Bluefishing: the art of making things happen

2017·2.72 MB·English

by  Steve Sims

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I know a lot of amazingly great people, but Clare is the one who has been
there all the way, every step of the way, through the ups and downs and
everything in between. She has continually inspired me, supported me, and
loved me (even when I didn’t deserve it). I owe everything to my beautiful
wife, Clare, and I will spend the rest of my life saying thank you.
CONTENTS
Introduction
ONE: KNOCKING DOWN WALLS
THAT’S FOR OTHER PEOPLE
YOU DON’T DROWN FROM FALLING IN WATER, YOU DROWN FROM STAYING THERE
KNOCK ’EM DOWN
TWO: POWER OF THE PASSWORD
NOT TONIGHT
ONE FISH, TWO FISH, RED FISH . . .
BUILDING THE WORLD’S MOST EXCLUSIVE VIP LIST WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT
A PASSWORD FOR EVERY DOOR
THREE: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
ANY WAY YOU WANT IT
IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF IT BENEFITS ONLY YOU
SHOW THEM THAT YOU’RE DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER PERSON
LIFE IS A BOX OF CHOCOLATES, AFTER ALL
FOUR: BE THE REAL DEAL
GUARANTEE YOU’RE THE REAL DEAL
THE EXPERIENCE BEATS THE CASH, EVERY TIME
ALWAYS SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
ASK WHY THREE TIMES
FIVE: NO PASSION, NO POINT!
WHAT MAKES THE LIGHTS TURN ON?
THE WORLD IS ENDING
LISTEN FOR IT
QUESTION EVERYTHING
QUESTIONING DOES NOT EQUAL DOUBTING
PASSION IS A LANGUAGE
SIX: FAILURE IS JUST MORE DISCOVERY
IT’S NOT ABOUT YOUR IQ, IT’S ABOUT YOUR I CAN
THE RESTAURATEUR WHO CAN’T COOK
FAILURE IS PAYING FOR AN EDUCATION
THERE ARE NO OBSTACLES, NONE AT ALL
SEVENTH-INNING STRETCH: RELAX, YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY
A SHORT LIST OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T GIVE UP
EIGHT: BE AFRAID OF STANDING STILL
ALTER THE POINT OF FEAR
THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU ARE NOT YOUR OBITUARY
GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE
NINE: UGLY WORKS
PERFECTLY IMPERFECT
SKYMALL, SELFIES, AND BAR TABS
A HANDWRITTEN LETTER BEATS AN EMAIL EVERY TIME
BLUEFISHERS KNOW HOW TO ADAPT QUICKLY
TEN: PERSONAL BRANDING IS PERSONAL (IMAGINE THAT)
I LEARNED HOW TO BE ME THE HARD WAY
THE WORST PICTURE OF ME EVER TAKEN
REDEFINING WEALTH
HOW DO YOU PERSONALLY BRAND?
THE CHUG TEST
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME COUNTING LIKES
ELEVEN: THE POWER TO SAY NO
SAY NO TO VAMPIRES
DON’T LET ANYBODY WASTE A MINUTE OF YOUR LIFE
AUDIT YOUR INNER CIRCLE
TWELVE: THE ART OF DELEGATION
LEARN TO LEAD THE ORCHESTRA
YOU CAN ONLY GROW BY GIVING OTHER PEOPLE RESPONSIBILITY
GIVE PEOPLE ENOUGH ROPE TO CLIMB OR HANG THEMSELVES
GAIN THE EXTRA TIME TO DO WHAT’S GOOD
EFFICIENCY TRANSLATES TO TIME SAVED
THE SMALL STUFF GNAWS AT THE BIG PICTURE
THIRTEEN: WHAT MAKES A BRAND GREAT?
HOW DO YOU ESTABLISH A PRESTIGE BRAND?
FORBES AND THE “COOL GUY” ARTICLE
FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS AND IGNORE YOUR WEAKNESSES
FOURTEEN: THE ART OF SPEAKING HUMAN
WHAT MAKES BUSINESS PERSONAL?
NEVER MIND THE STRANGERS
FIFTEEN: GIVE THEM A REASON TO BELIEVE
THE ROI ON YOU
IF COMMUNICATION ISN’T PERSONAL, IT’S NOT COMMUNICATION
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LISTEN?
SIXTEEN: SPONGE IT UP
GET ON YOUR BOOTS AND GO
THE TWIN DEVILS OF FEAR AND EMBARRASSMENT
SOAK UP JUST 1 PERCENT MORE THAN YOU KNEW YESTERDAY
PUTTING ON THE RITZ
YOU DON’T HAVE TO OWN IT IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE IT
SEVENTEEN: LIVE WITH PASSION, MOVE WITH PERSISTENCE
THERE’S A THIN LINE BETWEEN PATIENCE AND COMPLACENCE
THE GREATEST SALESMAN I EVER KNEW
EIGHTEEN: ACTUALLY GIVE A DAMN
FOCUS ON THE RELATIONSHIP
ACTUALLY GIVE A DAMN
LISTEN AND ACT
SOMEDAY DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING
MANAGE EXPECTATIONS (SO THAT YOU CAN TRULY OVERDELIVER)
CLEAR YOUR HEAD ENOUGH TO HEAR IT
NINETEEN: DON’T COUNT YOUR LOSSES
STOP COUNTING YOUR LOSSES
BEWARE THE LUCKY SOCKS
ROW ALL DAY LONG
BE AS SELFISH AS YOU HAVE TO BE
YOUR RIGHT TO RECHARGE
TWENTY: THE BLUEFISHING PLAYBOOK
STACK YOUR DECK
THE BLUEFISHING PLAYBOOK
Appendix: Live a Little
BLUEFISH EXPERIENCES
Acknowledgments
About the Author
INTRODUCTION
I
don’t have a business card. But if I did, it would simply say “Concierge.” That’s
the job title.
