Hardison’s decades of experience as a historian, salesman, and mentor have helped him to identify the keeps to building a champion.

  • Time: You can always make more money, but time wasted is lost forever. We all have the same 24 hours in the day – 1440 minutes. If you want to be successful, don’t squander your time.
  • Education: The more you know, the more opportunities you see before you. Knowledge changes the way you see the world, and opens doors others never see. Successful people read and constantly “sharpen their saw”
  • Relationships: Life is a team sport. No matter how smart or talented you are, you can only go so far by yourself. Successful people choose their friends carefully and cultivate relationships. They do many favors for their friends, and receive many in return. They teach and mentor. They introduce friends. They are always looking for ways to help.
  • Family:No one cares for you more in your life than your family. They may not be perfect, but when all else is lost your family will still be there. Successful people make time for their families, and look after them.
  • Integrity:Your word and reputation are everything. If you are untrustworthy, word gets around quickly. If you only adhere to your morals when things are convenient for you, people will notice. Successful people know the value of a rock solid reputation, and look for strong character in others. To be trusted, you must be trustworthy.
  • Grit:Anyone can start a marathon, but the last mile is the one that counts. Success requires working through fatigue, pain, and setbacks. Not just one time, but hundreds of times. Everyone says “I’ll do anything to be successful”, but few people actually practice that level of commitment. They quit after the first setback, or when things get tough. Life isn’t just stepping up to bat every now and then and swinging for the fences, and then sitting back on the bench again until the next inning. It’s a day to day fight to overcome your internal resistance and make progress against your goals. Successful people look for others who will be there when things get tough.
  • They value what they have: Successful people take care of what they have. They choose quality over quantity. Their homes are clean and uncluttered. They don’t waste their money on crap and fill their lives with junk. They spend money on things that help them live a better life. They take care of themselves and their possessions.
  • Habits:Successful people understand that we are the sum of our habits, both good and bad. Habits help us automate things so we don’t waste mental energy motivating ourselves to work out, clean, brush our teeth, read, or whatever else we should be doing. They value habits that move them towards their goals.

 

Winners have lost more than they have won, don’t be afraid of failing because you only need to get up and get it right once! Make it a champion day!