Podcast Summary
Embracing Challenges and Using Personal Talents to Disrupt: Disruptive entrepreneurship involves overcoming adversity, discovering personal passions, and using unique talents to shake up industries
Disruptive entrepreneurship involves going beyond the ordinary, embracing problems with innovative solutions, and drawing on personal talents to shake up industries. Matt Fidesz, a guest on the Disruptive Entrepreneur Podcast, exemplifies this mindset. He shares his journey from being bullied as a child to discovering Taekwondo and becoming a successful martial arts instructor and TV personality. Despite facing adversity in school, Matt's passion for Taekwondo led him to train five nights a week and eventually build a career in the martial arts world. His story demonstrates the power of embracing challenges and using personal talents to disrupt and dominate in one's industry.
From underdog to world-renowned martial arts instructor: Clear goals and unwavering determination can help overcome obstacles and turn dreams into reality
Passion and determination, even in the face of adversity, can lead to remarkable achievements. The speaker, who grew up watching martial arts movies and training at home, was discouraged from pursuing his dreams by family and society. However, after being frustrated by a seemingly trivial math question in school, he wrote down his goals and committed himself to becoming the most well-known martial arts instructor in the world. Despite facing skepticism and financial struggles, he moved to a small town and started a martial arts business from the ground up. His story serves as a reminder that having clear goals and unwavering determination can help overcome obstacles and turn dreams into reality.
Staying true to values and focusing on customers: Success isn't about personal achievements, but rather meeting customer needs and staying true to values. Despite struggles, the speaker maintained his focus and grew his martial arts business by providing value.
Success in business isn't about personal achievements or accolades, but rather meeting the needs of customers and providing value. The speaker shares his experience of wanting to become a martial arts instructor despite facing financial struggles and opposition from his family. He opened his first school with very little resources, but was disappointed when no one showed up on the first day due to Princess Diana's death. Instead of giving up, he tried again and eventually had 90 students paying £3 per class. However, he was content with this modest success and didn't aspire to become a multimillionaire. Later, he was encouraged to expand his business by a friend, but he was determined to maintain his standards and didn't want to compromise them for financial gain. He eventually flew to a martial arts business conference in San Francisco to learn from successful entrepreneurs and gain insights into growing his business. Overall, the speaker's story highlights the importance of staying true to one's values and focusing on providing value to customers, even in the face of challenges and setbacks.
Learning from a successful businessman: Dedication, ambition, and learning from others can lead to business growth. Adapt and innovate to overcome failures and find success.
Success often requires dedication, ambition, and a willingness to learn from others. The speaker shares his experience of following a successful businessman and implementing his methods, which led to significant growth in his own martial arts business. Despite some failures, such as the use of high fives in classes and music during masterclasses, he adapted and found success through innovative approaches like being the first to offer direct debit payment options. Ultimately, his hard work, determination, and resourcefulness paid off, leading to financial success and expansion of his business.
Unexpected success opens doors to new opportunities: Meeting a mentor led Rob to new experiences and opportunities, highlighting the importance of networking and openness to unexpected opportunities
Success often comes unexpectedly and can lead to even greater opportunities. The speaker, Rob, became a millionaire by the age of 20 through his martial arts business and had a passive income from owning multiple properties. He was then handpicked by Facebook for their premium support program, offering exclusive content and benefits for a small fee. Rob's life took an unexpected turn when he met internationally famous investor and mentalist Yuri Geller, who became his mentor and godfather to his daughter. Through Yuri, Rob was introduced to the world of the rich and famous, including Michael Jackson, and his experiences led him to value the importance of paid content and community building. Ultimately, success can come from unexpected places and open doors to new opportunities and experiences.
Unexpected encounters and honest feedback can lead to valuable relationships: An honest feedback led Shannon to meet Michael Jackson, who saw potential in him and formed an unlikely friendship that lasted for a decade and granted him access to Jackson's inner circle
An unexpected encounter with Michael Jackson led to an unlikely friendship between the musician and a man named Shannon. Shannon, who had attended one of Jackson's shows and expressed his honest feedback to Yuri Geller, Jackson's friend, was summoned to meet Jackson late one night. Initially hesitant due to the inconvenience, Shannon eventually went and was surprised to find Jackson himself at the door. Jackson, a fan of Bruce Lee, wanted to meet Shannon and his family, and also saw potential in him as a trusted friend and informal advisor due to his financial independence and access to a network of instructors. Over the next 10 years, Shannon and Jackson formed a close bond, with Shannon acting as an unofficial bodyguard and confidant. Despite Jackson's attempts to pay him, Shannon refused the money, and their friendship remained strong and genuine. Through this friendship, Shannon gained access to Jackson's inner circle, including multi-billionaires and other famous figures. The experience shows that unexpected encounters and honest feedback can lead to unexpected and valuable relationships.
