The Important Stuff - Manifesting Your Vision

I Can See Myself Working For Bacardi… 

Looking back at how my career has developed and more so, looking at where and when specific traits and pure fundamentals got started, a lot of this goes back to my time working for Bacardi. To this day I am still so grateful and respectful for all of the time, energy and experiences that came in working for that company… and I know if this hadn’t happened I would not be where I am today.

In short, I was 19 years old and was accepted to be apart of a small, but very real sales and marketing organization that managed a key part of the Canadian business, based in Vancouver. I remember walking into the office for the very fist time, seeing the display bottles and signage, feeling the energy of a go-go working force and feeling like I was the luckiest kid in the world. While most of my friends were still searching what it is they wanted to do or where they could make a quick buck, I knew in my heart that being apart of this team and organization was going to be big.

Walking into the boardroom I was greeted by the B.C Sales Manager, Jeff Nick. We sat down and chatted over small talk about sports, family, etc… all the while I could see and feel the infamous Bacardi Bat bouncing off of the boardroom table. This table was 10 feet long and was the centre piece for where all major dealings, good or bad, were dealt with. I remember just feeling so appreciative and respectful in being allowed to be inside their locker room. I was nervous… but I knew in my gut that this felt right.

I remember, Jeff asking me what I knew about the brand, the story of Bacardi and why working for the company was of interest to me. Prior to this, I had spent countless hours learning about the story of the family, the origins of the Bat and had come up with tactical plans on how I would manage my territory, given the chance. I immediately hit him with the goods… and told him my what Bacardi meant to me, from the young eyes of a 19 year old man and why I felt I would be an asset to the team. I probably used some words that didn’t fit or were out of context… I didn’t give a shit… I was leaving it all on the table.

We closed the meeting, said our pleasantries and, Jeff said we would be in touch shortly.

Weeks went by… and as for most of us the mind runs… Am I good enough? Did I say something stupid? Did I talk too much? How did my tie look?

By the end of week 2, and after a couple e-mail follow-up’s, I decided to call, Jeff direct. I was a nervous wreck, but I needed an answer and as much as I loved stocking milk in a cooler at 5am in a grocery store, I really, really, really wanted this gig.

I called.. got a voicemail and left a message. Not, 30 minutes went by and I got a call back on my cell.

“Ryan, it’s, Jeff Nick… How are you?”

“I’m great, Jeff… just driving home from lunch” - Yes, this is when you could talk on your cell phone, blast tunes, eat a McChicken… all at the same time.

“We appreciate your follow-up and hunger and want you to know that we’ve chosen you for the role!”

Holy crap... it happened.

This was a game changer and I want to share some tips in that I think can be of value when it comes to vision planning and manifestation as I know there are a ton of people who struggle with this kinda thing, and are going through this situation at this very moment. 

My First Experience in Manifesting A Vision Into Something Real 

In this moment I remember this feeling coming over me of pure bliss and at the same time, feeling very comfortable with his words… like I had already expected them, was familiar with them and knew this was going to happen. All of the time I had put into doing my research, practicing with my personal voicemail to state that I was already an employee of Bacardi and enrolling those I trusted with the opportunity, all felt like a vision or world I already knew. This was the first time I really feel like I had manifested a goal from start to finish.

The Takeaway - You need to fully embrace and immerse yourself into what it is that you want. Go all-in and start to already feel that you have made it, been accepted and are going through the motions of what this world, job, feeling is like on a day to day. The more time you spend talking, thinking, communicating, sharing, planning the more you become familiar and accepting that you are able, worthy and can achieve your goal. So often we put our goals on a mountain or peak without any plan or thinking of how we will reach or attain them… hence the vastness and overwhelming feeling with comes with this type of thinking, negative thoughts and self doubt.

We need to create an action plan.

Let’s break it down… let’s reverse engineer the goal and start to plan against it:

• What is the opportunity?
• What are the must-have’s to achieve this goal/ opportunity/ task?
• Who can I enrol in this opportunity for advice, support and guidance?
• Who am I up against and what is the competitive landscape? 
• What is my point of difference, competitive edge, uniqueness?
• What is the timeline associated or critical path needed to achieve this goal?
• What must I eliminate completely or minimize to ensure I’m in a state to receive or perform to the levels needed?

The most important aspect of this type of exercise is that you’re honest with yourself and authentic with your intentions.

I’m not exactly sure how the universe works… but in order for your goal setting to have real currency, authenticity is a must and a non-negotiable.

No different than a team preparing to play against their rival… you need to get tactical with the opportunity and start to build your game plan. Without this plan… you’re literally hoping, wishing, praying for something to exist or be created without putting any of the work in… it doesn’t work like that. You need to get focused on the big idea, WHY it means so much to you, and WHAT you’re going to do about it.

Being Accepted Into A Family

For me Bacardi was more than a job, it was a family that accepted me - took me in - and groomed me to be the man I am today. For that, I am so insanely grateful and it’s hard to communicate how much that FUCKING MATTERED, at a very important and crucial time in my life. It taught me that through the thick and thin, you need to always have your energy and eyes on what’s good for the team over the individual and that your actions at all times need to align with the greater good or purpose of the team. 

With family comes a candidness and ability to authentically communicate

With family comes late night phone calls, talking each other off the ledge and support wherever and whenever

With family comes celebration, appreciation and admiration for ones strengths and areas of growth

Family wins… pure and simple.

Lead By Example

It’s another thing I want you to think about when reading this article. 

Are you in a position where you’re able to lead, coach, train and mentor your staff/ people?

If so… please take the time to understand the cards you truly hold for those humans who look up to you for guidance and direction. It’s a privilege to be able to lead a team and mentor another human. Don’t take this lightly as your words, actions and energy can ultimately build or break those who look up to you. 

Below is a picture of those that I don’t get to see as often as I’d like… but through it all I call family

Remember, all of this started with an idea and belief.

What are you doing to manifest your next accomplishment?

RO