I was in my mid-20s and I had recently arrived from Korea to the United States. I benefited from the discipline, hard work, and self-sufficiency that characterized my upbringing. I had limited English skills, but I had a work ethic that made up for any language shortcomings. While at the auto parts store, I had essentially memorized the business’s entire inventory through trial and error and drill and kill. Before I was hired, the store had a lousy inventory system that left sales staff unsure whether certain items were in stock. As a result, many customers left empty handed and buying parts from our competitors. But after spending hours researching…
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People often ask me how I started in business. In this post, I’ll share one my by earliest experiences in business. When I arrived in the United States, I was 25 years old. About three years later, I was hired to work at an auto parts store. I didn’t speak English very well, so my boss had me keep track of inventory. That way, I wouldn’t have to talk to customers very much: The store’s salesmen would take orders from customers, and I’d find the parts. Everyday, I showed up at the warehouse and counted parts. While this work may sound very boring, it became sort of an obsession…
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I recall having a talk with Julia. She had recently joined our business and looked forward to all the opportunities and growth her new career would provide. I asked Julia about her goals. “John, I want to be a millionaire!” she said. “Do you know what it takes to earn a high income like that?” I asked. “I’d say hard work and focus,” she said. “Sounds great. So how many hours did you put into your business this week?” I asked. Julia stood silently for a moment. She then gave me a recap of her week: Her son was sick, so she had to take care of him;…
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Diagnosing the Worker Mentality Change can be scary—even if change can result in being happier and more fulfilled and excited about life every day. But rather than risk trying something new in order to experience more out of life, you stick to what’s comfortable. Is there a way out? What’s keeping you from reaching your potential? An important step to improving your life is to focus on your mentality. In fact, your mentality may be what’s holding you back from your success. After 25 years of being in business for myself and helping countless people, I’ve seen how simply knowing your mentality can change your life forever. In…
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Have you ever told yourself, “I want more in life,” but weren’t sure how to make lasting change? Then thinking about wanting something new and better made you feel frustrated, anxious, hopeless, or all three? While many of us realize that we have the potential to lead happier lives and experience more professional success, we don’t know where to start. This is often because of what I call the boxed life. In my 25 years of being in business for myself, I’ve helped thousands of people break out of their boxed lives. In this blog post, you’ll learn what a boxed life is. The first word in…











