Millionaire Bootcamp for Women held over the last weekend brought together women who know how to make money easily with women who have not done it yet (and want to!) Internet marketing, property, NLP, and speaking were the most popular route to riches, but vision, strategy and above all generosity were the hallmarks of the weekend.
Was the bootcamp different because the audience was women and the presenters were women?
The aim of the weekend was to empower women to make money. It was the brain-child of Stephanie Hale who started a project to interview 12 women millionaires so she could leave a legacy if her brain tumour diagnosis was accurate. Luckily it was not, and the millionaire bootcamp for women became a spin-off reality a year later with the help of Mark Anastasi. The big idea was that the support and the strategies are available for women for millionaire-dom.
Both women and men speak with passion, both can be self-made millionaires, both can hold the stage, and both can want to spend more time with the people they love. So what was different about this weekend?
I found it unusual and inspirational to have women as presenters. Internet marketing was the most-frequently cited route to riches and there are direct comparisons to be made with most internet marketing events which are dominated by men.
More variety in presentation styles. Women have more choice over what to wear than men, but there was a very rich variety of presenting styles, too. From walk-around or stationary, glammed up or unmadeup, entertaining or serious, polished or disorganised I did indeed feel empowered to be what I wanted to be, and that making lots of money could be easy. The internet marketing world in particular is dominated by charismatic entrepreneurial men, and what they offer seems like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I had not realised that something was missing until I saw these speakers.
The importance of vision in the making of money was an integral part of most presentations.. This is not exclusively the territory of women, of course, particularly as Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich (written by a man interviewing men) was often cited as inspiration. However the presenters felt as though they were in permanent relationship with a vision, rather than using the vision-as-project.
Tracy Repchuk was on first. She has made squillions in a very short time on the internet, and was already retired as a millionaire before she started. Her initial focus was on dreaming the dream, (and you got the very strong impression that she really cares) as well as explaining the mechanism for money production. Jennifer Hough, the second speaker, spoke about energy and less effort. I was in awe by lunch time – this was my kind of conference – spiritual values and money. Not one at the expense of the other… and I have not experienced this so vividly before.
More value expressed to the people who matter. Men in internet marketing refer to those around them, but I have not seen it done with such a sense of gratitude. Nearly all the women mentioned the people closest to them with pride and gratitude: parents, partners children, friends. The fact that these women are millionaires of course made the message stronger: you can be happy and be rich. You don’t have to be a bitch to earn a lot of money. You can be successful and be loved. You can get the support of those who love you.
Real confidence expressed in tone of voice and body language. The cars, the toys, the houses and the dream travel are often included in presentations to give credibility to the speaker, and it happened here, too. But it was inspiring to be with successful women who are “on message”, enjoying their wealth (Jennie Amato has a red helicopter to match her red shoes), happy to talk about their lifestyle, and wish this same freedom for other women from a position of strength not battling against a male enemy.
More generosity about being part of the event. Many of the speakers were around and able to talk over the two days, which gave a fantastic opportunity to get to know them before making up your mind if you wanted them as a mentor. Jo Martin, who gave the most memorable virtuoso performance of the event, also referenced previous speakers, and in particular Gill Fielding who had spoken the day before. Yes, men do this too, but the women felt more accessible. It was especially good that Stephanie (organiser of the whole thing) was around and very easy to talk to, and not remotely self-important.
Less drama in the “rags” part of the rags to riches story. Male internet marketers often tell dramatic stories about the low points in their lives: in fact as you are listening you can almost wish that you had experienced being shot at, being homeless, or bankrupt as that seems to be the pre-requisite for riches later.
The women told their stories differently: less “out there” and more of an “in here” realisation at a moment of breakthrough. In fact speakers wanted the break through not to have to come through ill health or some dramatic story but a willingness to change attitude and change their life.
And was the audience different because they were women? It did not seem like a “female-only audience” – but of course the queues for the Ladies was longer, and offered more opportunity for the casual meeting and greeting which can lead to relationships! I suspect also that the female audience was more intent on giving back having received inpsiration and strategies for free.
Entrance was free which is in accordance with the law of reciprocity as outlined in Robert Cialdini’s book “Influence” which is a handbook for the internet marketing world. The principle is that you receive something and want to give back. Of course this is a key part of many religions and philosophies and is also networking. Congratulations to Mark Anastasi for having enabled this to happen.
I imagine that there were many sign-ups, but I am absolutely convinced that the spark of empowerment and inspiration will be paid back many times over. I was already booked in with Jo Martin and Ed Dale in November, and didn’t feel I had the mind-space to take on another course. Do I know who I want to work with in the future? Certainly do.
The Millionaire Bootcamp for women was inspired by Stephanie Hale and the event was organised by Mark Anastasi. Speakers were: Jennie Amato, Joanna Martin, Leili McKinley, Gill Fielding, Heather Seitz, Naomi Sassaye, Jennifer Hough, Lynda Dyer, Tracy Repchuck, and Maria Davies.