Ali Brown’s SHINE Event – Responding To The Critics

Ali Brown’s SHINE Event – Responding To The Critics

November 21st, 2009 // 2:21 pm @ admin // 5 Comments

Hey guys!

To be honest, I totally hadn’t planned to post today since Saturday is typically my “school assignment catch up/relax” day, but this morning, I wound up finding my way to several blog posts that were rather critical of Ali and the content/delivery of her Shine event.

While I certainly respect everyone’s thoughts and opinions on the event, I wanted to express my own and why I will absolutely be back at Shine next year, and perhaps respond with my thoughts on the issues critics are bringing up. Many of you know I personally attended Shine and that I can say, without a doubt, it changed my life.

Sooo…here goes nothing!

I Came To Shine With An Open Mind

Despite the fact that I was on the preview calls for Shine and heard the promised content and information, I decided that the best way to come to Shine was with a mind left completely open to possibilities and expecting good things to come my way during the weekend. Best part- that’s exactly what I got!

I could have come to Shine expecting the event to give me very specifics things (and then perhaps find disappointment when such expectations weren’t met in the exact way I envisioned), but I wanted to get the absolute most from every piece of content and every speaker to be presented…and so I came with a completely open mind to what I could learn – and my mind was filled, filled, filled!

For me, going to the event was a massive risk in itself – investing in last-minute roundtrip airfare, lodging, taxi fare, meals, and spending in “Sin City” itself is no easy task for a full-time student; and so I stepped out in faith, completely open to the opportunities this weekend had to offer; instead of going with an attitude of specific expectations and cynicism.

I Weighed My Ego Against My Bank Account

One thing I’ve read some individuals posting about the Shine event is that they perhaps found a lot of the content offered was “weak” or “fluffy”; or that they had “heard these things many times before”. While I respect such opinions and realize that some event attendees may have been coming from more business experience than I did, the second principle I kept in mind while listening to the speakers and content at Shine was to weigh my ego against my bank account.

Sure, it could have been easy for me to pick apart the information being shared at the event and say “Oh, that’s common sense” or “Oh, I’ve heard that before” – but I clearly understood that oftentimes, common sense is far from common practice…and that there are many, many things I need to hear over and over again before I finally “get it” and take action!

Not only that, but not often do we have the opportunity to learn from someone who has grown a company from $400,000 to $4 million in 3 years – and likewise, someone who is a billion-dollar businesswoman. While we don’t have to agree with everything they tell us (for me and my business, having Twitter on my business card works wonders LOL!) – wouldn’t you agree that we have MUCH to learn from such successful entrepreneurs and that by having a “criticize this, pick apart that” attitude – it becomes awfully difficult to pick up those golden nuggets that are relevant to each of us.

I Valued The Networking Potential

Additionally, one of my biggest motivators for coming to Shine was the fact that I would be able to surround myself with other driven, success-minded individuals and find new mentors, clients, associates, and friends. I realized that the networking at this event alone had the power to change my life.

I’m pleased to say it absolutely did!

• I was able to meet people who encouraged me, uplifted me, and also forge some awesome new business relationships. In the three days I was at Shine:
• I was able to begin negotiating a business partnership that has allowed me to replace the income from my bank J.O.B.
• I had found many young entrepreneurs like me, and even found a dynamic web services firm looking to subcontract graphics work to designers such as myself by Day 2 of Shine!
• I found an array of awesome new clients who have allowed me to generate enough revenue to make back my Shine investment in a matter of WEEKS.
• I found mentors and friends to encourage me and keep me inspired as I truly begin my journey as an entrepreneur.
• I was fortunate to meet many of the people I have been following online, as well as meet some of my clients who I’d never been able to meet in person – including Christine Gallagher, Mia Chambers, Lorrie Morgan Ferrero, Kelly O’Neil, Lisa Manyon, James Roche, and of course…Ali Brown!

…and I’m just scratching the surface!

