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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Fachliteratur
- Sprache: Englisch
Are you ready to discover your WHAT--that is, the 1 amazing thing you were born to do? Would you like to powerfully impact both those who share this lifetime with you and those of lifetimes to come? In What Is Your WHAT? author Steve Olsher reveals his proven process that has helped thousands answer YES to these life-changing questions and cultivate a life of purpose, conviction, and contribution by identifying and creating a plan of action for bringing the 1 thing they were born to do to fruition. It is a timely, step-by-step guide that will guide you towards making both a fortune and a difference sharing your unique gift with the world. * Features inspiring stories of trial, tribulation, and triumph, as well as examples of 17 public figures, such as Guy Kawasaki, Chris Brogan, and Jack Canfield who have made the critical shift from pursuing commodity-driven opportunities to honoring their singular blueprint * Author Steve Olsher is a 25+ year entrepreneur, creator/founder of The Reinvention Workshop, and award-winning author of Internet Prophets: The World's Leading Experts Reveal How to Profit Online Steve's singular approach to realizing permanent, positive change blends proprietary methods with ancient wisdom and revolutionary lessons from modern thought leaders. Leverage this proven system to discover your WHAT and realize ultimate achievement in business and life.
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Seitenzahl: 295
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013
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Table of Contents
Praise Page
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Wisdom of Curly
Your Two Choices
A Little About Me
Please Take the Shortcut
How This Book Is Organized
What You Will Achieve
Part I: Establish the Foundation
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Four Stages of Learning
Creating Your Foundation
The Four Stages of Learning
Chapter 2: The Vortex of Vulnerability
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Review of Step One
Get to the Root of the Problem
Review of Step Two
Your Life, Your Choice
Review of Step Three
Reconnecting the Disconnects
“Bonus” Step Four
The Vortex of Vulnerability: Aligning the Pieces
On to Greener Pastures
Chapter 3: The Vortex of Invincibility
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Review of Step One
Review of Step Two
Circle of Four
Review of Step Three
“Bonus” Step Four
The Vortex of Invincibility: Assembling the Puzzle
The Completion of Stage One
Chapter 4: The Next Stages of Learning
Bringing to Light the Choices You Make
Stage Three: Conscious Competence
I Think, Therefore I Think
Stage Four: Unconscious Competence
Life in The Zone
Living in a State of Unconscious Competence
The Four Stages of Learning: Summary
Chapter 5: The Pinnacle
Design Your Ideal Life
The Downward Slide
Maslow Meets The Pinnacle
Level One
Level Two
Level Three
Level Four
Level Five
Word Is Bond
Establish the Foundation—In Closing
Part II: Realize Permanent, Positive Change
Chapter 6: The Seven Life-Altering Principles (The S.L.A.P.)
Realize Permanent, Positive Change
Entering Uncharted Territory
Chapter 7: Life-Altering Principle #1: YNo
Living with YNo
An Example of a YNo Moment
The You of Today Affects the You of Tomorrow
Chapter 8: Life-Altering Principle #2: Reclaim the Canyon
The Power of the Pause
Communication as Manipulation
Take the Initiative
Chapter 9: Life-Altering Principle #3: The Sufficiency Theory
The Utopian Myth
The Sufficiency Paradigm Shift
Feel Content by Imagining You've Achieved Your Goals
Do Things Aligned with Who You Want to Become
Reach Your Goals
An Example of the Sufficiency Paradigm Shift
Chapter 10: Life-Altering Principle #4: Retrain Your Brain
Life as a Blank Slate
Free Yourself of Generalizations
Compression = Depression
The Gift of Your Pre-Sent Future
The Voice of Conjecture
Your Very Own Crystal Ball
Chapter 11: Life-Altering Principle #5: The Altar of Jack's Cathedral
Clearly Identify Your Vision and Make It Known
The Vitality Curve
Make a Plan to Address Your Bottom 10 Percent
Examine What You've Listed Under Your Vital 70 Percent
Consider Your Top 20 Percent
Six Sigma
Boundaryless Behavior
More Wisdom from Jack Welch
Chapter 12: Life-Altering Principle #6: The Not-So-Golden Rule
Motive Does Matter
Let Love Rule
Chapter 13: Life-Altering Principle #7: The Slow Death of Not Being the Star
Take Inventory of Your Current Distractions
The Two Ways to Use Your Time
Creation from Scratch
Defining What It Means to Be the Star
Get a Bigger Plate
Don't Feed the Trolls
How Do I Begin the Process of Being the Star?
