@maninan My experience at the Aspire Tour just now in Orlando 2024
Some of the lesser-known speakers were good, but almost all of them tried to sell another course, event, or book. However, the event organizer's time on stage completely soured the entire experience for me.
When the organizer took the stage, he immediately started cursing and acting like a total dirtbag. He went on bizarre tangents, including teasing his cofounder about not wearing underwear. Then, he launched into a 15-minute montage of celebrities who had clearly been paid to sing his praises, which felt completely disingenuous.
The low point came when he started pitching a course about tax-free accounts you can use to grow wealth. He started at $499, only to drop the price to $199 within minutes, making the whole thing feel like a shady sales pitch. His behavior reminded me of someone desperately trying to hustle, with little regard for the audience's time or intelligence.
But it got even worse. He admitted to using cocaine right on stage, licking the inside of his cheek in a telltale sign, and then casually talked about tax fraud. He bragged about justifying all his personal expenses to avoid paying taxes and mentioned that he couldn't buy a house because he showed no income, as he used his business account for personal expenses including groceries, vacations, and cars.
Thankfully, the afternoon picked up with Eddie Wilson, the first speaker after lunch and another highlight. A serial entrepreneur with over 100 successful exits, he was there to promote his current venture, an açaí bowl franchise chain for which he is looking for franchisees. Despite the promotion, he actually provided value, and I was glad to listen to him.
David Goggins was, of course, inspiring and gave some really insightful advice. I had some great takeaways from his session. However, I just wish that the cofounder had stayed off stage and let Goggins speak. He was a completely inept interviewer, kept interrupting Goggins, and added nothing to the conversation.
After Goggins, they pitched a public speaking course for, guess what, another $499, but for today only it was $199, and you could bring a friend.
Next up was Marcus Lemonis, who had a very interesting hour. He did a lot of crowd interaction and helped people tell their stories. He had us reflect on our own strength and stories, which was both engaging and insightful.
And then, just when I thought it couldn't get worse, there was another pitch, this time for a lending company from one of the cofounders, which seemed like a big Ponzi scheme.
Another note on the general experience: any time there was a recess, the DJ blasted music so incredibly loud that you couldn’t have a conversation with your neighbor at all. Arguably, a large draw of the entire event is connecting with other entrepreneurs, but this made it very difficult. The lighting was obnoxious, and I noticed many people around me rubbing their eyes in fatigue. I kept my sunglasses on as much as I could.
Shaq was super humble and sweet, and had some great interactions with kids in the crowd, even arm wrestling a kid. He talked about how he is given opportunities by being a nice guy, focusing on building relationships, and helping companies grow. Again, I wish he had just been allowed to speak without the cofounder up there. Shaq subtly put him in his place a few times.
Overall, the organizer's unprofessional behavior and the relentless selling turned what could have been an inspiring event into a disappointing and uncomfortable experience.
