The Life of An Entrepreneur

The ugly truth most don’t talk about as an entrepreneur. Many of these things I talk about in my last book Blueprint to Business. But this may be even a bit more “real.”

•You are fully dependent on yourself to pay your bills and put food on the table. You cannot rely on anyone else . It’s sad but true. However, if you are lucky like me, you have a few and I mean 3 or less people that you actually can count on. And those people know who they are.

•There’s no salary, no benefits, no weekends off, no sick days, no taking the day off when you don’t feel like it.

•Always feeling like you are begging friends and relatives for help or support. Some reluctantly do, making you feel even worse. So eventually you stop asking. Even though my 1st book is titled Ask More Get More.

•Social media does not support “small” businesses. In fact they’ve made increasingly more difficult to organically build and grow in the current climate. You have to work ten times harder than bigger companies. Even if you pay for it. Most don’t see your posts or many of your “friends” have opted out of your posts (most will never even see this).

•Once you force yourself to hire people (because you will have to) you pay them before you pay yourself. Huge mistake I’ve made over and over and over again.

•Small business loans aren’t for small businesses. Take a look at the numbers. Huge multi-billion dollar companies were the biggest beneficiaries of the recent government relief loans.

•People will think you’re rolling in cash because you make sales and “look successful” when in reality an $Indebtaire because you have to reinvest every single dollar for the while borrowing more to keep the small crew you have fed. And the unfortunate realities of the reinvested money many times actually loses money. Yeah sounds insane. But true.

•You feel like you’re letting down everyone in your life because there’s not enough money or YOU to go around.

•Some days feel really really lonely. Really lonely. The type of loneliness that only other entrepreneurs feel. The type of loneliness that makes everything feel hopeless.

•The weight of the worlds expectations on you feel beyond “heavy” sometimes. The people you know are quick to point how you’re falling short. Most times behind your back actively rooting for your failure.

•You work 365 days a year and 16 hours a day. I call it 25/8. Because 24/7 isn’t enough.

•You watch others allegedly doing big things around you and you and have to stay focused and not allow jealously, comparison and envy to creep in. Knowing most of the other big players are just smoke and mirrors. But they do a damn good job of appearing successful.

•You’re desperate for a vacation but the whole $Indebtaire thing and if you did take a vacation you would feel guilty anyway.

•Some days I’m sad when I’m supposed to be Wicked Happy…but oddly enough, I never want to quit (even though sometimes I say I do). Some days I lay in bed and wonder how I’m going to make it work. But I remind myself that it’s not about the money anymore and when I do push it usually works out (“works out” is very subjective).

•I’ve been rich and been poor and back around to both a few times in my life. Happiness is what matters.

•BUT I keep pushing day in and day out because I believe in what I’m doing with all of my heart. It’s a deep knowing. Because it calls me and because I believe I’m building the foundation for something beautiful. Something my daughter can be proud of. Something that will truly make an impact and leave a legacy. This is the stuff nobody wants to talk about or push through but in the end I know I will look back and know I’ve paved the way for my family and others with big goals and ideas!

And just to be even more candid, I’m not sharing this so you can pity me. But entrepreneurship is hard. Fifteen years of building not one business but multiple. And here is MORE truth. MOST of them fail, over and over and over and over again. I know it’ll be ok (at least I tell myself that) and I know I’m now on the right path.

There have been some businesses that we’ve launched that I knew almost from the beginning they wouldn’t work. It’s a weird feeling. As someone who is always trying to remain optimistic. But the journey I’m on now I know is the right path. It’s taken loss after loss after loss and wisdom to get here.

Lots of my “friends” may feel these same feelings and I hope this raw candidness inspired by real life helps others cope. And maybe inspire to keep pushing. I will never stop.

Optimism Is A Recipe For Failure

How many times have you told yourself it’s going to work out? From a business transaction to a relationship? You think your optimism and hope will somehow miraculously overcome objective reality. You see memes on social media telling you to keep going. Heck, I tell people if you can get through the other side it will be okay. But the thing I DON’T say is that it will work out. 

Getting through a difficult relationship or failed business venture are life obstacles. You will be okay. As long as you are on the planet you will survive life's many curve balls thrown at you.

But our collective irrational optimism is what more than likely caused the failure. Our own internal inability to give up actually makes it worse.  The societal pressures of failure are so extreme that we are blinded by our own unchecked optimism. 

When I was in high school I was the class President and honored to be able to give a speech at commencement and I ended with a quote from Winston Churchill. “Never, Never, never quit.” That was actually paraphrasing him. He actually said “never give in.” I was a seventeen year old naive teenager who had already overcome a lot and was on my way to college. Even though I was told I would be dead or in jail, I made it past what many believed was an inevitable early end. My view of the world and understanding of how the universe worked was still developing. I still stand by what Winston Churchill said and my paraphrasing. His speech was also a commencement speech and he was really speaking to his country, and the world about fighting Hitler and the Nazi regime. He was trying to literally rally the troops. But, in war and in life many times in order to win. We need to retreat. We need to step back, look at the entire picture and rationally think about our reality.

Things aren’t just going to work out because you saw some motivational speaker on TiKTok tell you so.  Some random quote by an unknown person on Instagram is not what you should cling on to.  These huckster charlatans selling rainbows and unicorns are selling a fallacy.  They sell hope.  They sell fear and they sell unrealistic expectations.  Failure can be a permanent thing or temporary.  It all depends on how you decide to look at it.  I always tell people I’ve never failed at anything.  But I have lost BIG many times because I was not an objective realist.

How do I know this? I’ve lost more than I’ve succeeded. When I objectively look at my losses. I could have avoided all of them. As an entrepreneur we always have to have optimism. But, what becomes dangerous is our unyielding perseverance to never, never, never give up. It’s not honorable to not acknowledge that you are about to hit an iceberg and hit it because you think you are unsinkable. Your life isn’t a movie that will just work out. The reality is, you will have to change course almost daily. You will have to evaluate your business and relationships often in order for them to be successful. Sometimes you will have to fold even if you have the best hand. Many times in order to succeed we have to sit out a few games or fold even the winning hand because you know that what’s next could destroy you. In fact Churchill went on to say “-never give in UNLESS to convictions of honour and good sense”. This part of his actual speech is what I’m trying to drive home. Churchill also said “I’m addressing myself”, he was not only speaking to the students at the commencement speech and the world but also to himself.  Even one of the greatest leaders in modern history needed to remind himself to always look at each situation with objective realism.

