http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/ Fastlane Entrepreneur and Startup Business Forum - Discuss Entrepreneurship, Start-ups, Business Building And Learn How Multi-Millionaires are Made en Mon, 20 May 2013 07:08:48 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/ http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/739-how-i-messed-up-my-job-interview.html Tue, 09 Apr 2013 06:17:37 GMT A few week ago the follow scenario happened. I sended out my resume for a job as account manager for a ICT company. It was a good position for... A few week ago the follow scenario happened.

I sended out my resume for a job as account manager for a ICT company. It was a good position for me. It would fit my talents well and I want to stay active in the ICT market. The problem was, I didn't even get invited for the interview.

I disagreed and emailed them back. I told them how deep my passion was and I did everything possible to persuide them into atleast giving me the chance to show my people skills in the job interview. After some mailing they asked me if I could do the job interview the next day. A bit short on time, but sure.

So the next day I headed for the company. It was a 20 minutes drive. A lot better then my internship where I sometimes had to drive 3 hours because of traffic jams.

Beautiful company. Beautiful building. Beautiful hiring manager and they had a dog walking in the building. I love dogs. The CEO was there to ask me some questions. He showed of by shutting of the radio with his telephone.

One minute in. "So, what do we do?".
"well", I told them, "you are in cloud services" .. I should have shut up there. But no, I went on about all I knew about cloud services. What managed services is and what not..
He then said: "Managed services, that's really only a very small part of what we do. That's unfortunate. We give you a chance to come here and do a job interview with us and you didn't even prepare".

I did prepare. I told him they did cloud services. He then went on explaining they where not only in managed services, but that their core business was in cloud services. I know. I just told you.

One thing I know about recruiters (and people in general) is the following: Screw up the first minutes and you are out. So, I actually wanted to pack my back and leave. Not knowing what a company does during an interview is bad, really bad.

Recruiters, once they have made their mind up in those couple of minutes, then continue to proof themselves about that first impression they made. "So, what have you been doing the last couple of years?", 'poker, on-line poker'. He made a funny comment.

And this went on. I should have packed my back but I didn't. This was a learning experience in keeping my patience and sitting trough when conversations don't go well. But, after a while he finally found a nerve. He told me I didn't have the drive. Well, I gave him some fire and he ended the conversation saying it wasn't really a great conversation and it didn't feel right. No shit, bro.

So. That was that. I was a bit angry afterwards. But with Covey in the back of my mind I knew I needed to be proactive about this.
Notes for next time:
- Prepare better
- Answer the question. And shut up.
- Bluffing gets you nowhere versus a strong opponent who knows what he is talking about while you are not
- Don't let them hit a nerve.

I now view job interviews as a way to see if the company and I can match well. I would never have worked well with that CEO, ever. That does not make him bad, or me. He did his job. He filtered me out. He protected his company. Something he worked very hard for. And me, I will fight for another day. ]]> Skys http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/739-how-i-messed-up-my-job-interview.html http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/723-i-know-i-am-worth-something.html Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:01:06 GMT After years of touring around the country making music I decided to become a professional poker player. When you are under the age of 30, you... After years of touring around the country making music I decided to become a professional poker player. When you are under the age of 30, you probably have to deal with the friends of your mom and dad, so did I: A career in music was crazy, there was no money made there and I should go to college. My grandma once asked me to rap something for her, and my aunt said: "No, don't do that. Rapping is all about saying bad words and cursing at women." Unfortunately, I was 17 at the time and I had to agree. My lyrics weren't really grandma-material.

After I stood tall and kept making music those same friends starting to show interest. How is it like to perform for so much people? (amazing) Did you ever experience negative behaviour? (I had a whole group of 500 people leaving the room because they didn't like our show. That sucked. Looking back, a rapgroup performing before a dance act... Not well-timed. And there was this time where somebody answered our question: What do you like to hear?? With "2pac!" ... Never ask that question).

