Business Beyond Business
Page 9
• Remain Selfless
• Communicate Effectively
• Share Knowledge, Get Power
Please understand (you should by now) that I’m not labeling your friends who haven’t read this book as selfish poor communicators who are powerless because they’re greedy with information. It’s my belief that if you observe these three general rules consistently, you can’t help but begin to ascend to the next level. I’m not trying to be better than others. But I am trying to be different.
• We covered your conduct – become a magnet, not a pusher.
• We made you a member of the press – offer pro bono publicity to your tribe.
• We made you a community emblem – go and become active in nonprofit work so that you may profit later from unexpected sources.
• We outfitted you for connecting and making inroads with high performers, celebrities, influencers, and civic leaders. Your Dream Connections are already around you, so practice on the people you already know, and more prominent names will follow.
• We went over what you should write, how you should write it, and why it matters that you learn the art of Persuasion in Print.
• We armed you to supervise and monitor your own culture: your guest list, your news feed, and your calendar. It is time to become The Curator.
One thing I’ve learned about the business of information and knowledge is that it’s impossible to contain in one volume. If the Bible itself is not comprehensive, I don’t feel bad that I haven’t answered every question that could come up in response to what is written. As we used to say in the army, “More to follow.” (Plus, that gives you a reason to go deeper, so there’s that.)
Going Deeper
There are further stories, depths, testimonials and expert guidance available the deeper you want to go. The first thing I suggest is to put yourself through a relationship-building challenge. You can find that challenge for free at this link: http://www.thepaulsedwards.com/30-day-networking-challenge/.
(Okay, I’ll be honest … that also gets you on my email list and into my private Facebook group, where we will do our level best not to saturate your consciousness with our messages while simultaneously branding ourselves into it. There, I said it.)
There are several schools of thought on how long it takes to form a new habit. I wager very few people want to devote themselves to building relationships … which means those precious few (including you) will do it much longer than six weeks. It’s just how you are.
Should you be chosen for the Business Beyond Business Mastermind, you will have access to wise, inquiring, penetrating minds and intellects. They will challenge and stretch you to grow in your spiritual and mental agility. These men and women will become your emblems of equilibrium – balanced, tried, tested, mature, symmetrical and “beautiful” in their grace and heart toward you.
You’ll be partnered with peers who become your sources of raw and real. They will be your fellow soldiers of similar status who, through consistent conversations and engagement, will prove the most valuable (and vulnerable) allies you have. They will become the subject matter experts of your future conferences and coaching programs, if you pursue them – the Cameron Halls and Patrick Antonuccis, the Luis Diazes and the Luis Uribes.
If all that gives you enough reasons to seek membership in the Business Beyond Business Mastermind, I am honored and would be happy to begin your consideration. A full application packet is available via my website – www.thepaulsedwards.com/mastermind-application. You’re also welcome to send me direct messages over social media or email me at any of the provided links below.
Here’s me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepaulsedwards
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKQ_06HxUIKMTTU-Z9TID2g?view_as=subscriber
On Instagram: @thepaulsedwards
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepaulsedwards/
On Email: pe@thepaulsedwards.com
Or Text ‘RGE’ to 66866 to Join my List.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Relationships take years, sometimes decades, to cultivate. I have a long list of people to thank, made longer by the enormous growth and change I underwent between the first and second editions of this book.
Way back when, it was my dad, Tony Edwards, who first taught me to use the word processing software available on my Olivetti desktop computer. A gifted writer himself, he modeled the intense focus it took to write a book. He applauded and recognized my adoption of the family trade. Thanks Pops.
Some of my schoolteachers also spotted my talent with words, grammar, syntax and creative writing. Their names fade from memory now – Abraham Share, Rose Parrish, Edna Rountree, Dorothy Schneider, Nancy Beagle … very few of these were my English teachers though!
I owe Andrew Magliolo thanks for rescuing me from becoming homeless and destitute at the age of 20. Overweight, rudderless, addicted, broke and wasting away at a young age, I fell into the opportunity to be around a successful, accomplished speaker, actor and teacher. Whether or not he reads this is irrelevant; there’s no way this book would have happened if he wasn’t part of the story. He too noticed my verbal aptitude.
My uncle, John Madden (not the John Madden), became a long-lasting source of encouragement and inspiration, particularly as my life came under the authority and care of Jesus Christ. He also played an irreplaceable role in ushering my life into the presence of God, where it has never left. He prophesied and proclaimed that I was a writer after my dad’s own heart. Americans do not usually win the accolades of erudite English (or South African, in John’s case) observers. I’m honored to be among the fortunate few.
When I wore a soldier’s uniform, close spiritual and physical allies like Seth Whatley, David De Rego, Ric Brown and others kept me in the fight long after I should have expired. I regret that I spent much of the time I was in their company in such a hollow religious fog that there remains much undone on my part for their benefit. Other men in uniform who saw my talent and believed in me even while giving me a good-natured hard time about it, like Roy Clayton and Bryan Legere – these guys wouldn’t even let me quit when they called me after one too many drinks!
Professors at Pacific Lutheran University who refined my excessive verbiage deserve a nod: Amy Young, Diane Harney, Robert Wells, Art Land, and Cliff Rowe. Thank you for being vicious with my superfluous language. Too many words make me a dull communicator.
