Ralph Zuranski: I’ve seen Tom at quite a few internet marketing seminars. Being a leader in the industry himself, it’s just really a pleasure to talk with him. How are you doing today Tom?
Tom Beal: Doing fantastic Ralph. I feel honored to be speaking with you today and looking forward to this conversation.
Ralph Zuranski: I know you are a real hero. You were actually a war hero on the front lines. You were a marine weren’t you? Can you tell us a little bit about your life?
Tom Beal: Sure, sure. Simper fi, that’s the “always faithful” marine slogan. But a little bit about myself Ralph I guess it starts back to being born to teenagers. I was born to a 17 year old mother and a 19 year old father and grew up around some adversities.
Tom Beal: There were four divorces and six marriages between my two parents. I went to 9 different schools by 8th grade in two separate states. There’s a whole list of other fun things that occurred, the alcoholism, abuse, neglect and on welfare as a child.
Tom Beal: Yet through that I was able to become a national bicycle champion winning nationals in 1989. Now it’s called X Games. So I was doing tricks on bikes.
Tom Beal: From there I went to college to wrestle and ended up hanging out with the wrong crowd, dropped out of college and then found myself at Paris Island Marine Corp Boot Camp. From there I figured out that system and ended up graduating the number one honor graduate from boot camp.
Tom Beal: Then going on to attain some good achievements in the marine corp. in the four years that I spent there. I was able to earn three merit choice promotions in the four years and also had a stint as an all marine wrestler down in Quantico, Va. After the four years was up I felt I had a little more to accomplish in my life so I left the marine corp.
Tom Beal: I ventured into sales and in sales similar to Marine Corp. Boot Camp I kind of figured out about the system and how to win and I ended up earning the number one spot in 5 sales organizations. Then from there went on to publish a book called “The North Carolina Home Book” that was down in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Tom Beal: It was a resource for anyone looking to remodel their $1,000,000 plus home in the Charlotte, Greensboro or the Raleigh-Durham area. That was a fun project. I had a fun time doing that.
Tom Beal: Then I heard about internet marketing in 2001. The events of September 11,2001 to be precise is what triggered in me that it was time to start fulfilling the answers to the questions people had always asked me. Namely “How do you do it?”
Tom Beal: Whether it was the Marine Corp. or whether it was the sales organizations where I rose to the top or publishing the book. It seems that I was able to reach the top in a short time in whatever I chose to get into.
Tom Beal: I remember sitting on 77 South when I was hearing on the radio what was occurring that morning of September 11.
Tom Beal: It hit me that now is the time to take the years of studying Tony Robbins & Brian Tracy and the whole gambit of personal & professional development experts & my own success & my own stories and start sharing it with people to let them know that it doesn’t matter where they came from or where they are right now.
Tom Beal: There are steps they can take to fulfill their dreams and desires. It was there that I started asking myself questions. If you are listening to this call right now I think as Mark Victor Hansen put in his book, “The Aladdin Factor”, is the proper questions you ask yourself, your mind and the universe as a whole will give you the answer.
Tom Beal: The more you fine tune your questions the more you’ll fine tune your life. So the question I asked myself was in all those unrelated fields, bike riding, marine corp., wrestling and all the sales fields, “How did I do it? What steps did I apply in each of those unrelated fields that has allowed me to go in with little or knowledge and become number one in a very short time?”
Tom Beal: My mind responded with an answer that I didn’t like. It responded with too many different scenarios. What I did in the Marine Corp. was different than when I was riding bikes and it was different from what I did in each of those unrelated sales deals.
Tom Beal: So I asked a better question. Once again I jot that note down “Ask yourself better questions”. If I had to narrow it down to five things that I applied in all those unrelated areas, “What would they be?”
Tom Beal: Immediately my mind began to respond and from all those years of studying Napoleon Hill, The Seventeen Principles of Success that he shares, Tony Robins, Jim Roans, Brian Tracy and all the things I put into my mind & all the experiences I’ve had.
Tom Beal: I was able to create what I call “The Success Magnet System”. It is simply five steps with none more important than the other, which have allowed me to overcome the adversity and reach greatness in those unrelated areas in my life.
Tom Beal: That’s my passion, to share with people these five steps, The Success Magnet System to assist them in understanding that they can take their life & accomplish their dreams just by applying these five steps.
Ralph Zuranski: What are the five steps?
Tom Beal: That’s a great question. (Laughter) The suspense is coming to fruition. The five steps, and I do a whole presentation, an hour long presentation, but I’ll give you the five steps right off the bat.
- The first is vision.
- Second is belief.
- Third is identify and align.
- Fourth is commitment to action.
- Five, which I call the secret step, is have fun.
Tom Beal: Those five steps helped me to overcome the rough childhood and reach the level of success in wrestling, then go on to the marine corp. and have that success and the bicycling and all that fun stuff. Those are the five universal principles that allowed me to overcome the adversity and reach the top in those fields.
Ralph Zuranski: Wow, that’s amazing Tom. I’ve got some good questions for you also.
Tom Beal: Oh, cool!
Ralph Zuranski: What is the worthy ideal you are pursuing with honesty and integrity according to the Napoleon Hill model?
Tom Beal: The best way for me to answer that is what I stated earlier, to assist people in understanding that it doesn’t matter where they came from or where they are now, they can take steps to reach their destiny.
What do you want out of life in ten words or less?
Ralph Zuranski: What is the dream or vision that sets the course of your life?
Tom Beal: The dream or vision is to really impact children that are going through rough times. It is very clear in my mind the difficulties and experiences I had as a child. At times thinking I was alone and thinking that I had no one to go to.
Tom Beal: And as your doing with IN Search of Heroes to give people a hero & give them someone they can look to in times of trouble and difficulty. Whether it’s on-line, whether it’s a toll free number or a “live” operator. Some type of 24 hour support system for most importantly in my mind, children who are going through difficult times.
Tom Beal: Because as a child I know in today’s times it’s been always that the decisions they make could impact the rest of their lives. If they are going to make very important decisions it can either lead them toward their dreams or away from their dreams.
Ralph Zuranski: How important is it to stay focused on your primary goal?