That’s not really what I do, but it’s easier than introducing myself to people as,
“Hi, I’m Steve Sims, Bluefisher.” I hear crickets when I say that. Okay, they
wonder, what does that mean?
The answer is, I get things done. I get things done for my clients that nobody
else can do. Things that no one else would even try. Bluefishers can get anything
done. I mean anything.
Want to walk the red carpet at Fashion Week, even if you’re a quiet banker who
has never worn Prada in her life? Maybe you’d like to watch Formula 1 in Monaco
with royalty, or tee off with a Masters champion. What if you could hang out
backstage with your favorite band, or even sing on stage with them? And just think
how cool would it be to appear in a walk-on role on your favorite TV show. How
about flying an L-39 in an edge of space flight, or going on an expedition to visit
the Titanic?
That’s not just a random list of dreams. I’ve made all those things happen for
people, and plenty more. (And those are only the ones I can tell you about.) I even
turned someone into James Bond for the weekend. It was a total high-octane
experience starting in Monte Carlo and ending in Moscow, complete with scantily
clad women, a kidnapping by a Special Ops team, and of course, an Aston Martin.
No joke. This is what I do. This is what my company, Bluefish, does for people
who are tired of standing still, tired of the status quo, and who want to do
something incredible.
I could fill a book with unbelievable stories of events and experiences I’ve created
for my clients. But that’s not what this book is about. This book is about something
much more important.
It’s about the ability to make seemingly out-of-reach things happen for yourself.
It’s about the mindset. The belief. The practice. That’s the thing that matters. That
skill, that talent, that art is a much bigger deal than the events we pull off for
people. Immeasurably so.
I’m talking about something bigger than any bucket list, more enduring than a
one-time event, and far more important than any celebrity meeting or wild weekend
could possibly be. I’m talking about something that will change you, your life, your
business, your relationships— everything.
That’s why I’m writing this book.
David Allen wrote a great productivity book, Getting Things Done. Millions of
people follow his philosophy for managing workload in an overloaded era and being
productive with their time. That’s terrific. But Bluefishing isn’t about that.
Bluefishing is about making things happen. Not checking things off your daily to-do
list.
Do you want people to say yes to you, instead of closing the door in your face?
Do you want to stop feeling stuck, stop worrying about looking dumb if you try
something that doesn’t work? Do you want to actually do all the things you’ve
planned or promised? Do you want to know what it’s like to celebrate success after
success after success?
Do you want to know what it feels like not to be afraid?
We’re all pretty much the same deep down, so I’m going to guess that you want
what I want and what everyone I know actually wants. You want adventure,
excitement, contentment, and fulfillment. You want to take care of your family,
impress your clients, and have people think you’re pretty damn smart and effective.
Maybe you even want to leave the world a little better place than you found it.
What I’m about to give you in this book is advice from someone who can make
anything happen for you. I say this humbly. I say this based on experience. I say this
because I know how to do it, and I know you want to learn how to do this for
yourself. So keep reading.
Here’s a fact: Bluefishing has transformed my life and the lives of those who have
used it into every shade of prosperity you could imagine. We’ve experienced
extreme success, adventures, and actual, genuine contentment with our lives. All in
spades.
Everybody promises you success in ten easy steps. That’s bullshit, and you won’t
hear it here. What I do, and what I’m going to teach you, is actually very basic. I
warn you, though, it’s not without pitfalls and speed bumps. You can’t cower your
way through life and hope to succeed; you’re going to have to stick your neck out a
little. The only way to grow is to try things and learn for yourself what doesn’t work
before you can find what does work. But you won’t be alone, and I’ll show you