Newsletter

Dear High Performer and Visionary,

I have just passed a milestone that virtually no one thought or expected me to pass. No, it was not my first million, five million or 50 million. That was too long ago to remember. It was not me buying my first company. It was not the first time a board of directors threw me out. It was not the first time I took a company public.

When I was young my family, friends, and teachers didn't ever believe I would reach the age of 20, 30, or 40! Yet here I am just passing my 65th birthday. Albeit with a torn rotator cuff and bicep and to add insult to injury – a broken toe. I want to thank all who sent birthday messages via my social media sites and email. I appreciated it!

Coaching – Mentoring

I have been officially coaching, teaching and mentoring since 1993. It has been the best of times and with a very few instances the not so good of times. But through it all, I have kept in perspective trying to get people to expand their comfort zone is a very difficult task – very difficult.  Of course when I began, I thought given the facts of why we as human beings, greatly under perform – ALL would take the lead and charge forward into glory. Boy was I WRONG!

In a few years I gained enough data that showed about 10% can make BIG changes very quickly; 50% can make changes in a short period of time varying from 3 – 6 months, although these changes are relatively small. The other 50% showed progress over time, sometimes years. But the solace I got was almost all improved. Even though some where slow learners – in the end almost all moved forward. Having done a lot of comparisons, I knew few other personal and business enhancement programs showed any real lasting improvement. Hence, after 17 years of coaching/mentoring, I can say with my hand on my heart I have improved the life of many.

On a recent trip I saw a young man I met about 4-5 years ago who drove a limo. He wanted to be in the entertainment business. He subsequently got all my training programs and listened to them countless times. He listens to them even now – over and over again! I have seen him a few times over the years to get an update and give him a bit of encouragement. I saw him again recently and he related his fabulous progress and in fact he had made a low budget movie (not porn) and was working on several lucrative projects in Hollywood. Mike had come full circle from a young 25 year old with a dream to living his dream. The only advantage, if you can call it that, was he was 100% focused on his dream. As an aside, before he came to Hollywood he made pizzas in New York City. Now he makes movie!

I have mentored/coached a Global 20 CEO for 10 years who came to me with a goal and 7 years later he was CEO and countless other successful guys and gals.  My recent second edition of YOUR FIRST 100 MILLION talks about many of them, including the foreword by Klaus Kleinfeld,  Chairman and CEO of Alcoa, a Fortune 100 company.

In short, I am extremely satisfied with the people I have assisted in achieving their dreams! And I plan on coaching many more for the foreseeable future!

Giving Back

As successful as I have been in personal life I treasure my coaching experiences. And as an extension of giving back I started working with kids in orphanages here in Manila. I get a lot of satisfaction in working with the Nuns and girls of Holy Family Home. This weekend I am taking all the girls (ages 6 – 18) and nuns to the zoo for the day. We all eat dinner twice a month.

Honoring My Dad

As I have written my 91 year old father passed December 2009.  I had been planning for months a gift in his name to Lincoln High School, East LA, where he graduated from in 1936. The first Manuel S. Pena Scholarship was given to 5 worthy student athletes in June 2010. I took the kids to lunch recently and was moved by their sincerity and humbleness. My youngest son Derrick is acting as their mentor through undergraduate school. As an aside, Derrick has been in Shanghai since he completed his MBA last year. The level of questions from the kids (2 guys and 3 gals, 4 Hispanic and 1 Vietnamese) was a little strange to me. They focused on where I came from and how I excelled against the odds. Naively I came prepared to tell them how to structure their future.

It was a great lunch. The kids arrived early to be collected by a stretch limo. The limo driver arrived early thinking it would take 90 minutes to meet me for lunch. My limo was late due to excess traffic. The Italian restaurant I made reservations at closed down the week before (of course there is no recession) without telling anyone and the only place to eat nearby was a Mexican eatery; hence we spent the next 2 hours eating food at least 4 of the kids ate daily and the one Asian kid never ate. So as I told them this is a good lesson – MAN PLANS AND GOD LAUGHS! But my main point I emphasized was, "Man doesn't plan to fail – man fails to plan."

