CNN iReport

Sometimes life delivers unexpected outcomes, but never did I expect, at 50 years of age and barely 130 pounds soaking wet, that I'd become Mr. Universe.  How did this secret begin?

In Sept of 2005, an interesting secret project crossed my desk. As a consultant specializing in internet strategies, web development and marketing, my curiosity was peaked.  As it was explained, there was to be a movie out of Australia revealing a centuries old universal secret. The movie makers sought an internet strategy that would spread this secret all around the world in a big way and fast.  "No problem," I thought, "but what is your marketing budget?...  excuse me, did you say the universe had not yet delivered a marketing budget? Well then, what did you have in mind?"

Initially, there was much talk about doing a coordinated worldwide television release of this 90 minute film, perhaps even a weekly TV series; and yet even though I assumed the makers had belief in this TV idea, once again the universe had not delivered. I'm thinking, no budget, no TV exposure— was the universe distracted by global warming this year? I'm comforted when it is explained that all was good, we just needed to sit back, notch up our manifesting, and wait for the universe. From this point forward I knew I was in for an interesting project.  

So at 50, perhaps the universe had delivered me to this secret project, the jury is still out on that; but with nothing left except the internet to launch this secret, my role suddenly gained universal magnitude. 

Now granted, this wasn't just any ol' secret, rather it was THE secret. In fact, this secret had been "passed throughout the ages, traveling through centuries... to reach you." And as secrets go, this one definitely had universal scope...  it was The Secret to everything - joy, health, money, relationships, love, happiness... everything you have ever wanted....  everything, that is, except The Secret to generating enough internet traffic to a web site to get this secret spreading.

Well, that was then, and I had just turned 50.

Now, 3 years later, we are all looking back. What was The Secret?

The Secret was a movie, yes THAT movie. After The Secret hit Amazon.com #1, after appearing in the The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Time magazine, the cover of USA Today, Newsweek,  and the New York Times Sunday Style section;  after reaching #1 in its category on the New York Times best sellers list; after being touted numerous times on shows like Larry King Live, Ellen DeGeneres, and Oprah Winfrey (and let's not forget CNN)... guess what? The Secret isn't a secret any longer. However, there is a secret that many people are still wondering about... "How'd they do that?"

The marketing campaign behind The Secret is going to go down in history as the greatest case study of viral marketing ever done... Anywhere. ---ABC News http://is.gd/1aoR

Mr. Universe is born...

According to the movie, the Law of Attraction states that you attract whatever you think about, or if you send thoughts and vibrations out into the Universe, you will get what you think about; in essence your thoughts determine your experience.  

Over time, as interviews were conducted by the media and others, it was sometimes asked of the movie makers, "Who did the internet marketing?"  True to the philosophy of the movie, the answer was The Universe!

So eventually, In the spirit of trying to set the record straight, I branded myself Mr. Universe! Don't laugh, don't laugh! After all, I do have some unique abilities... in fact, even though I've developed a broad spectrum of skills including those of a programmer, designer, strategist and marketer, my degree is in music and I've never attended any marketing or computer classes. But I have one secret superhuman skill that you might not expect: I am a ONE finger typer.  That's right, not TWO fingers, but one.  I often joke that it took all these years for technologies (like the iPhone) to finally catch up with my one finger, hunt & peck technique!

"Who am I?" you ask. I'm Dan Hollings or you might say, "Mr Universe"... for when some people say "The Universe" did this or that...  well, I'm the guy, behind the stars, humbly helping the Universe keep up that good reputation - at least in the realm of the internet  :-)  

My goals for the big 50 decade are:

1) Continue to master the secrets of marketing on the internet. http://danhollings.com

2) Become more knowledgeable in marketing via Mobile and SMS Text messaging.

3) Launch another project on the scale of The Secret.

4) Teach, train, consult and share my knowledge with others. (I love helping entrepreneurs and small business owners.)

5) Spend more time writing music (it's a hobby of mine http://www.danmando.com )

6) Continue to help causes related to the environmental, wildlife, pets and animals.

7) Spend more time with my lovely wife and see my daughter graduate from dental school.

About the Picture: Mr. Universe Arm Wrestle

To my surprise, recently, I was contacted by Nordine Zouareg http://nordinez.com/  Wouldn't you know that he (too) was Mr. Universe and lives not far from me in Tucson Arizona. The challenge was on!  Who was the REAL Mr. Universe?  We met for lunch a Miraval Resort and attempted to settle the matter with a little arm wrestling match!  I can't reveal who won (it's a secret) but I'll be posting the video on my Twitter page once I get the cast off my arm... http://twitter.com/dhollings

The 50's are wonderful! I can't wait for the 60's!

View Dan Hollings' iReport, "Holy Twit! The quake that shook the Twittosphere" at: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-53652