We've all heard this one, it’s not the battle it’s the war. Sun Tzu said in The Art of War. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will suffer defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

There is so much to deconstruct from this quote originally published in the 5th century BC. But if you don’t know yourself. If you can’t self evaluate you will most likely lose. If you know yourself but can’t be objective with understanding the enemy, your wins could actually be losses. In other words you got lucky. You didn’t really evaluate the entire picture but you still won. That is not sustainable.

If you have followed me and read my columns throughout the years.  I am a very optimistic person.  Optimism I believe is a necessary element of happiness and success.  But like anything in life, too much of it can bring you down.  Have hope but be realistic, be optimistic about the future but constantly evaluate yourself and situations.  Don’t be afraid to retreat if necessary in order to avoid a loss.  And as one of my favorite rappers Ice Cube said.  “Check yo’ self before you wreck yo’ self.”

Smells Like Poverty

Do you know the smell?  Poverty has an actual smell to it. It is very difficult to describe. But as someone who spent half his life poor. I know it when I smell it. You do too. 

Walk into a Savers, a Salvation Army or any thrift store and breath it in. That’s the smell. It is a universal smell of poverty and despair. 

I know the smell so well because as a kid we went shopping for clothes at places like this. When you walk into the home of a poor person you can smell it there too. 

It’s not an unclean smell, it’s not a smell of someone who doesn’t take care of themselves. But it’s a smell of people who have given up. An aura of despair and disappointed people who don’t know how to get ahead.  

I recently became reacquainted with this smell when my 14 year old daughter wanted to go “thrifting”. The smell instantly brought me back to my childhood. It wasn’t necessarily a bad place to go to, it just reminded me of what my mom had to do in order to survive. 

When we wanted a new couch we didn’t buy it it was trash picked. Tables, chairs and yes even clothes were picked from the trash. Places like the Salvation Army or Building 19 are where we would get the nicer things. Almost new or if we were lucky actual new stuff. 

Now as you read this and before you are upset and think I’m disparaging the poor, I’m not. 

What this smell also reminds me of the most is opportunity. When I walk into a Savers or a Salvation Army with my daughter I see lots of different kinds of people. Some have in fact given up. But most are survivors and go getters doing what it takes to just live. 

Many times, poor people are put into one bucket. Lazy, given up, bad decision makers, victims of their environment etc. But most of them are survivors and trying to make it. 

I’ve been a survivor all my life, in fact people tell that all the time. “Mike you will get through it you are a survivor”. It’s a great trait to have but it’s also a curse. So many of us are just trying to survive. For the past six years while generating millions I’ve just been surviving. You know the saying. Live to fight another day. I’ve been living to fight another day most of my career. Despite generating hundreds of millions in revenue. 

This is such a horrible place to be. Survivor mentality comes from many places but it is also seen across all societal levels. The super-rich sometimes are stuck there. If they realized that making the switch from survive to thrive they could have a huge impact on the world, they may start to actually push forward rather than retract. 

As I write this blog post leaning on the side of a display of old pottery and dish wear at Savers I reminded myself that I know I can survive the rest of my life just fine. We are not only designed survive we are designed to thrive. You know what they do to horses that can’t thrive right?  

That’s not you, that’s not me, that’s not who we want to be. Make 2022 the year to start thriving. Start asking for more out of life. Do more than what you did yesterday and do that every day and see what happens. 

Stop listening to your friends and family members who are usually enabling the survivor mentality. It’s time to thrive. 

Want to feel the visceral emotions I’m feeling right now?  Walk into any thrift store breath in the air. Observe the people. You will be able to tell that most are just surviving. How can you tell?  

The thrivers are looking at things and then searching the internet to see if they could buy it here and sell it for a profit on line. You will notice their carriage probably has the best the place has to offer. Why?  They expect more, they want more. They are thrivers.  It’s a small mental note that you need to say to yourself. It is our natural instinct to survive. So as humans we got that covered. You don’t need to think about it. You just will until you either give up or decide to thrive. I think deciding to thrive is the best choice.  

Guest Article: "The Law Of Attraction Is Easy… Even If You Don’t Believe In It"

Guest Blogger: Andrew Kap

Your thoughts have power. Your thoughts create your reality. Your thoughts affect everything.

We’ve all heard some version of this.

And while it’s very easy to understand intellectually, it’s also something that most people doubt in some way, shape, or form.

And the opportunities they miss out on as a result are incalculable.

So let’s make this easy.

Given where you’re reading this, we both know you’re intelligent.
And we both know you’re open-minded to at least some degree.

But we also know you don’t have time to be convinced. You’re just way too busy and you’ve got much better things to do with your time.

So here’s what I’m going to do for you...

First I’m going to briefly explain the Law of Attraction (or, if you already know it, re-explain it) in a way that will make it crystal clear and get us on the same page.

Then I’m going to show you an easy way to implement it - even if you don’t believe in it - in a way that will prove it for you WITHOUT wasting your time or energy.

Then I’ll leave you to enjoy your life.

Fair?

Okay, the Law of Attraction in a nutshell:

Everything in the Universe (including you) is energy.

And everything in the Universe (including every thought you have) vibrates at a frequency that instantly reaches everything else.

And like frequencies tend to vibrate in resonance with other like frequencies.

So the THOUGHT of money, for example, attracts itself to the energy of ACTUAL money.

And if enough thought continues to focus in that direction, the object of that thought (in this case, money) will literally manifest in the physical world.

This means you are literally a magnet to what you think about. Your thoughts (and the emotions you feel about those thoughts) energetically magnetize and attract the people, things, circumstances and outcomes of your life.

This is regardless of whether you’re thinking about what you want (positive thoughts) or whether you’re thinking about what you don’t want (negative ones).

And once you realize that this is how the Universe really works, you can choose a better life through whatever you intentionally give your focus and attention to.

In other words, what you think about in your mind becomes your physical reality.

Got it?
Great.

Now… how can you easily implement this — without wasting the little time or energy you usually have to spare — in an easy way that does not require your belief that this works?

In a word - gratitude.

Be grateful.

Take just five minutes a day, and be grateful for things from your past. Or things in your present. Or even thank the Universe in advance for the good things on the way.

This automatically puts your mind and body in a state where you are actually broadcasting the signal of having what you want out into the Universe. And then the Universe will then mirror this back to you in your reality.

