Welcome to the Join Up Dots Business coaching podcast interview with Cameron Brown
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Introducing Cameron Brown
Cameron Brown is today’s guest joining us on the Join Up Dots business coaching podcast interview.
He is a man who has previously appeared back on Join Up Dots episode 654.
On that show he shared his amazing journey to a life of inspiration, travelling the world helping others, and flying drones.
However if things hadn’t occurred in his life, like experiencing the horror of a neighbours discovery that her son had committed suicide, he may well have coasted through his life as a sales assistant in a retail store.
The Starting Dots For Cameron
From 2005 to 2010, he clocked up over 7,000 hours in sales, management and training roles in big box retail.
He apparently still holds the record in one of the stores for the most amount sold in a single day.
In 2010 he started his first coaching business and ramped up studies in the field of personal, professional and business excellence.
He invested all the time, money and energy he had and went through an intense period of rapid transformational growth.
As he says ” I was now a man on a mission. I broke through patterns of behaviour that had been holding me back for years, gave up alcohol, coffee and energy drinks, and consciously chose a vegetarian lifestyle.”
That was however all covered in the first show, so where is he now?
Where has the last 8 years gone?
Joining Up The Dots To Today
We he now speaks to audiences around the world on how to thrive in an ever changing world.
He delivers multi-sensory experiences on stage, blending education with storytelling videos and live music on a grand piano.
As he says “Our world is changing faster than ever. To deal with this, companies need a workforce that is fully engaged, high performing and adaptable to change.
But 67% of employees in North America are still not engaged or actively disengaged at work, with actively disengaged employees cost $450 billion to $550 billion per year alone.
I help solve this by helping companies develop high performance teams, increasing innovation, employee engagement, emotional intelligence and adaptability to change.”
But that is just a favour of what this man is all about.
So it’s with great delight that for the second time, i can bring onto the show, to joining up dots, the one and only Cameron Brown.
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Cameron Brown such as:
Cameron shares how he has managed to bring the greatest quality in to his work. He is unwilling to take half measures to the work he is bringing to the world.
We discuss why it is so important to be your own best friend. As Cameron says “If you are spending the most time with yourself then you might as well try to like who you are”
Through the show we reveal the steps to breaking through the ceiling of whats possible in ones life.
And lastly……..
Cameron demonstrates perfectly that the “quality of work” will always beat out the competition who deliver just enough to get by.
Connect With Cameron Brown
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If you enjoyed this interview with Cameron Brown why not check out other inspiring interviews like Clint Arthur, Lunden DeLeon and Jack Canfield
Or of course you can check out thousands of podcast interviews in our archives here
Audio Transcription Of Cameron Brown 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 [0:21]
Yes. Good morning to you. Good morning. Every single listener of join up dots thank you so much for being here. Now, I’m not going to do too much of a preamble on this because this guy has got a bit of a journey he was previously back on join up dots Episode 654, where he shared his amazing journey to a life of inspiration, traveling the world helping others and flying drones. Yes, he’s blended work into passion into passion into income into income, you’ll see through the show. But if things hadn’t occurred in his life, like experiencing the horror of a neighbors discovery that has siloed committed suicide, Benny may well have coasted results life as a sales assistant and retail store. From 2002. Five to 2010. He cocked up over 7000 hours in sales, management and training roles in big box retail, and apparently apparently go him he still holds the record in one of the stores for the most amount sold in a single day. In 2010. He started his first coaching business and ramped up studies in the field of personal professional and Business Excellence, invested over time, money and energy he had, I went from an intense period of rapid transformational growth. As he says I was now a man on a mission I broke through patterns of behavior by being holding me back for years I gave up alcohol, coffee, energy, drinks, sex, and everything, and consciously chose a vegetarian lifestyle. He might not have given up on sex, I don’t know, I got infused and added back into the list. Now that was all covered in the first show. So where is he now Where has he gone over the last eight years? Well, he now speaks to audiences around the world on how to thrive in an ever changing world he live is multi sensory experiences on stage, blending education with storytelling videos and live music on a grand piano. And as he says our world is changing faster than ever. To deal with this companies need a workforce that is fully engaged high performing, and adaptable to change. But 67% of employees in North America are still not engaged or actively disengaged at work. We’ve actively disengaged employees costing 450 billion to 550 billion per year alone. I help solve this by helping companies develop high performance teams, increasing innovation, employee engagement, emotional intelligence, and adaptability to change. But that is just a flavor of what this man is all about. So it’s with great delight for the second time, but I can bring on to the show to join up more dots. The one and only Cameron Brown David
Cameron Brown [2:55]
David, it’s great to be here. Always an absolute pleasure. I’m really looking forward to today,
David Ralph [3:00]
I’m enjoying this as well, because you are somebody that you was a guest. But I like to think that we kind of became distant friends, I’ve kept a view on what you’re doing. I’ve got to get to the chase. One of the things I dislike about you, sir, is I’m a piano player, and I can get down and play piano, you can really play Can you I look at you. And I think to myself, at a different level on this, I can bang out a song that people will recognize but you you’ve you’ve got talent in your fingers.
Cameron Brown [3:30]
I love I love playing I love that I get to bring it on the stage now within the within the talks that I deliver. But yeah, I’ve been writing for what maybe 1718 years now and love writing about the stuff that I speak and coach on things around human behavior, about innovation about sustainability and, and relationships and absolutely love allowing myself to be a vehicle for that music to flow through me. The moment that I try to write a song, I’m really bad at it. But if I allow it to be written through me, magic things that happen
David Ralph [4:01]
there. So do you say to people if you got a piano, or do you have to drag the piano around the world with you.
