June 15, 2007

“Millionaire, Awaken Your Secrets” documentary offers insight into success

Silver Creek business owner shares producer credit in anticipated film

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Evergreen motivational speaker and real estate professional Fred Wikkeling is out to help you help yourself.

Most recently, the Pearce Road Exit Strategy Realty owner helped bring a movie to life that he said will change one’s luck by empowering clear-cut decisions within the individual.

The movie is called “Millionaire, Awaken Your Secrets,” a documentary that explores the principles defined by the original self-help guru, Napoleon Hill and his famed tome, “Think and Grow Rich.”

Wikkeling said in the most basic sense, Hill’s work showed that success is like a good dish—it you follow the recipe, there’s a strong possibility that you will get good results.

“Hill really wanted to find out why successful people were so successful; you have to figure out what you want in life,” said Wikkeling, expanding on Hill’s novel, which examined the success of the most famed financial figure in the early 20th century, Andrew Carnegie.

“When I got into real estate 31 years ago, somebody recommended the book to me, and to be honest, I pretty much have everything I want in life,” said Wikkeling.

After succeeding in real estate, thanks to savvy decisions and a booming market throughout the past three decades, Wikkeling embarked upon a career in motivational speaking. His message wove in the roots of Hill’s philosophy, while promoting the power of positive thinking.

Now, Wikkeling said his goal is to expose as many people as possible to the original Hill work. As a result, Wikkeling has become a prominent personality on the self-help circuit. He has appeared alongside Bob Proctor and published a book, “Look Up, See a Difference” with Terra-Rubrum Press in Arizona several years ago.

Showtime
The movie, “Millionaire, Awaken Your Secrets,” is an extension of Hill’s work, according to Wikkeling.

Wikkeling said he became involved in the project after hearing that the film’s director, Martin Dunkerton, had nearly exhausted funds in production.

The story goes that Dunkerton was down and out on his luck in England when somebody presented him with a copy of Hill’s, “Think and Grow Rich.”

“Martin didn’t have any money, but he had a camcorder,” said Wikkeling.

Dunkerton was so enthralled with the philosophies outlined in Hill’s book that he decided to capture comments, which support the work, provided by successful individuals in modern times.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, Mark Victor Hansen and Bob Allen are among those featured in the movie.

“Martin needed an investor to complete the movie, and I became the 37th (investor) of 37,” said Wikkeling.

“Millionaire: Awaken Your Secrets” was released in March at a Malaysian Premier. The U.S. premiere will take place on July 7 in Los Angeles.

Currently, the DVD is available for sale at www.e3flix.com. Individuals interested in distributing the video may also buy it online, according to Wikkeling.