369. Motivator Tip: First, Believe in Yourself
Brad Burton
Brad was directionless as a young man in Manchester, England, believing the teachers who said he’d never amount to anything might be right. Two bullet holes through his window made him rethink what was really important. Resettled in Somerset, kicking a can alone down a street, he had no idea he’d be where he is today.
Brad Burton views himself as “the U.K.’s #1 Motivational Business Speaker,” taking his cue from “the Greatest”—the late boxing champion, Muhammad Ali. Today, without formal qualifications, he is the highest rated and reviewed business author. His approach to life, business and motivation is unique. Yet it works, firing up people from all walks of life. Brad gives people the permission to do the very thing they know they should be doing. His goal is to change the entire personal development world in the U.K.
How Did You Start Using Your Talents?
Coming from a working class background in northern England, Brad heard the frequent naysaying of teachers, “You’ll never amount to anything.” For a while, it seemed they might be right as he searched unsuccessfully for a place to fit in. The landscape of business networking organizations in the United Kingdom—“the looney left” or the “hard right”—left him cold. So, he created something completely new called 4Networking, where his talent for inspiring others to believe in themselves thrives and changed the way networking is done in the U.K.
The Most Impactful Turning Point?
Brad experienced a breakdown about four years ago. Rebounding from that crisis, he views the process as a deconstructing of his former life, as a chance to rebuild his life in a different way. It reaffirmed the importance of believing in himself and having a purpose larger than himself. “I want people to be kind to themselves, and not focus so much on money.”
The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?
“Think about the worst day of your life and the best day as two bookends. If it weren’t for the worst day of my life, twenty-odd years ago, I wouldn’t be where I am now. It all happens for a reason. Today I don’t regret my past. Instead of running from it, I run toward it and embrace it. I look to my background to see what I can use positively. Right now, I’m genuinely at a really good place.”
Steps to Success from Brad Burton
1. Believe in yourself, stop comparing yourself unfavorably to others.
2. Find your own level and judge yourself by your own personal growth and progress. Be kind to yourself.
3. Money for its own sake is meaningless. Find a higher purpose that drives you.
4. Don’t lose sight of your destination.
On His Bookshelf
Life. Business: Just Got Easier, by Brad Burton
Off Your Arse, by Brad Burton
Get off Your Arse Too, by Brad Burton
Connecting With Brad Burton
Website: www.bradburton.biz
Twitter: @Bradburton
Facebook: facebook.com/TheBradBurton/