Here’s why this doesn’t require your belief AND why this isn’t a waste of your time, no matter what:

Studies have shows that intentionally experiencing gratitude for even just a few minutes each day brings a multitude of TANGIBLE benefits, including improved sleep, an increase in your confidence, a reduction of anxiety, a more resilient mindset, and much, much more.

So even IF the Law of Attraction didn’t “work” (but we both know it does), taking just five minutes a day to just list some things you’re grateful for — this is a huge win for you in and of itself.

If nothing else ever happened. If you never got that huge mansion you might have been visualizing. Or that new car. Or the perfect partner. Or whatever/whoever else — you’re still winning every single day through those five quick minutes. It’s that simple.

So be grateful.

And when “spooky” totally awesome things start happening in your life out of nowhere — do me a favor...
If you really don’t want to acknowledge that this is the Law of Attraction working for you — then don’t.

Don’t credit the Universe.
Don’t thank me for telling you.
Don’t get excited about the endless possibilities.

But at least recognize that you did a thing (five minutes of gratitude), and then something DID happen for you afterwards.

And then use that as your motivation to just keep going with this.
Every single day.

Oh, that part about not thanking me?
Forget that.

DO thank me later.

You’ll have plenty of reason to. ;-P

Enjoy.

About Andrew Kap

Andrew Kap is the author of “The Last Law of Attraction Book You’ll Ever Need To Read” -- a perennial bestseller giving readers a unique understanding of the topic that no other “Law of Attraction” book has ever been able to do — by going the extra mile of addressing WHY people who get excited about trying it out still can’t manage to get in the habit of using the methods for just five minutes a day.

The book has enjoyed #1 Bestseller status in multiple categories on Amazon, with thousands of five-star ratings & reviews and counting, and a growing YouTube channel devoted to it.

Check out the book on Amazon by going to: LastLawofAttractionBook.com or learn new manifesting methods and more at YouTube.com/AndrewKap

It’s All About the Experience

Lots of people have bucket lists. Things that they want to do or accomplish before they leave this planet, like going to see the pyramids in Egypt or jumping out of a plane.

When people ask me about my bucket list I realized I don’t have one. Don’t I want to go sky diving some day? Nope. Do I want to see the pyramids in Egypt up close in person? Actually, yes and I will.

I was discussing this further with a friend and realized that when I have a desire to do something, I do it. Or I set in motion actions or activities that will get me to the desired end point.

Several years ago as a result of a bet that I was funnier than my friend, we both agreed that we would do a stand-up routine at a real comedy club and see who was funnier. Well, we did it and I think it was a tie. But, that very first time on stage and the high I got had me instantly hooked. I became obsessed with comedy and its elements. I began befriending local comedians and asking them for help. Week after week I continued performing stand-up routines. Then about 6 months into my comedic journey my friend who I made the bet with took me out to lunch. He asked me what my end game was with the comedy. I told him I didn’t have one. I said I was having fun, it made me happy and I want to see where it takes me. I think he thought I was having mid life crisis. So I made another bet with him. I said if I could get on stage at Giggles Comedy Club and do well then I’m going to keep going. If I bomb I’m done. Well, I was lucky enough to get a spot at an open mic night and did well. I actually didn’t “kill it”. But I had a good set. So I continued on and performed in LA, Boston, San Diego, Tampa but then ultimately stopped. I had a lot of fun, made some great friends and was getting pretty good. But I realized this wasn’t something I wanted to make a career out of. If I wanted to get better, I would have to essentially go all in. But, the experience is what I got and now have forever. I reached as high as I wanted to go. I held my own with professional comedians. But, I knew I was not a professional comedian and realized that isn’t what I wanted.

Going all in for the experience.

If you have read any or my articles or blog posts before you’ve probably read some things relating to poker. Very similarly to comedy I was introduced to poker by a friend and have become some what obsessed with the game. Don’t misinterpret my previous sentence. I’m not a degenerate “gambler” and I’m not playing poker with grocery money. But I’ve been studying poker almost as hard as when I studied for the bar exam.

In 2014 when I staked my friend Jon Broderick in the WSOP Main Event and he made a deep run and cashed, I think that first poker seed was planted. I was intrigued by the culture and the pageantry of the WSOP Main Event. I was also fascinated with the marketing potential and the growth of the game.

Recently, I knew I may have a business opportunity that also coincided with the 2021 WSOP in Las Vegas. Since I’ve been studying the game I have envisioned myself playing in the WSOP. Pageantry aside, the competition, the brain power, the adrenaline fueled strategizing on how to win is intoxicating. So, I made the decision that I was going to play.

I know what you are thinking, ten thousand dollars to play poker is a lot and I agree. The WSOP is essentially a league like the NFL is for football. WSOP is similar to that for poker. They have many other events when you can play for a lot less money.

In early October I arrived in Las Vegas, had a couple of meetings then I entered into my first tournament. It was a five hundred buy in with a total prize pool of five million dollars with first prize getting about six hundred thousand. The overall experience is worth several thousand words that I won’t get into in this article.

But, it is the experience that I wanted. Did I have a fantasy about me taking that prize down and winning the whole thing? Absolutely, but that’s not exactly why I was there. I wanted to experience what it was like playing with thousands of potential combatants and see if I could out maneuver them in an effort to take the tournament down. Well, unfortunately I was knocked out of the tournament. A few years ago I would have been really upset, I may have even blamed some guy for playing like an idiot which “caused me to lose”. Don’t get me wrong I hate losing. But I was grateful for being there. I was grateful that I played for several days. I was grateful for the air I was breathing in. Albeit, with a mask on. But I was extremely grateful.

As a part of my poker experience, I entered a second tournament and outlasted 4500 players from all over the world including Barstool Nate, Greg Raymer and several other professional players including Tony Miles.

You may not recognize Tony Miles as I didn’t either. When I sat down at the table roughly ten hours into the first day of this Deep Stack two million dollar tournament, Tony was to my immediate right. When I sat down, he welcomed me to the table with a genuine smile. I was immediately suspect as I should be in poker. We are all trying to take each other out in an effort to win the big prize. As the table play continued and about one hour away from making Day 2 of this event the conversation opened up.

I learned who Tony was and is now. His life is interesting and he will be coming on The Alden Report podcast. Tony took 2nd place in the 2018 WSOP Main Event winning five million dollars. Once I knew this, I was really suspicious about his play but also very interested in his experiences. We were about 15 minutes away from making Day 2 of this event and Tony announced he was ALL IN. After his announcement I folded, the small blind folded but the big blind called. The end result was Tony’s pocket Queens got cracked by Ace, King when an Ace hit the board. Tony wasn’t knocked out of the tournament but left with just 1 chip.

