Nik Anikis

Full transcript: Nik Anikis on London Real

0:03 This is London Real, I am Brian Rose. My guest today is Nik Anikis, recent graduate of the Business Accelerator. Welcome. Thank you very much. Tell us about you. Where are you from, what do you do? So I’m a figurative painter. I come from Slovenia. It’s a small country, but I guess, well, now it’s one of the most famous countries because from Slovenia it’s Donald Trump’s wife Melania, and she comes from the town where I come from, Sevnica.

0:33 So, and yeah, I studied with many, many masters, master painters. I finished two academies, and I have this artistic poetry that expresses beauty and mysticism of us, of human beings, right? So right now I’m preparing this whole series of really awakening of humanity, and like the first one is already done, like the painting, two meters, fairly big, tall.

1:04 And the thing is that it has 14 figures, and in a way telling us, like, yes, it’s time to be awake, we don’t need words anymore, we don’t need all this and stuff. So that’s my poetry, that’s something that I’m really passionate about to express. So, and my paintings are pretty much around the world already.

1:19 So I got one painting exhibited in New York in some maganda club, and now it’s still exhibited in Barcelona in Museum of European Modern Art, and I was exhibited in London and Prague, Ljubljana, Greece, Holland. So I’ve been some places, so that’s really happy that I had these possibilities.

1:43 And I know how hard it is to get this knowledge or how expensive it is to study on these academies, right? And that’s why I decided to create this methodology to start giving forward to people this knowledge, because there are so many people that can’t afford it, and why can’t I help them to live their life, live their passion, right?

2:13 And what was going on with your business and there with you personally before you joined us? What was leading you towards this decision? Well, actually, I had a rough times, I would say. I mean, I was, before, I was teaching in Holland on classical art academy, but his fame went bad, and I was working a lot, and the relationships there were smelly.

2:42 So in the end it started like going down for me, because I was getting into this burnout and in a way depression, because I was like, what am I doing? And it was like I’m losing time being in the job that I was teaching art, which is good, but the relationships and stuff, they just didn’t work. So I decided then to go back to Slovenia, to stop there and focus on myself.

3:05 And I needed months and months and months to get back into healthier energy. Actually my body started breaking down. Like, I went to the doctor to check my blood, and they were like, oh my god, you need to do something about your body, because if you’re gonna go forward like this, you’re gonna fail you really badly.

3:28 So I started then searching stuff, and then I got this year award and I exhibited in New York and Barcelona, and when I was in Barcelona I wrote a message to you on Facebook, and I was just like, thank you so much, because I actually found you three or four years ago. I was searching Ido Portal stuff, right, because I love movement also.

4:02 So, and I started listening and I was like, I like this guy, and then I was like, help, man, he has differently interviews. And I started listening, and when I was painting I was listening to your interviews, so you were there with me, like, for years. So, and then I was just like, I send this message to really, like, thanking you for actually making this difference, even though you didn’t know about me.

4:23 And then you were like, well, we have this, thanks for sharing this story, we have this accelerator, you want to come? I was like, yeah, it’s time that I push myself above, because I was kind of, I couldn’t get moving. It was so hard, like every day I couldn’t really wake up in the morning, so I had to sleep till 11:00, 12:00 or something.

4:47 It was really hard, because I was having all this, like, with body, and was some unhealthy stuff that I was dealing with, and just like this, I don’t know, almost a depression in a way. And then when I decided it, it started gonna get cheap, it gave me the energy.

5:05 And then we started with the program, read the program, and every week was like, okay, you got new knowledge, and then you have this and this and these things to do. And then, like, at the end of the week was like, oh my god, I did so many things, and I started feeling better and better about myself, and that was just like, okay, accomplished, accomplished, next week, next week, next thing.

5:35 So it started moving, and there were you, like, with your energy, and the whole group, that was an amazing experience, really. Like, everyone was supporting each other and going, okay, how can I help you? And yeah, that helped me to, like, really start blossoming again.

5:50 Okay, yeah. How was that first two or three weeks when you had the course and the video modules and a lot of calls and these hundred and fifty people around the world? I would say almost scary, but I mean, I did so many different leadership programs already, so like in London, in Spain, like, I did some leadership programs that it was, like, a few years. Actually I was a coach also for leadership, so I am kinda used to some of this stuff.