Tom Beal: Focus is very important. In all those stories I shared, in bicycling for example, I lived, breathed, walked, talked and everything I did revolved around bicycling. Hence I was able to go from not knowing how to do a single trick like you see on the X Games to becoming a National Champion with 3 years.
Tom Beal: It’s that focus that allows you to reach the top in your game. For awhile I wanted to be everything to everybody. Then I started to really understand and appreciate the power of focus.
Tom Beal: Like a laser beam, the more you can focus and instead of trying to be everything, be the best that you can in that particular area.
Tom Beal: That’s when you will pull yourself much farther and much more quickly instead of being distracted by other things. Focus is very important.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you follow your hunches and intuition.
Tom Beal: (Laughter) Yes I do. There is a fun story here. I mentioned I dropped out of college. I partied too much and went there for the wrong reasons. I was 17 years old in college and ended up dropping out.
Tom Beal: For the first time my mother and I agreed. She agreed she was kicking me out and I agreed I was leaving. So that was our mutual agreement. I got in my car. It was a 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit with 180,000 miles and I had $60.00 to my name and I was 18 years old.
Tom Beal: The intuition or hunch that I had was, I got in my car and really had no where to go. I can’t stay here and I really have nowhere local that I can go.
Tom Beal: My intuition and my gut said drive to New York City. Keep in mind that I didn’t know anybody in New York City and I didn’t have any destination but I followed my gut and my intuition.
Tom Beal: In this Volkswagen Rabbit I drove the six hour trip. I left my house at 9:00pm EST and arrived in Manhattan not knowing the exact directions but just knowing that’s what my gut was telling me at 3:00 am in the morning.
Tom Beal: All the way there I didn’t have a radio and at this time I didn’t have any spiritual background or upbringing in the church or anything like that.
Tom Beal: On the 6 hour drive I said “You know what God, it’s me and you. I don’t know why I going to New York City. I don’t know where I’m going to stay when I get there. I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Tom Beal: If I’m going to have to live in my car and that’s what you have in the cards for me then that’s what I’ll do. If you want me to live on the street that’s what I’ll do. If I’m supposed to die in New York City that’s what I’ll do.
Tom Beal: I’m just going there on intuition, on my gut. That’s where I feel I need to be going.” So I did that. I talked for 6 hours to nobody but to the universe, to God and it was in his hands. At 3:00 am I get to Manhattan.
Tom Beal: I’ve been there like once before and didn’t know where I was going. I was going from the high numbers like from the 180’s down to the lower numbers. On the way I saw a Chinese restaurant. I said “Well I’ve nowhere to go so I’ll just pull in and have a little bite to eat.”
Tom Beal: I didn’t have much money so at the same time when I walked in I looked at my money and I had $60.00 minus some gas I had to pay. It was a diesel Rabbit by the way. The waitress came and I said “You know what I’m just going to have a bowl of rice.”
Tom Beal: She looked at me and said “We have no rice.” Like a movie I looked around and said “This is a Chinese restaurant right? You don’t have any rice. That’s what you do, right?” She said “Yeah we are out of rice. Anything else?”
Tom Beal: I said “Well I guess not. Do you have a restroom I can use?” I went into the restroom and washed my hands and splashed water on my face. I went back in my car and went one block and came to a red light.
Tom Beal: At 3:00 in the morning my ex-stepfather was walking across that intersection. I couldn’t believe it. I rolled my window down and I’m yelling out “Hey Cliff. Cliff!” and he keeps walking. I yelled his full name out and he turns around and says “What the heck are you doing down here?”
Tom Beal: I said “What the heck are you doing walking the streets at 3:00 in the morning?” Now keep in mind I hadn’t seen Cliff in a couple of years and had no clue he was in New York, none the less in New York City. But the circumstances that lead to that was he said “Where are you staying?” I said “You are looking at it.”
Tom Beal: “I just left the house, me and my mom got in a fight and I’m here.” He said” You are staying in your car?” He says “No your not you are staying at my house. I’ve got a place right around the corner.” So I stayed with him for three months in Manhattan. That is a long winded answer to “Do I follow my gut and my intuition.”
Tom Beal: That’s a story from a few years ago obviously. But I do feel strongly that when you have that burning desire that you know this is what your supposed to do then take that step boldly. And just one step after the next. I do consider it a miracle.
Ralph Zuranski: What specific philosophy or philosophies guide your life and decisions?
Tom Beal: In the marine corp. I learned 14 principles in leadership. Real quickly here they are judgment, justice, decisiveness, integrity, tact, initiative, enthusiasm, bearing, unselfishness, courage, knowledge, loyalty and endurance. That’s a quick run down of those 14 traits but I feel that if I’m doing the best that I know how today and I can do a little bit better tomorrow; that’s all I can ask for.
Tom Beal: I try to do everything honestly and ethically I try not to cross any of those lines. In my mind I know what’s right and what’s not and I try to do my best every single day. My goal is to be a little bit better tomorrow than I am today.
Ralph Zuranski: What is your perspective on goodness, ethics and moral behavior?
Tom Beal: I feel that every person has an inner thermometer about what’s good and what’s bad, what’s right and what’s wrong. But I also know that we also choose whether we want to partake in things that are good or things that are bad, or things that are right and things that are wrong. It all boils down to the power of choice.
Tom Beal: No matter where you are in your life you can continue walking that path or you can choose to take a different route.
Ralph Zuranski: What place does the power of prayer have in your life?
Tom Beal: I pray pretty much all day long. I have an inner talk and am always communicating and just try to be in touch with myself and God and the universe. While I’m driving and while I’m sitting I’ll try to have conversations. I feel it’s very, very important part of my life.
Ralph Zuranski: What principles are you willing to sacrifice your life for?
Tom Beal: What’s right? I have a scar on my knee and on my eye because while I was in the marine corp. Mike Tyson had a comeback fight and we had a party in our apartment. When we went outside there was a group of people, because he fought McNealy, and I remember it because there was an event that occurred afterward that I’m leading up to.
Tom Beal: Mike Tyson knocked McNealy out very quickly. We went out to our car. There was several marines and a couple of there wives. There was a group of other people who were apparently not satisfied with ending of the fight so they all circled up from different apartments.