After he got decimated I waited a few hands and and asked him how he handled that loss in his brain as a professional poker player. He looked me deep in the eyes for a few seconds like any good poker player, ostensibly attempting to see if my question was sincere or pouring salt on the would. Once he realized I was sincere he said this.

“When I lost the hand the first thing I said was how grateful I was to be here.”

He paused for a minute then said this.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am a very spiritual guy, but I’m also competitive, so it did sting and there is a balance between losing, being grateful and my competitive nature.”

I said that makes sense and was impressed with how it didn’t appear to really affect him. At least from a third party view.

Then a couple minutes later he asked me a question. Now we are about 5 minutes away from making it to Day 2 and he had doubled up a few times during our talk. So he had a few more chips but still decimated.

He asked. “Mike you know what is the key to life?” I said I’m not sure. “Happiness…I think.” He then said “okay what’s the key to happiness.”

I knew the answer, it’s being grateful. Ultimately, the key to a happy and successful life is gratefulness. Well, that’s what we came up with at the World Series of Poker Deep stack event.

Tony, myself and our table all made day two of the event. As we began to bag our chips and end the day, he asked me if I had ever “bagged” before. I was like no, with a huge smile he held his fist out for a fist bump and congratulated me.

This tournament I was also unfortunately knocked out of. But I am beyond grateful for the experience and opportunity. If there is an experience you want, if you desire to do something I would encourage you to plant the seeds, make a plan and take action. There are lots of sayings out there about life and the journey. But, it’s the experiences that matter and being grateful for them that I believe is one of, if not the, key to happiness and living a fulfilled life.

How I Learned To Stop Being Afraid To Offend: The Power of Fuck (originally written in 2013 and updated today)

I never imagined that my first book Ask More Get More would use expletives, and I had a hard time recognizing the benefit of using what some may find as an offensive word in my book. But, I grew up just out side of Boston, and the word fuck is just a part of our everyday vernacular. We affectionately call them sentence enhancers. Fuck is not a word you want to use around children, and it is obviously offensive to some. However, the offensiveness of the word fuck is what also makes it powerful. It is not appropriate in every situation, but when used properly it can be VERY effective.

Case in point, about a several years ago, I had an employee who worked for me mess up a major part of their job. She has a very important position and the information she gives to me affects my business decisions and affects the entire company and its employees. This person also was a very good friend of mine and she has known me since I was 12. All this meant that she ended up becoming the unfortunate (or I could say fortunate) person to learn about the power of fuck.

The conversation went something like this:

Me: Pat, you realize that you FUCKED up royally? You realize that because you were not prepared and essentially didn’t do your job, that you FUCKED me and the company right?

Pat: Michael, why are you talking like this to me? Why are you degrading me? 

Me: Pat, you have know me since I was 12 right? 

Pat: Yeah

Me: Have I not used the word Fuck since then?

Pat: Yeah

Me: Okay, then, well you fucked up, almost cost me and the company MILLIONS and if you almost got fired. Don’t ever do it again and remember this conversation in the future. I still love you

Now, there are many business people who would totally disagree with the use of this word. They would say that I am immature, that there are more effective ways to communicate, and it is down right just crass. Well, they may be right. But, I know this, that Pat never made the mistake again, and as a result she double and triple checked her data before giving it to me. I did also challenge her and for the most part her information since the above conversation has been correct.

Did I offend her? Yeah, probably. Did she get it? Did she understand the magnitude of her mistake? Yes she did. Did she make the same mistake again? NO! But, by me “offending” her by using the word FUCK she got it.

That same week I held a meeting about being more assertive and yes using the word FUCK with my executives. Most of my day consists of speaking with my executives about the business, our vendors, clients and customers. Many times I give a directive and because is not in the executives demeanor, they are not as aggressive as they should be and thus not as effective. I had a call center that takes a lot of our calls essentially steal from our company, treat my customers poorly and ultimately just do a horrible job. I asked one of my executives to express my concerns and to fix it. Well, I bet you can guess, the executive was not as passionate with their concerns and was a little more “professional”. But, one thing I have to point out. We had a very large staff, and they have families and they have children. They depend on us.

We have customers who expect a certain level of service and our reputation is everything. When a vendor on our behalf does not do what we expect, they are essentially telling me, my employees and my customers to FUCK OFF, and I am extremely offended by the lack of care and service. I picked up the phone and expressed to the VP of Sales and Marketing at this particular call center and used the work FUCK as a verb, adjective and a noun and guess what? They fixed the problem, and gave us a credit.

One time I picked up the phone and said to a vendor: “I know you are fucking me”. That’s all I said. They responded and ASKED ME what I wanted. As, you already know when I said that I knew what I wanted. They had about 250k of my money (they are essentially a bank), and I wanted it now. Guess what? I got it, AND they reduced the rates that they were charging me in the future.

Just recently I took my mother in law to lease a new car. Before I went to the dealership I had a friend who used to work there refer me to one of the managers. I also did my homework and negotiated over the phone before we walked through the door. I know the dealership needs to make money. When the numbers were presented they were what we thought. Just before my mother in law went into the finance office I told the manager that my next door neighbor is her boss and the general sales manager for her dealership. 

She turned white and the blood seemed to have rushed out of her body. She said “ Oh, John is your neighbor? Why didn’t you tell me?” My response, "why? Are you fucking me?" She went back in and gave us a deeper discount. 

I wasn’t getting fucked. But I wasn’t getting as good of a deal as I thought I was. Even if your buddy is referring you. As Ronald Regan famously coined. Trust but verify. 

Now, if you do not use this word in your life, and you are offended by it then let me apologize. It is not the use of the word FUCK that is important. It is the use of the English language in a way that will effectively convey to the other party that they have, screwed you, hurt you, or disappointed you. And, you cannot be afraid to offend someone who FUCKS you, in your personal or business life, because at the end of the day you are the only one you is responsible for making YOU INC. successful.

**If this article resonated with you and you want to be a part of a group of bad ass authors putting together a bad ass book. Connect with with me. If you don't know how then this book isn't for you.

The Death of the “Best Seller” Status and Why Best Seller Matters

If you would like some information about myself or the following article, you can visit my website https://www.bestsellersecretsbook.com/ or find me on social media @MikeAlden2012.  Feel free to drop me a DM as well! 

