So how do we do that? Do we manufacture them? Train them?
How do we create more Tony Robbins, more Tom Bilyeus, more Tim Ferrisses... or how do we even get more people to listen to their wisdom?
Two percent of the population is interested in self development.
Two freakin' percent.
Those are rookie numbers.
I want two percent to NOT be interested in self development.
So how do we do that?
Quick show of hands: How many of you reading this have been to a self development seminar like Tony's UPW?
Now, of those of you who raised your hands... answer me this: How many of you can think of a single person who would NOT benefit from going to that seminar?
(Insert cricket noises here)
Can you think of anyone?
ANYONE?
The problem clearly isn't the quality of the event. So why is only 2% of the population attending?
CASE 1: They just don't think of it.
Like martial arts, there's an element of serendipity associated with self improvement. It's something that, for the majority of practitioners, was done on a whim, or recommended by a friend. Rarely does someone have the drive to do all the work without... a coincidence. A thread they are intrigued to pull and see where it leads.
CASE 2: They're against it, or have misconceptions about it.
What if I hate it? What if it sucks? What if it's BORING as hell!? I don't wanna be stuck in a room full of hype-men telling me positive thinking will solve all the problems in my life! I don't want to look stupid for paying all this money for something I already knew was BS!
THE SOLUTION
In my opinion, the problem is that there's no gateway drug. Jumping from nothing to Tony takes a huge leap of faith. There's the time commitment, the financial commitment, the fear that you won't be able to do whatever it is he'll have you do, and, let's face it - it's probably a scam, right?We need an experiential gateway drug for people to sample. Something to pull them into the world of mastery and wrench them from their seats of mediocrity.
Okay, so what is that?
I call that gateway drug Mindsettertainment. And it is this blog's purpose to shine a light on all forms of entertainment that the viewer walks away better from the experience. I wrote my own book that tackles this challenge called The Shard Chronicles - it has explosions, fighting, boobs, swearing and... mindset.
And because the protagonist is experiencing it... even resisting it at first... the reader aligns with them, and experiences the growth with them.
Experiential learning is always better than observational learning - and a good book makes you feel as though you're actually there.
Will it hit as hard as a three day Tony Robbins concert? Probably not. But I would suggest that a person would gradually gain more and more interest in attaining said event once the gateway drug is in their system.
For me, it only took a few samplings of what these amazing visionaries and coaches had to offer before I was hooked.
The goal of The Shard Chronicles isn't to utterly shatter a person's worldview, make them rethink their life and attain mastery in their chosen passion... it's to show them that self development is possible.
That those high leaves they can see... are reachable.
That a growth mindset could change their life... and that there are tools out there that make life considerably more enjoyable.
It's to make that moment when they see a book or a seminar or a youtube video that they would previously scoff at to instead... take a moment and check it out.
I want to get people hooked on achieving their dreams. I want people to get hooked on increasing the overall awesomeness of the population.
MY CHALLENGE TO YOU:
Create, promote and support media that empowers and inspires.
Movies that impart wisdom.
Comic books that show us how we could be better human beings.
Books that show us a better way or make us think of one.
Let's get those rookie numbers up already.
Let's change the world.
Ono Northey.