6:25 But the difference is that your program works. All of this stuff were just, like, making my self-esteem a bit better, but not really producing that much value in such a short amount of time. So when I start putting out things and people started responding, and then we started building and building the website and all this stuff, it was like, oh my god, I can actually give way more value to the world than I was doing before.

6:49 So that was pretty strong, pretty powerful for me. And also it’s like, the making the videos, it’s not really a problem for me, because I’m not afraid of speaking in front of people. So yeah. What did you struggle with? What was hard for you on the course? The last weeks. The last weeks? Yeah. Why?

7:18 Yeah, there were so many things in the same moment happening. So my grandma died, yeah, and two weeks before that my friend died because he fell off the wall and he killed himself, and two weeks before that my uncle died, who is a painter also, was a painter, I guess. So, and it started just like building up, building up.

7:47 But I had you, I had my family, I had my love of my life, Bologna, kind of you all together holding me up, right? Held me up, I guess. And then I went to Italy to do another course of painting, course to develop my skills further. So it was like so many things.

8:11 And I would then work there, all like the whole day, just painting, being really focused, right? Because when you’re painting it’s like, man, it’s almost like boxing or something. Like, we have to be focused all the time, like seeing the moves, well, how you’re moving stuff, what is happening there, right?

8:34 So, and then I had one hour and a half per day time that I would be able to work on the program and the business. So, and that was the most important part, where we started putting our products out, starting to sell, starting to monetize, right? So that bad.

8:54 Plus then I saw that I have some unhealthy ways of looking at selling, because I’m like, I was like, I had this, I don’t know why, where did that come from, but in a way for me selling is like begging someone to… It’s not like, yeah, I’m bringing values, so what the hell, man, just take it, right? So yeah, that was a big shift for me.

9:28 Okay, no, but you did it. Yeah. Tell me about your webinar and selling. The webinar was crazy, actually, but the person that came up was a painter from Slovenia, and he was like, yeah, I’m taking that. Plus I was like, well, and I also have this prime offer.

9:45 So I had this workshop, and I’m organizing more workshops in Slovenia this year and next year, but then all gonna go online workshop, like Business Accelerator thing, because I see it’s very, very effective the way you’re doing it, with all these videos and workbooks and then the conversations.

10:01 So, and yeah, and he was like, yeah, let’s do that. And then I got, I sold two prime offers, and then actually two different MVPs, so I was then more focused on the prime offer, right? So, money? Did you make it? It was, I think, around 600 euros or dollars. Okay, so you’re pretty good. It’s, it’s really happy with it, actually. Yeah.

10:34 What’s your biggest win from the course? When you look back over the eight weeks, what’s something you’re most proud of that you did or that you learned? Yeah, actually, for me is this change, the shift in thing, being me again, being alive, and being on a train towards giving value, and getting back in sense of money, and all these references and everything started like rolling.

11:08 So that, for me, is the biggest win, and now I know the whole process that you taught us, so now I can go back and I can go in cycles up, right? So yeah, that’s a huge win for me.

11:21 Yeah. How have you changed? If we went down on the street and bumped into the old Nik, what’s that guy like compared to this guy I’m looking at right now? Oh, well, I don’t know, he would be that confident, because I used to have problems with putting people on pedestals, right? So that I see other people as more, especially someone like you or Dan, or someone that is more, like, achieved more, I guess.

11:56 And I see now that, yes, we’re all human beings and we’re equal, right? And we’re creating together. So, but like you came on this planet earlier than I, so that means, like, you achieved more. But gone the old? No, oh, not at all, actually. You look really, really good. How? Thank you. You look good too. I need to get along here.

12:22 All right, so you’re saying that you don’t put people on pedestals anymore, you feel like you can also be with these people? Yeah, yeah, yeah, because I saw that I had many problems in the past because of that, because in a way I was pushing myself down, even though I thought, well, yes, I’m putting myself into a student mode, but actually I was making myself small.

12:47 So, and that doesn’t work. And now I see, actually, I actually have the value, and I’m pretty much a master, a master painter. So, the next six months, or six months from now, what does your business look like? What are you doing? What are the kind of things that are happening?

13:12 All right, so I’m teaching physically around the globe, probably in Holland, maybe London. We’re gonna have different workshops, like live events, and also I’m preparing the whole prime offer that will happen online. All right, so, and yeah, should I talk about revenue, or…? Yeah, that’s, like, just tell me what you want.

