Dan Pena

Oops! Forgot it was Memorial Day weekend in the USA! Being a very proud Veteran myself, my thanks goes out to all that have served and died for their countries around the world! Was so busy working, it escaped me – so  Happy Memorial Day to those in the USA! Enjoy, but keep working! I just had my conference call with the last seminar attendees. A lot of success for a year let alone only 5 weeks. More about it in my next news letter.

And on a very serious note, as you may of read or heard a great American entrepreneur, Art Linkletter, passed last week at 97! I had the pleasure of knowing him many years ago when I was young and looking for advice and insight! I still remember going up to his mansion in Bel Aire, California. He was extremely kind to me and gave me advice graciously! The deal didn't work out, but I never forgot the kind jester! I guess I was looking for dream teams, even as a young man in the late 70's!

Dear QLA Visionary and Devotee,

Well, the market is looking for a reason to correct itself and just maybe lead us into the "dreaded double dip recession" we have all heard and read about. Time will tell.

I was especially amused to see the 1000 day drop in the market a couple weeks ago especially when it was ostensibly blamed on a "technical glitch" that they are still trying to ascertain the blame. This coupled with rioting in the streets of Athens, Bangkok, Kingston, many cities of Nigeria and what they call rallies in many European cities – I wonder what the hell is going on?!  I said to myself – golly bum (as my dearly departed partner Charlie used to say). What is happening? As my dearly recently departed father used to tell me since I was a boy, "the longer you live the less you are surprised."

With all this world wide turmoil, I still get regular emails and calls (more about my next mentee conference call later) from students, mentees, protégées and devotees. In candor almost all are from people wanting to share their successes and, or ask for some advice they don't seem to find in the QLA product or my book – Your First 100 Million. Of course I do get some very sad stories , as well.

Times are tough. Remember people change only out of inspiration or desperation. Which are you? Inspired? Desperate? Let's see how you would grade a few of my recent castle seminar attendees.Are they desperate or inspired? I will leave them nameless to protect the guilty. Of course, the attendees know who they are and who the other attendees are.

As I have recently completed, in late April, a castle seminar, I got first hand from the attendees what is going on in 2010 and how they are doing. Yah, times are tough – but deals are still getting done!

A 41 year old attendee had been funding property deals tied to energy producing green technology and wanted to do larger ones than he was currently doing. He had not been turned down ever by his bank in 20 years and he came to Guthrie to learn how to get larger and quicker results. I told him: though admirable what he had accomplished, he should do much better if he pushed harder; he should not be proud of never being turned down;  he was not asking for enough money; he was not focused enough.

Another attendee: was a manager at a site of the largest fast food operation in the world in Australia. He had known of me since he saw me mentioned in a 1994 Robb Report (he brought the page with him). He was a 25 year old and physically fit trained in martial arts; knew what focus and commitment meant; wanted to find a goal he could use his current talents.  I told him I forgot what I looked like in 1994; commitment and focus put him ahead of his contemporaries and most others; he needed to look at various opportunities he could wrap his passion around it; and whatever he does don't think he had a lot of time just because he was only 25!

Another attendee: a fast talking lawyer who at 39 had already had success in property and brokering deals from a tax haven wanted to get to the next level. He had bought my first book on eBay in 2004 and needed further assistance on how to get more direction. I told him: get laser beam focused; he can't do it all; use his legal practice as a conduit.

There were a couple of attendees that studied under two of my very successful mentees. Hence they thought, if I trained them – Bodo Scheaffer (German mind, body, finance guru) and Ron Legrand (USA no money down real estate guru) – I must be a terrific mentor coach!

Guy #1: 35 yrs old budding realestate entrepreneur; wants to leave his current endeavor of night club owner; doing his 1st real estate deal; had success early in his life with something he was passionate about; but lost focus and has had difficulty finding it again. I told him: he knew what it felt like because he had the passion once; find something he wanted badly; and refocus as he once did.

Guy #2: 31 yrs old, once personal assistant to real estate CEO: had done real estate deals on his own; trying to do big deals; trying to do deals that were much too confusing and needed too many things to happen to close; had knowledge from former CEO; trying to build his own track record. I told him: simple deals are best; financial institutions and investors like simplicity; get focused; you build a track record by doing deals. 

I told all the above: DREAM BIGGER DREAMS; they needed a board of directors and dream team to assist in fulfilling their dreams, with one exception. I told them all they were involved in too many things and were not laser beam focused.I told them all they were not working hard, tough or smart enough. I told them all – what gets measured, get done and what gets measured gets better. They all needed bench marks, more finite goals that were reviewed weekly and better daily and they all had to hold themselves much more accountable. I told them all we would follow up in our monthly coaching call and that they would be severely beaten (metaphorically) if they didn't accomplish their given tasks. LOL! Some seemed to like the beating idea.

There are other stories from the castle seminar that I could share, but I hope you get the point that the attendees are very much like you. And since I allowed payments for the first time, we got a larger mix of QLA devotees. All the attendees didn't use payments, but it did make a difference as I am sure it will in the upcoming castle seminar 22 -28 August.

