Barbara Miller

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[01:12] SPEAKER_01: Hello, this is Robert Smil, coming to today with VanCoovers Podcast.
[01:16] SPEAKER_01: A member of the Canada's Podcast Network where we talk to the entrepreneurs who are
[01:20] SPEAKER_01: making it happen here in Vancouver, British Columbia.
[01:23] SPEAKER_01: Barbara Miller, a former PAC and a half smoker, is the founder of BMP Production and the
[01:30] SPEAKER_01: creator of the BMP method. In 2017, her third improved edition of How to Quit Smoking,
[01:38] SPEAKER_01: even if you don't want to, won the Golden Seal Literacy Award as it came back recommended
[01:44] SPEAKER_01: by the US Review. Her book inspired her to teach the method in a one day event.
[01:49] SPEAKER_01: Now, many years later, she is preparing to tour across Canada and the US performing much
[01:56] SPEAKER_01: larger three day interactive events. Barbara Belize, this needs to be a company benefit for workers.
[02:04] SPEAKER_01: Well, Barbara, welcome to the show. Thanks for taking the time today to be here for all listeners.
[02:09] SPEAKER_00: Oh, it's my pleasure, Robert. I'm really happy to be a guest. Thank you.
[02:14] SPEAKER_01: Great. Okay, I want you to tell us a little bit more about yourself, where you're from,
[02:17] SPEAKER_01: and give us the details on your current business. Sure. Where am I from? I'm from Prince George,
[02:25] SPEAKER_00: and I currently live in Victoria, but I'm community to Vancouver for the one day events.
[02:33] SPEAKER_00: So learning a lot about Vancouver is kind of what's going on now. But yet, from Prince George,
[02:39] SPEAKER_00: great place to be from. And about my background, you know, one of the number one questions that I'm
[02:46] SPEAKER_00: asked other than did you smoke, which I did is they want to know my background. And so I'm pretty
[02:53] SPEAKER_00: open about the fact that I came from a very troubled disadvantage background. And at a very young
[03:00] SPEAKER_00: age, I knew that I wanted to do something with my life to prove as an example that one's background
[03:06] SPEAKER_00: doesn't matter. And so, you know, I've done that. I created this great life that I have now against
[03:13] SPEAKER_00: all odds. And I'm doing something other than just that that took a long time, actually. It was a
[03:20] SPEAKER_00: journey. And I understand the reason I share a lot of that with smokers too is because I want
[03:26] SPEAKER_00: smokers to know I understand adversity. And the business B&P productions is an umbrella of several
[03:32] SPEAKER_00: projects, one being to the book, the second, the one day event, another three day events. And also,
[03:38] SPEAKER_00: I speak on other topics such as suicide prevention. Glad I stayed, by the way. And the other one is
[03:46] SPEAKER_00: drug and alcohol addiction prevention. I can counsel people with how to quit nicotine, but I don't
[03:52] SPEAKER_00: know much about an alcohol addiction, but I can tell young people how to avoid it. And that's another
[03:57] SPEAKER_00: topic that I'm working on, which I think is very relevant in today's times. But in, but you know,
[04:03] SPEAKER_00: right now I'm focusing on the larger events. And one day soon, I hope to be somewhere speaking on
[04:09] SPEAKER_00: drug and alcohol and suicide prevention, because I'm very passionate about those things.
[04:15] SPEAKER_01: Yeah. And I'm also, oh, sorry, go ahead. Overall, is smoking people smoking? Is that coming down
[04:22] SPEAKER_01: as far as population and the amount of people smoking? I mean, it's one of these things that
[04:29] SPEAKER_01: is, seems to be losing interest or what's what's your take on that? Well, you notice people vaping.
[04:35] SPEAKER_00: So, and that's, I just, it's another form of a nicotine replacement therapy. I'm not sure what parts
[04:41] SPEAKER_00: therapy, but I just see the switching switching switching. I actually end the addiction once and for all.
[04:48] SPEAKER_00: But, you know, I think, you know, years ago, we're probably at 50% right? And now we're 20% of
[04:54] SPEAKER_00: smokers. And it's, Prime Minister Trudeau's goal to have smoking down to 5% by 2035. And I
[05:02] SPEAKER_01: sure hope I get to play a part in that. Good. Okay. Now, did you need financing to start your
[05:07] SPEAKER_01: company? And how do you currently make money in your business now? Well, you know, I sure did.
