Topcat writes on leadership in the HT industry

[topccat29]

One of the biggest lessons I have learned in life and it applies to the ht industry is that real leaders in the world are very hard to find. A real leader does the right thing not just some of the time but all of the time. They do it all the time regardless because it is for the greater good of all and not one. We seem to have too many people in the world that present themselves as leaders but they are more focused on their own self interests and self serving. I wish I would have learned this lesson early on in life because as I look back I could see myself following when in actuality I should have been leading as I now realize I have those traits and those that I followed did not. To be a good leader one needs to be honest and most of those that work in this industry seem to lack that trait which is very sad as many will have their life altered and usually they are worse off.

I thought those guys in the white coats or those that claimed to be experts in my own past were leaders but I failed to notice the small clues as I just didn €™t have that skill nor did I have any concern. Learn to pick up on the clues if you decide to follow anyone €™s advice. Are they really good leaders, learn to look very close, study them and analyze everything they have to say and why they might be saying it. It €™s not easy to do but take the time and effort to become better at it. Even today I am constantly analyzing these guys that work in the industry, what makes them go tick tock. Like opening up the back of a watch and trying to figure out how it works. Lots of springs and gears, looks complicated and confusing but just keep looking at it as it gets easier.

Pick up some good books on marketing, body language, psychology, selling, etc it will go very far in helping you research and becoming your own leader.

One of the biggest traps those in pursuit of wealth fall into which seems to be rampant in this industry is the false belief that with wealth one is entitled to a specific lifestyle that they have been sold. That belief is a lifestyle that often leads to excess in material possessions, food, drink etc as they really believe that will bring them happiness as they believe that is the purpose of wealth. Sadly in time they find that they are mistaken and it brings exactly the opposite all one needs to be is aware. But most simply lack the intelligence to grasp this concept and they think more wealth is the answer and will stoop even lower to acquire more of it which often leads to an endless cycle of misery. Those that fall into this trap I would consider false leaders as real leaders are less concerned with wealth because they really get it. They think on a much higher level. Think MLK, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, simple human beings and great leaders.

Take your time researching and increase your own knowledge in all areas on a consistent basis.

BTW referring to myself as topcat is just being lighthearted nobody can possibly think they are that important.....lol.....

 

[diamond8]

Well stated Topcat! Life is a learning process and sometimes we pay a heavy price in the learning. It is sad that the world in which we live in that there are so many that cannot be trusted. For us though fortunately there was help for our situation. The sad part though is that it took so many years to find a way to get corrected which means a lot of youth was taken. The best thing for the most part is help was found and better days lie ahead.

 

[topccat29]

Thank you Diamond. I hope that some of these young guys can be reached and that by trying to wake them up a little they will make a better decision. I feel bad for many of them as they are so easy to be taken advantage of especially if we add desperation to the mix. They just don €™t realize that many that work in the industry are much smarter and experienced then they are and they are in very weak positions. They just need to become wiser to even the playing field a bit and sometimes all it takes are a few books, got to start somewhere.

They need to look for clues outside of what they are seeing which I myself have learned to do over the years. I have posted this same topic to 4 forums 2 other forums I would normally post to I have been banned from posting so one will not see it there. Questions to ask is why is the topic not posted to those forums? What happens to the posting is almost like watching a message in a bottle? Who picks it up and takes a look and who ignores it? Does anything else happen to it along the way?

On one forum the posting was moved to a section of rants where supposedly it is a place to blow off steam €¦ €¦ €¦lol €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦..fine I guess but a similar type posting by a rep working the forums was left standing in that same section which gathers more views. Why was this done sometimes those are the questions one needs to be asking to help them figure things out. Too many get caught up looking at the shiny object being swung in front of their eyes which would be the pictures, much better to look past that and learn more about the person swinging the shiny object.

 

[topccat29]

Diamond I must say that I respect you. You have been repaired by Dr Woods and he did a great job. So many that have been damaged fail to give back by helping others avoid some of what we have been through and what we see going on today by coming back to post. It makes a difference and if only one person can see what we see then sometimes that €™s enough to make it worth the effort.

As I wrote the same posting was moved on another forum where it can easily get lost and that is just the way it sometimes works. But others should take note as it is an important point. They should also look at that similar post by the rep. Analyze it, who replied and what was written? Are they even real replies from real people? Always look deeper when reading the forums.

 

[Boberto]

Nice posts Top Cat. Hopefully it gets to newbie's.

I have been banned by another forum for apparently bad mouthing them on other forums ! i.e Calling a shill a shill and stating my displeasure of them squashing valid patient complaints threads against clinics they receive revenue from for sponsoring).

This is due to some sad individual with nothing better to do who shall remain nameless for now for reporting me.   Funny enough this individual who reported me is a well known shills 1-2 man / cheerleader always on hand 24/7 to slap him on the back.   And to disagree and try slate anyone who says anything against him.   What possible reason i wonder would he have to want me off forums .!

In any event its no skin off my nose. I only ever continued to post there to help newbies along.   Ill just do that elsewhere.

Its like all the kids that used to get bullied at school have come together to run a forum over there. . And pi$$ their pants when someone calls them out on what they are doing.

Any dissenting voice over there who tell people how this industry is run and how Shills prey on newbies they get rid of straight away.

The more people who understand how these forums are run the better for transparacy in the industry.

 

[sl]

Hi TC


Interesting read. I would say that with today's internet development we have many "gurus" now for all and any topic. Youtube is an example of this for self proclaimed leaders coming at us from all angles on an array of subjects, health related especially.


