Eric James Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Eric James
Eric James is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business coaching podcast interview.
A man who quite simply should have the words “Dream Big and Then Dream Bigger” all over his body.
A self confessed exponent of the Richard Branson method “Screw it Lets do it“.
Eric James has over the last few years created a life that is exciting, inspirational, and more than a bit amazing.
All in the how hell did he manage to do that kind of way.
How The Dots Joined Up For Eric
From making Hollywood movies, to building companies, to working with David Blaine, to being stung by a jellyfish (which turned out to be a great thing).
To even meeting the main man Mr Branson himself, he has challenged himself to think big, think bigger, and confront those limiting thoughts.
But how did Eric James start on this road to self-creation?
Was he the kind of kid that was always going against the norm at school and in life?
Or was Eric someone who landed firmly on the big dot, that showed them the path to a life that is uniquely them?
Well let’s bring onto the show to start joining up dots, as we discuss the words of Steve Jobs with the one and only Mr Eric James.
Show Highlights
During the episode we discussed such weighty topics with Eric James such as:
How as a small child he remembers always being excited by the opportunities that occurred around him, which he still has today!
How he managed to get himself in a two way shoot with another person to go up in space with Sir Richard Branson by pure hustle!
How an online magic site, became his first online business and was a huge success much to his personal surprise!
How he met a man smoking marijuana who taught him the ultimate formula of success ever!
How the way you feel at any moment of your life can be changed into a positive state of mind…its purely down to us to do it!
And lastly…..
How the biggest goal you can hope to achieve will actually be the easiest one to actually achieve!
How To Connect With Eric James
Return To the Top Of Eric James
If you enjoyed this episode with Eric James why not check out other inspirational chat with Hal Elrod , Jack Canfield, Rob Moore and the amazing Matt McWilliams
You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy
Audio Transcription Of Eric James 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]
Good morning, everybody. Good morning to you. Oh, it is Episode 82 of a Join Up Dots. It’s the 19th of July. Can you believe it? We’re whizzing through the year. And hopefully you’re not whizzing past the dreams. As the theme tune said at the beginning of the show. This show is about people who went after their dreams and went after their dreams a big time. And today’s guest quite simply should have the word dream big. And then dream bigger tattooed all over their body, a self confessed exponent of the Richard Branson method, screw it, let’s do it. He has over last few years created a life that is exciting, inspirational, and more amazing in the kind of well How the hell did he manage to do that kind of way, from making Hollywood movies to building companies to working with David Blaine to being stung by jellyfish, which turned out to be a great thing, actually, to even meeting the main man Mr. Branson himself, he has challenged himself to think big, think bigger, and confront those self limiting thoughts. But how did he start on this road to self creation? Was he the kind of kid that was always going against the norm at school and in life? Or was he someone who landed firmly on the big dot that showed him the path to a life that is uniquely he’s? Well, let’s find out as we bring on to the show to start Join Up Dots. The one and only Mr. Eric James, how are you today? Eric?
Eric James [1:45]
I’m doing great man having a good day. And thank you for having me on the on the show. This is a great opportunity. Yeah, I’m actually living a little bit of a dream today. went flying in an aeroplane this morning. And then just now as Amelia Earhart, who is doing a round the world flight, Oh, she was just like the one. Well, it’s a new Amelia Earhart. And apparently she was, she might be a descendant of the original, but she’s named after the original emit Amelia Earhart, and she’s redoing her flight. And so she’s doing a flight around the world and just got to got to meet her and see that happens. So that was something that just was happening 10 minutes ago, which was a surprise to me. So that was really awesome. And we’re having a great day.
David Ralph [2:29]
But your life is a bit like that, isn’t it? You know, I I’ve been doing some online stalking, and I’ve been researching. People call it researching, I call it stalking. Every page I was turning, I was thinking, blow me How was he done this? And I also happen, and it does seem to be that your life is half kind of you have done things deliberately. And half. Well, that’s just kind of falling into your lap. Is that an outsider’s point of view? Or do you feel about yourself?
Eric James [2:58]
I feel that way as well. Definitely. And I think if there’s any component to that, it’s that whatever comes into my life, I’m, you know, really grateful for and fully accept. So I feel like life keeps giving me gifts, because I’m a good receiver of those gifts.
David Ralph [3:13]
Have you always been like that when you was a little kid, a little five year old Eric James running around with scabs on your knees and stuff? Where was sort of amazing things happening to you then? Or is it only since you’ve got into adulthood and really started creating your own path. But these kind of things have occurred.
