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Episode 99: 5 Bonus Master Success Strategies, with Stephen Woessner.

Published: Oct. 28, 2015, 8 a.m.

Stephen is the CEO of Predictive ROI and host of the Onward Nation podcast. He is the author of two bestselling books, speaker, trainer, and his digital marketing insights have been featured in SUCCESS, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and other media.

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Good Morning Onward Nation\u2026Stephen Woessner here.

Last week, in episode 93, I shared that after 20+ years of owning five companies, and having an opportunity to work with and interview some of today\u2019s top business owners here on Onward Nation, I\u2019ve noticed 12 reoccurring themes \u2013 or Master Success Strategies of today\u2019s top business owners \u2014 that come up over and over again because they have contributed to the success of our amazing and incredible guests at Onward Nation.

I shared 5 of the master success strategies as well as some of the key insights learned from our first 99 guests along this great journey that has been Onward Nation.

Wow\u2026I am still getting used to the fact that tomorrow will be episode 100.

100 went by so quickly \u2014 and we are just getting started, Onward Nation! There is so much more to come.

The feedback after sharing five of the success strategies was awesome \u2014 that the solocast was a helpful resource.

And speaking of resources\u2026did you download our 12 Success Strategies of Today\u2019s Top Business Owners eBook? If not\u2026why not?

You can still download it here.

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For today\u2019s solocast\u2026I selected 5 more of the 12 master success strategies \u2014 and we are going to do a deep dive.

So that when we are done with today\u2019s episode, you will have last week\u2019s solocast to pair up with today\u2019s, and you will have deep dives into 10 of the 12 strategies.

Plus, the eBook we created for you contains all 12 success strategies.

But\u2026before we dig into today\u2019s 5 strategies\u2026I owe you and everyone in Onward Nation a very big thank you.

If you are listening to your first-ever Onward Nation episode \u2014 I want to say thank you \u2014 and let you know how much it means to me that you decided to share your precious time with the ever-growing Onward Nation\u2026today.

Look, I know there are lots of excellent podcasts you can choose from \u2014 and I am grateful you chose to be here\u2026right now.

And if you have been listening to Onward Nation for a while now\u2026you may already know how I feel about the sacredness of your time.

We all have the same 86,400 seconds in a day \u2014 and I consider you being here \u2014 in this moment \u2014 right now \u2014 to be a sacred exchange of time and value.

You are generously giving me your precious time \u2014 and in exchange \u2014 right now \u2014 I have to be at my best to deliver the value you expect.

I know that I have to be at that quote \u2013 unquote \u201cnext level\u201d to ensure you come back and continue to listen. So if I am serious about your time being sacred \u2014 then me going all-in and working hard at making this episode excellent is the best way for me to express my gratitude for you being here.

And at any point \u2014 if you think I\u2019m missing the mark \u2014 or \u2014 if I shared something helpful to you and your business \u2014 please let me know. I love feedback because it is the only way for me to get better.

My email address is stephen @ onwardnation.com \u2014 and yep \u2014 that is my actual email address.

No fancy filters. You send me an email and it will come right to my Inbox. I answer every single email.

So please let me know \u2014 any time \u2014 thumbs up or thumbs down. Deal?

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Okay, Onward Nation\u2026here we go\u2026a deep dive into 5 bonus master success strategies from today\u2019s top business owners.

Some of the strategies are simple and will only take a minute or two to cover, which also makes them easy to put into practice inside your business.

But there are also several strategies that will require a deeper explanation. I will guide you through the step-by-step to putting each strategy into practice.

And I\u2019m also going to share the links to some of my favorite resources with you in today\u2019s Show Notes.

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Let\u2019s dive into Strategy #4. Look for feedback

Onward Nation\u2026you will find success by looking for constructive feedback. All the time.

The relentless pursuit of feedback as Joel Boggess, my guest during episode 4 of Onward Nation described.

You must swallow your pride. You have to set your ego aside and then recognize that getting better is a process.

As Vince Lombardi said, \u201cThe man on top of the mountain didn\u2019t fall there.\u201d

And the only way to climb that mountain is to push your way up the side of the mountain \u2014 one step at a time. To conquer your fear of criticism.

Because it is the fear of criticism that keeps you \u2014 that prevents you from asking for feedback. Fear prevents you from getting real \u2014 getting honest with yourself \u2014 getting honest with your performance \u2014 and getting honest with your scorecard.

Looking for feedback takes guts, Onward Nation.

It takes guts to seek out and listen to feedback. It is the only way to improve what is otherwise unknown.

The relentless pursuit of feedback is not about seeking out compliments \u2014 it rests solely on seeking out how to get better.

You cannot get to that next level \u2014 to move onward to that next level \u2014 until you start asking those who you currently serve \u2014 how you can get better \u2014 how you can do better for them \u2014 how you can deliver more value to them.

Feedback is a critical ingredient for your entrepreneurial recipe.

So what is the process to look for feedback?

First\u2026you need to surround yourself with mentors, books, training resources, and a trusted network of advisors. They will be invaluable to you in sharing the feedback you need to grow.

