Joni Vincent

Full transcript: Joni Vincent on London Real

0:05 This is London Real. I am Brian Rose. My guest today is Joni Vincent, graduate of our Business Accelerator, among others. Welcome. Thank you, thanks Brian, it’s great to be here. Tell us about you, Joni. Where are you from? What do you do? Break it down for us. Okay. Originally, well, American by birth, but have spent a lot of time working internationally.

0:29 I kind of consider myself fortunate to be an international citizen, as it were. Spent a lot of time in the IT industry, worked for Microsoft for 15 years, and, but have always had sort of roles in an entrepreneurial startup-like environment, even when I was working in large global company. So I kind of have a hybrid corporate mentality with a entrepreneurial spirit, as it were.

1:02 Right now I reside, I kind of divide my time between St Thomas, Virgin Islands and Florida. I left the corporate world about 18 months ago to pursue a more entrepreneurial route, and today I’ve started, as a, you know, direct result of the work that I did through the Business Accelerator course, have started a business focused around really people who know that they have either another calling in life, or they’re missing the mark in one way or another,

1:38 even if they’re in the corporate world, who need an exit strategy or just a way to up their game. So we do that through Mastermind groups, we do it through online monthly communities, subscription communities, and also I’m about to launch a new option that’s sort of in between the two, that will help people, sort of over a six-week time frame, just kind of get back in touch with what it is that, you know, really resonates for them, and help connect them with other communities that will help, you know, sort of break through, if that makes sense.

2:10 Okay. And before you joined us on the Business Accelerator, what was going on, kind of professionally, personally? What made you think, okay, I have to go here? Yes, well, as I said, I left the corporate world and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was, I had left the corporate world, I was ready to do something different. And so I looked at a variety of options, everything from what can I do now to make the same amount of money that I’m making in the corporate world, to what if I took a sabbatical?

2:48 And so I started focusing around network marketing as an option. I have a lot of regard for network marketing, because I think it’s a way to help, you know, impoverished communities in a sort of a micro-franchising way, but that’s a whole other topic. So I started looking at that and looking at a variety of areas, and I was narrowing it down to this online marketing, network marketing, but with a flair of human potential.

3:27 How can we help people see the potential that they have? Because I really, I mean, even people who are high performing, I think, don’t understand or realize how much potential they have. And so I hadn’t been able to articulate it, I didn’t know. And that really was kind of what drove me to the Business Accelerator course, which was, you know, the promise of, you can come with an idea, but not even having a business, and then we’ll take that through.

3:59 And so I obviously watched a few of your webinars, and it really resonated for me. I watched your TED Talk, it resonated for me, which is, I know there’s something out there and I’m on to something, but I don’t yet know what that is. It’s not defined yet. And so that’s where I was when I joined Business Accelerator.

4:16 And so why London Real? Probably a variety of reasons, Brian. One, I love the energy. The energy is fabulous. And I love the sort of non-judgmental, from all walks of life, we have something to learn from everyone. And, you know, I’ve watched so many of the interviews that you’ve done, and so that was one aspect of it.

4:41 And the other aspect was the, you know, the sort of hardcore accountability, you know, focus. I kind of laughed in the beginning, because I joked about going from a really alpha male environment of the corporate world, throwing myself into an alpha male environment of the, you know, London Real. And in fact, you know, in some respects it is, but in the best ways, which is, you know, the, we have 6 weeks, you’re serious about this or not, we’re going to hold you accountable, and we’re going to, you know, really push you to hold yourself accountable as well.

5:15 So those were sort of the key reasons for the Business Accelerator. Why London Real itself? I love the, as I said, the energy, and the community of London Real is so varied, you know, the young startup who just thinks, you know, well, the world is one’s oyster, to someone like myself who, I’m kind of reinventing myself in another phase, but I still feel like I’m that, you know, 27, 35-year-old with the world in front of me.

5:46 So what was it like, those first two weeks, when, you know, you get thrown into the thick of it, accountability dock, you know, you got, you know, 800 people around the world that are your classmates, the live calls, you have to upload video? What was that like? Well, it was a lot. I remember joking with you when you said, you know, if you have, I can’t remember now, 4 hours a week, you can do this. And I thought, right, four, really? If you want to do it right, it’s not four hours a week. But that’s good, that again, that’s real life.

6:16 And so it felt a bit chaotic, definitely took me out of my comfort zone, and I already felt pretty comfortable with things like vlogs, but definitely took me out of my comfort zone. But what struck me, it was two things. One, the real camaraderie with the classmates, you know, like just everybody sort of moving everyone along, no one left behind. And if somebody fell behind, there was no judgment, there was just, what can we do to help?

