I have just completed day two of a three day mastermind meeting. I already have several new ideas for my new career and have received incredible positive feedback … not only about the radio show … and the blog … but about a life changing accomplishment.
What is a mastermind? Napoleon Hill defined the concept of a mastermind as a “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” In other words, a group of people who join forces to accomplish a specific goal.
I am a member of Craig Duswalt’s RockStar Mastermind. A group of entrepreneurs who essentially serve as each other’s board of directors. It was in the last mastermind meeting, in May of 2012, that the Stand Up and Speak Up brand was conceived. I threw out ideas and received suggestions that birthed the idea that I could inspire people to overcome their fear of stage fright.
My life changing event began at the mastermind. One of the mastermind members, Bobby Kelly, a fitness expert from Phoenix, Arizona, talked about his book on fitness with the group, and gave each of us a copy. I read mine that night and I decided to make time to talk to Bobby during a break the next day (because that’s what you do at a mastermind.)
I talked about how I wanted to start being fit in a few months, when I retired. I was going to start walking. After describing the toll my almost 55 years on the planet had taken on my body, he calmly looked me in the eye and asked, “Why can’t you start walking now, on the days you don’t go to work?”
And I couldn’t tell him the lies I told myself. I admitted that there was no reason.
I returned home from the mastermind the day before a four day Memorial Day weekend. I walked each day.
On Tuesday, as I drove home from my first day back at work, I intended not to walk. But when I got home, it was still light. And I chose to walk again. And I kept it up. Walking daily, with very few exceptions. I posted my walking activity on Facebook and friends, including friends from the mastermind, encouraged me via LIKEs and comments. And I heeded his dietary advice … a little bit. And I was losing a pound a week.
At the end of November, I made more radical dietary changes — permanent lifestyle changes, not a diet. And I began working with a personal trainer. I started losing a pound every 2 days. I was excited to return to the mastermind, less of a man.
I received so much recognition from my mastermind partners these past two days for my weight loss, I feel so proud of myself.
And today, I had a great reunion with Bobby. I thanked him for asking me the question that led me to decide to act … to change my behavior. Here are two pictures … a representative picture of the 280 pound me … and a photo taken today, 45 pounds lighter.
Walt, around 280 lbs
Walt after losing 45 pounds
The journey is not over. But the great feedback is renewing my enthusiasm. I love my mastermind.
Great results – Walt & Bobby
P.S. Please join me on the radio show on Thursday, Jan 17th, at 11am PST, as I visit with Eno Georgette Inwek, Africa’s Ambassador of Possibility. Eno is an inspirational speaker, comedienne and entrepreneur. But above all, she is a friend. Eno promises to entertain with her stories and tell the world a few things about me that I have yet to share. Uh … I can’t wait … lol.