Cameron Brown [4:07]
So it’s mostly or all of the time it is actually I don’t have a piano of my own. So as I’ve traveled around the world, it’s been can I find an apartment or a townhouse or something that already has a grand piano in it that I can lease. And that happened I had pianos in Costa Rica and Colombia and and Argentina and Mexico and Budapest and and then the the talks that I’ve delivered then usually if there’s a decent sized event going on the either the convention center or the hotel that is hosting the event, that there tends to be a piano there, or they’re able to get one in there’s an event that I’ve got coming up that I’m keynote, and they’re bringing a piano in for me for to be able to do the opening keynote. So it depends on depends on where it is. And then we might talk about, about taking a piano out into nature as well. We did that at some stage as well, which was just amazing. Yeah, it was it was finding people that had pianos had the ability to transport those and be able to do what we’re doing in terms of telling those stories.
David Ralph [5:08]
So there’s gonna be a world of conference arrangers with bad backs thinking, oh my god, it’s him. It’s him.
Cameron Brown [5:16]
It’s him again.
David Ralph [5:20]
And john gal and Johnny upbringings on piano, it’s gonna be easy. And having Cameron is it’s a bit of a hassle. But it is a hook, isn’t it? It’s a hook. But when I looked at it, I bought it. Many people do that.
Cameron Brown [5:33]
Yeah, it is, the way I say it is. And this goes for icy life as well as business is having a unique point of difference. It’s not only unique, but it’s also unique and valuable. And I think that’s a really important distinction to make. I have spent many years working out how can I bring in music into the talks that I deliver in a way that ending to the brand generally, as well, you know why that is perceived as valuable, as perceived as classy and cool, because I’d seen some other people try it, and it might maybe have a digital piano on stage and, and in the types of songs that were singing were, to me just a bit of a gimmick. And, and not really classy, and so you won’t see me and this is a branding decision and, and strategic decision around that you’ll never see me on stage with a with a digital piano, it’ll either be either a grand piano or a like a unique looking up right piano, or some way of really helping to create a unique experience. And, and having that with a grand piano or an upright or something like that is is a great way to do that. versus just having a digital piano on stage.
David Ralph [6:40]
I’ll be honest with you, Cameron, I, I’ve been a bit shocked by yourself since we’ve connected but a second time because you came on the show 18 months ago. And you were suppose you were like most people that were coming on the show you as a like a personal coach, you had some kind of inner transformation. But from that point to now, you seem to have really upped your game, you seem to have grown up somehow, you know, you’re not just dealing with one or two people that just want to sort of get a better lifestyle, you’re looking at actually changing companies and going in there as the of all knowledge and being able to transition a company that is struggling to where it wants to be. Do you feel that? Do you feel like you’ve actually grown up massively in the last sort of 18 months to two years?
Cameron Brown [7:28]
There has been a Yes, in short answer. Absolutely. There’s been a massive, another massive transformation that I’ve gone through. And it’s been a number of those we’ve, the previous episode, we talked about a lot about that about a number of those, those transformations that that I went through earlier on in in my career, and after selling everything that I owned. And when we when we spoke last I was I might have been in Costa Rica, which was the first country that I was on. Yeah, yeah, after selling everything that I own. So that that ended up 10 countries around the world, four continents. In a more than a million people saw the videos that I that I shared a while I was traveling around the world. There were speaking engagements, there were media interviews, in many countries around the world. It was it was really a remarkable experience. And I I believe through all of that, there’s been like a number of key lessons that I’ve learned that has allowed me to grow yc internally extremely fast. That a huge part of it is is this power of curiosity, is that if we can learn how to be curious. And the way I see it is that curiosity is the gateway to creativity and innovation. Without it, you can’t be creative, you can’t be innovative, you can’t do that. Because curiosity is what opens you up to being creative. It’s what opens you up to new ideas to new possibilities. And the way that I’ve I’ve uncovered I think and discovered and really learned how to implement it into my own life, and then to be able to pass it companies and individuals as well within companies is learning how to harness the power of that curiosity to guide that curiosity because curiosity on its own, like a childlike curiosity, it’s important to have that an element of that childlike curiosity. But if you only have that, you’re going to probably end up doing something stupid, because there’s no reference points for where it is that you’re going. Whereas if you can strategically guide your curiosity, which is the way that I, I’d say this is, and that happens through what I call curious language and curious tonality. If you understand, these are the feelings that I want to have as an outcome, they Oh, this is a specific experience that I want to have as an outcome, I had no idea that I’d be flying a drone around, and, you know, having hundreds of thousands of views on some of the videos and then, and then playing on a piano on on a on a grand piano on stage on in, in Canada. And then, and in closing out the largest TEDx event in Italy. And with a grand piano on stage for that as well like those things, no idea about, but I remember one thing that I had a my vision, which was a three year vision that I set for myself. And when I when I left, it was the first time that I had really done less in the vision in terms of being detailed than I ever had before. And yet I achieve more than I ever had before. And one of the things that I put on my on my vision on my 3d vision was create masterful works of art. And I didn’t attach anything to it. And so then what I did is I was curious and asked, utilizing curious language and curious tonality. It was asking great and quality questions that would God my curiosity towards creating those Masterworks bar, and it was something like this, I wonder what I could create that would allow me to make an even greater impact in the world. I wonder what that’s going to look like, I wonder where I’m going to go. I wonder how I could exceed what I currently believe is possible. I want to help a dream even bigger. These two words, I’ve mentioned this in the in the TEDx talk that I beloved in Rome, those two things, seemingly innocent words are extremely, extremely powerful when you understand the power of that, especially when you’re utilizing that curious tonality with it, and the curious language around it, that guides you in the direction to where you’re ideally wanting to go. So it ends up being that we’re guarding our curiosity. And our curiosity still has infinite possibilities. But it has infinite possibilities in the direction that I’m ideally wanting to go.
