I’ve tried to do that constantly in my life, and I’ve been richly rewarded for it. I work alongside some of the best coaches, trainers, business partners, mentors, and franchise owners in the world. I always try to bring people on board who are smarter than I am – and it’s paid off.
As we continue to build our national network of PropertyGuys.com franchise operators, I often reflect on what makes our top-performing franchisees tick. We studied the best of the best, and here are the 7 secrets of winning we’ve uncovered from this elite group.
1. Winners Know What They Don’t Know
It might sound like a contradiction, but if you know what you don’t know, you can learn it – or find someone who does.
Real ignorance isn’t lack of education – it’s lack of curiosity. The moment you think you know everything… you’re done.
2. Winners Avoid Cynics
There are no successful cynics.
Think about it. Real success – in money, family, happiness, or business – can’t coexist with cynicism. Cynics blame everything except themselves. Winners don’t say things like:
- “I got screwed.”
- “The market is soft.”
- “I never catch a break.”
Those are dead-end statements. Winners understand the world owes them nothing. They seek out what they need without asking for permission.
Cynicism is a refusal to believe. When belief dies, your value – to yourself, your family, and your business – does too, no matter how talented you are.
Winners run fast from cynics – and fire them from their lives.
3. Winners Dive In
Winners don’t dwell on failures.
Business isn’t a marathon – it’s a series of sprints. Most sprints are won the moment the gun goes off. Many people spend time worrying about failure. Winners? They don’t care about failure – because they know they’ll be diving into their next opportunity soon.
4. Winners Don’t Wait for Perfect
Winners focus on what they have – not on what they don’t.
They trust version 1.0 and run with it. They don’t wait for better, cheaper, or faster versions. Winners make the best of what’s in front of them and don’t care what their competitors have in their toolbox.
5. Winners Are Married to Their Profession
I always believed this was important, but it really hit home after hearing Kevin O’Leary, Dragon’s Den star, speak at the Atlantic Dream Festival in my hometown. He said:
“People say life has to have balance. I disagree. When you create a business, you become its slave. There is no Saturday or Sunday. If you doubt you’ll become a slave to your business, you will not become successful. The reason you create partnerships and family is so they have your back while you create wealth.”
To many, his statements sound extreme. But he has 4.2 billion reasons why he’s right.
All successful business owners never stop thinking about their business. It’s embedded in them. They live, breathe, and eat it.
Winners are married to their business – and have amazing support at home.
6. Winners Are Accountable
Winners look in the mirror every day and see the only person responsible for their success.
They don’t blame family, the market, employees, government, or competition.
They hold themselves accountable – and by doing so, they become accountable to their business and their future.
7. Winners Expect to Win
Take Team Canada’s World Junior Hockey team. Since 1977, they’ve won:
- 20 gold medals
- 10 silver medals
- 5 bronze medals (out of 48 total)
They expect to win. Anything less than gold is unacceptable.
Just like the Yankees, Packers, Lakers, or great companies like Apple, Google, and McDonald’s – winning is their standard, not their goal.
Final Thought
If you take just one lesson from this, let it be this:
Refuse to lose. Expect to win.
That’s what I expect from myself.
That’s what I expect from our franchisees at PropertyGuys.com.
Because winners, quite simply, expect to win.
