Marketing & Media Interview South Africa

JT Foxx on how branding leads to success

He's clued up on mobile marketing, has a growing media presence and is the world's number one wealth coach - and only in his thirties. Here's a glimpse into JT Foxx's success...

With the trend for everything to go online, JT Foxx feels the cellphone is the new wallet and everything geared towards the app world, marketers should focus on branding this year. That's because "Branding gives your marketing validity, branding equals credibility, credibility equals power, power equals access, and access equals success."

Got it? Good. I tracked Foxx down to find out more about his insights and experience...

Bizcommunity 1. Becoming the world's top wealth coach in your thirties is a huge accolade, how exactly did you do it?

JT Foxx
JT Foxx

Foxx: My business model has always been centred on the concept of being powered by your success, powered by our clients' success. So the more our clients are successful and getting what they want because of success, the more successful we will be. Success is measured in different forms; to some people it is to get the big house, or the car. To some people it is to quit their job, for other people it is to have businesses all over the world. Whatever it is that they are looking for, once they get it, that's success for me. At the end of the day, the more people get what they want, the more successful I become. The point is, results rule. That's how I did it and I think one of the keys to success is: the more valuable you make yourself to your clients, the more successful you will be.

Bizcommunity 2. Certainly an interesting way of seeing it. Tell us about your radio show.

Foxx: When I first started the radio show, it was called "Foreclosure Talk Radio", which lasted about 30 days. The object was to interview people who I had saved from foreclosure. But that does not necessarily make good radio and the station didn't like it, so we changed it to "The JT Foxx Show". At first it was about being a protector of the American Dream, even though I'm Canadian, and it developed into some interviews of the top guests in the world talking about wealth, success and tackling the hard issues. Then it became a way for me to have a voice.

Bizcommunity 3. Sounds like an interesting journey. Sticking to the topic of media, tell us more about your upcoming book and TV show.

Foxx: I am really excited about my new book, Millionaire Underdog - it's the greatest book on how to start, grow and explode any business against all odds. The whole idea is based on my thoughts on how you make your first deal, your first million, and your first 10 million. I really want this to be the next Rich Dad, Poor Dad, something that's going to outlive me and give people the foundational blueprint on their business, success, and getting people what they want.

Then TV show is Billionaire Pitch, which is a working title. It's the whole concept of going into businesses and me coaching them from nothing and turning their business around, turning their life around. Having them making a contribution to create significance and a legacy; it's really going to be part-comedy, part-drama, part-inspirational, part-business and hard hitting. I am truly excited about that!

Bizcommunity 4. As you should be! OK then, how do you feel about contributing to print?

Foxx: The thing I like about print media is that it can't really be spun; if I write an article about something, my words and my vision are right there and I can influence people through them. I am a big fan of print media and read all kinds of publications - including this one - and its words are powerful. When articles are written out of a higher level, I think then we can really stimulate the intellect and provoke thought. That's really what it is about; pushing our boundaries.

Bizcommunity 5. Tell us more about 'Mega Partnering'.

Foxx: Sure, the Mega Partnering and Mega Marketing shows are successful to South Africa. Mega Partnering, with Al Pacino and Sylvester Stallone, was the last one and I retired it. Mega Partnering Africa was created for the purpose of bringing people like Apple Co-Founder, Steve Wozniak, to South Africa. We had so many people attending, but I would like to see Mega Partnering sort of like a Seinfeld, so I decided to leave it on top. After doing 11 of them all around the world, I felt it was time to move on. We have now created a Family Reunion, where I will bring everyone from my events, all over the world, into one room - including South Africa - so we can get together; learn, earn and return.

JT Foxx in action, at a Mega Partnering event
JT Foxx in action, at a Mega Partnering event

Bizcommunity 6. Linked to that, give us a brief teaser of how you 'think bigger and implement faster'.

Foxx: It's funny, Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, said that I was the closest thing to Steve Jobs that he had ever met. That's obviously an amazing compliment, but 'thinking bigger' is about having visions. Dreams don't come true, so when you have a vision it's about speed of implementation, from the moment you come up with an idea to the moment you implement it will determine how successful you will be. Now I have got a lot of examples because I have so many companies. Just recently I was watching a television show and there was a segment on a t-shirt company. While I was watching the show I came up with an idea to start my own t-shirt company, Millionaire Underdog, and I texted one of my team members in my organisation about it. Two days later I had samples, and five days later we started the company. It's about getting things done and we sold out the first day that we actually offered the t-shirts. It goes to show if you implement fast, solve problems and find solutions, you are going to be very successful.

Bizcommunity 7. Makes sense. Let's talk about the importance of philanthropy and charity work as an aspect of success...

Foxx: I love philanthropy, I love charity work, I love helping people, especially kids. I believe life is not measured by how much money you make, life is measured by how many lives you change, and children are so innocent. To be able to help sick kids and helping them to create a better tomorrow is very important for me and I thank my coach George Ross, Donald Trump's right-hand man, who really inspired me to make a difference in people's lives. I support the Nelson Mandela Foundation through my work.

Bizcommunity 8. A true inspiration! What advice would you give to anyone that sees you as an inspiration, and hopes to be like you?

Foxx: I don't think anyone is going to be like me - I'm not going to be Richard Branson or Donald Trump myself. Whether or not you are successful is whether or not you are yourself. The minute you try to be someone you're not, I think you lose what is called the aura of authenticity, but everyone needs heroes, role models and coaches. It takes one person, one deal, and one opportunity to change people's lives and I truly hope I can be that one person that can help people and guide them to whatever they want out of life. I know I have done that for tens of thousands of people all over the world. At the end of the day that's our message, powered by your success, that's what gets me up in the morning.

Wise words. For more on JT Foxx, visit his official website or follow him on Twitter.

About Leigh Andrews

Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen, is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews.
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