1974
Birth
Erik was born in Ottawa Ontario, Canada
to an Irish/Scottish mother and a first generation Japanese Father.
1980
Age 6
At night neighbors used to bang on the Kikuchis' windows yelling for the "Japs" (derogatory slang for Japanese) to leave
the neighborhood.
1981
Age 7
One night, Erik's mother woke up him and his brother and took them to a shelter for abused women. Even though they were broke, they never returned.
1981
Age 7-9
Erik's family lived in motels, shelters and parks, with drug dealers and prostitutes, and dealt with various forms of violence.

For months, he and his brother were also in foster care, children centers and he attended limited schooling during
those years.
1984
Age 10
Erik's single mother was finally approved for their own apartment in London, Ontario.
1986
Age 12
Mother was engaged and the family moved into a bungalow just outside of
Sarnia, Ontario.

Erik took on delivering newspapers to earn money, and started a daily comic in
the local paper.

Erik started volunteering for the YMCA, working with children in day camps.
1987
Age 13
Erik took on a third job, working at a variety store in town on weekends for $2 hour.
1986
Age 12-14
Started a small business with his parents, cleaning carpets of small offices and homes.
1989
Age 15
Started working weekends washing Transport trucks from 6am to 11pm. Placed 3rd in the county science fair in the Presentation category for his project on Semi-Conductor Electricity.
1990
Age 16
Bought his first car one week after receiving his driving license, a 1984 grey
Ford Tempo.

In addition to washing trucks, he took on another weekend job,delivering pizzas
at night.

Failed English and History. Needed summer school. Also was downgraded to lower level math—where the delinquent students were.
1991
Age 17
Met his future (first) wife, Andrea in his High School art class.

Won the top award over 500 artworks in the city's top art gallery competing with thirteen other high schools.

In addition to delivering pizza, Erik took on another job at Taco Bell.
1992
Age 18
Signed up for Fine Art in college. Did not get the one-year diploma as he refused to take the English credit course.

Moved out of his parents' house and moved into his own apartment.

Promoted to supervisor at Taco Bell.
1993
Age 19
Took Graphic Arts in college, when he figured he could never make money painting or sculpting. No diploma received, as he still refused to take English.

Had the highest marks in class, a near perfect grade, due to being in class each day from 7am to 12am.

Made $2500 in three weeks selling silk screened t-shirts of Nirvana, U2 and Lenny Kravitz to other students "on order." and paid his entire tuition.
1994
Age 20
He transferred his position at Taco Bell and continued to work in a manager position at Taco Bell in Toronto.

Started a second job working for Katkov Enterprises, screen printing awards and signage, earning $8 an hour.

Studied computer design software in night classes in George Brown College in downtown Toronto, taking public transit over an hour each way.
1995
Age 21
Promoted to Manager of the Art Department

Night classes: studied Human Resources, Management and Small Business courses at the community college (Humber College).
1996
Age 22
Promoted at a promotional house to Operations Manager responsible for the manufacturing department and acting as the liaison with the sales department.

Night classes: Accounting and Sales courses (Humber College).

Night classes: More computer courses (Academy of Art and Design).
1997
Age 23
Hired at a graphics agency at Scurr Design in Mississauga, Ontario as
Intermediate Designer.

Started his independent business as a freelance graphic designer.

Erik began to study human behavior and human needs psychology from Anthony Robbins and Virginia Satir, Clare W. Graves and the founders of NLP: John Grinder and Richard Bandler.
1998
Age 24
Was promoted to Studio Manager of the graphics agency, then quit his job at the end of the year.

Started Kikuchi Graphics with one client. Erik bought $15,000 worth of computer equipment on his credit card, and worked in his spare room.

The first year, he and Andrea struggled when he earned only $7500 in sales.
1999
Age 25
Independently doubled sales from previous year to nearly $20,000 from referrals and word of mouth Advertising.

Started on contract work with print brokers who needed graphic design.

Married Andrea in Temascaltepec, Mexico.
2000
Age 26
Independently doubled sales from.

Co-Founded of the Toronto Power Group in Toronto, Ontario, a personal development group where Erik started to speak, lead and influence those wanting to
improve their lives.
2001
Age 27
Independently doubled sales from previous year to nearly $80,000 by promoting his services in networking groups.