[05:12] SPEAKER_00: And coming from the disadvantaged background that I did have, it was basically one of the things
[05:20] SPEAKER_00: I learned about borrowing money is when you borrow it and you pay it back to give you more. And when
[05:25] SPEAKER_00: you borrow it, a pay it back, they give you even more. So I found it BMP productions and the method
[05:30] SPEAKER_00: and everything was financed through borrowed money. And, you know, I've probably invested $60,000
[05:39] SPEAKER_00: in course of 18 years, including that includes a company car, you know, a sign of a business with,
[05:50] SPEAKER_00: no sign is a sign of no business. So I thought I should get a company car to advertise that I'm here.
[05:56] SPEAKER_00: But I'm focusing now on the one day events and that's financing what I'm doing now. And it's,
[06:03] SPEAKER_01: it's all good. Good. Okay. Now, what is the long-term vision? And what will your company look like in
[06:08] SPEAKER_01: the future? Do you see the company expanding into other areas and where beyond Vancouver, BC,
[06:14] SPEAKER_00: or even Canada? Yes. The three day events, the reason it's a three day event is because it's for
[06:21] SPEAKER_00: 100 people and because it's interactive, people need time to share. And so, and it's also a lot
[06:28] SPEAKER_00: more fun when you have a big group. I'll actually have DJ. We play what I call break up songs. So the
[06:34] SPEAKER_00: music is quite entertaining and fun backup dancers makes people not just before breaks. It's all
[06:40] SPEAKER_00: actually geared to be a lot of fun. And so, globally, Canada, US, and eventually the long-term goal
[06:48] SPEAKER_00: would be to be in the Caribbean teaching. So people can come and see me in the Caribbean because I
[06:56] SPEAKER_00: really not only do I want this to be a company benefit, but I also want it to be a vacation, get away.
[07:02] SPEAKER_01: So they would go to a retreat in the Caribbean to for a quick smoking retreats?
[07:07] SPEAKER_00: Wait, and that one probably will be five days because it won't all just be class time.
[07:13] SPEAKER_00: My program really is a course and part of the five day retreat is to do some class time and then
[07:21] SPEAKER_00: maybe go out take a horse ride by the beach or go to a spa and you know just learn how and maybe
[07:28] SPEAKER_00: even somebody there might be doing some stress management to really take the bowl by the horns
[07:34] SPEAKER_00: and figure out what do you really need in order to quit smoking? Because the number one is say,
[07:39] SPEAKER_00: well, I'm stressed, I need to relax. So if that's the case, why not go on vacation?
[07:44] SPEAKER_00: And you know, this isn't a cool turkey program. So it's not like they're going to go to the three-day
[07:48] SPEAKER_00: event and then quit because quitting is a journey. And I like to think of my program as a map that I
[07:55] SPEAKER_00: wrote for smokers to navigate. My car currently says GPS for smokers and that's because we don't use
[08:01] SPEAKER_01: maps anymore. Right, yeah, everything's digital. Use your phone. Okay, we want to talk a little bit
[08:08] SPEAKER_01: about Vancouver here now in BC and actually give them Victoria. So let's include Victoria as well.
[08:15] SPEAKER_01: What are the biggest benefits for you and being an entrepreneur here in Vancouver BC or Victoria?
[08:20] SPEAKER_01: I want you to give us some of the good points about starting a company here, but I also want you
[08:24] SPEAKER_01: to give us some of the tough things or challenges for our listeners so they can keep an eye on for them.
[08:30] SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, one benefit I'd have to say is creating awareness such as your show. I think
[08:37] SPEAKER_00: what you're offering entrepreneurs is a great service to really get connected and for people to
[08:42] SPEAKER_00: learn about us and even, you know, it's really important for somebody who's commuting because I'm
[08:48] SPEAKER_00: not known in Vancouver the way I am in Victoria. So having some awareness around that is definitely
[08:55] SPEAKER_00: great, but you know, business in BC, you know, I've been in Victoria for 25 years. So all I know
[09:02] SPEAKER_00: is Victoria, but I think Vancouver is similar in that people are friendly and networking is fun
[09:09] SPEAKER_00: and people like to help each other in the networking and I think overall just the funneliness of
[09:16] SPEAKER_00: people is an asset for Vancouver and British Columbia in general. Yes, it's a very outdoorsy place.