The elation I felt after receiving an offer to publish my first book was probably one of the top highs I felt in my professional career. I immediately began to see myself and my book as a New York Times best selling author. I was going to leverage my marketing company and show the world how great the book was. That was in 2014 and my first book Ask More Get More. The book went on to sell thousands of copies worldwide and became a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best seller. However, I was crushed. Imagine that? Crushed by hitting two of the three most coveted lists in the literary world.

After reflecting what this really meant I would say that I was pleased with what we accomplished. In addition to hitting WSJ and USA Today lists, we were #1 in dozens of categories on Amazon and even broke the top ten against ALL books in the world. Not just the sub categories. All books both fiction and nonfiction.

A couple years later my second book was ready to be introduced into the world. This time my book was now being published by one of the top 5 publishers in the world and has a lot more clout than my first. Let me also be clear. I love my first publisher Greenleaf and also my current Wiley & Sons. They are just different in their business models and size. If it wasn’t for Greenleaf saying yes to me I may not be where I am today as an author.

When the time came to launch my book 5% More I was much more prepared. I understood that marketing books and selling wasn’t the same as marketing and selling dietary supplements and gadgets. There was a method and a system to market and sell that only apply to books. But I was prepared!

When it was time I did more than what I did with Ask More Get More. I spent over 300k total, we planned for over 6 months, we had national advertising running, we had thousands of books pre-sold and many other things firing on all cylinders. We were #1 in every category on Amazon (weeks before my publication date) we were the #1 Business Book on Barnes & Noble and we were set up to in fact hit the coveted NYT list.

Before I explain what happened, I want to explain why we chased the NYT. Hitting the NYT list is the pinnacle of success in the literary world other than maybe winning a Pulitzer Prize, which I was not going to do. NYT was a goal of mine and doors open for business people when you hit the NYT. This book was just as worthy as any other book and quite frankly it deserved the recognition. Well, you can probably guess it, we didn’t hit NYT. We hit practically everything else but our main goal.

By this time I have now spent close to a million, maybe more marketing my first two books and I was devastated. I remember having @GrantCardone on my Podcast The Alden Report and I told him that I had done everything to hit the NYT. He responded by asking this question “Did you make it”? I said “No” and he then said something that stung. He said “then you didn’t do enough”. Now, that may be the case. But, I was also trying to work within a budget and didn’t want to try to buy my way to the list. Buying your way in the list is still possible but you better have a seven figure budget and be prepared not to make it.  Many of the authors you know and follow all bought their way onto the NYT list.  This is not a knock against them or their books, it's just the reality. 

With my publisher Wiley & Sons I had a two book deal. So, I knew there was a 3rd book that I was going to put out. I also was still feeling the disappointment of not hitting my goal. All of this list talk aside I felt and still feel that I have a lot to offer the world and really enjoy sharing my thoughts and ideas with people. Hitting lists is NOT why I write books. When I get a note from a person who tells me my books helped them, that's why I write books.

Hitting lists and sales and marketing are the second half of the book writing process. Let me expand a bit more on this. There are two halves to the book writing process. There is writing and publishing the book(1st half), then there is sales and marketing(2nd half). If you don’t have a budget or a plan for the second half, I would suggest to hold off until you do. No one is going to find or read your book without the second half. Just like the 1st half YOU need to be a part of the 2nd half. YOU are more important in the 2nd half than the 1st. You cannot rely on PR and the publisher to market the book. It’s just a fact. It’s not a knock at publishers. They are great at what they do. But they are not marketers.

My third book Blueprint to Business was put out a year later also through Wiley & Sons.  With a track record of selling lots of books and a fairly decent social media and public profile, I felt like we had a great shot at my goal.  We prepared for six months and did ten times more than what we did on my first two books combined.  We leveraged my company to the max, we used every tool we had and despite our efforts we did not hit the NYT bestseller list.  We did, like my others do some amazing things like being the #1 book in the World on Barnes & Noble, we hit top ten against all books on Amazon and did hit both the Wall Street Journal and the USA Today Lists.  This book has been sold all over the world and like 5% More is also translated in a few different languages.

Why is the title of this “The Death of the Best Seller”?  Number one, pretty much every author calls themselves a “Best Seller” now.  No one really pays attention to it and or verifies it.  It is a watered down term that quite frankly doesn't mean much unless it is verifiable.  Over the years and through all of the heartache, what I found was my company became very good at selling lots of books, and helping others at becoming bonafide best selling authors.  We have now done it several times for both published and self published authors.  We have taken authors to #1 in dozens of categories in Amazon in as little as 12 hours.  We have taken unknown authors to the #1 book in the world on Barnes & Noble, and we have also helped authors hit the coveted lists several times.  Being a real best seller is special and it has real value.  If you are a success coach, a speaker, a business person, a social media influencer, being an actual legitimate best selling author opens doors.  If you are a businessperson and become a Wall Street Journal best selling author then you are now in an elite class of authors and other business people.  It doesn't just happen because you wrote a groundbreaking book that took you years to write.  It only happens with a well thought out marketing and sales plan.  The latter is the key.  Without sales you don’t become a best selling.  Your marketing must turn into sales.  I’ve done crazy and stupid things with my books that seemed cool at the time as a marketer but did not generate sales.  I have now spent millions marketing all of my books(I’ve actually written six) and I have found that it doesn’t take millions to do it.  But it takes time, a decent budget and a well executed plan.  It is interesting where life takes you.  I never thought I would be helping authors achieve their goals.  I don’t even advertise for this service, but I do love helping others become legitimate best selling authors.  As an author, I know the process and have gone through it many times and I enjoy helping others.  If you would like some information about me, you can visit my website https://www.bestsellersecretsbook.com/ or find me on social media @MikeAlden2012.  Feel free to drop me a DM as well! 


Why Bother?

I often wonder why people do certain things

For example, why bother telling someone you are going to quit smoking and then don’t even try?  Why bother buying a gym membership if you don’t go? Why bother going to the grocery store and buying healthy food but not eat it?  Why bother going to college and then quit? I saw this one a few times in law school. Why bother graduating law school and not take the bar exam?

The answer can come in a couple parts.  The number one reason why people don’t follow through with their good intentions is fear.  They are fearful of failure, they are fearful of what others may think of them, they are down right scared of the unknown.  They are also fearful of success. What happens when I do quit smoking? What now? That means I can never smoke again. People will be watching.  What happens when I get that promotion that I put in for? Then people will expect more out of me. I will be making more money. People will look to me for answers. That scares me.  