As I said earlier in this news letter I would talk more about the conference calls I am initiating for the castle attendees 30 may. The schedule for the rest of the year will be posted on my website at http://www.danpena.com/schedule/. After giving castle seminars since 1994 I have gone through several permutations, trying to get the best results for the attendees – many of whom have become my mentees, protégés, students, business partnersand friends. As I said in a recent newsletter, I asked what I could do to strengthen and make the results more long lasting. Almost to a person I was told – more personal contact with me made a substantial and significant difference in their potential success. Hence, the monthly conference calls were born. I look forward to sharing the results of this new program with you in the future.

To Your Quantum Leap,

- Dan

P.S. As I have written my mentor program closed in 2008, due to my schedule and many commitments. It is hoped in 2011, it will have limited openings. But all potential who may enter the mentor program – must be graduates of the castle seminar. Only this way do the candidates fully understand what I demand in a mentee. Of course all castle seminar attendees will not become mentees.With the new payment schedule for seminars, more of you interested should be able to apply.

P.P.S. With cash and finance for deals tight – it still exists! It's a jungle out there and only the fittest survive. But as I have told the above castle attendees, it is easier when you present your deals with the support and backing of: a dream team; senior board of directors built around a experienced chairman; credible law firm; credible accounting firm;  and a deal you believe in, are focused on and passionate in your execution.

P.P.P.S I have told my children and anyone who would listen: it is not what happens to you in life that dictates how you turn out, it is solely how you interpret what happens in life that dictates your future. The glass is either – half empty – or half full. How do you interpret what happens to you?

P.P.P.P.S. As I write this news letter I am informed there are people trying to find flaw with me.Stalkers who would try and discredit me and what I have done! Not being perfect as many would contend, my life is a public record so they shouldn't have much trouble finding the errors I have committed.These are "real bad guys" I have been involved in a law suit with for several years. They have attempted to hack into my emails, etc. Unlike Sara Palin, I have nothing interesting to read other than a lot of F* YOU and other expletives! I would not be surprised if they don't attempt to contact anyone that I have had contact with in recent, or even distant year. They are ostensibly journalists from the UK with a special angle.In fact they have already been in touch with a former mentee. They are the same group that tried unsuccessfully to exploit bogus trumped up charges against me in India on Wikipedia.  Of course, I was fully exonerated, as indicated on Wikipedia – Firm Chairman Cleared of Charges. The closer we get to a court date the harder they will try to besmirch my name.They think I will go away. I strongly suggest you ascertain who you are talking to and get contact details and enjoy the experience.And don't worry about me. For those of you that have read my books you know I have been up against formidable opponents before!

Dan Pena Blog, Newsletter

Dear QLA Visionary and Devotee,

Volcanic ash! Man plans and god laughs.

It has been over a week since the castle seminar has ended and it was a big success. I have often said – man plans and God laughs. Well, the volcanic ash of Iceland made life pretty difficult to say the least. Of the total 12 registrants (actually 2 over a full house because 10 is all we normally take) 8 made it from as far away as Australia and San Francisco. It was quiet a group and you can see their testimonials on my site.

The new system of continued coaching has been effective, based on the desire for all to participate. We are preparing for the 1st conference call with the group to check what they have accomplished. Each attendee has been given a specific set of goals to accomplish. We have 4 conference calls scheduled this year. As I have told you countless times, what gets measured gets accomplished!

As I have written, I changed the structure so we had more role-playing. Each attendee had an opportunity to put forward their project/deal/dream. In variably each pitched their deal to a pretend financial institution (those with no deals didn't have to pitch). We went through step-by-step how to prepare you for raising capital. We had a couple silver tongued guys, but most were just like you and I (used to be) pretty humble in their communication skills.

My throat is just healing from all the yelling I did. In fact the Chinese guys who could not get here for the seminar arrived late after the seminar to discuss their deal, so I yelled at them a while for practice!

Castle Event in August 2010

Based on the success of the recent event, I am going to have another castle seminar 22 to 28 August 2010. Again, those that qualify will have the opportunity to make payments! Contact Thelma at my office for more information – thelmag@guthriecastle.com.

I continue to enjoy coaching and will do these events till I do not like it anymore. Unlike the *BS* the marketing gurus say, this is not my last seminar; I am not selling all my secrets in 3 installments; and I have not found the Holy Grail.

A mentee from Florida, Doris, who attended the castle 2008, has already signed up along with four others who couldn't make this one. Doris is a very successful lady who has been following Quantum Leap Advantage since the mid 90's when she heard me speak in Orlando. More info will follow on my site soon, but I wanted to get this out to my news letter subscribers now.

I hope to see you in August!

To your quantum Leap,

Dan

P.S. Here are two guys (who wrote me during the seminar week) who have used QLA in recent years: Tom went to one of the 1st castle events in 1996 and I worked with him for a couple years. He is a mentee of Bodo Schaeffer who was one of my mentees. The other guy is a recent devotee and I suggest you read their stories.

Letter 1

Hi Dan,

I hope all is well with you. I just wanted to let you know that I have pitched nearly 2500 angels, VC's & institutional investors throughout the world over the course of the last two years and despite the economic downturn I'm happy to report that we are weeks away from securing $30 million of initial seed & development capital with a potential of up to $700 million in the second round. What you said is true,"If you never stop looking, someone out there will fund your deal". I'll keep you posted.

Regards,

Tom

Letter 2

Dear Mr. Pena,

I own your first book along with several videos and audios. The information on these has helped transform me from a mush-with-some-ambition into sharpened steel.

