A reader watched my DVD, Humbug, and emailed me this question:
“Was there one point in your life that was the turn around? I often ask people who’ve obviously hitched themselves to a Saturn 5 rocket the same question.”
I get that question a lot.
I’ve been thinking about it long and hard.
I know that taking on the attitude that anything is possible is part of the answer. So is knowing the Law of Attraction and the idea that getting clear leads to preferred results. So is always saying yes to life. And so is the idea of being ruthlessly honest about your desires.
But those are mindsets I’ve developed over time. They don’t answer the question about the single event that changed my life.
The thing is, there’s no “one point” where everything shifted for me. It was more a series of defining moments, some more memorable than others. For example:
Landing the book deal to write The AMA Complete Guide to Small Business Advertising for the American Marketing Association back in 1993, was a marker for me. I wasn’t paid much money (almost none) but it was my first book deal with a traditional publisher and the project made me feel accomplished and important. It also got me more clients and more speaking engagements. (I still love the book and use it myself, though sadly it’s now out of print. Some of it ended up in my book, Hypnotic Writing .)
Recording my program, The Power of Outrageous Marketing for Nightingale-Conant in 1997, was another turning point for me, one I had longed to have for over ten years. People who knew that company and their wonderful products began to treat me like I was a deity in the marketing world. That also influenced my own sense of value. (That’s also when I raised my fees. ) The program still sells like crazy today, and I’m still very proud of it. (One of my favorite sections is where I stage an interview with the great circus showman and master marketer, P.T. Barnum.)
Certain people helped me step up to a new level, as well.
Paul Hartunian changed my life. This publicity genius who once sold the Brooklyn Bridge as a PR stunt and got on Johnny Carson for it, once spent three hours over dinner in Houston telling me how to change my business. I took notes. I acted. Paul’s giving was a defining moment in my career. I’ll never forget him. He’s one of my heros.
Mandy Evans has been a “miracles coach” in my life for more than twenty years. This wonderful author of such books as Travelling Free has always been only a phone call away. Whenever I feel stuck and ready for the next level, I call her. I love her. She helps me get clear .
Bob Proctor — a living legend in the self-help movement — changed my life when he politely nudged me to publish the little book I was fearful about releasing, Spiritual Marketing. That book became an Amazon bestseller twice, got me into The New York Times, and led to my rewriting it and seeing J. Wiley publish it as the now long running classic, The Attractor Factor. And of course that book got me into the movie The Secret, which led to my being on Larry King, eXtra TV, CNN, CNBC, ABC, Time, Newsweek and…well, you get the idea.
Obviously, there’s no one event that transformed me.
If you want to know more, I’ve written about my journey through life in such books as Adventures Within. It reveals other defining moments and the people who triggered them for me.
I really wish there was a simple answer to the question of what was my turning point moment, so we could both learn from it. But what may be better is to assume every moment is your turn around one, and act from that perspective. Life would then take on a glow .
Backed into a corner, and forced to say something was the one thing that changed my career, I’d give credit to the Internet.
I began as an Internet skeptic in the early 1990s. I didn’t believe all the hype about gold in cyberspace.
I was wrong.
I later wrote one of the first books about online marketing (CyberWriting).
And later, when Mark Joyner urged me to let him release my first e-book (Hypnotic Writing ), I began to taste fame and fortune.
So I have to give credit to being active online as a turning point in my career. (Note I said active online. I was and am busy creating and promoting products, not waiting for the world to come to my door.) The Internet let me take what I was doing locally and distribute it to the world.
But, as you can see, it was one of many defining moments.
Maybe the best way to wrap this up is with the following story:
I’m hearing from people from my past who saw the movie The Secret and then searched for me online. When they get to my main site , they write me and ask something like, “Are you the same Joe Vitale I worked with thirty years ago?”
One gent did that a while back. Turns out we had worked at Exxon together long, long ago.
He saw me on Larry King and couldn’t believe my level of success. He wrote to me saying, “I wish I had known what a gem I was hanging around back then.”
I thought, what if each of us treated each other like we were gems already — just unrecognized and maybe unpolished.
Wouldn’t that single change of perspective make every moment of our lives a turning point?
As Goethe wrote, “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.”
Ao Akua ,
Joe
PS — A way to get a turning point moment for yourself is through Miracles Coaching. I believe that trained mentors can help you leap to the next level, and I still employ them for myself today. Expect miracles. And remember, every moment counts.
