Braco Pobric 0:00
Welcome to Business and happiness podcast. I'm your host Braco Pobric. This episode is sponsored by life Success Academy, a place where you recreate your business and personal happiness. So today I have a very special guests, my friend, my student for many, many years, Mark Baskin from Brazil. He's a certified the positive psychology master coach. And he's been using the tools for many years. But today what we really want to do mark is, I wanted to talk about something that you have a unique unique view, unique position and unique, unfortunate experience. And that's about how you connected chronic pain, and happiness. Hey, Mark, welcome, buddy. How are you?
Marc Bestgen 0:54
Thank you What so thank you very much. It's really a pleasure for me to be there with you today. It's fantastic. And this month, we celebrate three years of friendship. It's three years ago that I didn't I took your first course. And then we we keep keep in touch. It's really beautiful. I really enjoy it. Yes.
Braco Pobric 1:22
So thank you, my friend is so do I have to say that I learned so much from you?
Marc Bestgen 1:28
Yeah. All Allama I got no, no, no, I think it's opposite. It's me from you. Anyway. Yes. Don't I'm sorry. My English sometime, maybe a bit hesitant because I speak French. Mostly.
Braco Pobric 1:43
Your English is great. And if you want to speak a French, I studied the French but I really forgot all about it. So I don't think we can speak French. But you can speak any people understand it's up to them. Yes.
Marc Bestgen 1:59
So I will quickly speak about my past because it explains what I do today. So please, hi. I worked 25 years with Doctors Without Borders. I'm not a medical person. But I worked in the mission as administrator of missions. It was fantastic time I visited almost all countries in Africa in Asia. And one day, I had a very, very dramatic accident. And this was 14 years ago. And I went in emergency room. The doctor told me that he told my wife that they don't know if I will survive and it was very bad. And I survived it thanks to the the medical center hearing in Brussels. And but they say that I will not be able to work again. But finally, I learned to work again. And now I can I can work and I can also run. So that is for the bit little history. What is the point is that it happened 14 years ago, but I stay with chronic pain, very strong chronic pain for years. Yes,
Braco Pobric 3:27
I'm sorry, if I if I can just interject for a second. I think what's really interesting, which I was really like, just you and I had a lot of discussions about this. But what's really interesting is you have this chronic pain and yet you decided to live a different life and to study happiness and to coach people on happiness. I wanted to mention one thing with your chronic pain, which is like so important. You know, we had weekly sessions and so on. I remember you were in a hospital and you reached out and you said hey, I'm practicing I'm in hospital, but I'm still working on it. So I think that's really the message to people as we move forward with your with your story that that that we can live a happy life even with such like chronic pain daily. And I know you end up in hospital often and so I'm sorry for interrupt, but just to set this
Marc Bestgen 4:26
No, no, it's okay. Yes, thank you. It's an essential, essential essential points that you mentioned. And I think that I managed to do all this because I found a purpose. A life purpose. And
Braco Pobric 4:45
do you mind me asking how did you find it and what that is?
Marc Bestgen 4:51
It is to continue to help people. The more I can do it, the more I'm happy. The end In fact, I, I have that from my mother, she, she liked to help everybody. So about me, she gave me this, this gem. And this last 14 years, I studied the the pain, the link with the pain and the mind and the feelings. Because I wanted to understand the pain. Of course, I could not go in missions anymore with humanitarian missions, I cannot spend an hour in a plan. And I was like, my god, what can I do now. And suddenly, I decided that I will help people from my place, because I cannot move much. To give the time I, I can give, it's not a full time job, because I cannot neither. With that in mind, and the study, one day, I found you two years ago, your course. And that that was like the trigger, because then I knew what I will do, I wanted to, to have my clients find back happiness. And that is exactly what you are teaching happiness. So that I studied your course, for three years now. And I use positive psychology with my clients now to help them in their life.
Braco Pobric 6:30
How do they I remember you and I had discussion, you know, again, starting, you know, couple years ago about chronic pain and happiness, and how do they how do they react to this, you know, when people are in such a pain, which, you know, I and many of the listeners cannot even understand or get closer to understand what you and your clients are going through. How do they act? What is their, you know, reaction to when you mentioned happiness, and they go through, like such a difficult time in life. react to that idea open? I mean, just curious how that works.
