Personal Development, Leadership, and Partnership: Key To Sustainable Life and Business with Jan Robberts

It is so important that we, we realize what we're stepping into. And we need to have that positive attitude and, and that comes with personal growth, you cannot just like success, personal growth is not just a someday thing, and not a one day thing. It's an everyday thing. And people forget that because they keep busy. And if self care and personal development and all these kinds of things they do to maybe sometimes when when, when they feel like it or not, you're tired. But it is something that we need to do everyday because those that don't, we'll find out to their detriment, and sometimes too late, you understand. And then they say I wish I had.

Hey, Chuck here, and I'm so glad that you're listening to this episode. And I just want to take this quick moment right now to let you know about our free collaborators toolkit. And this episode is all about partnership and collaboration. And our guests share many resources, tools, and things that you can use to make collaboration and partnership easier in your business. So if you're looking for better ways to grow and scale your business, through collaborations, and strategic partnerships, this free collaborators toolkit is going to contain the best resources from our workshops, as well as contributions from our guests. And these tools could be the missing link that you've been looking for. And they're going to help you to solve everyday business challenges, and access, highly effective ideas that can help and grow your business exponentially. I know they've helped me and I know they're going to help you as well. And the best part about these tools is that they're completely free. And our gift to you for being a valued member of our community, and a subscriber to the show. So you can get access to all of the resources contained inside the collaborators toolkit today by visiting the website at WWW.collaboratorsunite.com/toolkit. That address again is www.collaboratorsunite.com/toolkit. Go ahead and register today get access to all the resources. And I'm going to see you on the inside. Now. Here's the episode.

Hello, everybody. And welcome back to the show, Chuck Anderson here. And I am honored to be here with yet another amazing guest. And you're really a lot to learn from this, this particular individual in this episode, because we're going to be talking about leadership, we're going to be talking about growth, we're going to be talking about, you know what, what it really takes to get the results and grow your business and, you know, how do we eliminate the roadblocks and all of that and really come out and lead? And what does it mean to you know, be a leader and leadership and all sorts of other things. So please welcome to the program. Jan Roberts, Jan, welcome to the show.

Chuck Anderson, it's been a it's already been a pleasure and privilege to chat with you beforehand. But you know, it's a real privilege to be on your show and talk into these kinds of subjects. Because we I know we both have the heart for the for impacting lives. And so it's already been a privilege to get to know you. Thank you.

Fantastic. Well, thank you for that. And, you know, we'll we'll we'll make the episode all about you. But I do really appreciate that as well. And now, and I think a great place to start like as a foundation, because you know, we we talked to a lot of business leaders and a lot of entrepreneurs, and everyone does their own thing. And they're they have their own sort of unique genius and the way that they really make a big impact. And it wouldn't be right for me to try to explain who you are and what you do. So we'll get you to start with that. And and like so everyone understands kind of like, you know, who's Yan and well, what is the work that you do?

Okay, well, I'll keep it brief. Just in case, people started wondering where my accent comes from. I'm in South Africa, but I'm not from South Africa. I'm a Dutchman. And as I said to Chuck as well, in the late 70s, our family emigrated to Scotland, so that makes me a kilt wearing Dutchman freedom and all that. And for the last eight years, most of the time I spent in South Africa, and that helped because I was 30 years in oil industry. And I never hated my job. I was one of the lucky ones, I suppose. But there was a little voice in me that that became louder and louder. And eventually I called my comfort zone, my uncomfort zone because it comes a time that you need to do something about it or live with it, the less the rest of your life. People talk about it and most people just live the rest of their life the way they are and it wasn't for me. So I am that voice became louder and at some point through a transformational trip with John Maxwell to help Start transformation of an entire country of Guatemala. On the way home in 2013. We turned 90,000 People in three days to become facilitators in a powerful program called values based leadership. And then on the way home, I really understood what significance was all about. And not only did I feel it, I wanted other people to feel that. So there was a missing piece of my magic store. And on the way home, I quit my job because it was a case of if not now, when, and if not me, who? And if not this, what? We all heard these kind of questions, but most people don't stop long enough to answer them for themselves. And I think most people don't have honest conversation with themselves anyway. I've also the personal development since he was 17. In the oil industry, that was always interesting, because I used to buy books instead of newspapers. And I haven't bought a newspaper for 35 years. And so I have books lying on the table. And people are, let's say most interested when I was going to talk about those kinds of books and about personal development, which is fine by me. But it's been an amazing journey and also doing personal practice and personal development martial artists as well since also since I was 17 at m&s, also mine development, P Aikido. And I think all these kinds of things happen for a reason, Les Brown says, There's no such thing as coincidence, it's coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous. And I love that and it doesn't matter whether people are religious or not, you can be spiritual or whatever, but there is a bigger force that makes us do things the way we do. And, and when we look back in our life, all these things happen for a reason. And I was bullied as a little kid as well, which gave me the lessons to serve, which was amazing. I didn't think so at the time, of course, but later it started happening. And hence also I started personal development. But I mean, you know, because I'm such a people centric person, I'm also behave and analysis consultant, values based leadership, specialists, I do leadership training, communication, youth development, I change speaker do speaker training as well. And I put all kinds of programs together because I think one size doesn't fit all, but my wife is also in the diversity and inclusion one of the foremost specialists in the world. So we we do a lot of that kind of stuff together. So absolutely, as you may be here, already, I absolutely love what I do. And to be able to impact lives around the world is a blessing and low made continuously to people. Listen, I don't know about you, but I don't I can't die until I'm at least 120. And even then they're gonna crush me because I got way too much to do. So that's it.

