Q1. Would you like to introduce yourself to your readers?
I am an entrepreneur, martial artist, yoga practitioner and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach from New Zealand. I was born and raised in South Africa, our family moved to NZ when I was 12. I dropped out of school to become a boat builder and did that for 10 years and hated it so decided to start my own company. I have been doing BJJ for over 7 years and over that time and started teaching it as well. I have found a real purpose in helping people and wrote this book to help whoever reads it to become a better person.
Q2. Congratulations for your beautiful book. What’s the significance of the title?
Thank you, the choosing of the title took around 6 months of testing various options to finally pick Mindset Mentors. I wanted a title that clearly lets the reader know what the book is about and what they can expect from reading it.
Q3. What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
I hope that the readers approach it with an open mind because the mind is like a parachute, it only works if it is open. I believe that the guidance and inspiration distilled in these quotes from exceptional achievers can help anyone who is open to what they have to say.
Q4. What was the first thought which came to your mind that actually persuaded you to write your own book?
After reading a lot of self development books I decided to write a book that I would have loved to have read early on in life. I wrote Mindset Mentors to share some of the tools and wisdom that’s helped me create a healthy mindset following many uncertain periods in my life.
Q5. What kind of books did you grow up reading? What genre do you prefer to read?
As a kid I loved reading Goosebumps by R.L.Stine as well as Harry Potter, then I transitioned into reading self development books which have helped change my life for the better. I have listed as many as I could in Mindset Mentors so that readers have an idea of what books to read if they are looking to improve their lives.
Q6. What did you learn while writing this book?
I learned that all the most successful and wise people tend to view the world in a similar way and that the wisdom one person said a thousand years ago is pretty much the same wisdom that modern day achievers believe and say as well.
Q7. What were the difficulties you faced while writing this book?
The hardest thing I faced when creating this book was choosing what quotes to leave out so that each page is a single person’s quotes without it bleeding over onto another person’s page, so that throughout the book it is a page per person and all their best quotes.
Q8. What kinds of advice from fans/readers do you find most/least helpful?
I like when they point out what quotes they enjoyed the most and why they thought it is a useful quote.
Q9. Which is the one thing that writing changed in you?
Writing has allowed me to organize my thoughts better which as a result has improved my ability to coach BJJ/martial arts.
Q10. How does one become a better writer according to you?
I believe doing difficult activities that force you outside of your comfort zone are what’s needed to develop the brain, as the brain develops so does your ability to write because you are unlocking new levels to your thinking. Writing is just written thoughts so the better your thinking the better your writing will become. Reading a lot in the specific genre that you are interested in is also extremely important in helping you write better.
Thanks again, for joining me into this amazing conversation.
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