Tom Beal: They were having ultimate fighting championships and they were fighting one another. It happened to be right near our car. We stop and all of a sudden they start picking on us. Saying “You guys think your tough?” We said “NO, no everything is good.”
Tom Beal: But then one of them pushed my friend’s wife. Without even thinking I just grabbed that guy and my wrestling came out and I took him down. What I didn’t think about was that we were out numbered at least 5 to 1. So what I would sacrifice?
Tom Beal: I would stand up for what is right. If I have to have surgery a couple of times afterwards so be it. I was kicked in the head and had to have seven stitches in the eye and had to have knee surgery and all that fun stuff. But what’s right is right.
Tom Beal: The guy chose to push my friends wife and I had to stick up for what’s right. I’ve since hung up my fighting shoes. There was a lot of testosterone going on back in those years. I try to talk things out.
Tom Beal: Hopefully I am able to communicate things a little better than choosing physical aspects like that. But I will not sit back and keep my tongue tied if someone is doing wrong to someone else.
Tom Beal: Actually just recently at one of the seminars I saw you at we were in the back of the plane and one airport was shut down, Chicago/O’Hare and this guy was just going off on the stewardess.
Tom Beal: Saying “This is unacceptable. This is why your airline is going out of business, blah, blah, blah.” She said “Sir I apologize. It’s out of my control.”
Tom Beal: He’s saying “I’m so disgusted with this!” I said “Sir I’m disgusted with the way you are talking to the stewardess. You need to put yourself in check here and give her some appreciation.”
Tom Beal: His wife agreed. I’m just not the type to sit by if someone’s being treated wrongly I will communicate that.
Ralph Zuranski: Are your goals consistent with your beliefs?
Tom Beal: 100%. I feel that to achieve any greatness or to achieve any goal you need to be congruent with your beliefs. Your goals need to be very congruent with your beliefs in order to fulfill them, is my belief.
Ralph Zuranski: Are your actions consistent with your beliefs?
Tom Beal: Yes, and many times as a child my walk didn’t equal my talk or vice versa. I feel the people you see achieving the great results, and there are exceptions to the rule, but the majority by far, people’s walk equals their talk. I feel that’s a goal. To be congruent you need to have your thoughts, words and actions be congruent with the beliefs that you have internally.
Ralph Zuranski: Is it valuable to have highly charged emotions about achieving your goals?
Tom Beal: Emotions are extremely vital to achieving your success. There’s a movie out now, that if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. As a matter of fact it should almost be required in my opinion for teenagers, for kids growing up and adults to watch. It’s called www.whatisthesecret.tv. That’s an awesome documentary. Have you seen that yet Ralph?
Ralph Zuranski: I have not had a chance to yet.
Tom Beal: I feel it’s a “must see” for everybody that is serious about achieving any type of goals. What it talks about is the secret obviously. When Dr. Joe Vitalie was telling me about this on the cruise last November he and I were on and a few other marketers I asked and he wouldn’t tell us what the secret was.
Tom Beal: He wouldn’t tell us what the movie was. I said “I know what the secret is. From Earl Nightingale he had the strangest secret in the world; we become what we think about most of the time. The thought that is most in your mind is what will fulfill or manifest.”
Tom Beal: That’s exactly what it is about but it goes into more detail about what’s called “The Attraction Factor” which is a book by Dr. Joe Vitalie. Your thoughts mixed with emotions, mixed with enthusiasm produces the end result that you’ll manifest into reality.
Tom Beal: Because you can have a thought but if you don’t have emotions to back that thought it’s like an impotent thought. You need to have that potency by having the emotions to back it up. That’s where you will begin to see you are what you think about most of the time.
Ralph Zuranski: Is it useful to take a positive view of setbacks,
misfortunes and mistakes?
Tom Beal: There is a quote from Napoleon Hill that says “Every adversity carries with it the seed or an equivalent or greater benefit.” Those aren’t comforting words when you are going through adversity. They aren’t even comforting to me and I live by that quote.
Tom Beal: But as I described some of the adversity I went through as a child I thought I was the only one going through that. As we grew up we noticed everybody has that type of stuff. Guess what, there is no such thing as a functional family, they are all dysfunctional.
Tom Beal: Everybody has their problems. Now working with best selling authors and working with top athletes, I’m working with the “cream of the crop”. I even asked a NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, “Just because you have reached that success does that mean you don’t have any problems?” He laughed no problems? His son just died at eight years old because of a terminal illness. Try handling that problem.
Tom Beal: One of the people I work with here is Jason Dinner. He said and which is very true “If you are in a big room with all these people and everyone throws their problems in a big pile you are going to want to get your problem out because you don’t want what the other people are going through.
Tom Beal: Until you put it in perspective and just recognize that you are going to do the best you can with the circumstances you’re going through right now. That’s all you can do. You can worry about two things.
Tom Beal: You can worry about things you can control or worry about things you can’t control. If you are worried about things you can control, control it and don’t worry about it. If you are worried about things you can’t control then what’s the point about worrying because you can’t control it.
Tom Beal: So the point is if that doesn’t make sense, go get a book by Dale Carnegie called “How to Stop Worrying and How to Start Living”. Dale Carnegie wrote that in the early 1900’s because he had a lot of people coming to him that just had tremendous worry problems. If you look at society today, look at all these people on these pills to diminish the worry that they have.
Tom Beal: I recommend reading that book. Then you understand that’s there is two things to worry about and neither one of them is not worth worrying about. It’s an awesome book! That one and “How to Win Friends and Influence People”.
Tom Beal: You can get the double book by Dale Carnegie and it has both those in it, “How to Stop Worrying and How to Start Living” and How to Win Friends and influence People.” Those should also be recommended learning material for anybody who’s serious about becoming the best they can be in this life the brief time that we are here.
Tom Beal: When I didn’t have much I was a student of life and going to the library. You can go the library for free. Unfortunately only about 3% of the U.S. population has library cards. But you can get all this information free. You don’t need anything.
Tom Beal: There are stories of Og Mandino living on the park bench that went to the library and started studying and ended up becoming a multi millionaire many times over from learning. If you want success, study success. If you want happiness, study happiness.
