Q&A With James Arthur Ray, Leadership and Performance Advisor
James Arthur Ray is considered one of the world’s foremost leadership and performance advisors, coaches and consultants. He began his career consulting with C-Level Executives at the AT&T School of Business. It was here that he realized his purpose for helping others find their unique gifts, and then leveraging them to take their life and business to new levels.
His extensive study of behavioral sciences, experience as an entrepreneur, and tireless quest for spiritual knowledge gives him a unique and powerful ability to address issues in both life and business from an integrated level; much deeper and more fulfilling than most can accomplish.
His company hit The Inc. 500 in 2009 as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the United States. James was featured in the film documentary “The Secret,” a ground-breaking feature-length film, and New York Times bestseller. James has been interviewed in numerous national media outlets including a full-feature article in Fortune Magazine, People Magazine, Larry King Live, Piers Morgan, the Today Show, CNN and Oprah.
He is the author of the New York Times Bestseller Harmonic Wealth: The Secret to Attracting the Life You Want which focuses on his principle of Going Three For Three: how to effectively bring your thoughts, feelings, and actions into harmony with bold application. James states vision without bold action is a total waste of time. James’ new book Redemption: The Price of Leadership in Both Life and Business is scheduled to be released in 2018.
In 2009, after rising to the top of the industry, James was involved in a terrible incident that claimed the lives of three of his clients who he cared about deeply. True to his own teachings, James maintained an attitude of Absolute Responsibility coupled with resilience, mental toughness, and emotional strength to get back up and climb back up.
James has been exposed to extensive studies of great philosophers, psychology, physics, spirituality, physiology, and business, coupled with a never-ending in-depth self-analysis and self-awareness. As a result, he has defined a new approach to radically disrupt traditional thinking and present a fresh and dynamic approach to being successful in both life and business.
In 2016 a CNN documentary film Enlighten Us a story on his life, debuted at Tribeca Film Festival as well as Mountain Films in Telluride, Colorado. The film is now being shown worldwide on Netflix. He describes himself as a Catalyst to help you create action both at work and in life. Through James’ instruction, his clients learn how to powerfully lead both their life and business.
James has coached and consulted hundreds of thousands of people and companies, from 145 different countries around the world to master a more successful series of strategies and results in both their life and work. James’ personal and business experiences have caused him to be considered an expert in leadership, entrepreneurship, mental toughness, resilience and emotional strength.
His experience proves time and time again…that it’s the challenges, adversity, and often crisis, that present the ultimate opportunity for growth and greatness if we’re only willing to utilize and leverage them in that way.
Where did the idea for (your business) come from?
My studies have been eclectic. I’ve been trained in the business schools of AT&T to behavioral sciences, all major spiritual traditions and mysticism, even quantum physics. I find the common thread in all truths to apply to both life and business.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My life is very routine and regimented. I put as many mundane activities into automaticity as possible to avoid decision fatigue; and to leave my willpower available to make the most critical decisions powerfully and productively. I arise at 4 AM every day and sleep about 6 hours per night which gives me 18 hours per day to be productive and to fulfill my purpose.
From 4-6AM I practice what I call “Prime Focus”, which is devoted to centering my mind with a variety of practices, writing, reading and proclamations. I’m at the gym by 6:30 AM for weightlifting. I work with a cross-fit trainer one day per week, do yoga postures every single day. 11 AM begins my meetings and conference calls. My objective is to get more accomplished between 4AM and Noon than most do in 2 days. Certainly more than most do in an entire day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Inspiration, Preparation, Incubation, Continuous, Relentless Practice and Hard Work.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
A shift in Global Consciousness and a dissolution of old paradigms.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Focus and discipline.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Everything is taking you where you want and need to go. Even when you can’t see it in the moment. Stay the course. You’ll get there, just not in the way you think you will.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Pain is the mother of all growth.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Invest more in my mindset than I do in my marketing.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Making decisions based upon where I’m going versus where I currently am. If you’re not willing to act boldly upon your vision, regardless of appearances, you don’t yet deserve that vision, and you’re not big enough to get it.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Obviously, when my company and I were involved in a tragic accident that took the lives of 3 friends and clients it was devastating. I had to find meaning in the pain and turn trash into treasure. The only time you truly “fail” is when you give up. Get back up!
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers? (this should be an actual idea for a business, not business advice)
Forget about money and focus on the meaning and mission. Put all your energies into providing value and increase for others and it will come back in the long-game. Speaking of long-game, play it. Amateurs focus on proximity, Leaders focus on eternal legacy.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why? (personal or professional)
Probably flowers for my girlfriend. When those you love are happy and feel appreciated, the energy created is palpable. Your community drives not only your influence in the world but also your impact and income. Everything is either appreciating or depreciating, there is no staying the same.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
The Self-Aware Universe by theoretical physicist Amit Gaswami. Quantum physics are the foundation of all creation both personal and professional.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others? (include websites, blogs or Twitter profiles, etc – please don’t include yourself).
Amit Gaswami, David Bohm, Krishna Mirti, Wallace Wattles, Ken Wilbur, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Steven Kotler, Steven Pressfield, so many more.
For more information regarding James’ coaching, business consulting, or keynote presentations please contact his office at admin@jamesray.com.
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