Robert Ian Bonnick grew up in Britain, and most of his early years were spent in state care. Living in multicultural state care facilities shaped his collective approach to people and inspired his strong people skills. Decades later, he is a successful businessman and tourism architect based in Bali.
The work of a tourism architect
While Tourism can generate significant profits, it also presents the opportunity for people to understand each other. As a Tourism Architect, he aids tourism boards and operators to generate more inbound tourism.
The primary aim of Bonnick is to unite the world, which has become divided in so many ways, through tourism.
A lifetime of lessons
Bonnick has gained a wealth of experience in various crafts and industries. He was once a supermodel and promotor, and today he wears many hats as an author, business consultant, international speaker and master connector. He has worked in over 30 industries, including business development and coaching. He also has a wealth of experience in marketing, branding and public relations.
The multitalented Bonnick is the Founder and Executive Producer of an award-winning Q&A live stream called SpeakUp Monday Group – Destination Indonesia. He has carried out over 200 interviews and received tens of thousands of views for the insightful and enjoyable sessions.
He has learned different skills and mastered qualities that have boosted his people skills and are vital to his personal and professional life. “With great respect and mastery with people, I am able to quickly ascertain the challenges which are being faced by my clients, and with creativity combined with experience, powerful networked solutions solve these challenges to create a sustainable, successful outcome,” shared Bonnick.
An event that changed his life
Like many other people who have made a major impact on the world, Bonnick’s life did not start off great. He was the victim of a racist attack at 12 years old. From this, he learned early to create his own path. Instead of choosing to fight back or perpetuate hate or anger, he decided to forgive and understand the aggressor. This is what helped him to understand his gifts of being able to inspire and connect people, a big part of what he does and is today.
Support from his family
Bonnick is a happy husband to wife Marina and a proud father to two daughters. He says Marina is excellent support for him, plus she respects his decisions and trusts him. He is also grateful for her role in raising their daughters.
He explains, “She understands business and has a business of her own so she’s able to give me solid feedback based upon logic and creativity. This is incredibly important yet sobering at times to ensure I don’t run off the rails.”
He also believes that being a father has helped him to develop more patience which is an essential trait in leadership.
Skills entrepreneurs should adopt
The tourism architect believes that entrepreneurs should understand that empathy is not sympathy. Instead, it is about understanding where people are coming from or why they share particular sentiments. This can help people at all levels to form better relationships and partnerships.
He also believes it is vital for entrepreneurs to:
- Clearly outline their goals and what they want to achieve
- Create and review the strategy that will help them to achieve their objectives
- Identify possible shortcomings and develop solutions
- Pay attention to their budget
- Update and execute the plan
Bonnick believes in using empathy to better understand and connect people of various backgrounds. He strives to encourage people to understand and celebrate their differences.
