The other day I was interviewed on a podcast and the host asked me for my “#1 secret to success”. I laughed, it’s a cute theme for a show but I had to set him straight because there are no secrets, hacks or shortcuts. My answer was simply…
Unwavering resolve.
I don’t think I’ll be invited to give a Ted Talk on the subject any time soon. The answer isn’t sexy enough.
But here’s my unsexy explanation…
Anything worthwhile that I’ve accomplished in my life I’ve accomplished for one simple reason… I wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Literally every “success” I’ve enjoyed started out as a “no” that I had the unwavering resolve to flip around to a yes.
- I got into the Ph.D. program at Temple University by turning the rejection letter they sent me into an acceptance. (1993)
- It’s also how I got my first assistant coaching job and the most influential mentor in my life. The man literally spent the entire interview talking me out of the job to see how hard I would talk myself INTO the job and HIM into hiring me. (1996)
- It’s how I got the head coaching job of my dreams. After missing out on the job a few years earlier, the second time around I was again told wasn’t going to be offered the position because the president of the college had another “more experienced” coach in mind. I told the athletic director that was the biggest mistake they could make and then in my meeting with “el presidente” rattled off a dozen reasons why I was the best hire. The president later informed me I got the job over “his guy” he initially favored because his impression of me was ”Damn… If he’s going to work this hard to get the job, imagine how hard he will work to turn the program around.” (1999)
- I got my job at ESPN Radio after originally being passed over in favor of someone else… again “more experienced”. (2005)
- It’s how I got my book Seeds of Success turned into a screenplay after being told by Bob Burris the screen writer “the book wouldn’t translate to the big screen”. (2013)
I don’t share any of that to impress you.
I share it to impress UPON you that YOUR success has less to do with someone saying no right away and is more about you having unwavering resolve to turn that no into a yes.
I can’t even imagine how differently my life might have turned out if I’d have accepted no for an answer in any of these instances.
So I guess there is a “secret to success”… unwavering resolve. And the secret to failure is easily accepting no for an answer.
People will tell you you’re wrong, or the timing is wrong or that it can’t be done. But if you have a strong reason why, you’ll find a way how.
Plant your flag in the ground and be unwavering in your resolve.
Keep chasing what you want after others have quit.
Make the phone call, knock on the door, and reach out to every person who can help you.
It’s possible to turn that no into a yes because to quote the great American philosopher Babe Ruth “it’s hard to beat a person who just won’t quit”.
NOTE: If you have the unwavering resolve to transform your business and finally start getting the results other people only dream of, then I highly recommend you enroll in my Yesterdays Underdog membership community. I’ve had the opportunity to witness members who are new, struggling or doing well but want more, experience amazing breakthroughs in their business as a result of joining my community.
They’ll show you how to apply unwavering resolve and refuse to accept no as an answer so you can start making more money, faster and build your ideal lifestyle as quickly as possible.
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