| Bill Bartmann is well qualified to talk about what it takes | | | | "Until you're aware of what you're doing you have no |
| to be successful. He is a billionaire, about the 25th | | | | choice but to continue doing it." |
| richest man in the world and has earned the accolade | | | | However, at age 17, Bartmann was not aware that he |
| of "Entrepreneur of the Year". However, life for Bill | | | | continually put himself down until one night he was |
| Bartmann started out very differently. | | | | driving with Kathy, just 14 at the time, at his side when |
| Bartmann was one of eight children. His parents were | | | | she suddenly slapped the dashboard and said, |
| uneducated and so could not command well-paying | | | | "Pull over! Stop the car! Let me out!" |
| jobs. He describes having to move frequently and | | | | Shocked, he obliged. She told him that she never |
| even being turned out of dwellings because they were | | | | wanted to see him again. She told him that she loved |
| deemed not fit for human habitation. | | | | him but that he was always putting himself down. She |
| He has been homeless and was once part of a | | | | had had enough. |
| travelling carnival. He's a former high school dropout. | | | | He was stunned. He had no idea. He loved this young |
| He was a teenage alcoholic and a member of a | | | | girl and he did not want to lose her. He pleaded with |
| teenage gang called known as the Manor Boys. He | | | | her explaining that it was a habit he did unconsciously. |
| was also the smallest member weighing in at just | | | | He said he would change. She relented and agreed to |
| 98lbs. This didn't stop him from picking fights with the | | | | stay. While change wasn't easy the alternative didn't |
| 'big' boys. In some ways it's a trait that has stuck with | | | | bear contemplating. He steadily built his self-esteem. He |
| him - not so much picking fights - but there's | | | | took the GED exam and put himself through college |
| audaciousness to many of his business ventures that | | | | and law school. |
| leave many wide-eyed with wonder. | | | | Kathy has been by his side ever since, eventually |
| He truly understands the concept of risk and reward. | | | | becoming Bartmann's wife; they've been married now |
| A big risk can result in a huge pay-off, but if it | | | | for 33 years. And, as further testament to her how |
| backfires it can leave a large dent in your pocket and | | | | savvy she is, she is his business partner, has been on |
| bank balance. Bill Bartmann has experienced both | | | | the cover of Forbes and has been individually listed in |
| extremes. He has been a pauper, a millionaire, bankrupt | | | | the Forbes 400 wealthiest people in America. As you |
| and a billionaire. | | | | can tell Mrs Bartmann deserves a story of her own |
| It just shows that it's not your circumstances that | | | | but back to Mr Bartmann. |
| make an individual wealthy. It's your mindset. He could | | | | It takes a diamond-hard resolve, an iron-clad |
| lose everything today and tomorrow he would simply | | | | self-esteem to endure the ups and downs that he has |
| start to rebuild his fortune. | | | | experienced and earn the respect that he has |
| In a recent interview for Virtual Seminar Week, Alex | | | | garnered from individuals as diverse as Mother |
| Mandosian asked Bill Bartmann what was in his view | | | | Theresa, Mohammed Ali and Clarence Thomas (U.S. |
| the key to success. Bartmann replied that he could | | | | Supreme Court Justice). |
| sum up the key to success to just one thing, | | | | Sure he's been tested. He's had his self-doubts, even |
| something which he had identified at a young age. I | | | | bouts of depression - he wouldn't be human otherwise. |
| held my breath. This is what he said, | | | | However, when your self esteem is strong and when |
| "All the successful people I knew in life had high | | | | you are clear about your core values - the things you |
| self-esteem and all the losers had low self-esteem." | | | | stand for and what you are unwilling to compromise |
| Why was I expecting this billionaire to say something | | | | on - then you bounce back from these lows. And |
| different, more profound maybe? We often | | | | each time you bounce back just a little bit higher. |
| complicate things unnecessarily. The truth is often very | | | | Again, reinforcing the role that self-esteem or |
| simple and staring us in the face as is beautifully and | | | | self-image plays in our ability to grow, one just needs |
| humorously illustrated in Russell Conwell's Acres of | | | | to take a look at the content of Bartmann's seminars. |
| Diamonds. | | | | He doesn't teach people about the stock market, real |
| Also to quote Harv Ecker, | | | | estate or any other way to generate income. His |
| "You can have the greatest business strategies in the | | | | seminars take a different approach, a more |
| world but if you don't have the mindset to go along | | | | fundamental approach. He knows and appreciates the |
| with them you won't use them." | | | | importance of self-esteem and the powerful tools he |
| Our self-image drives everything that we do and our | | | | teaches are equable applicable to life as they are to |
| self-image is inexorably linked to our self-esteem and | | | | business. |
| self-confidence. Improve your self-esteem and | | | | He promises "no tear-jerking or any tugging at your |
| improvements in your life will naturally follow. Having a | | | | emotions". Yet, how can you not be emotionally |
| high self-esteem is indeed the key to success. | | | | moved by his story and is it not by allowing ourselves |
| When Bartmann was growing up his self-esteem was | | | | to be swept away by the emotional charge of this |
| low. He gives credit to his childhood sweetheart, Kathy, | | | | "rags to riches" tale that gives us hope that we too |
| for opening his eyes to this fact. It is as Barbara | | | | can achieve great success in our lives? |
| D'Angelis says, | | | | |