Yeah, and you know, that, you know, I tend to surround myself with people who think a lot like you are also, you know, a lifelong, you know, personal growth enthusiast, right from the time I've read, Think and Grow Rich for the very first time at at 19 years old. And, you know, it's easy to get hooked on that energy to when you're surrounded by people who believe that things are possible, rather than getting fixated on the obstacles. And and, you know, those are the people I choose to surround myself with, and especially, you know, as an entrepreneur, when you're trying to, when you're trying to build a business do as you know, start from the ground up, there's going to be obstacles, there's going to be challenges. And it's, it's, I would say a necessity to have that kind of attitude, that kind of mindset, as you're going to approach problems as they come up.

Yes, for sure. And I love the book you mentioned, well Think and Grow Rich is an absolute classic from 1937. And, yeah, obviously, it's a it's also my repertoire, but you right, you know, we I think entrepreneurship is not for the faint hearted. I found that out, too. When I first started out, especially after having been employed, even though I had a lot of free rein, I was employed in an organization and to step into entrepreneurship, by the next morning, you look in the mirror and unit, head, Chef cook and bottle, a bottle washer, you know, everything for everybody. And I know another thing I got engaged with was because of my you know, martial arts and personal development and self care, which is also part of your personal development. And most people don't do that it because especially as an entrepreneur, we put that kind of stuff in the background, because we're so busy, especially at the beginning being everything to everybody, and people are suffering and a lot as we shouldn't the statistics still speak for themselves. And then of course, the health issue starts and I said, you know, especially in the last two years, I said there's one thing people don't talk about is self care. So I started talking about self care, and I did Facebook Lives and I thought I'm gonna do five or 10 of them 44 sessions later, I stopped and then people said, what else have you got? So then I talk 52 sessions about values, basic human values, which are also working. And that's also part of your development, because what kind of values do we have as entrepreneurs or business owners, even ordinary family, people and persons in society, that values that we will not compromise on? That's why leadership is failing around the world because so many leaders their value system is failing. Les Brown said many years ago that that was the view He's in most leadership of feeling. And if you haven't seen that, in the last few years becoming much more obvious, but I think we need to start looking after ourselves as well. And so I'm, I'm just about completed an ebook, and creating a series as well. But even that, I've become a strategic partner with me as the key leadership with an entrepreneurial platform, from Sweden. Again, how we meet it, it's amazing how it all works. But that he had a dream, they said, you know, entrepreneurs are suffering and they got so much information in their fingertips that they get overwhelmed. So we to support guide and help entrepreneurs to become the entrepreneurs they were meant to be and also become successful. So it's, it's all these wonderful combination, you said about attracting and I'm just thinking about it. Well, I mean, that's why we're here together. Today. There's no coincidence, either. I mean, our personal development freaks use it for me, and I thought it was a compliment. But it is, it is so important, you know, you said it already, it's so important that we we realize what we're stepping into, and we need to have that positive attitude. And, and that comes with personal growth, you cannot just like success, personal growth is not just a someday thing. And another one day thing, it's an everyday thing. And people forget that because they keep busy, and self care and personal development and all these kinds of things. They do the maybe sometimes when when when they feel like it or not, you're tired. But it is something that we need to do every day. Because those that don't, we'll find out to their detriment, and sometimes too late, you know, understand, and then they say I wish I had.

