George J. Trovao

 

Born in beautiful Gustine, California, George J. Trovao grew up working on his family's dairy farm in Orland, California. He attended college at Cal State Chico and has worked as a sales professional and entrepreneur for over forty-five years. In his free time, Trovao enjoys spending time on long walks with his soul-mate Lana, as well as keeping an eye on his present business venture, traveling when time allows, and visiting with his children and grandchildren. Entrepreneur: Power, Myths and Magic is Trovao's first book.

Visit George Online at http://www.georgejtrovao.com

 

Entrepreneur: Power, Myths and Magic: With over forty-five years of sales and entrepreneurial experience, George J. Trovao analyzes the keys to creating and maintaining a successful business enterprise. He illustrates how exertion and steady professional growth can provide vast rewards and encourages the avoidance of procrastination while remaining cautiously aggressive when planning a strategy to become an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur: Power, Myths and Magic provides the preparatory tools needed to start and successfully maintain a business, tips to maintain a positive mental attitude, and encouragement to share the fruits of your labor so that you will prosper. Trovao feels it's necessary to understand the downside of business and assimilate it into the upside for an enduring and exciting journey of wealth and prosperity. His nuggets of wisdom include how to tap into a universal power, do less and accomplish more while maintaining a sense of urgency.

Trovao's enthusiasm and persistence are inspirational for people thinking about taking the risk to start their own business. His instruction to duplicate yourself and duplicate your own efforts through others can accelerate wealth-building opportunities for all participants. He shows how to develop new habits, take the required action to achieve your goals, and watch your business thrive.

Entrepreneur: Power, Myths and Magic provides the preparatory tools needed to start and successfully maintain a business, tips to maintain a positive mental attitude, and encouragement to share the fruits of your labor so that you will prosper. Trovao feels it's necessary to understand the downside of business and assimilate it into the upside for an enduring and exciting journey of wealth and prosperity. His nuggets of wisdom include how to do less and accomplish more while maintaining a sense of urgency.

Trovao's enthusiasm and persistence are inspirational for people thinking about taking the risk to start their own business. His instruction to duplicate yourself and duplicate your own efforts through others can accelerate wealth-building opportunities for all participants. He shows how to develop new habits, take the required action to achieve your goals, and watch your business thrive.

 

PageOneLit.com: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

George Trovao:  My first years were in a small town Winton, California..close to Merced. At 3 we moved to Planada, CA…then at 7 to Dos Palos California, then at 10 to Orland California…all Dairy ranches. I spoke Portuguese at Home. My Mother would recite Portuguese stories & rhymes when I was little and I loved it. In high school I knew I could write enough to get good grades………but was to busy between School, milking cows at home and trying to play as many sports as possible.

My Father was tough and believed in Work not school. I got excellent grades in High School…., but when I was 20 and spent a few yrs at Chico State I had a Professor in Composition stating I had a natural talent. But I did not begin reading books until I started in the Insurance Business at age 29 then I began to read books to understand the Power that allowed us to write down goals and have them come true.

PageOneLit.com: Briefly describe your new book ENTREPRENEUR: POWER, MYTHS AND MAGIC. Why did you write ENTREPRENEUR: POWER, MYTHS AND MAGIC? What are a few of the 'Myths" in making it to the top?

George Trovao: Writing this book was a Goal I set up to do at age 55…but I didn't get started on it until I was 68. I had discovered that over the years It was easy for me to express my views in writing, whether contracts or, mission statement or PR info for various companies I developed over the years. Since I’d had a rich life of gathering a tremendous amount of business knowledge, writing about it to help or motivate others or even just as something I leave for my children & grandchildren, motivated me to act on doing it.

My book takes me from my first ‘eye opening’ experiences into the Sales World at age 29 thru’ today. I attempt to lay out the ‘good bad & ugly’ of working as a Sales Person Independent Contractor to building various enterprises….and I’ve tried to use my personal past history as an organizer as a means to putting a personal face on my ups and downs and creating information, in good humor, as to what are the ‘Do’s & Don'ts that can propel a person to certain levels of success!

Myth #1 is if you don't have a College Degree you cannot make it through the ranks or achieve anything on your own without the Diploma. I'm a good example of a degree being a myth. I do point out how important it is to get your degree.  And  provide tips on how other methods (See chp 8), can be used to get equivalency.