[09:24] SPEAKER_01: Everyone seems to be in a good mood, even though it does rain a lot. So I think that's one which
[09:31] SPEAKER_01: segues into our next question. We do some of our best work outside the office. Is there a place in
[09:36] SPEAKER_01: the lower mainland close to where you live or work where you like to go recharge or get inspired
[09:41] SPEAKER_01: with ideas or just think about your business and does it change with the season concerning all the
[09:46] SPEAKER_00: rain we get here? Yeah, I'll answer that, but I know there was a second part to your question that
[09:52] SPEAKER_00: was the disadvantages of Vancouver. Yes. I like to keep on top with making sure I answer all the
[10:00] SPEAKER_00: questions, but you know, the only challenges that I have right now is actually wanting to make more
[10:04] SPEAKER_00: connections and networking I think is key. So and I know that in Vancouver and like same with Victoria,
[10:12] SPEAKER_00: it's who you know that matters. So if you're kind of new on the scene, there's some real challenges
[10:19] SPEAKER_00: because you got to get out. I was considering joining the Vancouver Board of Trade and doing some
[10:24] SPEAKER_00: networking there, but anyways, that's a disadvantage. But you know, to recharge, what I do to recharge
[10:29] SPEAKER_00: is I actually exercise to keep fit and I use my treadmill in my nice cozy room controlled temperatures
[10:38] SPEAKER_00: to visualize my goals. And I might be looking at the screen on the TV on mute, but I visualize in
[10:46] SPEAKER_00: my head because I really am a firm believer of visualizing and you know, I visualize myself standing
[10:52] SPEAKER_00: on a stage with one hundred people and just how exciting that would be because that's my dream.
[10:58] SPEAKER_00: You know, the small events are fun, but I just want to do more. And so I just visualize what that
[11:03] SPEAKER_00: would look like with it. And I know visualizing works. So I take the time to do that on my treadmill.
[11:09] SPEAKER_00: And of course, I like to get out and do the same thing on Dallas Road here in Victoria.
[11:14] SPEAKER_00: And if I was in Vancouver, I'd probably do that on Instantly Park.
[11:18] SPEAKER_01: So you're a big believer in manifesting?
[11:21] SPEAKER_00: Yes. And you know, we're off time when I'm not, because we even might be enjoying the land,
[11:26] SPEAKER_00: I'm still working because I'm visualizing my off time for not working, probably would be dancing.
[11:32] SPEAKER_00: I like dancing.
[11:33] SPEAKER_01: Okay. Now we have a lot of listeners that are from all over the world. So this next question I want
[11:40] SPEAKER_01: to speak to them. If you were to start all over again and you just moved here to Vancouver, BC,
[11:45] SPEAKER_01: or even Victoria, but this time you don't know anyone knowing what you know now.
[11:50] SPEAKER_01: What would you do and how would you go about starting all over again as not a peneur?
[11:56] SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, I think Vancouver actually has a lot of diverse, um,
[12:00] SPEAKER_00: ethnic community. And for those, I would say, join
[12:04] SPEAKER_00: in international, if you haven't already. There are a networking group that supports expats.
[12:09] SPEAKER_00: I'm a member of it because I want to be one someday in the Caribbean. And the people are just,
[12:14] SPEAKER_00: you know, so sweet and nice. And they're from all over the world. But, you know, networking is so
[12:19] SPEAKER_00: important. I would say join a Chamber of Commerce or a Vancouver Board of Trade, but definitely
[12:25] SPEAKER_00: some form of networking that isn't online. You got to go out and show your face and meet people.
[12:30] SPEAKER_01: And be friendly. We are. So that's the most important thing is network and circulate and go to
[12:37] SPEAKER_01: the, I'd go to the networking events that would interest you and the things you want to do.
[12:41] SPEAKER_00: Right. And with, um, you know, NInternations is not so much business. Internations is a friendly
[12:49] SPEAKER_00: support just to make friends and maybe people would support you in your business. But the Chamber
[12:54] SPEAKER_00: of Commerce, I think, is excellent for business support. Okay. Let's talk, let's talk a little bit
[13:00] SPEAKER_01: about your routine. What does the first hour look like for you when you get up the morning? Do you
[13:04] SPEAKER_01: have a specific routine or a ritual that helps you get motivated start your day? Yeah, I do.
[13:11] SPEAKER_00: Other than more visualizing, because I like to have a relatively relaxed morning. So I,
[13:17] SPEAKER_00: if I don't feel like or have to get up right away, I like to spend a little bit of time. And that
[13:22] SPEAKER_00: or even gratitude just to relax and enjoy or appreciate gratitude. I have moments of gratitude
[13:29] SPEAKER_00: because I don't actually want to fire up my computer right away. I don't drink coffee so I don't
[13:34] SPEAKER_00: have that ritual. But, um, nine out of 10 times, I do eventually have to turn the computer on.
