BUILD WEALTH TO LAST FOR GENERATIONS
BUILD WEALTH TO LAST FOR GENERATIONS
What’s the best way to teach children to embrace failure?
My approach with my son is to meet him at his level. For example, when he gets hurt, I handle it differently than my father did. My dad would just say, "Get up," with no nurturing. I kneel down, look him in the eyes, and ask, "Are you hurt or are you scared?" He often says both. If he's hurt and scared, we address the injury first, then deal with the fear by reassuring him. I tell him, "We'll get back up and try again." I say, "I'm going to do this with you, son. We'll fail together. How does that sound?" This way, I reinforce that failure isn’t final—it's a step toward the next goal.
What mindset shifts are necessary for entrepreneurs to embrace change despite the discomfort it brings?
People often see change as something painful, and at first, I felt the same way. When you try something unfamiliar, it comes with a lot of challenges—like the fear of rejection or not feeling good enough when you get there. That fear can be painful, along with the pain of being judged by others. Being different can feel isolating, but I’ve learned to embrace it.
When someone starts making changes, it's often more comfortable to stay the same. But once you begin to change and look back, you realize there's always some form of pain—whether from staying the same or taking on new challenges. For example, if you don't take care of your health, there will be consequences down the road. There's a delayed effect, and pain will show up eventually.
Do I enjoy being on the stair mill every morning? Not really. This morning, I did the 300 workout, and it was tough—painful even—but when I finished, I felt great. I've never regretted the pain of change, but I've always regretted the pain of staying the same.
How can business owners stay focused on their goals and ignore outside judgment?
It was about finally making a commitment to myself. I stopped worrying about what others thought of me. Now, to be clear, I care about what my parents and kids think—those I truly love—but I stopped worrying about how others judged me. I started looking at myself and asking, "Did you move the needle forward today?" That's what mattered to me. I focused on what I needed to do to improve my family's situation and move forward. It didn't matter what someone said on social media or what others thought of my journey. When I talked about building a 7-figure ecosystem, some people laughed or made fun of me. But for me, it was about drawing a line in the sand.
How can business owners align their actions with their principles?
When I coach people, I ask, "What are your principles? What will define you?" You start with principles—establish them first. You need to spend time developing these principles and stand firm on them. When I created mine, I decided I would not bend or waiver. After that, I examined my life and asked, "Is my life in alignment with my principles?" It wasn’t, and it was embarrassing. I realized I was saying one thing but doing another. So, I built behaviors and activities that aligned with my principles. From there, you start to become a visionary.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
