11/04/2015: Still waiting...

     Okay, I am still waiting to talk with Greg.  He did try to reach me last Thursday evening, but I was in a rehearsal for a show I am doing.  Nothing since then, but I will continue to try.
     He once said I was not persistent enough.  Well, I am going to continue to be persistent in my attempts to contact him and get the information I need and get a plan in place to proceed.  I understand he is a busy man.  But, I feel I am just ignored in my attempts most of the time.  But, I am going to stay tough and go after what I need.  I have too much riding on this to give up.
     I am now attempting to find out who his new assistant is and get them to set up a meeting on his calendar.  More to come..

"Here's To Your Success..."

Bill McManus

PS - Don't forget to subscribe to get regular updates on the project.  I will be sharing all the valuable lessons and information that I learn along the way.

10/27/2015: Layoffs again? Damn corporate America!

     Damn corporate America!  I am once again facing a potential lay-off within the next couple of weeks.  Budgets and projects are being cut.  The project I was to work on in 2016 has been cut.  My work has all but dried-up now.  I fear the Grim Reaper will be tapping me on the shoulder within the next week.
     One of the things I hate most about the corporate world is that YOU as a person, just don't matter.  No matter how much you work or sacrifice for the company, it just doesn't matter.  When it is time for layoffs, how hard you work or sacrifice just doesn't come into play.  You are merely a name on a spreadsheet somewhere.  The people making the layoff decisions probably don't know anything about you, your efforts or your work ethic.
     My job required me to be on "on call support" for nearly the last 20 years.  That meant regular 2 AM phone calls dealing with system problems.  Problems that could take several hours to fix. The phone ringing not only waking me up, but also my wife, my kids, the dogs.  My job also required me to travel.  I was on one project that required me to travel to Florida every other week for 2 years.  We started early on Monday morning, which meant I had to leave on Sundays to fly down and be ready.  The weeks were long and I flew back on Friday evenings arriving at the airport after 11 PM.  The travel had a big impact on both me and my family.  I bring all this up to show that none of this comes into play at layoff time.  I was talking with a coworker the other day.  It is almost like a big game of musical chairs.  At layoff time, the music stops.  Depending on what chair you are sitting in and if you have a chargeable work package tells whether you are safe or not.  It doesn't matter if you are more dedicated or work harder than the person next to you.  It is all based on the almighty dollar.  The dollar that lines the pockets of upper management and funds their golden parachutes and their multi-million dollar retirement funds.
     This is the 3rd time in 5 years that I have faced a layoff situation.  The last 2 times, I had one foot out the door but was able to save myself by contacting everyone I ever knew and worked with over the years at this company.  I work hard and I have a good reputation, which sure helped.  But, if I left it up to management, I never would have made it through.  They made no efforts to find me work elsewhere in the company,
     If I do get laid-off, it could be a blessing in disguise.  Working in an environment where you are always worried about being laid-off can be very stressful.  And add that to the already stressful environment where it has become every man for himself.  The backstabbing and degrading of others has become commonplace.  People due it in hopes of surviving the next round of layoffs.  It is pathetic,
    I am still waiting to hear back from Greg.  I contact him every day.  But, I won't give up.  "Cmon Greg, let's make something happen and get me out of here!"

"Here's To Your Success..."

Bill McManus

PS - Don't forget to subscribe to get regular updates on the project.  I will be sharing all the valuable lessons and information that I learn along the way.

10/23/2015: Starting Over The Right Way

     Okay, so it's time to put a plan in place in order to make this project succeed.  I have identified some of the major issues that have to be addressed.  The first being, assertiveness.  I know what things have to be done and there are times when I need to get outside of my comfort zone to make them happen.  Sometimes I have to push people.  But, I tend to be "too nice a guy", to a fault.  I worry too much about imposing upon other people, or coming across too strong. I have been told this many times over the years.  At just about every yearly appraisal in my job I was told by my managers, "you are to nice to your people.  You need to be harder on them".  Well, I struggle with that.  I feel that kindness goes a long way.  But, there is also a balance.  I can still be firm.  And if someone promises me something, there is nothing wrong with holding them to it.
     Greg had promised me several things when I was in the UK.  Well, I was sitting back waiting for him to address them.  But, he is busy and I am sure I am not on the top of his priority list.  So, instead of saying something, I would just sit and wait.  Well, none of the things were done,  Was it Greg's fault?  Nope, it was mine.  When we recently talked about it, he asked me "did you pick up the phone and call me?"  No, I didn't.  I didn't want to be a bother or impose.  Well, he said I was not assertive enough.  He said that I need to stop being a nice guy and make things happen.  He said I need to hold him and others accountable.  When they commit to something, he said I need to get a date.  Then he said to follow up with an email confirming the promise and completion date.  Finally, he said if the completion date comes and it has not been completed to CALL and get it addressed.
     So, I am going to heed his advice.  There were some promises made back when I was in the UK. I have asked Greg if the offers are still valid.  If they are, and I certainly hope they are, I will get commitment dates and ensure they are completed.  And I am going to ENSURE things are done in the future.  It is for my own good.  I am awaiting Greg's reply on the offers now.  More to come...