Next Seminar

As those who were attending the planned Castle Seminar next week, you already know I was forced to postpone it. I was injured while lifting weights a few weeks ago and underwent surgery to repair a torn Rotator Cuff and Bicep. I now am the proud owner of three Titanium anchor bolts in my right shoulder. This is in addition to my already Titanium bar and screws that replaced my shattered collar bone of 10 years ago I got as a consequence of racing dune buggies with my sons. . This in conjunction with my new steel hip from last year causes quite a commotion when I go through security at airports, LOL!

Seriously, I was truly sorry to have to cancel the Castle Event. It is now scheduled for 24 October when I will be back to normal. I am told I can't play golf till January 2011 and am seriously restricted for a few more weeks in any activity with my upper body. As part of this time out for my body, I postponed my trip to Galapagos islands and South America to coincide with my 65th birthday.

Due to the change in dates for the seminar there are a couple vacancies now available. You can contact my assistant Thelma thelmag@guthriecastle.com for information. We are extending the payment plan for this Castle Extravaganza. Again sorry for the delay.

Market environment

The stock market is still looking for a reason to justify a double dip recession. Only time will tell, but there continues to be great opportunities for doing things with Quantum Leap Advantage. From the entertainment industry to property and health care opportunities exist and are waiting to be exploited. Of course I still say, as I have, since the mid-80's, health care and telecommunications is going to be big in the worlds future for many decades. This is exemplified by Obama care and the internet which is telecommunication.

Mastermind Groups

A few devotees have approached me vis-à-vis mastermind groups. I have written before what it takes to have a successful group. Of course Napoleon Hill made this concept popular 75 years ago. As I recall he had Abe Lincoln, former President of the USA, and other luminaries in his mythical group. From this the group idea sprang to life with real live master mind group members. If you devotees, have an interest in this please let me know. I would put the interested in touch with one another.

Future travels

In a few weeks I am on the trail again. I will be in Newport, Rhode Island, Boston, Bulgaria, Transylvania/Romania, UK, and Hong Kong then off to South America (65th birthday trip), L.A. and the Castle Seminar.  As I used to tell my dearly departed Mother – No rest for the wicked or the goal driven!

Regrets

We all have them, but they mean much more as you grow older! I have said more times than I can remember when your are processing your last thoughts among them will be the things you didn't do – but wished you had! Hence, your regrets play a big role as you get older. But what you don't realize as you mature is they affect you from a very young age. We all have stuff in our past we would rather not have done! Most of us suppress them deeply. In your QLA journey these regrets will challenge you all the time! As I mentioned above Comfort Zone (CZ) is a key to success for ALL high performance individuals. The key is getting your CZ to expand faster than it would normally. And when it doesn't we all have guilt for the opportunity that passed us by. And that guilt manifests itself over time into BIG REGRETS!

Some of my regrets are of BIBLICAL proportions, of course this isn't the place to do an extensive description. But suffice it to say regrets affect our performance and we MUST be cognizant that our past actions Will affect our future actions! Just as some of us are afraid of the dark, etc, which is probably a manifestation of something that happened in our childhood. Business is just the same. We are products of our social and economic milieus and all the decisions we made while going through that personal history. We can be held hostage by our past more than we know. It becomes much more obvious as we get older. And I can speak from personal experience. These and other personal horror stories I discuss in detail at the seminar. In fact in the last castle seminar while relating such a story, I broke down and I had difficulty relating what occurred almost 25 years ago. The seminar attendees were stunned!

You may wonder why I mention something this personal? I do for two extremely important reasons:

1. It is these personal past experiences that keep us from achieving our goals
2. As Jack Welsh former CEO of GE says – candor and full disclosure are the true keys to success in business and life!

When asked my secret to success, I have often said I have been blessed with self esteem, since I was about 10 years old due to my Mom! But what I did with this self esteem was intricately tied to whatever success I have had. Early in my life I did not fully appreciate what an advantage having self esteem did for an individual! Hence, my candor to a fault at times, has always showed me in a vain that most could not relate to, but almost all admired! And this candor was manifested in my full disclosure covering virtually all aspects of life! And QLA's basic precepts were born!

