What is realityMASTERMIND? A Step Closer
October 30, 2008
Here is a quick little video we just threw together to answer some more questions, and let people know what they can expect in the next few weeks.
We got the group together in Michael’s hometown in Pasadena and actually snuck into a CULT Church grounds to film. The problem was the sound was really bad, so we will be doing a lot more videos like this in the near future with better quality! I promise!
A Closer Look at realityMASTERMIND:
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Strippers, Black Jack & Internet Marketing
October 24, 2008
There are few words in the English language that cause you to perk your head up, drop whatever you are doing, and drive for six hours through the hot desert. For myself and just about any 21-30 year old, whispering the magic word “Vegas” into your ear ilicites thoughts of debauchery, escape, and riches!
It is difficult for me to escape the Siren’s call to Sin City, yet this LAST trip to Vegas was not intended for gambling, drinking, and well…you know…
Instead, I found myself in a large conference room for three days with over 100 brilliant minds as we feaverishly took notes, networked, and shared information in what was infamously labeled JV Alert. Ken McArthur orchestrated a brilliant event with a very unique dynamic.
- Carrie Wilkerson (The Barefoot-Exec) & James Wedmore
JVALERT: Las Vegas!
As the name implies, JV Alert encourages socializing, or as I like to say, “working the room.” And for myself and the two mastermind members I dragged along (yes, I tricked them into thinking this was just another crazy weekend out on the strip until 6am every night) we found our value in the relationships we created!
We were honored by the presence of Carrie Wilkerson (The Barefoot Executive), The Legendary Joe Sugarman, Dave Lakhani, Brad Semp, Robin & Lee Collins, Paul Counts, Felicia Slattery, Mari Smith, & soo many others!!
Pee Wee’s Word of The Day:
What I’ve noticed while I have started to attend these IM Conferences, is that there is a universal theme or lesson that becomes your major Take-Away. There really was a “Word of The Day” that was hammered home by Carrie Wilkerson and others while on stage during their presentations. That word (or words) was “MASSIVE ACTION!”
For some reason, as I write this, haunting childhood imagesof a crazy Pee Wee Herman are conjoured up in my head. I feel that everytime I say the term “Massive Action,” my furniture will come to life and go insane with screams and laughter while a middle-aged Petaphile in a tacky suit & bow-tie is going to yell, “Ah! You just said the Word of the Day!”
But seriously, the terms “Massive Action” & “Action-Taker” were tossed around so much, that if I didn’t change my mindset, I should just pack up my bags and quit right now.
How do you Take Massive-Action?
I wish I really had an answer to this…but it is the question I ask myself everyday as I look down at an endless To-Do List. “How do I Take Massive Action Today?” I am extremely new in all of this, but in the beginning (yes a few months ago) I would build the website myself, design the graphics, write the copy, submit the articles (that I wrote) and every other mundane task that could be done for $4-8/hour.
It has been difficult to make this shift in my mindset, and trust me, I have been kicking and screaming like a little child the whole time. It is not as easy as you think to just “let go” and let others do the work that you know you can do better. But my time is valuable! It can’t be wasted submitting this blog post to bookmarking sites.
So, obviously outsourcing is the answer. Right Now I am trying to build a “team” of Virtual Assistants, graphic designers, and programmers who can do all the work that just zap me dry of time and energy. Yes I am running into countless new problems such as poor communication, missed deadlines, and dishonest employees, but I’m moving forward, nonetheless!
The Massive Action Mindset!
I have a long way to go before I can consider myself a Massive Action Taker, but I am headed in the right direction. To me, when an idea pops into your head, you have to act on it immediatly! Take the neccessary steps to delegate assignments and make it happen NOW! I am all about seeing an idea become a reality. Find that path of least resistance and make yours a reality too!
My father always told me that “Time is of the Essence!” well, I don’t really know what he meant by that…except that he always said it (or yelled it) to me when I was dragging my feet or taking my sweet ole’ time. But another axiom he banged into my head as a small child was, “Time is Money.” Did it really take a weekend in Vegas with a hundred other marketers saying the EXACT same thing for me to realize what my dad was talking about all these years?
And the worst part? I have to go back to my dad and say those dreaded words, “Gee Dad, all those years you harped on me with those lessons and cliche quotes…well you were right!” <–This will be a moment my Dad has already forseen and can’t wait for!! Time to put the ego aside and have a talk with good old Pops.
Stayed tuned for the PREMIER episode of realityMASTERMIND, coming soon!!
