June 21, 2025 • 27 mins
What makes billionaires different isn't just their bank accounts—it's their mindset. Christopher Kai has met over 100 billionaires throughout his career, and he's discovered they share a fundamental belief: they see themselves as no different from anyone else who has created something significant.
From shoveling snow as a seven-year-old in Queens to delivering keynotes on global stages across five countries, Kai's journey exemplifies how authentic storytelling can transform your life and career. As founder of Gifted Professional Speakers and advisor to Fortune 500 companies, his philosophy is refreshingly simple: "Your story is a gift to the world."
The fascinating science behind Kai's approach comes from Stanford University research showing leaders who tell great stories are 22 times more memorable than those who don't. This isn't just academic theory—Kai has proven it works in corporate boardrooms, on luxury yachts with billionaires, and even in Saudi Arabia where cultural barriers might otherwise prevent meaningful connection.
For those struggling with public speaking anxiety, Kai offers both compassion and practical wisdom. He reveals the evolutionary reasons behind our fear and shares his own journey from pacing nervously before presentations to commanding stages worldwide. His "Three C's of Explosive Success"—connections, credibility, and communication—provide a framework for anyone looking to amplify their voice and impact.
Ready to transform your story into your superpower? This conversation will show you why, as Michelangelo said, "The challenge most of us have is not that we aim too high and miss it; we aim too low and reach it." Subscribe now and learn how to aim higher with your voice, your story, and your purpose.
Connect & Discover Christopher:
Website: https://christopherkai.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherkai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopherkaidom/
X: https://x.com/christopherkai_
YouTube: @ChristopherKai.
Book: Story-Based Leadership (coming soon)
Book: Work: The 4 Pillars of Productivity (coming soon)
Book: Big Game Hunting
FOLLOW MICK ON:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MickUnpluggedPodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/
Website: https://www.mickhuntofficial.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Christopher Kai (00:00):
If you look at society before, it was even
written paper that the Chineseinvented thousands of years ago.
It was stories that your momand dad talked to you about your
grandfather, your grandmother,and that's why, when we talk
about life and what I talk aboutstories it's not a coincidence
that every single thing I do, atleast for my brand, GIF,
Directs Talks.
I believe your stories give tothe world.
Intro (00:20):
Welcome to Mick Unplugged , the number one podcast for
self-improvement, leadership andrelentless growth.
No fluff, no filters, justhard-hitting truths, unstoppable
strategies and the mindsetshifts that separate the best
from the rest.
Ready to break limits?
Let's go, let's go.
Mick Hunt (00:46):
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting
episode of Mick Unplugged, andtoday we've got a special one
for you.
We're talking about going fromthe streets of Queens to global
stages across five countries.
He's the CEO and founder of theGifted Professional Speakers
and the man whose insights haveshaped Fortune 500s, billionaire
(01:06):
entrepreneurs and global changemakers.
Today, we're going to go deepinto legacy purpose and the
business of storytelling with mybrother, my friend, the
incomparable Mr Christopher Kai.
Chris, how are you?
Christopher Kai (01:20):
doing what's up , Mick?
We're always watching.
Give Mick some love.
Mick Hunt (01:23):
Let's go, let's go, let's Friday.
What's up, mick?
We're always watching.
Give Mick some love.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
Chris man, you know, met youwhat seven, eight months ago.
We were in LA at a Les Brownevent and I've been a huge
follower of yours on socialmedia, you know, looked at a lot
of your content, studied a lotof your content and when I met
you, man, like what I loved andwhat I appreciated was that you
(01:45):
were just a dude, yeah Right,like you're just a dude at the
core and we were cutting up, wewere doing the robot out on the
dance floor like you were aboutto break dance, like with your
New York flair and all that, butI just appreciated the fact
that you were a dude, bro.
Christopher Kai (02:01):
Yeah, I mean frankly making when you meet
people, when you're on stages.
I mean I literally wrote a bookabout networking with
billionaires, executives andI've easily met over 100
billionaires and celebrities androyalty, and so we actually
meet that level of success, atleast on the outside.
You start seeing what do youwant to be on the inside?
And if you saw that and more,felt my vibe as a dude, because
(02:21):
that's what my mom raised me asright.
She was a immigrant from hongkong.
My father and my motherimmigrated from hong kong to the
us and they raised three boys.
I'm the youngest one, so Ialways remember, I want to
remember my roots.
Right, it's when I meet yougood dude, good heart, good
spirit, because at the end ofthe day, it's easy to flex and
show certain things you mighthave, which is, which is cool.
Everyone wants to their vibe,but the fact that you feel that
(02:44):
way, I'm grateful because that'sthe vibe I want from people
that I meet.
Mick Hunt (02:48):
Yeah, man, I love it, brother.
So, growing up in Queens, Ilike to ask people about their
because that thing, that istheir purpose, their real reason
of doing what they do.
If I were to say todayChristopher Kai, what's your
because?
Why do you keep doing thethings that you do, man?
Christopher Kai (03:07):
It's still the same because when I was a
six-year-old kid talking a lotin first grade at St Mary's
Elementary School in Woodside,Queens, four miles east of
Manhattan, where I just wantedto talk the difference is now
that I know there's a purpose inlife beyond just sharing words
is really how can we serve?
How can we serve individuals?
You'll get someone like MichaelJordan.
When people ask him, hey, whydo you still go on courts and
(03:30):
shoot balls?
I was like well, someone inthat audience might not have
seen me and for those who youdon't have a genuine, authentic
value in yourself, you mightlook at me and say, well, how
dare you compare yourself withMichael Jordan?
Well, how dare me not?
He's a human being, as you andI are, and I know that I'm a
gift from God and my motherraised me right.
So when you start seeing thatwe all are similar in terms of
(03:53):
our value, then you're okaysaying, yeah, I don't mind
comparing myself with MichaelJordan.
If he's a goat, I'm a goat,right, but it's still the same
purpose.
But now, as you know, when yousee these people and you meet
these people and you feel theirheart, how can you not go on?
How heart, how can you not goon?
How can you not serve?
Because we all know we're goingto be here for a short time, at
least physically.
But if I have the ability toliterally be flying to Atlanta
(04:15):
in a few days and speak in frontof a thousand people, or be on
a yacht tomorrow, or be speakingat one of the largest realtor
associations in the wholecountry, the United States, why
wouldn't you?
Right?
Because how many people canactually do what we do?
I mean, we actually genuinelylove what we do.
We get to serve people and makea good living, right?
So, from the moment I am hereto, let's say, Andrew Young I
(04:38):
don't know if you've ever metAndrew Young yeah, Dr Martin
Luther King Jr's ambassador.
That boy is like 90 years old.
Or when I met Reebok co-founder, who I interviewed recently for
Gifter X Talks, which is one ofmy speaker platforms it's
called the TED Talks forEntrepreneurs he's 90 years old.
When I interviewed the TEDfounder who created the TED
(04:58):
Talks, who literally createdthis renaissance of public
speaking, he just turned 90years old, right?
So, whether you're 90, 30, 20,50, or a young man like yourself
maybe you're 28, who knows youknow it's about service to
others, but as business owners.