Marc Bestgen 7:10
They have open but also the a bit on the defensive. Because they saw people promising better days a lot. And yeah, oh, it never came maybe the apenas the only did not last for instance, they went to two meetings for positive thinking, and then it was okay. But when they stopped, it was not okay anymore. So they're very skeptic. The angle makes sense? Yes. Okay. So what I tell them is that I, I tell them Come on, I will never tell you that your pain will from one day to the other. Go away. So, because people told them that the pain will go away, but and I tell them also that I'm exactly like them. Yeah, that I researched for 14 years, this pain and mind shortcut. And also that I need to also to help someone in my family because my wife has Parkinson's disease. So I know exactly what can be the pain, and that I can help them with that. But it takes like one hour discussion between the client and me to feel secure. And feel that okay, this guy is maybe not lying. Like the other one that I saw. He seems okay. Let's try and to speak about happiness. Many people, they they don't believe it. The source
Braco Pobric 9:03
was they didn't experience happiness after they got into the chronic pain, right? It's just
Marc Bestgen 9:08
exactly yes. Yes, yes. Yes, exactly.
Braco Pobric 9:11
Let me ask you this. I wanted to have another session with you to focus on your clients and your tools that you use. But I wanted today to spend a little more time on you, and how you deal with chronic pain and what do you do and what is the connection? You know, what is the connection? We talked about mindfulness UI, and we talked about, you know, how do you tell people to be in the present moment? How do you stay in present moment when you're in such a pain? So I want to hear from you how you handle your life.
Marc Bestgen 9:47
Yes. And what is interesting is that what I do I tell exactly that to my clients. Of course what works with me may not to work with them, but we try there are many things that can help. The first thing is to realize that the pain is not as strong as we think. And that is something that the clients, what, what are you telling me, I feel. But when you have chronic pain, the message from the body, if you have pain in the arm, the message, the message, go through the nerves to the brain, and interpret it as pain. But when you have chronic pain, it's all the time that that that network is open all the time from your nerves to the brain. And that's creates like a way of pain, and the brain interprets the pain is being molded, then it is really. And once you know that, it's very interesting, because I know that I consider my pen to be much higher than it is in reality.
Braco Pobric 11:12
Compare that how do you like, you know, when you're in a pain, you know, I this morning I had a headache. And I just thought there was a pain it's a headache, right? How do you say you know, it's really it's not as high as I think like what's the kind of how do you interpret
Marc Bestgen 11:31
Yes. When you have chronic pain you you learn also with the medical staff to evaluate your pain level from say 10 So that in a crisis for instance, my pain would be at eight but when I take the time to sit and to say okay what is happening right now in my body? Because I shouting pain, pain, pain all over the house. But what is it what oh, is it exactly the level of this pain and when you take the time and that is in full control consciousness, when you take the time you sit, it's a bit like a mini meditation. You say, Okay, now I know that I have this pain but it's maybe not so much as a fault. And it does not work all the time. Maybe it works, it works many time to evaluate the level of the brain during a moment where you simply sit and say okay what is happening now in my body. And so there is something very interesting is that when we have chronic pain for instance back then okay, we with the doctor we say if back pain, pain in my back and the doctor say where exactly in your back when you have chronic pain the tendency is to be as is to say it's all over my back. Except very few cases, it's not like that. The pain is can be look located either us pain in Elfo long berries and five of us pain in the neck. But it's very very rare that you have pain in all the back all your back and knowing that the pain is kind of zero kacica In the next it in your brain you feel more confident you feel that you can have some effect on it and you say okay, the pain is only let's say 1/5 of my upper back. Okay, and like that you are more conscious of what is the reality of the pain in your body? Oh where is the pain? Exactly and what it is it's level seriously, it's something wonderful to know that that you can even influence mentally over the hydration that your pain is taking. Wow.