Here is a BIG one I see: I really want to start or grow my business but I’m afraid because I don’t know how. What if it fails?

In my business people buy products and services from me that will have a positive impact on their lives.  But, what I have found is that so many people buy my books or my products and they do nothing with them. It baffles me.  It used to offend me. It also scares me and saddens me, because I’m just like my customers.

What is the number two reason why people don’t take that next step?  It’s a term that I coined in my book Ask More Get More.

That is Excusetosis, it is the disease that many of us are infected with.  It destroys our aspirations, it holds us back and it also comforts us as to why we don’t take action. Excusetosis is a disease that allows us to make excuses for anything and everything we can.  I didn’t quit smoking because its hard, I didn’t go on a diet because its hard, I dropped out of college because it was time consuming, I didn’t take the bar exam because I was too busy with work.  I didn’t start my business because I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t read that book because I just hadn’t got around to it. Excuses are dream killers, plain and simple. Excusetosis robs so many of us the life that we so want and desire.  

Well, here is the GREAT news. Excusetosis is curable at any age, anywhere in the world at any time.  It can be cured with something that we all have. Each and every person reading this has it.  It is the most powerful tool on the planet. It will get you through tough times, it will help you push harder and farther than you ever had before.  That thing is YOU and your willingness and desire to want more. It’s that simple. Here are some tips on how to cure Excusetosis and move forward.

  1. Like Nike said: Just do it.  But do it NOW
  2. Understand that you will want to make excuses. DON’T
  3. Be self-aware of your own actions
  4. Recognize that you WILL make excuses but that is not another excuse to give up
  5. Do not procrastinate in what it is you originally set out to do.  As I said in number 1, DO IT NOW!

 

11 Top Entrepreneurs Share How They’re Hedging for Shit Hitting the Fan

Here’s how to prepare for the next economic collapse.

The Oracles

The next economic collapse isn’t a question of “if,” but “when.” Smart entrepreneurs are perpetually reinforcing their war chest and reducing their exposure to any economic downturn with recession-resistant streams of income and uncorrelated investments.

Here’s how 11 members of The Oracles are hedging themselves and their families against the next downturn.

1. The future is crypto.

I aim to keep enough cash on-hand to make capital calls, monthly payments, and a little extra for emergencies and weddings for three years. The rest goes to entrepreneurs who I think will transform industries.

But this year, I’m putting a bunch of money into cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Tezos, Bancor, and Credo. Cryptocurrencies are a durable asset in tough times and a strong new asset class. They’re safer, simpler, and have less friction than fiat currencies.

Tim Draper, VC, founder of Draper Associates and DFJ

2. Multifamily real estate and knowing how to sell.

My primary recession-proof income stream is multifamily, income-producing real estate investments. There are many indications that multifamily apartment investments will continue to be great. There are 75 million baby boomers headed into retirement. Many of today’s apartment complexes may be converted to retirement communities in the future. Many millennials aren’t buying homes. It’s getting more expensive to build new apartment complexes. No matter what the economy does, everybody will always need a place to live.

I’ve always said that you can make money anywhere at any time if you just learn to sell. Sales is a recession-proof profession if you know how to sell. People buy, even in recessions, when the value exceeds price. My business is dependent upon sales, and while recessions can affect it, I make no excuses for sales dropping during a recession.

So, get yourself some multifamily real estate and learn how to sell.

Grant Cardone, sales expert who has built a $500-million real estate empire, and NYT-bestselling author of “Be Obsessed or Be Average”; follow Grant on Facebook or YouTube

3. Buy commercial real estate with high-credit tenants and assets like rare cars.

One, buy long-term leased, credit tenant real estate investments such as anchor grocery shopping centers and high credit single tenants like O’Reilly Auto Parts. Think about it: in a recession, people will repair their used car rather than buy a new one. And people have to eat, so any credit grocery anchor tenants will survive.

Two, raise cash and buy collectables such as rare automobiles. These tend to fair much better during recessions. I’ve invested in super rare automobiles that I know will fetch a premium on the market. No one knows when a recession will hit so keeping everything in cash is not ideal because cash doesn’t appreciate. I’ve made a significant equity appreciation in my automobile collection.

Three, refinance all of your short-term loans into longer fixed-rate loans. In recessions, lenders tighten up their lending guidelines. It’s always best to refinance now and even cash out so you can to save for a rainy day—because it will rain!

Manny Khoshbin, president of The Khoshbin Company and author of Contrarian PlayBook; arrived in America at 14 nearly homeless and now has a nine-figure net worth

4. Invest in basic needs.

In the last 115 years, there have been depressions, world wars, Black Monday, the dot-com crash, the subprime mortgage crisis, and other financial crises worldwide. When you understand how cycles work and the resilience of the global economy, hedging your bets becomes a lot more understandable. However bad the economy is, people still need food, water, and shelter. So, my family and I have invested into large swathes of agricultural land and real estate.

Com Mirza, “The $500 Million Man” and CEO of Mirza Holdings; failed in eight companies back to back and today, runs a nine-figure empire with over 600 employees

5. Invest in yourself.

People who want to win in all areas of their lives work on themselves. They invest in themselves because knowledge is power and power reduces your exposure ahead of any economic downturn. I invest in myself continuously, expanding my education and knowledge base. I’ve programmed myself with an unshakable mindset that I use to decode and recode my clients’ minds and bodies. I’ve also invested, developed, and applied my own proven programs and products over the last 20 years.

Change is constant, and you have to stay ahead of it. You have to take educated and calculated risks, then employ strategies that will provide the quantum leaps you want to achieve.

Marina Rose, QDNA®, founder and developer of Quantum DNA Acceleration®, a revolutionary technique for quantum growth in health, life, and business

6. Invest in safe-haven assets.

There is no perfect hedge against economic collapse, and no industry is immune to possible economic volatility. A basket of cash-positive positions is the best way to survive economic meltdown. I would start with a strong position in gold and silver.

Secondly, I would place cash in treasury notes and safe bonds like utilities. For the remainder of my portfolio, I would keep cash in euros, Swiss francs, and dollars. Nothing is perfect, but a balanced portfolio in safe haven allocations will help ride out the economic storm and keep your family warm and dry during the deluge yet to come.