In spite of being hindered by a chronic health problem, employing your principals have helped propel me from unemployment to today where I am now negotiating the multi-million dollar purchase of a great company in a growing industry where I will have a significant stake in the ownership as well as the top job.

You may like this. I did not hesitate even though the company is in an industry I had never heard of before in a foreign country with a language I do not speak and the target was controlled by another company in a different country, whose language I also don't speak, that is mired in bankruptcy court. To a Dan Pena mentee like me, these issues were just minor white noise in the background. It also meant nothing to me that there were four other serious bidders trying to acquire this company. My mind was focused to move beyond any obstacles and now we are in the final stretch as the favored bidder with the bankruptcy tribunal.

Although i am unbelievably committed to make this acquisition a 100% certainty, if we don't win it I am not worried at all. This is because I am just passing the point where instead of chasing opportunities they are starting to come to me. When important people see that you can get things done then opportunities start coming out of nowhere.

You have passed your mindset and attitude to me. I practice it and apply it and I am now playing with the big boys and about to capture financial rewards that would have been unfathomable to me just two years ago.

Thank you so much for making your methods available!

Sincerely,

Duke

P.S. One tiny point you never mentioned is that once you start this process then family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues start to view you differently. As I travel the world for meetings many people I know have been confused; some now avoid me while others seek me out to watch or ride on my coattails; but many have started talking about me that never did before. It feels like I went from being invisible to a very-minor local celebrity. More importantly, the ambitious people with whom I want to network are now interested in interacting with me.

Letter 3

Dear Mr. Pena,

Thank you for your very quick response. I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and the industry is the domestic Chinese automotive & electric vehicle market.

My quantum leap is only because I continue to watch your videos over and over and over!

My mentor tried many people to move this project forward but they all fell by the wayside because they did not have my grit; reinforced and enhanced by your training.Six months ago there were a dozen people on this project, but now it is only my mentor and me – because we shy away from nothing!

Thanks again for the quantum leap!

Cheers to the continued success of us both,

Duke

P.P.S. I will be in London, San Francisco and Shanghai in the next few weeks. You can see my schedule on my site.

Dan Pena Blog, Newsletter

The QLA Seminar 2010 was a great success! A chosen elite few were privileged to attend the 7-day Castle Extravaganza and learned how generate mega wealth from scratch – with no money. Check out the testimonials and pictures posted below.

Testimonials

“QLA Seminar is mind-blowing, it´s about correctly rewiring your head. Changes in overall outcome will be for sure tremendous. It sets you up for your personal quantum leap. Additionally the atmosphere of the castle is unique and an experience for itself. What concerns taught business skills – the big difference to other seminars is, Mr. Pena has been there and done it. So the message is clear – “let´s go there and do it”. There are no excuses. The tough school of a true texican oilman. My thanks to Mr. Pena for the seminar. “ –

K. A. Beckmann, Bear Nicholas GmbH & Co KG, Germany

"…Mr. Pena's QLA training provides a wealth of practical knowledges and counsel. The wisdom contained in one thousand books on the subject of business administration does not compare in value to actually spending time the the presence of masters. This is true in any religion, discipline or practice. The QLA training is without doubt, the pinnacle of what is available on the market to aspiring students. The QLA training contains vast practical and fundamental knowedges, however, at it's heart, is a "force multiplier" and "attitude changer". As such, six months ago I was doing SFR foreclosure rehabs, in the last several weeks we have thought about creating a fund for residential, now we have scrapped both and, are taking a shot at the jugular with commercial real estate sourcing and funding structures and the capital sources have appeared – because the vision has manifested itself. Thank You Mr. Pena for being accessable and for being the greatest inspiration I have had, in business and Thank You for caring enough to share your knowledge with QLA attendees 2010..";

Sean J. Brannan, Antioch CA

Hi Dan, I would like to thank you from the deepest of my heart! I had an awsome, Mind blowing, enlightening experience visiting your castle seminar last week. The intense plain text you are using to transport the ultimate 'wisdom of success' is needed to crack old habits, set a new level of focus and give a big-time ass-kick. The combination of know-it and know-how is never seen before. I recommend this seminar to everyone who seriously wants to do serious business.

Björn Kukula, Germany

Dan Pena Blog

Dear Friend and Visionary,

 

Dan Pena Blog

All our lives we are told by the pundits our goals are not realistic. Our dreams are too far-fetched. Our expectations are too high. We are told you have to remember who you are and where you came from. We are preached to that those "things" are for the "other" people; you certainly can't expect that for yourself; whom are you kidding? You'll only disappoint yourself. It will be a big letdown. You know how you are when you get disappointed. I say Crap! CRAP!

POPULAR CONSENSUS = RECIPE FOR FAILURE

The aforementioned rhetoric is what we and every other human being have been told since Guthrie Man. Conventional wisdom has been holding people back for tens of centuries. Being in the majority is a recipe for disaster. A famous man once said, "A sure formula for failure is to try and please everyone." Some might say I built a career on doing just the opposite of pleasing everyone.