Last Thursday ABC News sent journalist Dan Harris to my home to interview me about everything from the movie The Secret to the Law of Attraction to James Ray to the entire self-help movement. Along the way we took a ride in my Rolls-Royce Phantom and talked about masterminding, attracting money now, and more. It was quite “the day.”
This was ABC News’ second visit. They were here in January to film the entire Rolls-Royce Phantom Mastermind with fitness celebrity Jennifer Nicole Lee.
Being filmed in a Rolls-Royce with a gorgeous fitness model at your side is a lot different than being interviewed by a sharp mainstream TV news reporter. TV journalists can be pushy and confrontational, and you never know what they’ll ask, all while a video camera is recording your every word and expression. These interviews are often called “firing lines” for a good reason.
Dan Harris is an exception. Oh, he asked the tough questions and he kept firing questions at me, but I could see he’s a caring man with a sincere curiosity about life and people. And I had of course Googled him before he arrived and knew he is passionate about indy music as well as journalism. I saw that he is an exceptional man with an amazing ability to ask questions under pressure. I liked him. Still do.
Still, most of his questions came from a basic belief that money is bad. “You actually charge $5,000 for your Rolls-Royce Mastermind?” Yes, and I’ll be raising the price in March. “You sleep at night selling self-help books?” Of course. I’m helping people and offering solutions to their woes. “You help people to attract millions of dollars?” Actually, I help them to attract money now. “You’re OK marketing all the time?” I’m not marketing, I’m offering.
And so it went. It occurred to me later that I should have asked if ABC News charged their advertisers, and if they slept well knowing they were selling questionable drugs (with side effects such as possible death), etc. I also wondered if the interviewer got paid for sitting around and asking me questions. And doesn’t ABC News promote/market their upcoming TV shows all day long?
It’s so easy to be a critic.
The interview was from a Stage One perspective, as explained in The Awakening Course. It was all about “Who’s the victim?” and “Who’s to blame?” The other three stages of awakening, and certainly Zero Limits, could never be understood on this first level, where the interview took place.
The ABC News TV show will air in May, if not sooner. It’ll be an hour long special on positive thinking. They’ll have people against it (believe it or not) and they’ll have people for it (like me). They’re also interviewing Rev. Michael Beckwidth and Bob Proctor. On the nay side, they’ll talk with Bright-Sided author Barbara Ehremreich and Sham! author Steve Salerno.
You and I will have to wait to see how ABC edits the show. Meanwhile, I wanted to mention a brief moment Dan Harris and I had after the interview in my office.
Since Dan is deep into music (he’s also a drummer), I told him about my Alien Guitar. He asked to see some of the videos Nerissa and I created where I reveal the alien guitar to the person on camera but not to the camera/viewer. He laughed as he watched one of the clips. I offered to show the alien guitar to him while we filmed the moment but he said it might look like he was promoting it.
I then told him that my master strategy was to get a buzz going and then go on David Letterman to show and play the Alien Guitar. I told him I wanted to wait and get people really talking first.
“I wouldn’t wait,” Dan said. “I’d contact Letterman right now.”
“You would?”
“Sure. His show needs so much content that they’ll latch onto this right away.”
I paused as I considered his advice. Then something dawned on me.
I looked at Dan and said, “You know what you just did with me?”
Dan looked at me and asked, “Encourage you?”
“Yep. That’s what we do in the self-help movement.”
Dan nodded, letting it seep in.
“We listen for the latent desire already in a person and then encourage them to take action to make it real,” I explained. “Just like you did with me.”
I wish that moment had been filmed. It demonstrated what self-help and coaching is really all about.
Again, we won’t know what the entire ABC News show will be like until they edit it and air it in May. (Nerissa filmed the entire interview on her flip cam, so we can match their editing with what was actually recorded.) I think the show will be great. After all, I’m thinking positive.
As for now, I’m grateful to have met Dan Harris and attracted ABC News here. It could mean an appearance on David Letterman, with my alien guitar, will happen soon.
Ao Akua,
PS — Learn all about self-help, Law of Attraction, The Secret and much more in my Miracles Coaching program. Just click right here.
Fitness model Jennifer Nicole Lee was one of the most recent people to attend my private Rolls-Royce Phantom Mastermind.
Why would an already successful woman who’s been featured on Oprah, has a top infomercial selling her Ab-Circle Pro fitness product, is on the cover of hundreds of magazines, is seen on Home Shopping Network on TV, and has a brand new bestselling book out, want to spend time having dinner and conversation with me?