"Here's To Your Success..."

Bill McManus

PS - Don't forget to subscribe to get regular updates on the project.  I will be sharing all the valuable lessons and information that I learn along the way.

10/21/2015: Back to the Future!

In the movie "Back to the Future Part II," Marty McFly travels to October 21, 2015.  Well, that is today.  And it just happens to coincide with me going "back to the future"  What do I mean?  Well, after what I would call a "failed attempt" at this project which started just about 2 years ago, I am going to go back and start over.  Yes, I am going back to help my future.  So, I consider this my Back to the Future moment. 

Out of frustration, I looked back at the past two years to see what went wrong. Well, I realized what was wrong was me.  I had the best of drive and intentions but I lacked the drive and guts to make everything happen, that needed to happen for success.

So, I have been back in touch with Greg and he is still there for me.  So, I am starting back at square one.  And this time, I am going to make it happen.  My level of frustration with my job and my financial situation is worse now that it was 2 years ago when this project started.  It is time for a change.

So, please follow along, listen and learn as this time I WILL succeed!

Click For 

Back In Time Video

by Huey Lewis and the News

"Here's To Your Success..."

Bill McManus

PS - Don't forget to subscribe to get regular updates on the project.  I will be sharing all the valuable lessons and information that I learn along the way.

07/01/2014: My Business Proposal To Be Tested (Part 3 - "The Pitch")

     A few days later we had our SKYPE call.  The first thing Greg said was, “there was an idea you wanted to discuss with me”.  I said “yes, I am sending you a document now.”  I sent the document over SKYPE.  I did not want to send him the document ahead of time because I wanted to be able to see his reaction while reading the document and I also wanted to be able to address any questions in real time.

    Greg started to the read the document.  After a minute or so he said “this is great.  Can we really do this?”  I told him with today’s technology we can do anything.  We just need to find the right tools and people to make it happen.

     When we got to the end of the call, he said he wanted me to shorten the proposal and we would get together and review and then present it to Sally in Australia as the UK team was too busy and she would have time for this.  I said ok and got started right away on streamlining the proposal.

(May 6^th)

    Greg was out of the country for a few weeks and was beginning work on the 50 Millionaire Challenge so we didn’t meet again until May 6^th.  We revisited my proposal again.  Greg told me they were working on a new project called “Titans of Wealth”  It was a series of free seminars to be given my him and Andrew Barsa.  Greg would be doing a section on Forex training and Andrew on wealth creation.  He said it would be a great way to test the streaming concept. 

    We were on a SKYPE call and Greg said he wanted to pull in Peter Burnett who was heading up the Titan’s project.  He brought Peter in introduced us.  He then told him we wanted to add a streaming pilot to the Titans project.  Peter was very open to the possibilities.  We discussed at a high level and Peter and I agreed to set up a meeting to discuss in more detail a few days later.  Next day sent him some screen mock-ups.

(Part 4, "Project Discussions" Next)

"Here's To Your Success..."

Bill McManus

06/25/2014: My Business Proposal To Be Tested (Part 2 - "The Research")

     I spend the next several days doing some research on virtual training and education both in the US and worldwide.  The statistics were pretty incredible with regards to the market and it’s growth.  It was clear that if your company didn’t embrace virtually training now, your competitors will and you will be left in the dark.  I then spent several days looking into the technology and services behind live video streaming.  I spoke with representatives at some of the top live stream service companies.  I found out all that what needed, both hardware/software and staff that would be required to live stream trainings and/or the Success Summit.  The best part was, the initial cost to get started was only around $2K.

     I created a 5 page written proposal outlining how Greg could grow his business by expanding and offering his training and also his success seminars virtually via live streaming them.  I also introduced the concept of setting up a recorded, self-paced study program that could also be offered.  I was ready to present my proposal to Greg.  We had a SKYPE meeting scheduled for later that week.

