Achieve your dr
eams!
Most recently I have had more and more interest in how Tomo (my business partner), and I turned and continue to grow Vanguard Global Solutions into the massive success it has quickly become. Without realising it, the pair of us had completely overlooked how well we were doing. With our heads down and working tirelessly, we had missed the big accomplishments, forgetting to relish in each moment, instead looking forward to the next.
In as little as seven months we were coaching and advising some of the world’s biggest organisations and figures across all industries, including the likes of Volkswagen, Manchester United, several financial groups and authorities, the construction industry, large businesses and several professional sporting outfits. We’d been approached by extremely well-known business execs, banking directors and sporting icons, most notably Gareth Southgate, where I was honoured to speak at the Football Writers Awards about his leadership, in front of the nation’s press and finest sporting celebrities. We had been written up in almost all national papers; dubbed by the Times as ‘football’s repair men’, and now face TV, podcasts, interviews and book deals with the UK’s leading names. Celebrities have suddenly become friendly with us, people want to know who we are, and only now are we finally struck by our overwhelming success.
But how? How did two former Royal Marines achieve so much in such little time. Two people who once didn’t know their arse from their elbow, and most definitely in business!
I was hesitant at first to write such an article. I feared it would be perceived as arrogance, or self-praising; a ‘look how good I’m doing’ article based merely upon our own accomplishments. Yet, for me the penny dropped when the Daily Mirror ran an article on myself titled; ‘Former drug addict, turned marine, gets England hooked on togetherness’. I was once a drug fuelled nobody who somehow realised my dreams, found success and continued them into business, driven by a passion to succeed. Something I want to share with others to ensure they also achieve what they so desire.
Twelve years ago, I would never had thought I would be in the position I am in now, a growing business, a bright future and signed with Penguin publishers to write a series of books aimed at inspiring others. It is incredible, and I am truly humbled by my position.
So once again, how?
I sat with a client recently who spoke of their ambitions to grow their business and become a success. Their words were inspiring, and it was fantastic to hear such drive. Though I couldn’t help noticing, and time and time again I hear it, them saying about starting at the bottom and working their way up. Apparently, this is what we should all be doing within our industries. Start at the bottom, then slowly and painfully drag ourselves to the top so we can retire as semi-millionaires at the ripe old age of sixty-eight. Old, tired and grey from countless early mornings spent in hotel lobbies networking, and hours spent repeating our message or sales pitch over and over. Must it really be this way though?
I believe anyone of success should share their knowledge, instead of keeping their cards close to their chest. The art of leadership is to pull someone up with you and inspire others, and we should all be implementing this. I am now more driven than ever to get people thinking bigger, believing in themselves that they too can go grow far quicker than they think, whilst listening and learning from those bolder and older. Never be arrogant, but instead determined, passionate, courageous and tenacious.
Below I have written five simple points that I know have gotten Vanguard, Tomo and myself to where we are. They are five simple life hacks that changed my perspective and drive, and although there is far more available for this list, these I believe are the most important. My pure belief is that anyone can achieve absolutely anything in their life if they are focused, driven and ultimately believe they can succeed. We put a man on the moon, sent objects to the furthest reaches of space, and discovered a new world below our surfaces, as well as many other successes man thought once impossible. So, what is holding you back?
1) Read, Watch, Listen
It’s cliché but grow your knowledge. Read, watch videos and listen to podcasts and audio books centred around your business or ambition. It is a well-known fact that Warren Buffet reads 500 pages a day and Bill Gates reads 50 books a year, as well as many more powerful people doing the same. Is it why they are so successful? Reading must at least play a part.
Instead of music on a run, why not an audio book. Replace Facebook before bed with twenty pages. Stick a motivational YouTube video on in the morning while you shower, or watch a ted talk while you brush your teeth. Simple changes like this suddenly expose you far more to what it is you desire away from just your working hours. It becomes part of your life. You live, breathe and grow your success during your daily rituals.