Eric James [3:32]
When I was when I was a little kid, I was definitely excited about everything. So that that helps. That helps be, you know, appreciative of what’s happening just being generally excited. But it was definitely into adulthood in when I was 1819, around that age where I really started to make some different choices and try things out and see kind of what life could be like if I really demanded the lost out of it. So it’s still working on that one. So I guess to answer your question, when I was a little kid, it was just serendipitous. And I didn’t didn’t really think about it. And but now as an adult, I really notice. So it could have been happening the whole time. But now I definitely am more appreciative of it.
David Ralph [4:16]
I bet it was happening all the time. Because the fact that you were 18 or 19, already making decisions on your part where the majority of us kind of went through college university got a job, because that was what was expected of us. But you were kind of shaking up the status quo, even at that age, where probably all your maze and all your peer pressure was what we’re doing the route that I did, and everybody else did. Why did why did you create your own path at that age? Was it something that was just inherently in you? Or did you see somebody else doing it and you fall? That’s what I want to do.
Eric James [4:53]
I went to film school actually. And again, it was like, I never thought I would get a job making movies. It was just something that I enjoyed and out of film school, ended up living out of my dad’s basement and for a summer and ended up getting kind of kicked out of his of his basement. And I did not know what to do with myself. And I didn’t know it at the time. But I was having like panic attacks. So I’d go to a job interview for like Blockbuster Video or whatever. And I’d be like, sweating bullets and freaking out and they like Well, obviously we can’t hire you because you’re not going to be able to, you know, you can’t make it through the interview. How are you going to help customers and stuff. So I was really at a low spot. But what’s great about that is it forced me to be resourceful. So pretty much I dug deep down and I was okay, what resources do I have? I went to film school. So I know how to make movies. You know, I have a camera and a computer. And and I also have my creativity. And one of the things that I loved as a kid was magic. So I started making magic tricks and putting the videos online. And very shortly after that turned into my first business because people started asking to buy the tricks. So I was just putting them up there to see if people could figure them out and people wanted to buy it. So I was like, oh, man, I need to pay rent rent. This This could be it. So
David Ralph [6:15]
when that happened? was it was it kind of what a lie? Because a lot of people have been saying to me when they do something naturally easy for them. They’re almost shocked, but people want to buy it.
Eric James [6:27]
Yeah, yeah, that’s definitely true. You know, I was I was more doing it as something to do just something to distract my mind with some kind of project to make progress on. You know, because I was not doing so hot otherwise. But then when people started contacting me wanting to buy Yeah, it was very surprising. But I knew enough to see the opportunity. Another thing I guess, if I rewind a little bit in high school, like both of my parents were very successful in their own careers, but not financially. So my mom is an artist, and she got her lot of awards, and this and that. And my dad is an engineer and design some really important things like he worked on night vision goggles, and some really cool stuff. But financially, we were never super well off. And so that was always a question mark in my head. Like, what’s the missing link there? Like my neighbour who was a construction worker? They moved into like the rich neighbourhood. Little did I know he owned a construction company, he had started a construction company. So when I was in high school, that was like a interesting question. And I was always looking for answers for. So I read like Rich Dad, Poor Dad had a big effect on me. And then also, I got take part in a stock market game, we got to trade stocks against all the other schools in the country. And my team actually ended up winning the whole country. And so that gave me this like, interest, even even a greater interest in finance and money in business. So when I had the opportunity to come up with the magic tricks, I was kind of primed, you know, was like I didn’t know it at the time talking about joining up the dots. But those reading those books and asking those questions had me ready to jump on the opportunity when it showed itself.
David Ralph [8:09]
He’s brilliant, isn’t it? You know, I started the show just because it was something that I was interested in. And it amazes me every single episode, how we are no better Join Up Dots. And the things that we just couldn’t perceive, we’re going to be part part of our big master plan seems to be I don’t know, using a sort of hokey term that the universe was working without us knowing what’s happening. And then suddenly, for whatever reason, it starts to bring all these dots together, and you kind of go, Oh, this is it. This is the function. And it just it strikes me is amazing that every single person that I speak to says the same thing, and it happened to me as well, you just can’t understand how all these little things can become something so valuable.
Eric James [8:58]
Absolutely, I totally agree with and you know, all the successful people I know, in whatever way you define that have a similar storey. But I think the key thing is that and a willingness to accept that as you move forward and say, Oh, I’m supposed to learn this, like life keeps putting this in front of me, I’m probably supposed to learn this. I don’t know why. But you know, once you haven’t happened enough, you’re like, well, I’ll learn this. And I’ll really dive into this. Because I’m going to need it for the universe’s master plan or whatever, as you put it.