Braco Pobric 14:39
So does you know usually what I do and you know I don't have I don't have any chronic pain. But you know if something I get pain or what helps me is I said let this be the worst. You know I look at what other people going through remember you I mean I mean I get some pain. It could be Unit first thing per person I think of, and I go, Well, you know, look what Mark is going through, what am I complaining about? And that kind of helps me to, you know, two years to come. How about, you know, be it sounds like what you're doing is, instead of avoiding that, oh, I got a pain. Let me not worry about it. You staying in the present moment? And you're basically not judging and you're trying to figure out where the pain is, without really judging without, right. It's that's really mindfulness that's being in the present moment on purpose without judging. Is that what you think you are?
Marc Bestgen 15:41
Exactly? The mindful mindfulness first, as you know, and I didn't believe in it when you have grown? Yes. Why, because of what we spoke about. But I will say it again, for our friends listening is that the last thing that you want when you are in chronic pain is to be in the present moment, because you feel the pain, you knew what you say what you think, is, oh, my god, again, this pain I want to be tomorrow morning, I was set and I wish I'm tomorrow morning. But what I could realize is that if you are not mindful, you if you experience three times the pain is instead of one's Oh, wow, it goes USB now. But you also say, Whoa, I've been out and I spent this morning in the past. And I will probably explain to her tomorrow. Do you explain experience one physical pain, and two mental pains? Wow. US added let's say you you have an headache. Now, it's 10 o'clock in New York. And you think, oh, it's seven o'clock this morning. I I still had this pain, and it will last. So this is when you're not mindful. And it strikes me almost vayan violently that I say my got it through. Let's be mindful, let's honesty in this moment. And listen to this plan. What is what is it telling you?
Braco Pobric 17:32
John? Is it hard? And this is going back? You know, to our discussion? Is it hard to listen to your pain? It must be hard, right? I think it sounds like you have to learn to listen to your pain and to to be with it. Because you know, as Jon Kabat Zinn would say it's already there. So you may as well be with it, if you do have a pain, how hard it is in the beginning to learn.
Marc Bestgen 18:03
In fact, it can take some years. Yeah. Why? Because if the doctor tell you, I'm sorry, now, you will need to take these pills for the rest of your life you will have chronic pain. The first reaction is that you lost completely the self trust and you will want here and then watching on the Internet, what is happening about the pain you are everything except present to the pain because you search for external clues about the pain. But you do not try to to you do not accept the pain that takes some years. And then you you just want it to go back where it comes from and to. Of course it's very normal not to offend anymore, but this is this is very disastrous effects issue try to dismiss the pain when it is the issue say like, Okay, I will think about something else. And then my answer is no. Do not think about something else. Sit in a nice and comfortable chair. Brief and then be curious about your pain. No. Okay, some people tell me and I understand. They say it's very beautiful, but you don't know the level of my pain. It's really atrocious. I cannot do that. So many persons say that. And the answer is okay. Take just one minute and then maybe tomorrow you will take one moment to listen to this pen. What is what is it telling you? Because the pen can tell something about about yourself? And what is the location of your buying of your pain? Exactly? Is it all your body's aching? Or is it only the leg? Where is it like that you give attributes to the pain, make the pain, something in you that you will leave with, instead of an enemy.
Braco Pobric 20:35
It's raw.
Marc Bestgen 20:39
But I'm sure that if people listening, if chronic pain, they will say this guy's totally crazy, man. I assume.
Braco Pobric 20:49
But but the thing is that look. If anybody you are the expert on this, because you live it, you helped yourself, you now helping other people. Right? And, you know, again, you know, you're taking the happiness tools, and you're applying it to to the to this chronic pain, which is like incredible. So nobody can say this guy is you know, because you're limited. That's it, you're not teaching something, you know, when
Marc Bestgen 21:20
Yes. And the fact is, you say that I live it makes it makes my life any easier. You know what so many times I could not come to you webinar on Monday, because I felt pain. But I we talked to but I also have clients that 20 minutes before an appointment can sell it. But I know why. And I understand. So they will they say you will not be angry, but I want to go in bed because I don't feel good. And this is really and fully in my work. The time that I experience is pain too. Because I know that from one moment to the other, they can cancel an appointment.