[13:41] SPEAKER_00: And I will look at my emails because it gives me my list of things that I, it's almost like
[13:46] SPEAKER_00: my emails are almost top priority of what needs to be done. But I try to figure that out and
[13:52] SPEAKER_00: then get off the computer and then get on with the day. Okay. Do you think entrepreneurs have to
[13:58] SPEAKER_01: be weird or unique in a positive way or wired differently? I think so. I would, I would think
[14:06] SPEAKER_00: definitely yes. Because I think entrepreneurs have an ability to create something out of nothing.
[14:14] SPEAKER_00: And we also, I think for the most part, I think not only do we think outside the box,
[14:21] SPEAKER_00: we might actually be wondering what to do with the box. You know, and it's, I think we have a creative
[14:30] SPEAKER_00: way or a different way of seeing things because of that creation of being able to create something
[14:37] SPEAKER_00: out of nothing. We, I don't know, we're, I think definitely for sure. So, you have to have a vision.
[14:44] SPEAKER_01: Be a visionary to be able to see where it will go, whether thinking outside the box or what to do
[14:49] SPEAKER_01: with the box, but the vision to see where you can take it. And I think that's because an entrepreneur
[14:55] SPEAKER_00: actually was looking for a need to fill that someone needs. Isn't, isn't that what all creation is
[15:03] SPEAKER_00: about is what does someone need? But when I was 15, washing dishes because of my background,
[15:09] SPEAKER_00: that's where I was. I knew I wanted to be self-employed and you have a lot of time to think when
[15:14] SPEAKER_00: you're dishwasher. So, I thought, what would it have to, what would it be? And one, I knew that it
[15:19] SPEAKER_00: had to help people. It had not to be fat and I had to love it. And I think I found that with
[15:26] SPEAKER_00: my topics that I speak on as well as the quitting smoking. It's definitely not a fat.
[15:31] SPEAKER_00: So, do you enjoy rewriting more or speaking? Speaking. I do one day, I'll write another book, but
[15:41] SPEAKER_00: it's a enormous amount of work and editing is not fun for me. But speaking for sure. And that's
[15:46] SPEAKER_00: because people are really busy. They have their books, their other things that they're doing. So,
[15:52] SPEAKER_00: when you get a captive audience like in colleges or universities, you kind of got them there. And it's
[15:57] SPEAKER_00: part of their curriculum. So, you kind of have a captive audience. And even the one-day events,
[16:03] SPEAKER_00: people come to them, the same thing they're there and they're focused on just that one thing for that
[16:08] SPEAKER_01: time. What books are you reading now and why or even audiobooks and can you recommend any books for
[16:14] SPEAKER_00: listeners who are also aspiring entrepreneurs? What books am I reading now? Well, the last book that
[16:21] SPEAKER_00: I purchased was Joel Olstein called I Am. It's daily affirmations. It's a little bit more on
[16:28] SPEAKER_00: the spiritual side. I like to keep that balance with not all just working. So, it's any book by
[16:37] SPEAKER_00: Joel Olstein that if you need some balance and not just work, work, work, I recommend he's a great
[16:45] SPEAKER_00: great writer. But, you know, from the business point of view, I've studied a lot of Brendan Bershards'
[16:50] SPEAKER_00: work and especially the charge. The charge was excellent for, you know, if you feel in a little
[16:57] SPEAKER_00: because entrepreneurs can get burnt out. If you're feeling a little burnt out, I definitely recommend
[17:02] SPEAKER_00: the charge. But reading in general, I would actually just recommend somebody read anything.
[17:13] SPEAKER_00: I'm also because I'm often tired. I'm working leaning a little bit more towards audiobooks now.
[17:20] SPEAKER_01: Okay, any online or offline tools that you use on a daily basis?
[17:27] SPEAKER_00: Email, you know, social media. Social media is at LinkedIn. You know, I love LinkedIn. I've
[17:35] SPEAKER_00: met so many wonderful people like actually meet them. And, you know, one of my recent connections
[17:41] SPEAKER_00: is somebody in Newfoundland. She's far east and I'm far west. We're both doing some similar work.
[17:50] SPEAKER_00: She's got an app for smokers and I'm doing a live event and she says she's from Newvik and
[17:57] SPEAKER_00: you must know my mom. And she does. She actually knows my mom.
[18:02] SPEAKER_00: Which is weird. Yeah, we've never met. And I think one of the chances that we'd be doing the same
[18:08] SPEAKER_00: kind of work or similar, right? And she knows my mom. So LinkedIn is just wonderful for meeting people.
[18:14] SPEAKER_00: And so, but you know, I'm a big fan of getting off the computer and being hands-on in the world.