David Ralph [9:26]
What do you think about people that say, you, when you find your passion, just find your inner passion, and then you’re set for life? Because I’ve started to realise that, although I know exactly what they’re saying, but somebody out there who can’t quite find that passion, you basically want to punch that person in the face. Because it’s, it’s just not coming to you until it comes to you. Is there any way you think that from a listener out there who’s sitting on the bus, or they’re on the train, they’re going to a job that they don’t like here giving us Oh, say, find your passion and your unique path, but I just can’t see how to start it? Is there a way that you would suggest that actually, you can start it by doing something?
Eric James [10:12]
Absolutely, yeah. So I would say that that’s kind of the wrong phrasing, like, find your passion. And instead, it’s like, decide what you want. So get clear about your outcome in the areas of your life. So, you know, for me that might be like, what do I want my body to look and feel like? What do I want my finances to look and feel like? What kind of freedoms do I want to have? What do I want my relationship to look like? You know, what, basically, like, fast forward? If I envisioned my, you know, best self in 20 years, like, Where am I living? What am I What am I spending my time on? Who am I spending that time with, and and really letting yourself letting yourself dream like a kid at Christmas, like making a Christmas list, there’s no limit here, you know, you can order up whatever you want from, from the universe, or from life or whatever you believe. And so instead of, I guess, trying to find your passion, it’s like, if you connect to who you want to be, that’s arising from within, there’s a reason you want to be that person. And and then that can help. You know, once you have a goal in mind, you know where you are, right now you can develop a map, you know, a route to get from where you are, to where you want to be, and down to what you need to do right now to take that first step. So for me, that’s been a bigger component than any single passion.
David Ralph [11:29]
Have you always known that was somebody who sat you down and said, Eric, you’re shooting off all over the place, and you’re just having these wild opportunities, if you would, then they can be even better.
Eric James [11:42]
I’m not exactly but that that lesson was first came to me and it was interesting. Again, Join Up Dots. I love the the whole premise is wonderful, is bringing up a lot of memories for me. When I was in that real tough time, when I kind of got kicked out of my dad’s basement and couldn’t get a job, all this stuff. I went visited my sister in Oregon, and her roommate at the time, like to smoke marijuana. And he would, he would have this way that he would roll joints and getting this like real thoughtful mode and talk about existence and spirituality and all these different things. And I really, just like Doug, that, you know, I don’t smoke or anything, but I just loved hanging out with him while he did that, because it was just this, like, very methodical thing that he would do. And then one day when I was visiting her, we were he was, you know, rolling up a joint and was like, do you have you ever heard of the ultimate success formula? And I was like, what, and my ears definitely perked up at that point, because I was in a bad spot. And I was like, I could use some ultimate success formula right now. So he told me about this book that these guys had read the first chapter of the book. And they were so successful after reading the first chapter of the book that they couldn’t even finish the rest of the book. So I’m like, what, what is this book? And it turns out, it’s a book by Tony Robbins. And if anyone’s listening is not familiar, I highly recommend checking out my stuff I’ve learned a tonne. Can Can
David Ralph [13:10]
you remember the name of the book?
Eric James [13:13]
Um, he has a couple books out. They’re all great. I’m not sure which one he was referring to maybe awaken the giant within
David Ralph [13:21]
you. When you Eric, that’s the problem. You say that you weren’t smoking, but you don’t believe you?