Second\u2026Onward Nation\u2026you need to have the guts to ask customers

Third\u2026you need to ignore the fear of criticism.

Fear is self-imposed. You are the one who creates it.

Fear doesn\u2019t actually exist but in your own mind. So don\u2019t let fear keep you from asking for feedback, Onward Nation.

You already know that owning a business is not always pretty \u2014 but everyone has to start somewhere \u2014 so don\u2019t compare yourself to others who have been doing it longer than you.

Cody Foster, my guest on episode 80 of Onward Nation taught me that very powerful lesson. I was in Topeka spending some time with Cody and his team at Advisors Excel and one night at Cody\u2019s house he shared some stories from the early days of Advisors Excel \u2014 what it was like when there were only the three co-founders\u2026and how they grew the business\u2026and now\u2026to look at Advisors Excel\u2026it\u2019s a multi-billion company with 350 employees and a 100,000 square foot office \u2014 and then compare their \u201cfront-of-stage\u201d with your \u201cback-of-stage\u201d \u2014 or your present day reality.

That is not a fair comparison.

Now that doesn\u2019t mean that we shouldn\u2019t seek out and use models of other successful companies to improve our own trajectory.

But to compare your current state with a company that has been doing for 10-years longer than you can destroy the amazing, wonderful, and beautiful things you are presently working on. Comparisons are not feedback.

Instead, look at their path and let that serve as inspiration of what is possible and not a comparison of where you are currently at. Don\u2019t turn their path of success somehow into a mirror to see that you are underachieving.

Remember, Onward Nation, \u201cLimits like fears are often just an illusion.\u201d

So go out \u2014 set the fear of criticism aside \u2014 and look for feedback.

Jim Rohn said,

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\u201cIf you help enough people get what they want \u2014 you will get what you want.\u201d
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And the only way you can help them get what they want is by asking them \u2014 look for feedback \u2014 to learn how you can serve \u2014 how you can give.

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Let\u2019s keep that momentum of giving going\u2026because strategy #6 is Give until there is nothing left

Have you watched the movie \u201cPumping Iron\u201d starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno?

It\u2019s more than a movie, Onward Nation \u2014 it\u2019s more like a powerful documentary \u2014 an illustration of what it is like to give and give and give until there is nothing left \u2014 and just when you think you cannot give any more toward the pursuit of your dream \u2014 you reach down deep \u2014 and you find a way to give just a bit more.

I\u2019ve studied the sport of bodybuilding and Arnold is the only competitor I have ever heard describe the intensity of his workouts to where he would push, and push, and push until he literally vomited in a trash can at the gym.

So he would sit and rest for a few minutes. Then he would get up and get back to work. Right back at it.

What was the result outcome for Arnold after all that intensity?

He won the Mr. Olympia competition 6 times in a row.

Then he took 5-years off from bodybuilding \u2014 but surprised the sport when he came back in 1980 and won the title again \u2014 just to show he could and that he was still the best. Even after taking 5-years off.

Shane Stott, my guest for episode 8 of Onward Nation, said to me,

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\u201cStephen, the only way a successful individual will get off the entrepreneurial treadmill is when they fall to the floor dead.\u201d
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You, Onward Nation, have to be that committed to your treadmill \u2014 that committed to your success.

There is no such thing as an overnight success. \xa0You have to willing to conquer the twist and turns through faith \u2014 the faith in knowing you are on the right path \u2014 and that you will not change course.

As John Lee Dumas said in episode 38\u2026you need to F.O.C.U.S\u2026which stands for Follow One Course Until Success, Onward Nation.

So don\u2019t think small when you CAN and SHOULD think BIG!

I am going to link in the Show Notes one of the best motivational videos that I have ever watched. I have listened to it hundreds of times. I shared it with Shane Stott a couple of years ago and he converted it into an MP3 file and now listens to it every morning on his drive to work. It is part of his pre-work morning ritual.

Watch the video \u2014 listen to the message \u2014 and when you do \u2014 ask yourself this question\u2026\u201cHave I given all that I can give toward being successful?\u201d

I guarantee that your answer \u2014 if you are honest with yourself \u2014 is no \u2014 there is still more you can give.

You still have more, Onward Nation! You are well able to give more and become more.

How Bad Do you Want to Succeed Motivational Speech

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And now I will move to strategy #7: Eliminate distractions and then DO IT!

In episode 9, Afraa Zammam \u2014 who joined me on Onward Nation from her office in the countryside outside of Berlin, Germany \u2014 said to me,

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\u201cStephen, you must get rid of any distractions in your environment \u2014 because distractions aren\u2019t just wasting your time \u2014 they are diminishing \u2014 they are wasting away your ability to accomplish your goals.\u201d
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Here\u2019s the reality\u2026if you are spending an hour checking Facebook every day \u2014 or Twitter \u2014 or watching 40-hours of TV each week (which is the average of the US population by the way) \u2014 if that is what you\u2019re doing \u2014 you are not only distracted \u2014 but you are investing heavily toward your failure \u2014 versus investing heavily toward your success!