David Ralph [11:25]
Now, I agree with you, because I understand what you’re saying. But a lot of the listeners out there kind of go What? I don’t understand this. Yeah, he’s curious, how does he turn this into a business? where companies allow him into the boardroom, and actually pivot their own direction? How have you done that? Because I play a Jim Carrey speech, which I play a lot. And it’s basically about going through the thing you love. Going for the thing you love and actually transitioning into a business is is difficult. It’s really difficult. Anybody you can do what they love, but getting paid for it and getting paid very well for it. That’s that’s a walk that isn’t just a walk in the park? How? Absolutely. Have you done that?
Cameron Brown [12:09]
Yeah, I completely agree with you, David. I, I liken it to when I’m talking with somebody, if they’re, if they’re wanting to do something different I, I asked him the question, are you wanting to make this a commercially viable thing? Because if you’re not, then rock on, go for it, do whatever you want. But if you wanted to make a commercially viable thing, you’ve got to not only ask the questions about how can I experience more love or happiness or whatever the things are, that you’re wanting to experience? That you also want to you also must work out? How can I make this something that is unique and valuable, because and unique and valuable for the target that I’m that I’m shooting for here? For me personally, I look at the from the piano standpoint, it was the question of how can I bring a piano on stage? How can I bring a piano into the brand that I’ve created here? You know, why that is perceived by companies as unique and valuable? and answering that question is what allowed the results to happen. And so that’s why when I mentioned before, why there’s probably not going to be a digital piano on stage with me, because it’s not seen as a classy thing within a an event that they wanted to have an amazing experience as an opening keynote, or a closing keynote, just having a digital piano on stage, it’s going to be Yeah, that was good. But having a beautiful grand piano on stage. And then beautiful storytelling videos that allow the experience of people to have on stage, or in the audience of me on stage is different to what they can get online in a talk that they watch in an audio book on a in a book reading. And so all of a sudden, the ability for them to be able to learn something and be inspired by something increases by the type of experience that I provide. That’s been very strategic in how I go about that. And that’s taken a long time to do. It’s not an easy thing to do. But it’s worth it. Because when you’re able to uncover how you can make this a commercially viable thing. And that takes times and questions. Again, if you’re and this comes back to the curious, curious component to it. If you can have curiosity as your baseline, where you’re going through these moments of, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this, if that’s going on in your mind of I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make this into a commercial into an actual business. Well, that’s that that question is, is going to lead you in one of two directions. It’s either going to lead you in the direction of Well, yes, you can. But if you’ve got unconscious beliefs that are limiting you, then more likely than not, it’s going to head you in the direction of Yeah, you can’t. Whereas if you use curious tonality and curious language, and use powerful and empowering questions that guide you in the direction to where you’re wanting to go, it becomes Okay, how am I going to turn it into a commercially viable entity? All of a sudden, there’s no two ways that it’s going to go your mind already presupposes that can be done because you’ve asked a very powerful, how question how questions are very, very powerful, because it presupposes in your mind that it can be done. Okay, how are we going to do this? Well, we know that it can be done, it’s just working out how that’s going to happen now. And that again, guides your mind in the direction of where you’re ideally wanting to go, versus leaving it up to chance, where, as I mentioned before, if you have limited limiting beliefs going on, which all of us do, what you’re doing is you’re helping to rewire your mind towards the version of yourself, you’re wanting to become rather than staying in the version of yourself that you currently are that got you to where you want to go, but he’s never going to get you to where you want to go.