Eric James [13:32]
Oh, man, no, I actually don’t drink don’t smoke, anything like that. So
I know, it probably doesn’t sound like the truth, but it is. So maybe I was, you know, contact tie. And that’s why it had such a big impact too. But it was it was definitely a good, good lesson. So he proceeded to tell me the ultimate success formula, which basically is, you know, the first step is what I just described. And that’s getting clear about your outcome, getting clear about what you want, which is actually something most people don’t ever do, they just focus on all the stuff they don’t want. And all this stuff is not working in their life. And if you focus on that, you’re going to get more of it. So basically get getting clear about what you want, instead of what you don’t want. And then step two of the ultimate success formula is to take massive action, so not a little bit. Like you don’t try one way and then say, oh, that didn’t work, I’m not going to do this. You try like a zillion in one ways you try anything that could possibly help move you towards your goal. So you don’t just take action, though, because you get to step three, which is you got to notice whether it’s working is this action that I’m taking getting me closer to my goal closer to the person I want to be or further away from it, which is easy to answer. And then step four is just adjust as necessary. So you know, when a plane takes off to fly to Hawaii, and Tony talks about this in his book, they just follow the ultimate success formula. So you know, step one, another outcome, they’re flying safe from Denver to Hawaii, that’s what they’re going to go do they know their outcome. So step two, they take action, they fuel up the plane, they get the engines going, they take off, but they don’t just take off and fly because they might be headed the wrong direction, they have to look at the gauges and say, hey, are we getting closer to Hawaii or further away. And obviously, they keep adjusting Step four, adjust as necessary, until they reach Hawaii and land on a dime. The cool part about this is that the aeroplanes actually off course 99% of the time. And it’s just adjusting and adjusting, adjusting. And that’s how life is you’re always adjusting, keeping yourself aimed at your destiny, your outcome. And the real like, X Factor with this is role modelling. So given that this point that we live in history, there’s been someone that’s done almost anything that you could have as a goal. So a lot of people think their goal seems so impossible, except there’s maybe thousands of people that have done that already. That can be role models that already took the steps that are you know how to do it. So in the example, there’s already been a lot of planes that have been to Hawaii and other people that measured the distance to Hawaii, we know how much fuel it takes, we know how much time it takes. We know all kinds of stuff that helps us be able to use the formula to get there consistently. And you can do that in your life as well. So if you want to find out how to make, you know, more money, you need to find those people who have done that if you want to find you know, have a better relationship, you want to find people who have done that, so you can learn from them. And so that’s that’s what I learned on that day, and it completely changed my life,
David Ralph [16:31]
I’m gonna go out and find my name is Draghi, and sit down with him and have deep meaningful conversation. But it is true, it is absolutely true what you’re saying, you know, I’ve on my website, you can go and download the eight guides to success. And I’ve been having the same conversations more and more and more. And I’ve grouped, while I’ve classes, the eight key areas, and one of the first ones is really know what you want. And once you know what you want vain, become aware and start looking around and see what other people are doing exactly as you said, you know, because there are people out there that have already done it. And that just proves that it’s doable, first of all, but don’t be frightened. And this is out to the listeners out there. If you’ve got something in your head that you fancy doing, and you look around and other people are doing it as well. Don’t think to yourself, oh, it’s not going to work because they’re already doing it. Think of the world is so big, there’s so many people, you only need a very small percentage of that population of the world. And you you could become a billionaire. Can you Mr. James?
Eric James [17:38]
Absolutely. Yep. And you know, one of the things I want to hit on to that that I got stuck on is you don’t have to be perfect about what you want either just decide something start heading towards it, you can always change it later. You know, it’s not like you have to have the master plan and you can never change it. So you know, just pick something and like you said, there’s no reason to be afraid to fail that you have that desire means that it’s possible I absolutely believe that. Otherwise that desire wouldn’t exist in the first place.
David Ralph [18:06]
Absolutely tennis tennis, the jellyfish storey because I was reading that on your on your site or Somewhere I read it. And it was one of those kind of storeys that I thought, My God silver lining and all that because it was it was a changing point in your in your mindset. Wasn’t it being stung by jellyfish?
Unknown Speaker [18:25]
Yeah, yeah. So
Eric James [18:28]
I was visiting, my mom had moved to St. Thomas and down in the Caribbean, and you know, a little, little tiny hot on an island, near this bay and beautiful spot. And I had never been down there. And I remember when I was in when I was in high school, especially, I never thought I would go to Europe, I never thought I would travel to islands. I mean, literally, my thinking was so small, it’s almost inconceivable today, to think that way. So going down, there was a big deal. And I had to take multiple flights to get down there and these little puddle jumpers and everything we get down there. And then the first morning we go for a swim in the ocean. And the first thing that happens and I’m already pretty freaked out pretty much out of my comfort zone, we go swimming, and I get stung by a jellyfish almost first thing. So at that point, I’m freaking out to the amusement of my family members. And, and just absolutely freaking out, like I hit some kind of threshold where I was like, This doesn’t make sense to freak out, you know, and and I’m actually just as safe right now, as I’ve ever been and will ever be, it doesn’t really matter where I am or what’s going on. Like this, this idea of security is just an illusion. Or maybe it’s just that that I am actually safe and secure all the time. So it just it shifted it for me because it was like it’s not a spectrum, it doesn’t actually change. So it’s like the idea of taking a business risk or personal risk or travelling to an unknown country or something like that, all of a sudden, all that stuff became possible, because I understood that, that security was just an illusion in the first place. So that was a pretty profound, profound shift. And after that I had an amazing time and really got to fully experience being there instead of being trapped in like the fear and anxiety of being out of my comfort zone.
