John Margerison

John Margerison graduated from Bond University on the Gold Coast in Australia and began his career as a traveling salesperson for investment properties. Later, he accepted a position as a commercial real estate agent. While working in real estate, he pursued his lifelong passion for wellness and earned a diploma in therapeutic massage and clinical hypnotherapy and psychotherapy. Soon after that, John changed industries and started working for a jewelry chain, which eventually led him to venture into entrepreneurship by acquiring one of their shops and starting his own business.

As his career flourished, John Margerison decided to augment his experiences through international professional development courses. Through these programs, he traveled extensively and cultivated friendships with people from across the globe.

More recently, John Margerison’s success in the realms of sales and negotiation caught the attention of several large corporations seeking to utilize his skills as a consultant. However, his primary focus remains in the financial markets, where he specializes in developing algorithms that leverage artificial intelligence to automate trading decisions.

A philanthropist and humanitarian at heart, John has helped provide 1.5 million meals to hungry people around the world over the course of the last seven years. He helped 41 people escape the ravages of war in Ukraine by buying them flights to Australia. He has also made substantial contributions to charities endeavoring to save children from sex slavery, as well as dental programs set up for children that can’t afford proper dental care.

Throughout his journey, John Margerison has found that his passion for personal and professional growth has fueled his success. He is dedicated to sharing his expertise and experience with others, helping them achieve their own goals and aspirations.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

On a typical day, I begin by checking the financial markets in the morning before heading to the gym. Throughout the day, I spend most of my time working with algorithms on my computer to ensure the trading systems are up-to-date and accurate. This requires an immense amount of focus and attention to detail. Despite the demands of my work, I always make time in the evenings to spend with my children, who are the most important thing in my life.

How do you bring ideas to life?

When it comes to bringing ideas to life, I like to approach problems by expanding their scope, which often helps me to identify innovative solutions. By looking at the big picture, the smaller problems will often solve themselves.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am particularly excited about the advancements in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and specifically the potential they hold for personalized medicine. With the advent of these technologies, the ability to create tailored treatments for individual patients will greatly improve healthcare outcomes and quality of life for many people. Guided by the assistance of AI and quantum computing, humanity is entering an era where medical breakthroughs will be more frequent and accessible, and the possibilities for new treatments and therapies are endless. I’m excited to see the impact that these innovations will have on society over the next 10-20 years.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

I have developed a habit of dedicating two or three hours on Sunday evenings to checking my emails and responding to them. This allows me to take advantage of the quiet Sunday evening hours to address pressing matters and send out emails so that my colleagues and clients can receive them first thing on Monday morning. By doing so, I effectively gain an extra day of work each week with minimal effort, which translates to a 20% increase in productivity.

What advice would you give your younger self?

If I could give advice to my younger self, it would be to learn to say “no” more often. As a younger person, I tended to get excited about every new opportunity that came my way, but I have since learned that staying focused on my current goals and plans is often more beneficial in the long run. It’s important to be selective about which opportunities to pursue and avoid distractions that may hinder progress. By learning to say “no” to distractions earlier in life, I could have saved myself unnecessary stress and disappointment, and achieved my goals more efficiently.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

There is a problem with government debt in many countries that will eventually create a crash in the markets. Most people think that governments can borrow as much as they want without any consequences, but that’s not true.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

I’ve learned that it’s important to continuously search for opportunities that align with your strengths and skills. Every individual has a distinct way of creating value and making money. For instance, my business model is centered around buying something for a lower price and selling it for a higher price. Others may provide services or add value in other ways.

It’s crucial to understand your personal strengths and preferences within your chosen model to effectively create wealth. This requires a degree of self-study, introspection, and experimentation. By honing in on your unique talents and leveraging them in your business pursuits, you can achieve greater success and fulfillment. Therefore, my advice to fellow entrepreneurs is to identify and focus on the opportunities that best align with your style and strengths.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

The inspiration for my business stemmed from my passion for flexibility and freedom in my work life. I wanted to create a business that would allow me to earn income remotely, from anywhere in the world, and without the responsibilities of managing a large staff. The ability to work from anywhere at any time has provided me with the flexibility and autonomy I’ve always desired, while simultaneously allowing me to pursue my passions and enjoy a fulfilling work life balance.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

One effective strategy for growing a business is to identify and sell products or services that trigger strong emotions in customers. When customers are emotionally invested in a product, they are often less sensitive to its price, which creates an opportunity for greater profits. By understanding what your customers care about and what drives their purchasing decisions, you can tailor your offerings to match their needs and interests, and increase the likelihood of repeat business.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Entrepreneurship is a journey that often involves failures and setbacks. Despite the glossy image of success that’s often portrayed by those who start their own businesses, many decisions do not work out as intended. The key is to pick oneself up, accept the failure, and extract valuable lessons from it in order to move forward towards success.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

One potential business opportunity is to target retiring baby boomers who may be willing to sell their profitable businesses at a discounted price to the right buyer. By approaching multiple businesses in the same industry with a personalized letter, you can identify potential sellers and determine why they are interested in selling. This approach can significantly reduce the risk of starting a new business from scratch, as you are able to acquire an existing, successful operation.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I consider TradingView to be an indispensable tool in my trading toolkit. Its comprehensive features and analytical tools enable me to gain valuable insights into the financial markets. It provides me with a deeper understanding of market movements and has been instrumental in helping me make informed trading decisions.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I highly recommend reading The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. This book offers valuable lessons and insights into managing finances and investments. It has been instrumental in helping me reflect on my past mistakes and make better financial decisions. I have read this book multiple times and still find it incredibly insightful and useful.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

“The quality of your life is the quality of the emotions you live on a daily basis.”

Key learnings:

• Identify your business style and personal strengths, then pursue opportunities which align with them. • As a business owner, it’s important to understand what your customers care about from an emotional standpoint. • When encountering failure, learn what you can, then pick yourself and try again