[18:21] SPEAKER_00: So, it's why I won't do a webinar. I really want the experience to be something that you go to
[18:28] SPEAKER_00: and meet other people. I think we need more connections.
[18:33] SPEAKER_01: Exactly. Okay. So, how do you balance work and how do you relax and not even think about work?
[18:39] SPEAKER_01: And what are your favorite activities to do here in BC? Do you ski, bike, kayak, golf, hike, or simply go for a dive?
[18:46] SPEAKER_00: None of the above. You know, because of the pharmaceuticals coming along in the last several years,
[18:52] SPEAKER_00: there was a big push for the pharmaceuticals. I was kind of, I felt forced into taking a break.
[18:58] SPEAKER_00: I hate it, if you will, but it wasn't by choice because smokers were angry.
[19:03] SPEAKER_00: Legislation was changing. Nobody wanted to talk to me. I would try to talk to smokers and they just
[19:08] SPEAKER_00: get angry. My car was keyed twice because they're like, just get out. And now, you know, fast forward,
[19:14] SPEAKER_00: seven years later, people do want to talk to me. They think they've tried it all. But, you know, in
[19:20] SPEAKER_00: some ways, I sort of feel like I've had seven years off pursuing my goals. So without sounding like
[19:26] SPEAKER_00: a workaholic, that is all I want to do right now. I don't have time for, that's why I dance.
[19:32] SPEAKER_00: When I'm, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I gotta make time to dance. Yeah, I gotta make time to dance.
[19:37] SPEAKER_00: Okay. So that's how you, pretty busy now. That's how you disconnect and relax then is dancing.
[19:43] SPEAKER_00: Well, and you know, also, um, sometimes because I am as busy as I am, I actually like to do nothing
[19:51] SPEAKER_00: outside of going for a walk on a nice, sunny day on dollars road. Sometimes doing nothing is,
[19:56] SPEAKER_00: a guilt frame, nothing is really, really important for me. Okay. If you weren't doing what you do now,
[20:03] SPEAKER_00: what would you like to do for a profession? Well, when you say that, I'm thinking you mean teaching
[20:09] SPEAKER_00: my live events. I, the only, only thing that I could see myself doing if I wasn't doing that is
[20:16] SPEAKER_00: actually speaking and touring with colleges and universities to talk about prevention of drug and
[20:23] SPEAKER_00: alcohol addiction as well as suicide prevention. And those are two topics that are very much needed
[20:29] SPEAKER_01: today. Yes, obviously. So um, dancing wouldn't be one of those things? No, that's just for fun.
[20:37] SPEAKER_00: I do that when I have the time, but you know, as far as a career, no, I'm not that kind of dancer.
[20:44] SPEAKER_00: Okay. Well, I can't dance. Dancing with stars. They can be that. Well, first I gotta become a star,
[20:51] SPEAKER_00: right? Yeah, sure. I'll do dancing with the stars once I get that status. Sure.
[20:55] SPEAKER_01: There you go. What kind of a job would you not like to do?
[21:00] SPEAKER_00: No, any, well, and something that I wouldn't like to do, there's probably a lot of them,
[21:06] SPEAKER_00: but to summarize that, I'd probably have to say anything that involves sitting for more than two
[21:12] SPEAKER_00: hours. I have a really hard time sitting. I'm kind of a go, go, go type of person,
[21:19] SPEAKER_00: but you know, because I'm not a big fan of sitting, I make sure that when I have events that they
[21:25] SPEAKER_00: have comfortable chairs, because I want people to be comfortable, because sitting sitting is painful
[21:31] SPEAKER_01: for me. In business, what is your favorite word, quote, or sentence that you like to use?
[21:41] SPEAKER_00: You know, I think this one might be for business and or personal. It's one of the things that
[21:46] SPEAKER_00: motivated me when I was younger to, I didn't have a very comfortable life. I wasn't in a very good
[21:52] SPEAKER_00: place. And the one quote from Dale Carnegie that really stuck with me and I would say it all the
[21:59] SPEAKER_00: time was, lose yourself an action, less you wither into spare. If we got, we got goals, you got to
[22:06] SPEAKER_00: get busy and do something and just, you know, take action without action, nothing happens.
[22:12] SPEAKER_01: What is your least favorite word or sentence you do not like to hear?