David Ralph [15:46]
Now I would love to do a podcast with guests, when I just creep into their bedroom late at night, when all the doubts are going through their minds and start asking them questions. There’s a thing in the United Kingdom, there’s a comedian called Michael McIntyre. I love him. Yeah, he’s brilliant. And he does this thing where he basically breaks into people’s houses at like two o’clock in the morning when they’re fast asleep, and does the midnight Game Show. And he just bursts in and they’re fast asleep. And suddenly he’s there asking them questions, bringing celebrities and dancers into their bedrooms while they’re laying there with their hair stuck up all over the place. And it’s really, really good. And I always think to myself, there’s a war honesty with bat because people aren’t actually giving the right answers. Now in podcast land, you know, you you present a role, I present a role you present a role. But how powerful Do you think it would Cameron if we could get a room of people together where they actually go? To be honest, 90% of the time, I haven’t got a bloody clue. I really don’t know. But the 10% that I seem to work out, moves me through to the next 90% I haven’t got a bloody clue and move born. And we do business, I think it must have been like that. It must have been like, how do I do this? I ain’t got a clue. I just haven’t got all I could do that one thing and you move on and move on. But that’d
Cameron Brown [17:11]
be about right. I love where we’re going with this David because there’s there’s some things that have happened over especially over the past 18 months. But even before that, the where I see the probably the most important thing to mention here is is that of learning and understanding how to become your own best friend. In business targets, how do you become your own best client, but let’s stick with how to become your own best friend, because I think this is just so incredibly important and powerful. When when you’re you spend way too much time with your own self not to enjoy your own company. Yeah. And so if you are your own worst enemy, then versus being your own best friend, and you’re your own best friend, you’re going to be supporting yourself when you’re down. And you’re going to be celebrating your successes when you’re winning. Whereas if you’re your own worst enemy, when you’re down, you’re going to kicking yourself, and when you’re up, you’re going to be saying it’s not going to last. And that’s a really important distinction to make. So those of you tuning in, think about in the moments when I don’t know what I’m doing, when I have no idea what’s going on, when I don’t know if I’m going to be able to cut through and make make the difference that I want to make or make it you know, create a business or whatever it is the thing that you’re wanting to create that is different to where you are now, if you are your own worst enemy, then it’s going to be a really rough ride. And so I look at over the over the 18 month period, there were plenty of times one time in particular that comes up for me, I was in the Colombian rainforest. And I was doing a storytelling video there for a not for profit organization, helping them to amplify their message there. And I had the drone out. And we flew it up. And there’s these pristine areas of jungle just imagine like flying up through this canyon. And then all of a sudden, up above the canyon. And there’s a mining company that’s just decimated the rainforest. And it was such an experience. And it was other experience as well of trees being cut down in front of my eyes, just seeing this pristine area of jungle just being wiped out. And it I still remember feeling so small, so insignificant, wondering what the hell am I even doing here, what I’m doing isn’t even going to make a difference. It was a moment in that in that moment of just feeling so, so small and so insignificant. And I remember the moment when I was walking back towards my the cabin that I that I had there that I was staying in, and and realizing look, whenever you’re feeling disconnected from yourself, the best thing that you can do is go back to nature. Because I know that within myself when I’m at when I’m out in nature, I can feel connected to nature again, which allows me to feel connected to myself again. And so I know that about myself. So realizing that when those types of situations happen. And this is one of those, this is a big one, because I felt so insignificant. And I hadn’t felt that for a long period of time. And so I I took my backpack and which had all my technology in there because the cabin didn’t have any windows in it. So just to be safe, took my backpack and went down to this river and found a place where I could sit. And I went to sit down. And as I as I went to sit down, I slipped back on on on a rock. And what happens when you’ve got a really heavy backpack on is you you slip back and you’re going back and so I my head smashed against the rocks, my bed back in is really weird position. And as I as I sat back up a little sore, this one one of the first thing that came into my mind was something by Jane Goodall, which is a great conservationist. And and it was, there’s still a lot left that’s worth fighting for. And it was the shift that I needed, it was the little thing that I needed to be able to say, dude, if you really want to do this, if you really want to step up and step into this space of making an even greater impact versus just being on a on a one on one level. Or one two, you level. And you really want to inspire the millions of people around the world, you’ve got to learn how to step up, you’ve got to be able to step into this new version of yourself. If you don’t, then you’re just going to be somebody who goes through life, trying to make a difference, but not really being able to step into it when times get tough. And when you’re exposed to something that you’ve never been exposed to before. And so it was that that moment that that shifted me back into an empowered state, which then led to me asking the questions, right, how can I How can I do this? What What was it a giant because she’s she’s a I think, you know, it is also now I think she’s been doing that for decades. And she’s been exposed to much, much, much worse stuff than I had. So I looked at what she had done as a model and seeing how she’d been able to stay optimistic in that looked at other people in the adversities. They’ve been through, looked at my own adversities and and saying, Well, how have I stepped through that before? And what can I learn from that? But also, what do I need to learn in this situation that would allow me to grow at an even greater level? So notice those questions again, I was asking what questions have questions? How can I? How can I move through this? What can I do that could record allow me to do that? What have other people done those types of questions. Again, it’s curiosity. That’s the underlying current that’s going on. But at the end of the day, I was my own best friend still. And I learned that from you go back to the previous episode, those tuning in, listen to that, about how to how to really break through the barriers. And I know we talked a lot about the things that I had to go through to overcome that to be able to genuinely be my own best friend. And I think the thing that I want to mention here as well, is you mentioned about coming into into the bedroom at nighttime, for example. I love that I would I would obviously I would love you to do that. Because I want to share this. I haven’t I don’t really share this with with many people. Only when it when it when it comes up is is it’s the thing that I call reference points. And and this is, I would say one of my I mean, yeah, it’s a secret weapon. But it is it is such a powerful thing. Because what happens in our lives is we we have reference points for how we’re either doing good or reference points for how we’re not doing good. And what tends to happen over time. And we were not consciously creating these reference points, is we create reference points for how we’re not doing well. And this is why people end up feeling like they’re not good enough feeling like they don’t belong, feeling like people take advantage of them feeling like they can’t trust people feeling like they’re abandoned, whatever the thing is, and it’s happened usually from childhood, and then it grows. And these reference points stack on top of each other. And we do this imagine this massive stack of reference points right in front of your eyes, and it’s there, and you can access it whenever you need to. And so when times get tough, all of a sudden, you’ve got this massive stack of reference points saying you are not good enough. And where are the positive reference points, because you haven’t consciously created them. They’re scattered like stars all around. And unless you really focusing on them, you can’t see them.