Tom Beal: If you don’t want to worry study how not to worry. Just like Napoleon Hill had his virtual Master Mind. He had a Master Mind with all the big wigs, F.W. Woolworth and Henry Ford. You can have all these people virtually like Abraham Lincoln and you can consult with them.
Tom Beal: You’ve seen these bands today that people are wearing that say “WWJD?” what would Jesus do. Some people can’t grasp that but “What Would Abraham Lincoln Do?” What would your role model do in this situation?
Ralph Zuranski: How important is it to have optimism?
Tom Beal: Optimism, man life will get you down if you read the papers and watch the news. You think the sky is falling. Chicken Little is a movie that just came out in cartoon but I tell you what if you watch the news and read the paper you’ll think the sky is falling and everyone is out to get you. You would lock yourself in your room.
Tom Beal: You have live boldly. Stuff is going to happen. Back to that Attraction Factor here’s something that I personally, internally know, there is a conspiracy. Everything is conspiring to help me, assist me in accomplishing all my goals and to attract everything that I desire.
Tom Beal: That’s a spin, yes there’s a conspiracy, but it’s a positive one if everything is working exactly the way it needs to assist me in fulfilling dreams and desires that I have. I may not understand why things happen but I know that all things work for good.
Tom Beal: There are certain times I can’t interpret or understand, like my friend Jim Kelly whose son passed away at eight years old was born with life threatening illness. Why does that happen? Jim even says why me? I go to church and I’m a good guy so why me?
Tom Beal: There have been studies and in the short eight years that Hunter was alive that disease he had is going to save thousands of lives and lives of kids that haven’t been born yet. That eight year old life impacted more lives than people who lived to be a hundred years old. There are things we aren’t meant to know or we can’t understand.
Tom Beal: And all we know is what can we do? Do the best you can do. If you do the best you can do and everybody takes that upon themselves to do the best they can then the world’s problem would kind of dissipate.
Tom Beal: There wouldn’t be any problems. If everybody’s being the best they can then that’s all we can be. We can’t be any other thing than that.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you maintain your sense of humor in the face of serious problems?
Tom Beal: You have to. At least I have to. I choose to. I have the optimism and I have the positive thinking but there are things that others might interpret as “bad things happen” and I say “WOW! I didn’t see that one coming. Wow!” but you have to laugh and as I mentioned in the fifth step, you have to have fun.
Tom Beal: When you enjoy doing what you love there’s going to be other people that interpret things as a problem and things like that. There are all challenges. It makes life more exciting. The more you progress up that level of consciousness the more other people would see these problems get bigger but your capabilities to handle them are more so.
Tom Beal: If I was up to bat and there was a major league baseball pitcher pitching to me I’d strike out for sure, if not be shaking and pee in my pants cause that would be scary. But you know to jump from not knowing anything to jump up to the major leagues you have progressive steps.
Tom Beal: Just like school has 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, you graduate to different levels of how you can handle communication skills and how you can handle adversities.
Tom Beal: You will never be given a major league baseball pitcher problem if you are only in the minor leagues or only at the tee ball level. You are only given the obstacles and challenges that you are capable of handling in life. Sometimes I feel like there’s a major league pitch and I’m not ready for it.
Tom Beal: But it wouldn’t be happening if I wasn’t ready for it. As we are speaking right now I’m going to share some personal things. There are a lot of people that already know but my wife and I have been married for five years but we are currently separated right now.
Tom Beal: You’ve been talking to me for awhile and you can tell I still have optimism and I still have happiness. Here’s my belief on that. I know that everything is going to work out exactly the way it needs to work out. I don’t know what the end result will be but I know it’ll work out exactly the way it needs to.
Tom Beal: Here’s a little history. My wife and I have been married five years now. On July 10th, 2002 her father passed away. On July 13th, she spoke at his funeral. On July 20th at the same church we had our wedding, a Greek wedding. So that just puts things into perspective.
Tom Beal: I had a conversation with her father prior to this saying “Look man this wedding is ridiculous at this time.” He told me “Tom I don’t care if I die.” That puts things in perspective.
Tom Beal: Let’s talk about something you may or may not know Ralph. On Sept.11, 1998 I was in a car wreck. My car rolled four times and I was ejected from the sun roof and laid there with severe head trauma and had a “near death experience”. The car wreck was about 10:00pm. I had severe head trauma and it was a miracle I lived through it.
Tom Beal: Just laying there I thought “No one is showing up.” Then it hit me, I’m going to die here in this field. I was out in the field and during the roll my battery flew out so my car was laying in this field way off the road. People were driving by and no one knew someone‘s laying there dying.
Tom Beal: So it hit me, this is the way it’s going to end. Next thing you know I’m laying there and I see someone in the field and I’m up in the air. I’m like “Whose that?” I focus in and see that it is me.
Tom Beal: Next thing you know I’m pulled up in the sky. It’s just like you see on TV, the bright lights. I’m standing there and I’m really confused. I’m trying to figure out what’s happening.
Tom Beal: Then someone comes up and puts their arm around me and it was so comforting and I just felt like everything is ok. Then we turn around and we’re facing this big huge door and we start walking towards this door.
Tom Beal: I stop and am shaking my head and I said “I know this is not how it’s supposed to end. I know you had more for me to accomplish. Send me back.”
Tom Beal: Next thing I know I woke up and had been Mercy Flighted, which is a helicopter lift. A couple of hours later they got there. I had been lifted to a hospital and woke up with respirator breathing for me in Intensive Care.
Tom Beal: I was in the hospital for just less than a week and the Dr.’s were telling me and my family “Tom will never walk and talk again properly. I wouldn’t accept that. The Dr.’s were getting real upset. I said “NO, I’m walking out of here.”
Tom Beal: They had a meeting with my family and said “We are really upset. Tom does not understand the fact that he may never walk or talk again properly the rest of his life.” My family sat down with me and said “Tom this is serious and you may not walk or talk again properly.”
Tom Beal: I said “I’m walking out of here” the best I could. I had to learn to speak and everything and there’s a whole weird story behind that. But you think I’d say “I’m going to walk out of here” but cat, red, blue, car would come out of my mouth. It was really weird.