To Your Quantum Leap,

DAN

P.S. The next QLA Live Webcast will be on Sunday, Septermber 5 at 5:00pm UK time

P.P.S. Here is a picture of our two new puppies and the puppies and my young toy poodle, barely discernable on my chest. This brings the count to 6 dogs and 2 cats which all live in harmony!

P.P.P.S. Sage advice I give to all mentees, protégés and students – "I can't help you out of a hole, if I climb in it with you."

P.P.P.P.S. People will never see past your short comings till you do!

Dan Pena Newsletter coaching, Market, Mentoring, Seminar

Dear High Performer and Visionary,

Happy Independence Day!

All my teams have been knocked out of the world cup; Larry King has just announced his retirement; the stock market is still looking for a reason to declare a  double dip recession; the gulf of Mexico oil spill is still raging and getting worse (as I predicted); so I have time to write a few thoughts in my news letter, LOL!

I had my second conference call last sat with the April seminar attendees: they say there  are deals available; there is money available; banks are generally amenable to doing transactions; they would not of believed they would be doing the actions they are now taking before they experienced the castle seminar; and I will add though not expressed directly by them.

None of this would have occurred without them TAKING DIRECT FOCUSED ACTION! In simple language, though they all thought they had been working hard in some form or another before the seminar, they now know they have been skating through their lives vis a vis being a high performance person! I am sure many of you can relate. Another one of their emails is below as a p.s. I have also attached as a P.S. a photo of one of the recent seminar attendees from Romania (Transylvania), to illustrate I am an equal opportunity mentor and coach!  We called him "The Impaler" for obvious reasons!

Comfort Zone (CZ)

I received this message on Face book this week:

I was speaking to my sister who graduated from CSUN about you and your work. I was shocked to find out she spent 5 weekends at your home in Palos Verdes in the early 90's. She told me the thing that stuck with her was your asking them " To get out of their comfort zones".

She told me how she remembered how the group no longer wanted to go the event and how it wasn't to later on in her life in teaching her own children to "get out of their comfort zones" that she realized the gift you had given her.

- Adolfo

I remember this class well, I taught at California State University, Northridge, where I attended under graduate school. The class deteriorated in size over the semester. I brought in various mentees of mine to relate different QLA precepts. The students could not relate to the concept of comfort zone, at that time. The all felt they were bright and going to take  the world apart. You can imagine how I got the kids to drop out – I put the heat on their young minds and told them there were consequences to missing my class  – a non passing grade!

That was a long time ago, but as I have been coaching over the years "comfort zone" or CZ  always presents a very formidable hurdle to all who desire success in following their dreams! Whether it is in athletics, business or life, people who feel more confident in their actions will prevail! To step out of one's CZ isn't easy! But the more you do it the easier it becomes. Do you remember the first person you ever went out with? Your first kiss? Your first – well you know what I mean!

Comfort zone was discovered, or created by Jim Newman. This great man was my mentor till his passing. His PACE – personal and company effectiveness was the training grounds to countless high performance people! I am merely one of the very large stable. His book is one of the few I continue to recommend – Release Your Brakes. It is a master piece and I suggest you get it ASAP! It's main premise is -  we go through life with our emergency brakes on. for those of us old enough, we know what it feels like to drive a car with the emergency brakes on (now you can't because you must put the car in gear): u drive very sluggish; it is bad for the tires, differential, engine; and generally drags on the entire performance of the car. Because we tend to always stay in our CZ, we never realize and or appreciate what our bodies, mind and self can really do. For those of us that have gone from being out of shape to getting fit you know what I mean. Well the same thing is possible for our minds and beings!

The major thing I have noticed in the recent seminar alumni, since I have now had two  conference calls with them – they all sound more and more confident! They continue to appear more confident as the weeks go by, and now after 8 weeks they sound completely different. They have stepped out of their CZ's and gained confidence that can never be taken from them – no matter what!

