We were lucky to catch up with Paula T Webb recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Paula T thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
“The original writer is not he who refrains from imitating others, rather he is the one who cannot be imitated by any others.” In today’s world of instant access across the Internet, many people today believe that if information is posted on the Internet, it is there to be used for free no matter who may “own” the materials. This is true for music downloads, along with movies and just about every other type of Intellectual Property. Since there is little recourse for the copyright holders to recoup financially from the Internet pirates posting materials owned by others, this poses a multi-dimensional challenge for artists and authors. It also poses a challenge for those people who download materials they know were not posted by the original creators. So what is the risk here you might ask? That’s simple. Do the copyright holders spend countless days/weeks/money to combat the Internet pirates, knowing even if the materials are taken down, there will be little to no financial restitution…or do they simply ignore the postings and keep moving forward with new materials? This is the risk. To do nothing and continue to lose money, or spend money to recoup nothing but removal of the pirated materials. We can take this a bit further. In my world which is the investment industry, any trader who spends hours/days on-line searching for free materials to enhance their trading will find little comfort when they download stolen materials. Why? Because what they are doing is creating and supporting a belief in their mental environment that they do not have enough money to spend on materials they crave to increase their equity. Meaning, if someone spends lengthy periods of time searching the Internet for ‘free’ stuff to help them make more money trading – they are negating the very process of what it means to learn effectively and respectfully. And the risk they are taking to download stolen materials will affect their bottom line, forever, because they don’t believe in themselves to pay for materials to make them a better trader. So that risk is a sure loss. However, with regard to the copyright holders going after the pirates – the risk is to calculate the loss, pick your battles, and win out over all the pirates by focusing on becoming even more successful than ever. So, does it bother me when traders call and state how they downloaded my materials and now want more for free? Of course. But that is not my objective to worry about people who will never become successful because they don’t know or understand what it takes to do so. My focus is on providing the best materials I can forward to help traders become the best they can be – all the while protecting those very materials with better safeguards to ensure this legacy continues.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
“You have to be determined to create your own path to success. When you no longer subscribe to what anyone else has told you – about what you can or can’t do, or who you can or won’t be – then you are firmly on your way to achieving your trading or financial goals.”
Paula T’s clients run the spectrum of all work environments including traders entering the game of trading from other careers; with many others still working at different careers while learning how to trade as well. Current and past clients range from secretaries, engineers, doctors, attorneys, carpenters, mechanics, homemakers, caregivers…in other words people with all levels of education and professional experience. Keep in mind you do not have to have any type of advanced degree or business experience to be able to create the mindset of success to achieve and sustain your financial goals!
“I combine my desire to teach with an enthusiasm to assist my clients in achieving their highest goals.”
In the late 1980s while trading at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, I met and began assisting Mark Douglas in co-writing and producing our first book “The Disciplined Trader™” through to its publication in 1990. This first book began a lifelong collaboration and we began teaching all levels of traders what it takes to create sustainable prosperity and the life they desire from a mental perspective. In other words to experience the type of success you dream of, you have to think differently from your co-workers, fellow traders, management, family, friends, and anyone else; instilling a new set of thought processes and updated mental attitude. This mental approach is also taught through my books “Independent Prosperity,” “Success without Fear,” “Championship Spirit” to name a few, as well as our on-going workshops.
In 1990 I began coaching the partners and spouses of traders helping them understand the “mindset” of the traders they lived with or were married to. And in 1991 Mark invited me to include his coaching clients when he returned to trading full-time, as well as travel with him across the globe to speak at investment conferences together. I currently provide these services through decades of expertise, personal inspiration, and practical skill sets teaching clients that to become more financially secure, they must first believe in themselves.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
My husband Mark Douglas and I are very spiritual people. We always try to understand the other person’s perspective, but also not ‘give away the store.’ Several authors over the years have steered me in a positive and forward-moving direction, especially after losing my husband unexpectedly which precipitated closing our business temporarily (due to the increased Internet piracy and the loss of over 85% of my income.) Catherine Ponder, considered the female version of Norman Vincent Peale, has written a number of books on prosperity and healing. My two favorites are “The Dynamic Laws of Healing” and “The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity.” Although the books were written in the 1950s-1960s the message is timeless. I managed to heal myself using her materials after losing everything and starting over; and increased my perspective on creating sustainable wealth…which entails reading and re-reading affirmations on a daily basis. Two other great books are by Gene Simmons of KISS – “Me, Inc.” and “Gene Simmons on Power.” Gene’s wisdom is basically what I have been teaching traders for decades…if you do not know what you think or why, then you can’t create the wealth you desire.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Customer service never, NEVER, goes out of style. In this day and age of instant gratification through text, messenger, etc. this leads to a lack of connection to the human experience. All customers, especially ones who may be paying you a large amount of money – want to ‘know’ who they may be buying from or working with. I always respond to an e-mail inquiry with a telephone call. And not on the speaker! NEVER call a potential (or current) client on your speaker. That is disrespectful that anyone on your end can hear what that potential (or current) client may say to you. All conversations should be considered private…always…that is, IF you want a good reference, and repeat business. All of my current and future clients are done by personal referral. I always answer my office phone (unless I’m busy of course), and/or return all calls within 24 hours. When you take pride in providing the best personal customer service you can, your clients will flock to you, because ALL clients want a personal relationship to some degree with someone they can get to know, and trust. So focus on providing the highest level of personal service and you will have plenty of clients forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.paulatwebb.com
- Twitter: _markdouglas_
Image Credits
Paula T. Webb