My Story
A bad decision that cost me millions
Imagine you have just finished University and get two job offers:
1. join a consulting firm, work in a city office with water views; OR
2. join a tiny startup, work in a warehouse in the outer suburbs.
Which offer would you accept?
This was the decision I had to make back in 2005. I took the consulting job. Working for a ‘Big-4′ consulting firm sounded impressive. But one day I looked around the office and realised I didn’t want my Manager’s job. I didn’t even want the top job (Partner). Sure, the money would be great. But I realised the more senior you became, the less time you got to spend with your family.
You can always get more money, but you can never get more time
— Jim Rohn
If I stuck around I would eventually get that big house and fancy car. But what’s the point if you have to work 60 hours a week stuck in a job that you hate?
Do you remember that startup job offer I rejected? Well that company (Catch) was later sold for 230m Australian dollars. I would have been employee no. 7. How would you feel if you made the same decision and lost millions in share equity?
But what if:
Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you
— Tony Robbins
I left the ‘Big-4’ firm to start my own business. This business has taken me from Melbourne to London to New York City. It has given me the freedom to travel the world.
I have taken two sabbaticals (4 months and then 12 months). During one of these sabbaticals, my wife and I were travelling from Thailand to Singapore. A man in his early 20’s sat next to us. We got to the question “what do you do?”. He discovered that my wife is a psychological therapist and they spoke non-stop for the entire flight. It turns out he had been suffering from a long-term mental health illness. He had always been curious about therapy and asked my wife for tips. We exchanged details at the airport and parted ways.
A week later my wife received an email. For the first time ever he was going to see a therapist. He wanted to thank her for her advice. He couldn’t have been more grateful.
And it suddenly hit me:
My wife made more impact in 2-hours than I have ever made in 13 years as a Banking Consultant
Sure my consultancy is doing well. But if I continue with my current path at the end of my days my life will lack meaning and impact. It’s sad. But true. I am 35. The question I now ask is “what’s the best way to spend my remaining time on this planet?” My wife had a solution.
She is about to start her own private therapy practice. I couldn’t be more proud. She wants to help people breakthrough mental illness. She saves people’s lives. Literally. I have seen the letters. Clients that thank her for talking them out of suicide. The work of a therapist is not easy, but the juice is worth the squeeze.
But here’s the problem. She is just starting-out. She has zero clients. You might be the best therapist in the world but it doesn’t matter if nobody knows that you exist.
This is where I can help. I know how to start and grow a business. I was fortunate to spend almost a year learning from one of the best. The reason I was offered that startup job was because I worked directly with the founder (Hezi Leibovich). He is now personally worth over $190 million Australian dollars. He didn’t need to spend time mentoring me, a 21 year old who knew next to nothing. But he did it anyway. Now it’s my turn to pay it forward.
You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards
— Steve Jobs
I have come to realise that great marketing is a multiplier of change. By helping my wife get clients, I play a tiny part in her clients recovery. That can only be a good thing.
What is the change you are trying to make? What transformation do your clients experience after they work with you? It would be my privilege to be part of your journey. To help you get more clients, make more money and have greater impact.
How can I help you?
I hold regular virtual masterclass calls. They are free (you can find them all here).
You can also contact me (here), I personally read every email.
— Jaimal