One fairly comprehensive definition of comfort zone:

The comfort zone is a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk. The comfort zone refers to the set of environments and behaviors with which somebody is comfortable, without creating a sense of risk. A person's personality can be described by his or her comfort zones. Highly successful persons may routinely step outside their comfort zones, to accomplish what they wish. A comfort zone is a type of mental conditioning that causes a person to create and operate mental boundaries. Such boundaries create an unfounded sense of security. Like inertia, a person who has established a comfort zone in a particular axis of his or her life, will tend to stay within that zone without stepping outside of it. To step outside a person's comfort zone, they must experiment with new and different behaviors, and then experience the new and different responses that then occur within their environment.

Insensitive or Incompetent?

I have said countless times, I may be wrong – but I am never in doubt! I have been accused of many things, but being indecisive isn't one of them. I have always said, I attribute my decisiveness to my training as a young army officer, over 40 years ago.  I have said, I would rather be respected than loved  – including to my three children. I have said these and many more controversial statements because – I would rather be called insensitive than incompetent! I feel strongly most kids are ill prepared for the toughness of life, because parents spend most of their time dealing with their own insecurities as their parents dealt with theirs.

High performance people are decisive, bold, and respected - they are not necessarily loved.  in fact most are only loved by their mom's, LOL!

Being too sensitive can be in the short, intermediate and long term debilitating. Being sensitive can dictate your actions, because you do not want  to make waves. Or you want to be liked and in some cases loved. As many of you know, I have never suffered from this feeling. In fact some say my entire methodology is based on – pissing people off and being tough beyond common decency. This is a gross exaggeration, but does have some merit to it. I am not, nor ever have been, since I was in my teens been afraid of saying what I thought. As I have said many times, I attribute my high self esteem to my mother. God rest her soul. And to this day, my biggest regret is not being a better son! I didn't realize the precious gift she gave me till I was middle age.

If you look and listen to the high performance people of the past 100 years: Ford, Edison, Carnegie; Goodyear, Rockefeller, Gates, Trump, Perot; Ellison, Welsh; M.L. King; Huizenga, Jobs, Buffett, Branson, Murdoch, Disney, Sears, Westinghouse, Walton, Onassis, Kroc, Hilton, Watson and countless other modern day high performance people with their social media programs where they speak their minds on a daily basis – they were and are not now ever shy to say what they thought. None of them could be accused of being sensitive. Of course there are always exceptions to all rules and I am sure for those of you that are sensitive, you will hope and pray you are the exception as well. The odds are your not, but I hope you are for your family's sake.

Needless to say another big difference in the April castle seminar attendees is their perception of what is sensitivity and how they feel vis-à-vis what people think of them. Enough said!

Tax Note

This is not meant to be tax advice in any way, shape manner or form but think about this fact: The upcoming tax hike going into effect 2011 in the USA will by definition shift income into 2010, so it will have a more favorable tax rate. What are the implications? And how can you take advantage of the chaos?

True story

Back in the mid 90's I was assisting in recruiting board members for several companies I was involved with in the UK, Europe and USA. I was always on the road and it was extremely time consuming – looking back. Of course hind sight is always 20/20.

There was a lawyer who was a legend at the time. He represented only the toughest clients in the UK, in fact he had just been successful in getting off the sons of a major industrialist. He was a workaholic. He owned in title one of the only houses in Mayfair (they are all owned by the duke of Westminster) and virtually all are leased on long terms like 99 years. His business cards were platinum coated and he was extremely eccentric.

We had approached him to join one of our boards but he politely declined due to time constraints and possible conflicts of interest.  He did say he would like to meet me, I said yes and showed up for a 7 am breakfast. I remember vividly walking up to his 5 story house looking forward to the experience, though I dislike breakfast meetings! We sat through breakfast and exchanged antidotes on business and life. What I can share with you is as follows: he had not taken a day off since 1971. He was not married. He loved the law, he adored what he did 18 – 20 hrs a day and he loved what he did because, amongst other things, he was so extremely good at it!

I asked him why he wanted to meet me? He laughed and said, "I had heard you had not taken a day off since 1970. I didn't believe it and I wanted to meet you and congratulate you – if true!" We both laughed. I said it was true and we roared again! He said how did you keep it up so long? I said, similarly I loved what I did and I was extremely good at what I did. We both laughed as we sipped our cups of tea and both said we felt bad for all the people who are engaged in things they don't love.