David Ralph [24:00]
Show Cameron because, you know, I asked one question 15 minutes later. Yeah, and I put me on a day since you started.
Cameron Brown [24:11]
You know, the last thing that I want to mention here is and I think this is a really powerful way to bring bring this section home, is that I am consciously locking in reference points for how I am kicking ass every single day. Every time I’m at the gym, every night when I when you’re talking about go to sleep. Every time when I’m going to sleep I go, what what were the winds today? What did I achieve? I love how I did this, I love how did this, you know you absolutely rocked it when you did this. So I’m doing it when the reference when the thing actually happens, say I’ve just lifted or been able to do certain amount of pull ups instead of how many I’d done before I kicked ass at that or I ate really healthy food. When I’m clean eating it. I’m just loving the green stuff that I do is green smoothie balls, I eat a vegan diet, vegan clean diet, and just love the food that I’m putting into my body, which allows me to then look in a reference point for how this is my identity. This is who I am versus this is what I do. And that’s a really key distinction. Because if it’s just what you do, then you’re going to have to force yourself to do the things required. versus this is just who I am, it would feel weird not to do it. So I hopefully that was really valuable because that has been by far, I would say probably the most if not one of the most valuable things that I’ve done is that into the conscious looking into reference points again and again and again and again. Because if you don’t, then there’s a good chance that the old version of yourself which is the limiting version of yourself is going to come back in creep back in and locking those negative reference point instead for you.
David Ralph [25:44]
Yeah, great stuff. And I’ve just watched me calm as well. It’s brilliant. This this show. I can I’ve got so much done, Cameron just
Cameron Brown [25:52]
I’m here to help man, I’ve
David Ralph [25:54]
just tapping you on a run by me, right? Okay. But let’s listen to some motivational words, paying them and then Delve back into how you’ve got it really shifting into fifth gear. And beyond, is rocky
Rocky Balboa [26:05]
You, me and nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward, how much you can take it keep moving forward. That’s how weird it is.
David Ralph [26:20]
Now, I’ve listened to that speech many, many times. And I’ve played it many, many times as well. And I’ve started to realize in my own personal life as things are getting better and better and better. And things are just a little more lucrative and easy. But actually, nothing is you in life harder than yourself. And I’ve been really hit by that recently that when I look back over my journey to where I am now. I would say 90% of the hardship was caused by myself, either working too hard on the wrong things, not looking at what was already working out there and finding the sweet spot, being so bloody minded thinking that if I work harder than anyone, I will gain the answers that people just can’t find. All those kind of things is I’m now think Cameron that life is easy. We’re constantly making it harder. We’re we’re the ones hitting ourselves. We’re the ones put in the handcuffs on we’re the ones making it difficult. What do you think? I,
Cameron Brown [27:22]
again, completely agree with you. As I mentioned before, a lot of people are their own worst enemy. And you spend far too much time with yourself not to enjoy your own company. But let’s let’s take that. Another another step is that? Yeah, the biggest thing, I think probably the biggest lesson that I’ve learned, in addition to the curious curious component is that the biggest thing that is is holding me back is myself. And I still remember there was I was in Mexico, this really drove home in Mexico when I was living there, I was gearing up for the TEDx talk in Rome. And we had decided I decided to, to have people involved in a video in a music video for one of the songs that I wrote last year to help tell the story and show you how technology can be used to speed up and magnify our creativity and the way that we connect with one another, and the impact that we can make in the world. And it was about a month out before I was going to be in the US before then heading across Europe. And I had this vision in my in my mind for a while of having a grand piano out in nature, and wanting to create a music video that or some type of video where I had a grand piano out in the wild out in nature, where where I could tell a story and then that would be built into the talk that I delivered. And and it was about a month out, as I mentioned from being in being in the US. And my mind at the time was alright, I’m going to get this music video done with the people from many countries around the world. And then later in the year, I’ll have I’ll get the grand piano out on stage out in nature. Then the thought came to me of what could get it done in this video. I wonder if I could do that. I wonder what? Okay, so if I could, if I could do that, what would I have to do to make it happen because in my mind, it was it’s going to be it’s going to be too big to get it done in this in his amount of time. So it was the limit that I placed on myself. And then I I started being curious about it that day. I was so then certain that this had to happen because I thought this is a perfect time to do this. Why wouldn’t I do this this is this is absolutely the time that this should be done. And within 24 hours David I had a piano move accompany I had a piano, I had a drone videographer. And all we had to do was find out how we could work at a location in Colorado because I was already going to be there for a talk that I was delivering. And that’s what we had to find out them. And then over the next couple of weeks, I was able to work with a with a local government local council and and work that out and we had the permits and everything and we rocked up and and did it was like freezing cold and we we did it we we took we transported a grand piano out to a place called Garden of the Gods in Colorado. Those of you tuning in check it check out the location, it is remarkable. But massive red rock formation massive Pikes Peak, which is a mountain off in the distance. And we filmed at sunrise, it was remarkable and that that pulled that everybody else’s footage all together, we pulled it into an animated split screen video that played on the big screen when I when I played the song live on stayed on a grand piano during the talk, which and if I look back now and think if I didn’t do that, then the video wouldn’t have been as powerful it wouldn’t have really gel it all together. And that was a massive lesson that 24 hours later, dude, the biggest thing getting in your own way man is yourself, the more that I can get out of my own way, the faster the magic happens. So I completely agree with you that the more that you can get out of your own way, the better. And that’s where again, we come back to curiosity, if you’re able to be curious, in those moments of thinking, well, I can’t do that. But what if you could? What would it look like? If you could? How would you actually make it happen if it was a possibility. And all of a sudden, you’ve instead of closing yourself up for opportunities, you’ve opened yourself up to a sea of possibilities.
