Mastering Leadership: Insights from a Successful Entrepreneur

The Journey of an Entrepreneur

Building a successful business is no small feat. It requires dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to continuously learn and grow. As entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves on a journey of self-discovery, pushing our limits and striving to become better versions of ourselves. This article delves into the experiences and insights of a successful entrepreneur who has built multiple thriving businesses, offering valuable lessons on leadership, personal growth, and the true meaning of success.

The Evolution of Business Building

When reflecting on the process of building businesses, our entrepreneur notes a significant difference between their first venture and subsequent ones:

"The first business I built was just Blood Sweat and Tears. There wasn't a lot of thought behind it," they recall. This approach, while intense, didn't necessarily lead to a sense of fulfillment upon achieving success. "When we got the money, I felt nothing. Zero. I felt like relief that the process of selling the business was over because it had been painful."

In contrast, their approach to building subsequent businesses was much more intentional:

"This business, when we built it, it was like: What do I want the culture to be like? What do I want the people to be like? What kind of talent do I want to attract? How do I want to feel when I show up to work every day? What do I want people to think about me?"

This shift in mindset led to a more fulfilling experience, with the entrepreneur expressing excitement about the work itself rather than just the end goal.

Redefining Success and the Role of Money

One of the most interesting insights shared by the entrepreneur is their evolving perspective on money and success:

"When I was younger, I thought that money was a means to a lifestyle. I think for a lot of people it is, and they view it as that. They view it as 'I make money so I can have a certain lifestyle.'"

However, after achieving a certain level of financial success, their view changed dramatically:

"The reality is that I think I was lucky enough to make enough money quickly that I realized like after a certain point it's not really relevant to the lifestyle. It's like you can have the lifestyle now, so why make more money?"

Instead of viewing money as an end goal, the entrepreneur now sees it as a tool for creating positive change:

"I almost see it now that I understand how to get more of it and I understand the game of money, I see it as a responsibility that I have to do good with it. I want to make money in a way that makes everybody's lives better, not worse."

This perspective shift has led to a healthier relationship with money and a more purposeful approach to business:

"Right now it's like how do I use my business to make the world better through customers and employees, but eventually it's going to be how do I use my business to make the community better. It just continues to magnify."

The Importance of Personal Values in Business

Throughout the entrepreneur's journey, one theme remains constant: the importance of staying true to personal values. They emphasize that success without integrity is meaningless:

"None of it's worth it if you don't align with your values and none of it's worth it if you're not the person you want to be and you're not continuing to grow."

This commitment to values stems from early life experiences and role models:

"When I was growing up, I always envisioned myself being a good person. I'm sure many people can relate to this. It's like you grow up and you meet a lot of people who are shitty, and then you're just like, I know that that's the easy way to go, but I don't want to live my life that way."

The entrepreneur credits their father as a significant influence:

"I always saw my dad because he's such a good person. He's truly like one of the best, just such a genuinely amazing human. That's always been a standard for me."

Leadership Lessons and Growth

As the entrepreneur's businesses have grown, so too has their understanding of leadership. They share three key insights that have deepened their grasp on effective leadership:

1. The need for constant self-improvement: "Right now I need to level up. I'm at a point where I'm like, I need to operate differently, meaning like a new version of myself needs to arise to rise to the occasion."

2. The importance of clear communication: "The traditional ways of giving hard feedback, I'm just going to say, are wrong. If you would like to make your life a little bit easier and your business a little bit better, give these three principles a try."

3. The value of authenticity: "I don't think you understand like this is not about money for me, it's about the kind of person I can become."

Challenges of Growth and Success

Despite their achievements, the entrepreneur is candid about the challenges that come with success and growth:

"I'm honestly just like not in a season right now where traveling is something that I actually want to be doing, regardless of what it's for. I have so much going on back at work that I just feel like I'm constantly getting behind when I'm traveling."