When I decided to become a professional poker player, people reacted differently. It was like they where used to me making 'odd decisions'. Other questions popped up: What is the most you lost? (well, 10 minutes, 2k was a lot. Maybe because it was the first time I lost so much so quickly). How many hours do you spend behind a screen? (ehm..on a normal day.. 12+ hours) And, how do you read people online, you cant see them right? (hard to explain poker isn't all about reading people).

In the meantime, I tried some colleges and failed pretty hardcore. When I turned 27, I decided to get serious and listen to the older lions in my pack. I would pick a good education, and become a good student. I did.
I even quitted poker after some time because the balance between studying and playing/styding poker was nowhere to be found. All the money I saved up was getting lower and lower because of expensive study books and other stuff. But, in 3 years I would have a degree and mean something. I felt great. I was a zombie and I loved it.

Until I started to read more about entrepreneurship. Books like the fastlane fell in my lap and I still had 2 years to go in college. Holy Kow. This was nasty news to hear. My motivation was getting lower and lower and I even hitted a small depression. I was right all this time? Building my own record label wasn't a kids dream, I could have done that? If I continued to play poker, I would have build a nice capital to invest in myself. Now I was investing in somebody else his pocket and it felt gross.

Thankfully I had some great talks with people who explained to me the concept of commitment and promises. I made a promise to myself to get a degree so I will. I disliked the concept, but it made sense.

Now, I am in my final month of college and I am sending out my resume. My resume of failed degrees, 4 years of professional poker playing and 10 years touring around the country. I am getting rejections a lot but I keep myself motivated.

I know I am worth something, but I might make a terrible employee. Let this be a lesson for the younger folks here. Just because somebody who is older gives you advice doesnt mean the advice is true. Just because you are young, doesn't mean you are wrong. But, at the same time.. while you are making your own judgement calls, be sure to listen. When you hear somebody tell you X, find somebody who will tell you Y. Get as much input as you can, and make your own decision. Become the CEO of of your own life. That means, getting as much advice as possible but still making your own decisions.
I am 30 now. I am going to make the next 10 years, like I am 20 again. Staying foolish, and staying hungry. ]]> Skys http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/723-i-know-i-am-worth-something.html http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/695-amsterdam-entrepreneurship-mastermind-group.html Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:10:00 GMT I am thinking about starting up a mastermind group for aspiring entrepreneurs. Region: The Netherlands.

I think it's a good idea to surround myself with people who have the same mindset or are trying to develop the same mindset.

Further notice, I am almost done getting my degree. Got all my grades, fluctuating from a B to a A+, one more assignment to go and it's all good and ready. I am happy that I can end a long period of education where I have proven myself I can do it. ]]> Skys http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/695-amsterdam-entrepreneurship-mastermind-group.html http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/558-my-mind-job-conditioned.html Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:12:58 GMT Since I do meditation I am getting better at observing my mind. Lately I have noticed an interesting loop in my thinking. In all honousty, I want... Since I do meditation I am getting better at observing my mind.
Lately I have noticed an interesting loop in my thinking.

In all honousty, I want to make a lot of money. I do. I sometimes feel bad about it because MJ told me not to chase money but I do want to make money and preferably lots of it.

Now about the interesting loop: I keep thinking about jobs to get richer/fastlane. How so? For example, my latest thread here was with the question: What job is closest related to the fastlane? The answer was sales, so I started looking for sales jobs (for after my graduation).

Nothing wrong with having a job, but no way it will make me rich. I am super conditioned to think like an employee. I need to break that habit. Before I know it, I will be 50 years old with the fastlane still only as a dream.

They say awareness is the most important step for change, let's hope so! ]]> Skys http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/558-my-mind-job-conditioned.html http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/520-updates.html Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:14:13 GMT Neglecting what you have been doing and reframing it into not doing anything entrepreneurial is bad for your mental health. I must embrace the fact... Neglecting what you have been doing and reframing it into not doing anything entrepreneurial is bad for your mental health. I must embrace the fact that I almost finished my education in 3 years where others do it in 4 years. I have worked my but off in the last year.

Fastlane: Some time ago I had the idea of writing a book. Me and a friend are still in the research phase where we are searching for answers to questions that will be answered in the book. It's going to be a motivational book, but with a more serious twist.

