Lately, several friends and clients have told me they’re thinking about taking a new job, and a few are eyeing a promotion.
And that’s great. Ambition is good. Growth is good.
But in several of those conversations, it became clear they hadn’t fully thought it through.
They hadn’t considered what the new job would cost.
Not just in terms of time, energy, or pressure—but in real-life changes. The late nights. The long travel. The sacrifice of weekends. The stress it might place on a marriage or family.
Some were okay with that. They were ready. Others weren’t.
Here’s the thing.
You can have almost anything you want in life—if you’re willing to pay the price.
I’ve heard musicians use this example. Someone sees a pianist perform and says, “I wish I could play like that.”
Unless there’s a physical limitation, the answer is simple: You can.
- Get a teacher.
- Practice for several hours a day.
- Do that for a decade.
Eventually, you’ll be able to play like that. Maybe not at a world-class level, but well enough to make people sit up and listen.
It’s not about talent. It’s about commitment.
Wishing doesn’t make it so.
I’ve had people come up to me after a keynote and say, “I’d love to be a professional speaker.”
That’s great. Truly. But are you willing to do what it takes?
Because here’s what it took for me:
- Reading 100+ business books a year.
- Traveling 200+ days a year.
- Writing articles, newsletters, books, and more books.
- Spending hours watching other speakers and analyzing their techniques.
- Building frameworks. Crafting tools. Refining every slide.
And I’ve done that not for weeks or months—but for 31 years.
That’s the price.
And once you get on stage, you’re still not there. It takes even more time and consistency to become recognized as an expert.
It’s not impossible.
It’s just not easy.
The same is true in any field. Sales. Engineering. Writing. Leadership.
To become an expert, you must be determined, patient, and consistent.
- You must work.
- You must sacrifice.
- You must be relentless in pursuit of your goals.
But if you love it, it’s worth every second.
Because success—real success—is never given.
It’s earned. One choice, one hour, one day at a time.
2025 is already underway, and this video is here to help you make it a standout year. In it, I share six key insights about what you should focus on that will have a strong positive impact on your organization. Six important ideas to make you more successful.
I’m confident you’ll find it valuable.
