Brian Proctor on ”My Father Knew The Secret: Growing Up With Bob Proctor”

Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning

YOU are about to discover The Secret, like no else on earth before. If you’ve read Napoleon Hill’s, Think and Grow Rich book, looking for The Secret in those pages, or watched the movie The Secret, you’ll want to take out a notebook for today’s interview, and put away all distractions. The lessons you’ll take away from this next episode, I guarantee, from personal experience, that what you will learn today, has the potential to change the course of your life forever.

Watch this interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/ndhyRKFMrFQ

On today’s episode #292 with Brian Proctor on ”My Father Knew The Secret: Growing Up With Bob Proctor" we will cover:

✔ The Power Behind "The Secret" found in the pages of Think and Grow Rich, or the Movie The Secret and how this "Secret" has the ability to change your life forever.

✔ Lessons Learned from Brian Proctor after 30 years of working side by side with the legendary speaker, and 60 years being taught these timeless success principles.

✔ Lesson include: How to Create Your Best Life Ever, Why It's Important to Follow your Heart, What Exactly is The Impression of Increase, How to See the Best in Everyone You Meet, How to Visualize Your Goals, How to Be at Peace with Death, How to Attract our Best Mate, How to Embrace Our Feelings and Never Be Afraid to Share Them, and Why it's Important to Be Our Best at All Times.

✔ Andrea reflects on these lessons, with her TOP 3 Take-Aways, with tips for the listener to apply each take-away to their life.

Welcome back to Season 10 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning (that’s finally being taught in our schools today) and emotional intelligence training (used in our modern workplaces) for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, an author, and an educator with a passion for learning and launched this podcast 5 years ago with the goal of bringing ALL the leading experts together (in one place) to uncover the most current research that would back up how the brain learns best, taking us ALL to new, and often unimaginable heights.

For today’s EPISODE #292, we have a surprise guest, who I didn’t know we’d have on the interview schedule until this past weekend. After receiving his new book in the mail, I sent out an interview invite, and when the answer back, was “you pick the day” I knew I had to make a decision quickly and firmly.

It was our next guest’s father who taught me to never waver on a decision. We’ve all been there, though, wondering, “should I do this now—or later, leave this till tomorrow—or don’t leave it, do it—or don’t do it, say it—or don’t say it.” There’s nothing worse than being stuck with that feeling of ambivalence that comes with indecision, and if my path hadn’t of crossed with motivational speaker, Bob Proctor, in the late 1990s, I wouldn’t have learned the importance of eliminating conflict in the mind by learning to become proficient at making decisions. I picked the interview date 2 days away, and knew it was the right answer, because that’s another skill we were taught. Learn to listen to that quiet voice within, and always go with your heart. It will never lead you in the wrong direction.

Today’s guest, is Bob Proctor’s son, who worked by his side for 30 years, Brian Proctor. And for 60 years, he was schooled with the experiences and wisdom learned by being the son of the legendary speaker who impacted my life, and millions of others around the world with his teachings based on the principles of success. I've known Brian Proctor since the late 1990s, when I was first creating the goals and dreams for my future on notepads, using his Father's material as my guide. Brian was right there, encouraging me along the way. I highly recommend his work. He’s extraordinarily humble and a uniquely kind human being. You’ll see what I mean when you meet him here. I haven’t seen Brian since I ran into him at the last live seminar I attended (January 2016 in LA), 16 years or so since I had been on staff, working behind the scenes with him and the others in those early days.

It’s always interesting seeing people you’ve not seen in years, as you both remember where each other began (he knew me well, and I’d say I knew him well). It’s always neat to see where people end up, especially when you work in the personal development industry as we get to see each other’s lives as work in progress. Brian would see my journey over the years, just as I’d watch his. His son, Danny became an important influence in my family’s life, as he helped me with many projects along the way, especially when I worked with youth, and the project involved a passion of his, filmmaking.

I did see Brian again after that seminar in 2016, when I took The Paradigm Shift Seminar[i] online, and had a chance to study directly with him, and learn more about where his life had progressed to since I knew him all those years ago, but I still had so many questions for him, that I know he’s asked often.

I wondered:

“What was it really like having Bob as your Dad?”

“When you were stuck, did he show you the way forward, or make you figure it all out on your own?”

“How exactly do you feel his influence and is he still with you today?”

“What chapters of Think and Grow Rich were important to him the most?”

