Business Mentor « Johan Horak's Blog

Why Is Bling Such A Magnet?

By admin on July 12, 2011

The ego asks us to search for more bling. And as soon as we got used to that bling we are not satisfied. And we search for more. Remember that feeling when you go a new car. Everyone looked at you and you felt great. Then after awhile you and the onlookers are used to your new car. The ego tells you to wakeup. The ego makes us believe bling is the answer.

By chasing bling need money and we create banks that make money out of us while they invest nothing, we need prozac and we make pharmaceutical companies that sell us products that are less useful than the placebo. We have to read the lastest gossip stories and we make the market for newspapers that tap our phones to get intimate details of our darkest moments.

And then we have the audacity to say, “how bad are they, can you believe it”. What we miss is that you and I created these monsters.

I am reading A Course In Miracles and decided to also read A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson. She wrote the book on her experiences on A Course In Miracles. Great books. Let me share a quote with you that I believe is relevant:

When we are motivated by the desire to sell, we are only looking out for ourselves. When we are motivated by the desire to serve, we are looking out for others.

I choose to serve others. And I am willing to take the risks of being a servant. Because when I serve my clients I will have peace; inner peace. And who amongst us are asking for more than inner peace?

Back to my opening paragraph; if you and I choose to serve; choose to lookout for others then we are on the high road. I am looking out for you.

Have fun

Johan Horak

Should You Use Controversy About Your Business For Increased Marketing Awareness?

By admin on July 5, 2011

I am currently helping a self funded group of actors, The Mechanics, with their social media efforts. For example the creation of their Facebook page, an integrated blog instead of their old static website and integrating it all with their existing Twitter profile.

Let me give you some background:

Because they are a theater group they get unsolicited reviews about their shows. Most are great reviews but there are one or two negative reviews. They currently share the positive reviews with their followers. But what do they do when they get a negative review?

Should they share negative reviews?

I believe they should and this is why:

People that follow you on Twitter or Facebook are there because they choose to be followers and the majority are there because they want you to succeed. And as long as you give them what they want they will defend you.

If the above is true, and I believe it is, then you (The Mechanicals) need to allow people to defend you. A reviewer has every right to his opinion but you have followers with their opinion. And by having the guts to share these negative reviews with your followers they now have the right to balance the scales with their own opinions.

As you know controversy creates discussions and Facebook is an ideal place to spread the controversial virus (ala Seth Godin’s Unleashing the Idea Virus). When you allow your followers to react to controversy on your Facebook page (your brand) then each comment made is seen by many others who are not followers of your page. Yet. As long as the controversy continues your brand gets exposure and, I believe, you’ll get many more followers; because your followers’ friends are potentially people who also want to follow you.

Can this idea back fire on you?

Yes it can but then you should not be in business. This is only for brands like the Mechanicals who love what they do.

Are You The Kinda Person Who Needs To Know Exactly Where You Stand?

By admin on June 7, 2011

Depending on how you look at the question; knowing exactly where you stand in business is not possible.

Well, let me go further; in life you don’t even know where you stand. You may think that you have it all under control, but you can walk right in front of a bus today.

The material-certainty many of us strive for is all part of the illusion; chasing the rainbow. In this earthly life there is no certainty. Let me correct that; there is certainty but that’s a spiritual issue – the real issue.

For now let’s now focus on the physical.

I remember my dad telling me to get something behind my name and only then start taking risks.

My rebellious question at the time; what is there to lose?

I did what my dad suggested and eventually had all the security behind me; the company cars, the pension fund, the company housing loan, the medical aid fund. But I was not free. I allowed my corporate job to trick me into also believing there is security.

But even these illusionary gifts of security could be pulled from under me at anytime.

I left my secure well-paying job. My wife, my young daughter, Mr. Rat Burn (the white rat) and Rina (our domestic) left this fancy life behind to seek freedom; being self employed – running our own franchise.

I believe that today I know what security is and what it is not. Therefore……….

When I ask you if you can tolerate uncertainty; stop and think before you answer because if you cannot tolerate uncertainty then you need take a deep, thorough look at your life’s purpose.