—Moshe Malamud, serial entrepreneur, former owner of The Franklin Mint, and founder of the private jet service M2Jets; follow M2Jets on Instagram

7. Grow your business’s savings account and then buy real estate assets whenever it gets big enough.

Businesses don’t go bankrupt because they aren’t profitable; they go bankrupt when they run out of cash. I set aside cash for our company to help prepare for unforeseen circumstances. In personal finance, most financial advisors will recommend having at least three months of emergency funds. But many small businesses that I’ve worked with don’t have the systematic discipline to set aside three months of operating expenses in cash. At our company, we have three separate savings accounts that I set aside a portion of money to go into every week automatically.

After a certain amount of profits are made in our company, I diversify it with real estate. However, not all real estate deals are created equal. You must be able to carefully discern whether your real estate property is a liability or an asset. I’m interested in diversifying business profits into assets. For example, our company is finalizing the purchase of a commercial building. The building is twice the amount of space we currently occupy. At the end of the year, with this purchase, I’ll end up paying about the same monthly amount toward owning an asset, as opposed to just paying rent. Furthermore, we’ll have additional space to potentially rent out to increase cash flow if we decide to.

Tom Shieh, CEO of Crimcheck

8. Stockpile cash for your fire-sale shopping spree.

I always encourage entrepreneurs to build a black swan fund. If there was a sudden market pullback, wouldn’t it be amazing if you had allocated cash sitting ready to buy assets at fire-sale prices?

I even go as granular as writing my fire-sale wish list. For example: “If Apple ever drops below $25 a share again, I’m going to buy and hold,” or, “If that Jackson Hole ranch I’ve always wanted drops to $2.5 million, I am going to buy it.” This gives me the market courage based on strategic decisions that I’ve already made, instead of being driven by fear or greed of the current market cycle.

Sharran Srivatsaa, angel investor and president of brokerage (western region) at Douglas Elliman; grew Teles Properties 10X in five years

9. Get very specific about real estate.

If you’re an entrepreneur in the real estate game, you better think long and hard about which segment of real estate you want to own. What will easily survive the next downturn or rate hike? We are currently trimming our portfolio of everything except one-off residential properties such as single-family homes, townhouses, condos, or two flats. Anything else can put you out of business.

Community shopping centers with salons, dentists, or ground lease restaurants will survive. Otherwise, everything is being delivered to your doorstep. Industrial, office, big box retail, and even multifamily are risky investments at this stage in the cycle. They are purely rate- and yield-driven. Rarely is there much intrinsic value in these asset classes.

Buy a house, condo, or townhouse and rent it out. Everyone always needs somewhere to live.

Ken Lebovic, president of North Shore Holdings; built a real estate empire acquiring thousands of properties in 20 years with no equity partners

10. Adapt your products and services and build more revenue streams.

When times get tough, look closer at your existing business for additional ways to make money from what you’ve built. Too many entrepreneurs leave millions on the table by not thinking about what else they can offer.

A few years ago, when revenue was dipping, a mentor asked me what I was doing to maximize it. I was only focused on our front-end sales but realized we could create an outbound department to reach people who didn’t buy and to reach existing customers who hadn’t purchased in a while. We created a monthly newsletter with great information about health and wellness. We started “The Alden Report” podcast. We offered services to marketers. All the foundations were there; I just wasn’t looking hard enough.

Also offer products and services that complement your primary offering. We spoke with our customers and realized that some of our other products complemented our primary one.

Michael Aldenbestselling author and CEO of CloiXonné

11. Invest in the essentials, your customers, and other countries.

Investing can be broken down into two general categories: luxuries and necessities. During difficult economic times, consumers are forced to give up their luxuries to cover their necessities. For instance, humans will always need to take their medications to sustain self-preservation. Investing in essential products yields positive results, even during harsh economic times.

Investing in your customers is another fantastic way to overcome an economic decline. My mentality is when my customers succeed, I succeed.

Invest internationally to diversify your portfolio. It promotes stability and reduces overall loss. Despite the global economy being interconnected, every economy is unique and relatively independent. A poor-performing sector of the U.S. economy doesn’t necessarily carry over into Europe. Having an international portfolio within a specific industry will likely keep you afloat if one country’s market takes a dip.

Jonathan Gilinski, serial entrepreneur, executive director of CapsCanada, and founder of Capsuline; connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn

EDITOR’S NOTE: Investing of any type involves risk and therefore there is potential for losing money. Before investing, seek advice from a professional financial advisor.

The Oracles, Content Provider

A brain trust of high-level entrepreneurs

Want to share your insights like those above in a future column? If you’re an experienced entrepreneur, please get in touch here.

Want to suggest a future topic for these entrepreneurs to answer? Email suggestion@theoracles.com, and it’s very possible we’ll make your suggestion the focus of a future article!

Follow The Oracles on Facebook.

10 Big Lessons from Must-See Movies for Entrepreneurs

Screen stories that inspired success

The Oracles

From setup and rising conflict to the crisis and ultimate resolution, movies mirror our personal journeys in life and business. These top entrepreneurs and members of The Oracles share the movie moments that inspired them to fulfill their greatest aspirations.

1. Be the hero.

I’ve seen “Armageddon” probably 12 times. Each time I cried. When Bruce Willis decides to sacrifice himself and detonate a thermonuclear bomb inside an asteroid, I say to myself: “I want to be a hero.”

Action always trumps talk. If you want to be a hero, you’ll have to do the hard things. You don’t have to die to be a hero; it may just be doing whatever it takes to increase your income and give your family a better life. Heroes do things that others won’t!

Grant Cardone, top sales expert who has built a $500-million real estate empire, and NYT-bestselling author of “Be Obsessed or Be Average”; follow Grant on Facebook or YouTube

2. Wake up.

“The Matrix” inspired my great interest in the study of consciousness, mental development, and how emergent technology will impact what it means to be human in the future.

In a classic scene, Morpheus’ red pill would wake Neo up with knowledge of the “real reality,” free of illusions. The blue pill would keep Neo ignorant but blissful in his old belief system and mundane life experience. Neo takes the red pill. Once awakened, he can’t conceive of going back to ignorant sleep.

Since becoming a student of meditation in 1985, I’ve had experiences similar to this “awakening” metaphor. It’s now evident to me that we can live in more than one reality: an outer reality perceived by the senses and an inner reality perceived by intuition and spiritual insight. The inner reality can profoundly shape the outerbut only if we “take the red pill” of mental training and spiritual development.

Mark Divine, retired U.S. Navy SEAL commander, founder of SEALFIT and NYT/WSJ bestselling author; follow SEALFIT on YouTubeFacebook, or Instagram

3. Have a mentor.

Without a doubt, the movie that most changed my life was “The Karate Kid.” We can all relate to the young kid, Daniel, who has big hopes and dreams, spirit and energy but has no roadmap. Then he bumps into Mr. Miyagi, who becomes an unlikely mentor. His mentor pushes him inunconventional ways that test him.

While Daniel at first doesn’t see the value of menial chores like waxing cars and painting fences, they translate when Daniel has to defend himself. Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel the power of simplicity with his basic advice, “Trust the quality of what you know, not that quantity.”

I think all of us need to a Mr. Miyagi in our lives. After all, life lessons can come to you from unexpected sources, like the maintenance man.

Tai Lopez, investor and advisor to many multimillion-dollar businesses, who has built an eight-figure online empire; connect with Tai on SnapchatFacebookInstagram, or YouTube

4. Always be closing.

Whether you’re working the register at Kohl’s, selling cars, or a stay-at-home parent, everyone should remember that timeless phrase from “Glenngary Glenn Ross”: “Always be closing.”

I was recently at Kohl’s buying my daughter a pair of shoes for her Halloween costume. At the checkout line, the introverted, somewhat socially awkward kid noticed my “Game of Thrones” t-shirt. He commented on it and built instant rapport with me.

Processing my items, he asked if I wanted to open a credit account. I declined. He then explained all the benefits, and I declined again. He continued to bag my items before asking if I’d take a survey. I finally agreed. He then asked for my phone number and pulled up the survey site. “Right now?” I asked. “Yes,” he replied. As a salesperson, I loved the whole experience and kept agreeing to his requests.

Kudos to the Kohl’s training staff and clerk who served me. They extracted key data from me; the clerk benefited by meeting a quota and ultimately closed me on something.

Michael Aldenbestselling author and CEO of CloiXonné

5. Spend time with your family.

I’ve loved movies all my life, and many have shaped my mindset and decision-making processes. However, “The Godfather” series really added value to my life, particularly Don Corleone’s line: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Despite running my companies and trying to save the world, that line taught me to spend more time with my family.

Another great movie is “Guru,” India’s richest rags to riches story of the tycoon, Dhirubhai Ambani. He went from dropout to the richest man in a country of 1.2 billion people. It showed me that if you believe in your dreams, you can achieve them regardless of circumstance.

— Com Mirza, “The $500 Million Man” and CEO of Mirza Holdings; failed in eight companies back to back and today, runs a nine-figure empire with over 600 employees

6. Find your huckleberry.

One of my favorite movies is the 1993 cult classic, “Tombstone.” My favorite quote from the movie is when Doc Holliday (played by Val Kilmer) slurs to his enemy Johnny Ringo, “I’m your huckleberry.”This saying was common in the South at the time. It meant: “Name the place and I’ll go with you,” “Name the job and I can do it,” or, “I’m your man.”

The takeaway is that Doc Holliday was part of a team who shared a goal to bring law and order to Tombstone, Ariz. Johnny Ringo and his lawless gang stood in the way. Doc had tuberculosis and was very sick but completely committed to the cause and his team. Ultimately, he put the mission ahead of his health and went after Johnny Ringo. No excuses.

When I put a team together, I always look for players that are all in, like Doc. I choose people who are passionate. They’re committed. No Machiavellians allowed. These are tough individuals to find and hire, but they exist. Surround yourself with these kinds of team players who will stand beside you in battle. They’ll become “your huckleberries.”

Peter Hernandez, president of brokerage (California) at Douglas Elliman; co-founder of Teles Properties

7. Invest in loyalty.

The best relationships, both at work and at home, require the greatest of character traits: loyalty. With important relationships, the key is to have quality over quantity.

“I’d rather have one friend as loyal as Doc Holliday than 100 friends that don’t know what loyalty is.” This Wyatt Earp quote from “Tombstone” is a simple yet profound quote about the importance of significant relationships.

Trusted friendships that have intimacy and depth are the mainstays of creating a successful life. This applies to work friendships and non-work friendships alike. Remember this battle-tested life lesson of loyalty: find your Doc Hollidays and invest wisely in those friends.

Joe Kakaty, co-founder and president of Poker Central

8. Trust your intuition.

Although the movie “Heat” is about bank robberies, a core theme is work and professionalism. When offered the chance to attempt one highly risky last heist or walk away on top, the character played by Tom Sizemore responds: “For me, the action is the juice  I’m in.”

This quote can be applied in multiple ways in business or life: cut your losses when something becomes too complicated or choose a line of work that sets you on fire with excitement.

Joshua Harris, founder of Quantum Jump Consulting; started first business at 12 and now teaches entrepreneurs how to start and grow a digital marketing business from scratch

9. Have heart and persistence.

The movie “Erin Brockovich” impacted my mindset big time. One woman with heart and persistence takes down an entire company filled with people who were thought to be smarter, more educated, and more “valuable” to society than her.

The real difference between Brockovich and her adversaries had nothing to do with education or training. It had everything to do with her passion for justice, which prevailed over the obstacles in her way. Whenever I feel overwhelmed with a case, I remember the way to win is through persistence and heart.

—Nafisé Nina Hodjat, founder and managing attorney of The SLS Firm

10. Never ever give up.

This scene from “The Pursuit of Happyness” was game changing for me: “Don’t ever let somebody tell you… You can’t do something. Not even me… You got a dream… You gotta protect it. People can’t do somethin’ themselves, they wanna tell you ‘you can’t do it.’ If you want somethin’, go get it. Period.”

The biographical drama is based on entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s one-year struggle with homelessness in the 1980s while raising his son. Motivated by his fierce commitment to his dream and duty to his son, Chris doesn’t take no for an answer.

Chris’s story taught me to never ever quit! When you pursue your big dream, everybody will tell you that your idea is bad and can never happen. You gotta prove them all wrong. Better to try and fail than to never try!

Steve Griggsfounder and CEO of Steve Griggs DesignNYCs premier landscape designer transforming backyardsand rooftop gardens into private getaways

The Oracles, Content Provider

A brain trust of high-level entrepreneurs

Want to suggest a future topic for these entrepreneurs to answer? Email suggestion@theoracles.com and it’s very possible we’ll make your suggestion the focus of a future article!

Follow The Oracles on Facebook.

Originally published on Entrepreneur.com. ©2017 by Entrepreneur Media, Inc. All rights reserved.