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

06/05/2014: Forex Coaching session - Trends

     I just got off my Forex coaching call with Emmanuel.  It was a great session!  We spent the entire session digging deeper into identifying market trends.  We use Teamviewer so we are able to share screens and draw on each others desktops.
    We first discussed the importance of using the 200 Moving Average on the weekly chart to identify the overall trend.  We then jumped to look at the correlation of the 100 Moving Average on the daily chart.  He emphasized the importance of having all 4 EMAs in order 200/100/20/10.
     We went through various currency pairs and he had me identify the trends.  He said I was "spot on" on identifying all of them.  He then picked some charts and had me go through the daily charts and identify where I would have made my entries based on the underlying trend and the current price in relation to the 20 and 100 Moving averages.
     We finished off the session by reviewing High Test and Low Test bars, aka "Pin Bars".  Emmanuel had showed me these when I was in the UK, but I wanted to review to make sure I understood the criteria.
     I do not have another coaching session with Emmanuel for 3 weeks due to his schedule.  My assignment for the next 3 weeks is to focus on identifying strong market trends.  He said I should focus on taking QUALITY trades and do not worry about QUANTITY.  He said even if I only take a few trades it is ok, just focus on identify trends and quality entries.
   All is all it was a great session.  Very informative.  Emmanuel rocks!

"Here's to you success..."

Bill McManus

06/04/2015: The New 2 Year Journey Begins!

     Well, my corporate account is finally set-up.  There was some issues in getting it set-up, but I am now ready to start trading this account.  I actually placed a pending short order on the EURGBP last night, but it was not triggered.  I have another coaching session with Emmanuel tomorrow.  The plan is to review market trend identification in more detail.  Like the old saying says: "The trend is your friend"  It is one of the most important concepts, so it will be time well spent.


I have a meeting tomorrow morning with Greg to layout my 2 year plan for his 50 Millionaires Challenge.  I am #1 on the list.  The timing for this coincides well with the Making of a Millionaire Project.
    While I was in the UK, Greg encouraged me to surround myself with successful, like-minded people.  So, I decided to start a local "Master Mind" entrepreneur group. I talked to a few entrepreneur friends in the area and we will be holding monthly meetings.  The goal of the group is to share ideas, provide support and help one another and just keep each other motivated in what can be a challenging field.  We will be holding our first meeting next Tuesday.  I hope to grow the group and challenge the group to help others.  With the help of the group I hope to start a Children's Leadership program like Knowledge to Action has in the UK.

"Here's to your success"

Bill McManus

05/19/2014: Preparations for the 50 Millionaire Challange

     I was told that I would be receiving a contract for the Forex Account I will be trading sometime today.  This will be the last administrative piece before I get started on this 2 year journey.
     I have scheduled regular training sessions with my coach Emmanuel out into July.  He will be working with me to keep me on track.   I believe the project goal is to average about 3% profit on the account on a monthly basis.
     I am excited to get started and I am proud to be the first of Greg's 50 future millionaires on this project.  I am sure it is going to be an educational and exciting ride.  But, as I stated before, it fits perfectly with the Making of a Millionaire book project.
     I will be doing my best to also work other parallel projects with Greg to accelerate the project.  I have one in the works right now which I will post about later on today or tomorrow.

"Here's to your success"

Bill

05/16/2014: Assertiveness Pays Off.

     Introducing Arnold, my new assertive alter-ego.  I have begun to assert myself as necessary.  After my last meeting with Greg, I did as he recommended and sent him and email and copied Bridgette on the items we had agreed up.  He had agreed to set me up for unlimited trainings with my Forex trainer Emmanuel.  He also agreed to set me up with a funded Forex account to trade as part of his new 50 Multi Millionaires Challenge.  Also, as instructed, I set a deadline of the end of last week to get the items addresses.
    Well, at the end of last week, the training had not been set-up, nor had the account been funded.  So, in order to get the items addressed, I needed to take some assertive action.  My first step was to send the above picture to Greg on FaceBook with the following message:  Mr. Secker. I am Arnold, Bill's new assertive alter-ego. I was told you and he had an agreement last week regarding setting up training and a funded account. I was also told that you have not followed through on that agreement as of yet. I am here with a friendly reminder. But if I have to "I'll Be Back..."   I like to use humor where possible.  I thought it might be a subtle, effective and memorable way to get some action. Well, I saw that Greg had viewed the message, but I did not hear from him.  I knew his assistant Bridgette was out of town and was due back this Monday.   So, I figured I would wait and he would probably have her address this on her return.
     At close of business on Monday, I checked and still nothing had been set-up.  On Tuesday morning I checked again and still nothing.  Being afternoon in the UK, I knew that there was ample time to begin addressing the items, so I decided to contact Greg and Bridgette and ask for a status. I sent the following email.

Hello Greg & Bridgette!

    A week has passed, so I am checking in to see if I can get a status on the training and account set-up per my agreement with Greg last week as referenced in my email below.  Can I please get an update?  Is there anything you need from me?  If so, please let me know.  Thank you and have a great day!

Bill

     Well, it worked because on Wednesday I as copied on an email from Bridgette to have the account set up as well as the training.  As of this morning, the training sessions have been set-up and the account is in process.  So, going forward I will be assertive, but handle it in a tactful manner.  This was way I ca get things done and not ruffle too many feathers.

    So, I am ready to start as #1 of the 50 in the Multi Millionaire Challenge.   What a better fit for the Making of a Millionaire Project.  I am going to set-up a  meeting with Greg to layout the 2 year plan.

"Here's to your success!"

Bill

05-06-2014: I'm Back! Assertiveness is the key!!

Assertiveness!  That's what I have been missing.  The diminishing number of posts over the months, to the total lack over the last 2 months was all due to lack of assertiveness.

     I had a great call with Greg today.  Probably the most important one yet.  He asked how I have been doing in general.  Well, I told him, "to tell you the truth, I am frustrated.  We started this project about 5 months ago and I feel like you aren't on board and I feel like I am not even on your radar."  I hated to even say those words as I was afraid I might upset him and he may bid me farewell.

     Well, come to find out, he has been waiting for me to be assertive and take the reigns and control over the project and my life.  He said he is indeed busy, but I need to demand his time.  And if we agree to something on the call, I have to get with his PA Bridgette, or whoever I need to do get it addressed.  I have just been waiting around.

     I admit it.  I guess I am too nice a guy by nature.  I have been told by many a manager that I am "too nice" to my customers or my people.  Maybe I am nice to a fault.  But Greg told me you can be assertive and go after what you want and still be nice.  He said he lives under the phrase "I would rather beg for forgiveness than ask for permission"  Well, I have been spending my whole life waiting around and asking for permission to be successful.  That stops today!  Today I am going to start being more assertive and take control of my destiny, rather than waiting around on others.

     I am back folks and this project is on track and the future is very bright!

"Here's to your success"

Bill McManus

03/11/2014: Perseverance

Perseverance: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.

I stumbled upon this statue depicting perseverance.  I think it captures it perfectly.

Sometimes the anchor becomes very heavy. My anchor is very heavy today...