Braco Pobric 22:10
Yeah, I know. You told me that. And I know I know what's going on. So So tell me just like how do you? So you know, we're talking about this chronic pain. And now you know, we're moving into the happiness. So how do you I know you ended up in hospital often, unfortunately, because of chronic pain. How do you you know you're in hospital and you you studying the happiness tools? And you basically get it back to me say hey, I practice such as such, you're in hospital. Do that. This is like, incredible. I can't even connect with
Marc Bestgen 22:48
them. Yes, most people they magazine. Yeah. I prefer to study what is happening in in me. But this is not from one day to the other. And let's explain also that my clients, I have a persona, the persona, typical person is someone age between 35. And my oldest client is 85 years old, is 85 years old. It's people who already tried everything for the last 10 years. So they, they just come now to the point where they start to be interesting in what is happening in their body. Exactly. And so they also now start to instead of a freezing fashion magazine in the hospital, they for instance, many are in in quest of meaning and purpose. And that is what they they read about 10 years after the first symptoms of pain, then it's true that sometimes life is tough, and we have pain that surrounds us like a tsunami. In this case, I cannot do anything. I just did some music in my iPhone and that's all way Yes.
Braco Pobric 24:26
So, a 10 Thanks. That's that's really great. I'm just so so please how you taking all of this and helping other people and that was This is how you you know, like you said, you know, once we find our meaning and purpose. Everything becomes easier. I think you gave a lot of tips and advices to people who even just have a little pain, right? Not even they don't have to have a chronic pain like unfortunately you do. What's the most like one thing you would like to leave the people But wait, you know people have a pain, but they also want to be happy. They want to change something in their life. But But it's hard, they don't know, you know how to it's like, maybe one or two things you will tell them.
Marc Bestgen 25:12
Yes to do or not to do. I took some notes before our meeting, to give practical tips for your clients. For instance, something that can help people a lot is to have an interest in something to find meaning why because when you have such a pain, probably you don't work anymore. You are under Social Security, you lose your work. At some people, they don't know what to do once they are they're at home, and they start watching TV and about something that is fundamental, I think, is to find a purpose in your life. It can be anything it can be, I will build the Titanic in Lego pieces. I will paint over will write a book, or I will try to work five key tomorrow.
Braco Pobric 26:15
So basically what we saying is this is not about oh, let me find a huge why huge numbers. Why am I here? But it's it could be a daily purpose. Right brilliance of the day? Yeah, yes, that's good,
Marc Bestgen 26:27
then what you said about the big purpose that is interesting, because many people in pain, they go to search for answers on the spiritual side. And there they speak about a larger meaning in their life. And me also my spiritual life is, is is really big. It's bigger than I see my friends in time, I mean, to read sacred texts, to read the life of Buddha, and so on. So it's something that is fundamental, I think, for the people after some time to find an interest in something, and maybe they will go forever, like you say to find their big wide. But I don't tell them to search for their big. Why? Because they will get stressed. Exactly. Yes. OB I tell them, Don't be on Facebook all the time. It can it can be anything but even interest. So that is one. Okay, one thing that I tell people to do, there is another thing that is very helpful. When you are in pain, you do not think positively. Okay, but I'd say try to think positively. And as soon as you expand. I'm journaling. Like, it's my fifth journal. I write everything positive that happened to me the day before. And it can be very small things. Like I took a very good coffee at Starbucks, then the sun was shining, and I met that little girl who made her smile. To me, that is very, very helpful to try to have the brain think about positive things instead of ruminating about the negative.
Braco Pobric 28:39
Journaling is extremely helpful. Like for anyone, there's so much research behind journaling. And even if we journal about bad things that happen to us even that is good. But it's better to journal first like you do.
Marc Bestgen 28:51
Yes, yes, exactly. Yes, it's very important. Another thing is that it's a bit like the like about the meaning and the purpose. But to have excitement for the future. Like is yes. And it's also it can be very small thing like for instance you are Monday excitement for the future could be that your children come to eat at your place Sunday and it will be a beautiful event. So this is important, this excitement for the future. Or I will go in on it in two months. This is like your next target points and you think about that and you're not sure this positive excitement for the future. This is very important. And there is another thing in your course we spoke about the life will you explain about this wheel when we have one quadrant is alpha Number One his family, another one spirituality, and then what is the work that we have? I do the life will with everyone who asked me for support. And why because many times when you do this, this life will that you feel it, you will see that you have lost contact with your friends many time because you are in your pen and you you only see your pen, you lose contact with the friends. So the friendship is very important. Also the family that you lose track of the family. So the life will I like it at the start of with a new client to see where are the gaps is, yeah, because these are the pain is making you miss a lot of things in your life.