Realize Permanent, Positive Change—In Closing
Part III: Become Who You Were Born to Be
Chapter 14: What Is Your WHAT?—An Introduction
The WHAT Conundrum
The Four Types of People
Dealing with Fear
Chasing Versus Creating the Opportunity
Your WHAT Is Waiting
Chapter 15: Identifying Your WHAT: Step One
Step One: Things You Love to Do
Step Two: Things You Hate to Do
Step Three: The Seven Seeds of Your Soul
Chapter 16: Identifying Your WHAT: Steps Two and Three
Identify Your Vehicle—Step Two
What Is Your WHAT?—Step Three
Choosing Your Audience
What Is Your WHAT?—The Final Step
Chapter 17: You've Found Your WHAT. . .Now What?!
Find Those Who Are Waiting for You
Creating a Postcard for Your Business
Nail Your Niche
Café Du Monde's Beignets
Allstar Electrical Services
Sean Rich of Tortuga Trading
The Game Plan
Identify Your Ultimate Objective
Identify the Steps That Lead to Your Ultimate Objective
Begin
The Transition
A Final Thought About Your WHAT
Chapter 18: Forge Your Path, Create Your Legacy
The Beginning of Your Journey
A Final Word
The End of Our Journey Together
In Closing
About the Author
Praise for What Is Your WHAT?
“Every once in a while a book comes along that stands out in its ability to really help people. If you are one of those people who feels unsatisfied with your work or still haven't figured out what you want to do when you grow up, read this book, do the brilliantly constructed exercises and watch your life transform.”
—Jack Canfield
Cocreator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and coauthor of The Success Principles
“This isn't a book as much as it is a road map. It takes you on a journey where you'll meet the most interesting character in the universe (Spoiler Alert: It's YOU). But the YOU that embarks upon this journey will not be the same YOU that reaches the horizon…in fact, What Is Your WHAT? will specifically guide you, step-by-step toward something most people never discover…and with this discovery you can, as Steve Jobs suggested, ‘put a dent in the universe.’ This book clearly puts the author, Steve Olsher, in the Who's Who of What's What.”
—Dan HollingsMarketing Strategist www.danhollings.com(best known for his work with “The Secret,” Zero Cost Marketing Secrets, and Email Clockstar)
“We are told the biggest regret shared by people in the last days of life is that they did not live an authentic life. Busy living out the expectations of others, they tried to be ‘responsible’ and ‘practical,’ but missed the one thing that would have made them great. In this timely book, Steve draws from the examples of people living their WHAT to give each of us a step-by-step process for living authentically. Prepare to become who you were born to be.”
—Dan MillerNew York Times best-selling author of 48 Days to the Work You Love
“In every generation, there are a mere handful of books that truly stand out to people looking to get ahead in life in a positive and uplifting way. Steve Olsher's What Is Your WHAT? is in that elite field and needs to be read (make that devoured!) and applied today.”
—Ric ThompsonHealthy Wealthy nWise
“I believe we are all created by God with a unique set of passions, talents, skills, abilities, personality, and presence that make us unique. That means you are the only one that can bring your unique value to the world! In What Is Your WHAT?, Steve Olsher helps you identify and move forward into what you were born to do. That fire burning inside you? It's calling you to impact the world. Do it!”
—Joel CommNew York Times best-selling author www.JoelComm.com
“I spent years figuring out what I was meant to do and it boiled down to a simple idea of helping others live their Full Potential. Steve has simplified the process and asks important questions that will help you go deeper in less time. If you're like me and tend to be overly analytical, this book will help you overcome perceived obstacles and take action. You don't choose your ‘one thing,’ it chooses you…and similarly, you don't choose this book…it chooses you!”
—James Rick, “Mr. Full Potential”Founder of FullPotential.com
“Far too many struggle with defining who they are and what they were put here to do. In What Is Your WHAT? Steve Olsher shows you exactly how to tap into your natural wiring so you can monumentally impact not only those who share this lifetime with you, but also those of lifetimes to come.”