What is the moral to this true story? It should be as plain as the nose on your face, but in the spirit of kindness and brotherly love I will not kick you in the teeth about it. What I will say most people are: inherently lazy; give up on their dreams based on conventional wisdom; say money is not important enough to disrupt their lives when they fail the first, second or third time; and as guru Stuart Goldsmith says – most people live quite lives of desperation!

Since I turned 60, I am working less and I have actually taken days off. Since I turned 60 I am actually taking trips that have almost nothing to do with business. But there is not a day I don't listen to CNN, CNBC, FOX and BBC. There is not a day I don't read and answer emails! there is not a day I don't keep track of the business ventures I am involved. Hence, I cannot say there are days I am totally excluded from business – including my birthday, Christmas, and all holidays. Of course business is still a BIG part of my life! I still love what I do and do what I love! At one time it was almost my entire life!

Live Web Seminar – July 10, 9 am West Coast California time!

As described on my face book and twitter etc, I am giving my very first  FREE live web seminar next week 10 July. the listeners will be able to ask me questions live online. I am looking forward to it.  If successful I will do them, perhaps  quarterly.  Tell your friends that could benefit.  Hell, tell your friends that can't benefit! Click here to get complete details about the Live Webcast.

Travel Schedule

I am fairly busy the next four months in Asia, USA, South America, UK and Europe. Though I don't give seminars other than at Guthrie Castle, I do enjoy seeing QLA devotees during my travels!

Castle Seminar – August 22 to 28

I will have another Castle Extravaganza in August. As I have written, the last one in April went especially well, notwithstanding 5 Germans and The Impaler from Transylvania! LOL! The increased role playing assisted all in their skills set, especially The Impaler! The ongoing conference calls have been extremely successful for focused follow up. Email contact with me has been beneficial to all that have used my candid and sometimes harsh comments.

Again we will allow payments schedules to the attendees to help in these hard economic times! Click here to go to the Castle Seminar web page.

Bye for now!

To Your Quantum Leap,

- Dan

———————————————————————————————————————

P.S. A story passed on to me by a long term friend and mentee Tom.

The Toilet Cleaner…Amazing Story……THE RIGHT ATTITUDE GETS YOU PLACES…

Unemployed………………..

An unemployed worker applies to Microsoft for the position of Janitor. After going through tests and interviews ,the H.R. manager informs him that he is selected and request for his email address to which he wanted to send the employment contract and details of the day and time to start work. The man is distraught and answers that he has no computer and therefore he has no email . The H.R. boss tells him that if he has no email address he virtually does not exist and therefore cannot hold a job. The man leaves in a desperate mood without knowing what to do , with his last $ 10 in his pocket. Finally he decides to go into a supermarket and to buy a 10 lb box of strawberries. He starts selling them door to door by the pound. He manages to double his capital in 2 hours. He repeats the deal 3 times more and goes home with $ 60 in his pocket. He comes to see that he can survive this way. He starts every day earlier and come home every day later. So he triples or quadruples his money every day. A short time later he buys a wheel barrow, that he exchanges later into a truck and sooner or later he is the owner of a complete fleet of delivery truck.

5 years go by…..THE MAN IS NOW THE OWNER OF ONE OF THE LARGEST FOOD CHAIN STORES IN THE U.S.A.

Now he starts thinking about the future for him and his family and decides to buy a life insurance policy. He calls an agent and selects a good policy. At the end of the negotiations, the agent asks him for his email address to send him a confirmation of the policy. The man tells him that he doesn't have an email address!!! That's strange says the agent, you have no email address and nevertheless you built this large empire. Can you imagine where would you be if you had an email address?? The man briefly thinks and answers: I WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOILET CLEANER WITH MICROSOFT CORPORATION.

• Moral 1 of the story: The internet does not solve all the problems in our lives.
• Moral 2 of the story: When you have no email address but work hard you can be a millionaire.
• Moral 3 of the story: You have received the story by email. Therefore you are closer to a janitor than a millionaire.