Why not be a business owner?
We are living in the mostcatatonically inspiring yet
(05:21):
scary time in human history,where technology has always
moved things forward.
But with AI, if you're not onthat AI ride, you're going to be
left behind.
This is not instilling fear.
This is just letting you knowI'm not a tech guy, but if I can
use AI as a non-tech guy tohelp my business, help my
clients, you have to reallyunderstand how the world can be
(05:44):
moved exponentially forward.
This isn't no linear thing.
This is like when Jeff Bezostalks about it's like
electricity.
If you think about that process, that, that AI is like
electricity, which affectseverything.
It's kind of an inspiring timewe live in now.
Mick Hunt (06:03):
Oh, totally, man, and we're only in the infancy
stages of AI, Like what AI isgoing to be tomorrow and next
month and 12 months from AI isgoing to be tomorrow and next
month and 12 months from now isgoing to be night and day of
what it is and what it's capableof today.
So, totally agree, christopherman, you're a man of many
talents and I talk to you aboutthis offline all the time, but I
think one of your greatestgifts is storytelling, and
(06:26):
you've made many comments, andyou talk about it in your books,
that leaders who are greatstorytellers are 22 times more
likely to be memorable.
Talk to us, the listeners andviewers, a little bit about the
science behind that and, moreimportantly, why storytelling is
something that is a commontheme with every billionaire,
(06:49):
every great entrepreneur thatyou're associated with.
Christopher Kai (06:52):
Let's first give credit to the person from
Stanford University.
Her name is Professor JenniferAcker, so she studied this
actual science of storytelling,right?
So, jennifer Acker, I've nevermet her before, but I love
learning about the science,right?
So the fact is, if people havestudied this at Stanford at that
level, right, it gives you thiscredence and awareness that it
is important.
But when you pick it out of themost basic things, how do we
(07:13):
meet at a less brand event?
Who is the goat of publicspeaking seven months ago?
So we're already building ourstory, our history, right, but
if you look at society beforethere was, it was even written
paper that the chinese inventedthousands of years ago.
It was stories that your momand dad talked to you about,
your grandfather, yourgrandmother.
And that's why, when we talkabout life and what I talk about
(07:36):
stories, it's not a coincidencethat every single thing I do,
at least for my brand, gifter XTalks, I believe your story is a
gift to the world.
Gps gifted professional speaker,I teach entrepreneurs how to be
speakers.
The Gifter's podcast, mypodcast, because imagine in a
networking world, in arelationship world, that every
single time you met someone,you're either giving a gift ie
(07:57):
your story, or receiving a giftwhich is feeling their heart and
even your story.
Right Last time we spoke, dude,you're a South Carolina guy.
You're going back to your home.
I asked you why?
Because if you don't share yourstory, especially the more
vulnerable ones, you're notreally connecting on a deeper
level.
It's very easy to be surfacedas oh yeah, mick, how are you?
(08:18):
I've written seven books.
I have shared the stage withPresident Clinton, president
Trump, richard Branson, billGates who cares?
But if you know that I've hadstruggles, as you've had, I've
had challenges, I have obstacles.
Those are the challenges,obstacles and things that we
allow ourselves to catapultourselves future.
So, anyone who's listening orwatching, whatever you see in
(08:41):
mick or myself, it's good toadmire us, but don't put us on a
pedestal, because we're humanbeings and that's why I love
what you said, literally is whatmy good friend Michael Lee said
.
I've known him since college,when I was on his, when I was in
his wedding party.
He said you know, I reallyadmire that.
You're real and genuine.
(09:01):
I've had many compliments andmany criticisms and many shots.
Right, but dude.
Literally.
I literally say dude still,because when you lose that
authenticity, you've lost yoursoul and especially when you're
rolling in circles, as I am, Iliterally still take public
chastisation deliberately toremind myself, to know what real
(09:24):
people are.
Because if you lose sight ofthat, yeah, I can be on the
yacht and private jets andmansion parties and penthouse.
They're nice, I'm not going todeny that.
But if we lose track of who thepeople are, who I am, who I was
, who my mother was as animmigrant, I mean it's important
you know.
Mick Hunt (09:44):
No, wholeheartedly, man.
What are some other traits?
Because you work with so manyentrepreneurs, you work with,
I'd say, a ton of billionaires.
They're not a ton ofbillionaires, but you work with
a good percentage of them, right, like you have a good batting
average when it comes to workingwith billionaires.
They're not a ton ofbillionaires, but you work with
a good percentage of them, right, like you have a good batting
average when it comes to workingwith billionaires.
What are some other traits thatyou see that they have in
(10:04):
common that are important for usto understand, for us to work
towards?
Christopher Kai (10:09):
That's a great question, mick.
I mean, first, let's talk aboutwhy you should even learn from
billionaires.
You know some people.
I don't even want to be abillionaire.
I've met enough billionaires.
You know some people.
I don't even want to be abillionaire, I've met enough
billionaires.
It's more about a mindset.
For instance, if there are 8billion people in the world and
you know there's only 3,028billionaires according to Forbes
magazine and if you are acapitalist and if you're an
entrepreneur and if you're abusiness person which all of you
(10:30):
should be, frankly, even ifyou're an employee working for
some man or woman, why would younot want to learn from the
Picassos, the Dallis and theMichelangels of capitalism?
That's how I thought.
It's less about how much moneythey've made, it's the fact that
there's 8 billion people andonly 3,020 of them are
billionaires.
Why am I going to waste my timelearning from someone else?
And so when you realize that,okay, I want to learn from the
(10:52):
Picassos, I want to learn fromMichelangelo, it's really an art
form.
You look at a Mark Cuban.
He's like I love businessbecause it's the most creative
thing in the world, right?
So first is letting everyoneknow why you should learn from
billionaires and the key thingsthat most of them have, at least
the self-made ones, are.
They're like what I just said.
I don't mind comparing myselfwith Michael Jordan or Kobe
Bryant.
I'm not a basketball player,but if I am a GOAT, meaning I've
(11:14):
spoken at the top corporateevents, I've spoken at the top
self-development events, I'vespoken for the Crown Prince's
charity in Saudi Arabia, I'vespoken for a prince in Thailand.
So I'm just saying, recognizingthat they have this mindset that
Steve Jobs once said once yourealize that you are no
different from someone else thatcreated the laptop that we're
(11:37):
on right now, that created theactual lights that are looking
at me right, that created thecamera, that created the
microphone, right If you realizethat every single one of those
people, man or woman, createdthe very things that we're using
right now, then why shouldn'tyou be more bold and more
excited?
Because Michelangelo, goingback to art, once said the
challenge that most of us haveis not that we aim too high and
(11:58):
miss it, we aim too low andreach it.
I'll say that again,michelangelo, and mind you, for
those of you listening andwatching, michelangelo was in
his 20s who crafted this thingcalled David, 500 years ago in
his 20s, but he said that mostof people's challenges is not
that they aim too high and missit, they aim too low and reach
(12:20):
it.
