Interview With Masha Malka
Enjoy an insightful conversation with Masha Malka, author of The One Minute Coach.
1. Tell us a little bit more about your journey and the most important lessons you’ve learned in the process?
I immigrated to the USA at the age of 17 with my parents, very sick grandfather and a younger brother. We were allowed to take $100.00 per person and a little suitcase of clothes per person. None of us spoke English. Also, as refugees we lost our citizenship and we could not communicate with the friends we left behind because we didn’t want to get them in trouble with the KGB.
As a result, I went from an outgoing, well-adjusted, happy teenager to a depressed and introverted one. And it took me some time to rebuild my confidence and my self-esteem.
Although I was always a good student, did well at work, and seemed quite happy on the outside, inside I felt completely lost. I lived in the darkness of not knowing what I wanted and who I was. As I mentioned, I had a low self-esteem and settled for a lot less than I deserved.
Fortunately there are people such as Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, Mark Victor Hansen, Stephen Covey, just to name a few who help those in the situations like I was. Although my transformation was often painful and not easy, it was definitely worth it!! In fact, this is exactly why I do what I do now. Because I know it is possible to create the changes that we want if we really want to, if we are willing to learn what to do and then take appropriate action, of course…
Thinking about the most important lessons that I’ve learn in the process, it would be
1) That I am responsible for my own life
2) Never to let anyone, including, or should I say especially myself, make me feel guilty
3) And to value myself as the most important person in my life (different from being selfish)
2. You’ve lived and worked in 6 countries with very different cultures (Ukraine, USA, Austria, UK, Bulgaria, and Spain)... Does where we come from determine how successful we become?
Where we come from, age, socio-economic status, education level, the people that we know - none of these determine how successful we become. The only thing that does is a person’s MINDSET or their belief system – they way the respond to life’s situations and challenges.
3. What does being successful mean to you?
For me the word “success” is equivalent with the word “freedom” – freedom from my own limiting beliefs; freedom to be who I am and living the life that is meant for me to live!
4. Your new book, The One Minute Coach: change your life one minute at a time has just been published. Tell us a little bit about the book.
The One Minute Coach: change your life one minute at a time book is a compilation of inspirational one-minute messages all followed by application/action steps and engaging images.
Although this book can be read from the beginning to the end, it can also be used as a reference guide. For example, what many people say works best for them is to wake up and just open the book on any page. It takes one minute to read, get motivated and start the day in a positive way.
Some of the chapters in the book include:
ü The secrets of people who are successful
ü Freedom to be who you are
ü Why do we suffer
ü How to get what you want
ü What it takes to be a great leader
ü Time management and decision making tools
ü The best source of wealth
ü The most important job you do
ü The secret to a great life
ü And more (52 chapters all together)
5. What makes The One Minute Coach different from other self-help books out there?
Although there are many self-help books out there, what makes “The One Minute Coach” different is that it is specifically designed for busy people who understand the importance of learning and growing but just don’t seem to be able to find the time to read lengthy books.
Also, the book is written using Accelerated Learning Techniques, incorporating images, stories, short paragraphs, etc., which makes it easy to read and assimilate even when there is a very complicated topic.
6. With three young children, coaching career, a new book, family and personal demands, do you find it difficult to stay level-headed and keep a healthy balance?
If I tell you it is easy, I will be lying to you! J
First, I make sure that my needs are met. Getting enough rest.
Also, knowing how to prioritize is what helps me achieve a lot. You know the famous 80/20 rule (Paretto principle) that states that most people spend 80% of their time attending to activities that only give them 20% of the value. People who are more productive and efficient are not like that because they have more hours in the day or because they are more intelligent… they just know how to focus on the 20% of activities that give them 80% of the value.
7. You call yourself “The One Minute Coach”. What made you chose this name?
Everyone seems to be very busy these days plus people like and want quick results and immediate gratification. If people think they can change in one minute, they are more likely to invest that minute – and it does not overwhelm them.
The truth is, it takes even less than a minute to change. Change happens the moment we make a decision to change. However, often it takes many minutes to accumulate the knowledge that will help us make that decision.
As someone once said, it took me 20 years to achieve an overnight success!
8. There are many coaches out there, what makes you different?
1) Fist of all, I don’t just coach in the way most coaches do. I have created a system that I call “Foundation to Success” and I always start with teaching this system to my clients. I think a lot of issues and problems can be eliminated (and not just temporarily but forever) when we treat the cause rather than the effect of the problem. There are 6 elements to the foundation:
1. Purpose
2. Vision
3. Values
4. Goals
5. Action Plan
6. Mindset
2) Also, my background in teaching and Accelerated Learning Techniques helps me present the information in the way that is easy to understand and apply
3) My personal journey to success as well as almost 6 years of experience working with people from all walks of life
4) Finally, and probably most important, I am very good at connecting with people and making it easy for them to open up, sometimes face their fears and make the changes they want to make.
9. Do you have an advice for people who want to write a book but still didn’t do it?
First of all, ask yourself how much do I want to write this book and why? Get motivated.
Then, before you do any writing, do the research!
If you find out that your book is needed, that you have a market for it then break it down into small manageable bits. One page at a time you will get there!
10. What One Minute Tip can you leave us with today?
If there is something you want in life and still do not have it, never blame yourself for it. Because if you can dream it, you CAN have it!
If you haven’t reached your goals yet, it is not because you are not smart enough or capable enough – in fact you have everything you need to achieve your goals… you are just missing the right tools: information, skills, and mindset, to do it. And that is all learnable!
So never stop dreaming and never give up going after your dreams. Enjoy every moment of your journey, because it is YOUR journey and not necessarily the end result, that makes life exciting, worthwhile and fulfilling!
11. Thank you Masha! Please tell us how can people get in touch with you and where can they purchase The One Minute Coach: change your life one minute at a time book.
I would invite people to access a very special page for our book launch of The One Minute Coach. Order you own copy of The One Minute Coach within the next 24 hours and receive over $9,000 in bonus gifts from experts around the globe. Go to http://mashamalka.com/bookpromotion/
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