Yes, well, and I know I've had certain my wake up call moments in my life where you know, the stress is at an all time high, you know, I'm sleeping under my desk, because because I've been working consecutive 1416 hour days, you know, all not eating properly, not going for walks, you know, exercising all of that. And your body can only take so much, and your mind and your soul as well can only take so much of that. And then I think it rebels, it's like, you have not been taken care of me. So therefore I'm going to Yeah, time out, right. And I'm going to force you to do something about that. And, you know, hopefully, it's not like, you know, really bad disease or something like that. But there's so many different ways that life can send you that wake up call and say, Hey, wake up, you have not been taken care of yourself. So

Yeah, I mean, stress is a killer. Of course, it's one of the highest I mean, Les Brown said one time, he says, you know, we the human species are the only species in the world that have got a specific disease at a specific time of the of the week, Monday morning between 830 and 930 in the morning, 38% increase in stress, heart disease and death. They say some people are dying to get to work. And so you know, you know why, because they already start on Sunday thinking about Monday, and they shoot, they can't even enjoy their weekend anymore. And it is it is so important. Because I mean, through my martial arts as well. I learned this from an African che and actually the African principle of leadership is when there is no enemy within the enemy outside can do no harm. And that really when you think of it, it talks into so many things like calmness, mindfulness, and I said to my boss, they used to get frustrated, and I'm just sitting there smiling at them and says, Why are you smiling? This is not you've never paid me enough to meet to get stressed out. And then our clients used to sit in our industry. And you know, the language they use in oil industry is colorful, to say the least. And I'm still sitting them this is listen, if you don't behave yourself, your name doesn't even go enough for today. We'll maybe put it in tomorrow. And it used to frustrate him. But I thought well, you know, I learned to come account Michelle down because I don't know. So when I was 16 already because of the bullying I had as a little kid and the shell bullying that continued. And also, all these things happen for a reason. But I know I as you said, sleeping on the desk doing all these kinds of hours in so many people do it because they they feel it's necessary know what's necessary is if you look after yourself well and become a bit more effective and intentional. You don't need to sleep on the desk anymore. But it's hard to do, of course.

Yeah. And I love what you just said there about feeling like it's a necessity feeling like you have to do it. And I remember when I first started my first business and I was surrounded by other, you know, very early stage entrepreneurs and it's like you got to work hard. And you know, I come from a long, long, you know, farmers who worked very hard dawn till dusk. And so what did I do, I did the exact same thing, but in a business instead of a farm. And so we kind of do what we saw. The other thing too is that at the time, I was such a chronic do it yourselfer. Because, you know, I always heard it's like, Hey, if you ever want to have something done, right, you got to do it yourself. And you know, as an entrepreneur, you got to you got to grind it out. You got to do all this work to get your business going. And I wish I could go back 20 years or almost 30 now and just tell that kid Hey, it doesn't have to be that way and one of the best big things that was a turning point for me, all the stress, and everything that we've been talking about part of that. And I'm very grateful for the, you know, self development work that that I was immersed in at the time because it really helped me to see what was going on. And the big thing that was the turning point for me was not doing it all alone, collaborating and partnering with others in whatever capacity that is. And that's really was the inspiration for the theme of the show. So, you know, one question I want to ask you, Yan is, you know, how has partnering or collaborating with others, you know, impacted you in your journey and in growing your business and, and maybe even you can share what some of your most impactful partnerships have been, and, you know, hopefully share with our audience so that they can be inspired to find partnerships and collaborations on their journey.

