Alex Hormozi, Founder of Acquisition.com sold one of his other companies, Gym Launch, for $46.2 million. Today, let’s take a minute to learn from someone who’s gone before us in business (very successfully I might add).
And, per usual, these lessons apply to founders, leaders, CEOs, and Force Multipliers and executive support professionals.
Here are the 7 lessons that Alex said he HAD to learn the hard way:
1. Nobody knows you exist. You need to advertise more.
No brainer for business owners. But if you’re working on building your career, don’t forget to also build your personal brand. No one will advocate for you quite like you!
2. Be willing to repeat yourself. People need to be reminded more than they need to be taught.
Casting the vision (the same vision) consistently and often is the name of the game for leaders. Force Multipliers, you too, will have to often reinforce best practices, your leader’s vision, company strategy, and more. And, I mean, if your message, product, or service is valuable and high impact, keep repeating it to new people in order to grow!
3. The proof you have from happy customers is way more convincing than any promise you can make in your marketing. Get testimonials and use them often.
Reviews and customer success stories are so important for businesses. Employees, don’t forget to keep your own file of wins and notable moments from colleagues, customers, and key stakeholders. And, don’t forget about those LinkedIn recommendations!
4. Raising prices almost always makes you more money, but you’ll hear no more often, and that’s ok.
Go for no. Entrepreneurs, this goes for your company’s products and services offerings. And, Force Multipliers, this applies to promotions and raises. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
5. Your business is never too big for you to spend time talking directly to your customers.
Force Multipliers, carve out some time on your leader’s calendar for them to meet with customers regularly. It helps them (and you) keep a pulse on the business. Don’t forget to talk to team members regularly too (they are also your “customers”!).
6. Before you chase something new, do 10x more of what already works.
Those visionary leaders do love their shiny objects! I know, I’m guilty of it too! But, success comes from mastering boredom and doing the right things consistently (and then perhaps intensely) before moving on. If founders need a reminder of this from time to time, Force Multipliers, this is your time to lead up.
7. Growth is stressful, stagnation is stressful, and decline is stressful. Business is stressful. There’s nothing wrong with you. You don’t need to change anything. You need to learn to endure.
Choose your hard.
What lessons have you learned the hard way? Hit reply and let me know. After all, we either win or we learn. And both help us grow!
– Hallie
Weekly Top 5
- 2024 is winding down, the holiday season is upon us, and before you know it, you’re going to start getting those emails that say, “Let’s circle back after the new year.” But wait! You still have plenty of time to close the loops on projects and make shit happen. Check out The Guardian’s 100 tiny tricks for ideas and inspiration to get more organized and streamline your life.
- Over the past decade or so, Jenna Kutcher, podcaster, author, CEO, and online educator, built a multi-million dollar empire. Needless to say, she knows a thing or two about building an audience, creating content, and turning that into recurring revenue streams. Read on for the 5 things Jenna would do first if she were starting her business over. The resounding message? Keep it simple!
- In my opinion, we can usually learn a lot more from a leader’s (or company’s) mistakes than we can from their successes. Scribe Media is a great example of this. Scribe was on top of the publishing world in 2021, the founders left in 2022, and by May 2023 it was bankrupt and collapsing. However, the recovery process and how new leadership, led by CEO Eric Jorgenson, has stepped up with transparency and care, has been really amazing to watch. Founder, Tucker Max, shares all here.
- Curiosity is a superpower. I think it’s what sets great leaders and Force Multipliers apart. Curiosity allows you to engage in open and honest conversations, to learn from those around you, and to ask impactful questions that may just change the trajectory of your organization or someone’s life. Read more about the 3 powers of curiosity from Jay Papasan, co-author of The ONE Thing. And the next time you get ready to jump in with an answer, consider asking a question instead.
- “Greatness happens when the person with the wild imagination collaborates with the person who knows how to get things done.” Simon Sinek tells us to start with why, which is where a visionary leader usually thrives. But, an idea without execution is just that, an idea. To make turn that vision into reality, leaders must partner with someone who can figure out the what and the how. Enter the Force Multiplier. The leader/Force Multiplier partnership – where 1+1 = 10X!