Like any field there are good and bad, it is human nature and not career specific as such. Sure doctors do have obligations to fullfil and undertake oaths also to not do harm as such, but we do see this breached and not only in the "Hair Transplantation" world but in other cosmetic areas.


It is wise to research as you say and this is what forums also seek to help in, to be a shop window for good clinics and possibly a warning for the not so good, and hopefully people will make good decisions now armed with the information out there.

 

[topccat29]

For me this has all been good, a very beneficial experience and I say it all the time. There is just no way I would have become so aware over the years and pushed myself so hard, I just don €™t €™ think it would have happened.

I feel strongly that my own personal experience was meant to happen and it is my test. What do I do with it something good or nothing at all.

 

[Hattingen Hair]

TC, you have been through more than anyone should have, and there is no excuses for this. Your stance is very understandable not just through your experience but in general life.

Wanting to help others with no personal gain is a noble effort, you are not the only one so excuse if we do not include names.

As SL said deception is everywhere in our lives, a hair transplant is a very emotive issue as it can make or break some ones life.

Best wishes to you and hopefully newbies will understand the message you bring.

 

[topccat29]

Thanks Hattigen, SL and Boberto. Regardless of the type of procedure one chooses as long as they are completely informed openly and honestly that is what matters and one can €™t do that if information such as what is posted on forums with good intentions is deleted or moved.

Of course over the years I have learned the importance of having as much information as possible and that it should be a never ending lifelong pursuit. Hopefully others will consider the same along with looking for that which is not always obvious.

 

[topccat29]

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[topccat29]

One thing I can say about myself is that I am completely honest and that is something that will never change for me. But I also do not want to come off as this ranting, raving lunatic even though I don €™t worry about my image much, what happens is that my real message gets lost so I have edited myself. I worry so little about my image that I never even take the time to really go over each and every word that I write. I just type it out as if we were having a conversation. Of course I could take the time to make it look and sound just right but I €™m not trying to impress anyone.

I started posting in 1998 at it took me 10 years to take that initial step toward attempting a repair as best as could be achieved. I had to be fairly certain about my choice, anyone that thinks something different really just does not know. Over the last 15 years I have not only had my share of postings and reading postings but hundreds of contacts with others through e-mails, phone conversations and in person meetings. Most of what I was reading was a real eye opener but those mentioned could not harm me as I was only accumulating the information. Just as in many other areas of my life I have accumulated a tremendous amount of knowledge through acquiring as many facts as possible and cross referencing it all. Of course it €™s natural for me to want to pass my knowledge on to others which I try to do.

On e thing I can say that many can €™t is that I do not work in this industry and I can €™t imagine making money from something that has caused me and so many others so much harm. I would rather just give it away.

What I wrote in that first post is something I believe 100% through many observations and I can tell dozens and dozens of stories all unique and interesting but in the end the pursuit of money as the number one goal in one €™s life seems to end badly for many and it manifests itself in many ways most often in health issues but other issues as well.

I honestly believe there are only a handful of top notch clinics and in my opinion of course I believe Dr. Bisanga is the best at least for me. I respect how he does business, personality, and level of skill.

Most especially his level of skill as I can relate to the hours and hours of repetition it requires. What he does he makes look very easy. I have plenty of my own skills and one skill in particular although most might find it strange it is unique and took a very, very long time to develop. I have been performing iron fist, shin, knee and elbow training for 32 years. Yes strange and unique. Since I workout at an MMA gym many hoping to get into the game ask me how it is possible that I can repeatedly strike a piece of metal with a closed fist over and over without damaging my hands or other areas and not experiencing pain. It €™s called perseverance and not giving up and just getting better over time. Same approach I use in many other areas of my life. Most that even give it a try give up the first day and thankfully in life when a skill actually does matter there are those out there that never gave up.

I also like to often write that birds of a feather flock together which I suppose is not always true. I have made plenty of associations with some dishonest people in life as I really didn €™t have a choice but that didn €™t mean I would be the same. A very good example is having been in the liquor industry for over 20 years. About 75%+ of the people I was constantly around were alcoholics or substance abusers but somehow I was strong enough not to follow but lead. Now some of those stories are really interesting and what happened to those people. My experience at that clinic 27 years ago was a blessing in many ways.

 

[chrisis]

You're a good guy topccat29!

To be honest, you can find most information for free on forums, blogs, websites etc. the difficulty is seperating the wheat from the chaff, but if you invest enough effort and time it's possible - I proved it.

 

[topccat29]

Chriss that €™s good for you. I am a repair patient and I walk in a different set of shoes. My preference for information is always through books and not just a few as I have learned over time that sponsored information is not always good information regardless of the subject. In fact the health and fitness industry dwarfs ht when it comes to this point. Most of my best research was through personal interaction with other patients, e-mail, phone and in person. You get a much better feel for what you are being presented with when it €™s provided in those forms in my opinion. I have always encouraged others to develop their own network and never to listen to only one person, always it's an absolute must.

Will everyone follow the path I have followed most recently, no. Sometimes it will work out for them and sometimes not. Life if often times a matter of luck, hopefully if we do good it will come back to us in some way and we will continue to pass on that goodness.

BTW in the area of health and nutrition I probably learned the most from meeting with small farmers in both Wisconsin and Indiana. Now who would have thought a farmer would actually know more then the crap that is printed in the fitness magazines. Good honest hardworking people those farmers are.