—Bill Renkosik (aka Bad Boy Bill)International DJ and Producer www.badboybill.com
“If you're ready to learn a blueprint for discovering your true talents, skills, and abilities, then read and absorb the strategies in this book by Steve Olsher!”
—James MalinchakFeatured on ABCs Hit TV Show Secret Millionaire; Coauthor, Chicken Soup for the College Soul; Founder, www.BigMoneySpeaker.com
“Following the existential question of ‘Why am I here?’ that each of us strives to understand is the as-important ‘What is my WHAT?’ Avoid starting with the enigmatic ‘Why,’ and rather, seek your ‘WHAT.’ When you discover it, you'll undoubtedly realize deeper meaning, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose unlike anything you've ever known!”
—Mike MuhneyCoinventor of ACT! Contact Management software; CEO and Inventor of VIPorbit Mobile Relationship Management software www.MikeMuhney.com and www.vipOrbit.com
“Some people are just lucky…they immediately know who they are and what they were born to do. For us mere mortals, the process is typically a journey—one of trial and error. Identifying who you are and WHAT you were born to do can be daunting. With Steve Olsher's book, What Is Your WHAT?, you no longer have to go it alone. The answers you need are right here.”
—Bryan Toder, The No Fear Guywww.TheNoFearZone.com
“In What Is Your WHAT? Steve Olsher shows you how to move from being awake to being ALIVE. Seriously…life is short. Read this book, discover what you were born to do, share your gifts with the world, and get paid extraordinarily well for what you would gladly do for free.”
—Suzanne Evanswww.SuzanneEvans.org
“If you've been frustrated with the direction of your life and there is a part of you that knows you are meant for something bigger, What is Your WHAT? is a must read! Why continue to try and figure things out on your own when Steve can show you the way?!”
—Joe AmoiaThe Smarter Dating Guy; Creator of Smarter Dating for Women www.SmarterDatingForWomen.com
“Moving into our own unique focus is not a luxury, living authentically demands that we move onto our own path. Yes we get to fill in the blank! Moving to that which whispers to us, demands our attention and ultimately leverages our best is what we are designed to do and through these remarkable stories and exercises, Steve Olsher provides evidence on authentic living being the best measurement of success.”
—Deb InginoStrength Leader www.StrengthLeader.com
“What is Your WHAT? will make a positive difference in your life. If you've ever wondered, ‘Why am I here and how can I turn my joy into my job?’—this book shows you how. Read it and reap.”
—Sam HornAuthor of POP! and SerenDestiny®www.SamHorn.com
“What Is Your WHAT? encourages you to hone in on the one trait every successful entrepreneur I have interviewed on my top-ranked business podcast EntrepreneurOnFire has…FOCUS: Follow One Course Until Success. We all have the ability to be AMAZING at one thing if we put our mind and heart to it. Podcasting is my WHAT. What is yours?”
—John Lee Dumaswww.EntrepreneurOnFire.com
“Steve Olsher has been helping people discover their WHAT for years. His powerful tools and technologies are only exceeded by his inspirational voice and from-the-heart encouragement and coaching. Steve has inspired me personally, and I know he will inspire you too.”
—Christopher Van BurenLaunchMoxie, Inc. www.LaunchMoxie.com
“Identifying the ONE thing you were born to do and sharing this gift with the world is both your obligation and your birthright. What Is Your WHAT? not only teaches you precisely how to tap into your inherent blueprint but also to understand how you're uniquely wired to excel. I highly recommend reading it.”
—David RiklanFounder of www.SelfGrowth.com, # 1 Self Improvement Website on the Internet
“Steve has created the ultimate guide on self-discovery and formulates a vortex of personal purpose and practical application. It's apparent that his WHAT was designed to ignite the fire in many souls to serve the world in whatever capacity they choose.”
—Erika Gilchrist, “The Unstoppable Woman”www.ErikaGilchrist.com
“You wish you knew how certain people became successful and could apply a process to your own life to get results. This book tells the story of successful people but more importantly teaches you how to duplicate their success by applying principles and strategies. Read it and watch your life change.”