Again, check that tremendous question. And I think yes, looking back at my life, and the one I will talk about, this is so easy, because of the impact it made in my life. And and at the time than I should have asked different. But first of all, the collaboration that we're going to talk about happened because it became intentional. And before we get to a mistake, being intentional is not having good intention, because we've all got got them and having good intentions means we do something good. Occasionally, we might do some good occasionally, we've all done that. But if you lead an intentional life, or you are intentional, you do something good continually, that's when your life starts making a difference. That's when your life matters more to you and everybody around you. So I was intentional. I went to a leadership training and John Maxwell leadership training in 2014. I just because of an event that happened in my life, a life changing event where we went to transformation of an entire country. And on the way home, I quit my job. And in 2014, when I then went to the next leadership training, I went every six months, I went with the intention of finding somebody in Africa to collaborate and partner with another time I was in Scotland. And I don't even know why that happens. It just came to me on the plane to Orlando. And then when I was there, I met a lady called Aarthi mod. RT mod is from Durban and South Africa. And we started talking, I mean, I mean, I talked to I was serving at the conference as well, and the dude behind the scenes stuff and all that kind of stuff. But we started talking and we both had a vision of impacting millions of people. Now, I just came out of out of the corporate world, if you like if I ended up as a project manager, and maybe they just promoted me out of the way I don't know. But I, when I quit, they thought everybody thought I was crazy, because they had earmarked me for Director of Global training and all that kind of stuff. And I said, you know, you never understood because I didn't do for a title but haven't been in, in, in employment, if you like, then I stepped out and I had no legal strategy might not have been the best idea. But as we mentioned before, that was a case of when when that life changing events happen to you, you need to make some choices. And for me, it wasn't If not now, then when, and that was the biggest part of that choice. And I thought about it, we all make excuses why we don't live the life, we all deserve to live, and we should live and we want to live. But then we look back at our deathbed. And we are surrounded by the ghost of all the possibilities, the skills and the tools, which were only meant for us. And they look, you know, now you die and and you take it with you don't make that mistake become more intentional. But in my mind when I've made it intentional point, I started talking and we decided I was gonna go to South Africa to meet that happened when Les Brown when he went to South Africa as well. And so I spent four or five days with with him was also fundamental, and MSA will combine this. And we started talking and we started talking to some businesses because she has she's one of the foremost diversity inclusion specialists in the world. And but for me, the challenge really was that, yes, I stepped into entrepreneurship, but they're sure to call me an entrepreneur will be an insult to any entrepreneur, young, old or different. Because you know, I didn't know I have no idea. So my wife now my wife and who was an entrepreneur since she was 19 years old, she never worked for anybody else. Luckily, I mean, again, everything happens for a reason luckily, and she's it's an ongoing journey. But I mean, she kept me on the on the straight and narrow. So when that collaboration first happened out of out of just a desire to impact people, and then we started working together and we started building courses together and we became friends. And just the first of May we been married for a year during lockdown, we got married. And you know and you know, it's been an amazing collaboration which and I don't say everybody you know if you're going to meet somebody you need to collaborate and then go that far, but the fact that we started from business, to friendships and deep friendships and then we became now a husband and wife and and they call us the power couple because we're both speakers as well, but we play so Well of each other. But if she hadn't been there, my entrepreneurship would have failed. Very early on, I can promise that without a doubt.

So what you say about collaboration is necessary, ask for help. I didn't do that for a while. My wife had to figure it out by herself. But what was really what was wrong with me? That sounds bad, but she's probably she's probably about to scroll. But what's the things that she knew that I needed to know? But I wasn't asking, you know, and she wanted me to develop myself as well. But she had to step in quite a few times, because I just, you know, be become more creative, because most entrepreneurs are fairly creative, if not very creative. But we add this great creativity. But I didn't ask the right kind of questions, and to walk alongside with people to ask for help. Now, even if you're not quite ready for collaborations go and ask people who've done what you've done, go and ask other entrepreneurs who's successful. And it's surprising how often they will give you advice. People say, Oh, they're successful, I can't go to them, don't go have to feel the entrepreneur and ask how you should do it. But those kind of things are important to think. And that was, for me, I've had a few partnerships and collaborations, but this is the club collaboration that's going to last for the rest of my life.

I think it's a fantastic story. And I love how it started as I mean, you're kind of on the same path, and you and you're in the same rooms, and you're going in the same direction. And that just kind of built and evolved and next thing, you know, you're, you're you're married, I think that's a fantastic story. Because, you know, it was the opposite for me. I tried, you know, my wife and I tried several times to work in the same business together. And, you know, because, you know, she's got her interest. And I got my now we have two separate businesses that coexist very, very, very nicely. But in the beginning, this, we must work together. That that did not work out. But I, what I heard in your story, and I want to, you know, come back to this a little bit is, there's a theme that I am finding with partnerships and collaborations and the more we get into these stories is that the most effective partnerships is where there's a missing piece of the puzzle for us. And that partner, fulfills that need, not that we weren't hold to begin with, because we're definitely hold. But in that journey, or in the thing that I'm trying to do, there's the things that I'm good at. But then there's something that someone else is good at as well, that maybe is the missing keys, or the catalyst or something that really takes what we're both doing to here, right. So you know, can you recall? Were you aware of where of what that missing piece was? Or did it become apparent after you started collaborating?

