I first encountered, the now ubiquitous, Robin Sharma, author of “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” several years ago. I didn’t own a Ferrari and in no way aspired to be a monk but something about the title resonated with me and apparently millions of others seeking wisdom to create a life of balance, abundance and joy. The book created a major paradigm shift and since then, I have followed him fervently on his website and Twitter.Last May, I rather presumptuously signed up for his Remarkable Entrepreneurs Summit in Toronto and finally got to meet him along with 400 other hopefuls from 24 countries. It turns out that I wasn’t as adventurous as I thought, as there were people from Tasmania, South Africa, UAE, India, Singapore and the list goes on. I was sitting next to Sureshi who designs computerised elevator parts in India. (Who knew India is ranked as the second largest elevator market?) To my right was Al from LA, who takes your DNA and converts it into huge modern art canvases for your living room (“Don’t worry” Al said “we don’t need to draw blood”). The entire experience surpassed all expectations!Robin is the first to say that he is no “guru” but to witness that level of excellence and focus is radically life changing. He graciously took time out of his busy schedule to be interviewed for this article.1) You have been named one of the top five leadership speakers in the world and you literally do speak all over the world including Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Guatemala, Trinidad, Abu Dhabi etc (50+ countries). What is your goal when speaking to an audience and is that tailored to the country and culture that you are speaking to?First and foremost, my goal is to be of service to those in the room. Getting focused on applause and standing ovations is a distraction I try to avoid. The whole idea is to be radically helpful. And to inspire the business people present to step up to their leadership potential. Especially in these turbulent times.2) You have offered business/leadership coaching to many Fortune 500 companies including FedEx, Nike, RIM, Bank of Scotland and even Harvard Business School and Yale University. How important is it for a business owner to invest in business coaching and mentorship?Every great performer surrounds themselves with world-class coaches. It’s not an expense but an investment in working and living at your absolute best.3) So many quotes of yours that I remember in my everyday business life. One of them is “to be more successful, you must bring more value to more people”. That has me constantly thinking how I can improve my business. Do you have a favourite quote that helps you on your business journey?Peter Drucker once said: “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all”. We live in what I call The Age of Dramatic Distraction. Many of us are really busy being busy. That’s a good quote.4) Your message of Leading Without A Title is beneficial for everyone from school kids to the greatest CEO. I am looking forward to the day when you speak in Bermuda. What are your fondest memories of Bermuda?I haven’t been to Bermuda for a while but I adore it there. My fondest memories are of the people. And the pink sand.5) As we enter a New Year, what are you most thankful for and what is your primary goal for 2012.1. My family.2. My health.3. My mission.And my primary goal for 2012? To be of use.Something to read: www.robinsharma.com. There’s so much great info on the site including vlogs, blogs, podcasts and of course all his books. Inspirational!Something to watch: Robin Sharma “How To Make This Your Best Year Yet Reinvent Your Business and Your Life”. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.This article was written by Lois Wilson. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Royal Gazette.