Show notes
Matt Fiddes is multi-skilled, multi-faceted entrepreneur, often first known for being Michael Jackson's bodyguard, he is a very successful businessman in his own right and created the biggest martial arts franchise in the world!
Join Rob and Matt as they talk about all things business, discuss the many rumours around Matt’s life and of course Michael Jackson!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Michael Jackson was brainwashed as a child, he was taught to not be open emotionally, especially to the public.This impacted how he built relationships and interacted with the world for the rest of his life.
Michael always kept everyone guessing, with the one glove or makeup or even a mask. He said these things guaranteed publicity, it kept people talking about him. Behind closed doors he was pretty much like anyone else, just normal. Matt found this transformation innovative and exciting. It’s what we now call great branding and something most famous people and businesses do without question. Rob compares Michael and his flare for being memorable was similar in style to the likes of Andy Warhol and Alexander McQueen.
Michael Jackson didn’t embrace the digital transformation that had begun in music before his death. In some ways, Matt believes he would have struggled with the world as it is now but Michael would at least be able to address rumours head on via social media and speak to his fans directly. Something he was unable to do whilst he was alive.
A few people know that Michael Jackson bought Eminem’s back catalogue as a comeback to Eminem mocking MJ in his Music Video for the song Just Lose It. This hinted at the ruthless streak Michael occasionally had, further demonstrated by when he bought the rights to The Beatles music and would somewhat taunt Paul McCartney about it.
Matt struggled in school, he was bullied and struggled with writing especially but rather than letting it hold him back it’s what gave him the fire in his belly to do more with his life. It gave him the hunger to thrive, he wanted to prove everyone and the world wrong.
Matt knew he wanted to run his own Martial Arts school. Matt took some time to really think about how he could make it work. He knew he wanted to do something different and really disrupt the industry.
After hearing about how different the Martial Arts Schools were in America, Matt Fiddes saved for a ticket and flew over to go to a Martial Art Conference in San Francisco. After this he was taken under the wing of the American organiser who introduced him to many people and taught him everything he knew. He then went back to the UK and really started change things, including the use of standing orders for paying, providing real education in sessions and adding music to the classes; all at just 18 years old.
Matt is a great believer in the law of attraction, wherever you put your energy is where you are going to flow.
You often don’t see behind the scenes of entrepreneurs but the difficulties they face happen often and is all very real. Matt has had to deal with his own share of hate, rumours and negativity.
2009 was a hell of a year for Matt. Michael Jackson died, he went through a divorce, his mum died; he ended up being prescribed anti-depressants and Valium. It was a challenging time but he came out the other side stronger and happier by focusing on his next steps and goals.
Martial arts taught Matt discipline and everything else he needed to be successful. He wouldn’t have found success in the same way without it.
BEST MOMENTS
“I just thought it was normal for18 year olds to be hanging around with Michael [Jackson] and all his friends”
“Michael Jackson is a fascinating person to study because he clearly knew how to get people to remember him and talk about him”
“I wanted to make sure, that anything I wanted my students to do, I could do”
“The bullying, the childhood, lead to everything else. The bullied boy became [a] millionaire”
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://robmoore.com/
bit.ly/Robsupporter
https://robmoore.com/podbooks
rob.team
ABOUT THE HOST
Rob Moore is an author of 9 business books, 5 UK bestsellers, holds 3 world records for public speaking, entrepreneur, property investor, and property educator. Author of the global bestseller “Life Leverage” Host of UK’s No.1 business podcast “Disruptors”
“If you don't risk anything, you risk everything”
CONTACT METHOD
Rob’s official website: https://robmoore.com/
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LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/robmoore1979
disruptive, disruptors, entreprenuer, business, social media, marketing, money, growth, scale, scale up, risk, property: http://www.robmoore.com