David Ralph [20:23]
I’m you know, I love that storey because I find it amazing, just listening to you and reading about you that you know, you are almost like an Indiana Jones character. You’re throwing yourself out of aeroplanes, you’re having hugs with Richard Branson, you’re walking through jungles, you’re just doing these amazing things. And so for people out there that are just going on a nine to five, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And they are craving adventure, they’re craving a new way of life, a craving new relationships and stuff to hear you say that you were petrified on even going down to the Caribbean. But now you’re doing all these amazing things. There’s hope for everyone, isn’t it?
Eric James [21:06]
Absolutely. Yeah. And and that’s something I’ve learned, like kind of recently is that, you know, the the one of the great designs is that our brain has grey matter, and that it can literally change to any other neural pathway. So meaning like no matter what you feel right now, you don’t have to feel that way forever, you can change that. It’s it’s neuro plasticity, it’s it’s pliable, it’s like Klay, you can form it into whatever shape so there’s no fear that’s too big to overcome, even if it feels that way. And I guess I’ve been proof of that and multiple, multiple occasions in my life. But yeah, so that that’s great. If there’s anything you don’t like, you can change it like literally anything.
David Ralph [21:46]
You can create your own reality really, can you.
Eric James [21:49]
Yeah, absolutely. And it’s a lot more fun that way too.
David Ralph [21:53]
So really what we’re doing, we’re creating our own realities, we can create the life that we want. And it’s madness. Its total madness. But we’re not doing that we’re listening to yourself. So you can have fun, you can earn an income, you can do all these kind of things. But at the end of the day, the majority of us 95% of us are just surviving, we’re just getting a job. And we’re going so that we can earn enough money to to pay the bills. And that’s it. But actually, if we did create a different mindset, and believe that we can do bigger things, then really everything should work our way. And that’s really what the words of Steve Jobs said back in 2005, which we’re going to play in a moment. But you gotta trust, you gotta have faith, and you’ve got to dream big. And you can have the reality that you want. There’s no difference between Eric James, David, Ralph, Tom Hanks, whatever. It’s just the extra action that they’ve taken what you feel about that little rent. Mr. James?
Unknown Speaker [22:52]
Yeah, that sounds.
Eric James [22:55]
That sounds true. I mean, I think the little caveat I would add to that is, for me, seems like if I if I kind of, kind of want something or I take a little bit of action, I get just hit with every possible obstacle. The universe is like, nope, you don’t really want this is trying to stop me from getting it. But as soon as I fully commit, and it’s like, I’m willing to die for this, I will accept nothing else. But this, as soon as like you let the universe know that you’re serious. It happens way easier than you would expect. And to tie into that, it’s also like, I definitely have a belief that the bigger the goal, the easier it is to achieve. So you know, if you have a medium goal, or you know, something, just to try dip your toe in kind of thing, there’s probably a lot of people trying to get that goal. But the bigger the goal, the easier it is to achieve. And that’s actually how I met Richard Branson was, you know, one of my goals is with my photography. Like one of my reasons for being here. One of the things I want to do is communicate that, you know, if we’re flying through space, as you know, human beings trying to find utopia, and trying to find heaven and we were flying to new universe and found earth we be like, we got it. Here it is. We nailed it. It’s gorgeous. You know, it has everything we need. The climates are incredible. We have all this variety of life, we have waterfalls, and dolphins and it’s just absolutely beautiful. It feeds us it. I mean, it’s it’s Heaven, it’s utopia. And people like forgot that we’re already here, we already arrived, we just have to not like ruin it. So with my photography, I want to tell that storey and and another funny, crazy thing that happened, I ended up eating dinner with Buzz Aldrin underneath the Saturn rocket at NASA. And we were having a conversation about how astronauts have that realisation when they go to space when they look back at Earth. And they realise that’s it like we’re here. And so I want to try to communicate that and do photography from space. So again, the bigger the goal, the easier it is to achieve. So I wrote down the zillions of action items I could take, which I mentioned earlier, and the very first one I wrote down was to check Richard Branson’s Twitter account. So as soon as the plane landed, I was on a plane at the time i checked his Twitter account is on my phone. And I saw that he was going to be in Miami. And two days later, celebrating the 15th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic flying back and forth. So I was like, Well, I’m gonna book a ticket to Miami. So I spent a couple hundred dollars booked a ticket to Miami with the idea that I would, you know, try to somehow get into that party. And worst case scenario, I would, you know, have a fun trip to Miami and spend a couple hundred bucks. So ended up there was a charity event beforehand, that I was able to get into. And so I