SETTING GOALS FOR SUCCESS

How many times in your business life have you been told your goals are unrealistic? And you acquiesce to conventional wisdom and lower your goals? Our lives are a series of lowered expectations year after year. We got pounded by everything around us. Just like our parents and their parents. We are products of our social and economic milieu. And we ask ourselves why there are barrios and ghettos? Remember, you will become whom you hang around with. What if you were judged by the people you surround yourself with? By your advisors, associates, and close friends. What would people think? Forget people! What do you think? How would you judge someone like yourself? Pretty scary, huh?

What a distressing contrast there is between the radiant, intelligent child and the feeble mentality of the average adult. (Freud)

Achievable goals – NOT!

Conventional wisdom says you want to set achievable goals. My life was changed a number of years ago when I heard Ted Turner of Time Warner/Turner Communications (now AOL/Time Warner) fame say "set goals you cannot accomplish in your lifetime." Does that sound like an achievable goal? Does that sound like a goal with a set time frame? Doesn't conventional wisdom say "you must set a time limit for your goal?" B.S.! The pundits tell you that a set time frame will act as a benchmark. Actually it acts as the opposite. It's really a ceiling. How many times have we seen someone give seven days, a month, or sixty days to do something? What happens? It takes exactly that long to accomplish the act. Doesn't it? Instead we should say – as fast as humanly possible! What happens when you're told "I need it now?" It gets done now!

You see, all super high performance people go against conventional wisdom. Turner, Iacocca, Ford, Dell, Edison, Gates, Jobs, Tom Watson, Perot, Fred Smith, Knight, Bezoes, and probably any superstar you know all subscribe to do what others felt was wrong. And in every case, probably something that was not considered achievable. In other words, the very opposite of conventional wisdom. That same conventional wisdom that is preached in our schools. And we wonder why we're not more successful! Why our children are not high achievers! We wonder why kids are so ill-prepared for life! We wonder why there are so many dufuses! (I'll write a great deal about dufuses in future issues). Wouldn't you like to have some chances back again? The things you didn't do. And you say you can't. Why? Because of your responsibilities, family, kids, etc. Because others say so? Because time has passed you by? Because you are too old now? Because you don't have the energy any more, or even because you're too young? Because! Because! Because! Conventional wisdom says you can't, that's why!

Colonel Sanders was 65 years old when he decided to sell fried chicken in a cardboard box. Grandma Moses was in her 80's when she decided to paint. How old are you? Is your idea any more funky than Sanders? Grandma Moses'? Is your idea any stranger than Ross Perot's idea to build a company that could outsell IBM at what they did better than anyone in the world? Cheaper? Starting with $1,000? Or what about a teenage Bill Gates wanting a computer in every U.S. home! I don't think so! Who's kidding who?

What about the proliferation of dot.com companies. There are literally thousands of dot.coms founded by 20-year-old kids to senior citizens. Think about the following: In 1994 there were virtually no dot.coms. In 1999 over 300 dot.coms had IPO's for a market capitalization of a trillion dollars; and it's estimated in 2000/2001 over 900 dot.coms will come to market. The 294 companies doing the most business on the internet have an average market cap of $18 billion. That's 30 times the average NASDAQ non-dot.com company's market cap!

It's a changed world! Are you changing?

Dan Pena Articles

Yes, man does plan and the Big Man does laugh! But man still needs to plan and have and execute goals and plans.

Man doesn't plan to fail. Man fails to plan.

A lot has happened in the last few months in the world.

Sadly Haiti and Chile earthquakes have killed many. Banks are makings tons again, yet are not lending as they should be! The health care agenda in the U.S.A. has slowed down and may be stopped. But through these tough times people are still succeeding against the odds. Of course not all these successes are using QLA, but I can assure you they are following some form of QLA system. All success that is not luck of the spin, or turning a card has the same elements: absolute laser beam focus, unquestioned perseverance, risk taking, discipline, tons of hard work, pushing their comfort zone to new limits, paying the price to action – meaning there is a price for every action in life, and implementation and execution that is beyond the common consensus.

Whether you call it QLA or whatever, this is what it takes to succeed against the overwhelming odds in this economic environment. It happens and you can do it – if you want it bad enough. The plain truth is MOST PEOPLE DO NOT WANT IT BAD ENOUGH! They talk about it, read about it; take some easy actions about it even attending expensive seminars, then stop when it gets tough. Or stop when they start listening to the people around them saying why are you doing this or that, etc? I have written countless times – we all know how to lose weight. We all know how to get physically fit. It takes hard work and discipline! Yet people make it sound like a mystery! When we know it is not! It's like a new year's resolution – you know what I mean. By now most New Year's goals have gone by the way side. Why?

In this regard I have had time to reflect on my many mentees and QLA in recent weeks.

I buried my Father a few weeks ago and thought of a lot of things including a number of my mentees, protégés, business partners and friends. My Dad was 91 and had a full life. He died peacefully in his sleep.

I thought of the good I have done and where I have not done such a good job, or where I could have done a better job. It makes you think about one's life and what you could've done that you didn't; the people you influenced and the ones you could have influenced more. And those that still have more runway in their lives – the ones who have run out of runway and their lives are nearing their end. What we can still do? Of course as for me that is why I am going to China. In fact I arrived here with my youngest son in the last few days. He has moved here armed with his recently obtained MBA. He is immersed in a total business Chinese program at the Shanghai University. There is no English whatsoever! It is sink or swim! Live or die! No escape! No back up plans! No plan-B! Sound familiar?

