coaching sessions, one of the first things they always say is, it’s all right for you, or it’s all right for them. Like you’ve got special talents, I’ve got special talents. But the bottom line is it’s the struggle isn’t it is the effort. That’s how you fine tune your talents. But people don’t kind of want that they want the fast route somehow. Do you find that?
Sara Speicher [11:20]
I do. I do. And there’s
I’m trying to put it in the right words here. From what I’m finding is sometimes we’re focusing too much on the end product, let’s say oh, I want to make X amount of money, that we forgot why we start everything to begin with. You know, but personally, again, I believe you do something that you love that you enjoy that you can make impact of somebody else’s life and the three fulfils you, the successful come eventually, you know, but if you say, Okay, I’m going to succeed. Decent happened. But then on the other hand, success is such a subject thing that whatever somebody pursue successful, it might not necessarily work for somebody else. And I’ll be first to admit, I have to remind myself every day. It’s okay, you know that I am, wherever I’m supposed to be. My goals are
light years from where I am right now.
And it’s my friends and other people who keep reminding me and also like yourself right now, bringing it up for this has been amazing. So far, look what you’ve done. And it’s really important to stop to think about it to reflect and to be grateful. You know, because we’re so focused on rushing and hustle and bustle and making things happen, that you forgot to stop, take a deep breath and be really thankful for what we’ve already have.
Not just material things, but
experiences people around us and so on.
David Ralph [12:58]
So so where you are at the moment in your professional life, would you say for you personally, you would be successful? Are you successful now? Or are you, as you were saying, so focused on the bigger goals, but you almost knock yourself and think I don’t know, I haven’t achieved as much as I want. Would you say that you were successful, always push comes to shove.
Sara Speicher[13:19]
I would say that, given the circumstances he is comparing myself to people that I look up to, I still have a long way to go. But again, it’s this is just this is goals. But then on the other hand, you know, I’m extremely lucky to have such an incredible family to have health, I’m not knocking on wood right now. To have such a support team around myself, my husband, my parents, my in laws, friends. You know, and everybody’s so lucky in that aspect. Somebody might have been making millions and millions of dollars and my sad look successful on the outside. But you know, there’s just one aspect of life and life is so much more than just bank account.
David Ralph [14:09]
What is your ultimate success been for you? a happy family? Or is it the business? Where Where would you say, if you had to lose one? What would you lose the business or the family?
Sara Speicher [14:22]
business?
David Ralph [14:24]
spawn, it’s got to be isn’t it?
Sara Speicher [14:27]
You know, family is the only one and businesses come businesses go you can always start from the beginning. But family is the ultimate thing for me. In life, it’s family and friends. They are number one priority over anything else. But it’s a funny thing, though, that when you start a business and you run a business, when you grow a business, you focus so much effort in energy to make it happen. Just to be able to support a family and give your family whatever you they deserve, that you oftentimes neglect them. And you say to your kids, oh, wait a minute, I’m just responding to this email, or wait a minute, I’m on a phone call, or wait a minute, this just came up. So it’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? That you put family first yet, they’re always pushed aside Oh, wait, just one more moment, I have one more client call, I have one more thing to do.
David Ralph [15:22]
I’m kind of in the moment, I’m, I’ve got a family, but I have to balance with doing this job. And quite often I want to say to my daughter, who’s nine, who really wants her dad to put her down to bed every night. I can’t do it tonight, because I’m recording shows and stuff. And I would like my whole schedule to fit in perfectly. But something’s got to give as an IT, especially in the early days, you would like to be able to provide your family with all the time and the support and the money. But you’re not going to get the business that you want. Unless you do sacrifice something I think so.
Sara Speicher [15:57]
Absolutely. And I think it’s also very powerful experience for the kids to see and to understand that it takes working to be able to provide for the family and for the lifestyle that they have because of what you do. And they learn the boundaries that you’re not always available. You are there when they need you. But they still need to respect Okay, this is a working time. You know, I can always get to my parents. But I have to wait a little bit this time. But then the next time I’ll be the priority, you know. And you know, I’ve had those moments already in my daughter just did a half when I was talking to my support groups. I feel so guilty sometimes, you know, not being able to be with her all day long. And the reason that I started a business was to be able to be with her. But then on the other hand, I’m thinking, you know, I’m still lucky enough I get to be with her every single day as opposed to her being in a daycare and meet somebody else’s office. Building in their dreams as opposed to mind. And just the other day, I was doing something and I couldn’t find her and I called her and where are you? At mommy’s desk? Okay, what are you doing? working? thing, but she was screaming something on a piece of papers like I’m working. Okay, good, I won’t disturb you, then you realised
David Ralph [17:26]
that when she hits teenager, you’d like nothing more than not to see her all day.