Myth #2 is the old saw PMA. (A Positive Mental Attitude). Idea being all you need to do is set a goal then ‘go for it,’ no matter what including ‘busting through to achieve it’ if you can’t go over it under it or around it! But remember: ‘Bustin’ Through’ leaves you as a ‘Bloody Pulp”.

Myth #3 not believing in a Subconscious Power…because people may feel Religion is bunk and using any type of Affirmations, Meditation or Prayers is an archaic and time wasting concept. Instead I point out the POWER behind Goal setting, affirming your Goals daily and preparing yourself to ‘bend not break’ allows your subconscious mind to redirect you to your personal achievements.

Myth#4, not having the looks or physical attributes can prevent you from succeeding in what ever you choose. If you have your mind, your smarts in talking your ability to stand straight & tall and look people in the eyes plus a sense of humor….nothing, I mean nothing can stop you!

Myth #5 every dime you earn is yours so maximize what you can ring out of others labors to make sure you succeed (BUNK). What you share will multiply and what you withhold will diminish…..this may be a Biblical expression but it is the bedrock of growing a successful enterprise!

PageOneLit.com: What is your personal definition of "ENTREPRENEUR"?

George Trovao: A person who has the internal drive, motivation and desire to Create, Organize, Start & Grow a small business enterprise.

PageOneLit.com: What is the 'DY FORMULA'?

George Trovao:  It’s acronym for DUPLICATING YOURSELF. Certain types of businesses lend themselves to allowing a Business Owner to GROW by bringing in Associates who can do what you do. So you provide a frame work whereby you can have many others doing what you alone were doing. You now become a Manager over many Associates and you then get a piece of all their activity. It works best where people must have some sort of State Licensing and are contractually liable to work just for you. (See Chp 4 for more detail, Thx!)

PageOneLit.com: What is 'The Bloody Pulp Theory'?

George Trovao: I described it above. It’s when people create any kind of Goal and they believe that they must achieve that Goal exactly as they've laid it out, no matter what! They may try every way in the world to reach it, but when figuratively trying going Over, Around or Under it all fails…..they power straight ahead and end up in a failed attempt (A Bloody Pulp). This causes loss of confidence plus time and energy, you feel spent and become afraid to try again. Before ‘Bustin’ Thru’ you must Redirect your Goal, study it, take different path…maybe you must keeping going left or right or even make a 180 degree turn. But if you're persistent you will attain your Goal…maybe not the way you wished it…, but usually it turns out better for you! (See Chp 9).

PageOnelit.com: In ENTREPRENEUR: POWER, MYTHS AND MAGIC you discuss rising from failure. How many times have you succeeded and failed? Is reaching the top the 2nd time better than the first? Better the 3rd time than the 2nd? Explain. Why do some give up and lose ALL hope after failing when they WERE at the top the year before? How do they stop the downward spiral?

George Trovao: IN MY 20’s I was a very active guy.., I left Chico State to marry an alluring gal…the short 71/2 yrs of marriage produced 4 beautiful daughters, running Non Profit Health Clubs, running Basket Ball & Softball teams, officiating sports…………But you might say my 20’s were yrs of frustration and failure in finding a career path to make a decent living…So this is failure #1.

After starting the Insurance Business at 29 and scared to death but being taught to work in an extremely organized fashion I catapulted into being in the Top 7 in Sales for Cal Western Life in 28 States (age 30) This was my greatest financial success but proved to be failure #2 since my first marriage went down the ‘tubes’.

From Insurance Sales I learned & used their Corporate structure to Start a Financial Planning & RE Development companies. I catapulted to the point where I had a Beautiful & wonderful new wife and Airplane, house in Lake Tahoe and would retire in late 40’s with a positive Estate. Then 1980, 81 82 & 83’s economic disaster hit…so instead of retiring by my late 40’s, I had to file bankruptcy instead. That was my BIGGEST FAILURE. Since then I created a tiny Mortgage Company that grew into a Calif Statewide Company. I’m able to get through the tough times TODAY because we learned from past mistakes and built a wonderful nest egg to get us through times such as these! (My book is all about how to Create, GROW…then Overcome).