Tom Beal: I checked myself out. I signed a whole bunch of release papers against Dr.’s orders and left the hospital because they were trying to tell me I would never walk or talk again and I didn’t want to hear that. Thankfully I didn’t hear that because I am walking and talking.
Tom Beal: There were a couple of years where my leg dragged. I had what was called “drop foot” and they never knew when that nerve damage would go away or if it would. Now I can walk, you’ve seen me, Ralph I walk and talk. I wrestled Russell Brunson a couple of times. I ended up going back and winning a couple of wrestling tournaments after that car wreck.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you invest time into daydreaming about what your life
will be like when you attain your goals?
Tom Beal: Absolutely! I’m living my dream right now. I’m doing exactly what I dreamed. It doesn’t happen over night but when you have that and it’s a reality no matter what situation you’re in, and I’ve already envisioned this.
Tom Beal: People ask “Tom when were you successful?” I was successful when I was homeless. I was successful when I was living in my car. I was successful when I didn’t have but $60.00 in my pocket.
Tom Beal: I’ve been successful it’s just a matter of the material world manifesting it around to make it a reality in this time. It’s just a time difference.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you think that goes back to having a worthy ideal as expressed by Earl Nightingale?
Tom Beal: 100%! I spend most of my time daydreaming because my life right now is a daydream even though I am still having tremendous adversities. Other people still look at me and say “Tom how can you be happy?”
Tom Beal: It’s difficult but from that experience I had I truly feel I’m doing the best that I can. I have a second chance right now. This is my time. I’m living life full steam ahead and taking one bold step after the next enjoying every step ethically and honestly.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you feel it is important to make positive statements about yourself…the type of person you are and the your goals?
Tom Beal: Yes as a matter of fact go to Zig Ziglar.com and he has a little piece you can download. It’s a little PDF report that I suggest you print out. It’s an affirmation called “A Life Changing Process” which it is.
Tom Beal: I just took it out of my wallet. I go through spurts where I’ll read it for months. I’ll read it in the morning and read it in the evening. It talks about “I AM” and all these positive attributes. When you are not congruent with them it’s hard to look yourself in the eye in the mirror while you’re reading it.
Tom Beal: For instance it says “I am sober”. There was a time in my life I wasn’t sober. If you are incongruent with it, it’s weird how your mind is a self regulator. When you start reading those affirmations you will take on all those traits and characteristics. I just feel that’s a natural law.
Tom Beal: If you can boldly state those looking at yourself in the mirror you will attain those i.e., I am timely, I am responsible, etc you will pick up all those positive attributes and begin living them and you will be the embodiment of them. Going back to Think and Grow Rich Napoleon Hill told Andrew Carnegie this one statement, “Andrew Carnegie I’m not only going to equal your accomplishments I’m going to surpass them.”
Tom Beal: This was back when Andrew Carnegie was the only billionaire on the planet. Napoleon Hill said “There was a time I couldn’t look myself in the mirror. I was laughing. I had my fingers crossed. I said who am I kidding he’s a billionaire. I will never equal his accomplishments.”
Tom Beal: But he ended up believing it and he’s created more millionaires and continues to do so to this day. He passed away in 1973 or something like that. In those future generations he will still create millionaires and he passed away a couple of generations ago.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you take time out of your day to feed your subconscious positive thoughts about you, your goals and dreams?
Tom Beal: Yes, through self-talk and through reading the proper material & watching programs like www.whatisthesecret.tv. I’m looking at the library of success I have over here. I’m looking at this one, you may or may not have seen this, and it’s called The Master Key to Success.
Tom Beal: It was one of the first Nightingale Conant products that are actually a two VHS tape that’s over 3 hours of Napoleon Hill talking in black and white as if you are sitting there at his desk. He says “Oh, it’s a pleasure to see you today. Please be seated.” He talks like you are sitting there across the desk from Napoleon Hill. And things like that.
Tom Beal: Also listening to Brian Tracy, Jim Roan and Tony Robbins and attending live events. Getting around people who are like minded. You heard my one trait, identify and align. Find someone who is doing what you desire to accomplish and do your best to get close to them.
Tom Beal: You can do that through reading books, listening to tapes, watching videos and more importantly going to live events and meeting with these people one-on-one. I’ve been able to meet and work with my heroes and that is the quickest way to get pulled from where you are to where you want to be.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you have the courage to pursue new ideas?
Tom Beal: It’s like a muscle; the more you work it out the more easily it will come to you. In the beginning as in anything when we had to learn how to peddle a bike it was a very difficult task. When we learned how to walk it was a very difficult task but the more you do it the more you get used to it.
Tom Beal: You need to exercise that muscle. First you need to exercise your power of choice and your power of decision. Then once you get that muscle worked up then you can choose quickly and correctly.
Tom Beal: You can decide on good manners fast. Then you’ll also be able to take action upon your ideas. Everybody has good ideas. People listening to this have probably had many $1,000,000 or plus ideas.
Tom Beal: But the fact of the matter is not many of them have taken action upon it. So it’s a matter of choosing. It’s a matter of narrowing it down.
Tom Beal: You talked about focus. Take all your ideas and see what’s the most fulfilling and satisfying one that you could choose to become real. Act as if it’s real all ready then take steps to make it and implement it.
Ralph Zuranski: Were you willing to experience discomfort in the pursuit of your dream?
Tom Beal: Discomfort? I put my self in discomfort because the more you become comfortable I feel the less you are moving forward. If you are not uncomfortable many times a week your life is too complacent and you’re not going to reach great things. I deal with top people.
Tom Beal: I deal with Hall of Fame quarterbacks, movie stars, singers, and top marketers. Not everything works for all these people. They make mistakes. They have things that fail. But they don’t quit, they just keep going.
Tom Beal: Ok that one didn’t work out, how can I learn from it, how can I get better results? You’ve heard about all my accomplishments but we don’t have time to hear about all my failures. That would take 3 or 4 days if not 3 or 4 weeks.
Tom Beal: I’m just too darn stubborn to quit. So put yourself out there. The more uncomfortable position you can put yourself in, obviously ethically and honest and following those proper guidelines, you’ll get used to it and work your muscles up. Then you’ll be able to choose more wisely on projects where a couple of years ago you may have turned that project down.