Sara Speicher [17:34]
I’ll take your word for it.
David Ralph [17:35]
I’ve got teenagers. And they’re they’re not easy. They’re not easy to sort of live with and deal with.
Sara Speicher [17:44]
Thanks for the encouragement.
David Ralph [17:46]
I want to keep your eyes open, because
Sara Speicher [17:47]
Okay, I’ll take it. No, a friend of mine also said how happy she was, you know, since we’re on the topic, that her daughter, you know, being able to see her mom work from home. Got it sense of what’s important, and what the commitment is. And at one point, she said she asked her daughter to do something. And she said yes, immediately after I’m done. I’m working for something for I think it was a project for volunteering organisation or something. It’s really important. Can I get back to you when I’m done? It’s like, Wow. You know, so it’s not all that bad that sometimes they have to wait, because I guess they learned something out of it.
David Ralph [18:30]
I think they do. I think they they, I think the bottom line is they will see that their mom is hustling and hustling, can be taught. And for many, many years, I wasn’t a hustler. I just went to work. And I came home. And so my kids didn’t see their dad creating something. But now I speak to them, especially my two youngest ones. And I think they’re starting to get the vibe that education is hugely important. But personal spirit, personal ambition is just as important. And my daughter’s nine year old, she comes up with things like what she wants to do when she gets older. And they sound fun. Where if I’d asked her about a you know, three or four years ago, it would pretty much have been I want to be a teacher, I want to be this I want to be bad, but she seems that got this entrepreneurial vibe about her. Have you always had that vibe in you? Have you always wanted to do your own thing? Or is the corporate world that you’re in now, more more your your kind of essence, then the basketball?
Sara Speicher [19:38]
You know, it’s an interesting question. But my parents went from being employed to starting their own businesses and running their own businesses when I was in early teenage years. And I remember that transition from their mindset. And the spirits all of a sudden lifted, the there were huge struggles at the beginning, because it was entirely dynamic, entirely new. Everything they had to learn pretty much. I never paid much attention to it. However, because you know, as a teenager, I was into basketball and nothing else in school and nothing else mattered to me. But looking back now, I admired that ability to have and create your own freedom when you need to. And that balance. And yet, you know, there were nights when my mom kept working overnight to be able to have a day off the next day. I never thought twice about it. But it was just something appealing about it. However, then I remember at 17 I think it was it, I put a list of things together that I wanted to achieve the next 10 years. And I remember put down for some reason, even though don’t ask me how I never envisioned myself living in New York. But somehow in that on that list, it ended up being an office in New York and walk into the office through Central Park. I don’t know what that actually happened. But
David Ralph [21:13]
to have that, it was kind of, because I hear that so often, where people have spent an hour, two hours writing down this list of goals. And 10 years later, they find that better paper and everything had been achieved. I think that’s hugely powerful.
Sara Speicher [21:31]
And that’s exactly what happened. I found it when my husband and I were moving quite stat and I opened it as I got chills because every single item on that list was crossed off by my 28th birthday.
But to answer your previous question, you know, I
I don’t think I was focusing so much on being an entrepreneur versus summer in corporate America or any other corporate world. I was more about the lifestyle that I want it and the freedom that I wanted and flexibility and opportunities. And then whatever the vehicle was to take me there, I don’t think I was too picky about it.
David Ralph [22:10]
So when when you were found by this American Basketball Coach, did you see it as the first step to what you wanted in life? Or was it just something to do that was different to all your friends who were based in your city?
Sara Speicher [22:29]
Neither?
Sara Speicher [22:31]
This is it.
David Ralph [22:34]
I’m doing well here and I’m asking good questions.
Sara Speicher [22:38]
When I got an invitation, my first response was, heck, no, it’s more than 30 minutes away from home. I am not going anywhere.
But it was up to my parents actually, they told me why don’t you give it a try. It’s a unique opportunity doesn’t happen every single day. In fact, I think I was only the second woman in my country to ever played for NCAA school division one. Man, I figured, okay, I guess I can give it a try. So I backed by three suitcases and moved to downtown Brooklyn. My friends at home and family said, Oh, you’re going to stay there? No, I’m coming back after my school’s done. Well, I’m still here.
David Ralph [23:20]
Did you thank your mom and dad for giving you that advice?
Sara Speicher [23:25]
Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Because it wasn’t just I’m experiencing and starting entirely new life here. It also believe it or not brought us much, much closer than we we already were very close. But what changed was that all of a sudden, from body language, we had to learn how to communicate our feelings. And to verbally express what we were going through. Because we couldn’t hug each other, you couldn’t give a high five to each other, he couldn’t send them that leave me alone look. And including my sister, you know, very close together, after I moved 3000 miles away.