-A Random Rant by James Wedmore
P.S. In case you are wondering, we did make it out The Strip where I won $200 playing BlackJack and an additional Hundy on Roulette (always bet on Black!)
Our First Tailer: This is Our Story!
October 24, 2008
Well, who would have thought that a 1 minute trailer would take 6 hours to film, and 15 hours to edit! I know, I know, we CAN’T waste our time doing that stuff, but we still had a great time doing it. If you notice, in the video, James says “we are FIVE” yet there are only FOUR of us in the video!
OOPS! Michael couldn’t make it to the shoot that day due to a hectic work schedule. But we were adamant about getting something out to the people, and for now this trailer will have to do.
Now, since filming, we have actually added a SIXTH member (very exciting!) and we have just written the script for a new and improved TRAILER which will feature the entire group! Without further adieu, I hope you enjoy the trailer!
realityMASTERMIND | Our First Trailer
Mystery Guest
October 23, 2008
It seems that this Mastermind has really taken a life of it’s own! We have unexpectedly added a sixth member to the group, which has already shown to make an interesting & unique dynamic. Who is this mystery 6th member, and why did this person enter so late in the game (ok, 2 weeks late!) ?
Well, you will just have to wait and see! All I can say, is that it will be well worth the wait! In the meantime, take a look at the other Mastermind Member Profiles and get to the know the group!
Illuminate 2008: Christian Internet Marketer’s Conference
October 23, 2008
A few weeks ago, I boarded a plane and headed to San Francisco to join Alejandro Reyes (The Successfool), Joel Comm, Jermaine Griggs, Jeff Mills, Jason Marshall, Paul Counts, Eric Farewell, Justin Brooke, Steve Beck, Gary Zeleski & so many others, in the FIRST ever Christian Internet Marketing Conference at Alejandro’s Illuminate Conference 2008.
Why Christian Marketing?
It really doesn’t matter what religious background you have, or what you believe in. But in a fast-paced world such as the Internet, where the scammers & spammers out-number the honesty & trustworthy marketers, it is important to start your Online Business with a strong foundation with Proper Values.
Alejandro "Successfool" Reyes & James Wedmore
Joel Comm and others reminded us that Money is NOT the Root of all Evil…”It is the LOVE of Money” that is the root. So whether you are just taking your first step into this uncertain terrain of Online Marketing, or you have spent years living the successful Internet Lifestyle, ask yourself, why are you doing this? What motivates you? Greater success will come to those who have a deeper purpose than just “I want a big house, expensive car, and All-Access Membership to the Country Club.
Personally, the Illuminate conference helped me discover what some of my motivating principles are, that keep me going late at night, when I’m tired and should probably be sleeping. Hopefully, in our show, you will discover that all of the Mastermind members are doing what they are doing for more than just the money. It is all about discovering your reason “why?”
My Big Take-Away:
If the choice comes down to purchasing the next hot product or software program that has been offered by the top marketers or attending a Live Event…I will always go LIVE! Why? No expensive home study course or step-by-step guide will ever replace the amazing and powerful relationships that are created while in a room of like-minded indivuals. So many JV relationships, friendships, and product ideas were created that weekend by the attendees, I was just overwhelmed! Even though I was on information-overload, there was one gleaming lesson to be learned, that I had yet to take in to consideration. I literally needed a big sign to hit me over the head a few times before I realized what needed to change in my business…
OUTSOURCE! Thanks to Jeff Mills and many others, the word of the day (all three days) was Outsource! For many, including myself, outsourcing and outtasking is a very difficult concept to grasp, and requires a difficult shift in your mindset that has left me kicking and screaming the entire time.
Justin Brooke (SiteFling.com)
First, realize just how important your time is! Once you put a monetary value on your hourly rate, you look at a $20/hour programmer in a whole new light! For me, the real difficult part came in realizing I would just have to let go! I wanted to do it all…and I mean do it ALL! From programming, graphic design, writing, etc, I fealt that no one can do it as well as I can…ya, totally wrong!!
So it is still a difficult transition for me: I have already gone through 3 Virtual Assistants in 2 weeks(I love ODesk.com), but I am building trustful relationships with the ones that stay. More and more of those energy-sucking, mundane daily tasks are being lifted…and I am left to focus my energy on areas that are most profitable (and enjoyable!). I think my road to living the Internet Lifestyle just took one giant leap forward…although I still feel like I have a long ways to go!