Nevertheless have a great day… networking with the likeminded… linking the very mind , soul, hearts to realize your individual and professional goals, linking to make this world a smaller place to live work meet greet and be a success.

Don't answer this email of mine Since I am out busy buying Strawberries

P.P.S. Here is the photo of "The Impaler" I talked about above

P.P.P.S.  An email sent to me post April Castle Seminar. English is not his first manguage:

Hello Sir,

Thanks a lot for the great and life changing experience at your castle.

I have no questions at the moment, as pretty much everything falls into place when I regain focus. If you like, here my summary meanwhile. It got a little lengthy though …. But I wanted to give you a good picture of the effects of your seminar.

Business

I talked with several people to become director of my night club. I found two prospects – one could be director OR the other one would also invest and be co-director. We could invest to build up another part of the night club or invest in the exiting part. Negotiations are in the run. I will see how it works out. But I am pretty confident. GOAL: Freeing me time, getting away from micro to macro, getting focus. One partner is especially experienced and will bring new energy to the place.

I talked to one business partner about the  "hostile" take over plan I told you about.. I told them I only see 5% -10%  to make it, but he said, if I make it, they´d be easily willing to put up 1 Mio EUR – so we can get the rest at the banks (lended against the property and hopefully some against the existing cashflow of the business, if not I will go for additional investors). It took me just 30 minutes to explain the concept and a very "un-germanic" way on 2 x 1/3 A4 sized paper sheet of jammed notes to explain! I would not have done that before the seminar.

I have a mentor / board member who has been in the business 30y + and the former CEO of the opponent as director! He knows pretty much everything about the business and managed it 3y successfully.

Also I can combine my entertainment business "expertise" with my real estate "expertise". However it will be not easy. But we will go for it anyway! But take this great chance then never going for it.

At this point I am still in the process of finding my vision. But I am getting closer! Acquiring business is likely part of it. Perhaps building them on a more macro level. I will hav to go for passive cashflow at the first step also, so to have more time to go for bigger things. I like the overall idea of "corporate raiding", acquiring. Probably bankrupt ones ? But I´ll have to find out about that and clarify the picture.

I talked to just two banks meanwhile and I turned them both around. Started interviewing mode. I can report in the call if you like. I am quite confident for the future for whatever comes. Totally different. Thanks for that!!!

Overall as result of seminar I started having an astonishing clarity in many situations. I was stubborn before – but now it´s on another level.  If people try to suck my money or time – I simply think of how you described how people suck my life blood out of me and my business and then I just think : "What a s*cker – F*** OFF" and give them hell. I really hammered some suckers into the ground – and the best is I am really feeling good about it – without any feelings of guilt – because now I am (more) true to myself (and to them as well!). If they ask for it – they may have it!!! Give a f***. However this is a process that gets stronger every time I use it.

Private

Immediately after the Castle Seminar I moved to a larger much nice place – I couldn´t stand the old one after the seminar anymore! Second – I kicked several boring affairs I had – without the fear of loss (that the difference!) – I see it now as chance to find something better.

Really looking forward to hearing you again!

Sincerely Yours,

- K

P.P.P.S. I am for the first time adding notable links to my site. the first will be  an orphanage I work with in manila. I will in time add others I feel are noteworthy. Some will be business and some will not. You can check my links page to see the additions, in the future.

Dan Pena Newsletter Comfort Zone, Schedule, Seminar, Sensitivity, Webcast, Webinar

After many years of coaching it never ceases to amaze me how much better a student does with direct coaching he can hear  and see!  Since May 1993 when I gave my 1st QLA Seminar in Los Angeles it has been obvious to me that 1 on 1 face to face coaching was far superior to reading a book! This last seminar had a number of revelations for me, as you will read below. And at my age that is certainly saying something.

Better late than never.

First conference call with castle seminar attendees.
It went a little over an hour – a successful event. It was obvious to me I should have been doing this for many years.  Well better late than never! I have also noticed the level of emails I get from the seminar attendees are more detailed. I attach one as P.S. below from a 41 year old guy, I mentioned in my last news letter. It is quite insightful and very inspiring to read what can be accomplished in only 5 weeks!

