You know, it would be a real shame if I’d come this far without picking up a few lessons along the way. Without the wisdom passed down from the incredible mentors I’ve had, I might not have made it here at all. I have been fortunate to learn from some of the best, and their guidance has shaped my journey in more ways than I can count.

In this blog, I want to share the top lessons I’ve learned in business—wisdom from the greats that I feel privileged to have received. Now, it’s my turn to pass it along. Let’s dive in.

You’ve Got to be Willing to Fight for It

A.L. Williams, my first great mentor, once told me, “Life will give you what you’re willing to fight for, not what you want.”

This meant so much to me because, over the years, I have seen so many people come and go. They show up with all this energy, all this pizazz running through their veins, and then they burn out faster than you can say “Boo.”

So you have to ask yourself: If you’re excited, if the energy is palpable and real, is this a new way of life for you, or is it just going to be a phase of life? If it’s a new way of life, it means you’re moving in and planning on moving up rather than moving on. That’s an important distinction to make.

If you are someone who gets all enthused over a new idea every month but doesn’t follow through, you have to see that you aren’t fighting for it hard enough to make life give it to you. You have to be willing to fight for it.

A.L. Williams also said, “You beat 50% of people just by showing up. You beat another 40% by showing up with a great attitude. The last 10%—that’s a dog fight.”

This quote goes to show you that you can exert rather minimal effort and still beat 90% of the people almost all of the time. But if you want to really make a difference, if you want to swing for the fences, you are going to have to get in there and work your hardest, do your best, and be relentless in the pursuit of perfection for more days in a row than you might think is possible. So, with that information in mind, are you ready to become a last 10% leader?

Why Playing in Traffic is in Your Best Interest

Now, I’m not talking about standing in the road and getting yourself hit by a truck. Foot traffic—that’s the kind of traffic I want you to go play in. One of the most effective lessons I ever learned was the importance of connecting with others. Go out and meet people. Talk to people. Make connections. Make an impression on everyone you meet.

I spend so much of my life in an airport. I really do travel a lot. But I’ll tell you that many of the influential people I have met in my life, those who either helped me along the way or provided a connection that I needed, I met while I was in an airport. I was in the Sky lounge or grabbing a bite to eat.

But you don’t have to be a frequent flyer to meet new people. Talk to the people in line with you at the grocery store. Start up a conversation with the people sitting next to you during a concert intermission. Get to know your barista and the coffee shop manager.

The point is that you have to get out there, put your phone away, take the earbuds out of your ears, and talk to people. I know this doesn’t come naturally to a lot of folks. But you’ll see. Your life will never be the same.

What You Do Right Now Makes All the Difference

I’m always moving and shaking. I gather no flies, and that’s a mindset that has helped me win in leadership and in business. But being physically busy and being mentally busy are two very different things, and I identify with the former. I like to keep it rather simple between the ears, not worrying too much about what’s ahead.

Most people are looking to the end of the month or the end of the year, fretting about something they have no control over right now. I much prefer the mindset of regularly asking myself, “What can I do in the next ten minutes that’s going to get me closer to where I want to be?”

If you have taken the time to really think about what your goals are, what you want to achieve, I find that makes it much easier to focus on the present. Don’t waste your time worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet. Focus on the next ten minutes, what you can do right now, and then focus on the next ten minutes after that. It’s that simple.

One of the reasons this is such a powerful lesson has to do with what happens when you get off track or find yourself stalled. If you find yourself thinking of the future and worrying about things that are out of your control, you can always bring it back to right now. And then if you find yourself slipping down that foggy, pot-holed future path again, just bring yourself right back to now and focus on the next few steps in front of you.

Focus on what you can do right now that will make a difference. Before you know it, you’ll have made great strides and be that much closer to achieving your goals.

Learn to Embrace Adversity

One of the toughest but most valuable lessons I’ve learned in business is that adversity isn’t something to avoid—it’s something to embrace. Early in my career, I saw adversity as a roadblock, something that stood in the way of progress. But as time went on, I realized that every challenge I faced was actually an opportunity to learn, grow, and prove my mettle.

When you’re building a business or leading a team, you’re going to face setbacks. It’s inevitable. What defines your success isn’t the absence of those challenges, but how you respond to them. I’ve seen a lot of folks crumble under pressure, but I’ve also seen others rise to the occasion and come out stronger on the other side. And that’s the key—it’s not the adversity that makes or breaks you, it’s your response.

A friend of mine once told me, “The storm doesn’t last forever, but it does reveal the strength of the foundation.” That hit me hard because it’s true not only in business but in life. The challenges you face will test you, but they’ll also show you what you’re made of, and they’ll highlight the areas where you need to improve.

So, when adversity strikes—and trust me, it will—don’t shy away from it. Lean into it. Ask yourself what this challenge can teach you, and how you can come out the other side better equipped to handle the next storm. Because there will always be another one, but you’ll be stronger for it.

You’ve Got to Work for What You Want

I hate to be the one to give you the bad news, but it’s true—you’re probably not going to win the lottery. You’ve got to learn to work for what you want, show up every day, give it your all, and really embrace the challenges that come your way as you grow through them.

One of the things I have noticed people struggle with the most is the battle in their mind. That part that says, “I can’t” wins out over the part that knows you can. When that happens, they are stopped before they even get started.

You have to maintain your focus, energy, and desire. I won’t lie, it’s not easy. But that’s why the last 10% leaders are the last 10% leaders; they have what it takes.

You want to avoid sitting, soaking, and getting sour. Maintain your childish enthusiasm for what you’re doing, celebrating the wins of everyone else as though they were your own. When you celebrate the wins of everyone on your team, you hardly ever stop celebrating, and that’s a great way to maintain your energy and your enthusiasm…in case you were wondering.

Conclusion

I have had such great people go before me, and these are all things they have taught me (in addition to a few things I have gleaned myself along the way). I hope that you can read these words, understand why they are important in the grand scheme of things, and go out there ready to win the day, each and every day.

I always like to say, “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.” That reminds me of where the responsibility for my success lies, and that means that I have all the power to determine the outcome of my own path, and you do too.

I’ll see you at the top!

P.S. To hear me speak on these very topics, click HERE!