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đź’°Meet the Man Behind Over $1 Billion in Business
School of Hard Knocks
July 04, 2024
Happy 4th of July, Hard Knocks community! đź’°
In this edition of the School of Hard Knocks newsletter, we met up with one of the most motivating nine-figure entrepreneurs in the country. He shared the concepts that helped change his mindset and propelled him to take action towards success. These same concepts have helped him run over 13 companies that have combined for over a billion dollars in sales.
Today’s Schedule
Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life: Dean Graziosi’s Key Factors To Success in Business & Life
From the Hard Knocks Library: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
In Case You Missed It: Our Podcast With Dean Graziosi
Let's go!🔥
Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life
On our trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, we met up with the legendary Dean Graziosi.
Throughout his career, Dean has owned and operated over 13 businesses which together have done over a billion dollars. Dean has also partnered with Tony Robbins to help others reach their full potential and he's the author of the best-selling book, Millionaire Success Habits: The Gateway to Wealth & Prosperity.
As a child, Dean watched his mother struggle as his parents split up when he was just three years old. His mom worked three jobs to support him and he remembers how exhausted she was. As he approached his teenage years, Dean realized that money was the ticket out of a tough living situation.
When he got older, Dean gained some career momentum through running a collision shop. He also purchased some tow trucks and then got into buying real estate. He started buying up raw land and flipping houses.
Something major shifted in Dean after he listened to Tony Robbins' Personal Power course. He realized that everything happening in his life was meant to make him stronger. He really could change his own state of mind and his personal story.
Dean was so excited about his mind-shift breakthrough that he sent Tony's courses to everyone he cared about. Through this avenue of personal development, people who didn't have a solid mentor in their lives could tap into that wisdom and motivation to take things to the next level.
Tony's courses also made Dean realize that he wanted to get into the same industry. He was eager to come up with his own proven practices to help others succeed, so he went on to create courses on real estate and entrepreneurship.
Dean and Tony Robbins co-created a program called Project Next, which had the largest online product launch in history. Together, their courses reach over 50,000 people in over 150 countries.
Giving back is also extremely important to Dean and he's donated to countless charitable causes. He's raised over a million dollars for organizations like the ALS Association and Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite. In 2007, Dean founded “Operation Free Home," a program that gives people in need a free home to live in for a year so they can get back on their feet.
Dean Graziosi
In our conversation, Dean shared several keys to his success. Here's a recap of his insights and wisdom.
Raise the Bar on Risk
Many people get comfortable in life and even when they're dissatisfied, they don't take risks. The fear of the unknown stops them dead in their tracks. Dean's advice for breaking through is to think of what you're most afraid of and rate it on a scale of 1 to 10.
Dean then says to picture yourself passing away and getting to watch a video of everything you missed out on because you let fear win. Now, rate that same fear with that in mind. Chances are it's way less of a big deal when you put things into perspective. Go out and take the risk!
The Path to Purpose
Finding fulfillment and answering a higher calling, according to Dean, fundamentally relies on faith. This faith isn't confined to religious belief—it's a universal principle that serves as the foundation of a purposeful life.
Tony Robbins illustrates this concept with a simple but great example: when driving, you trust that the cars passing you will stay in their lanes. This faith in the system reflects the kind of trust we need to create in our personal and professional lives.
Faith shows up in many forms, and sometimes, we need to draw strength from the faith others have in us. This borrowed faith can be the spark that empowers us to take risks and bet on ourselves. When we take these leaps of faith, we stay connected to a greater purpose that propels us toward the next level of success and fulfillment.
Faith is the invisible force that drives us forward, helping us navigate uncertainty and align with our true purpose. By embracing faith, we not only enhance our resilience but also unlock new potentials, leading to a more meaningful and impactful entrepreneurial journey.
Relationships, Front and Center
According to Dean, being relationship-centric is a must for entrepreneurs, both in their professional and personal lives. In life, there are givers and takers and people often look at relationships as what the other person can do for them. However, it's better to approach relationships as a reciprocal, two-way street.
Dean says that giving without expecting anything in return is the key to a successful partnership of any kind. He also says that the best relationships he knows are the ones where no one's keeping score. When you give to others without expecting immediate returns, you build a foundation of trust and mutual respect. This approach not only fosters goodwill but also encourages a network of support that can be invaluable in the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.
In essence, placing relationships front and center in your entrepreneurial journey is not just about building a network; it's about creating a community of support and shared success. As Dean puts it, "When you invest in people, you invest in your future."
Scaling the Mountain
Even the best of the best face challenges. Dean helps high level athletes and entrepreneurs overcome hurdles. One of the biggest challenges they face is taking the momentum of scaling and harnessing that energy into building a team. Many people get stuck in the trap of thinking they can do everything themselves, which is detrimental and impossible to do at scale.
Dean's advice for anyone who wants to build an empire is to learn and understand leadership principles, and do it early on. The reality is, we only have 24 hours in a day and you can’t do everything yourself. So without the right structure in place and the right people behind you, growing to that nine figure dream business will be impossible.
Connect with Dean here:
Website: https://www.deangraziosi.com/
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Words of Wisdom
“The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.”
In Case You Missed It
We just dropped a podcast with Dean Graziosi and talked about overcoming struggles, finding mentors, and achieving success. If you enjoyed reading about Dean in our newsletter and want to see more content with him then will be a great watch for you.
Let Us Hear From You
What were your thoughts on todays newsletter? Please reply back with your thoughts or things you would like us to include in future newsletters!