At my Dad's memorial there were many men/women that approached me to say how much he changed their lives dating back 70 years. In his field he was an icon – a man of stern steel. A MANS MAN! Many told me they felt ashamed they hadn't done more when compared to my Dad's accomplishments, considering he started as a shoe shine boy at age 7 helping to support his family. To say it was an extremely reflective event for me would be an understatement of biblical proportion!

From my Dad's eulogy I gave:

A final story I often relate about my Dad, which illustrated who he was and how he lived his life was how he met me when I landed in Leharve France in mid 1951. I ran up to hug him and came away from him with blood on my little arms and hands. What I didn't know was he had just had surgery to remove a tumor from his back, early that morning. Yes he had undergone surgery, yet he was there to meet me at the boat as it docked hundreds of miles away on the west coast of France that evening.  The story doesn't stop there. What I found out later was he would not allow the surgeons to put him under with a general anesthetic. He only allowed the surgeons to use a local, because he refused to be unconscious for fear of someone extracting top secret info while he was under (my Dad was head of criminal investigation division (CID) during the cold war in Europe.) He underwent the entire surgery with mirrors watching the cutting, etc, by the surgeons – with a loaded 45 automatic in his hand.

YAH MY DAD WAS TOUGH! He was super hero tough. No props, extras or stunt men.

As I reflect about the memorial service, I think about what I often say: if people were writing your obituary now – what would they say? Could you have done more with your life? Could you have helped more people than you did? Did you take advantage of ALL your own resources? There is always time to make things better. This is one reason I continue to coach.

I saw grown men 40, 50, 60, and 70 shed tears trying to put in words what my Dad had meant to them, their families and lives. It was something I will never forget, if I live to be 100. One of the finest things that happened to me, in a long time, was when my 91 and 93 yr old aunts said, "You're like your Father".

The eulogy was tough but I got thru it – after all, I am my Dad's son. But putting his ashes in the crypt was surreal. The finality was overwhelming. I put him in next to his favorite sister with a folded American flag the honor guard gave the family. He had an honor guard for his distinguished service in two wars and a lifetime in public service in law enforcement and education.

Unfortunately, I am asked to often to give eulogies because I do it very well. In recent years I have had too much practice.

I say all this because I have been privileged to have a great impact on countless numbers including a global 25 CEO and all size CO's and too many entrepreneurs to count. I have been blessed. Many of my mentees and students have had great runs and some have failed, almost always falling forward in their quest for success to fulfill their dreams. Can you say the same? Have you given yourself an opportunity to achieve your dreams and goals? Have you done all you can to put your loved ones where they should be? It's not too late! It's never too late! It's only too late if you stop trying! And always remember "old age regret" is an awful thing to experience!

As a mentor I have said – you only have one time to make a first impression and time is the only thing we can't replace – so use it well! What does that mean? Take risks. For at the end of the day men/women are known for the risks they took – not the ones that passed them by. Be all you can be – not a mere fraction of what you can be.

It still amazes me for all the missed hits I have had in business, I am known for the success I have participated in my nearly 40 years in the trenches. Not the pop flies, strike outs, and fumbles I have made. What most people (you) worry about – when it comes to your obituary no one cares. Yet you dwell your entire lives over what people might think or God forbid say about you. I can assure you when they bury you – they only say nice things about you!

I read emails weekly from people struggling in life. I get emails from people who are using my methodologies successfully. I have had the same struggles and successes. I still struggle even today, but the quantum is different. I have been doing this for a very long time now – and some things don't change – only the players change. Economies go up. Economies go down. There is never a perfect time to make hard and difficult decisions, yet I continue to see people ponder on the correct timing, etc.

I still talk and have business dealings with people that attended my first QLA Seminar way back in May 1993. I have had close relationships with many that have enriched my life beyond the imagination. I have assisted countless individuals attain their dreams that they aspired to, but thought beyond their reach. Ask yourself, when you attend a service as I did,"what could I have done to better enhance the people around me"?

Most of you have an idea you keep to yourself; you continue to noodle it; you get excited; you tell someone; you then get nervous because the feedback and , or initial results weren't what you wanted; you then try for more feedback; you then get scared; you then drag your feet; and ultimately it dies a very quiet death. Sound familiar? Why?

So I thought, "Dan – in all  your infinite experience and wisdom how can you short cut the success process for your  upcoming castle seminar attendees when they leave Guthrie Castle the 24^th of April?" I had already made it possible to attend the castle experience paying for the investment in yourself by payments. I have never accepted payments before, though I had made a few exceptions over the years for students, groups and a French Foreign Legionnaire! Then a few weeks ago, 1 of my most successful mentees (a 5 time castle attendee) suggested vis-à-vis the current dismal economic environment I accept payments so I did! But I have always surmised in the past, once the attendee has the information verbally from me and the CD's, etc, it is up to them. I now think differently based on information from some of my successful mentees, who believe more interface with me would of impacted them greatly! And I thought me yelling at the attendees at the castle would be enough for them for a life time! LOL!

Hence, I have changed the upcoming QLA Seminar not just making the economic information current, in 2 very different ways: 1) I added more role playing and 1 on 1 with me; and 2) I added, for the first time, follow up on my part.

This is a letter I sent out to the upcoming seminar attendees:

First, let me congratulate you on the best decision of your life.

