If I Could Read Your Mind

Here’s my 10x lesson for employees and entrepreneurs to achieve whatever they want.

But first, let me tell you an unusual story way back when I was still in school.

You see, I grew up reading about an unusual mystifier called Uri Geller.

Among other things, he could read total strangers’ minds (and they would be totally shocked). Not only that, he was also using his mind to bend metal spoons on live TV shows which received countless phone calls from viewers about spoons bending on their own in their homes in the US. This happened in the mid 1970s.

Geller’s feats made a huge impression on me. In my young mind, I wanted to emulate him one day as doing the impossible had always fascinated me. Because if I could do what he had done, I could be anything I wanted, if nothing else.

In any case, there was nobody around me to tell me I couldn’t be like him (because they didn’t know what I wanted to be as I had kept this to myself).

So I wasn’t operating under any restrictions. Plus I simply didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to be able to do what he did.

I set a plan in motion. I had to first figure out how to do what Geller did. It wasn’t easy, and I kept hitting a wall.

But one fine day, I figured it out. It was some years later, but I eventually could do what Geller did — exactly the way he did it.

While this was exciting, bending cutleries in my friends’ homes would just confine the excitement to their homes.

If I wanted to make a bigger impact, I needed a bigger platform.

In the 1990s, that would be TV. Just like Geller had done more than 20 years before I started thinking about doing the same thing.

With that as the objective, it was a simple matter of contacting the media asking them for a live interview session where I would demonstrate both mind reading and spoon bending to them.

Now which journalist, radio and TV hosts could resist experiencing their minds being read, or witnessing spoons bending right before their very eyes?

And so newspaper editors sent reporters to do live interviews with me to satisfy their curiosity, if nothing else. And the reporters were excited to do this.

Of course, I duly read their reporters’ minds and bent spoons they have examined to be normal (in fact, I asked them to bring their own spoons from home), as I focused on them. The newspaper reports would contain my photos and pictures of the bent and sometimes broken spoons. My professional name as a mind reader is “Shaun Tan”. I would use “Sen Ze” as the name for my business books and assets not related to mind reading.

Here are some of of those articles:

Next up would be the radio stations. Because radio is not a visual medium, the radio hosts would describe what I was doing to them which was reading their minds and bending spoons they have examined, right in front of them.

The shocked expressions of the hosts conveyed in the tone of their voice would reveal the impossibility of what was going on, to the equal amazement of their listeners.

Finally, the TV stations. I landed a few spots on morning chat shows that were broadcasted live nationwide. They would be my biggest challenge as I had never done anything live on TV before.

But if I wanted to do something on a huge scale, TV needed to be a part of it.

And I would end up being a hit on these TV stations, as they had never seen anything like it up until then.

But what about total strangers calling in to report that their spoons were also bending on their own in their homes, like the calls Geller received?

Well, those phone calls flooded in as well! They really were people unknown to anybody in the studio calling in, a bit shocked at what they were experiencing.

And with that, my emulation of Geller was complete.

Here are some photos taken directly from a camera in front of the TV that showed some of my mind-reading and spoon-bending feats live on a TV station on different occasions:

In the photo above, I was reading the mind of Malaysian songstress Sharifah Aini. Malaysia’s population is more than 30 million people, and the morning live chat shows were watched by quite a number of them.

And in the photos below, I was performing on stage reading minds, bending spoons, divining information contained in sealed envelopes, and much more. My appearances in the media helped me secure a lot more gigs as an entertainer and for more money, at the same time:

The effect of spoons bending remotely while I was doing it live would happen everywhere, even when I was performing on stage at a dinner event. In the photo above, you can see a stunned member of the audience displaying a bent spoon at her table.

And that’s the story of my side career as a mind reader and spoon bender, from 1996 - 2000.

I eventually chose to focus on Internet Entrepreneurship instead, starting from the year 1999.

The reason is simple. I could get 10x more leverage with Internet systems and tools than as a performer selling only his time. I could also make 10x the money, while putting in 10x less work.

This is a story for another day. But for now, here are the 10x lessons in this issue.

The 10x Lessons

1. Remove limiting beliefs
I didn’t have anyone around me telling me I couldn’t do what Geller did. That worked in my favor. Many people don’t achieve what they wanted because either people around them tell them they can’t, or they think they need to be somebody special. If you want to achieve big things, start by questioning every limitation you’ve accepted as fact.

2. Persistence is key
It took me years to figure out how to do what Geller did. I kept hitting a wall but never stopped. Most people give up too soon. If you want to achieve something significant, you need to keep at it until you break through.

3. Success leaves clues
I didn’t reinvent the wheel. I studied someone who had already done what I wanted to do. Whether in business, investing, or career growth, look for those who have succeeded before you. Learn from them. (If you want to learn from me about growing your business with AI, or ensuring you still have a job under the AI onslaught, just email me at [email protected].)

4. Make an impact, not just an impression
I could have just performed for my friends, but I wanted a bigger platform. Business and career success work the same way. Don’t just do something for a small group. Find ways to scale your impact.

5. Leverage the right platforms
TV, radio, and newspapers helped me amplify my reach. Today, social media, podcasts, and digital platforms provide similar opportunities, although in a more fragmented way. If you want to grow quickly, focus on the right stage.

6. People are drawn to the extraordinary
Journalists and TV hosts were excited to see mind-reading and spoon-bending because they were unusual then (and still are). In business and life, the more unique your offer, the more attention you attract.

7. Action attracts opportunities
Once I started appearing in the media, more gigs and higher-paying opportunities came my way. Success works like a snowball. Take action, and momentum builds naturally.

8. Be willing to step into the unknown
I had never been on live TV before, but I did it anyway. The biggest opportunities often come with uncertainty. Growth happens when you take action despite not knowing exactly how things will turn out.

9. Positioning matters
I positioned myself as an expert by getting featured in newspapers, radio, and TV. In business and career growth, how people perceive you matters. The right positioning opens doors.

10. Know when to pivot
I could have continued as a performer, but I saw a bigger opportunity in internet entrepreneurship. Sticking to something just because you’ve already invested time in it can be a trap. Always assess whether a new path offers better returns. If it does, pursue it with no regrets.

That wraps up this issue. Hopefully you have found it useful.

Most importantly, take massive action to get what you want.

Cheers!

P.S. Click here for AI-powered investing.

NOTE:

The 10x Factors for investors’s content is educational in nature, with examples used to illustrate the learning points. We are not financial advisors and do not provide financial advice. Please speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Note that every investment comes with its own risks and drawbacks. Past results cannot guarantee future returns. Do not invest with money you cannot afford to lose.

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