Another apparent extreme benefit from the last castle seminar was the extensive role playing done amongst the attendees. Again though I have always used role playing I never saw the extra benefit of extensive role playing. Perhaps, because I have always felt the talking part of QLA to be the easiest. Why easiest? Because you are selling your dream and I always felt that should be the easiest part of the drill! Hence, I never rated it that highly. Again I was wrong! The role playing was very well accepted and appreciated by the attendees. So it will have an increased presence in August. And I strongly suggest you do role playing when you practice at home!

Since this is guinea pig seminar test group, I will experiment with them and keep my readers apprised. It is a good age mix of 25 to 41 years old  and the personality make up is spread from fast talking to slow to answer. Of course 75% of the attendees first language was not English! I know you all will benefit!

We already have an interesting group signing up for the next Castle Event in August so far late 20’s to mid 50’s. But as life would have it, we have some recent openings because a company that was scheduled to go has dropped off the face of the earth. So we have a couple spots that are now available! And their misfortune is someone’s opportunity!

Travel schedule
The reason for publishing my schedule on my site is to make it possible for you to make contact with me as I go around the world. I am not making promises I can see you all, but hopefully I can see some of serious QLA devotees! Make appointments with my assistant thelmag@guthriecastle.com

New product
As good as the QLA product is, I am looking at new material that I recorded. It will take editing, etc, but it would make terrific QLA product. More about this in my next news letter.

P.S.  Another r great American passed last week – John Wooden age 99!
I had the pleasure of meeting him when he was a young 85. He is considered the greatest athletic coach of all time – any sport! His “pyramid for success” is something to study and follow. He was an inspirational man and I was extremely proud to have met him! He will be missed greatly by all he ever came in contact with over his 80 year career! Google him. And read how a man was an extremely high performance person for more than 80 years!  It will be a worthwhile exercise!

P.P.S. Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
The drilling oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a tragic event! Having more knowledge of what is going on than probably 99% of the people hearing and reading the news, I have an opinion that is more experienced than most! As Chairman and CEO of a public energy company for many years that drilled in the Gulf of Mexico, I feel greatly for all concerned! ALL I CAN SAY FOR POSITIVE IS THE INFORMATION REFERENCE THE CRISIS IS GROSSLY UNDERESTIMATING THE SITUATION! The estimates are low and the length of time way too short vis-à-vis when it will end! I have great sorrow for the gulf coast region and especially the people that live there! They are an extremely kind and generous group!

P.P.P.S An email from an attendee from the last Castle Seminar. English is his second language, but very readable.

Dear Dan,

I thank you so much, for what you have done and given to me in Guthrie Castle!
I had your book "Building you Own Guthrie" since about 2005 and bought some of your digital stuff, tapes etc. since then.

And I followed your schemes concerning only the details and as far as it seemed possible for me.
But I did not do it focused enough and I did not work hard enough and/or smart enough. And my goals then seemed to be not reachable for me, despite I knew I would reach them. I wrote them down for the first of January years ago to reach the goals within one year. And I did every single one. So, the goals, as I now am sure, were by far too small.

I knew already from my own experience before the seminar and before I got your stuff that I could do everything, but I had stopped doing it on and on again. Maybe because I felt I nearly had died because of working about 140 hours each week for about six weeks in the end phase to get a deal done in 2003 – well, I think I did not behave smart enough. The potential was used for years only at a level of maybe 10 to 25% despite I invested many, many hours of boring work. Now it is all fun again, as it was in the beginning with my first 7-digit Euro deal in 2002/2003 and no one can stop me, now.

I left Guthrie Castle five weeks ago and yesterday I signed a contract that was about four times as large, as my largest single deal before, which took me years to get it started. The deal now size is already above 10 million and the project wasn't even visible two weeks ago. It is better than what you called us several tens of times to be.

Six weeks ago I was looking forward to do my next 2 million deals, which I had the OK for from the bank and nearly everything ready to be signed. Now, I did not even find the time to finish it – so, I will finish it within the next days.