In my late 40’s I was devastated at being wiped out. The biggest problem I then had was a loss of confidence in myself. I felt I had completely let down my wonderful, positive & reassuring spouse and my 4 children & 2 stepchildren,………………………But, how did I come back? First I did what I had learned worked before…Setting Goals & reviewing them early & late each day. Even though I had moved away from organized religion I obtained a Key to the Local Catholic Church,,,,Each morning at 7:00 I’d go in, with no one else around, light a candle for my Mother then proceed to go over affirmations relating to what I felt was necessary to get back! It gave the strength to hang in there with a positive attitude.  (See Chp 3 “When the Earth stood still’).

Little by little a found a new path by starting a Mortgage Company at age 47. In my book I’ve compiled a multitude of methods, systems, and workable ideas to sustain complete happiness…and just not by how much you’ve earned….., but a balanced life. Also I hit on how Universal Consciousness DOES WORK for us. And how we can grow as Far, High and Wide as our motivation and desire will take us. And doing it as we live each day….one day at a time!!
 

PageOneLit.com: What did you learn from writing ENTREPRENEUR: POWER, MYTHS AND MAGIC?

George Trovao: It’s a complete REAFFIRMATION of what I’ve learned and put in practice over the years that has brought me a balanced and successful life.

PageOneLit.com: What do you hope to achieve with ENTREPRENEUR: POWER, MYTHS AND MAGIC?

George Trovao: My first thought was to have something for posterity for children & grandchildren…and for my Associates and other family. I enjoyed the idea of having a Book published. However, when IUNIVERSE gave me an Editors Choice designation…..and when people were given copy's of the book and got the word to others who wanted to purchase it, I thought maybe there's a commercial potential for it to sell and offer others HOPE & ideas for their own success.

Although, I have to admit when you sent me the first email that you got the Book & it was Great…., then quickly emailed me it was another book by a guy named George.

There was No mention about MY BOOK!!? That worries me a little…, but, I realize this book isn't for everyone, ha ha!



PageOneLit.com: What advice do you have for someone that hasn't achieved success yet and owes more at the end of each month more in debt than their income per month but the work as hard as they can and as long as they can weekly?

George Trovao: These are tough times………………millions of Americans are experiencing the frustration you’ve just expressed. Unfortunately, I have no magic bullet for it. It brings to mind the TV commercial about this guy pointing out his beautiful home 2 cars and great family….., then he explained, “How did I get all of this? I’m in debt to my eyeballs”. Another expression used by one of my former brilliant cohorts was this story: A man was asked if he had all the money in the world what would he do with it?….The man hesitated a moment then said, “I would spread it on my bills just as far as the cash would go”.

That's a tough question: For sure I advise people to eliminate ALL their Credit Cards & use Only Debit Cards. Credit Cards can tear a family apart. As far as working 24/7 and being in the hole: A person must take complete stock of his/her situation and develop serious Goals to find a way out of their current quagmire and eventually find a new path.

My book is primarily the Do’s & Don’ts of people trying to start and grow a successful company. Those that try & fail several times may not be cut out to be an entrepreneur, and maybe they should find work with someone else’s organization…I hate to say that, but that may be the way out for them.

John…it seems you may Be an Entrepreneur yourself…if so I congratulate you and wish you much success….You do something critical for your own Success…You “FOLLOW UP & FOLLOW THROUGH”….you will go far! See (Chp 6 EXECUTION)
 

PageOneLit.com: What's next?

George Trovao:  Next is to see what your efforts will bring to the table for my little book. When we were driving thru’ Mississippi years ago a Large Billboard showing a ‘Gone with the wind type hotel’ had on the bottom….”THIS HOTEL IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY THE OWNER”. I LOVED IT….SO, I added in my Book's Web page…..”This book is a highly recommended read by the Author” (Ahem)

PageOneLit.com: What was the last book you read?

George Trovao:  My little bible: Deepak Chopra’s ‘Seven Spiritual Laws of Success’….it’s fantastic!


 

PageOneLit.com: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

George Trovao: I turn 73 Dec 5th…Lana is 68. We walk 3 days a week mid day! And do certain exercises for muscle tone. People say we look like we're in good shape. I also go in early to our Mortgage company HQ and again later in the day…..Someone must watch over the bottom line and make sure my TEAM & I are doing all we can to propel our Company forward and keep all our Associates positive as we go thru’ these tough economic times!

My attention to the business keeps me energized and ALIVE!! Lana & I also like to go to the Coast & Travel to new places & SO FORTH!

If anything comes of this book I might like to write variations off of it…Keep it simple with some humor, a tug at the heart strings and ideas for making it happen. Don’t know……….!