Dan Lok Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
To subscribe to the podcast, please use the links below:
Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes
Click Here to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed)
If you like the show, we would be so grateful if would consider leaving the show a review in iTunes as well as Stitcher Radio. A couple minutes of your time can help the show immensely! Thank YOU!
Introducing Dan Lok
Dan Lok is my guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast interview.
Dan is a man with an amazing story of persistence, failure, hardship and finding the thing that made all the difference.
Coming to North America as a teenager with almost no English and no contacts, to ease the way to the success he is experiencing today, life was hard.
As Dan Lok says “My parents and I immigrated to Vancouver, Canada when I was 14 years old.
He came to Canada as a teenager with no money, no contacts, and without knowing a word of English.
Then when I turned 16, my parents got a divorce.
As the only child, my mom needed help financially, so I had to put school aside and put her well-being first.
I learned to support my mom by practicing the basic principles of life and business.”
How The Dots Joined Up For Dan Lok
He failed at 13 businesses before having my first success.
Yes. as amazing as it might seem today’s the early Dan Lok companies did not set the world alight in any shape or form.
Through the process, however he perfected the art of never giving up and learned from my mistakes.
Life back then was never easy, but today he says “I can say that I’m blessed to have attained a lot of my life goals.
Today, I spend most of my time helping consultants, coaches, speakers, and thought leaders grow their businesses and scale it past five and six figures per month.
While amplifying their impact in the world and helping them achieve their business and life goals, I know if I can impact 1,000,000 leaders, they can go out and impact billions.”
And that is where he is today, known as the the King of High-Ticket SalesTM, a two time TEDx opening speaker and international best-selling author of 12 books.
Not just that but Dan Lok is the highest-paid and most in-demand consultant in the luxury and high-ticket space, and has been featured on the cover of Jetset Magazine.
The Current Position Of Dan
He is now a founder or partner in more than fifteen companies in various industries, ranging from luxury goods, digital marketing, education, and e-commerce.
When you look closely by Googling “Dan Lok Net Worth” you will see that things are getting better every year.
With increased ranging in the millions the figures under Dan Lok Net Worth in 2020 now stands at a very impressive $86,000,000
He is passionate about helping coaches, consultants and other entrepreneurs make more money selling to fewer people.
A true immigrant success story, that shows that the American Dream, at least the Canadian one is still alive and kicking if you only want it hard enough.
So when did the true confidence that he is showing today first come through, and the shy hesitant teenager get left behind forever?
And does he look back and think “Man i’m actually glad that those thirteen business failed or I wouldn’t be where I am today?”
Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Dan Lok
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Dan Lok such as:
How his Mother never truly understood the dream and passion that her son was showing in the early days, and would suppress his urge for self development.
Why most people operate in the survival zone of life, which will always hold you back….. you need to be ready to leave stuff behind to move forward.
Why Dan Lok believes that you need to have top mentors around you if you truly want to succeed, and shares how he found his.
and lastly….
Why you should always ask yourself a question “What are my strengths?” and build a business around that first and foremost.
How To Connect With Dan Lok
If you enjoyed this episode with Dan Lok then why not listen to some of our favourite podcast episodes such as Listener Questions, Jack Canfield, Dan Martell or the amazing Lolly Daskal
Or if you prefer just pop over to our podcast archive for thousands of amazing episodes to choose from.
Audio Transcription Of Dan Lok 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 [0:24]
Yes. Hello.
Good morning, everybody. And welcome to another amazing episode. Yes, I can say it’s amazing before we even brought a guest on because this is a guest today, who should have been on about five weeks ago, and we’ve had so many issues. This is the fourth time that we’ve tried this. So he’s going to come on, he’s going to deliver like I know he can. And of course I’m going to deliver as well because I feel like I’ve let him down somewhat. He’s a man with an amazing story of persistence, failure, hardship, and finding the thing that made all the difference and coming to North America as a teenager with almost no English and no contacts to ease the way to the success he is experiencing today. Life was hard, as he says, my parents and I immigrated to Vancouver, Canada when I was 14 years old, and I came to Canada as a teenager with no money, no contacts, and without knowing a word of English when when I turned 16 my parents got a divorce. And as the only child my mom needed help financially, so I had to put scored aside and put her well being birth I learned to support my mom by practicing the basic principles of life and business. Now, I failed at 13 businesses Yes, but seen before having my first success and prove the process. I perfected the art of never giving up and learn from my mistakes. And the life back then was never easy. But today I can say that I’m blessed to have attained a lot of my life goals. Today, I spend most of my time helping consultants, coaches, speakers and thought leaders grow their businesses and scale it past five and six figures per month while amplifying their impact in the world. And helping them achieve their business and life goals. I know if I can impact 1 million leaders by you can go out and impact billions and that’s where he is today. Known as the King of high ticket sales, a two time TEDx open winning speaker and international best selling author of 12 books and not just bad, but it’s the highest paid and most in demand consultant in the luxury in high ticket space, and has been featured on the cover of jet set magazine. He’s now a founder or a partner in more than 15 companies in various industries, ranging from luxury goods, digital marketing, education and e commerce. He’s passionate about helping coaches, consultants and other entrepreneurs make more money selling to fewer people. A true success story that shows that the American dream, or at least the Canadian one is still alive and kicking if you only want it hard enough. So when did the true competence that he’s now showing today First come through and the shy hesitant teenager get left behind forever? And does he look back and think man, I’m actually glad that those 13 businesses failed, or I wouldn’t be where I am today? Well, let’s find out as we bring on to the show to start joining up with the one and only Mr. Dan Locke. Good morning, Dan. How are you, sir?
Dan Lok [2:55]
Hey, good morning David, that’s quite an introduction. I hope I can live up to the great intro.