Hired the first employee, an intern from a university program to help with his work, so Erik could focus more on the business
and sales.

Was a Mentor for Big Brothers of Brampton. He donated one day every week for four years to a teenage boy living in poverty with no father. http://www.bbbspeel.com/
2002
Age 28
Independently Doubled sales from previous year to nearly $170,000 by focusing on the automotive industry and becoming an expert in that marketplace.

Co-Founder and President of the Toronto Power Group. Erik taught monthly seminars on relationships, personal finances and business development. www.torontopowergroup.com

Joined the Canadian Professional Sales Association. http://www.cpsa.com/
2003
Age 29
Independently doubled sales from previous year to nearly $400,000 by focusing more on sales and networking in addition to investing over 10% of his sales into marketing material for his company

Voted in as a Board Director for the Association of Japanese Canadian Businesses and Professionals. (Shin-ki-kai) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. http://www.shinkikai.com/en/

Joined and became the youngest active member of the Presidents club and sponsor of the Canadian Marketing Association. http://www.the-cma.org/
2004
Age 30
Doubled sales to $780,000. Instead of "selling' Erik leveraged his expertise in human behavior and understanding client and consumer needs.

Hired the first VP of the company with the initial salary that was double Erik's
as president.

Took a time management course, revolutionized his work habits
and efficiency.
2005
Age 31
Reached over a Million in sales with 6 employees and efficient systems in place that still allowed Erik to travel every
2 months.

Divorced wife and partner of fourteen
years Andrea.

Joined and became active member of the R.E.I.N Investment group. Took courses and studies on buying real estate
investment properties.
2006
Age 32
Sold his first company, Kikuchi Inc. and created a 35% return on his Real
Estate investments.

Started second company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Called Transplay Inc., it serviced the video gaming industry.

With less than a $5000* investment, no office or marketing materials, Erik built Transplay to $250,000 in sales in his
first year.
2007
Age 33
Moved to Colombia, semi-retired to continue his work with children and displaced people in South of Bogota and Suba.

Trained and certified as a Master Practitioner in NLP in USA. Certified by Steve Linder: www.sriuniversity.com

Continued personal studies in Spiral Dynamics by Clare W. Graves and its relation to human value systems and business leadership.
2009
Age 35
Married Johana Aldana Villamizar in
Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Went to various countries over three and a half months on their honeymoon, including Japan, China, India and Fiji.

Moved to Polanco in Mexico City, Mexico and launched Erik's speaking career, teaching and hosting seminars on personal and professional development.
2010
Age 36
The Mexican government forced the utility company Luz y Fuerza to close its doors to its 40,000+ employees, who rioted, shutting down roadways, construction
and businesses.

Erik contacted the union and gave a free conference to the employees giving them a new vision and hope, along with tools and strategies to build a new life.

Was called upon Moises Saba, a multi-millionaire on the Forbes 500 list, to consult on his commercial properties in Mexico City.
2011
Age 37
Started writing his free publication, geared towards enriching the quality and performance of people's lives, with over 72 personal and professional development articles in circulation.

Studied F.A.C.E. Training, the study of facial micro expressions taught by Paul Ekman.

Transplay continues serving the most important video game companies, including Sony Entertainment, Activision, Sega of America, Capcom USA, Take Two, Namco and Warner Bros Interactive.
2012
Age 38
Starting a movement called “CULMEN”, Entrepreneurs and Professionals for
Ethical Latin America, Erik begins the
journey to serve, lead and educate, through
speaking engagements and free monthly
newsletters, on how Latin Americans can
successfully build their careers
and businesses with integrity.
2013
Age 39
Erik is interviewed on his teachings by leading business magazine Semana in Colombia, and other publications both in media and print. Erik is also signed on by International Speaking Agency, Hi-Cue speakers.
His teachings on Business and Life, reached over 250,000 readers, and his monthly publication extends to over 19,000 monthly subscribers
2014
Age 40
Erik is now working on two programs to be completed by 2015: the “Ultimate Sales Accelerator Program”, designed to multiply sales, and “The Do What You Love Project.
ERIK ON | CONTACT PRIVACY | PRESS | VIDEOS