Oh, definitely after. I mean, I, well, first of all, I had no clue I knew I needed to step out and do more. And that was not in the job I was doing, as I said, I never hated my job. But I mean, I needed to go further. Because there was also when I found out when I was doing coaching for two years, spending 10 months of the year in hotel rooms, which people think is lovely three weeks, but 10 months, not so good anymore. So in all industry, we used to go either you either go and hide, or you go drink with the boys, because you travel around, that's the only thing you have to sit and there might have been a drink. And I've done my bit as well. But I used to study a lot. But still, you know, I had this view that there is more than I haven't quite fitted a puzzle together. But that missing piece of the jigsaw can but that didn't make me an entrepreneur that this made me determined to do to finally step up to the life. I think I was meant to live and I wanted to live. And you know, it's gone from better to great and amazing. And there's still a lot of room for improvement. But I certainly did have no idea. And so it wasn't just one piece, there was probably several pieces, which some of them came through practice. But there was one or two other things that if it hadn't been as sad as I hadn't been before my wife, I would have, I would have struggled, I would have been frustrated even though I love what I do. But the frustration would have been because you know, you need to survive one way or another. I mean, you can give and give and give. But sometimes you need to whether it's financial, whether it's also emotional, and all these kinds of things need to come back to you as well because it's not just about money. I think entrepreneurs, a lot of people who work with people like yourself as well. You know, money is is amazing. And I say to people as well, if you have a problem with money, give it to me, I would love to become a billionaire because you can do a lot more with money than without it. Les Brown once said, it's easier to be miserable in Aston Martin and then a rusty old bike which there's something to be said. But there is more you know, how to enact its significance really, when you think of it. I mean, how significant do we feel because there's very many wealthy people who died empty and are empty at this point because of what money meant to them. But actually money is a tool my wife says $1 said we can always make money but what By the ceilings What about the significant work, but the impact we make in other people's lives. And that is also important. But when people you find people of a given nature, like coaches and those kinds of people, and also coaches, well, it is very difficult to start charging unhealthy amount of money, even though you've invested heavily in yourself to start charging a healthy amount, because you know, you want to help people and, and they know you're going to help people. And what will people think if you start making a lot of money? Well, yeah, what will they think that means you're successful, you're good at what you're doing? No, it doesn't. That's not what it meant. It feels nearly a stigma. Now that people say also, the money is not the block. It's actually other things inside of you, that block you from making money. And that might be past history that might be you know, like our parents is, what do you think money grows on trees, all those kinds of things that has been ingrained in us, and therefore we cannot make the money and the life we really deserve. But for me, the missing jigsaw, the missing piece in the, in the collaborative side and entrepreneurial side that gains, the wake up call from my wife. So I give her all the credit to this, because I can't take any of it.

Well, and that's another thing that I've heard in collaboration stories as well, is that just getting into the partnership, so you're, you're you're realizing, hey, I want to collaborate with this person. And they're sort of the catalyst that helps you to see the things that you weren't seeing before. And now suddenly, it opens up these possibilities. And these opportunities, maybe that were always there, but for whatever reason, we couldn't see them. And now they were that light that that kind of pointed us in the right direction. So a lot of all of that, and I yawn I, you and I can talk personal development, I think for years, I mean, we're just getting wound up. And, of course, in my mind, I'm like, you know, if I asked that question, we're going to be on here for hours and hours and hours. So maybe, maybe we do have to do a part two of this at some point. But, you know, one of the key themes to what we're talking about here today, yes, we're talking about collaboration, but I think what you're also talking about so much is about intention. And also just, you know, I think the you know, the the common thread between both of us is that lifetime of, of doing the work, doing the self development, reading the books, meaning the experts, getting mentored and coached and, and moving forward beyond where we were, I mean, you were talking about money. I mean, when I was 19 years old, I was putting pictures of fancy cars and big houses on my wall. Now, I think about all of the people that I'm going to help and you know, how many souls are going to be impacted by the work that I'm doing? And so, you know, did it take me 30 years to get there? Well, maybe I could have done it sooner. But, you know, that's that that was the journey. That was the journey and, and so but it's interesting how it's evolved, because it started off being all about money. But so many of my entrepreneur friends too, had this turning point where they realized that it wasn't all about money, there was such a bigger picture and a positive impact that we can make on the world. And so much of that came from doing the self development, the personal growth work. So my question for you in that is two things. One, who has been and you've mentioned some names already, but you may or may not mention one of those right now. Who has been the the most impactful leader that you have learned from and then also, we want to recommend a book that our listeners can go out and read that might be the next piece of the puzzle for them or the next step in their journey.

