FINALLY A WORK HARD AS PROMISED

WORK HARD...

I’ve been asked to share some of the things that have made me successful over the last few weeks especially with getting high numbers. As all of us know it can really be just the luck of the draw with the guests that are on board.

The last two cruises I’ve really I’ve done great and my numbers have reflected it with over $16,000 on one cruise and $11,000 on the next. But on this cruise it has been really tough. I’m at $4,500 with two sea days, which sound good but in reality I’m bothered by it. But then again it is just the luck of the draw.

Usually I have great percentages booking from my seminars around 60%-70%. But this week in two seminars I’ve probably had close to 50 guests and only booked 8 or 9. Again as we all know luck has a great deal to do with things. This cruise has been a really hard sell not only for bookings but also for retail. I usually have high retail almost always in the high 30%’s and even as high as 47% at one point. So far this week I am at 17%. Then again I still have to give my herb seminar and my number usually go up afterwards.

For the most part what works for me is I’m told I’m a likeable guy. I do my best to be honest with my guests and tell them the truth about if I feel I can help them or not. I never push herbs on people I don’t think that will benefit from them. I never tell someone I can help them if I don’t think I can. And I never tell anyone that I can cure them.

In fact during my seminars I make a point of telling them that “anyone that says they can guarantee you 100% that they can cure you is lying to you. I don’t care if it is a western md or an eastern physician, nobody can promise you 100% they can cure you. But I can promise you 100% that I will do everything I can think of to help you.”

A good friend of mine used to teach college. One thing he told me about teaching is to know what you are talking about, be prepared and make them laugh. I do my best to keep this in mind and practice it.

I’d like to think I know what I am talking about, I am always prepared and I make a point of tossing out a couple laugh lines that are relevant to the subject being discuss.

A case in point is when I am discussing weight loss and the herbs in my seminars I use to help them I will say, “you might be wondering why someone out of shape is discuss how to lose weight”. This always gets a laugh and then I will add “in the last six weeks I’ve lost 22 pounds by taking herbal formulas and the detox program offered by James (the trainer).”

On that subject James and I give a seminar together combining eastern medicine and western medicine. I talk about how by using Chinese herbs you can strengthen your digestive system and by using the detox system James promotes detoxify your liver.

Essentially I tell them that I am the mechanic that rebuilds your motor. And just like when you rebuild the motor in your car it just runs better. I explain this using 5 elements theory of how the liver and spleen function have a great deal to do with either weight gain or weight loss. How your emotions of stress and over thinking/over work inhibits the digestive system. Then I tell them that even when you rebuild your motor it is a good idea to clean the fuel filter and oil filter and that is what James does. By doing this your entire digestive system is working at 100% and you not only lose weight but you keep it off.

James and I work very well together and book many guests after this talk. We make a point of saying it is important that you see both of us. We also give them nutritional guidance and talk about exercise.

We also share in the income. Whatever herbs I sell from people that have come to the seminar I spilt 50/50 with James. Whatever he makes from selling the detox program he splits with me 50/50. Sometimes he sells more detox then I do herbs, other times I sell more herbs then he does detox and we have found that for the most part it evens out in the long run.

Another person I will cross promote with is the ionitherapist. I’ve done this on every ship I have been on. I also make a point of saying during my seminars that “if massage is warranted for your condition that we have highly trained therapist on board and I will suggest that you see them in conjunction with your acupuncture treatments.”

In closing I guess what I am saying is be honest, they can tell when you are not and will run away, be prepared for your seminars and know that if you have a bad week with the numbers it can all just be the luck of the draw and there is always the next week to come. Don’t beat yourself up…

SUNSETS AT SEA...HARD TO BEAT....

not bad...

and minutes later....

WELCOME TO THE DOWNUNDER

Well the World Cup is over and we have left New Zealand behind. It’s a Catch 22 as I really liked New Zealand but then again I was really ready for something and some place new…next stop Sydney, Australia.

SYDNEY

When I woke on the first day I found we were moored right next the Sydney Opera House. I’ve seen pictures but to be right next to it is a whole different thing all together. I also on one of my mornings off I took a tour inside the Opera House. I found the tour interesting but more then that the Sydney Opera House is one of the world iconic buildings and how many chances does one have to explore any of the world best known buildings.

Rhapsody in Sydney...Opera House in the background

Sydney Opera House from the ship

A shot from the tour

another tour shot

and still another

We are also right next to the Sydney Harbor Bridge and downtown. I’ve had a few hours off here and I’ve found the city very busy and alive. One day I walked through the streets and it was lunchtime on a weekday.

Sydney Harbor Bridge from the ship

Just like cities everywhere I suppose the place was a buzz with young executives hurrying from point a to point be in their suits for appointments and to lunch. It really makes me appreciate the time I spend in the mountains and in Baja where there are very few people.