Mick Hunt (12:22):
That's powerful, brother, that's powerful.
You know I talked about one ofyour skill sets being
storytelling.
I'm going to tell you, and I'mlooking you in your eye and you
know how I feel about you.
I don't know if there's threeother speaker development
coaches in the world that arebetter than Christopher Cot,
right?
So being able to tell yourstory is one thing, christopher,
(12:46):
but being able to then go onstage, especially that first
time, right, that first time youget on stage, it's a little bit
different.
So how do you coach speakers?
I don't want secret sauce, butwhat are the first three or four
things that you're working onwhen a speaker comes to you or
someone that wants to really getinto it?
(13:06):
Because, again, telling yourstory is one thing, but being
able to tell it on stage in acommanding presence is a totally
different one?
Christopher Kai (13:13):
Yeah, that's a great question.
And just to be clear, when Iteach my clients how to speak,
it's either for corporations I'mspeaking at eBay, amazon,
google or more of the postdevelopment space where you're
offering a program and selling aprogram, right?
So the first thing is justrecognizing why are people
afraid?
And again, there's a lot ofphysiology involved with it.
Because if you're on stage I'mon stage Back in the day if
(13:40):
you're away from an audience, agroup, a tribe, you have a
higher probability of beingeaten by a bear, a lion or a
wildebeest, right?
So you have to understand whyare we afraid?
And then we look at objectively.
Okay, when you see someone onstage, I don't really like
Christopher's face or his eyecolor or his hair.
It's kind of thin, you know.
So we are very critical.
So I first laid down the barefoundations of accepting the
(14:01):
fact that you know what.
I've been on a lot of stages.
I met a lot of people.
At the end of the day, nomatter how you look, no matter
how your English might not beyour first language, if you
share with your heart, they'llvibe with that.
And those that don't, I don'tknow if I can curse, but F them.
You know, the reality is youdon't have to please everyone.
(14:22):
You know I have some peoplethat like me, some people that
don't.
But I just know, genuinely, ifthey are feeling my heart and
they're learning and yeah, Iwill sell you something, why
shouldn't I right, if theyaccept that biologically,
physiologically, where are theoddballs, where are the weird
ones that actually want to be onstage Because we're literally
opening up vulnerability?
(14:43):
So if you accept the fact thatphysiologically you're not
supposed to be on stage becauseyou're literally wanting and
allowing yourself to be morevulnerable, from a physiological
standpoint, we all think thatwe're so rational and logical.
But from our brain system wehave the prefrontal cortex,
which is more the rational,imaginatory side.
(15:03):
We have this thing called thelimbic system, where there's a
thing called the amygdala, andyou're a science guy.
So it's like the actual fightor flight.
So if you just understand basicbiology and know that when I
started in high school and incollege, I was literally pacing
outside the room before goinginto the room to give a speech.
My palms were sweaty, my stomachwas churning, I was looking
(15:25):
back and forth, I was pacing andI remember telling one of my
friends named Dustin in college.
He said, christopher, you walkback and forth, you pace around
when you speak.
I'm like, do I?
No, I don't.
Again, my ego likes to sharehis opinion.
But he showed me the video andthere I was walking back and
forth.
Now, if I walk back and forth,it's because I want to show love
(15:46):
to everyone on stage andeveryone off stage, because it
really is a skillset and an art.
And so anyone I talk to, Ifirst always ask them hey, mick,
what is your end goal?
Do you want to inspire people?
Do you want to make money?
What do you want to do?
It's always understanding whoyour audience is, because
whenever I meet people that bragabout how much they love
speaking and have a lot of ego,I run the other way.
(16:07):
I don't care how much moneythey have.
It's actually easier for me tocoach someone who's humble and
is not that skilled in speaking,because I literally break down
what they've learned in the pastto rebuild what they want to do
in the future.
Because in the speaking world,especially in the speaking to
sell world meaning you'respeaking on stage and selling a
program like Les Brown does.
He is a goat in so many levelsbecause he's 80 years old, as
(16:31):
you know, mick, but I just wantto always never assume who's
listening and watching.
This man is 80 years old, andyou know this, mick, because we
both met him.
He's like a father figure toyou.
This man, his heart, his spirit.
He still has that jovial, happy, innocent laugh, as if I met
him at an eight-year-old kid.
That's what I hope to be likewhen I'm 80.
And even the age thing doesn'tmatter.
It's like, if you have a voice,which all of you have, if you
(16:53):
have a purpose to serve and youwant to make money, which all of
you should have then you shouldstart speaking by first
accepting where you're at.
Don't compare Mick or myself.
Know that we're all on ajourney.
As long as you compare yourselfwith how you were yesterday,
meaning if you, let's say, haveissues with enhancing your words
and I still have an issue, evenas you hear my words and if you
(17:16):
can say something like strategy, or setenta in Spanish, which
means 70, because sometimes Imumble those words and I did it
better than yesterday.
Great job, christopher, kai,great job Mick.
So for those who are watching,don't be so impressed with who
we might be, at least where weare now.
Look back at the journey, lookback at the struggles, look back
(17:38):
at the sacrifice, because Iknow, mick, we're getting to
know each other, but I can feelyour heart Every time you talk
to me.
There's a sense of deferenceand respect, every time you talk
to Les Brown.
Is that a coincidence that Ifeel the same way as you do to
Les, because there's a respect.
Mick Hunt (17:53):
Right, right, totally , man, totally.
So where did this all start?
Right, and by start again, Iknow a lot, but I but to be, as
I call it, bankable, to get therepeat hey, christopher, we need
(18:27):
you for this event, we need youfor that event.
How did that journey forChristopher Kai start, brother?
Christopher Kai (18:33):
You know, from an entrepreneur standpoint,
seven-year-old Christopher Kaiwas knocking on doors in my
neighbor's homes when it wasreally cold in New York City and
just saying, can I shovel youryard, your porch, your driveway?
And when you're aseven-year-old kid not having a
lot of money, you have like ahundred bucks in your hand
You're like rich.
Right, it's from a very earlyage.
A lot of entrepreneurs startthat young.
But from a business standpoint,as a speaker, it started when I
(18:55):
was in college where a youngman named Henry was a buddy of
mine.
He's like running for officeand he's like.
I want to be like Christopher.
I want to be charismatic.
It was someone else telling methat I was charismatic.
I didn't even know that meantright.
So it's just.
That's why I love coaching, bythe way, mick.
It's like I get to recognizewho they are, not who they think
they are, but I know who theyare from their heart.
(19:17):
And then I think, 26th, I was atan all-black Pentecostal church
in San Francisco.
At that point I wrote a bookabout college success and my
colleague at American Expresswas also a pastor named Reverend
Desmond Hamilton.
I'll never forget this.
He asked me to speak at hischurch.
They're literally speaking intongues.
(19:37):
At one point, before I walk in,I'm like what's going on?
I grew up Catholic, but it'sall good, you're praising the
Lord.
I'm down with this, give myspeech, sell a few books, I'm
all happy.
But Mick, he hands me a checkfor $50.
And I'm like woo, I'm rich.