Publishing a book might be a very hard thing to accomplish but so is a new iphone application. I am good at writing and I am good at consulting. I am just mixing my talents with somebody else to use our strengths the most optimal way.
I probably need to find out how to go about publishing a book. Does somebody have the telephone number of MJ?

I am not standing still. I think this book will be finished in a year.
I don't think we will make it into an Ebook, it's just to easy to get pirated. MJs book is pirated and a lot of great books are out there free to download. Peoples life work getting stolen and distributed. I am not going to be a victim of that. ]]> Skys http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/520-updates.html http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/516-thumbs-up-fastlane-millionaire.html Sun, 25 Nov 2012 12:52:55 GMT I joined December 2011, which means I am almost a full year further. I read the book and thought I was reading one of the many self-help books I... I joined December 2011, which means I am almost a full year further.

I read the book and thought I was reading one of the many self-help books I read. Some books are great, some are terrible. The fastlane millionaire made me realise some things and made me angry about my life situation. I think the author did his job.

It has been a year and I have to be honoust that I still don't have a business or a business idea. I am in my last year of college and I think the biggest change is that I truly see the horrific future of being an employee.
At the moment I am an intern. As an intern, I literally have nothing to say. I have no atonomy at all. It's very hard to stay motivated. "Can you do this for me?", says my boss. What she actually says is: "I am asking you, but you can't say no, you will do it, believe me, you will".
My tasks are dull, they are boring and they don't inspire me at all. I get home tired and sometimes with a headache, because I am forcing myself to not scream: "FUCK YOU, I am no longer doing this SHIT job for you, go suck a ...."

When I am done and finally have my degree, I will enter a junior job where the same will happen for a couple of years. I might work long days to enjoy two days off where I am sleeping just to charge up to be a working bee on monday again.
The degree is useless, it says nothing. It says I can work with a deadline and that I have a certain level of thinking. I could have proved that without my degree.

After those years, I might get a promotion, I might become a manager. I might become skilled in what I do and earn a couple of grand a month. This will continue for the rest of my life if I do super well: Get an promotion, earn a bit more, get a promotion, earn a bit more. Wasting my time from 8am to late in the evening while missing my kids growing up. I might get fired at the age of 53 because of a bad ecomony and I might need to proof why I will be great for the next job to a snotnose 20 years younger than me.

There is so much truth in the fastlane millionaire and I am glad I see it now instead of at the age of 50.

I will have to make some moves to change course and I already am.
I am starting my own workshops and I am learning to use my public speaking skills to get better at it. I believe that you need to use your talents to the fullest and improve those till you are great. No need to make something you bad at into mediocre only to stay 'just talented' at something you could be great at. That's what will happen being a working bee, "sorry sonny, i know you are could at this, but can you please make that excel sheet for me, it needs to be done.. I am going to chill with my friends at the golf club". Boss goes home, I am working a shit task because I didnt have the balls he had.

I will get my degree and the degree will become something nice on the wall just to remind myself the horror I might have experienced if I did not take control of my life and went the direction I want to go in myself. Stupid conditioning.

The workshops I am going to give for the next decade will provide me with knowledge, knowledge I can produce into content. And, we all know that content has the possibility to get fastlane.
Thats my goal and there is my progress.

If I look around me, there is so much risk in staying an employee. Getting laid of at an late age is terrible. Most people have only focussed on becoming the best employee they can be only to get laid of. Even the thickest CVs won't do you any good if you are over 50 years old. For most companies, you are just to old.
That's what I have going for me: Youth, youth and the insights how things can be different.

College is a huge waste of time and nobody deserves to live a life where they are not passionate, where they don't feel great and energetic about what they do.
Nobody deserves a life where you get up early on monday, just to know you will do that for another 5 days doing something you passionately hate.
Nobody deserves a life with the stress of having little to no money at all
Nobody deserves the life of not following your dreams

The fastlane millionaire has been like a blessing. It should be on any booklist in college. To bad college is part of the whole conditioning to become the best working bee you can be.

]]> Skys http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/blogs/skys/516-thumbs-up-fastlane-millionaire.html