Confessions of a Skeptical Entrepreneur: How Achieve University Changed My Perspective

Y'know what's sucky about being a business owner? We grow so skeptical about everything...and we often miss out on extraordinary opportunities because of it.

I almost...almost...looked past one of those opportunities.

The Skeptic's Journey

I'd like to introduce you to another amazing family I've joined. The picture you're seeing is the "Achieve University Class of May 2024." This is a class taught four times per year, included with member dues, hosted by a much larger group called Achieve Systems. The class is a two-day, all-day, business growth intensive. I'd say it's a "new member" course because most attendees were new members. But, a member is welcome to re-take the course whenever they want to, so there were a few repeat students.

Here's the 5-star review I just submitted this morning for use in their promotions after completing the two-day course:

"Achieve University was the fastest, most impactful, two-day event for business growth I've attended in 30 years. Whether you're just getting started as a business owner or are already an established pro, these two days will shock your system and challenge you to not just think bigger but to actually DO bigger...and to get started immediately with the loving support of people you'll want to be around and an enormous bank of tools to help you propel forward."

A friend told me about Achieve Systems about two years ago. But, in all my skeptic-ness, I thought "Oh, no, not another networking group. I don't have time for the business networking groups I'm involved with now! The last thing I need is another networking group."

Plus, I kept telling myself, "Marty, you're a speaker! You need to be submitting applications to SPEAK at places like this around the country, not JOIN them.

Well, I'll say this. Achieve Systems is no ordinary business owners group. And, I'm going to get plenty, plenty, plenty of speaking opportunities from and for this group alone. Plenty!

But, let me stay on track here...

In October 2023 alone, more than a dozen people suggested I should check it out. When two of my own clients asked me about it, I had to find out more even if it was just for their benefit.

Overcoming My Skepticism

Still, it took another two months for me to finally concede and attend their in person December conference event. I was allowed to attend once for free, by invitation, as a first-timer visitor.

Skeptic that I am, I only went for the 2nd day of their two-day conference, and only attended the second half of that second day to hear two of the speakers I knew by name and to support the emcee, whom I also knew.

If THEY are involved in this thing, I at least should know what it's about, I figured.

At the conference, I guy walked up to me and said, "Hey Marty!" I didn't know who he was at first because we had never met in person. It was Chris O'Byrne , a book publisher I had just started working with.

Chris flew in from Minnesota to be here! We had talked on Zoom a few times, but Achieve never came up in the conversations. I was really caught off guard that he flew out for this event and recognized me! It had to be something out of the ordinary for him to be a part of this!

The event was over by 5:30 or so, but I finally got in my car to come home somewhere around 10pm! Why? Because I was hanging out at the après-event at the bar meeting everybody!

These were some highly driven entrepreneurs in attendance for sure and multimillionaires at every turn. Most of the people I talked to were already using speaking to build their businesses, so I was in familiar company there too.

These were definitely people I wanted to be around.

A few people from that event attended my Speakers Speak LIVE weekly event. A few I ran into at the next NSA Colorado meeting. How did I not know about this sooner....and why didn't someone literally stick me in a car and drag me to it?!!

By now, you're expecting me to say I joined immediately. Uh, no. It took a constant thumb in the back by the amazing Phyllis Marlene Benstein to convince me...to go to their March conference.

This time I trudged through the snowy morning to get there and only missed the first two speakers. There were just as many in attendance at this event as the one in December! And you know how nobody here in Denver does anything if snows. But, these people are overachievers! They don't even let a snowstorm get in their way!

It was still more than a month of Phillis constantly encouraging me that Achieve needed me and that they would be so supportive of what I have been doing with Speakers Speak.

So, I went for it, and sent in my application.

"I'm really not going to have time to go to that Achieve University two-day thing though," I told her. "It would be fun to see what other business development people (like me) are presenting these days, but we're right in the middle of promoting the Seattle and Nashville locations of my Sell More in '24 event and all of my focus is going toward that," I justified.

'Plus, I've been doing this stuff for nearly 30 years. I could lead a class like that myself,' I said to myself. Hour-for-hour, I just didn't see it adding up to be something worth my attending.

Well, you can guess how Phillis was with that! She just kept gently prodding me to consider it and I eventually gave in. It was no-extra-charge to the normal monthly membership dues and more of a gift from the owner of the company to make sure all new members were coming into the group with a common objective and expectation.

Of course, you can see by the header pic that I wound up attending and was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for graduating! As everyone did, I too stood up at the end of the two days and publicly committed my next million-dollar idea and am assembling it over the weekend here after publishing this.

The idea has been in my mind for a couple of years after starting Speakers Speak LIVE but I knew I did not have the bandwidth, support, or tools to DO what I knew needed to happen. Now I have all three of those components and they are all inside the Achieve Systems network.

Inviting You to Achieve

Today, I'd like to invite YOU to overcome your skepticism and come to the next Achieve Biz Explosion conference! I can get you in for free just like someone did for me if you're a first-timer. Just reach out with a reply or a DM and I'll give you instructions.

Achieve is Denver-based with chapters around the Denver area. But, they are opening other locations and expanding rapidly. If you're local, and you're a business owner (yes, speakers and authors are business owners too!), this is a slam dunk. You MUST come to the next Achieve Biz Explosion conference.

If you're in another state, you should consider making the trip here for the two- day event too! In my Achieve University class, I met a person from Ohio, Toronto, Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia. Business owners will be flying in from all over the U.S. and other countries as well!

Come be my personal guest on Friday, June 7th, 2024 for a day of speed networking, lead gen and meeting more than 100 potential joint venture partners! Then, stay for the main event on Saturday, June 8, 2024, where I'm seeing Jill Lublin , Daniel Gomez , and my new friend that I met at Achieve University this weekend, speaker coach Jen Loving .

My Thumb in the Back for You

I know, I know...I know more than you know I know!....just how skeptical you are about attending ANYTHING today. But, this one's for real folks. You have simply got to keep meeting people who are aligned with your passion and forward-positive thinking. If you want your business to grow, if you want to conceive your next "million-dollar idea," I'm giving you not only the chance, but the support resources go jump start your business brain!

Yes, there's more!

After the Achieve conference, and your newly found excitement for the future of your business, bring your laptop and phone and let's get tactical and explore multiple methods for attracting new sales opportunities so that qualified perfect-fit potential clients and customers call you!

Attend my Sell More in '24 "DO-shop" (more hands-on than a workshop) LIVE and in person in Seattle, WA, on June 12 with the amazing John Chen, CSP? as my host. This is the only Sell More in '24 program we're offering in person AND virtually at the same time.

If you're in the Nashville area, Sell More in '24 will be coming to you LIVE and in person on July 23 hosted by the (also amazing!!) ??Bill?? Ganon !

Any questions about any of these opportunities, you know what to do. Send a DM my way. I'm happy to serve.