I know this is not an easy job. What drives you?
The majority of the entrepreneurs I’ve met are driven by their materialistic desires, but that’s not what gets me out of bed in the morning. Many entrepreneurs are driven because they want the fancy car, the designer shoes, or the luxury home. Those things are great, don’t get me wrong, but wanting those things is not what keeps me motivated. Instead, it’s knowing what I don’t want that drives me. It’s being certain that I don’t want an average or mediocre life. It’s knowing that I don’t want to live paycheck-to-paycheck.
It’s understanding that I’m not looking to live a life of restriction, and I certainly don’t want my family to live a life of restriction. And finally, what drives me is proving that everyone who doubted me and told me I wasn’t good enough was wrong. My haters are the fuel that drive me towards my greatness.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for, who helped you get to where you are today? What lesson did you learn from them?
There are many people I’m grateful for. My mother, for example, was my number one supporter throughout times where literally everyone else around me was telling me I wasn’t good enough. My partner Kelsey is someone I’m also very grateful for, because she has always believed in me. Even on the days I wanted to quit or didn’t believe in myself, Kelsey believed in me enough for both of us. I’m grateful for the business partners and mentors who believed in what I had to offer and motivated me.
A great lesson I learned is this: surround yourself with people who recognize your worth, believe in you, and encourage you. Keep people in your life who see the greatness in you and who bring that greatness out of you. If you’re pursuing success, you need people in your life who encourage you to pick yourself up and keep pushing, even when they see you fail. You need those loyal fans who refuse to give up on you, even if it looks like you might be ready to give up on yourself.
A great mentor of mine taught me a valuable lesson that involved understanding how challenging the road to success will be, and preparing for the fact that it will not be easy. I learned that I may as well take risks and go after my dreams because otherwise fear might paralyze me. Another mentor taught me that greatness isn’t about being right all the time. It’s about accepting where you went wrong, not blaming anyone other than yourself, and learning the valuable lessons along the way.
A fellow entrepreneur helped me see that it’s important to take a break from the hard work sometimes, to enjoy the finer things in life. Work hard, but give yourself some time to enjoy your health, your youth, your spirituality, and spend time with your loved ones.
The greatest lesson was gifted to me from the sales manager of the pharmaceutical company I was the top sales rep for. This woman saw something great in me, and she helped me gain self-confidence. She called me an artist, because she recognized the true artistry of my ability to sell, and my ability to close. She told me that if I tapped into my inner genius, I’d take on the world, be someone noteworthy, and I’d be very successful in life.
How did you push through your worst times?
I am resilient. Winners never quit, and quitters never win. I know this and I have always had enough resilience to push through the hardest moments. The way I see it is that I’m pushing my way towards my greatness, and the fight is worth the prize. I know what waits for me on the other side of fear and challenging moments. I know it’s worth fighting for or even suffering for. I have learned that the toughest, most difficult times in our lives are a sign that we’re on the edge of success. That’s what keeps me going, and that’s why I’m comfortable being uncomfortable.