find myself in the room with like 10 other hustlers just like me that like hustled their way in that room somehow. And we’re in the study at the Versace mansion, with Richard Branson, and we’re all look at each other. Like, how did you get in here? How did you get in here? It was awesome. And he totally knew he totally got it. And so he went around, it was just like, incredibly gracious with us all and was like, how can I help? You know, tell me your storey? What are you here for, and it became abundantly clear to me how he is so successful, because he doesn’t discount anyone. And he sees everyone for like their best self. And he treated all of us with the most respect. So like, if I didn’t think about him highly enough already, that experience was was huge for me. So I pitched him on on the idea of going to space and shooting these abstract images of space to try to evoke the emotion that I was just talking about, and communicate that to people. So he said, that sounds great. Show me your photography after this. So I pulled up my portfolio on my phone and showed him some of the pictures and he loved them and connected me to his assistant, who connected me to the leadership at Virgin Galactic. And so I’ve been working with them still, nothing is fine, realised I haven’t been flying yet. But basically, I’ll get an opportunity to go to space and to take these photographs. And so I had this great opportunity to test this theory of the bigger the goal, the easier it is to achieve. So I asked, you know, sir, Branson, how many other people had asked him? That same question, how many people had pitched him the same idea? And he said, One said one other person asked, so I had a 5050 chance, and I’d have a harder time getting a job at Taco Bell, you know. So that was a evidence for me that I’ll never forget about that principle.
David Ralph [27:37]
I’m stunned. I’m stunned. I didn’t want that storey to finish. And it’s just true, isn’t it, even though your mind is going now Hang on, I’ve got to get this straight. The bigger of a dream, the easier it is, when you do actually jot it down. It’s true. But it must be the way that we’re condition somehow that we we go with the route that everybody else goes. So if I are, you know, if it was a job available at Taco Bell, that’s what I’m going to go for it, everyone else is going to go for it. But of course when your odds are less. And so you have more chance to get into space, because less people are going to space. But it still is one of those things that you’ve kind of been really, really easy as possible. I love I love that. I love that. And I’m going to tell you something, actually, because I don’t think I’ve shared it with anyone, but I have a dream for this show. But it becomes the biggest show on earth. And I from the very first moment I opened my mouth. That was my dream. And I’m a million miles away from that, you know, but I’m already starting to see things flying towards me. But I kind of think, is it because I’m dreaming big? Is it because I’m releasing a show every day? am I touching on some kind of emotional aspect that people are responding to? Or is it something bigger? But I don’t know. But if you’d asked me, you know, six months ago, I would have blogged and said, Yes, it’s going to be the biggest show ever. Now I’m starting to pay off, he’s got a chance of really going somewhere. And then it may be in two years time. Who knows? I could be I could be the first space podcaster What about that, Mr. James?
Eric James [29:20]
I love it. I love it. Yeah, we should go together. That sounds great.
David Ralph [29:23]
You found us to Branson and pitch on my behalf. I can’t afford to go to Miami, but you’re in his pocket already.
Eric James [29:31]
Sounds good. Man, I would love to do the first podcast from space. That’d be awesome.
David Ralph [29:35]
That’d be great women, what to do. Now I’m just going to bring on the words of Steve Jobs. We play this round about this time every every show. And it really does. You’ve already confirmed to me that you’re going to buy in to this. But this is a speech that he made back in 2005. And we play it every day because there’s a great relevance to all our lives. But you can’t really predict what’s going to happen until you look back and start joining up the dots. So this is Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs [30:04]
Of course, it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards 10 years later. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leaves you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference.
David Ralph [30:40]
Now normally, I would say to the guest, what do you think? Do you believe in those but I I get this feeling that you do believe in them? So I’m going to put it on the other side? Why do you think so many people don’t believe in those?
Eric James [30:56]
I mean, basically just fear.
The need for certainty and security.
Yeah, it’s kind of, I guess, this idea of
like life begins at the edge of your comfort zone. But to get outside of your comfort zone, you need some kind of faith, you need something there. And it comes down to a choice. And faith is religious, a decision a choice to believe, in spite of not having evidence to believe. So I think a lot of people just don’t have practice exercising that decision making muscle of faith. And so I think that’s that’s the reason a lot of people don’t don’t do that. And I think Steve did a great job in that speech of, you know, basically implying that that’s the only way to live. And I certainly agree with that.