I knew some things that were mentioned over the years, but reading through the pages of Brian’s new book, my questions were all answered, filling in some others areas that I just had no idea about. You can also watch an interview Brian did on Vladi’s Author’s Show[ii] where he answers some of the questions I’ve had over the years.

I just quoted Brian Tracy on our last episode, and saw he, along with many others have endorsed this book. Tracy says:

And I can’t even tell you how excited I was to see that Price Pritchett wrote the Foreword to this book, as we learn how Bob and Price became acquainted.

Today I am beyond excited to have the chance to catch up with Brian Proctor, and gain access to some of the connections and knowledge that could only be known from those who walked side-by-side to this well-known, and respected speaker.

Today we will dive into the book that was released just in time for what would have been Bob’s 89th Birthday coming up this July 3rd. You can grab a copy of this book by going to www.brianproctor.com [iii]

Let’s welcome Brian Proctor, and see what we can uncover together with his NEW book, My Father Knew the Secret: Growing Up with Bob Proctor, and use these lessons immediately to improve our life.

Welcome Brian! It’s awesome to see you again.

You know it’s been years since we worked together, and there’s lots here that I want to ask you, but I did want to start out by saying you’ve got to be one of the nicest, most humble guys I’ve ever met. I remember how much fun it was fishing with you in BC all those years ago (I barely remember the details since I don’t think I’ve gone fishing ever since then) but how cool was that to fish for something off the bottom of the ocean, and then cook it. This was years before your son Danny would become important and influential with the work I would do with teens, and I remember seeing a photo of him, not knowing how much he would help me in the future. Isn’t life incredible? I remember you always being there, helping others (like me) to see the beauty and opportunities in the world. Thank you for being here today. I know this is going to be an incredible conversation.

INTRO Q: Where do I even begin Brian? Let’s start with the book, since this is what we are here for today. I’ve got my copy, and it’s something else.

Can we begin with the vision you have with this book? What do you want people to take away from it?

You know I’ve seen your work over the years, and watched you go up on stage when I knew you’d rather not be speaking. There was something else for you.

How did you find your way over the years, using these principles yourself, and what change do you see in yourself looking back now, connecting the dots like Steve Jobs is famous for quoting.

Q1: On page 18, you talk about the timing and writing of this book, and how Bob told you “Not to rush it. Take your time and write from the heart.” You know he gave me the same advice when I interviewed him on EP #66[iv], reminding me that “I’ll never go wrong when I follow my heart.” That whole idea that things will happen “if and when they are supposed to happen.” Looking back now, how was this all supposed to happen, and what did you learn from it all?

Q2: How do you recommend we READ this book to make our life better on a daily basis?

Q3: CH 1 was difficult to read. I knew some of the details as I kept in touch with those who worked closely with Bob over the years, and in Bob’s final days, that you open the book with, I was finishing a Deep Dive into Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich[v] book, that I hit the publish button on the afternoon of February 3, 2022. I ended up dedicating this one to Bob a few days later. Can you talk about how Bob made everyone feel special? The Impression of Increase. How he would see ONLY the good in a person?

Q3B: You talked about how Bob would say “what a beautiful life it was” and how “even the ceiling is beautiful.” Well, I’ve been in Bob’s house, and in that front hallway I’ve looked up, to see the most beautiful ceiling I’ve ever seen. Almost like the front foyer of Cesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, or The Bellagio. I couldn’t help wonder, what do you think Bob saw “on the screen of his mind” that might help us to hold more gratitude in our heart as we go through our daily lives, so we can get to where he was in those final days with an attitude of gratitude?

Q3C: How do you think we can all prepare ourselves for when it’s our time, or maybe even find some comfort with the whole idea that one day we will be gone?

Q4: Like you, I remember ALL the people who would ask Bob about the Law of Attraction, or how to find their perfect match in life. Everyone wanted to know the answer to this question. I loved when I first heard your story, that Bob helped you to meet your wife, Cory, and how you sort of avoided the situation from the beginning because you worked together. For someone listening, looking to find their true match, what would you suggest they do?

Q4B: Can you explain how this relates to the billions of times we would hear Bob say “don’t worry about the HOW. Just decide WHAT you want; the how will reveal itself?” This only makes sense to me AFTER I hit those big goals that I really wanted.

Q5: Chapter 4. I just think if everyone in the world did this, it would be a better place. I must have learned from Bob to not be afraid of telling people how I feel, by communicating my feelings. I know many of us weren’t raised this way, so this is something many of us needs practice with. How did your Dad bring this out in you?

