Michael Jackson’s ex-Bodyguard Matt Fiddes talks about Mindset, Passion and Self-Education

Join Kurt and Di in this episode as they interview the most respected expert in the international world of martial arts, personal trainer to the stars and trusted employee of international superstar Michael Jackson. Matt opens-up about his incredible life story, what it was like being so close to people like Michael Jackson and Uri Gellar as well as the many lessons he has discovered along the way.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Matt didn’t have the greatest time at school. He got bullied and he found that the system and structure didn’t work for him either. He tried his best but the experience knocked his confidence. However, he recognises that if it hadn’t been for this experience, he never would have had the fire in his belly to achieve what he has.
• He began training in martial arts at 7, he had a natural ability for this and the praise he received cheered him on.  He went on to open Martial Art Schools as an adult and has now built the biggest chain of Martial Art Schools in the world!
• Mindset has always been key for Matt. He has always simply decided what he wanted to do and then done the work and actions needed to achieve it. You have to be passionate and have the mindset and self-motivation to self-educate. This is how anyone can become successful.
• Matt got into property at age 18. His journey continued when he met Uri Geller who pushed him harder and further. They are still good friends today.
• A phone call at 03:30am changed Matt’s life forever. He was introduced by Uri to Michael Jackson, this is how they met and for the next decade Matt was his personal bodyguard and friend. He learnt that there were two sides to Michael. There was the soft friendly side and then there was the strict, harsher side which Matt attributes to Michaels Dad, Joe Jackson.
• Michael Jackson knew how to keep himself in the media, a lot of the things he would be in the newspaper for or on the news, were on purpose. ‘Michael Jackson’ was a persona he took on when he was performing and in the limelight. He was a real marketer and a great businessman.
• Since Michael died, there has been an influx of rumours, some based on old rumours and some new. It’s unfair as he is not here to defend himself, Matt never saw anything that would elude to any of these allegations being true and he was by his side for over ten years.
• Michael didn’t have many vices, but Matt says his favourite meal was fish and chips and he adored KFC! Matt would often treat him when he would ‘sneak’ Michael out into the real world away from his entourage of security etc.
• We all have skeletons and family issues. It doesn't matter how famous or how rich you are these don't go away. There was a lot of complex issues going on in the Jackson family and still is.
• As an older and wiser man, Matt now understands that Michael didn't want to hear things he didn't like. Even if people were trying to help him, if they said something he didn't like then they were out of his inner circle. 

BEST MOMENTS 

“You find with a lot of successful people they have had this pain point which motivated them”

“You’ve got to do the opposite to everyone else to be successful”

“How can Michael Jackson have no money?”

“The bigger the star, the bigger the target”

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Kurt Wilson - Entrepreneur, Internet Veteran and Property Investor with multiple 7 figure businesses and property investments in the UK, GI, LT, BY and GR. CEO and founder of Advansys (www.advansys.com) a global eCommerce, web development and online marketing agency headquartered in the UK.

Di Forster - Entrepreneur, Property Investor and Mum with exceptional grit. Expert in all areas of Online Sales and Marketing (SEO, PPC and Conversion). Quit corporate l