Because again, you rewind allthose times I was punished and
(19:57):
teased and told I was stupid,told I was ugly, I was really
short.
But a man of faith, a man ofstature, a man of authority, it
didn't matter If he gave me aquarter, even five cents, a
penny.
I'm like, wow, and now I made alittle more than $50 for a
speech.
But it's always those moments.
That's why I want to remindeveryone on this call this
(20:19):
podcast man.
Just go out there and shareyour story on Instagram and in
time you get more bankable whenyou become more branded Now I'm
a branded speaker where I didn'tknow this whole stuff.
Right, I almost want to cryevery time I meet people because
they think it's just a story,they think it's just their
(20:41):
content, they think it's justtheir heart.
But I don't want them to gothrough the pain that I went
through Eight years writing myfirst book, having a website,
having speeches, spendinghundreds, if not thousands, of
hours and a lot of money.
And me, if I was more smart, Iwould have hired a coach earlier
, because I ended up moving myego away and my arrogance away
(21:02):
and ignorance and ended uphiring a guy named Dan Poynter
God rest his soul.
He's since passed away, but hewrote over a hundred books.
At a seminar in Santa Barbara Iliterally flew out there,
didn't have the money, boughthis program, didn't have the
money he upsold me, didn't havethe money.
But guess what?
That eight years could havebeen eight weeks.
Because after investing in acoach, I exponentially improved
(21:23):
my awareness and ability, notwhat I think I need to do to
write a book.
Now I knew what to do becausethis man wrote over a hundred
books.
That's what for me.
I'm easily giving over athousand presentations globally
for anything.
That's why it pains me becauseusually, especially with men,
sometimes that have had somesuccess, I tell them what I
charge and they look at me aslike.
(21:44):
Really, I'm like do you want tospend 20 plus hours, tens of
thousands of hours that lastyear alone?
Mick?
You want to guess how manymiles I flew last year alone,
tell me Close to 200,000 miles.
That's more than seven times.
That's just one year.
So when people ask me to helpthem, it's really a pay to play
(22:05):
model because I'm a coach and aconsultant, right?
It's like if you don'trecognize the amount of time
I've spent and you don't honormy value and you don't have the
ability to pay me, that's okay.
I still think you're a goodperson.
I just don't realize that whenpeople go to school, they go to
a restaurant.
If you go to a nice five-starrestaurant, are you going to eat
that meal?
(22:25):
And if it didn't meet yourexpectations, you're like I
don't want to pay the restaurant.
It's so insulting.
If you're a coach or speaker,know your value and charge for
it Because, frankly, if you havea job and a salary, why
wouldn't you want to charge forit?
Especially if you have a voice,as you do, you know.
Mick Hunt (22:44):
No, why wouldn't you want to charge for it,
especially if you have a voice,as you do?
You know, no, wholeheartedly, Iagree with that a thousand
percent.
And you know one of my othermentors, you know very well,
damon John, right?
So, damon, when I started theconsulting piece outside of my
insurance business, I was like,damon, I don't know what to
charge, right, like I feel likeI'm always going to have to
prove myself.
And he said Mick, you chargewhat you're worth, and as long
(23:06):
as one person or one entity iswilling to charge you that, then
that is your worth, right there.
And so I think, a lot of timeswhen people look at and I'm
gonna say coaches, but I'm gonnasay, chris, you're more of a
sponsor, right, because, yeah,you coach, but the real person
that you are is you help peopleget into rooms that they belong
(23:28):
in, you help people get onstages that you are.
And to me, that's thedifference between coaching,
mentoring and sponsoring.
I can coach you, I can mentoryou, but I pride myself on being
a sponsor, meaning I am goingto put you in the actual places,
I'm going to get you in therooms, and that is literally who
you are.
And so I love that fact becauseone, you already know you're
(23:48):
worth every penny, but two, forthose that are listening.
That's what separatesChristopher.
He's not just going to coachyou, he's not just going to
mentor you, he is going to putyou on stages, he is going to
get you in front ofopportunities and that's what
makes my guy, christopher, veryspecial.
Christopher Kai (24:05):
It's about transformation.
Man, do you want a transactionor transformation?
I mean literally, just like allthe mentors, coaches and
trainers that I've met throughmy life.
For me it's about three C's ofexplosive success.
We look at gunpowder, mick, youknow how many basic qualities
are in gunpowder.
You know the basic qualitiesare in gunpowder.
What's that?
It's literally just charcoal,sulfur and potassium nitrate.
(24:26):
But in business, regardless ofwhat scale whether you're at
five, six, seven, eight, nine,10, doesn't really matter.
It's connections, credibilityand communication.
I figured out okay, I'm goingto get them in the right room ie
network, but I realized theydon't have the credibility to
help build their personal brand.
And lastly, even if they havethat, they're going to
communicate.
You're a great communicator,you're genuine, you're humble,
(24:48):
you're authentic, you'rerespectful.
But communicating is also on astage and that's a different
skill set.
So if I can help my clientsbuild their connections, build
the credibility and build thecommunication skills they
realistically can pursue,whatever the dream they are,
whether they want to make firstmillion, 10 million, 100 million
billion, it doesn't reallymatter, because at every scale,
in every country, in everyculture I literally spoke in
(25:11):
saudi arabia I talked aboutleadership, I talked about heart
and this woman who's a sadwoman, mind you.
She's fully in her job.
I can only see your eyes.
As an american, I can hear avoice like oh my gosh,
christopher.
You talked about chinesecharacter, about leadership.
My first inclination was to hugher, but obviously that's not
appropriate in the Muslimculture.
But she wasn't American, wasn'ta man.
(25:34):
But what I'm saying is, when youspeak with your heart, you can
connect with anyone and forthose who are listening and
hearing what we're talking about, you have a purpose to serve
and your story is a gift andit's like a seed.
You're not placed on this earthto just keep that seed in your
hand.
You're placed in this earth toplace those seeds of your story
(25:55):
into someone's heart.
The more you connect withpeople, the more genuine people.
And you have to.
Again, don't worry about oh mygosh, christopher Mick.
You guys are so amazing.
What if they don't worry about?
Oh my gosh, christopher Mick,you guys are so amazing.
What if they don't like me?
Who cares?
You don't need everyone to likeyou, but as long as you speak
with your heart and authenticityand you're a good, genuine
person, you're good All day, allday.
Mick Hunt (26:17):
Christopher, you know we could do this all day, right
.
Christopher Kai (26:29):
We're going to have to have some of those
behind the scenes moments thatyou and I have and give people
insights to some of thoseconversations, if we can.
But, man, where can peoplefollow and find you?
Christopherkaicom, my last nameis K-A-I Instagram
ChristopherKaiDum K-A-I-D-U-Mnot kingdom, but Kaidum.
Hit me up there.
Love to hear what your thoughtsare and, mick, thank you so
much for the opportunity.
If you want to learn more aboutNick, make sure you reach out
to him.
Mick Hunt (26:49):
Absolutely, brother.
I appreciate it.
I will make sure that we havelinks in the show notes.
So all the great things youhave going on.