[22:17] SPEAKER_00: Oh, right. And you know, I just thought of another one. My other favorite one is anything as
[22:22] SPEAKER_00: possible. Which is true, right? Set your mind. Anything as possible. My least favorite. You know,
[22:29] SPEAKER_00: the phrase, the phrase self-help drives me crazy. I must self-educated. I have a PhD. It's called
[22:37] SPEAKER_00: a personal home development. I studied for over 20 years. They call it self-improvement. But I
[22:45] SPEAKER_00: wish the self-help industry would call it self-education because when we study at home, we are educating
[22:51] SPEAKER_00: ourselves. And just because, I don't know, I hate the word help. I mean, people need help. That's not
[22:57] SPEAKER_00: the issue, but that category I think could evolve with time to be self-education and not self-help.
[23:06] SPEAKER_01: If you had to pick one or two words to describe yourself, what would it be and why?
[23:13] SPEAKER_00: To describe myself from an entrepreneurial point of view, I'd probably have to say visionary and,
[23:20] SPEAKER_00: I don't know, that this, if we'll put a hyphen in this word, raw determination.
[23:25] SPEAKER_00: And why? I think because I've had the vision, I had a vision when I was much younger of the life
[23:31] SPEAKER_00: that I would have. I also had the vision that something was in my future that was big, but I would
[23:38] SPEAKER_00: have to be older in order to see it. And so I did have a vision of what I could do with my life,
[23:46] SPEAKER_00: and that's why I picked a visionary because I saw, it's like I saw it into the future.
[23:52] SPEAKER_00: And in order for me to obtain that, I would need pure raw determination, because there were
[24:01] SPEAKER_00: a times when I wanted to give up, and that is why I can speak, and I'm qualified to speak on
[24:07] SPEAKER_00: suicide prevention. A lot of those years I really didn't want to be here, but I also knew that
[24:12] SPEAKER_00: it wasn't that I wanted to die. I just didn't want the life I currently had. So to lose yourself
[24:18] SPEAKER_00: in action was what got me busy, because otherwise we could just walk around and despair, but that
[24:24] SPEAKER_00: wasn't going to be me. Okay, what keeps you up at night if anything? Well, you know, used to be
[24:33] SPEAKER_00: hormonal imbalance, but when your hormones are all out of whack, you're lucky if you can get
[24:38] SPEAKER_00: forever sleep at night. But now that I've changed my diet and I'm eating much healthier,
[24:44] SPEAKER_00: giving up sugar, and a bunch of other things, and I've just, I've been lost 25 pounds.
[24:50] SPEAKER_00: So the hot flashes are kind of gone away, and I'm getting more sleep. The four hours thing is
[24:55] SPEAKER_00: kind of not happening anymore, but you know, the one thing that keeps me awake at night right now
[25:00] SPEAKER_00: is just excitement. I just have so much joy and excitement that I can't even wait for the next day,
[25:06] SPEAKER_00: and I often think that Fridays are Monday, because I think every day is Monday, and I love Mondays.
[25:13] SPEAKER_00: So I just, I get, I'm high on life, and when you're high on life, it is actually really hard to sleep.
[25:20] SPEAKER_01: Interesting. It's a good perspective to have, you know, at your own business, and
[25:25] SPEAKER_01: being positive, thinking, and looking forward to the next day. Notting me being able to sleep,
[25:29] SPEAKER_01: so that's even better, right? So, okay, I want you to give us the top three things on your
[25:35] SPEAKER_01: inspired lifeless. This could be a TEDx talk. This could be Travelmore. This could be writing a book,
[25:41] SPEAKER_00: anything like that? Yeah, I do want to do TEDx talks, you know, and that's kind of on my list of things to do.
[25:51] SPEAKER_00: But, you know, the next thing that it's on the list of things to do for being peak reductions is,
[25:58] SPEAKER_00: I originally wanted to do a scholarship foundation, but then I started thinking about it, and I actually
[26:03] SPEAKER_00: want to make the foundation a little bit more than that. It's, you know, we have a homeless problem
[26:10] SPEAKER_00: here in BC, right? This foundation could help, would be able to help, so there's a fund available,
[26:16] SPEAKER_00: could help people that could just come in and say, I want a new life, and we would know exactly what
[26:22] SPEAKER_00: they need, whether it's housing, food, shelter, and I would actually think there's a really good
[26:28] SPEAKER_00: chance that they might want to start with getting, making sure they have their grade 12,
[26:31] SPEAKER_00: getting them some type of education, counseling, whatever that person needs, and this probably
[26:37] SPEAKER_00: falls in line with a suicide prevention, that if somebody wants to die, I think they don't want to
[26:42] SPEAKER_00: die, they just want a new life. So, what if there was a foundation where they could just walk in and
[26:46] SPEAKER_00: go, I need some help, and everybody gives them and gathers around the support for them to get
[26:53] SPEAKER_00: them to a place where they are happy, and so that's something that I want to do, and what else?