Oh, yeah, I mean, first of all, you know, when I listen to what you're saying, as well and like my grandparents were farmers as well. So I spend a lot of hard work and time on the farm and that's where I spend my holidays, but also the journey and you know, you mentioned some books yourself as well and and even leaders and as you were saying at one thing came to came to me right now and you know, and that was the same moment people asked me about leadership, you know, who you are, your your leadership inspiration, I said, you know, I can mention some some big people, but when it's all truth is said and told what my biggest inspiration and leadership was, is ordinary people do extraordinary things that inspires their socks off me, you know, to see people who step up when when it's time to step up.

But when you said no, no, I mentioned some people and I could mention some but when you said that, the one thing that came to my my thought, the inspiration and I haven't told them often enough, but it's my dad. That is not famous, but he's famous my life and you know he's been an artist. renewed and he took us as a family when he was 14 years old. He took us with a family, five young kids from from a place where he knew he didn't like what he was doing in the music shop in Holland. But he took us to another country and he started afresh not even an idea and is going to speak with him last weekend is going to celebrate at five years old. He's been an entrepreneur for all of his life. And yes, he's worked hard. He's not he's slowed down a bit now when he still wears Dutch clogs. But I mean, he's been an inspiration to me. And I didn't think so at first, when he took us, it took me away from my friends, but to see him what he's been through, and the joy he's he's had, I mean, people say that if you if you love what you do, you'll never work another day of your life. And that's why he still works, not because he has to. He's got holiday shelters in the north of Scotland, but he just loves what he do. He also loves working with people. And I mean, it was his dream becoming a reality. And I thought, okay, yeah, yes, like I mentioned, I mentioned some famous people. But sometimes I think we have people on our doorstep, maybe maybe not in our family, but maybe on our door. So they might be friends, it might be our neighbors, it might be somebody in the community that could inspire us more than any great leader, because it's easy to say, you know, like, like a John Maxwell and Les Brown and an exogenous, these people have inspired me, but it's easy to call one of them. And people say, oh, yeah, I know them. But they will never know my dad, but I know him. And I think and that's why I, as you've talked about this, you know, that's the one that that I need to mention. And then you mentioned the book.

Now, another thing. I mean, you you've been the same, you know, I You probably if you had them all lined on a pile, you couldn't climb on top of them quick enough. But there has been some books that really stood out more than that. And you mentioned some and I'm not going to mention, but one book that has impacted me considerably. And that is actually a book by John Maxwell called that 15 invaluable laws of growth. And why is that as a book? Well, there's, there's a few reasons. First of all, when I did coaching practice somebody afterwards, when I finished that, in 2011, somebody asked me to come into a mastermind group, and it was the 15 invaluable laws now, I heard of John Maxwell, I got some of his books. But then she gave me a videos, and it was called a day about books with John Maxwell was in 2012, I listened to them, he talked about leaving a legacy and making a difference. And that's spoken to my heart. And I says I want to become part of I don't know what it is, but I want to become part of what he's talking about. But that was one reason. But also, the other reason is I've just finished a mastermind with some people in Bangladesh, young leaders. So I've done this again, and I'll go through with myself as well. It's one of the most phenomenal personal development books, I mean, not only following it, it is a book and I've done this myself, you know, I used to be so keen to read it that if you've got exercises to do anything I want to read, I'll get back to it. Just close the book on the shelf shelf development is a self development. But you know, I say to people, if you ever think about a book, and it's an amazing book, and it's got 50 in laws in there, and it starts with the law of intentionality, strangely enough, but do the exercises, you know, take the time, and don't rush through the book, you know, get out of it, reflect on it and do the things that matter. Because the exercises, knowledge is not power. It's not much acted upon his power. And if you then reflect on it every evening desperate when it becomes ultimately powerful, because then you can go into tomorrow, better prepared. So that book is an absolutely amazing, there's many but if I can recommend one that says don't only get the book, don't only read it, but devour it and do the exercises after every chapter because I've actually done a video series on it. And I tell them, if you haven't read the next chapter before you come to this, if you haven't done the exercises, sweet, do yourself a favor, switch the video off and go back. So you know get a book that actually does something for you, not just a nice read into your Yes. Oh, you feel all warm and lovely book, and nothing changes because you didn't do anything to change.