Owning Your Career
I’m about to get on my soapbox. *Ahem* Here goes.
I often see Executive Assistants and Force Multipliers struggle with the idea of investing in their own professional development—especially when their company doesn’t foot the bill or when it doesn’t seem to directly impact their current role. But this kind of thinking is too short-sighted. Here’s why:
We have long careers ahead of us. In a typical working period of 50 years, 24% of our time will be spent working. But no one can afford to become complacent. You likely won’t be in your current position for the rest of your career. The responsibility to prepare for the next opportunity lies with you—not your employer. To stay competitive, we need to continually expand our knowledge, embrace technology, develop our leadership skills, and more! This is your responsibility, not someone else’s.
The job market is unpredictable, and job security is largely an illusion. However, you can control your future income, employability, and marketability by taking charge of your career growth.
I often hear people talk about hitting a “growth ceiling,” particularly in the Executive Support profession. But in reality, it’s nearly impossible to hit a ceiling unless you’re leaving your development in someone else’s hands. Take back the power! The only person who can limit your career growth is you.
If you’re not willing to invest in your own career—whether with your time or money—why would your company or leader feel compelled to make an investment? Make it an easy “yes” for them, by taking the initiative and investing in yourself first. To me, this signals that you plan on being successful with or without your company (and it would behoove them to take notice of a high-achiever like you!).
Why am I sharing this? Because sometimes I think we give too much power to our employers. And I want you to build a life, career, and business you love that works for you!
I want you to take the power back and own your career to ensure you are prepared to pivot if you must and to be ready for new opportunities when they come your way. While there are many factors out of our control—like the economy or company decisions—your personal growth and learning are 100% in your hands.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Andy Grove, founder of Intel:
“The sad news is, nobody owes you a career. Your career is literally your business. You own it as a sole proprietor. You have one employee: yourself. You are in competition with millions of similar businesses: millions of other employees all over the world. You need to accept ownership of your career, your skills and the timing of your moves. It is your responsibility to protect this personal business of yours from harm and to position it to benefit from the changes in the environment. Nobody else can do that for you.”
If you’re not sure how to start growing your career or what areas to focus on, hit reply so I can help you figure out your next step.
I’d also love to hear your experiences with continuing education and investing into your career! What is your take on this topic? ou because they believe in your capabilities—now it’s time to show them just how invaluable you can be.
Book of the Week: Know Honesty
I am thrilled to share this new book, Know Honesty: Eliminate the Divide, Become a Masterful Communicator and Connect With Anyoneby Ken Bogard and Grace Gavin.
🔥 Poor communication is one of the biggest challenges for leaders and Force Multipliers. Know Honesty will help you breakthrough your communication challenges and give you a framework to navigate conflict, create meaningful connection, and more!
I also love that co-author Grace Gavin began as an Executive Assistant before becoming the co-founder and Chief of Staff of Know Honesty!
FROM AMAZON – When You Communicate, Do People Hear You?
Poor communication is hurting our relationships, our businesses, and our society. Statistics reveal that the majority of employees and executives attribute communication issues as the main source of workplace tension, stress, and problems. The price tag in terms of lost productivity costs businesses billions of dollars every year. In a globally connected world, we’re experiencing more disconnectedness than ever before.
What if we could eliminate this divide and become masterful communicators, knowing how to connect with anyone?
Authors Ken Bogard and Grace Gavin have invested years in testing, modeling, and refining communication to help people develop the necessary skills to do better together and get what they really want out of life. They share the Six Practices that transform you and your relationships.
Discover how to:
- Identify what stands between you and your next biggest breakthrough—personally and professionally.
- Navigate any conflict or challenge with greater ease.
- Create unbreakable bonds that enhance performance, productivity, and belonging.
We’re moving faster by the minute, and our relationships must keep pace.
It’s time to change how the world communicates—starting with you today!