David Ralph [3:02]
Oh your alright, no one listens to this show anyway, and nobody will know. Nobody will know. And we’re just you
Dan Lok [3:07]
and I just you and I,
David Ralph [3:08]
yes, you and me. So ease is an amazing story. And to be honest, I’ve become a bit of an obsessive person. I have a lot of guests that come on the show, and I give a certain amount of pitch. And then I go over and I do my due diligence. But with yourself. The more I get into it, the more that I realized, but it was the failures that led you here. Is that the same with all people? Or is it really, really that sort of that story behind your success? You wouldn’t be here without the failures?
Dan Lok [3:38]
I think absolutely. Sometimes I when I joke with my mentees, and I say you know, I’m here today and why I am teaching and mentoring and speaking in front of you, because I probably have lost more money than all of you guys combined. So that would be the biggest failure in the group. And that’s why I’m the leader of the group. Just because I’ve experienced a lot more different things and adversity. I always say that your adversity is your greatest advantage that you notice anyone that’s super successful, that they usually have been through a lot, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of failures, they made a lot of mistakes. And all those things I believe they at the end depends on how you see it. They build your character. So nowadays, nothing bothers me that much. Because just I’ve been through so much. That little bit of mistake, you lose money on a deal or whatever. Well, you know what I did that so so many times. So it doesn’t bother me. But I think a lot of people that they want success, but they can’t they can handle the pressure that comes with success. So they want the glory, but they don’t have the guts. And I think that’s that’s a big problem. And you cannot have the glory without it gets.
David Ralph [4:58]
It’s funny you say that I’ve been through this journey myself. When I started join up dots. I wanted a global show that was really successful. And when I got it for a while I kind of almost went into myself I was thinking, I don’t know if I’m big enough to do it. So I don’t know if I want to sort of take it wherever I wanted. It was always having the dream but actually starting to feel the dream come your way was kind of overload it. Do you think max form sort of our parents keeping us our programming or is that just the way across the world, but we can’t really deal with the responsibility of creating that success until we’ve lived it for a while.
Dan Lok [5:33]
I think most most of the time, I think our parents our upbringing that they might have the best intention for us. But the era that we live in now compared to before is very, very different. I’ll give you a perfect story. That when I first got into speaking, that I told my mom that you know, Mom, like I’m talking about in my early 20s, right. And that’s this standard speak with an accent so to speak with an accent. So as a mom, and at the time I joined Toastmasters, which is like a nonprofit speaking club, right? And I was honing my skills, developing my skill. And I was so inspired by all these other like speakers and motivational speakers on stage. And I listened to their cassette tapes. You know David you know those right? cassette tapes, right? Yeah. VHS tapes, I was watching those. It’s like, wow, what if someday I could do that. And I went home and I told my mom, someday I’m going to be a professional speaker. And she was washing dishes in the kitchen, she looked at me. And she kept washing the dishes looked at me, as a mom, I’m gonna be a speaker. She said, Go do your homework. So she doesn’t quite get the vision. And I love my mom. But you know, and but that’s, that’s she doesn’t understand. It’s not in her world. She’s like, Well, you know, go to school and get good grades, and you get a job. And that’s it, we get married a couple kids, that’s going to be alive. I still remember one time because my father at the time was living in Hong Kong. So one time he was coming to Canada to visit me at a time I was already reasonably successful, making decent money. And I was driving him in a brand new car. And I was driving him. And I was somehow I don’t know why I had one of my CDs, my educational CDs, like my own mom program in in a in a CD player. So press plays at all what is this a press play and he was listening to what I was talking about. And and he listened to it and about 10 minutes into the way he clicked Jackie eject the CD he looked at me said you still do the internet shit. And
David Ralph [7:48]
when they when they did that, because, you know, when I was a teenager, my VHS was probably pornography. And nowadays, Pizza Pizza got it lucky because I don’t have to be wine. But type when the mums coming up the stairs I can just streaming so they’re lucky when we add it hard. Then we added Harvey VHS and stuff. But when I was a kid growing up, I never had that around me at all. And I don’t know anyone who had the ability. And there’s sort of a forward thinking of actually buying these kind of tapes. Did you see it from someone? Did you get the idea from someone? How did you suddenly realize that these tapes of the educational speakers was around and something that you could tap into,
Dan Lok [8:29]
I was just hungry. I were just hungry for success for to make something of myself. First of all, it’s also out of necessity because the my mom and dad got divorced when I was 16 years old. So I was the only child in my family. I wanted to take care of my mom. So okay, I had to stop being a boy and learn to be a man and grow up and mature. And I know I couldn’t provide for my mom working a dead end job a minimum making minimum wage were which was what I was making back then then. So that’s not good. So I had to find some way. And now we’re just looking at, you know, reading books Think and Grow Rich and and all these other success books, whatever it takes, and one book leads to another. So I had this, this hunger, this insatiable hunger of finding the answers of you know why some people are successful? why some people have the ability to be able to create wealth, why they could have that kind of lifestyle? Why couldn’t I have that? What’s missing? So and whatever the answer is, I just bought all these things. And I see if I say Tony Robbins on I remember that was I think personal power one cassette tapes. Yeah, I bought it from TV, whatever it is like that sounds like my Give me the answer I’m looking for. I would just buy that. And I will attend workshops. And so I would just very, very hungry because I wanted it. The problem is most people they say they want it. They don’t want it that bad. But what do you what do you think?
David Ralph [9:53]
Well, no, I’m gonna jump in with the first question that popped into my head. I was fascinated with the story that you was driving along with your dad, and you said, Oh, was earning decent money, Ben. Yeah. What do you call decent money now? Because obviously,
Dan Lok [10:06]
a six figure year.
David Ralph [10:07]
Okay. So anything that lower than that you think you’ve had a bad year?
Dan Lok [10:12]
Yeah, at that time?
