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- 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 your journey,
where are you from, what do you do?
Break it down for us.
- Okay, originally,
well, American by birth. (laughs)
But I have spent a lot of time working internationally,
I kind of consider myself fortunate
to be an international citizen, as it were.
Spent a lot of time in the IT industry,
I worked for Microsoft for 15 years.
But have always had sort of roles
in an entrepreneurial startup-like environment
even when I was working in large global companies.
So I kind of have a hybrid corporate mentality
with entrepreneurial spirit, as it were.
Right now I reside to 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 direct result
of the work that I did
through the business accelerator course.
I 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,
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 six-week timeframe.
Just kind of get back in touch with what it is that
really resonates for them
and help connect them with other communities that will help
sort of breakthrough, if that makes sense.
- 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 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.
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 impoverished communities
in a sort of a microfranchising 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 flare of human potential.
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 realise
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 the promise of,
you can come with an idea but not even having a business,
and then we'll take that through.
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.
- 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 I've watched so many of the interviews that you've done.
And so, that was one aspect of it.
And the other aspect
was the sort of hardcore accountability focus.
I kind of laughed in the beginning
because I joked about going
from a really alpha male environment in the corporate world,
throwing myself into an alpha male environment
of the London Real.
And in fact, some respects it is, but in the best ways.
Which is, we have six weeks,
you're serious about this or not?
We're going to hold you accountable,
and we're going to really push you
to hold yourself accountable as well.
So, those were sort of the key reasons
for the business accelerator at London Real itself.
I love the, as I said,
the energy and the community of London Real, it's so varied.
The young startup who just thinks,
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 not 27, 35 year old
with the world in front of me.
- What was it like those first two weeks
when you get thrown into the thick of it,
accountability dock, you got 1800 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 and you said,
"If you have,"
I can't remember now,
"Four hours a week, you can do this."
And I thought, "Right." (laughs)
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.
And so, it felt a bit chaotic.
Definitely it took me out of my comfort zone.
And I already felt pretty comfortable
with things like vlogs,
but definitely it took me out of my comfort zone.
But what struck me was two things.
One, the real camaraderie with the classmates.
Like, just everybody sort of moving everyone along,
No one left behind.
And if somebody fell behind, there was no judgement ,
there was just, what can we do to help?
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 realise it until I was in there and thought,
"Wow, I have a lot to learn."
And 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 might be able to do that,
"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 quite dramatically.
And so, 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, was beside the point.
That was a good exercise.
- Yeah, it's interesting to get feedback
and if they're not buying it when you do it,
the video, it's a great data point for you.
- [Joni] 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 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.
For me that was the big win.
But apart from that,
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 programme,
but when one starts doing the math,
I could actually in six to eight weeks start making revenue
and income on a really simple concept.
And so, that for me was a fabulous takeaway,
because I can apply it to...
I have a 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 innumerable business models
or different businesses.
So, that was probably the the other big aha for me.
- 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.
- That's right - And in the middle
of that course, what happened?
- I was in the Caribbean,
and we had two category 5 hurricanes (laughs)
within 12 days.
So, that was very interesting.
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.
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 all the repetition
of the Life Accelerator around meditation,
which I did already before.
But just the repetition around,
breathing, meditation, hydration,
all of the good habits that one builds.
And then the Broadcast Yourself
which unfortunately, I did sort of put on hold
because I literally had no electricity or WiFi.
I do have a phone signal,
so I guess you could say that's resistance journey,
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.
- And I knew, and I remember you started toying with ideas
for charities you could do around the efforts and,
I don't know, 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 a humane society in animals
and other around trying to help children
and just school children.
For eight weeks, the kids couldn't go to school.
There's a large elderly population
that needs help on the island.
So, there's not a shortage of philanthropic
or charitable things to help with.
But again, when sort of thrown into a situation like that,
one can sit around and mope about it and be a victim,
or you can just get on with it.
And so, I did feel very empowered.
And thankfully, I didn't worry about
where the income was going to come from.
And that's a departure for,
I mean, who I was 18 months ago,
I probably wouldn't have thought that way.
And so, that's been very empowering.
- Okay, what does your life in business look like
in 12 months time?
What are we gonna be seeing coming from Joni?
- Okay, well, 12 months time.
I see myself as a real part
of this entrepreneurial revolution.
I spend a lot of time with listening to you, Tim Ferriss,
Gary Vaynerchuk, the sort of Genius Network.
I just, Brendon Burchard,
I immerse myself in that right now.
And I see myself in that,
firmly implanted in that world of human potential.
Wherever that's going,
I mean, anything from longevity or life extension
to high human performance,
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.
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 can 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 like to be considered a sought-after,
subject matter expert, maybe speaker, things like that.
And I'm running my own mastermind groups that are,
again, for me it's not the the ego
of running the mastermind group, it's seeing...
The other night at the premiere
where you spoke about Dan Pena
being responsible for $550 billion,
I'd love to see the mastermind groups in which I'm involved
having a measurable impact on either communities,
or businesses,
or all of the above peoples in a personalised.
So that's where I see myself in a year.
And I'm going there.
- [Brian] Good. - I can see it.
I can feel it on a visceral level.
- Good, I'm gonna be watching you.
- Good.
- You graduated from three of our accelerators.
So, business, life, and then the broadcast.
- [Joni] And I'm in your inner circle. (laughs)
- 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
in thinking about taking one of our accelerator programmes?
- Well, I can't...
So, the first thing I would say is,
"Why are you even questioning it?"
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, (fingers snapping)
number one.
Number two,
the things that one learns through
whether it's Business Accelerator, Life Accelerator,
it 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 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.
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.
And I know a lot of people feel like,
it might be a lot of money,
you have a lot of options for people
who might not want to make
a one time investment.
So really, if you think your life
and your future is not worth that amount of money,
then that's probably a first place to start
and that you have every reason to do it at that point.
If that makes sense,
I probably didn't articulate the last point very clearly.
But I would say, "Why wouldn't you do that?"
- 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 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, I'm really excited
and really expecting a lot from you
as well. - Thank you, good.
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,
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'll produce.
- Thank you, thank you.
And happy to help as an alumni,
people who you come across
who might need some help in that regard.
- [Brian] Okay, good, any final thoughts?
- Well, I guess I mentioned to you before,
in sort of a joking manner
about the fact that I did Life Accelerator,
Business Accelerator, Broadcast Yourself.
I think that the thing that I learned
about doing that back-to-back is that,
we should never stop learning.
And that also has been a real aha for me,
it's all integrated.
And so, if one is considering a Business Accelerator,
a 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.
And in fact, I saw something yesterday
that I think you're sort of launching
a new stay in touch for a week,
kind of reinvigorate yourself.
So that's my suggestion to your viewers,
is to really think of this
as a weaving in and out of your life.
It's not just a six-week timeframe.
- Yeah, great thoughts.
Alright Joni, as you know in London Real,
we say it's about the journey.
I wish you well in yours,
looking forward to what you do in the next 12 months.
- Likewise, thank you Brian. - All right, thanks you.
- Thanks a lot, you bet, thanks.
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