Wow, well said and great recommendation as well. You know, I've read a few of John's books. And that's not one of them. So I That one's now on my list. And I'm an audio book guy but I'm glad you said what you said now I'm going to go buy the physical book of that because if there's exercises I do like the, you know, the physical part of that even though they probably do include that as a downloadable PDF, but digital is out of sight out of mind. So I like to be able to physically touch it. So so great recommendation I've I've I've enjoyed the other John Maxwell books that I've read in the past. So I'm going to add that to my list and maybe that one will be next. But definitely going to get the physical copy of that great recommendation Yan Overall this has been a fantastic conversation and you know we can I you know, we could go on for a very long time and, you know, I would definitely welcome the opportunity to talk to you about this again. And I think there's a lot of a lot of topics we could unpack that would be very impactful for our audience. So, so you know, it's been really fun getting to know you through this, through this very, very short journey here this interview. So two things we want to end off with, the first thing I'll ask you is, if anyone has been inspired, and this, you know, this, you're obviously someone who they can learn a lot about and be inspired by. So tell everyone where they can find you where they can reach you if they wanted to, if they wanted to connect with you online?

Well, the easy I mean, with my name, Jan Roberts, I'm available on all social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, but also the website. And it's KiLeadership.com K, I, and then leadership.com. That's, that's our main website, I've got another website as well, but for speaking, but that is the main one. And as I said, with my name, Yan Roberts, there won't be too many with two B's that you can find if you Google. And, you know, I would love to connect with people. And because you know, I'm interested in people. And already, Chuck, this has been an absolute privilege to be invited to your audience, and you entrusted me with your audience, and, but more so to be connecting to you. And, you know, to learn more about you as well, the chat we had beforehand. And as I said, I know we will, we'll catch up again, this is only a beginning. And I love that. And I already look forward to that.

Fantastic, well, we'll definitely I look forward to that as well. And so all of that the links we will have in the show notes, it'll be underneath the video, it'll be in the podcast, show notes. So you can connect with Yan, directly. And finally, Yan, thank you so much. Amazing Stories, we've only scratched the surface, I think of what we could talk about, and you know, some very impactful self growth stories that we could, that we could get into concepts, we've learned all of that kind of stuff. But if we were to leave our listeners here with just one final piece of advice, some piece of wisdom that they can go and take and put into practice in their day, what would you say to them?

Well, that's a great question. Yeah. Well, again, the one that comes to mind just now that covers everybody, young, old, indifferent, male, female, whatever. And I would say, and the question has been asked before, what is the one thing that we can do, we can all do, to walk into our purpose to walk into our destiny apart from just finding our why and finding our purpose. But the one thing we can all do, and the one thing we all must do? That word intentionality comes up again, you need to be intentional about your personal growth, and your personal growth, your personal development is the only way you'll ever get any chance of getting close to your destiny, we all have the purpose we all have on this earth. So I would say people, make yourself a personal development plan. That doesn't mean you have to be ours in a book or, and personal development also means taking care of yourself more. But make yourself a personal development plan that you do something every day, because an Obi Wan said, If you don't do anything to improve today, what do you need tomorrow for, and we all want it tomorrow, we don't know if we're gonna get one. That's why we need to start today. Get the personal development plan down, go and listen to something positive, go and read something positive, go and associate with positive and like minded people, those three things will given most of your life. And if you and some of you might have to change all three of them. But personal development is where it's at. If you grow today, then you will grow through life rather than just go through life.

Wow, incredible words. And I felt every single word of that. Thank you so much, John, for being such an amazing guest. And for those of you listening in, I highly encourage you to go and reach out to Yan all of the links are here in the show notes. And you know, you know, take these words seriously and look for that place where you can we can grow and you know, keep growing yourself and you'll keep growing your business and and so until the next episode, keep moving forward and keep being amazing in your journey. And we'll see you on the next one.

Thank you. Thanks, Chuck.