#161: The Art of Making Things Happen with Steve Sims - a podcast by Alex Chisnall

" I never focused on branding. I never focused on what I was going to do in 6 months 10 months, twelve months or two years. I never cared about that. I cared about what is it going to take from to talk to someone who's got money. Because two things are going to happen when I do: One, I'm going to find out how you've got money and I haven't. Two, you're going to be so enamoured with me because I'm a smooth Irish chappie, you're going to give me a job.

Funnily enough, number two never happened, but I ended up with a load of number one's. I ended up speaking to a ton of very affluent people, and giving them a reason for wanting to be kept in that circle. This was things like, 'Hey I know where you can get your car cleaned, I know where a really good nightclub is or, I'm working on the door of this private party, I can get you into that'.

For whatever reason it was, I found a reason.

I learnt very early on , If I can care about you winning in the relationship, you want me to stay. 

But I'm the kind of guy who you actually see in a dark alley, you kind of run away."

Steve's day job is to make the impossible, possible.

A former brick-layer from London, Steve cut a path from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, getting hired or sometimes fired, and using every drop of his raw personality as an asset. Today he’s the not-so-best-kept secret behind the jaw-dropping cocktail stories told by his uber-rich clients.

“Luxury concierge service” may be how Bluefishing is often defined, but in reality, it’s more than that. It’s mining his clients’ minds and hearts until they uncover their truest passion, which Steve then converts into a once-in-a-lifetime experience they will never forget.

Steve Sims is like Willy-Wonka for adults.

Steve crafts moments that unfold into even bigger moments – experiences his clients most often never even imagined for themselves.

Getting married by the Pope in the Vatican, being serenaded by Elton John, and getting connected to the likes of Elon Musk are just some of the things he's worked on.

One of his clients told Steve it was his dream to meet the band Journey. “That sounded kind of boring,” says Steve. He dug deeper. His client had been performing Journey cover songs for years. The dream he didn’t even dare to dream, Steve realised, was more than meeting the band.

With some creativity and due diligence, Steve’s client found himself on stage with his dream band, performing four songs as the lead singer. “I got him everything he never imagined,” beams Steve.

He rarely reveals the feats how he makes his clients so happy, but now in his book Bluefish: The Art of Making Things Happen Steve shares his practical tips, techniques and strategies to help break down any obstacle and turn your dream into reality.

Definitely my kind of entrepreneur who lives by the Screw It, Just Do It mantra.

I was intrigued - and had to have him on the show.

Let's StartUp!

Further episodes of Screw It Just Do It with Alex Chisnall

Further podcasts by Alex Chisnall

Website of Alex Chisnall