Dreams risks and money

Across the shores in the United States, victims of the financial crisis have found a hero and mentor in New Zealand's Brian Martin. AMANDA MORRALL finds out how this low-key philanthropist made his success and why his sweetest victory is helping others to help themselves.

Multimillionaires move in elite circles, and Brian Martin is no exception, but his focus these days is on those living below the line of poverty.

Earlier this year, the self- described gypsy, who splits his time between Canada, Japan, China and New Zealand, launched a website askbrianmartin.com to provide financial guidance and support to worthy causes. With related interfaces on Facebook and Twitter, the site is geared to a younger generation of Americans trying to better their lot in life.

On that front, Martin has much to offer those in need, wherever they are placed on the map.

His curriculum vitae is as impressive as any Wall Street tycoon, and his story reads like a Hollywood fairytale. Born in Britain, Martin landed in New Zealand in the mid- 1950s aged 18. Two years earlier, as a cadet on a naval training ship, he had toured New Zealand and sized it up as a land of milk and honey. Then, he talked his parents into letting him move here.

On arrival, Martin didn't waste any time. With only $20 to his name, he started to dig - shovelling out the foundations for a new government building to "double his stake" to $40. Opportunity then knocked as a door-to-door salesman, a commission- only job at which Martin excelled, earning seven times the going wage. He used his earnings to launch two businesses and buy property, further growing his capital and acumen as an entrepreneur.

Before the age of 30, he became the founding president of famed jean-maker Levi's Strauss' nascent New Zealand division. On his first day, he sold more jeans than any other first-day employee in the company's 100-year history. It was the first of many good records.

Close to two years later, Levi's New Zealand dominated the market share in heavyweight denim. Soon afterwards Martin was transferred to Japan to work his magic on Levi's only money-losing venture. He distinguished himself as a turn- around leader in under a year and went on to enjoy a rewarding executive-level career with Levis that took him around the world. Some 13 years later, he was sought out by German-owned Triumph International, then the world's largest lingerie company.

As well as being a corporate head- turner, Martin attracted the attention of the Japanese government. He became the first non-Japanese national appointed to a key industry organisation advising the government on industry-related matters.

After seven years with Triumph, Martin boasted his own victory. His corporate accomplishments and private investments enabled him to retire at 49.

Dissatisfied and bored, Martin set up a New Zealand-based leadership coaching and business-consulting outfit a year later. It is one of many post-retirement hobbies with which he is involved.

On a stopover in Japan, the industrious lecturer, author, blogger, consultant, and proud grandfather took a few moments to talk to Your Money about the road to riches.

What's the secret to turning $20 into several million?

First, you need to have a dream or an aspiration. You have to be hungry. I believe that human beings can do anything they want to do if they want to do it badly enough. That's why being clear about the outcome you want for your life is so important. If you don't know where you are going, then all roads lead to nowhere.

At age 18, when you moved to New Zealand, did you have a clear idea of what you wanted and a map to get there?

When I first saw New Zealand at 16 I thought of it as the land of milk and honey and I thought I'd have a much better quality of life than I could have in England. I have spent a lot of time in the last few years thinking about this because although I have achieved a great many things in my life, I know those earlier thoughts set me off on the right track. If you can dream it, you can do it but you need to be very specific and passionate about what you want to go from $20 to a million.

There's no shortage of dreamers. What distinguishes those who achieve their dreams from those who just daydream about them?

I would say there are not enough dreamers because I come across so many people and almost all of them don't know what they want. I would encourage more people to dream. I don't think people dream enough because they are focused on being busy, busy, busy and they never give themselves something that I think is important, which is me time.

How do you find me time?

I get up at 4.45am, do an hour's meditation, then go to the gym for two hours and then I have given myself three hours. Most people don't give themselves three minutes. The other thing I do before I get out of bed is I focus on all my blessings. So that sets me up for a positive day. I don't focus on what I haven't got. When I leap out of bed I'm already on my way; I'm energised with positive thoughts. Counting your blessings is a way of energising yourself and creating a conduit within yourself. I firmly believe life is an inside-out job.

Is it possible to enjoy a rich personal life while in pursuit of material wealth?

Yes; however, it would be fair to say there is a price to pay. I don't think personally there is a quick road to making lots and lots of money. I think you have to do it step by step. How do you walk 100 kilometres? Step by step. Having an outcome and aspiration is so important. You have to try to balance your life. Most people can't find enough time, but if you create time in blocks you can achieve it. It just requires discipline.

What is your definition of wealth?

Quality of life. Money is only one of the ingredients of wealth. I don't think money can buy you happiness, but it can buy you a lot of things that make your life easier. But if you're looking outside yourself for fulfilment, it'll only ever be temporary. We need, as human beings, to be fulfilled, and that is why doing something for those around us is much more fulfilling. We can see that in people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett who have given away most of their wealth.

It is often said it takes money to make money. What do you think?

There are two things that make money. Money makes money and people make money. So how you leverage either money or people is the ultimate determinant of how successful you are. Also, another important thing is you have to take risks. Obviously, you want to minimise the risk; you don't go and jump off the Sky Tower without your bungy rope.

Why are you focusing on helping Americans through your askbrianmartin.com site?

I don't think people realise how tough it is in Mainstreet America. We hear a lot about Wall Street and its success stories, but the man in the street there is losing his job. Unemployment in the US is high, people are losing their homes and children can't be fed. And that concerns me. It concerns me everywhere, but I thought that was a market that could benefit from me sharing my experience. Sales of my products end up benefiting New Zealand teenagers through a separate trust fund that provides leadership coaching to youth.

What role does leadership play in achieving success?

First off, you need to become a leader of your own life. If you can't be a leader of your own life then how are you going to lead others?

Where do most people trip up?

Fear and also false experiences appearing real. They allow the seeds of self-doubt to come into their mind, and a voice starts up that you're going to fail; people are going to laugh at you; you're letting your parents down; you'll never make a success of yourself; and that's where it starts. When I look back at my early 20s, I had no fear. It never entered my vocabulary. That's why getting out of bed every morning, thinking about my blessings, eliminates negative thinking.

Are leaders born or made?

Probably both. It is also good to have models; Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Stephen Tindall, these kind of people who lead by example. I think being in service to others has a lot to do with other people's success. You don't have to give away money necessarily, but if you give away your time or some other contribution you'll be rewarded for it.

Why are you working so hard in retirement; what do you get out of it?

Because I love what I do and I do what I love. I retired at 49 never to work again, and at the end of one year I was so bored I started drinking too much, indulging in fine food, and a little voice in my head said: "Brian, if you continue along like this, you'll be dead in five years."

So I started ISA Learning Group Ltd so I could give something back to New Zealand as my thank you.

I made my vocation into my vacation.

www.askbrian.com, www.facebook.com/pages/Auckland/Brian-Martin/162440414281

- © Fairfax NZ News