6:50 So very chaotic, out of my comfort zone, but yet accountability and camaraderie. But the other thing that struck me, that I was surprised about, was I kind of went in there a little bit arrogant, and I didn’t realize it until I was in there and thought, wow, I have a lot to learn.

7:14 And, you know, we had a conversation about what my business was going to be, that I was going to focus on, and you and several of my classmates said, I’m not feeling it. You know, you might be able to do that, but you, but I’m not feeling it from you. And so I was really forced to kind of peel back the onion and really think this through, and it changed, it changed quite dramatically.

7:37 And so that, the first few weeks, even the first two weeks, where one has to really think through what their niche, their micro niche, the business is, was eye-opening. Whether one ends up doing that as a business in the long run or not, it’s beside the point. It was a good exercise. Yeah, it’s interesting to get feedback, and if they’re not buying it when you do it to video, it’s a great data point for you.

8:01 Indeed. So yeah, that’s nice. What was a big win for you over the course, or something you felt proud of that you did? Throughout, probably the biggest win, apart from what I just mentioned, which is, you know, sort of having the aha moment of, ah, what I really want to do is run Mastermind groups, because that’s what I love, is connecting people and connecting with people. So that for me, that was the big one.

8:32 But apart from that, it was, no, it was knowing that in six weeks I actually do have a business. And I don’t know how much your listeners know about the program, but, you know, when one starts doing the math, I could actually, in six to eight weeks, you know, start making revenue and income on a really simple concept.

8:57 And so that for me was a fabulous takeaway, because I can apply it to, I have a, you know, philosophy about having multiple income streams, especially now that I’m in the second phase of my career. So it’s important for me to do that. I’d like to maintain my same level of income in a different way. And so the other aha was, I can take what I’ve learned at the Business Accelerator and apply it to, you know, innumerable business models or different businesses. So that was probably the other big aha for me.

9:36 Yeah, and we saw that potentially come into play, because I think you went and took our Broadcast Yourself course afterwards to create your own podcast. In the middle of that course, what happened? I was in the Caribbean, and we had two Category 5 hurricanes within 12 days, so that was very interesting.

9:58 And again, I remember thinking, so I went through Business Accelerator, and then I went through Life Accelerator as just a way to keep myself accountable and motivated and connected, and then I did Broadcast Yourself. So I literally did them back to back. And I remember thinking, during just this unbelievable chaos, I can’t even describe to you what it’s like to be in survival mode for 24/7, day after day, week after week, it’s compounded.

10:35 And I remember thinking, I’m okay. I mean, I really felt like it’s that simple. I’m okay. I know how to start a business. And I, the whole, you know, all the repetition of the Life Accelerator around meditation, which I did already before, but just the repetition around, you know, breathing, meditation, hydration, all of the good habits that one builds.

10:59 And then the Broadcast Yourself, which unfortunately I did sort of put on hold, because I literally had no electricity or Wi-Fi. I do have a phone signal, so I guess you could say that’s resistance, Joni, there’s no excuse. But I did kind of put that on hold, and I’m now, I’m right in the throes of relaunching that again. So, but yeah, it’s been an experience.

11:17 And I know, and I remember you started toying with ideas, you know, for, you know, charities you could do around the efforts, and you seem really empowered to go in any direction you wanted to go. Yes, I felt empowered. I feel empowered. And so I have been sort of dipping my toes in a variety of areas, one around, you know, Humane Society and animals, and other around trying to help children, and just school children, for eight weeks the kids couldn’t go to school.

11:56 There’s a large, you know, elderly population that has, that needs help on the island, so there’s not a shortage of, you know, philanthropic or charitable things to help with. But I, you know, when again, when sort of thrown into a situation like that, there’s, you know, one could sit around and, you know, mope about it and, you know, be a victim, or you can just get on with it.

12:20 And so I did feel very empowered, and thankfully didn’t worry about where the income was going to come from. And that’s been, that’s a departure for, I mean, my, who I was 18 months ago, I probably wouldn’t have thought that way. So that’s been very empowering. Okay, what does your life and business look like in 12 months’ time? What are we going to be seeing coming from Joni?

12:46 Okay, well, 12 months’ time, I see myself as a real part of this entrepreneurial revolution. I spent a lot of time listening to you, Tim Ferriss, Gary Vaynerchuk, you know, the sort of Genius Network, I just, Brendon Burchard, I immerse myself in that right now.

