Pay the Price to Move Forward
I am always focused on moving forward in life, and I learned early that you pay the price for every level you reach. I believe that every day we should be preparing for what is coming. At 17, I started reading books, some spiritual and others about motivation and leadership. My parents were always reading, and that contributed to their success. When I started leading in my family’s business, I went deep into leadership and personal development books, because I knew I wanted to lead something big and have teams under my responsibility.
Do everything in front of you with excellence
One tip I would give especially to millennials, the ones who are just starting out in the workforce, is to do everything in front of you with excellence. One of my mantras is, “Give it your best!” Do not just do a good job. Do everything with excellence. If you are already in the workforce, make yourself indispensable. Have goals and dreams about where you want to go, but remember that you have to start somewhere. Waiting for a better position before you fully commit will only delay your success.
What does it mean to pay the price?
There is always a process to reaching new levels of success in every area of your life. When people tell me they are searching for their purpose, I tell them, “Look at what is right in front of you.” The place where you are now is something you need to experience in order to get where you want to be in the future. Doing the work, big or small, points your life toward your passions and your purpose. Do not underestimate the small things, because they will carry you to great accomplishments.
From cleaning offices at night to Senior Vice President
I started out cleaning offices after hours just to try to get ahead. I remember how I sometimes disliked it, but I stuck with it until I had enough money from another job to leave that role. Later in life, as I grew within the company, I became a director. I paid the price in that position until I was ready to step into the vice president role. My brother told me I needed to know every leader in the company and understand how each department worked. At first I thought, “You have got to be kidding me!” But of course I did exactly what was needed. I paid the price to move forward.
Looking back, I learned so much, and those valuable experiences helped me keep going. Today I am the Senior Vice President of Columbia Southern University and the CEO of Waldorf University. I never imagined I would be in the positions I hold today. Walking through the processes of life, taking jobs that were not my favorite, and learning everything I could prepared me for my future.
Remember to stand out today. Do not wait three years to start. Read books on leadership so that when you are promoted, you are prepared to handle whatever comes next. I always try to stay 10 to 15 years ahead of my age, gaining new knowledge that will prepare me for success. There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you commit yourself and pay the price to get there.
The training where I unpack this process step by step is the Beyond the Basics Masterclass. If you would rather have direct access, that is what the mentorship tracks are for.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to pay the price to move forward?
It means doing the work in front of you with excellence before the title arrives. I cleaned offices after hours, then paid the price as a director learning every department, and that is what prepared me for the vice president role.
How do I find my purpose when my current job is not it?
Look at what is right in front of you. The place where you are now is something you need to experience to get where you want to be. Small work is not wasted work, it points your life toward your passion.
What should I be doing before I get promoted?
Read. I try to stay ten to fifteen years ahead of my age in what I know. Read leadership books now, so that when the promotion comes you are already prepared to handle what comes with it.
Keep reading
You pay the price in every area, not just in the job. These three show the same principle somewhere else.