—Andy TraubAuthor, The Early To Rise Experience Serieswww.takepermission.com
“In a world full of fuzziness and confusion, this book is like a tiny grenade of clarity. Sharp, smart, and to the point, it's a perfect way to figure out your WHAT.”
—Jon AcuffNew York Times best-selling author of Startwww.JonAcuff.com
“Stop passively going through life and start really living! What is Your WHAT? provides easy-to-implement solutions that will transform your life into one with great meaning and happiness.”
—Elizabeth Lombardo, PhDBest-selling author of A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happinesswww.AHappyYou.com
“Steve Olsher has done a stellar job in reminding us of the key to really engaging with our life and work. A direct, engaging, and useful manual for connecting with our own unique signatures, and why that matters.”
—David AllenInternational best-selling author, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivitywww.DavidCo.com
“Most people don't say ‘YES’ to what truly puts fire in their soul. Too often, they're living small and take misguided actions because they have yet to identify their WHAT—the ONE thing they were born to do. Until your WHAT becomes clear, you'll continually be led astray by distractions. Read this book, discover your WHAT, and say YES to life!”
—Loral LangemeierThe Millionaire Maker www.LiveOutLoud.com
“Most people who ask themselves, ‘What is my purpose in life?’ go blank. Steve's book provides a definitive map to answer that question and most importantly shines a light on the final destination. What Is Your WHAT? takes you on a new journey of self-discovery and, ultimately, leads you to discover what you were born to do.”
—Steven AitchisonAuthor of Change Your Thoughtswww.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog
“I'm a rabid fan of self-employment as the greatest vehicle for freedom in today's culture. After years of consulting with hundreds of people trying to go from traditional employment to ‘free agency’ and often running aground, I realized most failed business attempts come as a result of personal issues. Not understanding one's place in the world…the WHAT…is at the epicenter. Steve hooked me in his introduction through his personal story, fervor, and wisdom. This will be a foundational book in my business arsenal for helping my members.”
—Kevin MillerFounder of www.freeagentacademy.com
“Challenging, thought-provoking and insightful—a great exploration into becoming the you who you are meant to be.”
—Randy GageAuthor of the New York Times best seller, Risky Is the New Safe
“Until you retrain the brain and transform your self-view, you'll continue to sabotage. Olsher helps you identify your best self and harness that power to fuel your breakthrough!”
—Lisa Jimenez M EdBest-selling author of Conquer Fear! and Radical Transformation!www.Rx-Success.com
“Steve Olsher's concept and method for finding your WHAT is brilliant. We have an obligation to ourselves to pursue our passion and share our unique gifts with the world. This collection of stories from Steve's network of experts is sure to inspire and motivate readers to discover their WHAT and start living the life they were meant to live.”
—Robin JayAward-winning Filmmaker, www.TheKeyMovies.com
“What Is Your WHAT? guides you to achieve clarity and focus while empowering you to maximize your life production and quality. Read it and win.”
—Dr. Bob WrightCoauthor, Beyond Time Management and Business with Purpose
“If you're tired of wandering aimless in the world and have been searching for a solution to help you connect to your passion, What is Your WHAT? is a brilliant masterpiece that will transform your life and empower you to realize your highest potential.”
—Robbie TolkFounder of Secrets to Healing www.SecretsToHealing.com
Cover image: DNA © iStockphoto.com/luismmolina
Cover design: Wiley
Copyright © 2013 by Steve Olsher. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.
Trademarks of Steve Olsher and Bold Enterprises are not designated in the text of this book. The following are trademarks of Steve Olsher and Bold Enterprises and may not be used without permission:
Hone It to Own It!™
NICHETIZE™
The Destination Is the Road. The Journey Is the Destination.™
The Pinnacle Pyramid™
The Pre-Sent Future™
The Seven Seeds of Your Soul™
The S.L.A.P.™ (The Seven Life-Altering Principles)
The Sufficiency Theory™
The Vitality Curve™
The Vortex of Invincibility™
The Vortex of Vulnerability™
What Is Your WHAT?™
YNo™
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
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ISBN: 978-1118-64404-1 (cloth)
ISBN: 978-1-118-65341-8 (ebk)
ISBN: 978-1-118-65331-9 (ebk)
To the bold and fearless who pursue their WHAT with strategic abandon and have the courage to massively impact both those who share this lifetime with them and also those of generations to come.