They also discuss the pressure of maintaining high standards:

"I have very high standards because I know what I'm capable of. You know, I'm not unreasonable and I don't have unrealistic expectations of myself. I think I'm constantly just trying to get better."

This drive for improvement can sometimes lead to frustration, especially when balancing multiple responsibilities:

"I don't ever hate myself for not doing anything perfectly. I just can acknowledge that it wasn't my best work and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. And I think that's how you get better."

The Power of Documentation

One practice the entrepreneur finds particularly valuable is documenting their journey:

"Something that I think would have been really cool to look back on in whatever way I used it, it's just documenting growing gym launch and now I get to document acquisition.com."

This documentation serves multiple purposes:

1. Tracking progress: "I get to look back and be like, 'Wow, in the days that I feel like am I even making progress?' I get to look back and be like, 'Wow, I am.'"

2. Learning from past experiences: "Go look at my YouTube videos from even just two years ago or go look at my Instagram. I mean, it's like horrendous, you know?"

3. Inspiring others: "I'm trying to make it as unfiltered as possible. You know, this wasn't like the most upbeat trip ever. I also had a lot of personal things going on. That's the stuff that is real and always happening no matter how successful somebody looks on the outside."

Balancing Personal and Professional Growth

The entrepreneur emphasizes the interconnected nature of personal and professional growth:

"You can imagine how those things trickle down to every other area of life. Just showing up confidently for your team, being a strong leader, it all trickles down."

They also highlight the importance of taking care of oneself while pursuing business goals. For example, they discuss the benefits of incorporating physical activity into their daily routine:

"Early on I realized that when I was starting gym launch, I like gained like 15 lbs and I got a treadmill desk and it changed a lot for me. I felt so much better. I started making time for myself to go on walks, you know, do emails while I walk."

Embracing Challenges and Continuous Improvement

Perhaps one of the most inspiring aspects of the entrepreneur's mindset is their willingness to embrace challenges:

"I don't want to run from any challenge. I need to rise to the occasion."

This attitude extends to their approach to public speaking and presentations. Even when receiving positive feedback, they continually look for ways to improve:

"Every person that came up to me was like, 'Oh my God, that was so good,' but I practiced it better than it came out. I just wasn't in a vibe today, and when I practiced it, I had so many more stories."

Instead of being discouraged by perceived shortcomings, they view them as opportunities for growth:

"That's okay. I'll do it again better the next time."

The Importance of Human Connection

Despite the pressures of success and the demands of running multiple businesses, the entrepreneur never loses sight of the importance of human connection. This is evident in their approach to interacting with fans and supporters:

"I just always make my best effort that like, I want to make every single person feel seen. You know, despite the fact that they go so fast, it's like 4 seconds per person, I try my best to smile, to shake their hand, to say hi, like 'You look great,' or 'I like your dress,' whatever it may be."

This commitment to genuine interaction stems from personal experiences:

"I remember I've met so many people that have done those photos. I've had not even just neutral experiences, but I've had enough negative experiences that like, I've just never wanted to create that for somebody."

Conclusion: The Ongoing Journey of Growth and Leadership

The insights shared by this successful entrepreneur offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to grow as a leader and build successful businesses. Key takeaways include:

1. Approach business building with intention, focusing on culture and long-term fulfillment.
2. View money as a tool for positive change rather than an end goal.
3. Stay true to your personal values, even as you achieve success.
4. Continuously strive for self-improvement and embrace new challenges.
5. Document your journey to track progress and inspire others.
6. Balance personal and professional growth.
7. Embrace challenges as opportunities for improvement.
8. Never underestimate the importance of genuine human connection.

By adopting these principles and maintaining a growth mindset, aspiring entrepreneurs can navigate the complex world of business while staying true to themselves and making a positive impact on the world around them. Remember, success is not just about financial gain, but about the person you become and the positive influence you can have on others along the way.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK3AXxmf3js