-A Blog Rant by James Wedmore
The Mastermind Meltdown: Our FIRST LESSON
October 23, 2008
What I Learned From Our FIRST Meeting:
Things are moving fast, and we just had our FIRST Official Mastermind meeting Last Night! And I have to say…it was a complete disaster! We were completely unprepared and unorganized, and the entire night moved as slow as molasses. Let’s just say we decided to call it quits at 3:00am in the morning!
But We Did Learn Something:
Our Big Take-Away? DON’T START A 5 HOUR MEETING AT 10:00PM AT NIGHT….especially when everyone has work the next morning! OOPS!
Well, we did have some fun as we started to go insane, and we decided to document a bit of it with some pictures! I hope you enjoy the little slideshow!
Michael Alaniz
October 15, 2008
About me:
I have been an entrepreneur before I even knew what the word meant. I am not a “get – rich – quick” kinda guy though so I haven’t fallen for any of these internet scams promising outrageous income with little to no effort. I believe any lasting accomplishment must be carefully built on a solid foundation and that takes time and a hell of a lot of work. I think its most important to not be afraid to fail. . .a lot!
The last thing being successful is about is being perfect. I simply strive for progress. www.BartendLA.com is my first site and its product “Behind The Bar” took me 9 months to create – what an experience! There is nothing like selling a product you’ve created and hearing positive feedback from customers. Ultimately my goal is that each of my products / e-books brings value to someones life – I’m not simply in this for entertainment. I simply believe that people should be compensated for the value they bring to the marketplace / peoples lives and I intend to flood it!
Name: Michael Alaniz
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
6 Month Goal: Basically making 30k each month working part time.
Favorite Quote: ” I plan to be successful in spite of my talents”
5 years from now I will: Adding value to enough peoples lives so
in return I can live life on l My terms both financially and with my time
Why Mastermind? This is something I have been wanting to create for over a year. After meeting James we realized we were on the same page and saw no reason in wating any longer to create something like this.
Ultimately I believe people can accomplish more together than apart. Plus there’s probably going to be a lot of Happy Hours!
One Word Description: RELENTLESS
Best Attribute: My pecs, oh wait! I mean my creativity.
Worst Attribute: Letting things go. I have beat many a dead horse in my day.
James Wedmore
October 15, 2008
About Me:
Born and raised in Laguna Beach, James Wedmore has had the entrepreneurial spirit from a very early age. At the age of 7, he was watering his neighbors’ gardens for $3 an hour and then picking their fruit to sell it door to door. He graduated to full-blown Lemonade Stands just a year later where he learned his first lesson: Location, Location Location. He would set up shop in heavily trafficked construction zones or right on the edge of Golf Courses (yes he sold golf balls back to the golfers) where his customers enjoyed a variety of food and refreshments.
James made his first $11 online when he discovered a website in 1998 by the name of eBay. At this “primitive” time, there were no photos (and the cheapest digital camera cost over $500) eBay collected its dues through check or money order, and auctions cost less than $.25 per listing. For the next five years, James obsessively looked for things to market and sell on this Online Marketplace. After he had cleaned out his parents garage, he hit the streets uncovering valuable “gems” at garage sales. Eventually, James settled on classic motorcycles, which he would buy, restore and sell for a great profit.
Although women and booze distracted him for four years at college, upon graduation he has refused to get a “real job” as an employee. He has re-discovered the potential of the Internet as a source of income and he is determined to make a living online and reap all the benefits that self-employment offers.
Name: James Wedmore
Age: 25
Location: Laguna Beach, Ca
Education: BA PR/Advertising Chapman University, 2006
6 Month Goal: $40,000 in Sales
Hobbies/Interests: Crossfit, Reading, Writing, Surfing/Snowboarding
Favorite Quote: “Idleness is not doing nothing. Idleness is being free to do anything.”
5 years from now I will: Be traveling the world
Why Mastermind? From the powerful mind of Zig Ziglar, “You can have everything in life you want, if
you will just help other people get what they want.” I want to help my friends succeed in a chance to see myself grow and succeed.
One Word Description: FOCUSED
Best Attribute: Action-Taker
Worst Attribute: Very Controlling!
Matt Floryan
October 15, 2008
About Me:
Ever since I can remember growing up in Camarillo California, I always had an curious and adventurous mind. I never liked to stay stagnate too long. My brother and I were always looking for new tree houses to build or learn the newest skateboard and BMX trick. I thought this mentality might had been a phase but it has never gone away.