The world is waiting for you.
Acknowledgments
There are many people who've supported me on my journey. My heartfelt thanks goes to the following:
Lena, the love of my life, who makes the world a better place to be, always keeps me on point with her guidance, support, and compassion, and had the courage to pursue her
WHAT
at age 40 even though it meant starting completely over.
My three sons, Bobby, Isaiah, and Xavier, for helping me to recognize that love truly knows no bounds.
Mom, Al, Sylvia, Irv, Dad, and Barb (who created the visuals for
The Pinnacle Pyramid, The Vitality Curve
, and
The Circle of Four
), for helping to make me the man that I am.
Elizabeth Nichols, for your incredible graphics and ability to create visual representations of my often difficult to decipher thoughts.
Hy Bender, the world's best editor, for continuing to teach me the difference between writing and being a writer.
Rania El-Sorrogy, for envisioning the modified Pinnacle Pyramid.
Team Bold—Lori, Adam, Brittney, and Sean—for absolutely everything you do to empower others to discover and monetize their unique Gifts.
I love and appreciate each of you and could not have written this book without you.
You forever have my gratitude.
Introduction
I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
—Edward Everett Hale
Have you ever wondered why we so dearly love the story of Cinderella, the downtrodden servant who becomes a princess? Or the tale of Luke Skywalker, a humble farm boy who becomes the savior of the galaxy?
If you think deeply about their stories, you'll realize that while they undergo great transformations, they don't change from being one type of person to being an entirely different person.
Instead, they start out with their inherent greatness suppressed by difficult childhoods and buried by harsh circumstances. Over the course of their adventures, however, they learn to shed the shackles of their past and become their true selves—leaders, inspirational figures, and heroes.
The central message of these stories has great resonance for all of us. As we endure life's hardships, we tend to lose touch with our inner greatness. We start to make distasteful compromises, settle for less, and become people different from our deepest selves.
What Is Your WHAT? empowers you to follow the examples of Cinderella and Luke. If you diligently work through this book's exercises, you'll discover your true potential, become who you were born to be, and achieve profound fulfillment and success.
This will benefit not only you, but the lives of everyone you touch. Once you shed your skin and dump your baggage, you'll possess the magic to positively affect an incredible number of people.
Examples of this process go well beyond fairy tales. Consider the journeys of Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., three of the most revered and influential people of the past century.
None was born rich or powerful, but each tapped into a personal blueprint to access natural Gifts; determined the best way, or Vehicle, to make use of those Gifts; figured out who their primary audience was for those Gifts; and then moved Heaven and Earth to share those Gifts with the world.
In other words, they discovered their WHAT, pursued their WHAT with strategic abandon, and persevered until they provided the benefits of their WHAT to those who needed it most.
This is a path that's been followed since the beginning of mankind to achieve dramatic success. It's a model you can, and absolutely should, leverage.
If you have yet to identify your WHAT, don't worry; you will by the time you're done with this book. And in the meantime, you're far from alone.
The tragic truth is most people will reach their deathbeds without taking even one of the three steps to self-fulfillment; they will fail to recognize they were put on this planet to achieve something amazing.
A small number will manage two of the steps. And a very, very small percentage will accomplish all three.
This is in part why so many people are obsessed with celebrities who appear to be “living the dream.” How else can we explain the tremendous popularity of shows about becoming successful in Hollywood, or why some people will spend hours in the rain just to catch a glimpse of a movie or TV star?
We're naturally attracted to those we believe are living their lives to the fullest: people who touch our souls, inspire us to take action, and are living their WHAT.
The good news is there's no privileged secret you must magically uncover in order to join the ranks of those “living the dream.” All you have to do to achieve happiness and prosperity is discover your WHAT, work your tail off, and share your Gifts with the world.
It really is that simple. The world is waiting for you.
The Wisdom of Curly
There are numerous ways to describe your WHAT. One of my all-time favorites can be found in 1991's City Slickers.