Your decision to attend the Castle Seminar at my personal estate in April demonstrates that personal growth is a high priority for you, and it's a quantum step in the right direction.

There has never been a better time to take advantage of my 30+ years of business experience.

I will be showing you firsthand what the Pros are doing, and more importantly not doing, to survive and prosper in the current economic climate.

I wanted to take a moment now and share with you something you are not aware of.

Because you have a made a commitment to change your life, I want to see you thru to that end.  So in addition to the close personal attention you will be receiving from me in April, I wanted to tell you what else you will be receiving from, which was not advertised.

For one full year following the Castle Seminar, you will have direct access to me by email. That means you can email me anytime with your questions or problems – and I will give you a candid and transparent answer.  You will get my personal email address and have direct access to me. If you need to talk personally, I will take your call, but you need to schedule a time with my assistant, as I'm usually travelling or in meetings. 

You may be surprised to know that I still communicate with attendees who came to my 1^st seminar in 1993.

As if that wasn't enough, you will also receive the following:

1. You will be able to put deals in front of me for my opinion.
   
2. You will have access to the monthly update conference calls.
   
3. You will also be able to submit short weekly reports for me to monitor your progress and give you direct feedback.
   
4. You will be able to ask me to be involved in your deal. I only pick a few deals each year, but you always can ask!
5. You will have access to other QLA devotees in your area for as long as you wish.
   
6. And finally, if I'm in your neighborhood, we can meet up for a drink. Even though I'm now based in Asia, I travel the world and I'm in the UK and USA each quarter.

As you may already know, I charge $3000/hour for my time, and CEO's pay this without batting an eye!

See you in April!

As good as the seminar has been I am making changes to make the attendee results even better! Don't get me wrong – I can't make people succeed! But I can underscore and assist the attendees that they stay the course when it gets tough. And believe me it will get tough! It always gets tough and measures your resolve, myself included. Life always tests you. It's like raising kids. You have to put your head down and just keep pushing – no matter what! I am absolutely positive that is what my Dad and Mom did when I was growing up. To say I was a challenge to raise would be one of the greatest understatements of the 20th century. As my Dad often said, "We have no goals for Danny other than to keep him ALIVE till he reaches the age of reason". They were not sure if that would be 20 or 30. Remember – I was expelled from grade school 3 times before I was 10 years old and arrested 5 times for various mischievous deeds, the last being at age 31. Yah I was a challenge growing up!

Well, I am here and some would say I haven't yet reached the age of reason. And if the age of reason means you believe common consensus is correct or that going against the grain isn't what a man/woman should do to achieve their dreams – then I might not ever reach the age of reason. After all, I still have dreams. I still have stuff I want to complete before I go. I am still involved in the lives of many working their plans to achieve their dreams and goals and more importantly, I am still loving it!

To Your Quantum Leap,

P.S. If you could start over again how far would you go back, 25, 35 50? Well you don't have to go back in time like the movie. All you have to do is "suck up you panty hose" and just do it! I have had mentees spring back at age 70!  How old are you? Wouldn't you love to come back like the phoenix rising from the ashes? Would you be truly grateful for having another chance? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have, yet one more shot to fulfill your dreams? Just do it!

P.P.S. When was the last time you told your parents, kids, and other loved ones – I LOVE YOU? I did tell my Dad and I tell my kids whenever I talk to them, or email them. I didn't tell my Mother before she passed. As I have written and said before – I didn't think my Mom was really ill and it will live with me forever. SORRY MOM!

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From Bill Gates at the end of the last century to John D. Rockefeller at the end of the previous century; from Rick Scott, founder of Columbia Health Care; to AT&T; from Richard Branson and British Airlines to Dan Peña and The Financial Times; from government, banking, insurance and every other facet of world commerce – to grow geometrically and stay around, and avoid being ground into a powder by greedy lawyers and the people who will try to cheat you – litigation must be prudently used and mastered – you must lose your fear of litigation and master the legal system. It exists for honest people, like you, not just the bad and the greedy.

I will, as briefly as I can, memorialize the salient points of using litigation as a business tool. Now before I start, I want it on the record, some 50% of my 30-year track record of litigation has had nothing to do with winning money, i.e., many lawsuits have been over principle, some were to right a heinous wrong such as slanderous remarks made about me; some were to simply protect me or a company that was wrongfully sued; and some were because an entity just needed a good comeuppance and nobody else would carry the flag into battle. I, like Don Quixote, have fought many a windmill.

Our judicial system works, but we grow up being afraid of it. It's way out of our comfort zone so we preclude ourselves from benefitting from it.  Normally the cost associated with lawyers and expert witnesses keeps us from using it. In fact, I'm currently embroiled in litigation where the ancillary players to the litigation have rights which are being severely violated. A large group of people could bring great pressure to bear, but they're afraid because of previous bad experiences. Sometimes people lose faith in their fellow citizens who will sit on a jury and are afraid to go to court to tell their story. They could get what they deserve but aren't pursuing their best interests.  No one should sue anyone unjustly, but you should not tolerate being sued unjustly either. Sometimes, you or your company will have to sue to protect your rights, or defend yourself all the way through trial.