[27:04] SPEAKER_00: Gee, there's so much. Shot live in the Caribbean? Well, that is definitely, yeah, I do actually,
[27:10] SPEAKER_00: you know, I love Canada, but I've been here my whole life, and I do think that it would be fun
[27:16] SPEAKER_00: to have an experience to live in the Caribbean, but you know, I don't know if I could actually live
[27:21] SPEAKER_00: anywhere because I wanted to, and if I wasn't touring with the BMP method, I would be touring
[27:27] SPEAKER_00: speaking on drug and alcohol addiction, because we know that that is a need these days,
[27:34] SPEAKER_00: and even suicide prevention, because even that's on a rise, so I wish I could be doing it now,
[27:40] SPEAKER_00: but with as busy as I am, it's like I had to pick which one am I going to launch first,
[27:45] SPEAKER_00: since I took the break from, you know, being the forced break when I'm relaunching, I thought I've
[27:50] SPEAKER_00: got to do this three day event, so that's first, and then I believe making a name for myself,
[27:57] SPEAKER_00: people will actually want to know about my other topics. So you said suicide is on a rise, is that right?
[28:04] SPEAKER_00: Suicide is increasing, and their kids are getting younger, I think the youngest reported suicide was 11.
[28:10] SPEAKER_00: No, why do you think they're doing that? I think some of that started with Bullion, which is why
[28:16] SPEAKER_00: there's anti-Bullion laws, there was a lot of, the Bullion, I was bullied in school, but I think
[28:21] SPEAKER_00: what kids are facing today is 100% more significant with social media, they can shame, they get a picture
[28:29] SPEAKER_00: or something and they share it, there's so much, and they shame you into it, and kids that little,
[28:34] SPEAKER_00: even teenagers, they don't necessarily know that problems are temporary, and I can attest when we're
[28:41] SPEAKER_00: in certain situations. Part of the reason it's so bad is because it just feels so permanent.
[28:49] SPEAKER_00: You know what I say, there's no light at the end of the tunnel, and I know that dark place,
[28:54] SPEAKER_00: and so kids are in that place, and they don't know how to get out, because part of that is because
[28:59] SPEAKER_00: it just feels permanent, but if anyone's listening, no matter what problems they have, I can tell you it's
[29:04] SPEAKER_00: not everything has an end, including bad problems, but sometimes you've got to ask for help though.
[29:11] SPEAKER_01: Do you have any advice that you may have received that you can pass on to entrepreneurs through
[29:17] SPEAKER_00: Aborigin Columbia? You know, when I was 14 I was in a foster home, and I always like to talk about
[29:25] SPEAKER_00: Akbar, and his advice that he gave me, I was 14, I was babysitting his kids, and Akbar was from
[29:33] SPEAKER_00: Prince George, and he said to me, if you do anything in this world, you must read, and so years
[29:41] SPEAKER_00: later I was at my dad's apartment, and I saw Norman Finson's book, The Power of Positive Thinking,
[29:46] SPEAKER_00: and I remember Akbar, and I shrugged my shoulders, and I'm like, okay, I'll read it, and that started
[29:51] SPEAKER_00: my journey of transformations of reading for over 20 years and studying, so I encourage people to
[29:58] SPEAKER_00: read, and not just read, but study. Pick a topic that you're interested in, whatever it is, and don't
[30:04] SPEAKER_00: think that you don't have the education, you gotta go to school, get it yourself, go to the library,
[30:08] SPEAKER_00: grab some books, whatever your topic is, there'll be books on it, and you know, even the hard
[30:14] SPEAKER_00: copies are nice, I like to, I encourage people to buy them and actually mark them up with felt
[30:19] SPEAKER_00: pens and not felt high-lighters, and really study the book, you can't do that at the library, but
[30:25] SPEAKER_00: and I forgot, we have the internet now, so you could just google stuff, but we gotta read,
[30:30] SPEAKER_01: leaders are readers. Yes, I think some of the big CEOs are heavy, heavy readers, I mean,
[30:38] SPEAKER_01: throughout the world. Yeah, absolutely, I'm all for that. Okay, Barbara, you ready to have some
[30:44] SPEAKER_01: fun? Yeah. Okay, next. What's next? Well, I think you can relate to this next question. Entrepreneurs
[30:51] SPEAKER_01: are very, very busy people, we're always connected, and we're always online in one way, shape, or the
[30:56] SPEAKER_01: other, but we're gonna take you away from all that. There's a small topic of island, just off of
[31:01] SPEAKER_01: Fiji, that only has one phone booth there, there is no internet, this place does exist, we're going
[31:07] SPEAKER_01: to drop you off there, and you won't have a computer or a smartphone or a tablet, you can use the
[31:12] SPEAKER_01: phone booth located there any time to call the boat, we'll come pick you up. How long would you last
[31:18] SPEAKER_01: before you made that call? And what would you do while you were there? What kind of island was it?