David Ralph [31:27]
What I loved about that I didn’t want to jump in. But there was a moment you was talking and you almost giggled like a child, there was an absolute enjoyment of the task, there was a pleasure of the memory. And it was just so instinctive. But I thought to myself, that is what life is about. That’s what it should be about. But every morning, every afternoon, you almost laugh, you giggle you throw your head back, because you’re having such an amazing time and getting paid for it.
Cameron Brown [31:57]
And I love it. I love it join up dots
David Ralph [32:01]
I think that a lot when I’m doing the shows. I think to myself, it’s not work. But it is work because I’ve worked really hard to to get it here. But once you get there, it’s not. And sometimes I’ve almost felt guilty. And I have to knock that guilt away. Because I think to myself, no, I’ve worked for this. I deserve it. Yeah, there’s that little voice that things will. Why should I be getting this when you know, other people on and you hear that all the time? You know, why should when our dough be getting paid all that when nurses don’t get paid this and back? And I can totally understand the logic behind it. But it still is about the people doing what they want to do. Yeah, to get the most rewards, you know, and just, it doesn’t matter what job it is.
Cameron Brown [32:45]
Absolutely. And it comes down it’s not just about a financial thing. I think the realization is that if it’s just about financial for you, then you’re in you’re in for some serious pain to be honest. That’s the way I see it is that if that’s if that’s the only reason that a pretty shallow reason, there’s got to be a bigger meaning there’s got to be a bigger purpose behind it. The money comes Yes, that’s that’s all well and good and and it’s fantastic to be able to do that because it allows you to make an even greater impact. But the the love for what you do the passion behind it. You mentioned about the giggle I I seriously it’s it’s it’s it’s a it’s a wild ride. But there are times when things are challenging. Don’t get Don’t get me wrong, there are times when things are challenging. And this is where becoming your own best friend is so important because even in the times where where the proverbial Can I say shit you can move it out of you need to shit hits the fan. Yeah, when that when that when when shit hits the fan, are you still didn’t say your
David Ralph [33:43]
best friend, I said once and you will
Cameron Brown [33:46]
block it out them.
So that they’re being able to be your own best friend in those moments. That’s the true making of you. That’s the true making of your life. Anyone can do it when it’s easy. Anyone can do that. But it’s when to get really tough. Are you still supporting yourself? And that’s a really important thing. Because sometimes the biggest lessons that we learn, I’ll often say this, the biggest lessons that we learn, usually the biggest breakthroughs come directly after the biggest breakdowns. And often people go Yeah, that’s true. And yes, because you’re not listening. There are times on the land, you’re talking about the joining joining up with adults, right? By the way I see it is yes, you can look back in hindsight. But having curiosity and tweaking the way in which you’re doing things, allows you to lessen the breakdowns that you need to have. Because you’re very certain about the outcomes, you’re wanting to experience the feelings you wanting to have, how you’re wanting to experience this life, and then you’re consciously guarding your curiosity towards that ongoing, which allows you to rather than have to go way off track to realize, oh, man, I am so far off track, I need to get back on track, massive walk across the face, it’s just a little tap saying, Hey David you’re off track man. And you’re able to hear that and see that because you’re much more dialed in to where it is that you’re wanting to go. And whether you’re off track a little, then all of a sudden, it takes a little less effort. And it I mean, you imagine running around a rat running track. And if you let’s say you run first hundred meters, and then you go, hang on, I’m going to go back the other way. And you run the the exact opposite direction, and you run the exact opposite direction again, and again, you still run say 400 meters. But you might know distance, you made no progress at all. That’s the way I see it from right the breakdowns versus simply tweaking and you’re still going in the exact same direction, you go, Oh, I almost went into the other line, just them. All right, I’m going to tweak that. And I’m just gonna get back into my own line. And so all of the energy is still directed to towards where it is that you’re wanting to go, which is where the curious tonality and curious language can come in. And allows you to ask the right questions that allow you to tweak rather than have to completely change directions.
David Ralph [36:11]
He is amazing when you when you think about everything because I I started this and I had no plan B, I had no plan B at all, it was either this or nothing else. And I couldn’t imagine going back into corporate world. And so I just had to make it a success. And I just followed, as I say, follow one course until success focus, I just put my head down. And I’ve worked. And when things haven’t been working, I’ve worked. And when things have been working, I’ve worked harder. And I’ve just moved along. And I’m at the point now that all my dreams are coming together. But I can also see that it could have fallen by the wayside at any time. It really could. It could have just been one day I’d wake up and being it’s not working, it really isn’t working. So where you see those people say, follow your passion and the money will come. I don’t know if I really believe that. Because everybody will be doing it Don’t Don’t you think?