(Part 3, "The Pitch" Next)

'Here's To Your Success..."

Bill McManus

06/11/2014: My Business Proposal To Be Tested (Part 1 - "The Idea")

     I mentioned in an earlier post that I am working on a test parallel project with Greg based on a proposal I had presented to him.  So, I am going to share a bit about that.

     During one of my earlier sessions with Greg (March 21^st) we were discussing a string of losses I incurred on my trading account.  He had asked what was going on in my life.  Well, I was struggling with a few issues, but one of the main ones was the constant and ever-growing stress in my job.  And at the same time, how I did not know if I would even have a job after the end of this year.  He said that I am too distracted with the other issues and it is affecting my judgment with regards to trading.  That is totally understandable.  

      Greg said, “You have got to get out of there mate!”  Then he gave me an assignment.  He told me to look at what skills I have and see what other jobs might be out there for me.  Well, I told him that my skills are pretty much limited to a small niche in the computer field and the job prospects were slim to none in this area.  Also, I would just be jumping from one stressful job I hate, to another.  I told him I needed a total change and that was one of the main drivers behind the Making of a Millionaire project.  To become self-sufficient and break away from the corporate world.  He told me to write down my skills and then any potential jobs where there might be a fit.  Then he asked if coming to the UK was an option.  I told him no, because my kids and my family are here.  So, I would need to find something I can do locally, or virtually.  I told him I would work on the assignment and he said we will discuss in our next session.

     Later that day and into the next, I started writing down my strengths: my analytical  skills, team and project lead skills and what I consider most important, my creativity.  Then I tried to think of a job or company locally or virtually where I could apply those skills and be happy at the same time.  I thought and thought and I was totally coming up empty.  Then a light went on.  What about working with Greg and his company?  I love working on this project with Greg.  All the people in his company were just awesome.  What if I could find a niche in his company and work directly with him?  Something that would help his business and offer my possible employment.

   So, then the gears started turning.  It would have to be something I could do remotely and preferably during standard working hours here.  I first thought I could possibly do work in social marketing.  They have a social media presence, but maybe I could improve it.  I started to look into what way I could help out there.  I began looking at their Facebook pages, Twitter accounts etc.  Then I went to their website. While checking out their training pages it hit me.  They currently offer Forex training in the UK, Australia and South Africa.  And they are very successful at it.  But what about the rest of the world?  At this point I realized I may have found a niche.  What if Knowledge to Action started offering their training virtually?  BINGO!  That’s it!  That could be my niche.  To help set-up and then help run a “virtual division” of Knowledge to Action.  If  they could train 200K people in 10 years from 3 locations, imagine how many they could train from around the globe?  I decided I was going to write up a proposal for Greg on this virtual concept.  I sent a message to Greg on Facebook and told him I had an idea that was going to “blow his socks off”.  He immediately replied and said “C’mon don’t leave me hanging”  But I told him I wanted to present it logically and I would have a proposal for our next call.  I was so excited that night, that I didn’t sleep a wink.

((Part 2, "The Research" Next))

"Here's to your success..."

Bill McManus

06/10/2014: Helping Others Not Only Impacts Their Lives, But Your Own As Well :-)

     Greg Secker has been nice enough to take this project on and act as my mentor.  Not only does Greg spend his valuable time helping me, but Greg does a great deal to help people and charities on a regular basis.  On my trip to the Uk, we discussed my desire to help others.  He said, "Why wait?  Why not start right now?  Find a way to make a difference and just do it!"  Well, I did just that.
     As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I have been mentoring two children through the icouldbe organization.  I spend an hour or so a week mentoring these under-privileged children.  The mentoring revolves around their education, but also includes mentoring in all life skills needed to be successful.  I pass on what knowledge I have from my life's journey as well as the wisdom I have gained from Greg.  I have really enjoyed my time.  One of the two kids I am mentoring is from Jamaica.  As the school year just ended, I just received the following email from him.

"i would just like to thank you for all the help and mentoring you gave me this year. I really enjoyed everything. You taught me a lot, gave me very useful advice and helped me discover a new side of myself. We had a good time this year and i just wanted you to know that your help was very much appreciated."

     That email just made my day.  It makes me feel good knowing that I have given back and made a positive impact on someone else's life.  I will continue to mentor through the icouldbe organization and hope to branch out and help children and others in different ways as I progress through this project and through my life.  I encourage everyone to make a difference by taking a little bit of time out of your life each week to make a positive influence on someone's life.  Believe me, it makes you feel good.

"Here's to your success..."

Bill McManus