You must eliminate the distractions and sometimes the distractions are not Facebook, Twitter, or putting a better time management system into place.

Sometimes the greatest distractions are people on your team who are not moving at the pace and tempo you need them to.

Remember Onward Nation, \u201cYou are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.\u201d Wise words from Jim Rohn.

So release the non-performers \u2014 they are a distraction to you and your team of A Players. And by releasing them\u2026you will empower your A Players to perform at the level they want to.

Now, once you eliminate the distractions \u2014 you need to stop making excuses and get back to the business of hard work by putting your mind to the task at the hand\u2026and just do it.

If you want a great resource on excuses\u2026flip to page 189 of Think & Grow Rich and you will find a list of 57 excuses that we all tell ourselves every day \u2014 and those excuses are robbing you, Onward Nation of your future.

Excuses like:

If I had the money to invest
If I had a good education
If I only had the time
If other people understood me
If conditions around me were only different
If I could only do what I want
If I could meet the right people
If I could just get a break

And the list goes on. There are 57 of them.

Read the list \u2014 study the list \u2014 and then don\u2019t let yourself use those excuses. You are better than that, Onward Nation.

In this section of today\u2019s Show Notes\u2026I am also going to include a link to another resource \u2014 a well-known speech by Art Williams, entitled Just Do It.

Art\u2019s words will make you laugh and he may even call you on the carpet in a few areas because his words might expose some of the excuses you have been telling yourself. And how you have allowed yourself to become distracted.

Watch it. Study it. You will be glad you did.

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Okay, Onward Nation\u2026 2 more strategies to go\u2026let\u2019s power through\u2026now on to Strategy #10: Decide if this is right for you

Marianne Williamson said\u2026

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\u201cOur deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.\u201d
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Onward Nation, there will be days when you question your sanity for doing what you are doing. Today may be one of those days for you.

The first step to you being successful is simply deciding that this is the right thing for you. Is it? Or isn\u2019t? If you are in \u2014 then be all in. Burn the boats \u2014 eliminate any chance of retreat \u2014 and be all in.

And as I learned from Tony Robbins\u2026we all have the power to decide \u2014 to decide to make a radical change. Change doesn\u2019t have to take a long time \u2014 change can happen in an instant when the decision you make is a MUST.

It is completely within our ability to harness the power of decisions that guides our trajectory, Onward Nation.

Does that mean that being successful is as easy as making the decision to be successful?

No, but making that decision \u2014 a true decision \u2014 is the critical first step \u2014 and then you have to work your face off, like Gary Vaynerchuk says\u2026my guest for episode 42 of Onward Nation.

With that said\u2026if you want some insights \u2014 some quotes \u2014 to carry you through the rest of the day\u2026then I have another resource for you. It is an incredible video compilation and I will include it in today\u2019s Show Notes.

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Now, Onward Nation\u2026it is time for the final master success strategy. It is Strategy #11: Do it the right way

Larry Broughton, my guest for episode 18 on Onward Nation taught us much about excellence\u2026perseverance\u2026tenacity\u2026and always working to do the right thing\u2026and not giving up.

You see\u2026Larry spent nine years in the U.S. Army Green Berets where the words \u201cquit\u201d or \u201chalf-way\u201d were not part of the vocabulary. In fact, Larry said to me, \u201cStephen, you have choose to do the hard right over the easy wrong.\u201d An anthem \u2014 a mission \u2014 the Green Berets use every day to guide their work \u2014 their pursuit of excellence.

What a powerful lesson about doing it the right way. The right way is the only way, Onward Nation.

David Mammano, my guest on episode 17 of Onward Nation, believes that success will come to business owners if they stay committed to implementing excellent standards and developing a pristine culture.

So be committed, Onward Nation, to building a culture of greatness within your company.

How?

You need to coach your team on how to do it the right way \u2014 you set the pace \u2014 you must show them how to do it the right way \u2014 how you manage your time with excellence \u2014 but if you suck at those things or are average \u2014 then don\u2019t expect your team to be excellent.

How can you expect them to do it the right way when you don\u2019t do it the right way?

Don\u2019t take shortcuts \u2014 shortcuts will inevitably lead to failure.

Remember, you set the pace\u2026you are the example of excellence in your company\u2026you must be committed to doing it the right way\u2026and if you are\u2026your team will do it the right way and you will succeed at strategy #12.

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Okay, Onward Nation \u2013 I hope those 5 master success strategies shared in this solocast were valuable to you.

Please drop me a line and let me know what you thought. You can share your comments at the bottom of the show notes for this episode \u2013 or \u2013 you can email me anytime at Stephen @ onwardnation.com and yes \u2013 that is my actual email address \u2013 comes directly to me \u2013 no fancy filter, routing, or sorting\u2026comes right to my Inbox.

Feel free to use it anytime.

Let me know\u2026thumbs up or thumbs down?

We will be back tomorrow with episode 100 \u2014 a very special episode \u2014 a special milestone. It is such a privilege to be here with you \u2014 to have been here for 99 episodes \u2014 thank you, Onward Nation.

Until tomorrow\u2026onward with gusto!

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