I cancelled the next family holiday, which should have started tomorrow after the conference call, because the "large" deal from yesterday needs the time in the office and for negotiating with the public authorities for the deal here.

Besides that I am negotiating every day in parts about a current deal volume in total of over 250 million Euros…..

The day before yesterday I asked a new bank for the first time, which I know the officer with procuration of, for more than 6 million. And I told him very friendly, they had to be fast, but that I did not have the deal yet because no contract was signed by me and by the ones who own the deal.
Yesterday at 5:00 a. m., I wrote the concept and sent in the documents. At high noon, they did not yet agree in writing, but by phone call they told me the credit controller and the general manager were positive about the deal and they will need to check the documents and my concept the next few days.

Now, my problem is that they might agree, but that I might not get the deal, so I am already preparing switching the bank to other deals.
But it is not a problem for me. I enjoy feeling the pressure again!

After having done the concept of the 6 million I finished the contract for the beyond-ten-million-deal I drove to sign it 50 miles away and two hours later I had done a presentation in front of another bank for this deal. They were sitting with their mouths open – positively.

And think what, I don't mind if they turn me down, I simply will go on and kiss the next deal-frogs and banks.

The day before yesterday I drove about 200 miles from the 6-million-Euro-deal-bank presentation to a military base the Bundesrepublik Deutschland gave up and wants to sell. We will set up a great concept and maybe buy it – another 30 to 100 Million deal.

The 50 MWp deal I told you about at Guthrie Castle, now, COULD turn out to be useful, but now, I do NOT need it anymore.
 
Before getting active again after staying with you in Guthrie Castle I thought, I needed this 125 million Euro deal. Now, I have twice the volume in other potential and even better deals.
 
But finishing only ten percent of these would be very fine because these ten percent are twice as much, as I did in my whole lifetime before up to now summed up all together.

I contacted a senior business man the week after the seminar. I was looking forward to contact him already for half a year – what nonsense, call him and go for it.
 
He has retired and was on the management board of E.ON and some others of these companies. He knows nearly every (older) CEO of nearly all of the DAX-values. He did not want to join my dream team, because he thinks he is in danger of starting to work for me 50 or more hours a week, because this happened to him a few years ago. So we agreed that I may come up with deals to him and maybe he wants to invest with me, because he has some things in the same field. I think, later I will catch him, because he will realize, that I will not go to abuse him, as he was before.

So we will see, what turns out to be in his comfort zone. Because he did three going publics in his career he is not so keen on doing it again. He says, that this is just another type of company-financing and that there are sometimes better ways. I agree with him.
 
Because I did not start dreaming yet, I started shooting from the hips and simply working.

Well, Dan, I had some self esteem already before your seminar, I had grown in self confidence and I had developed some skills in leadership for years, but I had stopped using them, and I NEVER HAD SHOWN THEM OPEN. Now, I use them as tools while negotiating and while shooting successfully from the hips. As I said, there is nothing better, but I knew this already from my first larger deal in 2003. I was such an idiot. I simply had stopped doing what kept me going then.

That's finished/restarted, now.

Thank you for restarting me, you already made me jump to the next level. DAN, YOU MAKE PEOPLE QUANTUM LEAP. (Nobody would believe before that he gratefully would accept the kicks you gave us – thank you again and again.)

So, what can I do for you? If I can do something for you, please let me know. As I told you the last evening in Guthrie Castle you… are heartily invited to visiting me in… Germany. There will later for sure occur questions as the deals are going on, I know, and I will be very glad to be allowed to come up with them to you.
 
Looking forward to talking to you tomorrow.
 
Regards,
 
Robert
 
P.S. And I hope this all above is some kind of a testimonial you awaited on April 23rd and an adequate way of expressing my heartfelt thanks to you …. maybe I was just rebooting, or probably I wanted the proof that I would really go for it again afterwards as a result of having met you in person for a whole week. For me the last five weeks were quite a proof. So, please, feel free to use any part(s) above for a testimonial to your convenience, I proved it, now, and so it is a hard, really evidenced and demonstrated testimonial written from strong, deepest and settled conviction in my heart.
 

Dan Pena Blog, Newsletter coaching

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