David Ralph [10:13]
Yeah. Okay. So what what makes you move from that, I’m earning decent money, where most people would settle at that point, they’ve got a nice car, they’ve got a nice house, because that is a ceiling you’ve got to break through, isn’t it to actually go to that next level and get to the next level. And that’s one of the things that I see so many people struggle with. And I know that’s what you coach, where they they’re already successful. They’re already at that point where their life is good. But it can be so much bigger and so much bolder. How do you do that? But how did you do that yourself when you went from that new car to you know, helicopters, and God knows what.
Dan Lok [10:47]
So let me explain. I think first in life, we go through, I think we go through four stages. And I think what motivated me back then to what motivates me now, it’s very, very different. So let me walk you through that. I think the first stage we go through life as what I call survival means we want to make enough money just to pay the bills, just as we have shelter, roof over of overhead. So we care food on the table that we can eat just to survive, right. And a lot of people, they try to get the job trying to make enough money, you know, pay the bills. And that’s where most people operate in. And then if you work hard, and you willing to learn and you’re coachable, and you learn from different people, then you might evolve to that second stage is what I call security. Now you are living more comfortable, not just survival mode, but you are, you’ve got a need have got a car, maybe you’ve got a family and you’re taking a couple vacations a year, you’re comfortable. So you have some security in your life. And most a big chunk, a majority of our society Lyft operate, level one and level two. And then you move to what I call success. Stage Three, when you are successful, success, now you don’t just have everything you need, you have everything you want. You don’t have just a okay car, you have the car that you want, right, you don’t just have a house, you have the house that you want, you don’t just take some vacation, you take that dream vacation, you don’t just do it once a year, you do it multiple times a year. So you have more than enough, right. And a lot of entrepreneurs, a lot of successful entrepreneurs, even my friends, sometimes they they stay in that other level. And that’s okay. But I believe there’s one more level that we should evolve to which is significance stage four, when you when you shift from success to significance, significance, now you’re no longer doing things just for yourself. Your motivation is no longer just internal. Now you shift from internal to external, meaning what’s your legacy? How are you impacting people? I don’t want to I hate to sound so cliche, but is how can you make the world a better place using your talents using your gifts? Now, here’s the thing, David the first three, it’s all about me, me, me, me, me, how can I make my life better? But here’s the thing, once you have attained certain level of success that Yeah, you know what you are driving the car that you want. You all live in the house and you want you have all those nice things. If you still focus on that, you will lose motivation. Because you already have them. Yeah, that that doesn’t motivate you anymore. So you need to set your goal to be higher, instead of Hey, how can I make you know David enough money. So I’m well off that, that I could do those things. That’s nice. But when you shift your focus, let’s say with you, your show, it will say with me to impact a million entrepreneurs, suddenly my focus is different. But here’s what’s very interesting. When you shift your focus from internal to external, to serving more people, impacting more people, guess what more success comes your way is becomes to you faster and easier sold as well. It’s interesting how it works. When you need money, desperately need money, when you chase Money, Money doesn’t come to you. Money doesn’t go to the people who are desperate. If it does, all the homeless people will be rich. Because they need money like right then yeah, money. I’m gonna
David Ralph [14:13]
jump into there because you’re thinking about myself, because it’s my show dead. I think when I started this show, I went straight into zone for because it was never about the money. It was always about getting my passion I used to show in pubs and in offices and in training environments out to the world to try to influence people to go for something bigger than what they’ve got. So I think I went straight for the zone for and I would have been happy to do it and not earn any money anyway. You know, it was just something that I had to get out of me. I think you’re absolutely right. I agree with you totally. Because now I think although I went through a stage where the show wasn’t financially viable for me, it didn’t really bother me. But now it’s coming to me quicker, because I was willing to go through that period, where was basically I went through one, two and three very, very quickly. Is that the key mistake of people getting rich man, we’re going to talk about getting rich, but is it the fact that it’s me, me, me and not you, you you?
Dan Lok [15:11]
Yeah, and yeah, that’s why you can see sometimes people they might have attained financial success, and have a lot of friends who fall into that category, that they have the stuff, they have the toys, yeah. But they’re miserable, they’re not happy. Now on the other hand, you have a lot of people who are just regular average that like they don’t have a lot of money, but they’re very, very happy. But I think there should be a happy medium, that some people sometimes I have friends who just chase significance, but they’re broke, that they cannot provide for their family, they cannot provide for themselves, they cannot even pay the bills on time. I don’t think that’s healthy, either. Right? I think that’s why I think it’s a balance of both that why not have the money, but also be able to make the impact. So then with your business with your with a vehicle that you could you could do that, that you could have a great life, but also help others, but also provide for your family, and live the life that you own that you want live life on your own terms. So I think that’s what I teach. And that’s what I strive for to do. So what motivated me before I can tell you the first 10 years of my life, what I’m not proud admitted, but the first let’s say for, for my 22 my 3630 years old, I was motivated by ego. Because when I was young, as I shared with you, when I first came to Canada, I had no friends, I was the kid that was sitting there a back of the classroom, never put up my hand, never asked any questions I had no friends, I was get I wasn’t getting attention. I wasn’t getting anything from anybody. So as soon as I got into business, mice, my only motive was let me show you guys how smart I am. Let me prove to you that I am somebody which is not healthy, right? For the first 10 years ego driven. That’s why I had those nice things. That’s why I do all those things and buy the sports car and all the fancy things because I want to prove to the world that I’m somebody. But when I turned 30 years ago, I realized you know what, that is not the path to fulfillment. That is a destructive path. That that the ego self that is not who does not who I am. It just my own insecurity, that I needed those things that to show the world that I’m somebody, I’m smarter, I’m whatever, right? So, but then as I mature and the men like you know what those things actually not important to me. What I really want is to be able to impact others through my work through my business, through my intelligence, right? I want people’s respect, I also want to be able to transform their lives, right? So when I shift that, from me, me, me, me, me to now focusing on other people, my the way I operate, the way I run my business, the business I’m involved with, like all those things are shifted. So now normally I get the success, but also get the fulfillment.