Bottom line – this all again boils down to having an open mind towards risks we take, and anticipating the possibilites than can arise for us, including networking with other high-calibre entrepreneurs.

(I’m Canadian by the way, so the spelling of “calibre” isnt a typo LOL!)

I Saw Each Moment As A Learning Opportunity

One of the things that shocked me most was the fact that some event attendees had several negative things to say about Ali’s time to feature her Millionaire Protege Club coaching programs, and that they found this as a “tacky” upsell.

Was it a chance for Ali to showcase her product offerings and generate new business for her high-ticket mentorship? Yes!

Was it also a chance for me as an entrepreneur to learn some big lessons and take some c-r-a-a-a-z-y notes? HELL YES! (Again, this boils down to ego vs. bank account!)

I’ve read this on a few other blogs – but let me say it myself…all I know is that when a stampede of literally HUNDREDS of women (oh, and a few guys too!) are heading to the front of the room to pick up their applications for an $18,000.00 or $100,000.00 business coaching program…you’re doing something right!

I was able to take away many pearls of wisdom from Ali’s platinum and diamond students, and also witness the fact that Ali had structure her panel in such a way that she was educating the audience through her students, showcasing the proven results of her coaching programs, and gaining some red-hot testimonials– all in one shot! BRILLIANT!

When I’m hosting my own live events (which I promise you, will be happening far sooner than you might think!), I’ve just found a formula for success that I never bargained on learning!

I Came Home And Took ACTION, ACTION, ACTION!

You’ll notice that this post is coming your way November 21…almost 2 full weeks after the Shine event wrapped up! There’s a good reason for that – instead of comparing notes with others on what I felt that the Shine event may or may not have offered, I put my head down, got CLEAR, and took DECISIVE, RAPID action!

Since leaving Shine, I’ve accomplished the following:

- Put up my personal site and blog, which I’d been procrastinating for months (the one you’re one right now!)

- Scheduled and designed sales copy for my first-ever teleseminar (If you haven’t checked it out yet, take a look and sign up here!)

- Designed a new pricing and service structure that I expect to at least triple my income within the next 6 months while better and more effectively serving my clients!

- Closed literally thousands of dollars in future sales and business

- Forged a relationship with some of the brightest and biggest names in the information marketing world — who I will be working closely and mentoring with — but you’ll be hearing more about that in the near future!

…and the crazy part is that this is ONLY THE BEGINNING.

Again, to repeat one of the big takeaways I got from Shine, money is attracted to both clarity and speed – and so I’ve reacted to the knowledge I gained at Shine with exactly that! As I like to say – you need to strike while the iron’s hot!

I hear it now — “OK, but you’re a brand-spanking-new, 19 year old entrepreneur who was on stage with Ali, and won a scholarship!”

Yes, I will admit that while I may have been granted a scholarship to the event itself, as a 19-year-old student previously making $13.00/hour (Canadian!) while supporting my living expenses, this trip was bar none the biggest financial risk I have taken in my life – and so when many of you discuss having invested significantly into attending the Shine event; I can completely relate — which again is why I am so glad I approached the event with the attitudes I described above, and why I am so thankful that I was able to get so, SO much out of my three days in Las Vegas. Once again, I can confidently say that this risk has paid off many, many times over!

Additionally; I realize that the opportunity to receive publicity and exposure from my “hot seat” was without a doubt an absolute blessing and life-changing event; yet at the same time, with or without this event I would have been thoroughly satisfied and thrilled I took the risk to come to Las Vegas — because I would have gotten virtually just as much out of the event regardless of whether or not I had time on stage with Ali and James.

With all that being said…I truly hope that I have clarified my position and opinion on the critics of the Shine event and the content it offered, in addition to perhaps motivating and/or challenging anyone who has been cynical of their Shine experience thus far to take a new perspective on things and see how much the event was actually able to offer!

Positive or negative – I’d love to hear your feedback and debate!

© 2009 Adam Haroun. All Rights Reserved.

Category : Blog