Ralph Zuranski: Is it beneficial to make decisions quickly?
Tom Beal: Oh, 100%! Napoleon Hill had an egg timer to answer the question whether he was willing to pursue the study of success not compensated by the richest man in the world. That doesn’t sound like a pretty logical choice to make but he took it on.
Tom Beal: But he had an egg timer and little did he know that Andrew Carnegie, he found out later, as soon as he posed the question to him & after a couple of days of downloading what this would require & how Andrew was going to make the correct contacts, he had an egg timer.
Tom Beal: The ones that said “Let me check with my wife, let met me do this.” they didn’t make the cut. You have to be decisive based upon full information. Once you have full information then make up your mind, yes or no. The more you can flex that muscle of decision making the more quickly you can rise to the top.
Ralph Zuranski: Are you slow to revise or reverse an important decision?
Tom Beal: It changes with information. For instance I can make a decision right now based on the information I have and believe it whole heartedly and would die for that decision but then new information may come up. If new information comes up that turns the table on it then you can decide again or choose differently.
Tom Beal: But obviously for ethics, beliefs and honestly you have to have a foundation on those. Otherwise if new information arises I’m open to hear. If I’m walking this way and somebody says I can walk this way and get different results I’m willing to hear them. But based upon that I can continue to walk in the direction I’m in or choose to go off a little bit.
Ralph Zuranski: How were you able to overcome your doubts and fears?
Tom Beal: How do I overcome fear? I go back to the statement of two things to worry about, things I can control and things I can’t control. If I am doubtful or fearful over something, what information is making that doubt or fear? Is it something I can control? Or something I can’t control?
Tom Beal: Also what can I do to overcome it? The best way I overcome it is through prayer and through knowing that I’m making quick decisions based upon the information I have. I’m confident I’m going to walk boldly one step at a time.
Tom Beal: Just like at night when we’re driving with the headlights you can’t see all the way to California but you can see a couple of car lengths ahead. All you need to do is just focus on those couple of car lengths ahead and you’ll make to wherever you are going eventually. All we can do is focus on that little bit.
Tom Beal: I’d probably scared to death if I could see a couple of years ahead because I’m not at that level where I could understand the decisions I’d be making 2 years from now. I can only do the best I know right now.
Tom Beal: So doubt and fear you have to work those muscles to be able to overcome those. If you’re not putting yourself in some fearful or uncomfortable situations you’re probably not pushing you’re full potential.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you readily forgive those who upset, offend and oppose you?
Tom Beal: The person that’s hurt the most by not forgiving is you and me. If I’m willing to hold that energy and not forgive somebody and hold that inside its only self-limiting. They are living their lives and they have no clue.
Tom Beal: It’s one of the most important things I had to overcome. I thought “How could my family do the things they did?” But in reflection I can look back and say they did the best they could with the time and place they were. No one was out to get me.
Tom Beal: People make decisions and they did the best they could or the best they were able to at that particular time. They probably made wrong choices just as I have made wrong choices.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you experience service to others as a source of joy?
Tom Beal: Oh yes. Absolutely! That’s the most fulfilling thing in my life. I speak at churches and events. I went to an event not too long ago, and I told you about my car wreck, and there’s an organization called PRAYWIT and I forgot what it stands for but it’s basically for people who have gone through severe head trauma.
Tom Beal: I went there and spoke and gave my 5 step Success Magnet System as well as my story about the car wreck and being able to overcome it without giving them a sense of false hope because there were people in there that brought tears to my eyes.
Tom Beal: I remembered immediately that I’d walked with a walker like old people walk with. To see these young kids in that position still, it reminded me how thankful and blessed I am.
Tom Beal: It also put things in perspective. I wasn’t going to give these people false hope. I don’t know what their circumstances are. I don’t know how I was able to overcome it but I wanted to at least give them some hope that they can take steps to be a little better tomorrow that they are today.
Ralph Zuranski: When was the lowest point in your life and how did you change your life path to one of victory over the obstacles you were facing at that time?
Tom Beal: Wow, the lowest point. That’s a good question. Here’s one and it’s a weird one. I was the number one honor graduate in boot camp and had three merit choice promotions in 4 years, I was the man. I was like the kid on the block. I was like the epitome of a marine.
Tom Beal: I was up for MECP, Marine Enlistment Commissioning Program. They were going to take me out of the enlistment and put me in college and have me come back as an officer. At the same time we had just been transferred from Cherry Point, North Carolina to Yuma, Arizona.
Tom Beal: Little did we know there had been a circumstance there with hazing. This was right around the time of the movie with Tom Cruise called “A Few Good Men”. So hazing is like what fraternities do and all that fun stuff. But we didn’t know that since that event occurred they said the next time something occurs like this we are going to set a precedent.
Tom Beal: We didn’t know that. We picked up a couple of dead beats that got passed over to our platoon and everyone wanted to get this one kid. I didn’t and wasn’t for that stuff. Basically I was there to make sure it didn’t get out of hand.
Tom Beal: To make a long story short, I made sure it didn’t get out of hand but everybody that was there was busted including me. So I went in the matter of one sentence from being the top person in that whole base basically to being demoted.
Tom Beal: Internally to be at the top of your game and have the carpet pulled out from under you and have the package ripped up was probably the toughest point in my life.
Tom Beal: Because, I knew that I had done good and physically stopped this from getting where it shouldn’t have been. But I also chose to be there. I own the fact that I was there and also own the fact that I did make sure this kid didn’t get harmed in any way.
Tom Beal: But, I chose to be there. By choosing to be there I chose to be demoted. It took me a long time to own that. So that was the lowest point. I was able to overcome it and getting meritorially promoted once again.
Tom Beal: It took me a couple of months to work through that. I had to learn it is what it is. I was worrying about it but knew there was nothing I could do about it other than be the best that I can today. I decided to be the best that I could and I ended up getting promoted again after that.
Ralph Zuranski: Was there anyone who helped give you the willpower to change things in you life for the better?
Tom Beal: Oh boy. Books, tapes, mentors and my grandfather. My grandfather was probably the stable rock I had in the chaos as a child. My mother was 17 so he was at an age where people his age were having kids.