David Ralph [24:06]
So I can understand why it was so scary. You’re you’re in a town of 10,000. You land in one of the busiest cities on Earth. You’re not fluent in the language? How how much of sort of English Could you speak at that time.
Sara Speicher [24:22]
We did have some English in high school. And Matter of fact, the teacher was married to a guy from London. So she insisted on that British accent she would otherwise ignore you if you tried to say something. But it was really hard because it was only twice a week for maybe 45 minutes. And it was not speaking as much as just vocabulary and grammar and not making much sense out of everything altogether. So it was a little challenging when I got over to the States. But I have to give credit to especially professors from University from my journalism department, and to my coaches, and the rest of the teammates, because they’re very patient, they are very encouraging. Those two professors took extra time to work with me not just on speaking but also on writing. So I was really, really lucky when it comes to that. And my team also was, we had a lot of international players. So it was easy to connect and to understand what everybody else is going through and to support each other because I had a new teammates from my country who went to Texas for high school. And she was the only foreign student in the entire school and she was really struggling. Me On the other hand, our university altogether had I don’t know, I think 15 or 20% of international students. So it was not that much of a difference in New York City itself is so diverse, that you’re not really standing out. But you can blend in and you find your your own identity and people you connect with activities that you can connect with. So it was much much easier for me.
David Ralph [26:08]
These are similarities now looking at the sports world and the business world honest similarities that you can go, yes, I’m more successful now because of that sport upbringing that I had.
Sara Speicher [26:24]
There were definitely benefits. Um, and if we go back to the beginning of our conversation about struggles and disappointments, I think being on a team, learning how to lose learning to accept the loss and making sure that you get up the next day and work even harder and smarter and change your game. I think that’s been very, very helpful. Because in business, especially when you’re in for yourself, you are in for struggles. Not everything is the red carpet event, not everybody smiles and when try to sell things you’re going to come across no and No One No One No One No no, no. hundred times. And you try to do something, you think it’s a brilliant idea. And it does just doesn’t work. So you have to readjust the mindset. Okay, let’s go back to the drawing board. It’s okay, I’m not the failure is just something that didn’t work out. Let’s try something else. But the biggest takeaway that I got, that I actually also described in the book, it’s how interesting it was for me, when my athletic career stopped, ended. And for so many years, I was working within the team, I was working with the coaches, and then all of a sudden being on my own, at work and job, you know, it’s a little bit different. You have a boss, you have a things, a list of things to do, especially when you’re starting out, you don’t have the huge responsibility of leading somebody else right from the start that comes later, when you climb that ladder.
But then, when I started my own business of,
you know, going from a team, to being everything on my own, I can do it. And it was a struggle. And it took me forever, well, actually, just a few years, but it seemed like forever, that I realised, I need to surround myself with a new team. And the team that I found was actually a mentor, a coach, a very, very successful and great mastermind that I call kind of big idea team. So they keep me accountable. They keep me pushing, they challenge me, they call me out on all the BS excuses that I make. And then my implementation team, because there’s only so much you can do on your own. And especially if you want to grow, you really have to focus on what your strengths are, and delegate the rest or have somebody else do the rest. And I know you and Amber a few weeks ago, we’re talking about delegation. And I think that’s really, really powerful. advantage, something really great can happen out of it when you decide to let go and delegate. And it can be scary. But that’s the only way for you to grow. As a business owners, the personality is a leader. If you want to go down that path itself is somehow it all circles back to the team. Yeah,
David Ralph [29:28]
yeah, it’s one of those things delegating, that I’m terrible at. I’m not very good at asking for help. And I’m not very good at delegating. But when I do, give it away, I think what was I holding on to it for? I’ve got no idea. It just seems to be something ingrained in me, but I kind of got out. It’s quicker for me to do it and show somebody else I’ll just get it done. Did you find that was the similar mindset to you as well?
Sara Speicher [29:56]
Oh, absolutely. And I just had a conversation with one of my team, it’s the other day when I asked her to do something. And for some reason, everybody has bad days. But the word that came in was so poorly done that What the What was I thinking I should have just done it myself. But then on the other hand, we had a conversation, we figure out what the issues were. And part of it was my communication because I was so used to doing everything on my own, that I somehow did not communicate well enough what exactly I needed, because I just assumed she knows. So now moving forward, I know those things will, will not happen again. And it’s the same thing in any other aspect. You know, you find experts that you know, can deliver what you need, you make sure you communicate properly. And yes, it can be time consuming and frustrating at the beginning. But it’s only that one time thing. Next thing, they will know how to do it what to do it. And before you know, they’ll be few steps ahead of you. You won’t even have to ask them anymore, they will know what you need. So it’s a process that makes everything easy, but it is hard to start with.