Surround yourself with the right people: Surround yourself with individuals who challenge and inspire you, leading to personal growth and success.
Success is not just about qualifications or where you come from, but rather about the ideas and mindset you surround yourself with. The billionaires and Michael Jackson, whom the speaker had the privilege to learn from, focused on ideas and held each other accountable for their next billion-dollar idea. They were always networking and reading, pushing each other to up their game. Michael Jackson, despite his lack of formal qualifications or musical abilities, became the biggest pop star in history, inspiring those around him with his vision and determination. The speaker emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who challenge and inspire you, as they can help you achieve anything you set your mind to.
Michael Jackson's Endless Curiosity and Drive for Greatness: Michael Jackson's insatiable thirst for knowledge and refusal to follow made him a groundbreaking figure in music, dance, and entertainment, inspiring others to be curious and strive for greatness.
Michael Jackson was a man of endless curiosity and a relentless drive to learn and improve. He was not content with being just a successful artist, but rather, he sought to be the most controversial and intriguing figure in the world. He absorbed knowledge from those around him, including his idols, and used it to push the boundaries of what was possible in music, dance, and entertainment. Jackson's insatiable thirst for knowledge and his refusal to be a follower but instead, a pioneer, were key factors in his extraordinary success. He inspired those around him, including the speaker in this conversation, to be curious and to strive for greatness.
Michael Jackson's Intentional Actions and Provocative Behavior for Personal Branding: Michael Jackson understood the power of generating controversy and keeping the media talking about him through intentional actions and provocative behavior, even if it meant misdirecting attention or hiding aspects of his personal life to preserve his mystique.
Michael Jackson mastered personal branding by creating and maintaining a mystique through intentional actions and provocative behavior, even if it meant misdirecting attention or hiding aspects of his personal life to keep the public intrigued. From wearing a white glove and tape on his fingers to using a face mask and makeup, Michael understood the power of generating controversy and keeping the media talking about him. Even in areas where he was misunderstood, like his relationships, he carefully guarded his privacy to preserve his image and mystique. Despite the changing times and the rise of new media platforms, the lessons Michael Jackson taught about personal branding remain relevant today.
Michael Jackson Documentary Contains Lies and Inaccuracies: Two accusers in the documentary sued Jackson after statute of limitations expired, one allegation is impossible due to timing, Jackson was pressured to settle past allegations, and his kindness and success made him a target for false accusations
The recent documentary about Michael Jackson contains lies and inaccuracies, according to the speaker. The two main accusers in the documentary, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, waited until after the statute of limitations expired to sue Jackson, and one of their allegations, involving a train station, is impossible because the train station was built after the alleged incident. Jackson was pressured by his insurance company and promoters to settle past allegations, and the speaker believes that the public would have turned away from the documentary if they knew about the lawsuits and large settlements. Jackson was known for his kindness and respect for fans, and the speaker believes that his success and fame made him a target for false accusations. Jackson also taught the speaker about franchising, which led to his own success.
Staying Loyal to a Friend Despite Adversity: Loyalty to a friend can lead to personal and professional challenges, but staying true to one's beliefs and values is essential.
Loyalty to a friend can lead to personal and professional challenges, especially when that friend's public image is tarnished. In this case, Matt, a director of a large children's organization, stood by Michael Jackson during his trial despite potential backlash. Matt shared that he had lost friends and faced judgement due to his association with Michael. However, he remained steadfast, believing in Michael's character and wanting to defend him. Matt organized a documentary, "Trace the Truth," to set the record straight and prove the accusers wrong. Ultimately, they were successful, but it affected Matt emotionally as his best friend was unable to defend himself. The experience underscores the importance of staying true to one's beliefs and values, even in the face of adversity.
Michael Jackson's Controversial Life and Persona: Michael Jackson, despite controversies and allegations, remained true to himself and continued to captivate audiences with his music and persona.
