Would You Dare?

2024.09.03.

Can a business consultancy operate on the principle that the client pays only as much as they believe the service was worth? Can we trust each other to this extent? What does business rely on if not trust? If we don't trust each other, why do business at all? What else could be valuable in such a relationship if not money? Could it be easier to find value in a working relationship that isn't focused on money but on the original goal of business: creating value and efficient value conversion?

This is the first journal entry marking the start of my new company.

Let me begin by explaining why I want to start a business. What do I enjoy doing today? What would I like to make a living from, in a way that I can pursue it daily with genuine curiosity, a desire to grow, and passion? The answer is simple: I want to do what I am currently doing, just on a business basis.

What do I do?

I engage in conversations and think about business ideas, their planning, implementation, and the challenges that arise along the way. Perhaps I approach this differently than usual—not from the business angle, but more from a perspective of self-examination, introspection, and facing life's difficulties. I explore topics such as the fear of failure, embracing personal desires, understanding our resources, and the distorting effects of ingrained paradigms. I base all this on nearly 30 years of entrepreneurial and almost 50 years of life experience. I strive not to accept established social norms and conformity. I encourage people to think more deeply about their lives and to dare to confront their fears and uncertainties to find their own path, instead of simply following the patterns dictated by society. In truth, I encourage my conversation partners to question things, and as we talk, I do the same with myself.

I explore.

Primarily myself, and I encourage those who find me for whatever reason to do the same. This is the essence of my writings, videos, and my Wednesday morning dog-walking conversations. Since I ask for no payment (except for mentoring), it has become clear over the past nearly two years that this is what I am called to do, what I want to do. I love it even without money. But if I want to build a business out of this, the business's task is to generate money, to produce profit. But how can I generate money in a way that maintains my value-based approach? And besides...

What is my value? What makes it work?

The fact that I am genuinely curious about others. That's why I can connect. I don’t walk with someone because they pay for it, and while they talk, I’m not thinking about my child, car, or spouse... my benefit from these shared walks is that I get to know interesting people; the value for me is what I hear. I have no expectations; I am interested in what comes out of you. Because this is exactly what can be new to me, what I build on, what I learn from.

If I ask for money, won’t that break this dynamic? After all, if I ask for money, I have to give something in return, even if I'm not that interested in the other person, so my connection is no longer truly sincere and selfless. And if I don’t connect in that way, how can I truly respond to what I hear and not just spout some cliché, textbook wisdom? Is this whole thing a messed-up Schrödinger's cat? No, I won't ask for money, I won't ruin what I love so much.

I won't ask; you give.

How much? As much as you think I’m worth. So, I’m happy to talk about your business matters if you feel I’m the right person. All I ask is that you write down the questions and the related important information you want to discuss. And explain how much you think it’s worth, how much you would pay to talk about it!

If I feel I can connect with the problem, that I have relevant experience, that I can imagine adding value to the topic, let’s find a time for a face-to-face meeting in Pécs.

Come to Pécs! Let's discuss your matters, and at the end of the conversation, you pay what you think it was actually worth to you. Less or more than what you initially said? It’s entirely up to you. You decide how much those two hours of conversation were worth to you. All I ask is that you tell me why you think it’s worth that much.

Value conversion.

I don’t know how this can work, but I believe that this way, the essence of what this is all about won’t die. There’s no intention, no forcing. It will be about the present moment, about what I give you. What you can take from it. I’m not selling my time; I don’t want that. I’m sharing my thoughts, my experiences. There and then. Whatever comes.

Don’t pay for my past, my website, my fees, my qualifications, or my personal brand!

Pay for what you received at that moment, who I am, what I represent, what this whole thing meant to you during those two hours. That’s what you should value!

I trust in people, in my ideas.

Let’s see what comes of it!