Throughout high school and in college I found myself in many leadership roles. I was the captain of my high school baseball team and learned many valuable lessons on encouraging and motivating my teammates. While in college I took the president role of my fraternity. This was one of the most stressful times in my life as well as a time that I really grew and gained an understanding of my positive attributes as well as my negative ones. I have always been fascinated with the internet ever since my family downloaded our first two week trial of AOL back in 1992.
The internet is the new global market place and I got a small tasted of that during my sophomore year in college. I guess I owe all my internet affiliation to fellow masterminder James Wedmore when he told me about his successful Ebay business. The summer of my sophomore year, I wanted to raise some money for the fraternity so I decided to mirror what James was doing. I was thrilled when I raised around $900 dollars at the end of that summer.
The following summer I decided to continue with Ebay for my own monetary growth. The first item I bought at a garage sale was a used surfboard. I bought it for $80 and had no idea how much it would go for on Ebay. To my surprise, the board sold for $600. From that point on I knew I had a lucrative demographic of surfboard owners in Southern California. The one problem I had, was going to garage sales to find used surfboards was time consuming and I was not finding all the boards I needed. I then turned to back to the web to solve my problem. This is when I found Craig’s List.
There were about 20 boards posted a day on this site for sale. From then on I bought the boards from a small demographic for a low price on Craig’s List and then resold them for a higher price to a large demographic on
Ebay. It was a great summer job making me some fantastic money at the time.
Name: Matt Floryan
Age: 23
Location: Ivine, Ca
Education: BA in Business Finance and BS in Film Production from Chapman
University 2008
6 month goal: $5,000, the number 2 visited site about flair bar
tending online.
Hobbies/interests: golf, working out, photography, watching movies
Favorite Quotes:
” Use what language you will, you can never say anything but what you
are.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Why Mastermind: I feel this is a great opportunity to be surrounded by smart individuals who are dedicated to a goal. With the help of everyone I am confident I will be able to gain a strong grasp of online marketing and running a successful internet business.
5 Years From Now: Running multiple online businesses as well as own a restaurant. Have purchased an apartment complex.
One word Description: PROBLEM SOLVER
Best Attribute: Reliable
Worst Attribute: Create confrontations when it is not necessary
David Grau
October 14, 2008
About Me:
Becoming and interactive designer was not what David had in mind, born on May 30th, 1984 in Irvine, CA. Looking up to both of his parents, his father is a New Yorker with a business telephone systems company (www.besttel.net) while his mother once a teacher in Oakland, CA are still happily married after 24 years. With an older sister to compete against (he claims he doesn’t) he played soccer until age 20. David participated in the Latin Club at Woodbridge High School and then applied and was accepted to Chapman University in the Fall of 2002.
During 2002, after joining nationally recognized Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity because of long time friend and roommate pressure, he’s never looked back. Going through the challenges of the pledging process, David maintained his grades with a focus on becoming a Chiropractor/Massage Therapist.
This path quickly changed as his passion for design and art took over. Changing his major to Advertising and Marketing with a focus on the creative aspect, it wasn’t until the end of 2003 that he linked up with what would be the award winning Chapman Advertising Club. Quoted as being one of his most valuable experiences, the advertising club gave him a taste of what the real world of advertising was like… and he loved it.
Not running with the norm, David partnered with a friend to start a small multimedia company which would give them the money for their partying habits, drinks and hookers (well, not the hookers). Having an eye-for-design, and a creative outlook, ideas are always coming out of his mouth. Getting inspiration everday, David usually sarcastic and always open-minded, has a passion for cars, design, and success.
Name: David Austin Grau
Age: 24
Location: Tustin, CA
Education: BA PR/Advertising Chapman University with strong focus in Graphic
Design, 2006
6 Month Goal: at least $5,000 in Sales
Hobbies/Interests: Cars, Racing, Art, Active Sports, Music, Martial Arts,
Movies
Favorite Quotes: “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business…man” – jay z
Why Mastermind: I was approached by James with the idea, and instantly
thought it was golden! I think it’s going to be extremely successful in
showing anyone can do this, no matter what stage in life you’re at. We are a
group of 5 young regular guys, with the desire to succeed. I think everyone
has been in or is at this position and wants to make something of
themselves, and now they can do it with us not after us.
5 Years from Now: Focusing on possibly a family, not worrying about
finances, and doing whatever I feel like doing.
One Word Description: Renaissance
Best Attribute: Creativity & Design
Worst Attribute: Can get distracted with other ideas
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