Cameron Brown [37:10]
Yeah, there’s a couple of things that I think are really worth mentioning here is passionate, Laurin isn’t going to cut it. If you haven’t got a mission that is big enough. I know. And I liken it to this, imagine you are down on a beach. And it’s a massive, beautiful cliff face behind you. And you’re down there having a good time loving it. And then all of a sudden, a Tata wife comes roaring toward you. If you haven’t got enough time to get out, you’re going to end up going this guy’s probably dead. Whereas if you’re on the top of the cliff, and you’re looking down, you see that tidal wave come in probably and there’s no hopefully no one else around. You look at it come in and realize, Wow, look at the power of that thing. It’s a totally different vantage point. Now, you liken that to having a from a mission point of view, passion alone, again, isn’t going to cut it, there’s got to be a mission that is big enough, that when those tidal waves come through in your life, or in the business that you’re trying to build the career that you’re looking to form the relationships that you’re in, that you can handle it because the mission that you’ve got, and the reason why you’re doing it is much greater than the challenge itself, because there are going to be tons of challenges that happen there. Now the other thing that I want to mention here, so that’s the first piece that I wanted to talk about. The second is an exercise that I went through a number of years ago now, which was making peace with the worst case scenario. And I love that exercise, I look back, it was a very, very powerful exercise to go through. And I still go through that exercise is really realizing and understanding what is the worst case scenario here? And the second question, can I live with that? Because you can’t live with that. You’re going to be living with fear, unconsciously, about that coming true. However, if you if you are okay with the worst case scenario, if it came true, now you’re going to do whatever you can to make sure that you still succeed. But at the end of the day, if you’re okay, with whatever that worst case scenario is, you know that you’re going to be, you know, yes, it’s going to be challenging, yes, it’s going to be heartbreaking, whatever the situation is that you know, you’re going to get out the other end, and you’re going to be okay, you’re going to be still alive, then fear dissipates. Because what is there to be fearful. There’s no fear, you imagine if if join up dots had failed, and there’s this that happens in this, that happens, you realize that you’re still going to be okay, you can go forth, without the fear of that thing happening, because you’ve already made peace with it. I mean, that’s a really important thing for people to do. Because Yeah, just thinking post, just think positive, just follow your passion, just do this. Yeah, that’s important to have those components. But if you don’t truly believe it’s going to happen underneath the surface, then you’re going to be fighting again, this internal battle, this fear of honor, it’s going to come true, my greatest fear is going to come true. Versus again, all of your energy going towards the outcomes, you wanting to experience, knowing that you’re going to be okay, whatever happens as
David Ralph [40:24]
the outcome. I always say it’s like a tractor beam, when you find your thing, you’re trapped in that tractor beam and you’re just being sucked to where you are. And you you can’t really fight it, you just have to go with it. But you know, in your heart of hearts, it’s right. And you don’t know when it’s going to get there. But it is that tractor beam and everyone that I’ve spoken to, they don’t talk about passion, they don’t talk about following life’s purpose. They always talk about something bigger than themselves. Something that actually they’re not in control of, but they’ve got to work towards It is strange, really, that we go into corporate land, where everything is about us setting targets and goals and working towards something. The big gifts in life, they’ve quantum leaps in a business is when you’re out of control, I always find and you’re just kind of swimming and you’re trying to you know, keep your head above water. That’s when I look back on things. And I go, Wow, that was a terrible time, I really did move on, almost like being taken by a wave and being thrown into the shore. And yet you’re safe. But you also got a load of mouth of sand. And there’s that bit where you feel like your trunks are being pulled off because the water is coming back over you. But you’ve still had that huge leap forward to where you need to be.
Cameron Brown [41:45]
I love that because the this takes me back to one of the things my one of my mentors said earlier on in my career around this is that the quality of your life will be in direct correlation with the amount of uncertainty you can handle. Yeah, I love that so much. Because what it really is saying is that the amount of time that you spend outside of your comfort zone, that’s the amount of growth that you go through. Because the reality is, is that everything that’s inside of your comfort zone, everything that you already know, that’s exactly it, you’re not going to go through any growth, because you already know all the stuff that you already know. And so the only growth that you’re going that’s going to occur is the growth that happens outside of your comfort zone, the more time you can spend outside of your comfort zone. And here’s the thing, the way in which you can spend more time out of your comfort zone, because it’s uncertain. And unfamiliar is to have things in your life that are familiar, that acid. And this comes because by having that balance, because think about it, when you’re bored, you want to go and do something adventurous. So you’re moving from something that is familiar to something that’s unfamiliar. On the other end, if you’re so far outside of your comfort zone, what you crave is a level of comfort, a level of level of safety there. Yeah. And so this is where people end up either completing or, or doing things that get them back in inside their comfort zone. But if you can learn how to get those pieces met. One part is just backing yourself is knowing that everything’s going to work out knowing that if the worst case scenario came true, I’d be okay. So there’s a familiarity with that. Knowing that I’ve got my own back that I’m at my own best friend, no matter what happens, I’m my own best friend. That’s it, that’s it, that’s a great level of backing yourself that happens there. And because you’ve got that taken care of because you’re your own best friend, you can spend almost all of your time outside of your comfort zone, which allows the growth to go up the growth to happen at a rapid right. Versus spending far too much time inside you become its own. So yeah, I those moments where you have no idea what’s going on, but you’ve got the backing of your own self, to be able to play in the unknown is just really, really important. So yeah, good point.
