coaching

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

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