[31:24] SPEAKER_00: It's a small island off of Fiji. Yeah, it's populated, so it's not a desert island, right? No,
[31:31] SPEAKER_00: there's a phone booth there, so it's gotta be something going on there. Hey, do you think some of
[31:36] SPEAKER_00: your listeners might know what a phone booth is? One phone booth, yes, somebody told me that a
[31:43] SPEAKER_00: phone booth is where Superman changes his clothes, but you know, I heard you ask other people that
[31:48] SPEAKER_00: question, and I think it's a fun question, but how long would I be there for? Well, you know,
[31:52] SPEAKER_00: because I'm not a workaholic anymore, I healed that wound, I do actually believe in balance,
[32:01] SPEAKER_00: so I would say I could do 30 days, and that would be because I've worked really, really hard,
[32:06] SPEAKER_00: and the harder you work, I think the longer time you can take off, so I would take a month off,
[32:11] SPEAKER_00: recharge my batteries, I would rest, you know, maybe play Frisbee, dance, probably not one of
[32:18] SPEAKER_00: these excursions tour, you know, things like that, and I actually did that in Cuba, I actually
[32:23] SPEAKER_00: unplugged for 30 days, didn't check my messages or emails, and I recommend it. It's, then you know,
[32:29] SPEAKER_00: you're not addicted to your technology, I had no cell phone, no nothing, so after a month, I think
[32:35] SPEAKER_00: I'd be good to come back, because you know, I just sort of feel like I've had seven years off,
[32:40] SPEAKER_00: I really just want to be working, so a month would be hard, but I would do it. Did you feel refreshed
[32:45] SPEAKER_00: when you took a month off internet? Yeah, I do, and I know I can do that even for the weekend,
[32:56] SPEAKER_00: I like to not be, I don't think all emails have to be urgent, where you have to get back to
[33:02] SPEAKER_00: somebody right away, I don't even text, I don't text because I just think that there's too much
[33:08] SPEAKER_00: instant, you know, leave a message, and I'll get back to you when I can.
[33:13] SPEAKER_01: Right, old school, go back to the answering machines. Well, I do have voice mail, so you know,
[33:21] SPEAKER_00: I have voice mail, but you know, yeah, it's good to turn off and dance and have fun.
[33:29] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, live life, put your feet in the sand, go for a swim.
[33:35] SPEAKER_01: Okay, Barbara, we're going to wrap things up. How can our listeners get hold of you,
[33:38] SPEAKER_01: and is there anything you'd like to add before you leave us today?
[33:43] SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, one more big shout out to Akbar. I'm looking for him because I want to tell him,
[33:47] SPEAKER_00: Akbar, I did what you said, I read, and I have this wonderful life because I took your advice,
[33:51] SPEAKER_00: so one time I tweeted in search of Akbar, he, I don't really know his last name,
[33:57] SPEAKER_00: but I know he was from Prince George, and he had, I think, two boys. But anyways, how can people get
[34:03] SPEAKER_00: a hold of me? Well, believe it or not, you know, what I have a toll free number, and it's actually
[34:07] SPEAKER_00: called 1-888-SOS New Life. It's easy to remember. It's too many letters, but your listeners are smart,
[34:15] SPEAKER_00: so I think they'll figure out how to get those numbers in there. But I'm also BMP Method.com can
[34:21] SPEAKER_00: get some great endorsements and testimonials on that website. There's also a free test,
[34:27] SPEAKER_00: smokers can take to find out how ready they are to quit. And Twitter, BMP Method, and also
[34:33] SPEAKER_00: LinkedIn. Love to connect with people on LinkedIn, so don't be shy, send me an invitation.
[34:37] SPEAKER_01: Okay. Awesome. Okay, great. Well, Barbara, thank you for coming on the show. I've learned a lot
[34:41] SPEAKER_01: about you, and I'm sure listeners have as well. Oh, thank you so much for the opportunity. I
[34:47] SPEAKER_00: appreciate that a lot. And Vancouver, look for my company, Karab, be there soon. Okay, great.
[34:52] SPEAKER_01: Okay, we'll see you next time. Hey, thanks a lot.
[35:00] SPEAKER_01: Hey there. Thanks for taking the time today to listen to Vancouver's podcast on the Canada's
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