Speaking of Cliff Rowe, he connected me with Tom Tangney, Josh Kerns, Ursula Reutin, Larry Rice, Tony Miner, David Boze, Michael Medved, and everyone at KIRO/KTTH in Seattle, and John Carlson, Dojo, and Wayne’s World. I learned a boatload from all of you, and that was one of the first times networking had worked so powerfully for me. I didn’t have eyes to see it at the time, but the blindness has receded.
Over the course of six years in the insurance business, I learned countless lessons in sales, persuasion, networking and so forth from my employers and colleagues: Jeff Kearin, Jonathan Cisneros, Angela Austin, Sandy Adams, Abrann Harris, Michelle Paul, Vicki Haworth, Karolyn James, Walker Clark, Emily Flemm, Christine Graf, Lacy Andrews, Trevor Campbell, Scottie Moffett, Merri-Sue Norris and Stephanie Corcoran. None of what I’ve accomplished happens without great people working behind the scenes and sharing what they know.
I am indebted to some of my strongest local, national and international marketing allies and friends. These people, each in small but noticeable ways, paved the broken road for this book to reach editing and printing. Thank you to my friend Alan Shimamoto for planting the seed long ago, suggesting I begin presenting and speaking on the subject – and for continued interest and insight as we moved the ball down the field (#GoBroncos).
Thank you to Sara Younger, who became a protégé of sorts and showed me how motivated people can “pass you up” when you teach them what they want to know. I am very proud of you and miss bringing the magic of personal relationships to people as we once did.
My network, my fri
ends, my associates and clients: Sarah Hendry, Melanie Bakala, Andrew Barkis, Rick and Marie Nelsen, Garrett Gunderson, Michael Steadman, Mark Morgan, Terry Toth, Wes Martin, Christine Forrey, Tina Torfin, Tiana Kleinhoff, Samantha Styger, Ken McClarty, Michael Jameson, Valerie Waterland, Daryl Murrow, Sans Gilmore, Martha Wagner, Pam Pellegrino, Randy Luke, Martin McElliott, Josh and Jenny Mercer, Kevin Hayward, Brad Altman, Carlos Camargo, Matt Shields, Brandon Carter … I know I’ve forgotten some important names, but I’ll exceed the word count if I don’t slow down.
I owe my brothers from Wild at Heart Boot Camp a massive thanks for helping me shred my fear, doubt and discouragement many times – Dave Culbreath, Jeremy Tomlin, Michael Mercado and Jerry Raber. You are truly like-hearted kings with ready weapons and fierce mastery over darkness.
The priesthood at Ransomed Heart Ministries in Colorado Springs may never read this, but this book also wouldn’t exist without their massive intervention: John and Stasi Eldredge, Morgan Snyder, Bart Hansen, Craig McConnell, Allen Arnold, Alex Burton, Karen Christakis and Sam, Blaine and Luke Eldredge.
The flood of personal development mentors in my life from 2017 on has its own list of people to thank, but if there’s one expert who instigated the whole thing, it’s undoubtedly been Vince Del Monte. From coaching me out of 55 extra pounds and 15% extra body fat to helping me craft the very beginnings of my online business, I am proud to have you as a mentor and friend, as well as an ally in the Kingdom.
Riding in on this wave have come several wise and knowledgeable major influencer sources – Dan Lok, Bedros Keuilian, Craig Ballantyne, Rob Kosberg, Brittany Michalchuk and Jayson Gaignard. I have learned so much from all of you. I appreciate everything your lives and work have meant to me.
With those names have come some of my favorite people – rising stars in their industries: Luis Diaz, John Carser, Luis Uribe, Cameron Hall, Mohammed Nahoori, Rob Westra, Carolina Marrelli, Carl Marrelli, Antonella Kahler, Katie Osterhoff, David Martinez, Sam Baker, Paul Rudzik and Femi Doyle-Marshall. If peer-to-peer accountability is the best kind of accountability, imagine what peer-to-peer inspiration does? I’m excited to see where we all end up. I look forward to our own days of influence.
Closer to home, I am indebted for a lengthy overwatch from my pastors, Jon and Fawn Cobler at the Church of Living Water in Olympia. It hasn’t always been an easy job shepherding me, but you have done it with honor and grace I hope to return one day. Ditto Tim and Dhana Wimberly, Burt and Jan Smith, Steven Mulkey, Steven Purdue and the rest of the pastoral staff.
The love and support of our family from my in-laws, Bill and Beth Dignon, deserves hearty applause. Time and again, you’ve provided a lot of support, encouragement and relief to us all.
I regret that in the first edition of this book I was insufficiently grateful to my wife, Shannon, and children, Grant and Chase. This book got completed in the margins of life, and I appreciate their support and understanding as I worked to make it a reality.
But on a profoundly deeper level, I now see how incredibly fortunate I am to have Shannon. You can imagine that writing a book, launching an online business and creating a global network ain’t what it used to be … my wife handles this with such panache and grace, despite my failures and setbacks. The written word will never do justice to a supportive and faithful partner.
And God Almighty, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings – where do I even begin to acknowledge all the fruit of the Kingdom you’ve grown in me? How can I tell of your presence, your goodness and your faithfulness in my life? How would I persuade of your mighty hand moving and even writing important portions of this book? We’ve come a long way, You and me. It’d be nice to “look back and see how well I handled it all,” but we both know the truth – it’s only because of You that I’m standing here, accomplishing this, even after all my best attempts to plunge myself back into the mud.
Glory, then, is the only response fitting for you. Glory to your name. And may this book bring honor to you and your Kingdom.
- Paul