David Ralph [18:09]
But let’s play some words. And then I’m going to delve back into your story to where you are today because you really are rocking and rolling on so many levels. But here’s Jim Carrey,
Jim Carrey [18:17]
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. I love that Jim Carrey speech. Yeah, listen to that a couple times.
David Ralph [18:47]
powerful stuff. And you’ve already sort of alluded to the fact that your mom was kind of like a Jim Carrey’s dad that she didn’t quite believe. Go back and do your homework. Now, I was doing some research on you. And I noticed that you have got a mentor called Daniel P. Now Daniel Penner. Yes, yeah. Very strong personality. If you don’t like bad language, I would keep away from him. But I found it fascinating in so many regards. Yeah. When you find those kinds of people, does that make Jim Carrey’s words easier to go for? Is it alright to say you might as well go for the things you love. But until you see other people doing it, you can’t quite believe you need to see it in real life.
Dan Lok [19:31]
I think a couple of things. First, I want to say I wouldn’t be where I am without my mentors. I’ve had two major mentors in my life. The first the first mentor that I had in my when I was younger. His name is Alan Alan, Jack’s, very successful businessman. And a second mentor that I have is Mr. Pena, that has been married to her for now, I think eight, nine years now. And the his claim to fame is known as a $50 billion man. But his claim to fame is he grew a company from scratch from zero to 1414, $15 million in eight years. So I can’t pick them. By the way. Big Day taught me how to think big. It taught me how to how to be a high performance individual. It taught me a lot of good habits. Because again, growing up, I didn’t have that have that father figure. He kind of sort of became my father figure that I looked up to him. And he kicked my ass and push me and challenge me. Now goes back to about love and passion. I have a slightly different point of view when it comes to that. Because some people might say, Oh, you know, just just, you know, follow your passion, love what you do, and you be successful. And if I’m speaking, let’s say pretend I’m speaking to a group of 100 people ask them to put up their hand. How many of you are doing what you love? Put up your hand? Oh, yeah. And how many of you are doing what you love, but you’re doing what you love, but you’re still struggling financially? A lot of those hands will go up. Yeah. So I don’t think I think that’s part of it. You got to be passionate about what you obviously because that would Good going to carry carry you through the tough time. You gotta love what you do. But I think you also have to love what you gotta gotta do what it takes. So let me give you a perfect example. Okay, let’s say you want to have a six pack abs. Okay, you want to be fit, you want to look like you know, just like a model kind of body. Okay, but right now you overweight. Now, for most people, if you want that kind of body, you want a six pack abs. that’s a that’s a price you gotta pay, you gotta watch your diet, right? You got it, you gotta go workout you gotta do I gotta do those crunches and sit up and all those programs, right? That’s not pleasant. You might not love it. And chances are get up in the morning, gotta go to gym. That’s just hard work. But if you want a six pack after you got to do what it takes, if you’re willing to do what it takes, you might not like it so much. But guess what, guess what, if you showed up every day at the gym every morning, and you watch your diet, you follow the program, do the training, you’re going to get those results. And most people, I think they underestimate what it takes to get those results. And that’s why they give up so easily. Because our man, I showed up to go to the gym once a week. And I work out for 30 minutes. And I tried it for three months, how come I still fat? Well, because you underestimate what it takes to get to that six pack abs is the same when it comes to business comes to success. You think it takes this much work? The reality is it takes 10 times that plus the field is in between? If you think of it that way, wow. That’s what it takes, then you have to ask yourself, do you actually want it? Are you willing to do what it takes to pay price to action? Are you willing to pay the price for success and the price for success, you got to pay that upfront, there’s no installment plan, you got to pay that upfront. And if you say you know what, Dan, I’m willing to do that, then there’s not a problem, that’s not going to stop you. If you you gotta shop every day, you got to put in the long hours, you do it. If you have to deal with failures, you have to deal with rejection, you have to deal with embarrassment doesn’t bother you. Because you in your mind, you anticipated that I think that’s what I’m talking about. It’s doing whatever it takes, not just doing what you love.
David Ralph [23:16]
So So when you look back on those 13 businesses that failed, how many of them now, if you look back on them would survive with with your knowledge and your experience? Would they all be on a life support system? Or would they be flourishing? Or were they just dead ducks and you look back on them and think
Dan Lok [23:31]
actually, I think it would still be dead ducks? Because? Because nowadays because people tell me that all Dan, you’ve got the Midas touch, you know, everything you touch turns into gold, and your business investments, I said, why you should have met me when I was young, when everything I turned, you know, turns into that touch turns to the shift. And I’ve gone through that period of time. And and I just wouldn’t have back then I’m talking. I just didn’t know I didn’t have business document. I don’t I don’t I didn’t have a lot of skills, business skills. And I didn’t know what is a business, good business or bad business. And nowadays, I believe as an entrepreneur, choosing the right business, and choosing the right business vehicle has, it’s as important if not more important than the entrepreneur himself or herself.
David Ralph [24:23]
So So how does somebody know that then how do they know that is the right business for their skills?
Dan Lok [24:28]
I think first of all, before you get into you start any kind of business, you have to ask yourself the question, why you and why now? What qualifies you to be in this business? Just because so many someone know make some money doing it. So they say David has a successful podcast? Does that mean you should do a podcast? Maybe? Maybe not? Right? Just because, you know, Dan is in digital marketing? Should you be in digital marketing? Maybe? Maybe not. So you have to ask yourself, why you and why now? And second thing you have to know yourself. Most people don’t know themselves that well. Meaning that know your strengths. There’s a book that I love called strength. finders, 2.0. Yeah. Yeah. So know your own strengths. What are you good at? What are your What are your skills? What are you not good at? What’s your background? What are some of the contacts you might have? All those things need to take into consideration? So it’s not just so and so making money doing that, that I should jump into that. And so it’s only money doing that, that I should jump into that? Well, you know, I’m friends with a lot of money from the stock market. I don’t do stock market. It’s not what I do. It’s not what I do. I’m good at it’s not what whatever I put my money, put my money in real estate. Now. Does that mean you should put your money in real estate? Hell no. Right? So it all depends. So knowing yourself the industry, I think in every single industry, there are what I call trade secrets or insider secrets. No different than it’s a David if you ask ask you, anyone, as if I was to say, let’s say I don’t have a podcast. Yeah. And I was to want to start a podcast. And if I was to ask you, Hey, you know, give me some insights. How do you do it? What What, what are the ins and outs? What mistakes that you made, you will have a lot of a depth of knowledge that you know that a lot of people don’t know, because you’ve gone through it right? And if I learned that from you, and you’re willing to share chances of me succeeding as high, it makes sense. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. That’s what I mean, in every business, I believe there are those trade secret that the insider knowledge that some people know. And that’s what gives them an edge. And most people don’t know that. The key is, can you get into the industry? And figure that out before you run out of money?
David Ralph [26:38]
Well, this is a key thing, isn’t it? And I think this is a real big question, because so many people will want to be getting into something but they feel that they haven’t got value. And now they can’t go and ask questions to people. There’s a big sort of mindset that you’ve got to smash down. Now I know from experience of going through it, but if you reach out in the right way, and it’s not just trying to grab, people are very generous with their time and they will answer amazing questions and can really help you. But for the entrepreneur or the wannabe entrepreneur sitting at their desk, listening to these conversations, thinking I want to do this. More often than not, they’re thinking small, aren’t they? They’re thinking that Dan’s not going to say anything to me. Oh, why would he speak to me? Or why would David speak to me? Or why would Richard Branson speak to me? But generally, if you do it the right way they will do and you can find those insider secrets reasonably easily I would have Oh,
Dan Lok [27:26]
yeah. And and also is so goes back to knowing yourself, Why you why now. But I think another thing is in terms of I’m talking business model now. And you have to know what is your end goal, you wanting to be a lifestyle entrepreneur, meaning you want to make a certain amount of money, let’s say, you know, 20 k a month, and you want to work from home, be able to spend time with your kids, let’s say that’s, that’s pretend that’s your goal? Well, then there are a lot of business model that would fit into that. And there are a lot of business models that won’t fit into that. Because there are certain business models that will require you to commute to work, that you cannot work from home, that you cannot have your own hours. Now, on the other hand, if your goal is to build a, you know, 20,000,050 million 100 million dollar company, now, that’s a little bit different, right? That now you know that the sacrifice the sacrifices, you have to make the business model itself that you pick, does the vehicle, have the opportunity to have the chances of even hitting that kind of number. So that’s, again, a different thing that you need to take into consideration. So knowing your, you’re going to end end game, your your outcome, what exactly you want? And how do you want your business to serve you. I think that makes a difference. Again, back then, when I was young, all I wanted was to make enough money, at least a decent living, working from home, kind of like a lifestyle laptop entrepreneur when I did that. And that’s cool. And now wanting to do more impacting more people. And I’m already doing that. And now I want to go into bigger things and bigger goals and and build a company. And that just me because I find that it’s challenging and makes life more interesting, right. But again, that’s just me, I’m not projecting on imposing my my goal and my value on other people. But you have to know what you’re good at what you’re not good at. And is that the right business to get you
David Ralph [29:18]
there is as much about image, Dan, because I can see there’s there’s a lovely timeframe on your website, Dan story and it goes from baby Dan, you are very cute baby Dan, I have to say, thank you, I would have taken you home myself. And then you can sort of move all the way through to the eight figure entrepreneur. And it’s a journey even like five or 12 years ago. You do not look like you do now. And his image as important. As success. Do people need to see the success to really believe the success,
Dan Lok [29:52]
I think is I’ll answer the questions to waste. Okay. Image, it depends on what you do. If you’re hiding behind your computer may not be so important. But one thing I have learned from big Dan, my mentor, is he said to me many years ago, he said, Dan, you can get rich looking poor. Yeah. And I think there’s there’s a lot of truth to that, that when you are I mean, I mean, I’m just generalizing this. Okay, of course you have Richard Branson who dress casual, right? I met him once you have certain demands certain people who dress very casual Steve Jobs, dress casual, they get dressed whatever they want to billionaires, right? But I think for most people that when you you want to dress to impress, I think at maybe six figure, maybe even seven figure level that you could get away with that. But at the higher level of business, that you’re dealing with big dollars, big amount, then Yeah, why not have that as your damage the way that you dress and UK, you know, as you know, people just very well UK, business people, right? So why not dress to impress, that gives you an advantage. And second thing is not just impress other people because I believe when you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you perform better. Amen, amen. When you go into a presentation or go into a business negotiation, when you’re in your quote unquote, power suit, don’t you feel more powerful? Don’t you feel more confident? Then why not give us give yourself that edge? And also, I think it trains with wires your nervous system, that to to be comfortable with success. I can tell you the number one reason why most people are not successful it because they are not comfortable with success. Not fear, failure, fear of success.
David Ralph [31:43]
Yeah. Which takes us back to the beginning of our conversation. You know, in my own small way, I have a global hit show. It’s all I ever wanted. But there was that journey. I literally I remember saying to somebody, I almost feel like smashing this up. Because I realized now I’ve created something that I can’t escape from is going to be weird from the rest of my life. And my mate said, Why don’t you just walk away from it? And I said, Yeah, I will do, I’m going to walk away from it for two weeks. So I set it all up on automatic pilot, I walked away, and I kind of got clarity in my life. But there was a time I was thinking it was going to be the host of joy. Oh, it’s gonna be me who’s gonna do Oh, it’s gonna be me. And it was all kind of Me, me, me, me. And as he was getting bigger and bigger, I hadn’t grown into that I was still thinking small. Now. Now, Dan, I can say to you, I want global domination. And I want to be number one in every single territory in the world and stuff. And I think that’s why I set off in the beginning. And I don’t mean that in a cocky arrogant way. But that is that is the dream that I’m going for. So when I look in Sweden now and I’m getting more and more listeners in there in Denmark and and Macedonia, who knows I was actually number one in Macedonia this week in business. I didn’t even know where Macedonia was bought in excites me excites me greatly. So I basically I
Dan Lok [33:00]
see I hear from from your voice, that passion. That’s what we’re talking about. That doesn’t come from if you are, you’re complacent that comes from when you have a goal, so freaking big, that it motivates you in my eyes. You Right, yeah. And every time you want to go to that next level, guess what? You have to let go of something that you have now. Let’s talk about that, then. So what what do you mean by that? So you build a certain amount of income, you build a certain amount of status. And you’ve got to say, Actually, I’m willing to lose that, to move forward, you can’t take it with you. It is that you have to reinvent yourself, if you want to go to that next level. Right? That example, I’ll give you an example through I’ll openly share microphone career, right? What has worked for me. So in my early 20s, my, one of my businesses I had was I was a copywriter. And I was just writing copy for people out entrepreneurs, and that was making like 10 k a month. good money, right? Hundred 20 k years a young guy, and I thought that was good. But as I can see that my most people will be happy with that like early 20s 20 a month yet. That’s good money, right? Yeah. And then a lot of people will stay there. But I found that I was stuck at doing gigs after gigs after gigs. And what am I going to be doing this for the rest of my life? I don’t know. Right? And I thought that a time 10 K to me was like 10 million seriously for a young guy, right? And from there, I said, You know what, if I want to go to the next level, I gotta evolve. So I transition myself instead be a copywriter to be more of a marketing consultant to be a strategist. And the minute I decided that I call all my copywriting clients, I said, You know what, I can no longer work for you anymore, that I am not going to be doing this anymore. I’m going to transition to a different business. Blah, blah, blah, right. And, and that’s the I had to let go of something that’s working. That’s bringing money right now into it be able to do that next thing, right. And same thing what I got from you,
David Ralph [35:02]
but your wife or your family must have gone. Dan, Dan, you’re going mental me you’re going mental you’ve done all right. You must have been surrounded by people. They’re just having a midlife crisis.
Dan Lok [35:13]
Yes, yes. But they’re my whole life. I don’t I don’t try to please other people. I mean, the only person I have to please want to look in the mirror. Am I happy with the decision? Can I live with that decision? Yeah. And but they always they would, they would come in, they would have they’ve definitely be fearful. And they would no sense of resistance from them. But they always see my conviction, when they always believe in my ability, I can tell you David my whole life. Okay. I have found very few people that that could I don’t I don’t mean to sound like a like a arrogant way. Right? I’m just saying, I found there a few people I didn’t have met with thousands and thousands and thousands of entrepreneurs, right? That they could all work out smart. And I’ll learn me that my ability to execute that by the time they’re taking three steps, I’m taking 10 steps. By the time you read the 50 books, I’ve read 200 and just the way I operate, and when my family sees that they have confidence, right? So where they went from being a marketer, as a copywriter being a marketer, for marketer, being an internet marketer, from internet marketer, being a public speaker, from a public speaker, being a deal maker, a deal maker, being an investor, right, from an investor now being like, you know, a mentor to other people, and many, many things that I do. And every single time I need to go to that I want to go to the next level, I have to let go of something that’s working very well think about it. If you don’t have a lot of success right now. And you think it’s difficult to reinvent and go to the next level. Imagine you have something a business that’s making you money, putting food on your table, giving you comfort, and you got to say to yourself, I’m going to let that go. So I can go chase my next dream. That is very, very hard, very hard. And you gotta do that multiple times in your career. Now, I’ve done that multiple times. And I’ve still doing it right. I’m only 36.
David Ralph [37:13]
You’re 36. But you’re like 120 as well. You know, when I look at you in regards.
Dan Lok [37:20]
So I am an old soul for sure.
David Ralph [37:23]
Yeah, you certainly are. You’re like Yoda young. Yes, almost timeless. God knows how old you can be when you are sort of like 70, you’re going to be about 1000 years old. Is that? Is that because of conversations is that experience? Because the thing that interests me as well with you, Dan, is the fact that you seem to have boundless energy, you don’t seem to be exhausted by it. And I, I talked to a load of people that are running much smaller empires than you. And they look haggard, and drawn and tired, and I can’t free themselves from behind their computer, but you seem to be playing, you seem to be playing the big game. And it’s energizing you instead of sucking out of you.
Dan Lok [38:03]
Yeah, it shouldn’t. Because if you pick the right thing, and you do it for the right reason with the right people like it when the right partners, they should energize you, it shouldn’t be like right now, as I’m recording this, you probably know, Canada, my time it’s 12 is over midnight, as I’m recording this, right? Do I sound tired? No, it’s all right. You know, it’s, it’s the same thing. So I love what I do. And for podcasts, like these type of things, I always, I promised myself that I’m going to block a certain amount of time, not to not to get PR, it’s you know, it’s more that, hey, I’ll share my story. Maybe my story would impact somebody that’s listening to this, right? That’s part of myself have given me like my fulfillment, you know, my fulfillment kind of column that goes into that, that to giving back right, I’ll block out sort of my time to mentor a block of soda might have time to donate money and that kind of thing. Right? So that’s it my fulfillment column. But exactly, I mean, I think you You said it, you said it perfectly, that with, you know, my career, you’re inventing yourself that you got it, you got it, you got to know yourself, you got to know yourself, and you got to be willing to pay the price. And I’m not special, I want to say that I’m not special, but I’ve just worked a lot of people my experience, we joke about it, just because I feel a lot more. I’ve just done a lot more things at a young age, it’s a special
David Ralph [39:30]
thing, because people are frightened of failure, and the fact that you’re just willing to do it, that that does make you you can be humble about it. But that does make you special.
Dan Lok [39:38]
I think in a way it’s Liberty stopping it, I’m going to make it work that I’m gonna I’m gonna I’m gonna you know, find a way I’m going to figure this out. I think that they have to stop stopping this, but I’m not particularly I don’t think myself I’m like super smart. I mean, I was a student in school. And but one thing that I m is I’m very, very coachable. So when I learned from Vic, Dan, when I learned from Alan, that when they tell me something I don’t question. As a you know what, yeah, they asked me to do something. I’m very coachable. I’m very open. And, and I do my very best to learn from everybody, even people who are what I call reverse role models, I can still learn something from them, right.
David Ralph [40:22]
But let’s play some words now. But we can all learn from and he said these back in 2005. He’s no longer with us. But he’s words are here, Steve Jobs,
Steve Jobs [40:31]
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 you your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference.
David Ralph [41:06]
So in that regard with those words, I think you kind of already answered it, the thing that you trust in is yourself, the fact that you look in the mirror, and you can actually, you know, go Yes, this is a good decision, or it’s not a good decision. Now there’s it there’s a lot of research going on at the moment, it’s probably been going on for years, but I’ve just discovered it about your second brain being the gut. That is what controls your feelings. And if you’re scared your gut knows before your head, and if you’re in love, the gut knows and Are you a gut follower? Do you use that as your sort of first brain instead of your second brain?
Dan Lok [41:40]
100% I believe that I always say, you know, I maybe I may be wrong, but I’m never in doubt. Yeah, that, that I may be wrong, but I have confidence in myself that even there’s a wrong decision. You know, I’ll go for it. I’ll learn from it. And chances are fighting for men 90% of the time you get into units 90% of them correct for woman is probably like more than 95%. So you should listen to that. And I do also credit I wanted on want to say give a quick shout out to my wife, Jenny, that I credit a lot of my success to my wife that I believe I believe it Behind every successful man is a smarter woman. And in this case is very, very true. So she helped me gave me feedback supports me but also keeps me grounded, right gives me like, just before this this, for David just signed up. It’s kind of funny, but just before this, where, you know, we I was just helping out, you know, in my home and taking all the trash, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, even Dan takes out the trash, right?
David Ralph [42:44]
So you should so you should as long as you don’t get sued, because I don’t want to get rubbish on you soon.
Dan Lok [42:50]
Well, I’m a TEDx speaker, I make all this money, I’ve all these things. And, and I’m making all these impact and, and all I’m gonna be on a show with David right? It’s gonna be a global show. My wife looks at me pick up the trash.
I love it,
David Ralph [43:05]
that says really about the balances of everything you’ve said, and everything that I’ve read about you be humming, but glossy suits, and this speaking and all that kind of stuff, you have got the balance, it seems to me right. And that is where energy comes from. That is the Yin and Yang, isn’t it?
Dan Lok [43:24]
Yes, definitely. That that philosophy that sometimes, you know, I wish, as you know, in social media, and even YouTube and all that people they see you they see exactly like the red suit, or they see you in a certain way. And they judge you very, very quickly. And they think oh, Dan is this is this is must be very arrogant, he must be false. So for himself, or he must be there must be that and and people say that kind of thing. Or they leave get that kind of comment. Chances are they don’t know you that well, right? They just hate us. And but people will know me because people who have actually know me, have talked to me who have done business with me, I think you’ll you’ll get a you’ll get a very different opinion from them, of what I am like and how I live and how I operate. It’s very, very different.
David Ralph [44:16]
And what drives you forward now? Because you are you’ve gone beyond yourself. So it is about other people. But how can you continue to provide increased value to these people that you want to support.
Dan Lok [44:30]
So now I’ll give you a perfect example. So before I turned 30 years old, every single one of my companies, every single one of my business ventures, I own 100%, I’m the only shareholder. After that now, every single one of my company, I have a partner in sponsorship. So now my priority has shifted, not just focusing on myself, but also creating wealth and providing a better lifestyle for my business partners for the people around me, right my mentees, and also then also through social media that sharing what I know, now upload daily, a daily video on YouTube, right? That do a lot of these things I could give back, I don’t have to worry about all I want to monetize it, I want to sell something, I don’t really care, right? I don’t need to make money from that, I could do that. I could block out a time to do that. Because I could just have the freedom to do so. So I can do a lot of these things. Now. That is my friend was asking me Well, how you gonna monetize it? What’s the business model? Is it there’s no, there’s no business model. I’m not doing this to make money. It’s much easier for me to make money with other things, right? With my businesses, but I’m doing it so that it becomes a library, an archive, maybe for my kids in the future that hey, you know, watch your dad stuff. Listen to that, read the book, that’s my lifetime of knowledge. And every single day, I’m sure you get that too, right? That every single day you get some emails and comments from people around the world that your show or your work has impact them in some way. Now what I here’s what I do, maybe this, you could you could learn that you can you try this on. So every single time that I get a thank you email, I get a thank you comment, I have a printer in my office, I will print it out, I will actually physically print it out. And I will take that piece of paper. And I will put that in my gratitude box, I’ve got a huge box at home, I put in a gratitude box. And my goal is to get 1 million of those 4 million. And I tell my wife, if I passed away before she does, when I die, please burn these papers, or in my gratitude box from all these nice comments and thoughts that I know that impact them in some way. burn these turn them into ashes and just bury them with my body. That’s my legacy. So my goal is to have to impact a million people, right? I’m doing quite well, I think now I’ve got probably maybe maybe 100,000 or so roughly, of these papers. And you know, I still have 90% to go. So in the next whatever how many years, I still have a lot of work to do. I love that.
David Ralph [47:17]
I love that. And I remember speaking to Jack Canfield, many years ago, and he was saying that every day he walks around these house going, I’m grateful that that lump of cheese. I’m grateful for that. We’re just grateful for that. And at a time I thought to myself, that’s madness. That’s madness. Why would you do that, but I’ve heard it so many times now. But that seems to be the key point. The more grateful for that the more that comes to you anyway is a real win win.
Dan Lok [47:44]
And wealth is it’s gratitude, you could have a million dollars and feel that you are lacking that is not enough, and that you feel a lot of scarcity or you can have no avail little but if you’re grateful that you will feel this joy and this abundance and and this wealth, right? So wealth is a state of mind is not how much money in the bank now helps we have the money in the bank. But if you if you are not wealthy, you don’t feel wealthy when you have no money. Even when you have money. It doesn’t necessarily make you feel wealthy, you need to kind of work on it. And actually block of the time I do this every morning attitude of gratitude. He actually if you go to YouTube, you type in Dan lock, gratitude, gratitude. There’s an audio track a meditation that goes through every single morning, it’s on YouTube, I’ve got hundreds of thousands people have gone through it. It’s free, right? I listened to that every single morning for 1012 minutes. I start the day with gratitude. That’s part of my morning ritual.
David Ralph [48:38]
Well, I’m grateful that you’ve been on the show today, sir. And I know all our listeners are as well. But there’s a part of the show that we’ve been building up to. And we’re going to send you on a journey. This is the part of the show that we called a sermon on the mic when we send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And if you could go into a room and see the young band, what age would you choose? And what advice would you give him? Well, we’re going to find out because I’m going to play the music. And when it fades you up, this is the Sermon on the mic.
Dan Lok [49:12]
I would say find a mentor early don’t wait. And don’t think you know it all. Don’t think you’re smart. And don’t be so freaking self center. Learn that you are not an important you are just human being. And don’t be driven by greed instead of you should be driven by impact by helping others, you’ll be happier, you would experience more joy. And that’s truly who you are, that all the money materialistic things, it actually don’t matter that much to you. That you are driven by other people that seeing other people light up being but impact their lives. That’s that’s your life. And that’s your path. And that’s your purpose. Follow that and you’ll be very happy and successful guy.
David Ralph [50:16]
And even the little down would have listened to you
Dan Lok [50:19]
know, no, I think he would have he would still make all those mistakes. And then until he made enough mistakes. I think everybody has to go through that. I wish I didn’t have to go through that. But I was young Right. I mean, brash and kind of didn’t you trying to find my place in the world? And but I’m glad I found that still early, because I still think I’m quite young. I found that early and now I have found the right balance. And I found my purpose. And then because most people sometimes Lyft their whole lives don’t find a purpose. Like I’m very grateful. Right? I have a great family. I’ve got a loving wife. I’ve got my mom, right. I’ve got people I have great friends around me a great mentees, Greg, you know, the the lifestyle. So it’s I mean life, life is good. Sometimes people ask my friend asked me, how’s it going down? Was it Well, nothing to complain? Life is pretty good.
David Ralph [51:17]
And so I suppose the last question before we send you on your way is, are you richer in personal life or bank account? What’s your priority?
Dan Lok [51:28]
Definitely before I would before I would say our bank account on that now hundred percent richer in person 100% richer in person. But the bank account thing again, if I don’t focus on it, it just, it just it just there. That money just comes when you do good work. And when you serve people and you do the right thing, just money. But it’s, it’s funny to say and I know for sometimes for people listening to this are easy for you to say Dan, making money is actually quite easy.
It’s actually quite an easy thing to do. It’s not a not rocket science.
David Ralph [52:00]
provide enough value for people and when it comes your way,
Dan Lok [52:03]
you know, it comes your way. If you’re not making a lot, ask yourself, are you impacting a lot of people? Or are you making a big enough impact? The depth? Right, a big enough impact to people? If not, that’s why you’re not making a lot.
David Ralph [52:19]
That finishes the episode perfectly. Dan, what’s the number one best way that our audience can connect with you, sir?
Dan Lok [52:25]
I think again, it goes back to adding value they can search me on on social media, I’m sure they could find it. I could also I want to, I want to give you a copy of my book called a few money. If you have not read it. You can get it from Amazon for like 20 bucks or something. A lot of people they enjoy the book a lot. But you can also go to Sq money.com f you money as in Frank fema.com. And just download the book for free.
David Ralph [52:49]
brilliant, brilliant that is that. And I’ll tell you what, I’ve watched a lot of your videos, I’ve watched you doing a webinar course I’ve watched you doing how to sell to high ticket people. You know, I like to delegate two people. And there’s some good stuff. So if you are wanting to create a business and you are thinking I haven’t got the money to sort of invest. I recommend Dan’s materials because it’s top notch. And it’s all out there for you. So Dan Lok, thank you so much for spending time with us today. joining up those dots. And please come back again when you got 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. Mr. Dan lock. Thank you so much. Thank you David Mr. Dan locks. That that was you know, that is one of those episodes that i think you know, you need to go back and listen to so many times Penny’s dropped when I was talking today, we’re discussing competence that leads to success by providing value first, but really getting to know yourself really understanding what it is you want to achieve. Now, I have got a 11 part video course but you can have for free. I used to link it to my website. But we’re having a we jig on the website at the moment. So if you want that, just send me an email at join up dots@gmail.com and I will send it through to your free of charge. And you can go through every step that basically we spoke about in that episode to try to find the thing that you really want to do, and plays to your strengths. Once you’ve got that, then it is a journey you need to go on to but it’s a journey that all of you can do but you’ve just got to start you hear me say the same thing. Almost on every episode of join up dots. Thank you so much for listening to this episode. And as always, hope to see you again. Cheers. See ya. Come on
Outro [54:36]
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.com to download this amazing guide for free and we’ll see you tomorrow and join up dots.
