It has been one anxious week. I have been invited back to my alumn (Western Illinois University) to speak. This will be my first large speaking engagement, yet that is not why I am anxious. Actually, I am quite comfortable on stage. After graduating in 2006, I declared I would never go back to Macomb. Don't get me wrong, the 4 years spent there were the funnest, wildest, most careless time of my life! I made amazing friends and had memories that I will not forget until the day I die. I actually think it was too much fun (is that possible?). Our reckless behavior led us into all kinds of mischief. So I put those years behind me and decided to spend to rest of my years here on earth becoming a better person and leaving a legacy.

So when I was asked to speak, I wanted to say NO, because I promised myself I would NEVER be back. But, never would I have thought that I would have the chance to impact so many lives. The realization set in that I am living proof that ANYTHING is possible. This event has become more than a message. It is me setting that part of my past free. Once again if a broke, rebellious, alcoholic can have an impact...YOU CAN TOO!!!

http://wiu.edu/newsrelease.sphp?release_id=7039

I felt inspired to write a quick post after watching the film Slumdog Millionaire with my friend and business partner Kyle Griffith. We were talking the previous day about not operating at our full capacity. Letting time slip by interrupted by our fear and ego's. This brilliant movie made me question how much HUSTLE I put forth every day in my life.

These young kids, coming from the slums of India, with no parents, must do what ever is necessary to survive. Picking through landfills, stealing, running from militants. I was in awe because this picture depicted something that is going on every day and many of us are blind to the fact. I thought I had some hard times with some of the battles I fought but, man I got it easy. I am 24 years old and have so much to accomplish. I vow to put my best foot forward every day with no more waste. It's time to HUSTLE. It's time to make a change...

Oh yeah and the movie....Simply put *****'s. Go See It!

The Digital Gangster (Eric Green) Reviews my video "8 Simple Tips in Social Media **SUICIDE** Prevention". This video had a VIRAL EXPLOSION to say the least. Within 48 hours it received 80+ comments on Facebook, dozens of re-posts and comments, led to over 100 new friend requests, and was favorited 7 times on YouTube. Many people have reached out to me asking in they can feature it in their trainings...way cool :) Many thanks to all of you!

Very simple tips to build a great reputation in Social Media. Watch out....IT GET'S A LITTLE INTENSE! (Viewer Discretion Advised)

***BONUS TIP***

VALUE INNOVATION: instead of focusing on beating competition, you focus on making competition irrelevant by creating a leap in value for buyers.


Build Your TWITTER & FACEBOOK Followers Fast:
@billcrosby http://billcrosby.com/?p=76
@gabestrom http://is.gd/iKkz
@briantomkins http://is.gd/iI17

No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs by: Dan Kennedy

We are rocking an rolling in 2009! First book finished in record time. Now let me preface this...Brad Will is the guy who starts reading a page and 5 minutes later realizes he is at the bottom and can remember a damn thing. Can anyone relate? But I am getting better by learning to relax my mind of the constant traffic of thoughts flowing between my ears.

Obviously I am telling you I am poor at time management, but I don't know many Entrepreneurs who aren't. Dan Kennedy keeps you engaged with his blunt humor and the easiness of read. He breaks it down into very simple ways to be efficient with your time in business. Do you want to know the secret of this book? Here it is: Turn time into money! Ok were done.

Alright here is a little more. If you do not know what your time is worth, how are you going to get paid what you deserve? He give you simple formulas to compute how much your time is actually worth. So let's say my number is $200 meaning my time is worth $200/hour. Now that I know what I am worth I can justify the decision to do or not to do and activity in my business. Let's say you have to send out 100 pieces of hand written direct mail. If this is a $8/hour job, your time might be better spent attracting new customers into your business. So now you have the power to say "If I'm not making 200 bucks an hour, I ain't doing it."