Next time we do this, we'regoing to get into some of your
books too, because Chris is alsoa bestselling author.
We got this Exactly.
Christopher Kai (27:01):
This is actually the Wizard of Words how
to Speak, pursuate and SellLike Steve Jobs.
That's the one that's comingout this year.
Mick Hunt (27:09):
There we go.
Well, we'll make sure that weactually have a second
conversation to promote and talkabout that book.
Christopher Kai (27:14):
Great.
Thanks so much for your time,Nick.
Mick Hunt (27:16):
I appreciate you to all the viewers and listeners.
Remember your because is yoursuperpower.
Outro (27:26):
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Mick Unplugged.
If today hits you hard, thenimagine what's next.
Be sure to subscribe, rate andshare this with someone who
needs it and, most of all, makea plan and take action, because
the next level is alreadywaiting for you.
Have a question or insight toshare?
Send us an email to hello atmickunpluggedcom.
(27:49):
Until next time, ask yourselfhow you can step up.
If you look at society before, it was even
written paper that the Chineseinvented thousands of years ago.
It was stories that your momand dad talked to you about your
grandfather, your grandmother,and that's why, when we talk
about life and what I talk aboutstories it's not a coincidence
that every single thing I do, atleast for my brand, GIF,
Directs Talks.
I believe your stories give tothe world.
Intro (00:20):
Welcome to Mick Unplugged , the number one podcast for
self-improvement, leadership andrelentless growth.
No fluff, no filters, justhard-hitting truths, unstoppable
strategies and the mindsetshifts that separate the best
from the rest.
Ready to break limits?
Let's go, let's go.
Mick Hunt (00:46):
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting
episode of Mick Unplugged, andtoday we've got a special one
for you.
We're talking about going fromthe streets of Queens to global
stages across five countries.
He's the CEO and founder of theGifted Professional Speakers
and the man whose insights haveshaped Fortune 500s, billionaire
(01:06):
entrepreneurs and global changemakers.
Today, we're going to go deepinto legacy purpose and the
business of storytelling with mybrother, my friend, the
incomparable Mr Christopher Kai.
Chris, how are you?
Christopher Kai (01:20):
doing what's up , Mick?
We're always watching.
Give Mick some love.
Mick Hunt (01:23):
Let's go, let's go, let's Friday.
What's up, mick?
We're always watching.
Give Mick some love.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
Chris man, you know, met youwhat seven, eight months ago.
We were in LA at a Les Brownevent and I've been a huge
follower of yours on socialmedia, you know, looked at a lot
of your content, studied a lotof your content and when I met
you, man, like what I loved andwhat I appreciated was that you
(01:45):
were just a dude, yeah Right,like you're just a dude at the
core and we were cutting up, wewere doing the robot out on the
dance floor like you were aboutto break dance, like with your
New York flair and all that, butI just appreciated the fact
that you were a dude, bro.
Christopher Kai (02:01):
Yeah, I mean frankly making when you meet
people, when you're on stages.
I mean I literally wrote a bookabout networking with
billionaires, executives andI've easily met over 100
billionaires and celebrities androyalty, and so we actually
meet that level of success, atleast on the outside.
You start seeing what do youwant to be on the inside?
And if you saw that and more,felt my vibe as a dude, because
(02:21):
that's what my mom raised me asright.
She was a immigrant from hongkong.
My father and my motherimmigrated from hong kong to the
us and they raised three boys.
I'm the youngest one, so Ialways remember, I want to
remember my roots.
Right, it's when I meet yougood dude, good heart, good
spirit, because at the end ofthe day, it's easy to flex and
show certain things you mighthave, which is, which is cool.
Everyone wants to their vibe,but the fact that you feel that
(02:44):
way, I'm grateful because that'sthe vibe I want from people
that I meet.
Mick Hunt (02:48):
Yeah, man, I love it, brother.
So, growing up in Queens, Ilike to ask people about their
because that thing, that istheir purpose, their real reason
of doing what they do.
If I were to say todayChristopher Kai, what's your
because?
Why do you keep doing thethings that you do, man?
Christopher Kai (03:07):
It's still the same because when I was a
six-year-old kid talking a lotin first grade at St Mary's
Elementary School in Woodside,Queens, four miles east of
Manhattan, where I just wantedto talk the difference is now
that I know there's a purpose inlife beyond just sharing words
is really how can we serve?
How can we serve individuals?
You'll get someone like MichaelJordan.
When people ask him, hey, whydo you still go on courts and
(03:30):
shoot balls?
I was like well, someone inthat audience might not have
seen me and for those who youdon't have a genuine, authentic
value in yourself, you mightlook at me and say, well, how
dare you compare yourself withMichael Jordan?
Well, how dare me not?
He's a human being, as you andI are, and I know that I'm a
gift from God and my motherraised me right.
So when you start seeing thatwe all are similar in terms of
(03:53):
our value, then you're okaysaying, yeah, I don't mind
comparing myself with MichaelJordan.
If he's a goat, I'm a goat,right, but it's still the same
purpose.
But now, as you know, when yousee these people and you meet
these people and you feel theirheart, how can you not go on?
How heart, how can you not goon?
How can you not serve?
Because we all know we're goingto be here for a short time, at
least physically.
But if I have the ability toliterally be flying to Atlanta
(04:15):
in a few days and speak in frontof a thousand people, or be on
a yacht tomorrow, or be speakingat one of the largest realtor
associations in the wholecountry, the United States, why
wouldn't you?
Right?
Because how many people canactually do what we do?
I mean, we actually genuinelylove what we do.
We get to serve people and makea good living, right?
So, from the moment I am hereto, let's say, Andrew Young I
(04:38):
don't know if you've ever metAndrew Young yeah, Dr Martin
Luther King Jr's ambassador.
That boy is like 90 years old.
Or when I met Reebok co-founder, who I interviewed recently for
Gifter X Talks, which is one ofmy speaker platforms it's
called the TED Talks forEntrepreneurs he's 90 years old.
When I interviewed the TEDfounder who created the TED
(04:58):
Talks, who literally createdthis renaissance of public
speaking, he just turned 90years old, right?
So, whether you're 90, 30, 20,50, or a young man like yourself
maybe you're 28, who knows youknow it's about service to
others, but as business owners.
Why not be a business owner?
We are living in the mostcatatonically inspiring yet
(05:21):
scary time in human history,where technology has always
moved things forward.
But with AI, if you're not onthat AI ride, you're going to be
left behind.
This is not instilling fear.
This is just letting you knowI'm not a tech guy, but if I can
use AI as a non-tech guy tohelp my business, help my
clients, you have to reallyunderstand how the world can be
(05:44):
moved exponentially forward.
This isn't no linear thing.
This is like when Jeff Bezostalks about it's like
electricity.
If you think about that process, that, that AI is like
electricity, which affectseverything.
It's kind of an inspiring timewe live in now.
Mick Hunt (06:03):
Oh, totally, man, and we're only in the infancy
stages of AI, Like what AI isgoing to be tomorrow and next
month and 12 months from AI isgoing to be tomorrow and next
month and 12 months from now isgoing to be night and day of
what it is and what it's capableof today.
