A few years ago at a Producers Club meeting, I interviewed two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman, who was recently called home. I had always wanted to have “Big George” on my stage since hearing him speak back in 2009 about what it takes to be a champion, come back from a major setback and why we should have appreciation for hard work.
At that conference, someone asked him why he continued to work so much now that he had made well over $250 million through the sales of his Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine alone, not counting all his other earnings. At the time he was doing a number of speaking engagements, had a book coming out every year or so, was running a youth center, had made a few TV appearances and was launching a few new products to see if he could strike gold again (one was a cleaning product that never really took off). He was hustlin’. Here’s how George answered, paraphrased from my memory:
“After winning the heavyweight championship the first time, I ended up losing all of my money and was nothing more than a surly, washed-up has-been that nobody wanted to deal with. I got back to fighting because my wife was expecting another child and I needed the money. And I made a promise to God that if I ever got another good job, then I’d never stop working.”
He added that he was grateful and excited to get up every morning when he went to work because he COULD go to work. Working is what a man ought to do. It’s honorable and noble.
That’s a FAR CRY different attitude than most people have about work. It seems like far too many are eager to avoid it altogether. Others want to do just enough to keep the bills paid and no more. Scam artists posing as rich work-from-home tycoons like to show you pictures of them lounging around their pool doing sweet f’ all, bragging about it like it’s some kind of accomplishment. Bull.
George is right: There’s honor in taking on heavy responsibility and doing a hard day’s work.
While I have “Easy” as one of the things to strive for in our mantra of “Keep It R.E.A.L.,” I’m careful to caveat that results come “easy” after putting in the hard work – and that if your strategy is correct, then marketing, client attraction, sales and business-building actually DO get easier. Money comes in faster and in greater amounts, which then makes it easier for you to reinvest back into the business and keep the flywheel turning. It’s far easier for me to make money today with the people, systems and list I’ve built over the last 20 years, but make no mistake – I’m still working.
I believe we are engineered by our maker to work and overcome. To set and achieve meaningful goals. To turn an idea into a useful product. To start a business and invest into its development and profitable growth. Or, if business isn’t your thing, then build something or make something. Doing so gives you pride in yourself that cannot be gotten lying in a hammock.
Work is a reward in and of itself. Mastering a craft. Solving difficult problems. So, if you’re here with me looking for riches with little to no work, sorry, bubba, but you’re in the wrong place. I know we lose a good number of members every month because I haven’t been able to take ALL the work out of marketing, growth and profit creation.
All of what we give them and expect of them is “too much.” Too overwhelming. Too complicated. Too much “stuff” for them to read, watch and implement. They don’t delight in it but recoil.
Don’t be that guy. Lean in. Double down and refocus. Go again. And again. And again, UNTIL. Yes, you’ll get thrown for a loop from time to time, be behind, be forced to half-ass a few things, get buried under things to get done and feel overwhelmed. Take a deep breath and just keep pushing – but also remind yourself that this is how all progress is made.
George Foreman never stopped working, even after making millions—because real success isn’t about taking it easy, it’s about showing up and doing what others won’t. If you’re ready to take full responsibility for your growth and put in the work to build a thriving MSP, then you need to be at IT Sales And Marketing Boot Camp. You’ll walk away with proven strategies to make marketing, sales and business-building easier—but only after putting in the effort. Click here to register now!