In this movie, Mitch Robbins (played by Billy Crystal) takes a break from his busy Manhattan lifestyle to vacation at a dude ranch in the country in an effort to “find himself” and work his way out of a mid-life funk. During this journey, he meets Curly Washburn (played by Jack Palance), who represents everything Mitch is not: carefree, tough as nails, and—most importantly—centered.
I've seen thousands of movies in my life, but there are only a handful that really hit home. What most stuck in my mind from City Slickers was a scene that immediately seemed oddly profound, but I didn't take in its full meaning until years later.
It involves Curly and Mitch, each riding horseback, conversing about life. If you haven't seen the movie, try to imagine a tough, no-nonsense old cowboy wearing a black cowboy hat, red bandana around his neck, black riding gloves, and a lit cigarette hanging tenuously from the corner of his mouth. His voice sounds like it was passed down from Moses, and he talks with the confidence of a man who's seen and lived it all.
In comparison, Mitch is a small, unassuming city guy who's wearing a New York Mets baseball cap, and a shirt and khakis that might've come from L.L. Bean. The best way to describe the difference between them is this eloquent comment Curly makes to Mitch earlier in the movie: “I crap bigger than you.”
In the scene that had the greatest impact on me, Curly says, “You city folk, you worry about a lot of shit.”
Mitch replies, “Shit?! My wife basically told me she doesn't want me around.”
Curly chuckles. “Is she a redhead?”
“I'm just saying—”
Curly interrupts. “How old are you…38?”
“39.”
“Yeah. You all come here at about the same age with the same problems. Spend about 50 weeks a year getting knots in your rope, and then you think two weeks out here will untie them for you. None of you get it. Do you know what the secret of life is?”
“No, what?”
Curly smiles and holds up one finger: “This.”
“Your finger?”
Still holding up one finger, Curly says, “One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean shit.”
Mitch holds up his own finger. “That's great. But what's the one thing?”
Curly says, “That's what you've got to figure out….” And then he rides away.
Curly calls it your “One Thing.” I call it your WHAT. It doesn't matter what you call it. You just need to figure out what it is.
Your Two Choices
You now have two choices:
You may be thinking there's just no way the latter is true. For example, if you work with numbers, you might say to yourself, “Spend the next 50 years with clients running spreadsheets, filing tax returns, or planning retirement portfolios? Absolutely not!”
But if you grew up with a flair for math and solving complex equations resonates to your core, then being an accountant or financial planner could be what you are truly compelled to do.
That said, there have been skilled number crunchers who started as part-time bookkeepers and ended up creating financial sector-related endeavors that earned millions.
You don't have to consciously take the three steps to your WHAT to realize your path. Some lucky people naturally find it right away, while others make subtle adjustments over the course of years until they're where they need to be. Still others make an abrupt 180° turn at some point and start a whole new career.
An example of the latter is Dr. Joe Amoia of Emerson, New Jersey. Joe spent tens of thousands of dollars and more than 15 years of his life becoming a licensed chiropractor, opening his own practice, and developing hundreds of loyal patients. If you'd asked him eight years ago whether he'd be dropping his practice and changing careers, he would've laughed at you.
But, today, Joe is the Smarter Dating Guy—a dating and relationship strategist who coaches single women on how to find love.
Why would a successful doctor willingly walk away from what he'd worked so hard to attain? What empowered him to start over from scratch?
He discovered the one thing he was born to do. And once he identified his WHAT, virtually everything else became trivial.
Your WHAT isn't something you choose. Your WHAT has chosen you.
In contrast, the vast majority of people never find their path…mostly because they refuse to recognize it exists.
Even when clients are interested enough to attend my workshops, there are always some who resist the concept. They ask:
It saddens me when people resist discovering who they are and the Gifts they possess. It saddens me even more, however, that some of our world's best minds and most passionate souls have identified their WHAT but are stuck in situations that deprive them of the opportunity to fully achieve their greatness.
If you're reading this from the comfort of an easy chair, a park bench on a beautiful day, or your favorite coffeehouse, count your blessings. Recognize that anything and everything you desire can be yours—because you possess the freedom to pursue your destiny.
Put away all excuses. Be grateful for the opportunities available to you and, most importantly, prepare yourself for a life-altering journey.
A Little About Me
I grew up in Evanston, Illinois, a child of modest beginnings. My parents divorced when I was seven. My brother, sister, and I lived with my mom, who did her best to raise us on a limited income.