So, totally agree, christopherman, you're a man of many
talents and I talk to you aboutthis offline all the time, but I
think one of your greatestgifts is storytelling, and
(06:26):
you've made many comments, andyou talk about it in your books,
that leaders who are greatstorytellers are 22 times more
likely to be memorable.
Talk to us, the listeners andviewers, a little bit about the
science behind that and, moreimportantly, why storytelling is
something that is a commontheme with every billionaire,
(06:49):
every great entrepreneur thatyou're associated with.
Christopher Kai (06:52):
Let's first give credit to the person from
Stanford University.
Her name is Professor JenniferAcker, so she studied this
actual science of storytelling,right?
So, jennifer Acker, I've nevermet her before, but I love
learning about the science,right?
So the fact is, if people havestudied this at Stanford at that
level, right, it gives you thiscredence and awareness that it
is important.
But when you pick it out of themost basic things, how do we
(07:13):
meet at a less brand event?
Who is the goat of publicspeaking seven months ago?
So we're already building ourstory, our history, right, but
if you look at society beforethere was, it was even written
paper that the chinese inventedthousands of years ago.
It was stories that your momand dad talked to you about,
your grandfather, yourgrandmother.
And that's why, when we talkabout life and what I talk about
(07:36):
stories, it's not a coincidencethat every single thing I do,
at least for my brand, gifter XTalks, I believe your story is a
gift to the world.
Gps gifted professional speaker,I teach entrepreneurs how to be
speakers.
The Gifter's podcast, mypodcast, because imagine in a
networking world, in arelationship world, that every
single time you met someone,you're either giving a gift ie
(07:57):
your story, or receiving a giftwhich is feeling their heart and
even your story.
Right Last time we spoke, dude,you're a South Carolina guy.
You're going back to your home.
I asked you why?
Because if you don't share yourstory, especially the more
vulnerable ones, you're notreally connecting on a deeper
level.
It's very easy to be surfacedas oh yeah, mick, how are you?
(08:18):
I've written seven books.
I have shared the stage withPresident Clinton, president
Trump, richard Branson, billGates who cares?
But if you know that I've hadstruggles, as you've had, I've
had challenges, I have obstacles.
Those are the challenges,obstacles and things that we
allow ourselves to catapultourselves future.
So, anyone who's listening orwatching, whatever you see in
(08:41):
mick or myself, it's good toadmire us, but don't put us on a
pedestal, because we're humanbeings and that's why I love
what you said, literally is whatmy good friend Michael Lee said
.
I've known him since college,when I was on his, when I was in
his wedding party.
He said you know, I reallyadmire that.
You're real and genuine.
(09:01):
I've had many compliments andmany criticisms and many shots.
Right, but dude.
Literally.
I literally say dude still,because when you lose that
authenticity, you've lost yoursoul and especially when you're
rolling in circles, as I am, Iliterally still take public
chastisation deliberately toremind myself, to know what real
(09:24):
people are.
Because if you lose sight ofthat, yeah, I can be on the
yacht and private jets andmansion parties and penthouse.
They're nice, I'm not going todeny that.
But if we lose track of who thepeople are, who I am, who I was
, who my mother was as animmigrant, I mean it's important
you know.
Mick Hunt (09:44):
No, wholeheartedly, man.
What are some other traits?
Because you work with so manyentrepreneurs, you work with,
I'd say, a ton of billionaires.
They're not a ton ofbillionaires, but you work with
a good percentage of them, right, like you have a good batting
average when it comes to workingwith billionaires.
They're not a ton ofbillionaires, but you work with
a good percentage of them, right, like you have a good batting
average when it comes to workingwith billionaires.
What are some other traits thatyou see that they have in
(10:04):
common that are important for usto understand, for us to work
towards?
Christopher Kai (10:09):
That's a great question, mick.
I mean, first, let's talk aboutwhy you should even learn from
billionaires.
You know some people.
I don't even want to be abillionaire.
I've met enough billionaires.
You know some people.
I don't even want to be abillionaire, I've met enough
billionaires.
It's more about a mindset.
For instance, if there are 8billion people in the world and
you know there's only 3,028billionaires according to Forbes
magazine and if you are acapitalist and if you're an
entrepreneur and if you're abusiness person which all of you
(10:30):
should be, frankly, even ifyou're an employee working for
some man or woman, why would younot want to learn from the
Picassos, the Dallis and theMichelangels of capitalism?
That's how I thought.
It's less about how much moneythey've made, it's the fact that
there's 8 billion people andonly 3,020 of them are
billionaires.
Why am I going to waste my timelearning from someone else?
And so when you realize that,okay, I want to learn from the
(10:52):
Picassos, I want to learn fromMichelangelo, it's really an art
form.
You look at a Mark Cuban.
He's like I love businessbecause it's the most creative
thing in the world, right?
So first is letting everyoneknow why you should learn from
billionaires and the key thingsthat most of them have, at least
the self-made ones, are.
They're like what I just said.
I don't mind comparing myselfwith Michael Jordan or Kobe
Bryant.
I'm not a basketball player,but if I am a GOAT, meaning I've
(11:14):
spoken at the top corporateevents, I've spoken at the top
self-development events, I'vespoken for the Crown Prince's
charity in Saudi Arabia, I'vespoken for a prince in Thailand.
So I'm just saying, recognizingthat they have this mindset that
Steve Jobs once said once yourealize that you are no
different from someone else thatcreated the laptop that we're
(11:37):
on right now, that created theactual lights that are looking
at me right, that created thecamera, that created the
microphone, right If you realizethat every single one of those
people, man or woman, createdthe very things that we're using
right now, then why shouldn'tyou be more bold and more
excited?
Because Michelangelo, goingback to art, once said the
challenge that most of us haveis not that we aim too high and
(11:58):
miss it, we aim too low andreach it.
I'll say that again,michelangelo, and mind you, for
those of you listening andwatching, michelangelo was in
his 20s who crafted this thingcalled David, 500 years ago in
his 20s, but he said that mostof people's challenges is not
that they aim too high and missit, they aim too low and reach
(12:20):
it.
Mick Hunt (12:22):
That's powerful, brother, that's powerful.
You know I talked about one ofyour skill sets being
storytelling.
I'm going to tell you, and I'mlooking you in your eye and you
know how I feel about you.
I don't know if there's threeother speaker development
coaches in the world that arebetter than Christopher Cot,
right?
So being able to tell yourstory is one thing, christopher,
(12:46):
but being able to then go onstage, especially that first
time, right, that first time youget on stage, it's a little bit
different.
So how do you coach speakers?
I don't want secret sauce, butwhat are the first three or four
things that you're working onwhen a speaker comes to you or
someone that wants to really getinto it?
(13:06):
Because, again, telling yourstory is one thing, but being
able to tell it on stage in acommanding presence is a totally
different one?
Christopher Kai (13:13):
Yeah, that's a great question.
And just to be clear, when Iteach my clients how to speak,
it's either for corporations I'mspeaking at eBay, amazon,
google or more of the postdevelopment space where you're
offering a program and selling aprogram, right?