David Ralph [31:05]
Because I’ve started actually creating videos, I’ve suddenly realised I do repetitive work on a daily basis. And so I’ve started recording my boys and showing them what I’m doing. And I thought that is the best way of communicating, they see it live, and I can send it through to them. I haven’t actually sent much through to anyone at the moment because I’m still looking for somebody that I can sort of trust to be able to do it in the right way. But it’s all there. It’s all there documented and bacon just look at it. And that is ultimate communication, isn’t it, I can see it, and I can hear it. And they can see the nuance, but I want instead of me trying to write an email or whatever expecting them to understand it.
Sara Speicher [31:46]
Absolutely. And I’m so glad you brought this up. Because it’s exactly the same thing that I’m doing with my team. I record everything that they need to know. And then one of the vas puts everything in a manual. So it’s still in a written form. But they still have videos to go through.
It’s amazing how powerful videos can be used. And that
David Ralph [32:04]
is absolutely amazing. I think technology is amazing. Generally, you know that there’s not a thing about technology. But I don’t go, Wow, I don’t understand how that works at all. But it’s amazing. The fact that you know, even like simple things that I can programme an email to go out at a certain time. And I was talking to a chap the other day who’s working on email inbox, to make sure that when you send an email, it knows that the person who’s in the email inbox is there at the time. So it will pop wall Bear Bear, which is that that kind of blows my mind as well. So instead of it just coming into a mix, they open your inbox and there’s 100 emails. Yeah, she goes being while they’re sitting there, and I go, Oh, what’s this? Oh, it’s from Sarah, boom, and I click on it and instant communication again, all those kind of things is it just blows my mind. And I’m so glad that there are clever people out there because I’ve got no idea how it works.
Sara Speicher [33:00]
How did we ever managed to survive 10 1520 years ago?
David Ralph [33:04]
Well, yeah, I think we did a lot more work. In many ways, though. I think there’s a lot of more obstacles and interruptions that we have now if we allow it to occur. You know, when I used to be. I had no email. So I didn’t have to deal with that. We had no social media, there was none of all that. And I, I’ve said this to my mates I used to work with I used to say to him, what did we used to do before email and I said, Well, we used to do work. And it was just like an intro that you ploughed through. And then at the end of it when it was empty, you’ve done your work and you went home. But now there’s a lot of other stuff that sort of like allows us to become more productive if we do it in the right way. But for most of us, we struggle with just the data tsunami of information that’s coming to us and the distractions that keep them beeping and flashing all over the place.
Sara Speicher [33:56]
And it’s interesting that you brought this up, because
few months, I think it’s been a few months now ago, I was listening to a webinar by Darren Hardy of Success Magazine. And he was sharing the traits of the most successful entrepreneurs, most successful people out there actually replaying their own recordings of their own voice, what they said were the biggest contributions to successes of their businesses. And the bottom line was that in this day and age, what sets everybody apart is the ability to focus, because we live in the world of so many distractions, and you have to master so many things at once. That is the person who’s able to focus on what’s really important to them. That sets that person apart from everybody else.
David Ralph [34:52]
I think that’s absolutely true. I think focus that there’s an acronym, follow one course until success that I keep on hearing people say, and I think that is it, I find it very hard to focus, except for when I’m doing these shows. And then I closed down everything. So there’s going to be no beeps or whistles or whatever. But when you actually doing work behind the scenes, it’s very difficult not to just have a quick look at stuff and see if it’s spare. And once you’re in there, you’re trapped on here. Well, what I want to do is just before we start talking about your book, bold, helping you unleash the hero within, I want to play the words of Jim Carrey and he made a speech recently, which is so powerful, I like to play it on every show. And it seems to me but it it kind of plays to you twice in your life. One when you first left Slovenia to come over to New York. And also once you started creating your own business life. This is Jim Carrey,
Jim Carrey [35:47]
my father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
David Ralph [36:14]
Now, how much of your life is about personal belief, but you will be successful? And how much is it about finding the thing that you love, just like Jim Carrey said and going for it.
Sara Speicher [36:28]
I think it’s becoming more and more important for me. Because looking backwards, I never really consciously focus on what I wanted. And what I envisioned as even possible. It was more of an you know, I don’t want to blame my upbringing or any cultural differences when it was a custom that you go to work have a nine to five job or back then it was even 62
and not really expect anything more.