13:36 Plus paintings, paintings, paintings. Like, I have this series that I’m preparing, and now it’s time that I divided, not divided, but that I, ’cause now I have the energy, now I have the focus, so I can go and paint stuff, but also do and work on my business, right? So that’s also what I got from this course.

14:05 So, because I now see it as, like, okay, it’s like, schedule it, do it, how hard can that be, right? So yeah, that means, like, at least four paintings done, and teaching at least 25 people in a prime offer, and at least forty people as minimum viable product, so the small product. Artist turned into a businessman. Yes, sir. Yeah.

14:34 And I got this email this morning from some guy named Nik. What was that all about? Well, I saw Dan Peña’s in the video and how it looks like in his castle, and actually before that I had this vision that came to me. As an artist, I have my own thing, that the visions come, and I was like, I see what you’re missing in your studios, something of the old but new.

15:14 All right, so I believe I can create a painting of you, like Dan Peña has it, that will give immense value not only to you but also to people, because it’s like, in a way, it’s like a symbol, and it’s there, it gives, it’s like, few stars up to the studio, and it will inspire people.

15:39 Because I know, I’ve been talking to people how they feel about my art, and I know I have skills that I can do that, and you have white walls that are big enough for a great portrait painting of you, and I believe I can paint it, and you’re gonna be so proud of yourself, and you’re gonna feel greater with that painting, because you’re gonna see the greatness that I paint. It will reflect in your being.

16:11 It’s a good pitch, Nik. I’ll think about it. How’s that? And for people that don’t know, Dan Peña has this oil painting in his castle. It’s like three meters tall, and it’s him in his boots, his riding boots, he’s got like a horse whip, and his dog is there. It’s very regal. Yeah. So when I think of that in wonderful studios, I don’t know.

16:34 But look, I think you’re an amazing artist. A few photos you posted on your website were very impressive, and like you said, you bring some deep being, like a certain type of energy, to your human figures, and I also would love to take one of your classes. So if you come to London, let me know as well.

16:51 Lastly, if someone’s watching and thinking about taking the course but isn’t sure if it’s worth the time investment, whatever, what would you say? Man, I have something to offer that you can’t find on other academies, because I’ve studied on two academies, and I actually, well, actually I studied on three academies, and national academies, they don’t teach this kind of knowledge.

17:15 Because I have, like, a very clean methodology, a step-by-step process. It was like, from composition, from building up, from the beginning to the end of the drawing or painting, on how to represent form. So I have all this knowledge that I got from studying in Florence, studying in while the other Sutra in Italy.

17:46 And also when I was teaching in Holland, I was upgrading. I was studying Bouguereau, it’s one of the 19th-century painters, and Alma-Tadema, and I went there, I painted the copies, and I went there into the museum to compare the difference, and then I was like, holy smoke, okay, that’s like, I could see where I’m missing. So I went back home, I repainted, came back, and I was like, that’s it, right?

18:11 So I know I have this knowledge, and plus I’m very open and I love to teach, and definitely I’m not a newbie here. I was teaching for more than three years. I was teaching in Holland for one year, in Florence on that academy I was teaching for three months, and before I went to Holland, yeah, and I had my own workshops in Slovenia, it’s like more than eight times, for the few years.

18:43 So people are really happy, really like the paintings that they make, they’re like really nice. And to me they’re coming, like, just like random people that never painted in their lives, but I also have professional portraitists, illustrators that come to my place. I had the whole group of, like, eight people coming from Holland to Slovenia to do my workshop, so that tells a lot.

19:14 Well, I’m gonna be watching you for the next 12 months. You got your monthly calls with your team, you got Team Rose, which someone just described Team Rose as a high-performance cult. It is true, it is. You guys are no joke, and I’m expecting some big things. Very impressed with you, Nik. Very impressed with the way you applied yourself.

19:36 I know this was hard. The first few weeks, you know, it was like, all right, is he gonna get it together? And then you’ve gotten it together. So you’ve got amazing talents, you got a weird combination of skills, that you could do anything with, anything you want, if you just apply yourself, and I really hope you will. All right, so promise me that. Thank you. Yeah, I promise, and I’ll think about the painting. All right, all right, good. All right, buddy, as we say, it’s about the journey. Keep going. All right.