Truthfully, you teach your version of Alexander's discovery.

How can it be otherwise?

The self-expression of your own work is a lynchpin in attracting students. Most often students come to you first, the work second. Not always, but your "fan" students are the easiest to teach, the longest to stay and the most reliable. You want more of them, right?

The way my life has created itself leaves me more apart from my two daughters than physically present. My relationship to this reality has been a challenge. When I arrive back in Japan from a visit to them in Australia, I usually awaken the first day in my apartment with a vague sense of loss and longing. At first I didn't identify it clearly, then…

"OH. I miss my daughters."

Then I remembered a principle my teacher taught me: whenever I am feeling lonely, it is based on a mind that has drifted from the present to imaginary circumstances.

As T. S. Elliot put it:

Anyone could copy what I have done in Japan. Why doesn't anyone do that?

Because it is too dam hard. Right now, I am planning on building a new biz in Japan and I constantly go into overwhelm: How will I do it? Who do I ask for help? How do I convince people about my idea? These are all questions that seek answers, and while in the midst of asking these questions, I easily become emotionally frightened and panicked.

In 1999 I started my Japanese biz - then named Alexander Technique Associates (ATA) - with a capital base of zero. I was broke.

However, I did have 12 eager students all prepared to sign up for my four year program that cost each of them ¥900,000yen annually. So 12 times 900,000yen gave me a projected annual revenue of ¥10,800,000yen which equalled $97,980 in US dollars at the time.

Those who follow my blogs (sorry I write so many) will undoubtedly know that I compare Alexander's Discovery - in it's potentiality for revolutionary change - on par with the internet.

I am sure there are readers out there who believe I am bonkers. And they could be right. History will be the judge of that. Occasionally I do worry about that my Self…

Indeed, I suffer from delusional optimism. I think it's a trade secret of all entrepreneurs. Without it, we would give up. So let me enjoy a little of my optimism right now…

I just finished my seminar with Richard Koch on How To Build A Star Business and I ended it feeling depressed and disgusted that I made a complete ass of my Self.

BTW - this was a life changing seminar. Richard is destined to move into a new career as a leading biz mentor on a mass scale - there's a new book coming which will blow people away.

But me? I got depressed. I was an ass in the room.

At least, that is what my mind is telling me what happened. Whenever I feel depressed like this, I ask my Self four questions.

This is a special day for me, and I am not even sure why.

However today I am sitting in the 1st class lounge of Qantas, on my way to attend an absurdly expensive seminar with Richard Koch on how to find, nurture and profit from a Star business. You don't enter a seminar like this unless you are already on a path…

What is a Star business?

1.It is the undisputed leader of it's market niche
2.The niche is growing at more the 10% annually
3.The Star business is growing at 20% or more annually

About a year ago I started to feel uneasy about my position as CEO of BodyChance.

I wasn't doing enough. At least, that's what my mind told me. But the facts gave another story: In that year, BodyChance as a company had grown 31%. Our profit line remained flat, but that was because I continued to invest by improving our service and increasing our attraction to new comers.

I wasn't failing - so why did I feel this disease?

You run a wonderful workshop (you think) with a group of 20 people. You ask them to fill out feedback forms and it is all effusive. Except for one. One is highly critical, almost vicious. It happened to me in London once.

Which one do you think about the most? You know the answer and so do I.

Customer complaints need to be stacked up against customer behaviour. One person's vociferous heckling may give you the impression that your entire crowd is unhappy and ready to walk out the door.

Are they walking out the door?

As CEO of BodyChance, when I employed my first full-time staff - at a real, support-your-family salary - our negotiations finally got around to the starting date…

"April 1st"

At the time, I was ready to go NOW. It was only November:

"April 1st. Huh?"

That's Japan for you.