Braco Pobric 31:07
Yeah, and you know, just just for the audience, this wheel of life is basically like a standard tool that a lot of coaches are using. And even, you know, everybody we should be using, but you're basically looking at different areas of your life, you know, from spirituality, to friendship, to work, to income, to family, relationships, and so on. And then kind of looking how you're doing in each area. So obviously, what the mark is doing is looking at how clients are doing eg areas, and he's finding that a lot of people lost that, when it comes to that friendship. And that makes sense, because they're in pain and they don't, you know, they don't want to reach to anybody, they just want to like stay with their pants.
Marc Bestgen 31:46
And great about these tools is also something important. I took a class by Indian guru, yoga master, and is also a doctor in medicine, and is speaking about Ben and he say he is free tools that you use with the people in bed. And it's to meditate first to sit in meditation should not be something that you need to prepare for one day before you can sit anywhere you want, you work and you meditate in the same time. So, his recommendation is to meditate every day for 20 minutes. And that will help. Also, he said there is something very important with the chronic pain that our breath brief regulation is totally upside down. When we have pain we we cannot go the breath the breath is anything but good. So he said to breathe from the belly, very deep, the very deeply and that will help us also to release the stress and the pain. And his first recommendation is to thence to he said unless the pain is too I tried to make some movement then even if you are in a wheelchair, move your arms to the sound of the music and I was like oh yes. And then I remember that Insight Timer that is a meditation. There is a guy who is becoming very known there for his dancing meditations. So you see him on the screen is dancing, and he sang positive affirmations to the people who follow in and I found that is really beautiful. That this kind of meditation then seeing is something that can help if the people can can be they can? Yes,
Braco Pobric 34:09
yes, this is yeah, this is really great. So I just wanted to like recap of some of these ideas that you give to folks. So it's, you know that they have a chronic pain and even like any pain, I think this will help anytime I get pain. So it's to have an interest, right? To do the journaling. To be excited, excited for the future. I really like this I'd like them all to look at it reel of life and look at different areas of your life and see how you're doing and if you lacking somewhere to kind of you know, do some work there if you will, to do the meditation, you know, certainly breathing that can like help us with everything and move you know, we are meant to move and we just don't move enough. So you know, I do live this out just going basement, you know first thing in the morning when I do exercise and often I'll just dance by myself
Marc Bestgen 35:00
This sounds good. Yes, Mark, thank
Braco Pobric 35:02
you so, so much. This has been really, really wonderful. I really appreciate your helping
Marc Bestgen 35:09
full value. You teach me so many things in my life that it's really incredible. You too, so good for the people. It's wonderful to be with you.
Braco Pobric 35:21
Thank you, my friend. So do you. You taught me so many things over the years, and I will keep learning from you. Thank you so much, buddy. And I will talk to you soon my friend.
Marc Bestgen 35:31
Okay, thank you what's up? Oh, Mark
Braco Pobric 36:01
Alright, so today I have my friend posted psychology master coach, Mark Baskin from Brussel. Hello, Mark, how are you, buddy?
Marc Bestgen 36:11
Hello, what's up? I'm verifying over about you.
Braco Pobric 36:14
I'm doing good. I'm doing good. You know, although I know you deal with a chronic pain. It's, it's such a pleasure to see always your smiley face. And I wanted to talk today about you know, how do you help your clients with chronic pain? We talked about this, you know, in another episode, but I also want to talk about the coaching business, if you will, in your area in how did you start? Because you have a very specific coaching business very specific, you're the only one that I know, who created this business from, you know, from, from your unfortunate experience with chronic pain, and combining that with all the happiness tools and the to practice in your daily life. And now coaching and helping helping your clients. So yeah, how did you get started? And we'll just talk about things that you did to get your clients.