Tom Beal: Through all the adversity I lived with him a lot. He owned a business, a hardwood flooring business. I would go with him when I was about 7 or 8 or 9 years old with him and lay some hardwood floors and he taught me.
Tom Beal: He’d say “Tom go clean up that room up we were just in.” I’d go clean the room. He’d say”OK everything is good but you didn’t clean this room over here.”
Tom Beal: I called him ‘Papa.’ I’d say “Papa we weren’t even in that room.” He’d say “Exactly, Tom the lessen in life is to leave a place better than when you got here.” And if we could all do that, leave this place better than when we got here I think that pretty much sums it up.
Ralph Zuranski: How important was it to believe your financial dreams would eventually become reality?
Tom Beal: Financial dreams, here’s the thing, through all that adversity and poverty as a child there was a lot of brainwashing as far as what people who were wealthy did and how they did people wrong. All the normal stuff people hear like money doesn’t grow on trees and all the other negative stuff.
Tom Beal: But knowing and having faith in the law of sowing and reaping and the law of cause and effect, knowing that if you’re able to contribute value you will be compensated. If you’re doing the best you can just like when I was in the marine corp. Circumstances are the way they are but if I can just continue to provide value I’ll be rewarded.
Tom Beal: I was rewarded with promotions and such. In the free world the more value you are able to contribute to more people you’ll be rewarded. It’s just a matter of how much value you are providing. You can do a check by taking a look at your bank account. That will tell you exactly how much value you’re providing people at this particular point in time.
Tom Beal: It doesn’t mean you can’t change it or improve it. Recognize where your starting point is and then see how you can contribute more value. There’s a quote by Zig Ziglar that says basically all your dreams can come true by the amount of people you help their dreams come true.
Ralph Zuranski: How important is it to know exactly how much money you want to have in your bank account and by what date?
Tom Beal: Setting parameters like that are pretty important I feel. Because just saying I want a lot and not putting a time frame on it doesn’t quantify it and doesn’t give it the proper energy to create that or manifest it. I think taking an exact figure in a time frame is one of the smart things you could chose to do.
Tom Beal: I want x amount, pick whatever x is for you because it’s all relative. What’s a lot to me are pennies to others and vice versa. So what is your x and by when do you want it? And how are you going to do that?
Tom Beal: Just by stating it, you better have a plan because how are you going to do that? I’m going to provide value. Ok, who are you going to provide value to? Pick that crowd. What am I going to provide that is of value that they are willing to part with their hard earned finances to invest in?
Ralph Zuranski: What is your definition of heroism?
Tom Beal: Whew, heroism. I think my definition of heroism is going back to that other statement. Someone who is doing the best they can and has a goal and is committed to being better tomorrow than they are today. I feel like that’s a hero.
Tom Beal: Kind of like the definition of a goal like Earl Nightingale said, the pursuit of a worthy goal or ideal. So anyone who’s in high school and going to class and doing their homework is a success because they are pursuing that worthy ideal or goal.
Tom Beal: As long as anybody is committed to being better tomorrow than they are today, in my min d that’s a hero.
Ralph Zuranski: Did you ever create a secret hero in your mind that helped you deal with life’s difficulties?
Tom Beal: I had a period when I was younger and I named myself like Batman, Superman and my name was like 10 super heroes in a row. I wanted everyone to call me that. I tried being that but I love the American Legion cartoons and stuff like that.
Tom Beal: I would always have little toys and create conversations with some of these super heroes. Also kind of like I explained “What would your mentor do?” I’d think well what would superman do or batman do in this type of scenario? I’d have fun with it as a kid but also there would be some wisdom.
Tom Beal: I feel in some of those things there would be some wise choices being made. If it was a superhero that was being portrayed normally they were for good and making good choices.
Ralph Zuranski: What were the qualities and attributes of your secret hero or your real life heroes when you were growing up?
Tom Beal: Helping others, being a servant and proper decision making.
Ralph Zuranski: Who are the HEROES in your life now?
Tom Beal: Right now there are a lot of heroes I’m fortunate to be working with. I’m actually working with some of my heroes, people I looked up to and still look up to. Best selling author Jeffrey Gidemer, I work with on a regular basis. He’s a hero. He has certain qualities that I’m looking to emulate.
Tom Beal: A person I’m working with right here in this office, Mike Filsaime and just the attributes he has in assisting others in accomplishing their dreams and goals. Jim Kelly, the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback.
Tom Beal: In fact I’m the president of the company I formed with him. To see the life of faith and how to truly overcome adversity, the adversities I’ve stated are nothing compared to Jim’s story. I did interview him and you can see that at jimkellylive.com and he talks in depth about a lot of adversity and how he was able to overcome it.
Tom Beal: So seeing someone who puts my adversity to shame on a scale and here’s the fun part, it’s not a competition everybody has their own. It’s all relative but how are you dealing with it?
Tom Beal: How am I dealing with it? That’s all that really matters. It doesn’t matter how anybody else is dealing with it wrong or right. How are you dealing with it and how can you make it better.
Ralph Zuranski: How important is it to have trusted friends or a master mind group to bounce your ideas off?
Tom Beal: Master mind is extremely vital to success. I talk about Jim Kelly. In his Hall of Fame induction speech he didn’t get up there and flex his arms and say “I’m Jim Kelly and I made it to the NFL. I deserved it.”
Tom Beal: He gave credit where credit was due. He gave credit to his coaching staff, to his linemen, his team mates, his receivers who were able to run the routes and catch the ball and his running backs. In life you need to have your team.
Tom Beal: One of the lessons I learned in studying all these success things at an early age was how to become a self made millionaire. I think that’s a total fallacy. I think it probably can be done but it takes ten times longer than if you were to choose to be a team millionaire. How can you assemble the proper team to assist you in accomplishing your goals much more quickly?
Ralph Zuranski: How does the master mind team make a positive difference in your life?
Tom Beal: The master mind is there to help you in times of difficulty, to overcome adversity and also pushes you and holds you accountable with some of the goals and stride to achieve your goals.
Ralph Zuranski: Who do you feel are the real heroes in our society today that are not getting the recognition and rewards they deserve?