As Jennifer told me as we met for the first time and got inside my Rolls-Royce Phantom, “I could talk over coffee with friends at Denny’s, but what’s that? I want to go to the next level in my life and business. I want to brainstorm with Dr. Joe!”
We had an exhilarating time talking, brainstorming, eating (she ate almost all of her 20 oz Vitale Steak), drinking, laughing and riding around in the lap of luxury.
I loved being with Jennifer. Of course, what’s not to love? She’s fun, smart, sexy, high energy, upbeat, and dedicated to self-improvement.
She came with luggage. Not the emotional kind but the travel kind. What was in her bags? All my books and audios, which she wanted me to sign.
Clearly, this woman knows what it takes to succeed. She already transformed her life by losing 70 pounds and winning bikini contests and getting everyone to notice her, including Oprah.
But she’s not stopping there. She’s reading, growing, doing and more. She came to me for help in reaching the next level in her career, and help is what she got.
What did Jennifer say at the end of our evening together?
“My Rolls Royce Master Mind Experience with Dr. Joe Vitale positively cannot be expressed in words! It was beyond this world! Just in the first 15 minutes I got so many amazing prosperity ideas and concepts that will definitely help me increase my abundance and joy in life. Dr. Joe Vitale is someone who you must master mind with to take your entire life to the next level.”
One of the reasons Jennifer is already so successful is she takes action.
She told me repeatedly that when she reads my books or listens to my audios, and she gets an idea, she jumps. She moves. She makes it so.
It was no different with her attending the Rolls-Royce Phantom Mastermind.
She heard about it, checked it out, and then booked it to make it happen.
I generally only offer one Rolls-Royce Mastermind a month. But these days I’m doing almost one a week.
When you’re ready to jump to the next level, contact my office for dates and more information. Just email my assistant Suzanne at suzanne @ mrfire.com. You may also call my office at 512-278-1610. Or see https://www.mrfire.com/phantom
Are you ready?
Ao Akua,
PS — ABC News filmed the entire evening with Jennifer and I for a news show that will air on national TV later. That was unusual, as all the other masterminds are private, but it shows that SOMETHING BIG is happening during these Rolls-Royce Phantom Masterminds.
Note: Jennifer Nicole Lee’s website is at www.jennifernicolelee.com Her new book, which I wrote the foreword to, is in book stores now and of course at Amazon. It’s great. Get it.
A friend of mine read my last blog post and sent me this email (used here with his permission):
Thank you for this Joe.
Perfect timing for me to receive actually.
Since we met a few years back I have been focusing on generating more money to serve the consciousness that we both love.
I have through conscious intention become business partners with John Assaraf, significantly grown my Dojo and created some really wonderful tools to help people awaken to their dreams.
I recently received two nasty e-mails one saying that all I focus upon is money and another saying that my business had become “a money-centered, entrepreneurial environment”
At first it hurt and really stung to read this — I have always been about the love. Yet after reflecting on my core intentions and reading your Barnum post tonight I realize that people with money issues cannot see past their own hang ups and therefore they choose to project onto others what “they think” they see. It is a shame really, as there is so much good that is being done by people who understand the true value of money.
The truth is it still is ALL about the love for me — now just with more resources to serve 🙂
For example, I recently sent a few thousand dollars to my mother to help with some unexpected bills – wow the joy I felt in finally being able to offer her a hand (she has done so much for me) – it really cannot be expressed with words!!
Two weeks ago I went to John’s home in San Diego and watched him help the Just Like My Child Foundation raise tons of money to build a school and hospital for homeless children in Uganda.
Last week my wife Sabrina helped produce, direct and MC a charity event called Dancing with the Stars, Austin — she was a huge part of raising $675,000 to help protect innocent children who are abused by their parents!
Today I understand the true value of money and the core motivation of those like you, Barnum, Assaraf, my wife — and yes, myself.
I am grateful for the growing desire within myself to make a true difference. I am also committed to generating abundant income so that I can make a true difference in this world.
So thank you for today’s blog post and please know that you helped me a while back by planting some important seeds in my mind — thoughts that I could attract whatever I wanted.
Anyway I wanted to say thank you for that and let you know those seeds blossomed into wanting to share more love and serve others with a greater capacity.
Warmly,
Tristan
Tristan Truscott
CEO, i-Grasshopper
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Conscious Thinking • Conscious Living”
http://www.i-grasshopper.com
http://twitter.com/i_grasshopper
I love Tristan’s email.
