Crystal's Notes - 23rd December 2023

Dear Community,

I recently found myself in full-fledged fangirl mode as I had the incredible opportunity to chat with Daniel Priestley, a titan of influence. Renowned as the mastermind behind bestselling books like 'Oversubscribed,' 'Become a Key Person of Influence,' and 'Entrepreneur Revolution,' Daniel has been my go-to guru for business and leadership wisdom. In fact, it was the transformative principles from 'Oversubscribed' and 'Entrepreneur Revolution' that propelled my revenue from six digits to the million-dollar milestone. Thanks to Dan's principles, I've also launched multiple profitable ventures, making me an unwavering advocate of his phenomenal work.

I was blown away by the universal brilliance of Dan's insights—they're not just for entrepreneurs! Whether you're an adult, a kid, a job seeker, or an employee with dreams of pitching groundbreaking ideas to your supervisor, entrepreneurial thinking and skills are your secret weapons. Dan doesn't stop there; he also delves into the crucial mindset shifts required for navigating the future of Artificial Intelligence. To soak in the full spectrum of wisdom, you'll have to hit replay on the podcasts (maybe more than once!), but for now, here are 10 gems. 

1. “Remain conscious that the value has shifted away from information, and into implementation. Don’t go broke trying to sell information. Make millions giving it away for free.”

So many people are bewildered that I dish out so much information online for free. The old-school notion of guarding ideas is outdated. The new currency is showcasing your prowess. Thus, it’s not about hoarding information—it's about flaunting capacity. In this era of information abundance, what people want is a demonstration of your expertise. If you broadcast your brilliance and let the wisdom flow, the world will beat a path to your door to experience the transformative power of your knowledge in action.

2. “Environment dictates performance.”

The right environment is important. Believe it or not, when I am giving talks in Singapore, my post-speech Q&A hotspot isn't the stage—it's the public restroom! Strange, right? There's a bizarre social taboo about raising hands in public forums (this taboo is lifted when you're in a public restroom, apparently!). It's wild how these same people transform once they step out of the country; suddenly, hands shoot up and voices resonate freely. Ask yourself if your environment is pulling its weight in maximizing your performance. 

3. “Human brains love people, faces, voices and stories, not logos or symbols.”

Personal branding is important as it allows people to know what you do. In fact, personal brands are more powerful than business brands. No one knew a mobile phone company, an alcohol brand, and a remote Welsh football team until Ryan Reynolds put his face on these companies and exploded their value. Virgin is a well-respected brand, but people care more about what Richard Branson is doing. People buy Apple products, but Tim Cook has more followers than the brand he leads. What is the voice and the riveting story that you’re putting out there?

4. “Entrepreneurship is a team sport.” 

Founders may take the spotlight, but hitting the first million is just the tip of the iceberg. To ride the wave to tens of millions, a team is needed. For a business to thrive, you’d need the ops maestros, the number-crunching wizards, the sales virtuosos, and the masterminds who can ideate. There is value creation at every level.

5. “The key person of influence should be out there doing the things that only they can do.”

This right here triggered a radical shift in my mindset—I was quoting it like a maniac! It didn't just nudge, it catapulted my business over a financial and psychological threshold. I used to be trapped in the perfectionist's dilemma, juggling everything from creating websites to client meetings and admin tasks. I did it all, believing each hire was a wasted effort because I knew I could do it. My background in private equity, academia, and large corporations meant I could do finance, marketing, operations, hiring and human resources. But like Dan said, my strength had become my Archilles’ heel. The wake-up call was when I learnt that as an entrepreneur, my gig wasn't to master the art of supply; it was to orchestrate a symphony of demand.

6. “When people feel confident that if they get rewarded for playing by the rules, then they will want to play by the rules.”

Singapore thrives on a solid social contract, where the promise of quality education begets a stellar job, paving the way for a dream lifestyle—think houses and exotic getaways. Now, compare that to other corners of the globe, where this contract lies in tatters. In fact, it's almost as if playing by the rules guarantees they'll never own a house or jet off on luxurious holidays. Enter entrepreneurship. Dan describes this as a rebellious uprising for those daring to defy the odds. Could it be that Singapore's vibrant entrepreneurial scene isn't booming despite governmental support because the traditional social contract still holds strong? Yet, brace yourself— the recent transactions of million-dollar public flats might just be the catalyst for a future like never before.

7. “Don’t stop kids from being little disruptive, amazing, creative humans.” 

Kids are born entrepreneurs— they are naturally disruptive, endlessly creative, and fearless in commandeering attention. If you want to raise entrepreneurial kids, nurture these values. (Dan’s origin story involves a small fire and a microwave. You can hear about it here.) If they want a puppy, make them pitch for it properly. If it is a hot day, ask them what sort of businesses would be a good one to have in the park. Ask them why a restaurant is crowded or popular. Expose the hidden mechanics of how the world really works to children. 

8. “Distinguish between creating and consuming.”

Artificial Intelligence has two superpowers. It can subtly enslave you, enticing you to consume more than you ever planned, thanks to its uncanny ability and algorithms to keep you endlessly scrolling. But you can flip the script and harness AI for your empowerment. Use it as your creative ally and a force to amplify productivity. Use it to get more done. Let AI transform tasks that once took weeks into minutes. Master it, if you don’t want to be mastered by it. 

9. “Distinguish between content and context.”

AI is great at content, but not good at context. It has no experience nor back story, no life experiences, and no understanding of relationships and culture. As humans, what we must do is to move to the layer of context, and let go of the layer of content. Use AI to generate the content, and spend the bulk of your time understanding the context. What you should focus on is reading the room, understanding the overarching goals, and knowing where things fit in the broader structure. 

10. “Distinguish between vitality and functionality.” 

Vitality is life force. AI can do the tasks and the functional part of things, but the life force – what makes it valuable – has to be done by humans. This is not something that AI can replicate. We must move towards the humanising elements of what we do and outsource the tasks we don’t need to focus on to AI instead. When I speak to leaders, we don’t talk about statistics. Instead, we talk about vitality and energy shifts. With AI doing the tasks, humans must focus on vitality. We can collaborate with AI, and use data and analytics in a human, elegant, and fun way. Humans must learn to move from functionality to vitality, and breathe life into ideas to usher them into the world. 

After recording the podcasts, I felt absolutely charged, as if I'd snagged a coaching session with Dan himself. I trust you found them packed with insights to kickstart the new year! 

P.S. Limited seats available for our flagship Deep Human Leadership Workshop [January intake] - Sign up here.