Marc Bestgen 37:16
Okay. I started things to you, because you explained so much Oh to do in your course. So what I did first is to create an announcement on Facebook, not even a paid announcement. It was just, Hey, Joe, I do this and that on our Facebook page. If you suffer from chronic pain of chronic pain, please contact me because I can help you. And the first month that happened that I had 40 people contacted me yes, it's really enormous. It was very huge amount. And I could not add them all. So I spread a bit in February, February March. Because it was I didn't advertise anything. But I think what is essential is like to say that I'm one of the only one who do that to every niche. That is very important. So what I did and you can do that on your in your topic if you don't put on chronic disease but your life coach also hand over kind of taught. What I did is to target Facebook groups speaking about my niche. So I for instance, I registered in Parkinson disease group in Belgium. Also, there are many groups of chronic pain sufferer and I registered in them. Not too much. The mistake I did first was to go in to be President. Yes I'm 20 groups and then then the people feel that you are there need to sell something. So let's
Braco Pobric 39:22
I project so let's let's talk about people feel like yourself something I think this is the key because quite frankly, people want something first they want to you know see if you can help them, then they want some help, then they want to feel comfortable. And then later on at the end. They don't want just people come to the group and sell so how did you handle that? Because I get questioned a lot like how do I go in and how much time do I have to spend you know before I really get the clients how did you handle that?
Marc Bestgen 39:52
I guess what I seen the groups it's really only people advertisement from people, so I knew what not to do from the start, because I stood Halle, for instance, one day on the group, you know, advertisement, someone advertising his work the day after is not there anymore because the admin of the group put him out. So what I did is to write a simple post in the groups with my picture saying hello, as the founder of chronic pain, and it, I would be very interested to communicate with you about this problem that you have. And simply that saying that I'm in the same kind of program than the people. And that I can offer something, it was a very short message. And it was it was nicely. So I think you can do it for whatever niche you want us to be naturally. Because it was for me a pleasure to be in these groups and to know a bit better, I'm not in this group. And if for speaking about my myself, so I like to be in these groups. I went from 20 groups to free groups, okay. And not the business group, but focused on Belgium. And that helped a lot. And now I spend time watching what is on this group without posting anything sometimes, so that I communicate with the people I like them both, because I really liked them. So it's very important to be natural not to, to light 25 posts of other people, because you think that they will be attracted in what you say, but to be natural and yes to. To be very simple. And Amber. Also, I say that because I see advertisement of some life coach, and they say I make a six figure per month, and it's a disaster, I think to to make to present yourself like that. So that a lot. Also, I contacted in Belgium, some associations directly that I found with them. And to associations, say, Okay, very nice. We will send you a test client. They, for instance.
With Parkinson disease, so they sent me one client, and then they will ask the client to feed back the association, it was if I was well fit or not in my chances that it worked. Okay, so that was good, because I think people now they think there is only interest internet to search for clients. But then I took my phone and I found these associations, and
Braco Pobric 43:30
they this is great advice. So So yes, you're right. So people think you're still on the internet. But the old marketing, it's still marketing, right? And selling when we just make a phone call. Still works really well. Right. So she reached out to Association. And this is how you get your first client test client from Association. Perfect. Yes. And you reached out you call them up and you say, Hey, this is what I do. You knew that this is the association is dealing with people with chronic pain, right? Yes.
Marc Bestgen 44:05
And if they are in the rest it I emailed them a two pages of the description of what I do and who I am. Exactly, yes. And then they contact me again if they want. Yes.
Braco Pobric 44:21
So let me ask you a simple question. You know, you said you mail them or email them something. And it's about what you do. And how did you create that? You know, two pages. I remember when you put your website and you started creating about your services, and it was of course in French. How did you What helped you come up sometimes people struggled to say, you know, yeah, I'm coach now what, how do I put this on paper? What do I offer? What is my package?
Marc Bestgen 44:50
Yes, it's it's a task that I procrastinated a lot because I I couldn't find the right words and the was a nightmare for me. So what I did is that I have a friend who is a life coach. Okay, and she likes to write. So we did it together. I told her what I do, and she was preparing it written only with very good advice. She told me to be a strike to the point to be brief, not to speak so too much about me. And to make the offer the most simple as possible. Yes, yes. And also to put some picture and voila. But I needed it. Months before to do that I didn't want to do I didn't want. I didn't know what to what, right. And something that is important, also is the website. Because I started a website, but I did not finish it. And I was like, Yeah, I lost clients. Because of that, because some they tell me, what's your website, and then I say I have one, but under construction, but if you want, we can speak over the phone. But after they don't contact me anymore, the website to see exactly what you have.
Braco Pobric 46:19
So your advice is that they actually have a website and have explained your surveys here.
Marc Bestgen 46:26
And you can have a free one with Google. You explained it in your last course. That is fantastic. Because it rained very I went to a site on Google Earth, they they liked it. It's really good.
Braco Pobric 46:42
So this, this is the value use right Google business. mastermind group. Wow. Yeah, you're right in reigns high and this and it's free. So it's, it's a good advice for people to do
Marc Bestgen 46:57
is to have the website and what I will start again now, next year, if COVID the law, it is to go to conferences about what you do what you like the same mindset people. And like that you can meet people and share what you do with other people and what they do themselves. As soon as we can, but we cannot in Brussels, the it's again, a red zone, when everything is full internet. But as soon as possible, I will go to these meetings when they open again,
Braco Pobric 47:34
I think that's a great idea. This is where I met, you know, so many connections. But you know, there are some online conferences, some who also create a community so that you can almost like stay in touch and meet and connect with people online. Yes, no, you know, very few really create a good community. I don't want to promote any now, but some, some create a good community where you can do, you know, kind of similar what you want to do in in
Marc Bestgen 48:05
person contests. Also, another thing that I can advise is to network maximum.
Braco Pobric 48:14
You know, you said networking, maximum. And I know I've been really big on network, but then the other day I looked at looked at your LinkedIn, what do you like 30,000 or 50,000 connections or something crazy? Yes,
Marc Bestgen 48:27
I really do maximum. I think it's 30,000? Yes.
Braco Pobric 48:32
That's a maximum.
Marc Bestgen 48:33
Yes. Yes. We
Braco Pobric 48:36
let's talk about this networking was the key in any business in getting job in anything. And, Tim, tell us how did you get to this point? How did you create huge LinkedIn network? I think that's important.
Marc Bestgen 48:55
Because I think that many key people are on it, mostly all the key people and why so many people, maybe terms come to my page is that I I do not post often, but when I post is something that comes from my heart about what I do. And people see the time not bombing, they like it. And I believe in LinkedIn, I can meet many actors. And in fact, it's fangs to LinkedIn that for instance, now I give course, in school, in coaching school in India, because someone contacted me and say, Oh, I see you speak a lot about meditation and so on. Can we ever have a call on on Zoom? Yes, it's like to say it's essential to have a good network. Yes.
Braco Pobric 49:58
How did you how did you develop this, I can tell you that I had a LinkedIn account. You know, I probably like one when did they start is 20 years ago or so like nobody knew about LinkedIn. But yet I have so many less you know, I admire how many I have you No, not even close to your your network. How did you create this? What did you do?
Marc Bestgen 50:24
Yes. A lot of people on my network of people I worked with, we've noticed result boulders around the world. Yes. And they they tell their friends that I'm cool. And they subscribe also to my, to my LinkedIn, many people I know, not 30,000, but many of them I know. Really?
Braco Pobric 50:51
Really? Yeah. Yes. You know, personally, what would you say the percentages are?
Marc Bestgen 50:57
Very small maximum people. I lose maybe 600? Yes, yes, yes. But there is also a special effect in LinkedIn. It's that to get the first 1000 people you need a lot of work. Don't want to make friend review. When I had under 1000 people I wanted to connect. And they tell me we don't know each other. But when I started to have 10,000, people asked me, of course, yes. connection because they think wow, this guy is so many people. Yes. And it's like a snowball. And before I read this number per day, I had like 20 demands.
Braco Pobric 51:51
Yeah, you get yet now people they want to help connect with you. So alright, so So that's networking. So LinkedIn, what else? What else you did, or I don't know now to for your business.
Marc Bestgen 52:06
What I did a lot is to, to share in my Facebook profile to my friends, because my friends asked me also what I do. And what is good is that most of them are from humanitarian missions and their medical stuff. So they're very interested in what I do with the chronic pain. They think it's wonderful. And like that, I could also spread my network a lot.
Braco Pobric 52:42
Through your personnel of Yes, face.
Marc Bestgen 52:45
Yes. And there is another thing also dealing with networking. I don't know in the United States, but in Belgium, the government create groups of people who want to launch a business and they help these people during six months. So you are in a group of 1516 people, each of them everything a different different ID of what they want to do. And they help you to make your business plan and how to do for instance, fundraising. It's very nice. Yeah, there
Braco Pobric 53:27
are there are similar, I think probably across the world, but yeah, there are there are similar organizations. Yes. Us. So that would be good. I remember at one point he also did. We were talking about Google, and didn't you belong to some Google? They also have some business. Right?
Marc Bestgen 53:49
That I don't remember,
Braco Pobric 53:50
he was something small business on Google. I remember that. I forgot what the link
Marc Bestgen 53:54
is. But yeah, I forgot.
Braco Pobric 53:56
Oh, you know what I wrote on my one of these big Well, a huge sticker. It startup that google.com?
Marc Bestgen 54:07
Yes, yes. Yes. And they give courses also
Unknown Speaker 54:12
in courses,
Marc Bestgen 54:14
or something? Yes, yes. Yes. Yes. Where? Yeah, networking is really essential.
Braco Pobric 54:21
So if I look at everything that you said, the networking seemed to be the key success to your business? Yes,
Marc Bestgen 54:30
exactly. Yes. But no, if I want to have some clients, I go to this free Facebook groups and I write again, maybe I can do what am I situation is this one as the pen? Because it's with Facebook that I had to boast of people coming. Yeah.
Braco Pobric 54:57
Right. Right. So And then you know what I think what I would like to see from you, which I know you'll be working on it, to, to create to reach even more people, because you have very specific nation people in in that area really, really need help, and possibly to start creating, you know, the online courses, online programs, you know, start reaching more people globally. I'm glad you're doing that in India, for the, you know, it's actually interesting. This is not the first time I'm hearing that people from East coming to West to ask us mindfulness and meditation. Interesting, right? Yes. But that's really great. So so let me just recap a little bit what what your, okay, because I think I know you did so much. You do so much in this space to get your clients and I know it, this all takes a time. People are not going to get this overnight. But if they do what you did, they will get their clients. So. So he talked about Facebook group in your niche, you talk about the associations that you reach you phone call letter at all works, putting the website, visiting, you know, going to conferences when the time allows. So even going to online conferences, networking, be with people, the LinkedIn, you know, friends, Facebook, you know, the groups to allow launch your business and so on. So this is all about, you didn't one time mentioned, paid marketing. I'm
Marc Bestgen 56:33
really hard on this. I never have.
Braco Pobric 56:36
Yeah, so I think I think what happens with the paid marketing, I always tell people do everything you can before you start paying, at some point, if you want to become huge, you're going to have to pay for marking no question, right? But but do everything what you basically are doing before you start paying because then you'll understand what needs to be done. based on expected results. Yes, yes, exactly. But thank you so so much. Okay. So so
Marc Bestgen 57:12
what I wanted to say like you say it's good to insist on that. It takes time because now we say okay, I make my website. I went on Facebook, LinkedIn to but it takes a lot of time. So don't discourage yourself. If the first year you don't have clients, or maybe one or two, my first time I took clients and I was very happy. Don't take some time. Maybe the first year you will not get much, but still believe in it. Yes.
Braco Pobric 57:51
I think this is the best advice you can give to new coaches. Take your time. Everything takes time. Believe in it. Keep pushing if this is your true calling you this is what you love to do to help people and you will make it right mark. Yes, yes. Okay. Thank you so much, my friend. Really appreciate it. People will get so much from from from this podcast from you. Thanks so much.
Marc Bestgen 58:19
Oh, thank you what, thank you so much. Cheers. Bye bye. Bye bye.
Braco Pobric 58:24
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Transcribed by https://otter.ai