It made me speculate why some people criticize those who attract money and live a luxurious life.
It has to do with their belief system, of course. It seems most people consider money to be a necessary evil. They need it to survive but they don’t really like it. And if they get more than enough money, they try to get rid of it fast. That’s why some lotto winners are broke a year later. On an unconscious level, they didn’t want to keep all that money. It triggered their “wealth set point” and they had to bring their income back down to their comfort level. Of course, one way to unconsciously justify not having money is to condemn those who do have it.
I wrote my latest book, Attract Money Now, to help clear and release negative beliefs about money. Money in and of itself is meaningless. Just paper and metal. When you travel as much as I have recently, you get to see that money in one country looks like Monopoly money in another country. (Try buying anything in the USA with Russian rubles.)
Money is only meaningful to you once you attach meaning to it. For most of us, we unconsciously absorbed meaning before we could speak, from our family and friends, and later from the media, government, religion, etc. Most of us have never questioned what we deeply feel about money.
The wealthy people I admire have positive meaning attached to money. Like Tristan, they’ve discovered that the more money they attract, the more they can use it to help themselves and others.
I enjoy money. It enables me to have toys, whether guitars or cars, and it lets me help others, whether my own family or complete strangers, such as with a movement to end homelessness (called Operation Yes).
You also get to put a happy spark in lives when you have money.
For example, recently I bought a lot of outdoor furniture for my new office from www.texaswebstore.com. Some was Teak root from Taiwan (above picture, which reminds me of Hobbit forest furniture), and others were former ox carts in Taiwan (as pictured below; the table was once a cart wheel).
When the movers came, I asked them if they would move some other items while they were here. They agreed and did. They moved a cigar humidor, a roll top desk, and a wooden guitar display case. When I asked them how much they wanted for the extra work, they shrugged and said, “Whatever.”
I pulled two new one hundred dollar bills out of my pocket.
“How’s two hundred dollars?” I asked.
The mover’s eyes widened and they nodded approval.
Before they could speak, I handed one of them two hundred dollars and then reached into my pocket and handed the other one two hundred dollars.
At this point they couldn’t speak.
I felt terrific to know I helped these men with a spontaneous gift that was so unexpected and so large that they’re probably still talking about it.
It’s a lot easier to attract more money when you know money is neutral energy and you’re going to use it to make a difference in the world.
As I wrote in my previous blog post (quoting P.T. Barnum), we can’t all see alike, but we can all do good.
Money enables you to do more good.
It’s one of the most powerful spiritual tools ever created.
Just ask Tristan.
Ao Akua,
PS — You can still get my new book free by clicking the banner below —
Kevin Trudeau is famous for his popular infomercials for his bestselling books, from The Weight Loss Cure to Natural Cures They Don’t Want You to Know to Debt Cures and more.
He’s committed to making a difference in the world. He wants to make a profit while doing so, but that’s the entrepreneurial mindset. His real love is informing people that there are natural remedies to most of the health issues of the day. He’s not going to let anyone stop him from spreading the word, either.
Over the last year I’ve gotten to know him. We’ve had several dinners, meetings, and email exchanges. I’ve been on his radio show, and I’ve interviewed him for my Hypnotic Gold members.
I’ve found him to be sincere and passionate. Whenever I meet with him, I learn something new about health, healing and/or marketing, and even the Law of Attraction. Turns out Kevin is a big believer in LOA and uses it to be so successful.
I have a terrific infomercial for my new book, Attract Money Now because of Kevin’s inspiration.
And when my back began to hurt due to the car accident in Russia a few months ago, it was Kevin who told me of a a cool new tool that has changed my life and sped up my healing.
Recently he gave me a copy of his new audio program, a fourteen CD set titled Your Wish Is Your Command. Since Kevin is a terrific story teller, a riveting speaker, and a walking library of information on attracting what you want in life (with a focus on attracting money), I couldn’t wait to listen to it.
I did and loved it.
It’s based on a two-day seminar he gave where people paid $11,000 each to hear him speak. ($11,000!) Lucky you, you can now listen to the same event on audio CDs for under $300.
I’m not an affiliate for the program, but I strongly encourage you to get the set and take the time to listen to it. You’ll learn a lot on many levels.
Just go to Your Wish Is Your Command.
Ao Akua,
PS — You can still read my latest book for free by clicking on this banner: