Week before last I got a sales email that I actually read. Gene Hammett (fast growth business coach) paralleled fast growth companies and fast cars and was clear in what the ask was. To join a small group of fast growth leaders and to race at the Porsche Test Track in Atlanta.Five days later I flew down to Atlanta to join everyone.Gene put together a solid group of entrepreneurs that would gel.He set up an environment for each to share our challenges.And ultimately asked the questions to help each of us get to the root of them.To cap off we had a great experience and adrenaline rush with the Porsche experience team on their test track.We are all headed home with new confidence and definitely a lot of smiles.No matter our challenges VISION fixes all of it.We also had Horst Schultze (Founder of Ritz-Carlton) join us for an hour discussion with his thoughts on leading his team and the stature with Ritz Carlton.Horst was adamantly clear that your VISION dictates everything you do. Purpose drives you to focus towards that vision. "Clearly, you decide where you want to be."Racing a car is like running a successful business - keep your eyes up and ahead (on the vision), what's behind you doesn't matter, stay clear minded, you can always correct little details, just keep improving each lapWho do we need to BE to get to the next level? My answer, "on fire".#inc5000 #porsche #pecatl #ritzcarlton #mindshift
What you thought of success -- is wrong
Success has this persona and everybody wants some.Everyone wants the dream, the end result, the lifestyle. They want to feel accomplished. They want to have built something of value. They want fancy cars and nice houses.But entrepreneurship sucks.What most don't realize and aren't ready for - is the work. Success isn't easy. There is no instant success and it doesn't happen overnight. There is ONLY hard work. Every minute has to count. Put in the work. Most won't make it, can't make it.Most people don't want to give up what they have today -- friends, a decent job, free weekends -- to strive for a bigger tomorrow.Some days, success will drop kick you and then when you are on the ground, punch you again.
What it takes to be successful, a six year case study
Six years ago, we officially inked and opened LeadingIT. I posted this picture then, buying six cases of energy drinks as I prepped to work my butt off. That first year the only thing I knew was that it takes HUSTLE, a lot of it, to build something successful.I would get up and work only stopping for meals and then get back to it until I went to bed. Sometimes 7 days week, sometimes 60 or 80 hours a week. The only thing I knew was to WORK HARD because I knew what I wanted--something different. I had no social life then, I lost friends and relationships. I didn't get out much. It was this way for about three or four years. But you SACRIFICE.Back then I had to do anything to make a buck, I'd drive an hour an half to your grandmas house to fix her computer for $50. You work hard, you get out in front of as many people as you can and tell them your story. You show them how you can solve a problem for them.Now we've grown to provide the best tech support to Chicagoland businesses. Our awesome fun hard working TEAM of 11 is supporting over 2500 people at our 80+ clients all day every day. Wow! Back in 2010 I couldn't have imagined that, but we will continue growing.A lot of people see me now and see what I am able to do now because of the success, because of the AMAZING team we have and the amazing work we do for our clients. This picture even reminds me of what it takes to "get there" and that is a "metric sh*t ton" of hard work. So here's to MORE years at LeadingIT, more great team members, taking care of more clients and giving more back to our community in Crystal Lake. And to being DIFFERENT - being a crazy determined wild eyed entrepreneur, with NEW ideas to come!