So the first thing is justrecognizing why are people
afraid?
And again, there's a lot ofphysiology involved with it.
Because if you're on stage I'mon stage Back in the day if
(13:40):
you're away from an audience, agroup, a tribe, you have a
higher probability of beingeaten by a bear, a lion or a
wildebeest, right?
So you have to understand whyare we afraid?
And then we look at objectively.
Okay, when you see someone onstage, I don't really like
Christopher's face or his eyecolor or his hair.
It's kind of thin, you know.
So we are very critical.
So I first laid down the barefoundations of accepting the
(14:01):
fact that you know what.
I've been on a lot of stages.
I met a lot of people.
At the end of the day, nomatter how you look, no matter
how your English might not beyour first language, if you
share with your heart, they'llvibe with that.
And those that don't, I don'tknow if I can curse, but F them.
You know, the reality is youdon't have to please everyone.
(14:22):
You know I have some peoplethat like me, some people that
don't.
But I just know, genuinely, ifthey are feeling my heart and
they're learning and yeah, Iwill sell you something, why
shouldn't I right, if theyaccept that biologically,
physiologically, where are theoddballs, where are the weird
ones that actually want to be onstage Because we're literally
opening up vulnerability?
(14:43):
So if you accept the fact thatphysiologically you're not
supposed to be on stage becauseyou're literally wanting and
allowing yourself to be morevulnerable, from a physiological
standpoint, we all think thatwe're so rational and logical.
But from our brain system wehave the prefrontal cortex,
which is more the rational,imaginatory side.
(15:03):
We have this thing called thelimbic system, where there's a
thing called the amygdala, andyou're a science guy.
So it's like the actual fightor flight.
So if you just understand basicbiology and know that when I
started in high school and incollege, I was literally pacing
outside the room before goinginto the room to give a speech.
My palms were sweaty, my stomachwas churning, I was looking
(15:25):
back and forth, I was pacing andI remember telling one of my
friends named Dustin in college.
He said, christopher, you walkback and forth, you pace around
when you speak.
I'm like, do I?
No, I don't.
Again, my ego likes to sharehis opinion.
But he showed me the video andthere I was walking back and
forth.
Now, if I walk back and forth,it's because I want to show love
(15:46):
to everyone on stage andeveryone off stage, because it
really is a skillset and an art.
And so anyone I talk to, Ifirst always ask them hey, mick,
what is your end goal?
Do you want to inspire people?
Do you want to make money?
What do you want to do?
It's always understanding whoyour audience is, because
whenever I meet people that bragabout how much they love
speaking and have a lot of ego,I run the other way.
(16:07):
I don't care how much moneythey have.
It's actually easier for me tocoach someone who's humble and
is not that skilled in speaking,because I literally break down
what they've learned in the pastto rebuild what they want to do
in the future.
Because in the speaking world,especially in the speaking to
sell world meaning you'respeaking on stage and selling a
program like Les Brown does.
He is a goat in so many levelsbecause he's 80 years old, as
(16:31):
you know, mick, but I just wantto always never assume who's
listening and watching.
This man is 80 years old, andyou know this, mick, because we
both met him.
He's like a father figure toyou.
This man, his heart, his spirit.
He still has that jovial, happy, innocent laugh, as if I met
him at an eight-year-old kid.
That's what I hope to be likewhen I'm 80.
And even the age thing doesn'tmatter.
It's like, if you have a voice,which all of you have, if you
(16:53):
have a purpose to serve and youwant to make money, which all of
you should have then you shouldstart speaking by first
accepting where you're at.
Don't compare Mick or myself.
Know that we're all on ajourney.
As long as you compare yourselfwith how you were yesterday,
meaning if you, let's say, haveissues with enhancing your words
and I still have an issue, evenas you hear my words and if you
(17:16):
can say something like strategy, or setenta in Spanish, which
means 70, because sometimes Imumble those words and I did it
better than yesterday.
Great job, christopher, kai,great job Mick.
So for those who are watching,don't be so impressed with who
we might be, at least where weare now.
Look back at the journey, lookback at the struggles, look back
(17:38):
at the sacrifice, because Iknow, mick, we're getting to
know each other, but I can feelyour heart Every time you talk
to me.
There's a sense of deferenceand respect, every time you talk
to Les Brown.
Is that a coincidence that Ifeel the same way as you do to
Les, because there's a respect.
Mick Hunt (17:53):
Right, right, totally , man, totally.
So where did this all start?
Right, and by start again, Iknow a lot, but I but to be, as
I call it, bankable, to get therepeat hey, christopher, we need
(18:27):
you for this event, we need youfor that event.
How did that journey forChristopher Kai start, brother?
Christopher Kai (18:33):
You know, from an entrepreneur standpoint,
seven-year-old Christopher Kaiwas knocking on doors in my
neighbor's homes when it wasreally cold in New York City and
just saying, can I shovel youryard, your porch, your driveway?
And when you're aseven-year-old kid not having a
lot of money, you have like ahundred bucks in your hand
You're like rich.
Right, it's from a very earlyage.
A lot of entrepreneurs startthat young.
But from a business standpoint,as a speaker, it started when I
(18:55):
was in college where a youngman named Henry was a buddy of
mine.
He's like running for officeand he's like.
I want to be like Christopher.
I want to be charismatic.
It was someone else telling methat I was charismatic.
I didn't even know that meantright.
So it's just.
That's why I love coaching, bythe way, mick.
It's like I get to recognizewho they are, not who they think
they are, but I know who theyare from their heart.
(19:17):
And then I think, 26th, I was atan all-black Pentecostal church
in San Francisco.
At that point I wrote a bookabout college success and my
colleague at American Expresswas also a pastor named Reverend
Desmond Hamilton.
I'll never forget this.
He asked me to speak at hischurch.
They're literally speaking intongues.
(19:37):
At one point, before I walk in,I'm like what's going on?
I grew up Catholic, but it'sall good, you're praising the
Lord.
I'm down with this, give myspeech, sell a few books, I'm
all happy.
But Mick, he hands me a checkfor $50.
And I'm like woo, I'm rich.
Because again, you rewind allthose times I was punished and
(19:57):
teased and told I was stupid,told I was ugly, I was really
short.
But a man of faith, a man ofstature, a man of authority, it
didn't matter If he gave me aquarter, even five cents, a
penny.
I'm like, wow, and now I made alittle more than $50 for a
speech.
But it's always those moments.
That's why I want to remindeveryone on this call this
(20:19):
podcast man.
Just go out there and shareyour story on Instagram and in
time you get more bankable whenyou become more branded Now I'm
a branded speaker where I didn'tknow this whole stuff.
Right, I almost want to cryevery time I meet people because
they think it's just a story,they think it's just their
(20:41):
content, they think it's justtheir heart.
But I don't want them to gothrough the pain that I went
through Eight years writing myfirst book, having a website,
having speeches, spendinghundreds, if not thousands, of
hours and a lot of money.
And me, if I was more smart, Iwould have hired a coach earlier
, because I ended up moving myego away and my arrogance away
(21:02):
and ignorance and ended uphiring a guy named Dan Poynter
God rest his soul.
