Serious Business, the annual conference put on by Neill Corporation, the brainchild of Debra Neill Baker and Carol Augusto, is always a source of inspiration and education. Serious Business helps my thinking and my feeling – and Serious Business is always surprising. This year’s theme, “Will you?” poses the hard question: Will you do what it takes to become the person you want to be?”
Today I learned from a 15-year old, Caleb Maddix. I feel like I should write “I learned from Caleb Maddix.” But I can’t get over the fact that he is 15. What was I doing when I was 15? I was not a published author. I was not standing up on stage in front of 3,000 people to motivate them, encourage them, stimulate them, make them laugh.
Maddix shared his five rules of success:
- I am anti-gun.
- I refuse to be average.
- I am obsessed.
- I provide value.
- I give my face off
He reminded me of essential truths.
- Don’t say you’re “gunna” do something; just do it.
- What is the benefit of a second place trophy? Trash that trophy. Aim to be the best, and only the best. Average is for suckers.
- Your life is sales. Be obsessed with sales.
- Be obsessed with gratitude. Aim to never complain.
- If you open doors for people (figuratively and literally), they will open doors for you. Embrace manners and reciprocity.
- Be obsessed with personal growth. Read and learn. “The more you learn, the more you earn.”
- You can’t get a $1M income by providing $100 value.
- A penny you give feels better than any penny you make
As I work to make 2017 my best year ever, these reminders could not be more timely. Thank you Caleb!
