How I got Robin Sharma to the Lowveld

Be inspired by how a local woman got international leadership and motivational guru Robin Sharma involved in a fundraiser in her town.

When I took over as fundraiser for Hospice of White River, Mpumalanga in August last year, I began dreaming of getting Robin Sharma to come to the Lowveld as a fundraiser. I’m a big fan of his and own most of his books, which I read daily.

Some weeks later I visited: www.robinsharma.com and sent off an enquiry about hosting an event. I received back a press presentation document – and nearly fainted at the costs involved.

Jason Axmith, Sharma’s Business Manager, contacted me and we chatted via Skype. I told him I wanted to bring Sharma to the Lowveld for Hospice, but that I wasn’t expecting a freebie. I asked for a date when he could make it and said I would organise the rest. Emails flew back and forth between us, and I then submitted a proposal of how I envisaged this taking place, including offering Sharma and his team a few days at a luxury game lodge.

Axsmith informed me that they weren’t planning a South African visit until next year or 2014. The nearest they would get to our country in 2012 would be Mauritius. I then suggested that they detour by flying to Durban and from there to Nelspruit. I tried to sound persuasive, but privately resigned myself to the fact that this just couldn’t happen for at least another year.

I follow Sharma regularly on Twitter and in mid-March this year, he tweeted that if you want to succeed in life, you need a really good team behind you to keep things running smoothly, and thanked his team for their backing. I replied: “Your Business Manager, Jason Axsmith, rocks! He’s so helpful and supportive.” I left it at that – there was no ulterior motive to my tweet.

A week later, Axsmith emailed me: “Hey, Di, thanks for the kind words on Twitter! We think we may have a weekend available between Botswana and Mauritius in mid-July. Maybe we can make this happen after all.” Never underestimate the power of social media!

A week after that Debbie Glossop, Manager of Hospice, and I chatted to Axsmith on Skype in the Hospice office and the date was confirmed (lucky it wasn’t a video call so he couldn’t see us dancing around the room, with me in tears!). Now the contract’s signed, the appearance fee paid and everything’s fallen into place.

In his book The Greatness Guide (HarperBusiness), Sharma says: “No ask, no get.” Well, I asked and I got!

ATTEND THE SEMINAR
Sharma will be presenting his “Lead Without a Title” seminar on Sunday, 15 July at the Ingwenyama Conference & Sports Resort in White River.
Time: 8.30am for 9am.
Cost: R1 000.
Bookings: Tel: 082 551 3676 or 013 750 3044.
Email: di@diatherton.co.za or
whiteriverhospice@tiscali.co.za

For accomodation specials mail: gm@ingwenyama.co.za.

WIN!
We're giving away 2 tickets to the seminar valued at R1000 each! To enter simply name the beneficiary of the Robin Sharma fundraiser and mail your name, cell no and email address to info@destinyconnect.com by Thursday 12 July. Transport and accommodation are not included.