He's since passed away, but hewrote over a hundred books.
At a seminar in Santa Barbara Iliterally flew out there,
didn't have the money, boughthis program, didn't have the
money he upsold me, didn't havethe money.
But guess what?
That eight years could havebeen eight weeks.
Because after investing in acoach, I exponentially improved
(21:23):
my awareness and ability, notwhat I think I need to do to
write a book.
Now I knew what to do becausethis man wrote over a hundred
books.
That's what for me.
I'm easily giving over athousand presentations globally
for anything.
That's why it pains me becauseusually, especially with men,
sometimes that have had somesuccess, I tell them what I
charge and they look at me aslike.
(21:44):
Really, I'm like do you want tospend 20 plus hours, tens of
thousands of hours that lastyear alone?
Mick?
You want to guess how manymiles I flew last year alone,
tell me Close to 200,000 miles.
That's more than seven times.
That's just one year.
So when people ask me to helpthem, it's really a pay to play
(22:05):
model because I'm a coach and aconsultant, right?
It's like if you don'trecognize the amount of time
I've spent and you don't honormy value and you don't have the
ability to pay me, that's okay.
I still think you're a goodperson.
I just don't realize that whenpeople go to school, they go to
a restaurant.
If you go to a nice five-starrestaurant, are you going to eat
that meal?
(22:25):
And if it didn't meet yourexpectations, you're like I
don't want to pay the restaurant.
It's so insulting.
If you're a coach or speaker,know your value and charge for
it Because, frankly, if you havea job and a salary, why
wouldn't you want to charge forit?
Especially if you have a voice,as you do, you know.
Mick Hunt (22:44):
No, why wouldn't you want to charge for it,
especially if you have a voice,as you do?
You know, no, wholeheartedly, Iagree with that a thousand
percent.
And you know one of my othermentors, you know very well,
damon John, right?
So, damon, when I started theconsulting piece outside of my
insurance business, I was like,damon, I don't know what to
charge, right, like I feel likeI'm always going to have to
prove myself.
And he said Mick, you chargewhat you're worth, and as long
(23:06):
as one person or one entity iswilling to charge you that, then
that is your worth, right there.
And so I think, a lot of timeswhen people look at and I'm
gonna say coaches, but I'm gonnasay, chris, you're more of a
sponsor, right, because, yeah,you coach, but the real person
that you are is you help peopleget into rooms that they belong
(23:28):
in, you help people get onstages that you are.
And to me, that's thedifference between coaching,
mentoring and sponsoring.
I can coach you, I can mentoryou, but I pride myself on being
a sponsor, meaning I am goingto put you in the actual places,
I'm going to get you in therooms, and that is literally who
you are.
And so I love that fact becauseone, you already know you're
(23:48):
worth every penny, but two, forthose that are listening.
That's what separatesChristopher.
He's not just going to coachyou, he's not just going to
mentor you, he is going to putyou on stages, he is going to
get you in front ofopportunities and that's what
makes my guy, christopher, veryspecial.
Christopher Kai (24:05):
It's about transformation.
Man, do you want a transactionor transformation?
I mean literally, just like allthe mentors, coaches and
trainers that I've met throughmy life.
For me it's about three C's ofexplosive success.
We look at gunpowder, mick, youknow how many basic qualities
are in gunpowder.
You know the basic qualitiesare in gunpowder.
What's that?
It's literally just charcoal,sulfur and potassium nitrate.
(24:26):
But in business, regardless ofwhat scale whether you're at
five, six, seven, eight, nine,10, doesn't really matter.
It's connections, credibilityand communication.
I figured out okay, I'm goingto get them in the right room ie
network, but I realized theydon't have the credibility to
help build their personal brand.
And lastly, even if they havethat, they're going to
communicate.
You're a great communicator,you're genuine, you're humble,
(24:48):
you're authentic, you'rerespectful.
But communicating is also on astage and that's a different
skill set.
So if I can help my clientsbuild their connections, build
the credibility and build thecommunication skills they
realistically can pursue,whatever the dream they are,
whether they want to make firstmillion, 10 million, 100 million
billion, it doesn't reallymatter, because at every scale,
in every country, in everyculture I literally spoke in
(25:11):
saudi arabia I talked aboutleadership, I talked about heart
and this woman who's a sadwoman, mind you.
She's fully in her job.
I can only see your eyes.
As an american, I can hear avoice like oh my gosh,
christopher.
You talked about chinesecharacter, about leadership.
My first inclination was to hugher, but obviously that's not
appropriate in the Muslimculture.
But she wasn't American, wasn'ta man.
(25:34):
But what I'm saying is, when youspeak with your heart, you can
connect with anyone and forthose who are listening and
hearing what we're talking about, you have a purpose to serve
and your story is a gift andit's like a seed.
You're not placed on this earthto just keep that seed in your
hand.
You're placed in this earth toplace those seeds of your story
(25:55):
into someone's heart.
The more you connect withpeople, the more genuine people.
And you have to.
Again, don't worry about oh mygosh, christopher Mick.
You guys are so amazing.
What if they don't worry about?
Oh my gosh, christopher Mick,you guys are so amazing.
What if they don't like me?
Who cares?
You don't need everyone to likeyou, but as long as you speak
with your heart and authenticityand you're a good, genuine
person, you're good All day, allday.
Mick Hunt (26:17):
Christopher, you know we could do this all day, right
.
Christopher Kai (26:29):
We're going to have to have some of those
behind the scenes moments thatyou and I have and give people
insights to some of thoseconversations, if we can.
But, man, where can peoplefollow and find you?
Christopherkaicom, my last nameis K-A-I Instagram
ChristopherKaiDum K-A-I-D-U-Mnot kingdom, but Kaidum.
Hit me up there.
Love to hear what your thoughtsare and, mick, thank you so
much for the opportunity.
If you want to learn more aboutNick, make sure you reach out
to him.
Mick Hunt (26:49):
Absolutely, brother.
I appreciate it.
I will make sure that we havelinks in the show notes.
So all the great things youhave going on.
Next time we do this, we'regoing to get into some of your
books too, because Chris is alsoa bestselling author.
We got this Exactly.
Christopher Kai (27:01):
This is actually the Wizard of Words how
to Speak, pursuate and SellLike Steve Jobs.
That's the one that's comingout this year.
Mick Hunt (27:09):
There we go.
Well, we'll make sure that weactually have a second
conversation to promote and talkabout that book.
Christopher Kai (27:14):
Great.
Thanks so much for your time,Nick.
Mick Hunt (27:16):
I appreciate you to all the viewers and listeners.
Remember your because is yoursuperpower.
Outro (27:26):
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Mick Unplugged.
If today hits you hard, thenimagine what's next.
Be sure to subscribe, rate andshare this with someone who
needs it and, most of all, makea plan and take action, because
the next level is alreadywaiting for you.
Have a question or insight toshare?
Send us an email to hello atmickunpluggedcom.
(27:49):
Until next time, ask yourselfhow you can step up.
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