I started working at age 10. I took on all kinds of odd jobs—shoveling snow, raking leaves, mowing lawns. If it paid anything, I grabbed it.
In high school I had a 4.0 GPA. I'm not talking Grade Point Average, but Girls Per Attempt. In other words, for every 10 girls I asked out, I averaged four dates.
That actually wasn't bad for a short wannabe player with a frizzy mullet and a gold hoop earring (see Figure I.1). During high school I waited tables, pumped gas, fixed cars, played drums, stocked shelves, worked in restaurants, and even sold speakers out of the back of a van.
Figure I.1 Steve in High School
During my freshman year of college, I began to DJ, and eventually became good enough to spin in the clubs throughout Illinois. This led to my sharing the stage with some of the biggest DJs in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Bad Boy Bill and Julian Jumpin' Perez.
At age 20, I opened The Funky Pickle! on the main drag in Carbondale, Illinois, just off the campus of Southern Illinois University. The Pickle was a unique concept—a no-alcohol nightclub in the middle of Carbondale's alcohol-suffused nightlife. At first glance, it seemed like a huge mistake, but I had a plan.
I knew the local teenagers had very few options for entertainment. So from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., we catered to those under the age of 18. At 11:30 p.m. we closed, cleaned the place up, reopened at midnight and catered to those 18 and over…often until 6:00 a.m.
By city ordinance, bars that served alcohol had to close at 1:30 a.m. Given that we didn't have a liquor license, we could stay open all night long—and we had plenty of customers who appreciated that. Ultimately I had a falling out with my business partner, but with this first success, my entrepreneurial fire was fully ablaze.
I've since gone on to build multiple million-dollar businesses in various fields, including Liquor by Wire (starting as a catalog company, then launching on CompuServe's Electronic Mall in 1993, and becoming one of the first ecommerce websites in 1995); Liquor.com (as cofounder and chairman); and Bold Development (a real estate development company that focuses on adaptive reuse) and I have applied creative approaches to each endeavor.
Not all of my ventures have proven fruitful and I've experienced monumental ups and downs. I've gone through financial ruin, divorce, and battles with depression. But I've also fallen back in love, been blessed with three wonderful children, and built very successful companies.
I've been married to my wife Lena since 1997 and have three incredible sons. Nothing teaches you more about life than love. Love requires patience, kindness, and selflessness—traits that don't always come naturally to me. I work at it every day. And while I often make mistakes, the look of disappointment in the eyes of someone I love always brings me back to center.
Since August 2000, I've trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under one of its true grandmasters—Carlson Gracie Jr.—and the late Carlson Gracie Sr.
Carlson Gracie Jr. is a legend in the sport, having won 10 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu championships, and is a member of the family that put Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on the international map. If you're unfamiliar with Jiu-Jitsu, it's a ground-fighting technique in which the objective is to force your opponent to surrender. This subtle persuasion takes place as a result of chokes or limb manipulation (think broken arms, legs, ankles, elbows, etc.). Being choked to the point of unconsciousness and having limbs twisted in directions you never thought humanly possible has resulted in my learning humility and respect in the most painful of ways.
In early 2009, everything shifted. My stepfather, who'd raised me since I was 10, was home in bed dying. The illness he'd fought against for years was finally winning. As we sat together, I held his hand. Though he could no longer verbally express himself, I believe he spoke to me through our physical connection.
A vision of my funeral flashed before my eyes. As I was being lowered into the earth in the dark, damp casket, I could hear the words spoken graveside: “Here lies Steve Olsher. He dedicated his life to chasing the almighty dollar.” That's all that was said.
It was a huge wake-up call that slammed me with the force of a kick to the head. I began to think about what accomplishments I could look back on at the end of my life that would make me feel proud. Interestingly, none of them involved making money.
I'd always had a nagging feeling I was meant to do something extraordinary. The funeral vision made clear that the path I'd forged was leading me away from my natural talents. I was being told to change course. I faced what I now call a YNo (pronounced Yay-No) moment. It's a pivotal moment of truth that can lead you in either of two directions:
I've since learned there's a significant difference between living well and living for the sake of making money.