Watch and listen to others who inspire you and learn from what they do. We have two ears, two eyes and one mouth. Use your eyes and ears far more than your mouth, and ensure you listen to all advice, good or bad.
2) Surround yourself with excellence
You become your environment. You become who you associate with. Ask yourself now, are those you surround yourself with supportive, driven and as dedicated as you. Do they hold you back and put you down when your next innovative idea comes forward? Or do they drive you and support you through all your endeavours. Is this the reason why you are or are not flourishing? Never would I advocate ditching friends. But often it is the company we keep who make us who we are.
Our company has been built by a strong, small, close-knit team who are aggressively focused on making it a success. They believe in the vision and ethos of our business and are the main reasons for why we have flourished. There is never a stupid idea or fear of innovation. We work tightly to ensure we support each other and own the comfort that we can speak out loud to create revolutionary ideas, with the full backing of each other.
Surround yourself with excellence and you too shall be excellent.
3) Be more driven then your enemy
A lesson we have started employing when coaching young entrepreneurs or start ups is a tactic adapted from the military. Whenever on exercise or operations, elite military and infantry organisations would all wake and be on guard before sunrise and go to sleep after sunset; every day. The idea of awakening long before your enemy and going to sleep long after, allows for far greater awareness, protection and security. We would always ensure we owned the upper hand against our foes, doing that extra bit more to ensure we dominated the battle space.
Do exactly this in business, that extra bit more than your competitors. Start work an hour earlier or finish an hour later. Do that extra bit during lunch or at home. Don’t be afraid to invest your time and be far more disciplined than those you compete with; your enemy. What you do in the shadows counts far more then when all are awake. We all have families and lives, but if your hungry to succeed, you’ll do what it takes.
4) It’s not about money, it’s about passion
Now, before people jump down my throat saying that it is about money, please understand the perspective first. Of course, it is ultimately about money. Money is the reason why we all work, otherwise we would simply. . .well, die! However, when I reference it not being about money but instead passion, have a think about what that truly means. Those that are more passionate about what they do become far more driven, owning a desire to make a difference and succeed. If you are more passionate and driven, then naturally the other four points in this article will come far more easily than if you’re not. If all these points get implemented correctly, then naturally more money will be made as a subsequent by-product of your ambitious drive to make what you love a success.
Most people who are driven by money flick flack from one business to another, or idea to idea. They quickly down tools when the next cash rich scheme comes along, spending vast amounts of time jumping around from job to job. If that is your drive, then so be it. However, those who own a passion and are tenaciously driven to succeed in doing what they love, will organically create far more money than those who chase the bank notes. Try and think of these people in your life now, and ask yourself are they passionate, or are they money driven, and then observe their happiness and success.
5) Never be afraid to fail, and never quit!
This is of all the biggest one. Failure is inevitable, and it WILL happen. Let it happen and learn from it. Don’t let it be the reason you quit. Humans are programmed to avoid failure, as during our ancestral day’s failure meant injury, or even death. The moment we embrace failure and lean in with the ‘Fuck it, lets see what happens’ approach, might just be the moment you discover great success. What’s the worst that can happen? You learn what went wrong, fix it, and try again.
From experience, not just as a Commando or in business, but as a writer, I have found failure to be almost everywhere I turned my head. I began writing in 2015 and have had severe setbacks ever since, being told I would never make it, my idea was weak and that I should give up. Four years on I am signed with one of the world’s biggest publishers who want to put me on the global stage I dreamed of entering next to the likes of Simon Sinek, one of my greatest inspirations. That isn’t luck or chance, but instead a true tenacious grit that pushed me through failure again and again.
You can do it!
Whatever it is you want to do, go for it. Ignore the safety nets and drawbacks and challenge yourself to leap into the unknown, knowing for well you will succeed. Every person who has ever made it in this world started somewhere with a sheer drive to achieve, so what is stopping you?
Remember, like I said before, we put a man on the moon! You too can achieve your dreams.
Comments