10 Time Management Techniques:
1. Tame the phone. Don't take phone calls during your productivity time. Turn it off. Plus you want to appear busy at all times or else vampires will suck you dry of your time.
2. Minimize meetings. Meetings are serous time burners. Only have stand-up meetings, no chairs. Set meetings before lunch, don't serve refreshments, have an agenda and an escape route.
3. Practice absolute punctuality. Be on time every time and people will do the same for you.
4. Make and use lists. Create a to do list every day and write it down. Carry it with you and get everything you must get done that day (Schedule, things to do, people to call, conference, etc...). "Self-discipline is the magic power that makes you virtually unstoppable."
5. Fight to link everything to your goals. Have enough reasons to get rich. "If you are not achieving what you feel you should in life, it is because your goals are not defined well enough." Ask yourself "Is what I am doing, this minute, moving me measurably closer to my goals?"
6. Tickle the memory with Tickler files. (Read the book)
7. Block your time in advance. Scratch as many days off in your calander in advance, (birthdays, vacations, anniversary, etc...) leaving you less time to work with. You will also know you have these commitments set in stone in advance.
8. Minimize unplanned activity. Schedule your day by the half-hour. Eliminate down time of watching t.v. and reading comics.
9. Profit from "Odd-lot" time. Listen to audio books during your time spent in the car. Read books on the airplane.
10. Live on off peak times. Do not go to the store during busy hours or travel during rush hour traffic.

Most important point I learned: "People who can't be punctual, can't be trusted."
This means being where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there, as promised, without exception, without excuse, every time, all the time. If you do not respect the time of others how can you expect them to respect yours? Now some people are deliberately late trying to appear important. They are basically saying: I can keep you waiting because I am more important than you. What they are really saying is: "I don't have much self respect, so I'm desperately trying to make myself feel more like a big shot by stealing your time and getting away with it." So if you want to build great business relationships, BE ON TIME-EVERY TIME.

Overall I thought this book was an easy, yet good read. Time management is a subject that frustrates many business owners and will continue until we get it under control. By implementing these simple techniques, it will take much stress out of our day to day lives. I would recommend this book to all Entrepreneurs who are struggling with time management.

This book gets: 3.5 out of 5 stars

As I am keeping up with my goals for 2009, like everyone in the world *cough cough, I came up with a brilliant idea. Or at least it's brilliant in my mind, you can be the judge. After studying many successful business owners ahead of me, I realized they all have at least one thing in common. The desire for constant self-improvement. Their income is in direct proportion to how many books they have on their bookshelf. Will Smith says it the best in this inspiring YOUTUBE video. There is no new problem you can have that has not solved and wrote in a book.

The year of 2009 is the year of CHANGE. I want to CHANGE the way I operate and CHANGE the way I think. Reflecting on my progression the past few months, I have reached unprecedented growth when I am constantly educating myself with new material. So I want to inspire YOU to take action. So here's the challenge. I originally wrote my goal to read 36 books this year (Might I add that I am a very slow reader so one of those books is on speed reading and I have not ever read more than 20 books in a year). We're scratching that and upping it to 52. One per week baby! Now that is great for me but how does that help you? Well, I am going to document my journey through video and blogging. I will record and summary of the books I read and why I chose that book.

Now were getting interesting. In choosing books, obviously I am reading information which will allow me to improve in that area of my life. You will be able to see the problems I am facing and how to overcome them in your business through education and ACTION. With YOU watching, it will also hold me accountable to stay aligned with my goal.

Now, we all have challenges we face on the road to wealth. Some more than others, but it's not your fault. You were programmed to think a certain way about money and about life ever since you were a kid. Now it's time to reprogram. Being wealthy is just a mindset. You can borrow the way of thinking from successful people around you or your broke neighbors...it's your choice. The question is, what are you going to feed your mind? Are YOU up to the CHALLENGE?


"Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily." ~Thomas Szasz

"I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday."
~Abraham Lincoln


Progress so far:
completed: No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs by: Dan Kennedy
in progress: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker


I will update you on my progress soon. Please leave me comments, suggestions, or feedback.

Cheers to OUR success in 2009!

BE-DO-HAVE not HAVE-DO-BE...