Michael Jackson, known for his ever-changing image, was a controversial figure both in life and in death. He was ruthless in business and encouraged controversy, which was likely influenced by his upbringing. Despite accusations and allegations, he remained a real person, and his bodyguard, Matt Fiddes, was a witness to his life for over a decade. The media often questioned his authenticity, but Matt emphasizes that Michael was a person who dealt with the controversies head-on. Throughout their time together, Michael stayed true to himself and continued to captivate audiences with his music and persona.
Niching and Personal Branding: Successful individuals set themselves apart through consistent niching and personal branding. Personal challenges can be overcome by inspiring and helping others.
Successful individuals, like Simon Cowell, Tony Robbins, and our interviewee, have nichered themselves and developed a unique personal brand that sets them apart. They understand the importance of consistency and staying true to their identity. Our interviewee shared that his biggest competition is himself, as he constantly strives to grow his business and achieve more. He also revealed that he had an unconventional upbringing, which made it challenging for him to relate to people and led to misunderstandings and judgment. Despite this, he has found success by inspiring and helping others to achieve their goals. Ultimately, the unique aspects of their lives and personalities, rather than being a source of hate or judgment, have contributed to their superstardom.
Michael Jackson's Hidden Generosity: Michael Jackson, despite his extravagant public image, surprised charity event attendees with his humility and generosity, and privately spent excessively on art supplies as a source of inspiration and escape.
Michael Jackson, despite his extravagant public image, was known for his generosity and humility behind the scenes. He attended a charity event in Exeter, surprising attendees, and spent excessively in stores, only to return the items shortly after. However, there was one instance where he impulsively bought every book in an art shop in London, much to the delight of the shop owner. Jackson's artistic talent was not well-known, and his visits to the shop provided him with a source of inspiration and escape. This anecdote highlights the complexities of Jackson's persona, revealing a side of him that was not often portrayed in the media.
Michael Jackson's Impulsive Buying Habits and the Struggle of Being His Bodyguard: Bodyguard shared experiences of Michael Jackson's impulsive buying, failed payment, and the ongoing association with him post-death. She learned to accept and respect the fame and legacy of being Michael Jackson's bodyguard.
Life as a bodyguard for a legendary figure like Michael Jackson comes with its challenges and benefits. The woman shared an experience of Michael Jackson buying her entire shop but failing to pay her, which left her worried about going broke. Despite this, she reassured her and promised she would be paid, but the books went straight to his ranch, showcasing Jackson's impulsive buying habits and financial cleverness. She also shared the struggle of being constantly associated with Michael Jackson even after his death, which led her to seek counseling. However, she learned to accept and live with it, respecting the fact that Michael Jackson was the biggest star in the world, and she would always be known as his bodyguard. In the quick fire round, she shared that her legacy for her children drives her, the best advice she received was that haters are free publicists, the worst advice was that money is the root of all evil, and she advised her 20-year-old self to not let her ego get the best of her, as not everything she touches will turn to gold.
Balancing work and family is crucial advice for older self: Prioritize family, money and success aren't worth sacrificing relationships, educate the world about money, strive for disruption, be in top 3%
Prioritizing family and getting the balance right between work and personal life is crucial advice for one's older self. Money and success are important, but they should not come at the expense of family and relationships. Another important takeaway is the need to educate the world about money and financial literacy, as it is not adequately taught in schools. Additionally, striving for disruption and being in the top 3% is a key aspect of success. The interview also sheds light on the complexities of Michael Jackson's life and the role of doctors in his death. Despite the doctor's involvement, it's important to remember that there are many other doctors who should be held accountable for their actions.
Lessons from Matt Fiddes' journey to building a martial arts franchise: Matt Fiddes, a martial artist turned entrepreneur, shares insights on building a successful franchise, staying present on social media, and learning from Michael Jackson.
Fascinating journey of Matt Fiddes, a martial artist who built a massive franchise of 1,000 martial arts schools and became a millionaire at a young age. He shared strategies and tactics learned from Michael Jackson, and despite the presence of spammers and distractions, the conversation remained engaging and informative. Matt emphasized the importance of being present on various social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Clubhouse, and Twitter, to connect with followers. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the contrasting fates of two individuals connected to Michael Jackson, one who should be in jail and another, Conrad Murray, who is seen as a "fool." Overall, the conversation provided insights into success, building a business, and the importance of staying focused amidst distractions.