13:14 And I see myself in that, you know, firmly implanted in that world of human potential, wherever that’s going. I mean, anything from longevity or life extension to high human performance, you know, metaphysical, neuroscience. I’m just fascinated with where the world is going right now, and I feel as though I was sort of blind to that 18 months ago in my corporate bubble.

13:45 And I think if I can help other people who are, by all intents and purposes, already high performers, but don’t have a clue of where they could go, that’s where I see myself. So sort of firmly planted in this entrepreneurial revolution, but working with people more from the corporate environment. And I’d, you know, I’d like to be considered a, you know, a sought-after subject matter expert, maybe speaker, things like that.

14:19 And I’m running my own Mastermind groups that are, again, for me, it’s not the ego of running the Mastermind group. It’s seeing you the other night at the premiere, where, you know, you spoke about Dan Peña being responsible for $550 billion. Well, I’d love to see the Mastermind groups in which I’m involved, you know, having a measurable impact on either, you know, communities or businesses or all of the above, people’s, you know, personal lives. So that’s where I see myself in a year, and I’m going there.

14:56 Good, I can see it. I can feel it on a visceral level. Good, I’m going to be watching you. Good. You graduated from three of our accelerators, so Business, Life and then the Broadcast, and I’m in your Inner Circle, and you’re in our Inner Circle, right, which we meet once a month, and weekly progress reports and all that stuff. What would you say to someone who’s not sure and on the edge and thinking about taking one of our accelerator programs?

15:21 Well, you know, I can’t, so the first thing I would say is, why are you even questioning it? And, you know, if you can think about six weeks from now, if you don’t pull the trigger now and do this, in six weeks from now, I promise you will look back and think, why didn’t I do that? Six weeks goes like this. Number one.

15:43 Number two, you know, the things that one learns through, whether it’s Business Accelerator, Life Accelerator, doesn’t matter, the things that one learns in that, it’s not just about starting a new business, it’s not just about refining some aspects of your life or starting a podcast. It’s about, you know, teamwork. It’s about holding oneself accountable. It’s about breaking through your comfort zones. So those things, and I’ve just named three, can relate to anybody at any point in their lives.

16:15 So six weeks goes like this. The people that you meet, the business ideas that you come up with, that alone is worth the six weeks and the investment in time, money, you know. And I, you know, I know a lot of people feel like it might be a lot of money. You have a lot of options for people who, you know, might not want to make, you know, a one-time investment.

16:41 So really, if you think your life and your future is not worth that amount of money, then that’s probably your first place to start, and you have every reason to do it at that point, if that makes sense. I probably didn’t articulate that last point very clearly, but I would say, why wouldn’t you do that?

17:05 Joni, you’ve had some crazy things thrown at you in the last 12 months, massive amounts of resistance, and you’ve been bouncing around it and finding your way through, and I think you get stronger, you know, every month. And so I can’t wait to see your next 12 months and seeing what you do with all this knowledge that you’re armed with. So really excited, and really expecting a lot from you as well.

17:21 And so, I mean, look, you obviously have the background and the passion. I think you speak to a lot of people who used to be like you, you know, who have been in that environment and don’t know how to transfer over to a new environment. So I’m looking forward to seeing what you produce. Thank you. Thank you, and happy to help, as an alumni, you know, people who you come across. Great. And might need some help in that regard. So, okay. Good. Any final thoughts?

17:55 Well, I guess I, you know, I mentioned to you before, in sort of a joking manner, about the fact that I did Life Accelerator, Business Accelerator, Broadcast Yourself. You know, I think that the thing that I learned about doing that back to back is that, you know, we should never stop learning. And that also has been a real aha for me, which is, you know, it’s all integrated.

18:22 And so if one is considering a Business Accelerator or Life Accelerator course, I would suggest, don’t think of it in terms of a six-week period. Think of it in terms of, this is something that I’m doing for six weeks that’s going to sustain me, but you have to continue to do that. In fact, I saw something yesterday that, I think you’re sort of launching a new, you know, stay in touch for week, kind of reinvigorate yourself. So that’s my suggestion to your viewers, is to really think of this as a, you know, weaving in and out of your life. It’s not just a six-week time frame.

19:01 Great thoughts. All right, Joni, as you know, on London Real we say it’s about the journey. I wish you well on yours. Looking forward to what you do in the next 12 months. Likewise, thank you, Brian. Thanks a lot. You bet. Thanks.