Train The Trainer - By Gerald Chuah

I HAD a fabulous time at Train the Trainer (TTT) Certification. T. Harv Eker’s signature programme held at Singapore Expo from April 14 to 18, 2009. Like 400 other participants who showed up.

I was so glad I went and it was no mistake that TTT was indeed one of the best and most fun, thorough, and complete training course on leadership and training you can find on Planet Earth. The five day intensive course started from 9am to 12midnight daily, but you just don’t feel the time because so many things were happening at the same time.

Time passed quickly as we were totally caught up with the energy, the learning, the sharing and the wonderful people in the room. Now with all step-by-step lessons and template at hand, it is now a matter of practice, practice, and practice to put it all to work and to turn my “training dreams” into reality.

One thing about attending seminars is there are so many things to learn, that if you don’t revise immediately, you may soon forget, so one of the rituals of the day was doing a partner share going through flipcharts hung around the room to recall the lessons learnt.

I took a lot of notes during the seminar to help me recall, after the training so they stay fresh in my mind.

As they say practice makes perfect. This time around Blair Singer took the stage instead of T. Harv Eker. Blair has been a successful businessman and trainer for the past 27 years, so it was amazing to see his passion and dedication in teaching a subject which is close to his heart.

Blair lived up to his promise to make it worth the while, and taught participants everything he said he would, as he knew no other way than to be transparent so he gave, gave and gave, imparting his knowledge and wisdom to participants.

Training is all about connecting with people, and during TTT, we learnt many ways on how to connect with people, from scanning the room, to asking two enrolling questions, introducing yourself, and earning the right, selling your products and benefits, giving an irresistible offer.

These proven formula was given in a two–page template, which makes sense whether you are selling one-to-one, or in front of the stage. It takes a lot of skills, guts and confidence to pull through.

One of the biggest challenge of being a trainer is to stand in front of the room. Without a doubt, one of the greatest fears most people face is wondering what others think about them, which stops them from doing all that they can do.

So one of the compulsory exercise at TTT was Outrageous Night where participants had to go on stage to perform in front of the audience. To me that one of the “scariest moments” and the biggest stretch, worst than the firewalk, and all the other challenges combined.

But Blair knew a lot of people would be struggling with it, so he was sensitive in dealing with the little voice, saying for whatever it is worth, it is only 90 seconds so we should not let it stand in out way or success.

The purpose of the exercise was not to embarrass us, but for us to be in touch with our own greatness for one mere second.

Some people may get on stage feeling like a mouse, but when they get in touch with their bigger self, there is crack, and the bigger person emerge. Blair said if it was about looking good, you can look good enough. So with all the advise, I stepped forward with faith, consciously and unconsciously expecting breakthrough. And even in the dark with the spotlight shining on my face, I looked at the crowd and connected with them.

And for one brief moment I felt I was one with the room, and I could do not wrong. I was energized, people saw it and congrajulated me. I just received their support and love with my outstretched arms.

The lesson I took home that night was sometimes in life we judge others and we judge ourselves, but somewhere along the way we need to let go so we can be free again.

We need to stand from a platform of strength and confidence as for many people, they have been told they were not good enough when young, so it is important to regain courage by feeling strong and accomplished.

Being diamonds in the rough with a lot of polishing to do, the participants were in full concentration to absorb everything they can during the course. One of the most interestings lessons we learnt was about selling from the stage. Harv “appeared” several times to show and guide us on the skills of selling from the stage.

Although it was only a video projection, he was so charismatic we felt as though he was there, speaking directly to us, not mincing his words but giving it straight like what it should be.

As Harv said this is his area of speciality which makes him who he is today, so he doesn’t want people floundering around, taking things lightly because with the skills they now learnt, can take them places, command respect and make money.

Bottomline was everybody was in the room for a reason – to teach, and for most people who come from far and near, there was no mistake.

Think about it, there are 6 billion people in Asia, why are 400 people in the same room learning to be a trainer.

The world needs teacher, and what’s best than to teach what we love and make money.

Altogether there were a lot of exercises, and sharing throughout the five days training, it was hard to remember all of them.

Looking back it seemed unreal that TTT only happened last week, but because the intensity was so great and overwhelming, it was not something that will be forgotton soon.

We will always be reminded again and again what we have learnt, our commitment, and how we performed.

TTT was great from beginning to end and participants got great value from it. It was not just another seminar but one with real benefit and practical value and it is time to put all the lessons to good use.