‘Met with crypto schemes’: Kiwi entrepreneur bags Auckland event headlined by David Goggins
Monday, 18 November 2024
An event headlined by popular ex-US Navy Seal, athlete and author David Goggins has been panned by some attendees.
Entrepreneur Anna Mowbray has taken to social media, saying the seminar “felt like a series of high-pressure sales pitches”.
The company behind the event told Stuff the feedback was an “opportunity for us to do a better job”.
The company behind an event headlined by American ultra-endurance athlete David Goggins has pledged to “do a better job” after online criticism called the seminar “a series of high-pressure sales pitches”.
The event, called “No Excuses: Breaking barriers in life and business”, was held at Auckland’s Trusts Arena on Wednesday.
It was organised by education seminar company Success Resources, and Goggins was one of a number of speakers invited by the company.
“At this 1-Day event, you’ll uncover the mindset techniques behind extraordinary success and be inspired by real-life stories of resilience and achievement,” promotional material published online reads.
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Instead, a number of attendees criticised the event.
Entrepreneur Anna Mowbray posted on LinkedIn after appearing at No Excuses, saying she almost pulled out after feedback from her team and the audience.
However, she said, she felt a “responsibility to show up positively and support the nearly 4000 Kiwis who were there, hoping for genuine inspiration and guidance”.
“What should have been a day to inspire, educate and motivate instead felt like a series of high-pressure sales pitches,” Mowbray wrote.
“Attendees - many of whom paid over $1000, came expecting stories of resilience and hard-won success, only to be met with crypto schemes, outdated marketing ‘solutions’, and programs urging them to make quick, costly decisions.”
On Reddit, one attendee lauded Goggins, but criticised the event.
“David Goggins is amazing but this event is a pushy sales scam,” they wrote.
Stuff reached out to Success Resources’ Australian office for a response to the criticism.
“We would like to start by acknowledging some of the disappointing reaction to the No Excuses event held in Auckland on the 13th November 2024,” it said in a statement.
“We value all feedback & it is taken on board to ensure that we continue to provide world-class events.”
All speakers had “a proven track record of success that is vetted by the company before they are invited to speak on stage,” the statement said.
“Speakers are listed in our marketing and on our website.
“Some speakers are paid a fee to appear, whilst others provide opportunities for further education within their specified field.”
The format allowed Success Resources to present high-profile headline speakers at an affordable ticket price, the company said.
“It isn’t an uncommon business model within the industry, as mentioned in some comments,” it added.
“However, from this event’s feedback, we see there is an opportunity for us to do a better job of ensuring that both speakers and attendees understand the format and what to expect from the day.”
The company said it was committed “to making sure that we align the speakers as closely as possible, to better meet expectations”.
“We truly do consider and appreciate all feedback, including the hundreds of comments we have received telling us of the amazing day and value they received from No Excuses.”