NOUMEA

Noumea is very much a seaside city. After taking a shipside shuttle into the bus area you are swamped with hawkers trying you to get to go on their tour or bus line into the tourist area of the town. It is $15 for guests and $10 for crew to ride the bus and you can get on and off where every you want. Just like most ports we only have a handful of hours here.

Main Beach in Noumea

Both times I’ve been here I have gone to the main beach area of the town. It is very narrow with grass right up to the sand. I’ve found a great place to eat called. Zimba Juice. They not only have fresh smoothies but a varied menu and one of the best chicken quesadillas I’ve every eaten. Of course being a French town it is very expensive, but not as much as Tahiti. Lunch with a large beer ran $30us.

I also found that you could connect to the internet across the street from the restaurant and sit at a picnic table right on the beach checking your email and catching up with friends.

Not a bad place to catch up on things...

There are a number of things to do at the beach in Noumea including windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding and a shuttle to near by Duck Island. I’ve have not gone there yet but it looks like it has a great beach. Maybe I should give it a go next time we are there.

ISLE OF PINES

Isle of Pines is absolutely beautiful and has one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited. There is not much to do there other then go to the beach and swim in the warm waters. At least if is convenient and only a few minutes walk from the tendering dock. There is a restaurant that opens at noon. Other then that there are a few stand to buy gifts as well as a place to buy grill chicken and another for lobster at $20 which a friend told me was okay, not cleaned properly and really not worth the price.

cruising in the Isle of Pines

Big Boat...

Little Boat...

On the way to the beach, minutes from the ships

hard to beat this...

or this...

or this!!!

I did however take a tour into the village. It was hard to even tell it was there though there were a handful of buildings including a church.

village church

fence in the village

fishermans nets

We also passed a shine of Christ surrounded by native totems. Once again showing how the Christians pushed their religion on every culture…and continue to do to this day.

SAYING GOODBYE TO NEW ZEALAND...

We have had many port days, at times multiple port days, in Auckland because of the Rugby World Cup. It almost feels like I live in Auckland I’ve spent so much time there.

Movie theather in Auckland

I’ve gone to four movies, eaten at restaurants, walked around the town and of course gone to the Rugby World Cup. I attend two games, one in Wellington where South Africa lost to Australia in the quarterfinals. Then to the Wales verses French in the Bronze Cup game. I went with my two running mates, James the personal trainer that is from Wales and Stephen simply known to everyone as “Irish”, obviously from Ireland. Unfortunately Wales lost, James was rightfully upset but the played a hell of a game and fought to the last minute.

James airs out the Wales National Anthem

After the game we were told that the first bus would leave the stadium at 30 minutes after the game was over. Later we were to discover, as did some of the guest from the ship that the last bus left at 30 minutes after the game. I was told by one of my patients the next day that she heard the bus drivers decide just to go as they did a head count showing there were only 2 people missing. We that definitely was not a true head count as I know of 8 people that were at the bus stop looking for a ride back to Bay of Islands 3 hours away.

Pre-Game Beers with Irish, James and Kay

To make a long story short the four of us, James, Irish, Kay (our spa manager) and myself talked a taxi driver into taking us back to the ship for $400. What is even more ironic is that once we were on board the ship was setting sail for Auckland!

It really didn’t matter much to me as I had the entire next day off but everyone else had to be back on board throughout the day. We did get back around 5:30 am only to have to wait for a “tender” (water-taxi) back to the ship.

What makes the entire trip even more ironic then that is the taxi driver was caught speeding and given a $350 ticket. With that and gas he actually had a 7-8 hour drive and lost money on the deal…easy to laugh about it now but at the time it was not so funny…

Once we got back to Auckland it was all about the Finals. New Zealand had made it and was playing against Australia their arch rivals. The entire town was in a festive mood. Streets were shut down and thousands of people walked to and from the game and the various pubs watching the game as well.

Pre Finals Game Celebration in Auckaland

After the Final was over all hell broke loose….New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup. For those in the states this is like the World Series and the Superbowl combined. It was a huge party the main street was closed for over a mile and people were chanting the name of their team…All Blacks…All Blacks…All Blacks…Fireworks were shot from the roof tops that towered over the waterfront, people cheered, people cried….

Post Game Celebration in Auckland

New Zealand All Blacks WIN

The Rugby World Cup

Fireworks next to the ship

I consider myself so lucky to have been able to witness this celebration. Not only that but to be able to go to my first rugby games and have them actually be for the finals. What even made it better was FREE tickets for the guests on board for the Bronze Cup!

All in all New Zealand was great. The place was beautiful and the people were all very friendly.

GOODBYE AUCKLAND...it was great!!!