David Ralph [31:47]
I agree with it. Now, I totally and I listened to that every day. And today, I’ve listened to it six times, because I’ve done six interviews today. And every time I listen to it, sometimes I’ll be sort of half listening to it, because I’ll be sort of preparing for next question I’m going to ask our times I really focus in on it. I mean, sometimes it’s like I’ve never heard it before I hear something in it, but but it just kind of raises itself from all the other words. And it is so simple, isn’t it? It’s kind of not a clever speech, but it’s brilliantly constructed as well.
Eric James [32:19]
Absolutely. And I feel like when he’s speaking, it’s coming from his bones. It’s coming from his DNA. Like, that’s what makes us words so powerful is because he means it and you can tell you know, he’s not just saying those words. That’s the way he lived his life. And that’s how he became who he became just like, any of us can, we can become that future self we want to be, but you have to choose to have faith, and it’s a decision and that he made and look at the result is huge for all of us. is so inspiring. It’s so inspiring. I’m gonna play another one. Now, I’ve just started playing these. And this was, um, last couple of weeks ago, and this was Jim Carrey, did you hear Jim Carrey? Do a commencement speech to a load of graduates? Did you hear that? No, no, I’ve heard people talking about it. But I haven’t listened to it yet.
David Ralph [33:06]
Well, this is just a snippet. It’s about 26 minutes long. And I’ve taken this and I’ve started playing in most of the shows, because I think this is brilliant as well. So it needs to be shared with a bigger audience. You listen to this, this is Jim Carrey.
Unknown Speaker [33:19]
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 [33:45]
What you think about Batman?
Eric James [33:48]
That is awesome. It’s completely agree.
Unknown Speaker [33:53]
That’s it, I got goose bumps.
David Ralph [33:55]
But you don’t expect Jim Carrey to come out with that, do you that that’s what really struck me. It was it was as good as a Steve Jobs words, and it’s shorter as well.
Eric James [34:05]
I think something that you’re hitting on is is some I’ve noticed, which is at a certain level of success. People are saying the same stuff, you know, people people really start to get it. So you’re not going to find someone that’s very successful, like Jim Carrey has been and that doesn’t understand these things. So, you know, to all the listeners out there, that’s, that’s the decision. That’s the, you know, if you adopt the same beliefs as the successful people, you can live a life that you can only dream about right now.
David Ralph [34:35]
Where Where’s your life going to go? You know, you’ve been with David Blaine, you’ve been with Branson, you’re going up into space. My concern about you, Mr. James, and I’ll be honest, I’m going to share this with you is, once you once you go up to space, where’s fair to go? Surely that’s the ultimate.
Eric James [34:55]
Not really. So my ultimate goal, what I you know, kind of my old Division I talked about is actually to tell the storey of this magnificent planet and and of humanity, and to develop technology and implement it, you know, because we are in such a technological change right now. That’s what our lifetimes are going to be about, to use that technology to enable us to live in such a way that we can populate the stars and keep earth as a national park. And because it’s so gorgeous, there’s probably nothing like it in the universe. So I would like to further that goal as much as possible in my lifetime.
David Ralph [35:35]
Do you believe in aliens?
Eric James [35:38]
Um, I think there’s probably other life out there. Just statistically, you weren’t expecting
David Ralph [35:43]
that question? Well, you
Unknown Speaker [35:45]
know,
Eric James [35:47]
but uh, yeah, I think there’s probably other other life forms. I don’t know if they’re aliens, like we think about green men walking around. But I think there’s probably given the abundance of life on earth is probably live somewhere else as
David Ralph [35:57]
well. Because that’s what I think you should aim for finding new planets never discovered before, and taking photographs making Hollywood films of aliens in their natural habitat.
Eric James [36:09]
That sounds pretty good to have. Maybe that’s a backup plan.
David Ralph [36:12]
Yeah, absolutely. Go with that. So you Are you married? Or are you you with a with a lady? I’ve seen the pictures of you with a lady.
Eric James [36:21]
Yeah, yeah. So just my girlfriend, Angela. And I’ve been dating for a couple months now. So nothing too serious just yet. Had a few serious relationships in the past, but nothing, nothing has led to marriage just yet. But I would love to have have a family someday. So it’s probably headed that direction. At some point soon.