David Ralph [44:05]
Now before we send you back in time on the Sermon on the mic to have a one on one with your 18 month ago version when he was last on the show, what what is really making you giggle now, when you look at what you’re aiming for moving forward,
Cameron Brown [44:21]
I love I’m going to continue asking that question what makes me giggle today, the the biggest one I’m really, really excited about is around health, as well as my multi sensory keynotes on stage. So really challenging what’s possible around the delivery of these multi sensory experiences where I have music in the form of a grand piano, having other people involved in the keynote as well. So other people playing instruments or full band backing, and really challenging what’s possible on stage, they’re being able to create music, other music videos that have actors involved, and for the future is having technology in in different ways. So I’m looking at I don’t think that the technology isn’t quite there yet for where I want it to be to be able to tell the kinds of stories that I want to tell, but robotics and and augmented reality, two things that I’m definitely looking at to see how I can build those those technologies into the talks that I deliver, to really demonstrate again, innovation and, and how technology can be used to create an even greater impact and solve challenges. So that’s really what what keeps me excited there. From a health standpoint, I mean, the best shape that I’ve ever been in right now, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, especially specifically the spiritual, the physical component, by far the best cycle I’ve ever been in. And so I feel like though David I’m only just getting started with that. And so that that has me really, really excited with where I am right now. And where I feel like it’s going to be going. So yeah, there are two things that can be really, really excited right now and keep me laughing on a daily basis.
David Ralph [45:56]
Now, it’s love to hear it really is powerful. It’s lovely to hear you’re so on your game, and you know, you’re there, you’re there already. And the thing that comes out all the time for movies is it’s quality. You’re aiming for more and more quality is not about being in sight. Boy, it’s not about being clever. It’s about providing more quality when other people aren’t expecting. And that really does rocky forward, doesn’t it?
Cameron Brown [46:23]
Yeah, absolutely. I totally agree with that. It’s, I look at the things that I’m not going to do, as well as the things that I am going to do. Because that can often be even more powerful is right, what what are the some of the things that I need to stop doing here? Because they’re holding me back or slowing me down? Or getting in the way of experiencing what I’m really wanting to experience? And so yeah, I think that that question of what what do I need to start doing? But also, what do I need to stop doing to allow me to experience more of what I’m wanting to experience is really important.
David Ralph [46:56]
Brilliant? Well, this is the part of the show that we’ve been leading up to and it says, Can time you’ve taken this journey, but this is the Sermon on the mic, when we’re going to send you back in time to have a one on one with your previous version. And if you could go back 18 months and speak to the young Cameron, what age would you choose? And what advice would you give him? Well, we’re going to play the music. And when it fades, you’re up. This is the Sermon on the mic.
Unknown Speaker [47:25]
We go with the best of the show.
Cameron Brown [47:43]
Dude, this 18 month period that you’re about to embark on, is going to be one of the most life changing moments and life changing times. There’s a few different reasons for that. First is that power of curiosity is so under utilizing life and the dreaming and thinking about how you could be more curious how you could dream up what’s possible, because the biggest thing that is getting in your own way is your own self realized that be humble about it. And be curious about how you could remove the limits that you place on yourself. Because by doing so, and in doing so, magic happens so much faster, you’re able to achieve so much more than you could have ever even dreamed of. There are things that you’re going to experience that you haven’t even thought were possible yet that are just going to blow your mind. And when it happens, it’s going to be outstanding and fantastic. And you’re going to realize that there is another level again, and again. And again. One of the biggest things and you already know this, because we went through this a few years ago, is that you’ll never dreaming big enough. And there are people that think that is a detrimental thing. But that you know that’s not true. You know that? If I’m never dreaming big enough, that can open you up to another sea of possibilities. Because if I’m not dreaming big enough, that I wonder what else is possible. I wonder what else is possible. And it opens you up to a sea of possibilities at see if curiosity can open you up to opportunities that you haven’t even come close to dreaming about yet based on your current limits. So remove those limits. The way that you do that is through curious language. Curious tonality, do that. Be very clear on the outcomes you wanting to experience but not exactly how you’re going to get there? Because you’re going to be very, very pleasantly surprised when you arrive.
David Ralph [49:34]
Brilliant stuff. Brilliant stuff. What’s the number one best way that our audience can connect with you Cameron Brown?
Cameron Brown [49:40]
Best way thriving collective.com is the website social handles is ask Cameron Brown as Cameron Brown,
David Ralph [49:47]
we have over links on the show notes. Cameron, thank you so much for spending time with us today. joining up those dots. And please come back again a third time when you have even more dots to join up. Because I do believe that by joining up the dots and connecting our power is the best way to build our futures come and brown. Always a pleasure mate.
Cameron Brown [50:05]
It has been an absolute pleasure. Absolutely love that I David and keep doing what you’re doing and doing an amazing job.
David Ralph [50:13]
Always great Cameron Brown, he really is you just you just wind him out and away. He goes for 25 minutes. I mean, you ask another question and bang he goes, he’s got like the podcasters dream he really is. And if come over and look at his website, it’s all on join up dots because it’s very unusual. And he’s got like this, this collective, the thriving collective of musicians around the world all coming together to make this amazing, inspiring video is it’s all really good. You’ve got to see it. I’m not explaining it very well. But go over there, check his work out and I’m sure that he will be going back time and time again. thank you as always for listening to join up dots if you’ve got any guests out there that you think are he’d be good or she’d be good. Drop us a line. And we’re trying to get them on the show. But until next time, I’ll just be here I can so if you aren’t just be here. See ya. Bye Bye
Outro [51:05]
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.