I think that as all the experience that I’ve been through, and all the people that I’ve met people that I’ve surrounded myself with, and lessons that I’ve learned, it’s becoming more and more apparent to really be aware of what I’m looking for what I want. Because that only holds not only it helps me hold myself accountable. But somehow I found it very interesting that once I verbalised what I wanted what I am looking for people who are able to get me there, all of a sudden, they come into my life. And I know some people might think that’s abstract, and those things don’t happen. But again, it’s up to personal believes you are what you believe you are your own thoughts. So it’s really careful to make sure that you know exactly what you wish for because you just might get it.
David Ralph [37:52]
That’s true, though, because the amount of times I’ve been quite open on this show about certain struggles I’m going through, because I never wanted to start this show. So it sounded like i’d cracked it. I wanted people to listen and hear I’m going on a journey and I’m developing something. So if they’re sitting there thinking, I’d like to do the same, they could pretty much start episode one, and follow through and see how things have changed and sort of moved on. But more often than not, when I say things on the shows, I will then get emails from some of the old guests who will say to me, I was listening to your show today. And I heard you say so and so I know somebody can help you with that. And it is fascinating with him to vocalise it, these things do come to you. And I don’t get them all the time. But they always seem to come along at the right time when I’m really needing them.
Sara Speicher [38:45]
Exactly. And then on the other hand, is the same with struggles. I think we’re all raised in a belief that you don’t show your vulnerability, you don’t show your tears, you always put a smile on and be that strong person who can do everything. But I think it’s important to show your actual nature, you know, everybody has struggles, everybody has ups and downs, everybody has the feet. And sometimes those things that connect us because we share certain hard experiences. And even when you have your own business, of course, depends on what you’re doing. But in my industry, and the industry of majority of my clients were consultants and coaches and speakers and authors and so on. It’s really important to be authentic. And with that comes the transparency of all your struggles as well. And that’s, I think the hardest thing that you have to learn how to do to be able to admit, yeah, you know, I failed, as opposed to Oh, I never failed. I’m the super person. Because it’s
David Ralph [39:53]
just not true. It’s so much more engaging as well, isn’t it where we like to see real people, and not one dimensional?
Sara Speicher [40:02]
Exactly.
David Ralph [40:04]
Who do you admire in in the business world or the sports world all across the globe? Really? Who is somebody that you think is authentically them? And you respond to that?
Sara Speicher [40:19]
That is a very interesting question, because of the really have to think about it.
There are quite a few people that I look up to.
But I have to say that well, when I think about Melissa and why I admire her so much is because of her authenticity and her ability to really show her struggles and show her failures, and then turning them into something positive and then teaching others to do the same. And I know there’s thousands of thousands of people out there. And I’m sure there are others that I could list as well. But in the meantime, what I wanted to bring up is also that so often we will focus on those people who’ve been in the spotlight for decades. And they have the entire team behind them. But we don’t understand how they actually started. They all start somehow I don’t know from their garages, struggling, homeless, whatever it was, they had the internal drive and determination to make something happen. Or we focused on those so called overnight success storeys. But there’s no such thing as overnight success storey. And those people will tell you Yeah, it’s been 10 years in the making, you know, but
David Ralph [41:37]
we still like that. Don’t wait, that’s the thing. Although now in your heart of heart, we know that it’s not true. We know, the kind of Justin Bieber’s and all these. God, I wish he wasn’t an overnight success. But I’m always kind of people that suddenly come out from nowhere. We can’t go Yeah, I know. It probably took 10 years. But we don’t want to hear that we want it to be instant. For some reason. I don’t know why that is.
Sara Speicher [42:01]
Who knows. But yeah, it’s um, I guess, I guess it gives you hope.
David Ralph [42:07]
It’s diluted hope, isn’t it?
Sara Speicher [42:11]
I guess I mean, you have to stay realistic. And it’s so hard, because everybody has dreams that everybody has inspiration. And the worst thing you can say to somebody like, you’ll never get that be realistic. But just managing expectations, I think dream big. Plan big. But make sure that you still stay grounded and put enough work into it and stay realistic to what we’re worried about what it takes to achieve your big dreams and that you’re able to, and willing to put in the work.
David Ralph [42:45]
I will say this to all the listeners out there. But honestly, I’ve listened to 240 conversations now. And not one of them has been an easy storey but has been struggles there’s been times when they were going to give up by the key part of it is, is if you want to start something, surround yourself with positive people, even if it’s just listening to shows like this, where you will hear other people’s struggles, you will realise that it’s not going to be overnight, you’re going to realise that you might work for a year or two years without getting any money from it. But there’s ways of getting your dream. And you can dream big and then dream bigger. And I totally totally believe that. I’m not just saying that because it’s something that sounds good on the show. I now totally believe you can have what you want, as long as you put your best foot forward every single day and keep going forward. That’s about right, Sarah.
