A Chronic Entrepreneur: Daniel Tolson
Daniel Tolson is the successful Founder of The Tolson Institute. At the age of 11 Daniel was diagnosed with Linear Sequential Learning Disability and had severe allergies, Asthma and chronic migraines. Being so young he didn’t quite fully understand why in comparison to his peers he struggled so much. At the age of 16 Daniel was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus and Chronic Fatigue. His resilience, work-ethic and goal-focused mindset have carried him through and allowed him to become a successful entrepreneur.
What’s Your Chronic?
Epstein Barr-Virus & Chronic Fatigue
What is your diagnosis story? How old were you?
At age 11 I was diagnosed with Linear Sequential Learning Disability. I had chronic migraine headaches for years because the cranial platelets were pushing onto my brain.
In addition, I had Asthma; and severe food, dust and grass allergies; along with constant bleeding noses and collapsed bronchial.
After 5 years in remedial therapy and at age 16 I was diagnosed with epstein-barr virus and chronic fatigue. Then, at age 18 and 19 I spent 2 years in rehabilitation due to 2 knee surgeries.
Did you go through any sort of 12-stages of grief with the diagnosis or take it in its stride? In other words, how did the grief process manifest itself – did you immediately reassess your life or was it more gradual?
Learning was always hard for me. I was tone deaf, I couldn't see correctly, and breathing was harder. All I knew was that I needed to work harder than everyone else.
I couldn't get information from the blackboard onto my school books, because I couldn't see. I learned to deal with negative feedback, constant bad reports and being told I was either stupid, dumb, didn't pay attention or try hard enough.
I remember the anger (which is the second stage of the grief cycle), and the sadness (the third stage). At 11 years old, I really didn't want to be alive. When it came to epstein barr virus and chronic fatigue, I accepted the reality that I just had to sleep sleep and sleep.
How did the path of entrepreneurship come to you?
You could say that entrepreneurship was in the bloodline. My parents were self-employed, but no one until me was married or had a degree in our family.
My father’s father was a farmer, my father was a farmer until they went broke and then he started a business in construction. My mother’s father was in the airforce and he became an entrepreneur, my mother was a hairdresser who became a pawn broker and second-hand dealer.
I went to work with my father when I was 5 years old, and I was selling newspapers door-to-door at age 11. I was also working in my grandfather’s dry cleaning business. At 19, I was selling real estate for my uncle. At 23. I launched my own clothing business, entertainment company and e-commerce biz. At 30, my wife was involved in an aircraft accident, she lost her job in 2012 and so we started our next business in 2013.
What have you learnt about yourself through your entrepreneurship journey? How have you changed, if at all in your relationships, decisions, what you value/your life philosophy?
Resilience - I have become like a basketball, I keep bouncing back! My life has never been easy, especially with the learning disabilities, Epstein-Barr Virus and chronic fatigue.
I don't complain, I don't explain my situation and I just put my head down and keep working. As the son of a farmer you learn to get up before the sun, and you don't come home until the job is done. My wife often calls me to bed at 2 or 4 in the morning and says “husband, you need to sleep!”.
I love my career and I am dedicated to excellence, and this drives me to be my best. I have increased my emotional intelligence, improved my emotional state, worked on my limiting beliefs and I am goal focused. I understand the mind-body connection and that if I remain goal focused, my body will release the right levels of dopamine, adrenaline and serotonin to keep me as healthy as possible.
I have also learned that taking a break, having a breather and asking for help is not weakness, but a sign of strength.
What is a ‘bad day’ for you? How do you look after yourself on a ‘bad day’ or a day that is particularly stressful?
Today was a bad day. I went to bed at 10pm, woke up at 7am. I walked my daughter to school and was tired on the 30 minute round trip. I was buggered, to say the least. I came home, went straight to my office and thanked God I had no appointments until the afternoon. My muscles are not sore, I just felt fatigued. It's been 7 days since my 2nd Vaccine and it's really hitting my heart hard.
What has been your most memorable moment in business from the last 2-3 years?
I had my highest income earning hour just weeks before COVID-19. I earned more in one hour than I had earned in a whole month in my previous career.
I successfully exited a business and experienced rapid growth during COVID-19. This year I delivered more than 2,500 case studies into the science of emotional intelligence.
Are you a 5-year planner or are you winging it?
I have a life plan to be the best in my field and i'm planning to live to 100, so I’m planning for a little more than 5 years!
During COVID-19, everything is unpredictable and it is forcing us to be more strategic and tactical, our current focus is less than 90 days at present albeit we are clear on our one year single defining focus.
Are you on any treatments? What modalities are in your wellness team?
From 2016 to 2019, I experienced a lot of styes in my eye. They came about after travelling around the world for business. My local doctor here is great and will give me antibiotics when needed. Since my COVID-19 vaccines, I have been very tired and I have been on a 90 day reset, going to bed as early as 8 p.m and waking up at 7 a.m. In addition to this I find celery juice, thanks to the Medical Medium, has been a great help to cleanse my body along with Juice Plus fruit and vegetable capsules and other vitamins and minerals.
What would you say to your ‘first-diagnosed’ self, or someone else who has just been diagnosed with a chronic illness?
It's nothing personal! Just play the hand you've been dealt.
Best & worst bits of being A Chronic Entrepreneur?
Best: The excitement and drama of business numbs the pain.
Worst: I hate when I need to sleep and can't study as much as I want.
Who are your back-up dancers?
My wife Nini, we are with each other 24/7. We are on the same mission, our values align and we love and laugh hard!
My children Nakita & Caesar, we work hard 9 to 5 so we can dedicate the rest of the time to build relationships and friendships with them. My children are my role models, I love them more than anything else in my life.
Our parents. Both our parents have invested into the success of our company and we could not have achieved this level of success without them.
And of course, our clients. We only work with people who are already successful or who are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful.
As a coach, I am partnering with thousands of winners every year and these people become business partners and life-long friends. We drive one another, and we fly each others’ flags.
Who are your ultimate dinner party guests, (dead or alive), and who would you seat on either side of you?
#1 Brian Tracy
#2 Bob Corff
#3 Dr Edward de Bono
What are you looking forward to in the next 6 months-1 year?
Travel - We are the “Travelling Tolsons” and we need to get off the island of Taiwan and recharge our batteries in Dubai. So as soon as the travel restrictions lift we are out of here to travel and do business face to face.
Where can people find you online?
Website: https://danieltolson.com
Website about Daniel: https://danieltolson.com/media/
Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/daniel.tolson.988/
Facebook (Business): https://www.facebook.com/danieldangertolson
Accelerate & Multiply Facebook Group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/acceleratemultiply/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DanielTolson1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danieltolson/