TURNING 25K INTO 374K
I
n August of 2017, I decided to
join the mastermind group,
Genius Network, run by the
marketing legend, Joe Polish.
Of the things that drew me
to Genius Network is the
fact that many of the world’s best
entrepreneurs, marketers, thought-
leaders, authors and innovators are
members of Genius Network.
Another reason I decided to join is
the concept of 10X thinking—which
both Joe Polish and Strategic Coach
founder, Dan Sullivan, teach.
Dan Sullivan explains the concept of
10X thinking as it relates to Genius
Network. Specifically, Genius Network
costs $25,000 per year to be a part
of. In line with the notion of 10X, a
primary purpose of Genius Network
is to create an environment where
entrepreneurs can get “elegant ideas”
worth at least $250,000 or more.
Pushing the idea even further is the
notion that if a person does not get at
least $250,000 in value as a member of
Genius Network, they are unlikely to
be re-admitted, even if they so desire.
Why?
Because Genius Network is a highly
exclusive and sought-after group. It’s for
“industry transformers” who collaborate
with other industry transformers to
create synergistic and transformational
relationships. To quote Stephen Covey,
“Synergy is what happens when one plus
one equals 10 or 100 or even 1000! It’s the
profound result when two or more respectful
human beings determine to go beyond their
preconceived ideas to meet a great challenge.”
THE POWER OF INVESTING
IN YOURSELF
When I heard Joe and Dan describe
10X thinking, I already had a testimony
of the principle. I’d invested in myself
several times the prior decade, and
each time I invested in myself I got
back at least 10 times what I put in.
I had also spent my entire doctorate in
Organizational Psychology studying the
power of investment, and how making
financial investments can transform
a person’s identity and behavior.
In my research, I examined the
psychological differences between
entrepreneurs (those who had started up
and were actively managing a company)
and wannabe entrepreneurs (those who
wanted to start a business but remained
an employee of someone else).
Within my data I found a powerful
theme. Most of the entrepreneurs had
experienced what they described as a “point
of no return” experience, wherein they
had put themselves—psychologically and
often physically—into a position where
moving toward their entrepreneurial
goals was easier than avoiding them.
In many cases, the point of no return
experience was the moment the individual
actually believed they couldn’t go back.
In almost all cases, the “point of no return”
was the product of a financial investment.
When a person invests in their goals, their
dreams and themselves, they experience
a psychological shift. Subconsciously,
they shatter unhealthy and limiting
beliefs about what they can do. Their
very identity changes, as they go from
wanting to be something to actually seeing
themselves as that thing. In this case, they
go from wishing to be an entrepreneur
to viewing themselves—wholly and
completely—as an entrepreneur.
That’s the power of investment.
When you become invested in something,
you become committed to that thing.
When you become committed—truly and
deeply committed— you then become
willing to become whatever is required
to have or achieve your commitment.
11
True commitment requires change.
Otherwise, it is not a commitment.
More than that, true commitment is
what makes the 10X miracle happen.
To quote William Hutchison Murray:
“UNTIL ONE IS
COMMITTED, THERE
IS HESITANCY, THE
CHANCE TO DRAW
BACK, ALWAYS
INEFFECTIVENESS.
CONCERNING ALL ACTS
OF INITIATIVE (AND
CREATION), THERE
IS ONE ELEMENTARY
TRUTH, THE IGNORANCE
OF WHICH KILLS
COUNTLESS IDEAS
AND SPLENDID PLANS:
THAT THE MOMENT
ONE DEFINITELY
COMMITS ONESELF,
THEN PROVIDENCE
MOVES TOO. ALL SORTS
OF THINGS OCCUR TO
HELP ONE THAT WOULD
NEVER OTHERWISE
HAVE OCCURRED.
A WHOLE STREAM
OF EVENTS ISSUES
FROM THE DECISION,
RAISING IN ONE’S
FAVOR ALL MANNER
OF UNFORESEEN
INCIDENTS AND
MEETINGS AND
MATERIAL ASSISTANCE,
WHICH NO MAN COULD
HAVE DREAMT WOULD
HAVE COME HIS WAY.”
When you become truly committed
to something, a whole slew of
GENIUSNETWORK.COM