Sara Speicher [43:39]
Yeah, absolutely. Right. Absolutely. Right.
David Ralph [43:43]
Where do you feel that your life is going now? Because I’m interested that the book, you’ve written the book. And it’s about unleashing the hero within? Have you fully unleashed your hero? Or are you still working progress.
Sara Speicher [44:00]
I am a working progress. And I think I’ll be a work in progress until they put me down to the ground. One of the things that I’m a firm believer at is that you never stop growing. Once you think you know everything, then you’re doomed for failure, that there’s always room for improvement. And there’s always room to impact even more people that you already are impacting. And it can go in any aspect of the world. So where my life is heading yet, I wish I knew, I just feel it’s going to be incredible. I already am super, super lucky to be where I am because I realised, you know, talking about my storey and everything else, to me, this seemed anything special. But I know there are a lot of people out there who would say, oh, wow, you know, it’s my life. It’s nothing crazy, you know, you just take a few risks. And I’m pretty sure everybody else took their own risks and went through their own struggles and challenges and ups and downs. And
David Ralph [45:06]
but so many people don’t take that risk, do they? That’s the thing. They play safe. As Jim Carrey was saying when he’s dead, he’s dead, didn’t believe. So he played the conservative game. And there was there was a thing on the internet the other day, and it was really sad about a chap who was 46 years old. And I’ve mentioned this on a couple of shows, because it’s really sort of hit home to me. And he just wrote this post and he said, I’m 46 years old, I had all plans when I was 20. I never achieved any of them. I thought work was the key thing. I never went to my dad’s funeral because of work. My wife’s been having an affair for 10 years, because she doesn’t know me anymore. I can’t talk to my son, please, please, please. Look within yourself. And don’t be like me go for the risky road. Challenge yourself. Because the safe route will only get you to somewhere that isn’t you. And it was really, really sad. I will send you the link, sir. Because it’s, it’s really it makes you look at it anything for God’s sake, that’s not going to happen to me. It really isn’t. I’m going to do something amazing. I’m going to really change my life. But you’ve got to have that momentum every day, don’t you? Every day when you wake up and you’re tired, and you think, Oh, just another hour, you’ve got to think No, I’m not going to be that man, I’ve got to get up, I’ve got to get up. But a lot of people out there in the world, they, they don’t realise that they have got opportunities, they don’t realise they’ve got a chance to change their situation, they only have to start doing it themselves.
Sara Speicher [46:31]
And you know, another thing that’s driving me crazy with people that I know so many of them is the first thing I wake up in the morning, whether it’s four in the morning or eight in the morning, when it’s rain or shine, or snow or sleet or whatever it is, today is going to be amazing. You know, I have no idea what what it’s going to bring, but it’s going to be amazing. And then it turned around to some say so how are you going to have a good day? I don’t know. Well, what do you mean? You don’t know? I don’t know it depends depends on who people that I meet people at work. Now, it depends on you, if you decide it’s gonna be an amazing day that something’s going to happen that no one’s going to spoil your cheerfulness, whatever it is, no one can affect you. And I think that’s also really important to have, or to learn. To have that mindset, you know, because if you I forgot who the person was who said that. But I think it was an Oprah Life Class. Very, very powerful. And I think it goes nicely with taking risks and everything else. That you are in the centre of everything that’s happening. And things change, things move. People come and go. ups and downs happen. But as long as you yourself are grounded, know exactly what you’re looking for know exactly what you want. feel secure, feel self confident. All the movement around is not going to affect you. It just happens in daily life, but you stay centred. But as soon as you start moving you there, everything else, things will start falling apart. And I think it goes with taking risks vs. preferring that security and just going with the flow. And let’s see what happens. As opposed to now let’s make it happen. Because that’s
David Ralph [48:32]
one of the things about Melissa, isn’t it now, if you want to listen to Melissa’s episode, it was Episode 33. So it was a long time ago. But she is ballsy. That’s it. That’s her word. She goes out there. And she pretty much says, Look, this is who I am, this is what I’m going to do. I’m going to take risks, if you don’t like it get out my way, because it’s going to happen anyway. And that is the kind of bloody minded attitude, which is going to annoy so many people, but the people I like that she’s gonna have those so loyal Isn’t she, she’s being authentic to herself.
Sara Speicher [49:05]
Exactly. And I think that’s another thing that we all struggle with is we so want to please everybody, while it’s impossible. And try to be politically correct and not offend anybody. But you know what, whoever it is like, it doesn’t matter the ones who like you are already with you. And you attract the people that have to be attracted, so to speak, that you can surround yourself with everybody else doesn’t really matter.
And I think that’s one of the scariest thing to realise and to do.