Starting out in my Network Marketing business as a 20 something untamed Entrepreneur back in June of 2007, I operated in what we call "ignorance on fire." I didn't have a clue what I was doing, I just did it. All I knew was I wanted to be wealthy and have seen many people do it through real estate. Oh and that all the crap I tried before didn't work but that's beside the point. I am blessed to have amazing mentors and I figured if I stay glued to their hip and can attract a quarter of what they have accomplished...I would be ultra successful. Four months went by in my business and I was at the lowest of lows. You see I have so many people in my life doubting me, telling me "you are stupid, network marketing is a scam, and here's the kicker: the real estate market sucks..." I wanted to yell out "THAT'S WHEN YOU BUY DUMB A**." But I'm an easy rider and I kept my cool. The truth of the matter is I hadn't made a freaking dime!

Those lingering impressions were starting to take a toll, "maybe they're right?" I am reading all the books my mentors have told me and bringing more prospects down to briefings than anyone I know, so why doesn't it work for me? There were two things that kept me going. 1). Wanting to shove my success in the face of all the naysayers and 2). Not knowing what is around the corner. By that I mean I was under impression that everyone makes money in this industry. Having the constant feeling of I am so close to the money had me like the rabbit chasing the carrot.

In my mind, I'm thinkng, "If I could only make some money so I can pay my bills which will allow me to take a vacation and make me so much happier!" My personal coach (who I eventually ended up hiring) Jeffrey Combs really slapped me across the face with this one! The conversation went something like:

"Brad do you want to be a millionaire?"

"Well, Yeah."

"Then start acting like one now."

What he told me really didn't really register with me. "Well I am not a millionaire Jeff, so how can I act like one!" I wanted to blurt out.

"Brad, are you a real estate investor?"

"No I haven't bought any property."

"And you'll never be one with that attitude. Being a real estate investor is a declaration in your mind. As soon as you decide that you are a real estate investor, your time is worth $500/hour."

Ahhhhhhhhhhh...that was the sound of the light shining down on me! It is starting to make sense. We are what ever we say we are, right? If we don't believe in ourselves, then who else will? What ever it may be, if you are new or aspiring to be something, declare it to yourself. Stand up and say "I am an ENTREPRENEUR!" Or, "I am ___________!" The blank is for you to fill in whatever you want to be.

I was focusing way too much on the end result rather than the task at hand. We are in a HAVE DO BE or sometimes called a "microwave" society. We want everything yesterday. We have a thought process of "If had more money, I could spend more time with my family, which would make me a better parent/spouse." We are actually working against the universe with this thinking. Neale Donald Walsch, author of the book Conversations With God, explains this principal very well.

"Most people believe if they "have" a thing (more time, money, love -- whatever), then they can finally "do" a thing (write a book, take up a hobby, go on vacation, buy a home, undertake a relationship), which will allow them to "be" a thing (happy, peaceful, content, or in love). In actuality, they are reversing the Be-Do-Have paradigm. In the universe as it really is (as opposed to how you think it is), "havingness" does not produce "beingness," but the other way around.

First you "be" the thing called "happy" (or "knowing," or "wise," or "compassionate," or whatever), then you start "doing" things from this place of beingness -- and soon you discover that what you are doing winds up bringing you the things you've always wanted to "have"."

Here is the bottom line...

YOU ARE THAT PERSON! so...
BE THAT PERSON TODAY and...
DO THE THINGS THAT PERSON DOES so you can...
HAVE THE THINGS THAT YOU DESERVE!

You are GREAT, you are AMAZING, you have EVERYTHING it takes to be that person today. I believe in YOU. I don't even know you but I believe in you because you are still reading this.

Back to my realization. I had a breakthrough after I learned this concept. Napoleon Hill states in his world renown book Think and Grow Rich,

"When riches begin to come they come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding during all those lean years."

That November I made $5,250. My first paid month was my best month ever in my lifetime. How cool is that!?!? The next month I hit $8,000! I was on cloud nine. In the month of February 2008, I replaced my 2007 salary from my sales job. From the comfort of my home, in a single month, I attracted $29,250 of income!

Now I owe all this success to my mentors, my family, and the community I am part of. But, if I didn't let go; If I didn't start acting like a successful Entrepreneur, I never would have become one. Anyone can create great success. Your business works, it is just a matter of who you are being. Start TODAY, start YESTERDAY. As Napoleon Hill quotes, "Don't wait. The time will never be just right. Your big opportunity may be right where you are now. "


BE-DO-HAVE