And when you have made peace with security vs freedom then let’s talk and see if you are ready to start a business.

By the way: Are you like a teabag? You only know how strong you are when you are dropped in the hot water?

Business is not for the weak. Life is not for the weak. Get up and let’s see how strong you are.

Have Fun

Johan Horak.

P.S. I am not saying you will find freedom or that you should not calculate risk. Seek. Calculate. Jump. But don’t wobble.

Are You A Coffee Kinda Person?

By admin on May 24, 2011

In the book How to Catch and Live Your Dream Ron Rubin and Stuart Avery Gold share the following:

…… all who wish to flee the tyranny of coffee crazed lives and escape the frazzled fast-paced race-to-stay-in-one-place existence that it fuels. ….

we have come to learn that coffee is about speeding up and losing sight of, while tea is slowing down and taking a look.

Because tea is not just a beverage, it’s a conscious altering substance that allows for a way of getting in touch with and taking pleasure from the beauty and the wonder that life has to offer.

Well, my intention today is not to stop your coffee-drinking habit.

All I am asking for is that you consider tea; the slowing-down-time – the ritual – with friends, nature and beauty. All I am asking is for you (us, humanity) to re-consider the race for more. Because I believe we have enough.

You are enough. You don’t need to find more. All you need to find is yourself. And the life where you need a coffee -kick-start-to-face-the-race is out dated.

A few days ago I read this article by Umair Haque called Is a Well Lived Life Worth Anything?

Instead of an “energy industry,” I see a resource addiction that saps money and preserves self-destructive expectations. I see, instead of food and education “industries,” an obesity epidemic and a debt-driven education crisis. Instead of a pharmaceutical industry, I see a new set of mental and physical discontents, like rates of suspiciously normally “abnormal” mental illnesses and drugs whose lists of “side effects” are longer than the Magna Carta. Instead of a “media industry,” I see news that actually misinforms instead of enlightening — rusting the beams of democracy — and entertainment that merely titillates. Read the rest of this thought provoking article here.

Today I am reading and learning and drinking tea. May we meet, drink tea and discuss Is a Well Lived Life Worth Anything? and you.

Have fun

Johan Horak

BTW: I enjoyed Is a Well Lived Life Worth Anything?. It’s written by a clever man and I am dreaming of one writing such articles. After all the compliments; when you read it you may miss one issue and that’s our obligation to be of service to others.

Why am I afraid to share who I am?

By admin on April 27, 2011

I was scattered all over the place. In more way’s than one. I had a few blogs, a twitter profile, and many facebook pages. The realisation came that I am separate. I am keeping parts of myself hidden. I was not sharing my truth.

Why am I afraid to share who I am?

Was it fear of rejection?

During 2011 I decided to re-find my truth; my core essence and meaning. I just lost it.

My separateness confronted me: How can I talk about sharing the truth while I am hiding who I am?

After the process of re-finding my truth I took action. This is what I did:

I changed my blog and it is nearly integrated and complete; incorporating most of the topics that interest me.
I am focusing on one Facebook page for all these topics.
I was following many thousands of people on Twitter for the wrong reasons; I deleted them all. (I may have deleted you as well. I am sorry).
On my personal Facebook profile I deleted all the people who I don’t have a relationship with anymore.
My contacts were cluttered with once off connections. They are now all gone.
I will now write a short story on my blog everyday. And it’s my intention that whatever I share comes from my heart.

I realise that my truth may not be yours. You may not like a side of me that you were not aware of. This time it’s not my problem anymore. I am out of the closet. And you need to do what is right for you.

I feel lighter and can now give attention to my truth and you.

Have fun

Johan Horak
P.S. The process of re-finding who I am is an intense activity that took me places. One day if you are interested I will share some of them with you.
P.P.S. I believe there should be no separation between the truth of the people and the business they are involved in. If there is then today is a good day to start changing that.

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Why Is Bling Such A Magnet?

Are You The Kinda Person Who Needs To Know Exactly Where You Stand?

Are You A Coffee Kinda Person?