While I’m a believer don’t burn any bridges. You know, sometimes you have to, because some of those people can actually hold you back from your potential. And sometimes you just have to say, you know what, sorry, it’s not working. It’s not where I’m headed, we’re going to separate ways. I think we have to part or burn a bridge or close the door or whatever it is. But again, it comes down to the comfort versus taking risks and trying something new and being out there on your own while you’re trying to figure everything out.
David Ralph [50:17]
Let us play some words now. But really sort of emphasise what you’re talking about there about figuring it out trying to find your path. I’m a great believer in actually burning bridges. I think that if something’s not working, just get rid of it. And that can be relationships, that can be Jobs, that can be anything. And I’ve never had a situation where I burn a bridge, and I look back on it, and I go, Oh, I wish I had that bridge, I just find another bridge and normally go go in a different direction. So I’m a great believer in doing that. Somebody else who was a great believer in salt burning bridges and ruffling feathers was this man, this is Steve Jobs. He said these words back in 2005. They are the theme to the show. And as always, I’m very interested to see what the guests things are the Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs [51:00]
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 [51:35]
Do you have trust in those words?
Unknown Speaker [51:37]
Absolutely. I will sign under my name under the statement right now.
Sara Speicher [51:43]
It’s absolutely true. It is.
David Ralph [51:45]
And you do find that sort of comforting, but really, all of us don’t know what’s going to happen. We just kind of Bumble along but if you Bumble along enough, you will find a little bit of momentum and then you try some other things and it doesn’t work. But when you find out another bit of momentum do you do you like that kind of image?
Sara Speicher [52:04]
I do. And there’s a nice image out there when majority of people including myself at the beginning, actually, you envision success as a straight sprint, which is, you know, straight line. I’m here successes right there. While the reality is it’s more like a cross country running triathlons, cave diving, scuba diving, mountain climbing, you name it, you have to do in order to get there and it goes back and forth. It’s exactly it’s goes up and down. And in the end, everything works out one way or another. And sometimes the goals that we set yourself, don’t achieve them. But we achieve something else in the meantime. And I think it’s so important to keep focusing on both. And we were just talking about at the beginning of the conversation, how easy it is to focus on everything that’s not versus appreciated. Everything that already has been an is as you move along. Now, but also another thing that I’ve learned. And it also goes with Steve Jobs quote, and many of our people that are noted the same is as opposed to trying to figure out, okay, what’s my next move, is you set a goal, the end goal, and then you figure out the way backwards? What is it going to take to get there, and everything keep you in check to make sure you don’t deviate from the path too much. Because again, in the world of distractions, and not just emailing and answering the phones all the time. It’s also when you’re a business owner, it’s so easy to try to think of what else can I offer? What else can I do? What else can I put out there, as opposed to you know, this is my core competency, this is my strength, let’s focus on that. And let’s accelerate what we already know how to do, and let’s do the best. And that’s going to get us to where we want to be
David Ralph [54:01]
brilliant, that is absolutely brilliant for all the listeners out there. If it’s something that you can do, and you can do it better than anybody else, don’t try to reinvent the wheel, don’t try to add other things on it, don’t try to build the car, just do that one thing, because there’s going to be people out there that will pay for that. And that’s one of the things that I certainly struggle with, where I notice certain things that I can do naturally well, but is is like, Oh, I got to add more value, I gotta do this, I got to do that. And a lot of it, I don’t really want to do and be I’m not going to be very good at it. So it is so important to focus in on the thing that you can do naturally is a mindset. And you’ve got to sort of shake off those kind of shackles that makes you think, now this is easy. Why would anybody pay for it? But that is your true value, isn’t it? So.
Sara Speicher [54:48]
And the funny thing is that the things that come the easiest to you are usually the ones that you charge the most for. Because there’s so many others who struggle with them. And it’s another lesson that I’m still learning and like, why would somebody pay for that? Yeah, but yeah.
David Ralph [55:05]
Why would they pay for it? But they do? They do. But it’s it’s, I suppose the whole conversation really has come around full circle, and it’s about self limiting mindsets, isn’t it, it’s about overcoming those things that are scary, or that we just been aren’t possible. Because there’s opportunities out there, and somebody out there will be looking for that one talent, and you can provide that for them.