Many times lawyers will sue you hoping you’ll “settle” and pay them large sums of money because you are afraid of going to trial. The more successful you are, the more you need to remember that the courtroom exists to protect you and your company. Naturally you have to defer to your lawyer, but I have found 28 Rules of Litigation to be rock solid guides for me.

28 Rules of Business Litigation:

1. Choose your Battles: No one should sue over every wrong.
2. Choose the Venue
3. Be the Plaintiff: if you can’t be the Plaintiff, act like one—be the person getting ready for trial not being afraid of trial
4. Have the Best Representation
5. Listen to Your heart
6. Don't listen to your sick stomach when you're out of your comfort zone.
7. Don't listen to friends, relatives, et al
8. Listen to experienced litigants – like me!
9. Generally speaking, don't worry about the cost (THIS IS VERY HARD!). Just be sure you’re getting “bang for your buck” and not a lot of internal memos.
10. Big lawsuits are better than small ones
11. Elect jury trials, as opposed to a judge only: don’t be afraid to trust your fellow citizens.
12. Preparation(yours) is key – KNOW THE FACTS
13. Practice depositions and trials
14. If you are thinking of a better strategy, get a new lawyer (not true in my case)
15. NEVER GIVE UP
16. Don't be intimidated by the process
17. Use mock trials (pretend trials you do in front of a hired jury)
18. Dress simple and conservatively in court – no jewelry except a wedding band, white shirt, plain tie and dark suit for men and the equivalent for women; short groomed hair for men. Everyone should show the proper respect for the judge and jury.
19. Don't lose your temper in court – it's okay to cry if it's for real.
20. Have your spouse in the front row every day. Children also if possible. Other family members in second row is okay. Your family needs to know what you’re going through. And there is nothing wrong with showing that you are a respected member of the community.
21. No quotes to the press other than "We believe in our case and that is why we went to court". Your words can easily be distorted by a reporter in a hurry.
22. When you break for lunch or recess, remember never talk in public about the case – you never know who might overhear.
23. When you find a legal team that wins, STAY WITH THEM
24. ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH, No matter what. The truth will set you free!
25. During videotaped depositions and in court, look at the camera.  In court, look at the jury. Make eye contact.
26. When testifying in a deposition or trial, if you don't know the answer, say you don't know the answer. Don’t guess.
27. Keep in touch with your lawyers: ask them what’s going on each month at least.  Don’t abandon your case to them and be sure you understand what they are doing.
28. Don’t allow lawyers to shift in and out of the case: you want one team that learns, not new lawyers constantly coming “up to speed.”

Like any other project management, litigation must be managed. That means you need to stay involved. Unfortunately, like speech-giving, you become a great litigant by going through a learning curve. I don't mean you have to get involved in losing efforts (like making bad speeches so after some time you make good speeches) to get in a position to win in court. Large law firms and experienced lawyers will allow you to get ahead of the learning curve. The Quantum Leap methodology talks ad nauseam about following your dreams. Life without dreams is like a bird with a broken wing – it can't fly. I wrote this newsletter because sometimes you'll need litigation to follow your dream. Go out and kick some butt if you have to, and don't let conventional wisdom keep you from achieving your dream. Conventional wisdom says Don't Litigate. All high-performance people and the great organizations of the last one hundred years did the opposite when they were in the right, and they still do litigate, as I write this letter.

Don't litigate frivolously – but don't be afraid to protect what is right either.

Learn more about Dan Pena’s Quantum Leap methodology through his QLA Training Programs and his bestselling book, “Your First 100 million”.

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Dan Pena's QLA Seminar, previously scheduled for April 11-17, 2010 has been moved to April 18-24 2010. The change allows others a better opportunity to attend and experience the castle extravaganza. The event will take place at his estate in Guthrie Castle, Scotland.

The Quantum Leap Advantage seminars are known to deliver hard-hitting, no-nonsense seminars, packed with the brutal truth about making big money and specific entrepreneurial topics. In his 7 day information packed seminar, Pena will be sharing the “Eleven Steps to Success” anyone can follow to become super-rich; how to change the way we think about business and make the kind of money others envy; and many more powerful secrets, strategies, tools and tactics required to make a lot of money in any business now and not later.

Pena has also announced that for the very first time, payments through installments will be allowed due to the tough economic condition. For more information visit www.danpena.com. For booking reservations you may contact thelmag@guthriecastle.com or call +44 1241 828691 (UK).

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Here's a list of 28 Tips that make Great CEO's and Companies. These are some of the things I've learned after meeting many successful executives. They all have major characteristics which are  common. This is the same with strong businesses. No matter what industry, all super successful companies are highly adaptable, focused and passionate about their vision.

1. The Hedgehog Vs Fox…the fox is smart & cunning but gets caught up in lots of details, becoming misdirected and chasing his own tail…hedgehogs do only 1 thing and do it well and nothing else…eat. THE BEST CEO’S OF ALL TIME ARE HEDGEHOGS!!
   

   Example: Jimmy Carter was smart, wordly, tackled many issues…and got lost in detail. Ronald Reagan had only 1 thing on his mind for 8 years… Russia… remove the "evil empire", remove the "evil empire" and remove the "evil empire"! Reagan was a hedgehog…

   All great Hedgehogs have 3 common traits:

   1. Passionate about what they believe in..
   2. Recognise that they are genetically encoded for their chosen field of endeavour… they really LOVE what they do!
   3. and somebody WILL pay them for what they love to do!
       