Tom Beal: Oh boy. The heroes would be the firemen, police, teachers and all those people are creating so much impact. The military are in some cases taking a lot of heat yet they are protecting the freedoms we embrace. Also those teaching the kids proper things whether its teachers, firemen, police officers, those people I feel are a little under appreciated.
Ralph Zuranski: Why are HEROES so important in the lives of young people?
Tom Beal: Heroes give hope. I think people especially children need hope. Especially in my circumstances reflecting on my childhood, I needed some hope thinking is this how it’s going to be? As a child you don’t know any better.
Tom Beal: You only know the circumstances you are surrounded by so I thought everybody was going through the difficulties I had until I reached a point where I thought I was the only one who thought these circumstances were occurring. I feel hope is something as a society as a whole needs.
Ralph Zuranski: What are the things parents can do that will help their children realize they too can be HEROES and make a positive
impact on the lives of others?
Tom Beal: Exposing them to the proper things. Not letting them watch the movies that have all the violence and the bad things occurring and the TV programs that have the same things.
Tom Beal: But, exposing them to the empowering books and videos that can show them heroes. That can also give them hope and give them people and things to aspire to look up to.
Ralph Zuranski: How do people become heroes?
Tom Beal: By choice…choosing to build a foundation of ethics, honesty, belief and faith. There’s a quote and let me see if I can get this right, “I’m going to improve myself for you. I love you so much I’m going to improve myself. To choose the best you that you can be is all it takes to be a hero.
Ralph Zuranski: How does it feel to be recognized as an Internet HERO?
Tom Beal: Humbling. I’m just a normal person. The funny part is dealing with all these other people I’ve been able to be ok with that because they are all normal people too.
Tom Beal: Whether it’s Jim Kelly or Jeffery Gidemer they are just doing the best they can with what they know how. I feel that’s all I’m doing and that’s all anybody that’s listening to this is doing.
Ralph Zuranski: Why do you think you were selected for this unique honor?
Tom Beal: By choosing to be in the game. Just by choosing to attend seminars your life can and will be changed. By getting in the game and going out and being with other people who accomplishing great things. That’s the simple answer.
Ralph Zuranski: How will being recognized as an Internet HERO change your life?
Tom Beal: Hopefully it will fulfill my burning desire which is to assist the people and understanding that there are steps you can take today to achieve your dreams and goals.
Tom Beal: Hopefully my story has been inspirational to someone whether they’ve gone through similar circumstances or have heard something in my story that would trigger them to strengthen their power of choice muscles and their decisive muscles and willingness to take action.
Ralph Zuranski: How are you making the world a better place?
Tom Beal: I think by choosing to be in the game and by choosing to put this energy out. Also choosing to tell my story. And as you heard choosing to tell some situations that may make some people feel uncomfortable.
Tom Beal: That goes back to being uncomfortable. Some people have actually asked me, Tom why did you tell that story? Why did you tell about your wife and the car wreck?” I feel it’s a story that needs to be told because someone out there needs to hear it. My hope and my prayer is that it is out there and it’s going to open up someone’s heart.
Ralph Zuranski: Do you have any good solutions to the problems facing society, especially racism, child and spousal abuse and violence among young people?
Tom Beal: Yes I think that goes right back to what other heroes have told you, start with yourself. There’s nothing we can do, not one thing can I change in another person.
Tom Beal: I can only change things in me I can only choose within the spirit of influence I have which is through me. If I can be that light house making the right moves and making the right choices and setting an example then that’s the best I can do.
Tom Beal: If everyone were to take that responsibility and to choose to set an example in their own sphere that would solve most if not all the problems.
Ralph Zuranski: If you had three wishes for your life and the world, that would instantly come true, what would they be?
Tom Beal: I wish that everyone could have the inner peace that I’m searching for. Or at least make the choice to begin that journey of inner peace. Have the faith knowing that everything does work for good.
Tom Beal: Also, to boldly live the life to fulfill the destiny that they each have. I see a lot of people living half lives and walking sheepishly forward instead of boldly forward in their lives. I think that would be a tremendous thing to witness.
Ralph Zuranski: What do you think about the In Search Of Heroes Program and its impact on youth, parents and business people?
Tom Beal: I was real excited to hear about it in March 2005 when you first told me about it. I was really excited to hear that you were putting these things together for years. The wisdom that’s going to be shared I think is going to dramatically impact people’s lives.
Tom Beal: Similar to when Napoleon Hill studied all the top experts of the 1900’s. I think the wisdom you have captured and are willing to share with the youth and society as a whole will positively impact future generations.
Ralph Zuranski: Tom, thank you so much yours was an astounding story.
Tom Beal: Thanks for the interview. I appreciate it. Talk to you later, bye.
“Success is easy…like Marine Corps Boot Camp!”
After being born to teenagers, raised around 4 divorces & 6 marriages, going to 9 different schools by 8th grade, and raised on welfare…
I was able to become a National Bicycle Champion, the #1 Honor Graduate in Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island, recipient of 3 meritorious promotions in 4 years while in the Marine Corps, #1 in 5 sales organizations, Publisher of The North Carolina Home Book, and President of Kelly-Media, Inc (a Jim Kelly – NFL HOF QB company), then as VP of Marketing for MikeFilsaime since February of 2006 assisted in producing over $20 million in online results.
My goal is to assist people in understanding that it doesn’t matter where they came from or where they may be right now; there are steps that can be taken TODAY which can lead them to fulfilling their dreams, personally & professionally.
This goal is accomplished mainly through my various web sites and very limited personal 1-on-1 coaching. I also conduct live seminars, webinars, and tele-seminars.
You can locate some extreme value at:
http://www.tombeal.com
Plus 222+ inspiring videos at:
http://tombeal.tv
And learn how I went from 196 pounds and a 34″ waist to 168 pounds and a 30″ waist in 60 short days at:
http://mytransformationsecrets.com
From those you will find numerous valuable online resources which can assist you in ensuring this is your best year ever!
Make Today Great!
Tom Beal
PS – My main goal is to assist people in leading lives of Extreme Fulfillment which to me means doing what you want, when you want, with whom you want, all while loving what you do and loving the people you spend the most time with.
Specialties: Internet marketing, networking, sales, marketing, speaking, negotiating, overcoming obstacles, reaching top 1%, systemization