Q6: What does “A Pro is at his best mean here?” In Chapter 8, in your lesson “All About the Chalkboard” you mention the importance your Dad put on those drawings. It was funny to me, as it reminded me of a seminar years after the chalkboards, we were in New Orleans, and Bob gave me a $100 bill and told me to go and bring him back a Sharpie with a slanted tip. He was using an easel in the seminar, and the Sharpie he had was running out and I learned how to quickly navigate the shops in this city, and bring back what he needed before the event started. How did Bob teach you this habit of doing your best, or being serious with your craft?

Q7: Brian, I could ask you 100 more questions, but I try to stick to just 10 or so. What are some final thoughts that you would like the listeners to know about your Dad, the lessons you learned from him, and how you want these lessons to help others?

Brian, this book is beautifully written, and you really should be proud of it. It’s one that will sit on my desk, next to You2 and Think and Grow Rich, and I will open it, and read a bit of it every time I need some words of encouragement. You’ve left no stones unturned, and given me lots to think about here, and I know this will help those who tune into our podcast to take some of the lessons you’ve learned, and implement them in their lives.

It really is a beautiful life. Thank you for responding so quickly to my email to meet with you. For those listening, they can go to BrianProctor.com and find your book there, and stay up to date on your work moving forward.

I’ve also got to thank you Brian, as you were always there with ideas and encouragement with the dreams I had all those years ago. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you having a bad day, always with a smile on your face, and I always wondered “what’s Brian’s life really like with Bob Proctor as his Dad” and now I’ve read the book, I know that answer. Thanks Brian for coming on the podcast today, to share the lessons you learned that others can now implement for a happier, healthier and more productive life.

Thank you for all you do! I look forward to hearing your interview with Lewis Howes on The School of Greatness Podcast. This book goes right along with his content, and I know that Bob would be thrilled to see you on his show. I’m going to watch for that episode.

FINAL THOUGHTS, REFLECTIONS and MY TOP TAKE-AWAYS:

What an interview. This one really hit me on many levels, (emotionally, mentally and spiritually) as it took things full circle for me, speaking with the son of someone who has made such an influence on where I ended up in life, and the obvious impact he has on Brian himself, his close family, as well as the countless others globally who Bob Proctor impacted through his work. It was something else catching up with Brian, revisiting old memories he shared, but also very surreal, especially when he was talking about The Impression of Increase, and I noticed my eyes started tearing up. If you watch the YouTube interview, you’ll see it, but it really took me by surprise, that as Brian was speaking, I started to see his Father, in his face. There are so many lessons in this episode, in Brian’s book, and especially when we look back at previous episodes, that lead up to this one.

If you haven’t listened to my interview with Bob, go back to EPISODE #66[vi] and you’ll see where my path began, and some of the questions that Bob answered for me. Don’t miss EPISODE #67[vii] where I listed the top lessons I learned from my time working and studying with Bob over the years, but I’ve got to narrow in on some of the lessons that weren’t obvious until AFTER the interview that really does show the power and seriousness of this information that Brian writes about in this book.

AHA MOMENTS AND TAKE-AWAYS

YOU MUST THINK: The biggest take-away for me with this interview (besides the fact it felt like I was interviewing Bob and not his son) was the fact that Bob asked EVERYONE “What do you REALLY want” and it hit me while reflecting on this interview while I was editing it, that he was trying to get us to THINK. “Thinking is the hardest work in the world” he would say, and that “most people don’t think.” I remember when he first asked me that question, I had never “thought” about it, and I remember feeling like I was caught off guard, and I just said “I don’t really know” until years later, I had some time to figure out that I wanted to do something with our educational system and youth, that I went after full force, leading me to where I am today.

The first lesson we all learned was to THINK. We all have this ability but sometimes we are so busy we forget to DREAM up NEW THOUGHTS, activating our IMAGINATION. Once we’ve learned to dream, then we learned that we could create ANYTHING we wanted, with belief, (that we can strengthen with books like Think and Grow Rich) and then it all we needed to do, was to get emotionally involved with what we wanted, and take action. This was the formula that was to describe our attitude, that would determine our altitude in life. Creating a beautiful life was simple if you followed and believed in this formula. This is where I say this interview has the potential to change the course of your life FOREVER. If you really believe in what you want, there’s nothing (other than yourself) that will prevent you from achieving it.

Sounds pretty simple, and easy to understand, right? But there’s a lot more to it involved that I can see could take a lifetime to fully understand and apply. Not everyone follows through with what they REALLY want as life sometimes gets in the way.