Sara Speicher [55:30]
Absolutely. Thank you for bringing this up. It’s it is limiting believes in so many other ways. While I don’t do coaching and life coaching and business coaching, and so on, I still work with my clients or potential clients who have those limiting beliefs when it comes to delegating, because that’s what my company and I provide the services so they can actually free up their time focus on their strengths. And you and I both have experienced that you said earlier, it’s so hard to start delegating, but once you do, it gets easier, and you see the rewards. So it’s really working on the other angle, you know, start with something small. And you know what’s important to you, as a business owner, what do you do in everyday life that keeps you from being your greatest, the best thing moving forward. And there are different things for some people, it’s marketing. For some people, it’s project management for some people he sells. Some don’t want to be bothered with administrative, administrative stuff, some don’t want to be bothered with customer relations. So it’s really important to find what you excel at what you’re strong at. And then delegate the rest. While Of course, making sure that you don’t dilute your company’s core competency while trying to figure out everything else and please everybody,
David Ralph [56:57]
and you will have a better time on you. If you just do the things that you you’re good at.
Sara Speicher [57:02]
Absolutely. And it’s not just a better time, it’s kind of snowballs that it starts with giving you more time to, let’s say, you know, I don’t want to be too salesy right now, but here’s the thing, when you’re in business, you only have a business, when you have cash flow, when you don’t have a cash flow, you have a hobby. And in order to maintain the cash flow, you have to continuously bring in new clients. So you have to be out there, you have to be in front of your potential clients closing sales. So if you’re busy updating your database, posting blogs and editing videos, and making sure your team is on track with everything that’s there, those are the hours taken away from you being in front of your potential clients that can cost you 10s of thousands of dollars or pounds, or whatever currency you are using. But then once you you create yourself a bigger business, or even delegate the sales part, you know, that’s that’s on the Excel it bringing the salesperson, you know, it doesn’t have to be a fortune 500 company that you can bring a salesperson to. What happens is when things start working and falling into places, it’s amazing how you all of a sudden Calm down, you’re not struggling anymore, you’re not worried, oh, my God is the next check coming in Will I be able to cover the expenses. And it affects your personal life too. Because all of a sudden, you can be present in a family life. You can spend vacation with your family, you can have that quality time, start paying off your depth, and it really snowballs. And eventually you start giving back to the community because now sudden you can. And it’s just amazing. You know it. So it doesn’t really stop with I need to be you build a bigger business. But it’s it’s not wasn’t just the lifestyle that all of a sudden, okay, this is what I wanted, this is what I deserve. I have it. Let’s enjoy it. Let’s cherish it,
David Ralph [59:12]
you hit the nail on the head, you hit the theme of 216 shows where it is about creating a life that you enjoy. And whether it’s in a corporate job, and you are an employee, whether it’s an entrepreneurial position. The bottom line is are you enjoying your life? And if you’re not been, it’s up to you to do something about it. Absolute master class bear, sir. So thank you so much for that. I’m bringing you to the end of the show now, and I don’t want this show to finish by any stretch of the imagination. But I’m going to send you back in time because this is the part of the show that we call the Sermon on the mic. And this is when I send you back on back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And if you could go back in time, what a Sarah would you choose and what advice would you give? Well, we’re going to find out now because I’m going to play the tune and when it fades you up. This is the Sermon on the mic.
Unknown Speaker [1:00:07]
Here we go with the best of the show the Sermon on the Mount.
Sara Speicher [1:00:26]
Hi, Sarah, this is me talking to you at age of 30. back to when you were 20. I just wanted to let you know that while everything happens for a reason, all the dots will connect when you are in the future looking backwards, believe it or not. And just keep in mind that it’s okay to say it out loud. What is that you want? Because you know when you say what you strive for when you express your ambitions. You also let other people know about it and they will hold you accountable to help you stay accountable. And believe it or not the people who will actually help you achieve those exact things. But it will still have to pull your own weight. There will be no excuses. If you want something you will be done. But only with the right people and that’s why there is I in team.
David Ralph [1:01:25]
Sarah, how can our audience connect with you? Great question.
Sara Speicher [1:01:31]
I’m all over the place.
Now the best thing is to find me on on my website www VPN product com V is virtual be Business and Management Pro is professional.com as well as under social media Facebook VM pro or Sarah Spyker. And also like to invite everybody. It’s a perfect timing. Actually, if I can do some self promotion you can between November and end of January, running a TELUS summit with 10 top entrepreneurs, including Melissa, who are sharing their success storeys of how they build their own success. It’s totally free. And everybody gets a free gift from each of the speakers. No pictures, no sales, just everything that you can benefit from in growing your business moving forward. Or if you think about starting a business to learn what it entails to actually get going and keep growing. And that again, can be found on www VPN pro that come. And David, thank you so much.
David Ralph [1:02:43]
Absolute pleasure. Sir. Thank you so much for spending time with us today. joining up those dots. And please come back again when you have more dots to join up. Because I do believe that by joining up the dots and connecting our past is the best way to build our futures. Sarah Spyker, thank you so much.
Sara Speicher [1:02:58]
Thank you, David.
Outro [1:03:00]
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.