2. Teams with the clearest sense of vision & impact WIN!
3. Talent base – people…are the most important assets of new economy companies.
4. Best question to ask a CEO…why would great people want to be part of your company?
5. Customers will constantly raise "the bar of expectation" for companies.
6. The internet is a giant "lab experiment" for corporate America and those companies that recognise this and play well within the rules of ambiguity & fluidity will survive and win. NOTHING IS CAST IN CONCRETE.
7. The best form of customer service is SELF service. Constantly empower customers to get their own answers themselves…this is a huge differentiator
8. "CLOCK SPEED" OF BUSINESS IS CONSTANTLY ACCELERATING…TIME REALLY MATTERS MORE THAN MONEY (MONEY YOU CAN SOMETIMES GET BACK, TIME YOU CAN’T) MOST EVEN BRIGHT UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF TIME…THINK MORE IN TERMS OF "RETURN ON MINUTES"(ROM) THAN "RETURN ON INVESTMENT" (ROI).
9. Get in the digital game fast, no matter how small…"launch, listen, learn, then re-launch!
10. SIZE IS THE ENEMY OF SPEED! SPEED TO REACT MATTERS MORE THAN SIZE OF COMPANY…
11. Good leaders make sense of change in the world…then imparts that insight to the team.
12. SHIFTING THINGS (CHANGE) WHEN LIFE IS GOOD IS TOUGHER THAN WHEN THINGS ARE BAD, BUT YOU SHOULD CONSTANTLY BE SHIFTING…MORPHING.
13. People WANT to be led by strong leaders and good leaders are constant students.
14. THE JOB OF CEO’S IS NOT TO BE THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM, BUT TO ATTRACT OTHER SMART GUYS TO WORK FOR HIM. THE "GROUP BRAIN" IS FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN INDIVIDUAL BRAINPOWER.
15. Current accounting and measurement systems and metrics are outdated for new economy companies.
16. Human capital is the new currency of the digital economy.
17. Technical change is a sub-set of greater change – cultural change.
18. GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT!! When we get good, we usually quit.
19. GREAT DNA ENCODING OF PEOPLE AND VALUES (NOT IDEAS) IN YOUNG COMPANIES EARLY ON WILL CREATE THE TRULY GREAT AND LASTING COMPANIES LATER.
20. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT WHAT WE DO, BUT WHOM WE DO IT WITH…GREAT COMPANIES DIDN’T START WITH WHAT THEY PLANNED ON DOING, BUT THEY STARTED OUT GREAT BY WHO THEY PICKED TO DO IT WITH! People should get on your "bus" not for where you are going but BECAUSE THEY LIKE WHO IS RIDING ON THE BUS WITH THEM. The "bus" will also change directions, but the bonds of good people won’t.
21. ALWAYS PUT YOUR BEST PEOPLE ON THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES, not biggest problems.
22. "STOCKDALE PARADOX"… Admiral Stockdale survived 7 years of torture in Vietnam not by being overly "optimistic" of being rescued within weeks, but by being realistic of knowing it could be years. The other "optimistic" American POW’s around him died from broken expectations and hearts…of hoping to be rescued within weeks. REALISTS ARE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH THEMSELVES…YET THEY STILL HAVE AN UNWAVERING BELIEF THAT THEY WILL PREVAIL…"FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION, EVEN IN THE FACE OF GREAT ADVERSITY…JUST KNOW WHAT YOUR ADVERSITY REALLY IS"!
23. CEO’S MOST IMPORTANT TASK…NEVER STOP BECOMING QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.
24. FLYWHEEL EFFECT…when you start pushing a 10 ton metal flywheel, it takes lots of effort to make a single revolution, but less for the next 3…momentum will start to carry the wheel forward itself…same is true in business. It’s tough and slow to build momentum and inertia, but before long, it starts spinning under it’s own force. After a while, MULTIPLE REVOLUTIONS WILL CREATE EVOLUTION!
25. Use technology only after you have momentum, not to create it. Technology is simply an accelerator of momentum, not a creator of it
26. Building a great company means your building something WORTHY of lasting…QUESTION: HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR COMPANY IS WORTHY OF LASTING??? ANSWER: DOES IT STAND FOR SOMETHING GREAT TO SOMEONE?
27. Dream now and then, they will come true!
28. GREAT COMPANIES DO 2 things well:

1. Preserves: core values and purpose.
2. Changes: operating practices, technologies and culture as needed.

Summary:

• Human talent is the currency of the new economy.
• Good is the ENEMY of great!
• Time is more important than money ("ROM")
• Be a hedgehog!!! Unwavering single mindedness…
• Know WHO you want on your "bus" in work & life…
• Build something that is WORTHY and STANDS for something to someone…
• Take time to dream…

Dan Pena Articles

I’ll be on several business trips at the beginning of 2010. It will begin in Asia, US and end in UK. For those who want to meet, you can contact my assistant thelmag@guthriecastle.com.

Jan 3 – 7 Beijing
Jan 7 – 9 Hunan
Jan 9 – 12 Shanghai

Jan 17 – 19 Singapore

Feb 4 – 13 US ( LA, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Phoenix, New York )
Feb 14 – 16 UK

Contact me if you want to meet.

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