How many times did Brian say, “I heard it often” but he didn’t really understand the significance of certain lessons until consciously thinking about them. This is why ongoing continual study is crucial with this information as we take it out of our subconscious mind and into our conscious awareness.

I’ve been working on connecting David Eagleman’s work to the fact that there’s so much more to our senses that what our eyes can see, etc, and this is where for me, things get exciting as we begin to connect the science to these age-old principles.

Do YOU think? If I were to ask you what YOU really want, would you have a clear and concise answer for me?

YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW HOW You will do what you want, JUST LISTEN TO YOUR HEART: Brian mentioned that he heard this so many times “well, you don’t know HOW you are going to do what you want to do” and we were all sort of stumped hearing that, because most people would like to know the specific steps they are going to take for their goals. I thought about this diagram I’ve covered on this podcast of The Creative Process, or how you take your goal, and take it from FANTASY (it begins in your mind with your imagination), goes to THEORY (where you using your reasoning factors to plan your vision and put it into words), and then you bring it into a FACT or REALITY (with action). This is where the quantum leap idea that Price Pritchett’s book covers, as it’s with this step that we must stretch with our goals, and do something we’ve never done before. Goals are not meant for us to GET something, they are meant for us to grow. I’m sure you’ve heard this as often as I have. Don’t go buy the same car you’ve always driven, or go after the same job you’ve always done, or do something you KNOW you can do. There’s NO INSPIRATION in that. Don’t get stuck doing something you don’t really want to do.

Stretch and do something that you REALLY WANT to do, even if the masses would think it to be impossible. This will take you QUANTUM LEAPS from where you’ve always been.

This was like when I set sights on moving to the US from Toronto, putting me way outside of my comfort zone, (not even knowing the legal process involved when I first said this is what I wanted to do) turning me into a whole new version of myself with this move. Or when Brian, who isn’t totally comfortable speaking in public, or doing podcasts, does them anyway, with the goal of spreading the word of his Father’s message (where his heart is involved) with his new book with a vision that I know will take him far past his old identity, of the old version of Brian that I remember didn’t really enjoy speaking back in the day, creating a whole NEW version of himself.

These are QUANTUM LEAP goals, and are worth getting excited about.

Is there something that YOU really want, but feels like a stretch for you? The key is to write it down, and then just decide you will do it. Go from FANTASY (in your mind with your imagination) to THEORY (create your plan) to FACT (where you turn your Fantasy into Reality).

GET UP AND TAKE ACTION: This last take-away is that once we know what we want, that we must do the work involved to get it. The quote by James Allen I said at the end of EP 291 came to mind here “He thinks in Secret, and it comes to pass: environment is but his looking glass.” (James Allen).

There’s no way to escape doing the work. Brian said his Dad told him to just “write a bit every day” to complete this book. One step at a time, until eventually you look up, and your world around you had changed with the repetition of doing a little bit each day.

If you find yourself procrastinating with something, then I’m going to guess it’s not really a goal that stretches you, so there isn’t any inspiration with it for you.

Do you have a plan in place for YOUR vision? Does your VISION stretch you to do something you’ve never done before?

I’d love to hear the AHA moments that you had with Brian’s interview, and what you think of his new book.

And with that, we’ll close out this episode. I’ll see you next week as we pick up where we left off, and also prepare for some new and exciting interviews in the month of July.

FOLLOW BRIAN PROCTOR

Website https://www.brianproctor.com/brianproctor-home

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brianproctorofficial/?hl=en

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MyFatherKnewTheSecret

FOLLOW ANDREA SAMADI:

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AndreaSamadi

Website https://www.achieveit360.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samadi/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Achieveit360com

Neuroscience Meets SEL Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2975814899101697

Twitter: https://twitter.com/andreasamadi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreasamadi/

REFERENCES:

[i] The Paradigm Shift Seminar Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8M33iCjKBU

[ii] Vladi’s Author Show, Interview with Brian Proctor June 25th, 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMKBierroQE

[iii] https://www.brianproctor.com/brianproctor-home

[iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #66 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/

[v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #196 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-neuroscience-behind-the-15-success-principles-of-napoleon-hill-s-classic-boo-think-and-grow-rich/

[vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #66 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-legendary-bob-proctor-on/

[vii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #67 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/expanding-your-awareness-with-a-deep-dive-into-bob-proctors-most-powerful-seminars/