David Ralph [36:41]
So because you’re the lady of scenes very small. And is that the right woman that I’ve been looking at? Well, I stumbled across some extra marital stuff that shouldn’t be shared on a show like this.
Eric James [36:54]
No, I think it could be Angela, it could be Jessica, my ex girlfriend. So
David Ralph [36:58]
either way. I they’re both shorter than me. I’m quite tall. So well, you are because you know how tall are you? Because my wife is four foot 10. And I’m six foot one. And I’m always struck by how silly we look together. And when I saw a photos of you standing next to these ladies, I thought, My God he I think he’s even told him a me.
Unknown Speaker [37:21]
Yeah, yeah.
Eric James [37:23]
I’m six foot six. And so yeah, basically, unless someone’s taller than me, I have no idea how tall they are.
David Ralph [37:31]
So you’re halfway to space already.
Unknown Speaker [37:34]
There you go. Maybe that’s why it’s easier, right?
David Ralph [37:36]
Just reach up. He’s not spending as much money getting you out there. That’s why Branson said yes, he looked at your high school, we just need to push him up by his feet. And he’s up there.
Unknown Speaker [37:47]
Exactly.
David Ralph [37:49]
Well, just just before we finish off, I want to send you back in time. So and this is the very end of the show. And this is the bit we call the Sermon on the mic. And this is when you get a chance to have a one on one with your younger self. And if you did have a chance of a one on one, what age would you choose? Would it be a five year old? Would it be an 11 year old? Or would it be a couple of weeks ago, so I’m going to play the tune. And when it fades out, you have up on the mic. This is the Sermon on the mic.
Unknown Speaker [38:20]
Here we go with the best beer of the show.
Eric James [38:39]
Hey there eight year old Eric. So guess what I just,
Unknown Speaker [38:43]
I
Eric James [38:44]
just got back, you wouldn’t believe it from a trip on a time machine. And I came back to tell you that you’re capable of unimaginable greatness. And everything that you wanted, it turned out like you wouldn’t have known how it was possible, but it worked out. And, you know, I came back to tell you that you enjoyed the ride so much. And you had so many twists and turns and so many struggles and so many successes and that it was such a good time, getting to that vision of what you want for your life, that you decided to come back and do it again. Only the best part is you can’t remember. So you get to live it all over again. Enjoy it, buddy. Enjoy it. It’s a good ride.
David Ralph [39:27]
I’m going to send you forward as well, Mr. James, so if you will, because your life is you know, he is a well, there’s amazing things happening. When you are a 90 year old, and you’re laying on your bed, your deathbed, with your 26 year old wife or whatever. What’s the thing that you would look back on? And you think, yeah, that that was my mark, if you could project forward and you think that’s that’s what I’m going to leave on this planet? Can you imagine what it might be?
Eric James [39:59]
Yeah, looking back, I see the number of ripples that are caused by just a simple change in belief, and really walking the walk, and being so proud of, of all the things that that came from that. As well as actually making things real, that had the potential to be real. Looking back at the lives, I was able to help the technologies I was able to create the adventures that I was able to experience and share with, with my friends and family. And just, you know, in awe of the abundance of, you know, the reward of a life well lived, and how that actually feels. Being in that rocking chair, knowing that I made I made the decision to go for it instead of instead of shrinking, shrinking away from life. And just like wanting to give myself 100
David Ralph [41:01]
Well, I know our listeners are going to give you a high five. So put your hands up now we’re all going to do it together because you have been an inspiration, Mr. Eric James. And for all the listeners out there. How can they connect and find out more about you.
Eric James [41:15]
So you can go to Eric to the moon.com. And I’m also looking to build SEO on that. So I would love if people like my website to to link to it as well. So that’s the best way to find me. There’s a contact form on there, too. And I actually I do check all those emails. So if you want to get in touch, I’d love to hear from everybody.
David Ralph [41:31]
Well, thank you so much for spending time with us today. joining up those dots of your life has been absolutely inspirational. Please come back again, when you have more dots to join up and definitely come back again, once you’ve been into space, I’m going to target you when you have to just put up a banner into the rocket ship window saying Join Up Dots or a heaven the garden and then send it down. Because I do believe that, you know you’ve got a future which is going to be more and more interesting, more and more fascinating. And I believe that by joining us those dots and connecting our past is the best way to build our futures. So Eric James, thank you so much.
Eric James [42:07]
Thank you, this is incredible, and I can’t wait to chat again. So have a good one buddy.
Outro [42:13]
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.
