Every once in a while, you hear a quote that doesn’t just inspire—it sticks. It hits you at the right moment, delivers a spark of clarity, and becomes a principle you carry with you.
In this week’s Delivering Marketing Joy 1 on 1, I wanted to share a few of those moments with you—seven life lessons from some of the most powerful thought leaders I’ve studied. These lessons have helped me in business, in life, and in personal development. I hope they do the same for you.
Here are seven powerful lessons—and what they might mean for you:
1. Life Doesn’t Happen To You. It Happens For You.
— Tony Robbins
This simple shift in perspective is massive. When life feels overwhelming, unfair, or just plain hard, it’s easy to slip into victim mode. But what if it’s all happening for you?
Challenges become teachers. Setbacks become setups. That shift doesn’t make life easier—but it makes it more empowering.
Takeaway: Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” instead of “Why is this happening to me?”
2. Just Do One More.
— Ed Mylett
This is a mindset of champions. One more rep. One more call. One more step.
When you’re tired, unmotivated, or ready to quit—“one more” separates average from excellence. Over time, that one more compounds into something powerful.
Takeaway: When you want to stop, do just one more. You’ll be surprised how far it takes you.
3. Get to Minute 11.
— Jon Acuff
This one hits home for creators and entrepreneurs. The first 10 minutes of doing anything are usually uncomfortable. You’re distracted, your brain resists, and you feel stuck. But if you can push past that threshold—you get into flow.
Jon calls it “getting to minute 11.” It’s the sweet spot where the work starts to feel rewarding.
Takeaway: Stop waiting for the perfect mood. Just start. The magic happens on the other side of resistance.
4. When It Gets Easy…Go Hard.
— Alex Hormozi
Most people let up when things get easy. The deal’s signed, the project’s launched, the schedule lightens up… so we coast.
But if you go hard when things are easy, you gain momentum while everyone else is relaxing. That’s where real growth happens.
Takeaway: Don’t waste easy seasons. Use them to accelerate.
5. Stop Waiting for Motivation to Take Action.
— Mel Robbins
We think we need to feel like doing something in order to do it. But it’s the other way around—action creates motivation.
Waiting for the spark? You might be waiting forever. But if you start moving, your brain follows.
Takeaway: Don’t wait for motivation. Start—and let the motivation catch up.
6. Focus on Your Circle of Influence, Not Your Circle of Concern.
— Stephen Covey
There’s a lot to worry about in the world. Most of it… you can’t control. But if you focus your energy on the things you can influence—your habits, your attitude, your effort—you’ll be more effective and less stressed.
Takeaway: Filter your focus. Influence what you can, and let go of what you can’t.
7. When You Find Yourself With the Majority…Pause and Reflect.
— Mark Twain
Going with the crowd is easy. But some of the best decisions come from questioning the obvious path.
This isn’t about being a contrarian for the sake of it—it’s about being intentional. Following the crowd without thinking rarely leads to greatness.
Takeaway: Don’t just assume the crowd is right. Take a breath. Make sure the direction actually aligns with your values.
Final Thoughts
These seven lessons aren’t just motivational quotes—they’re guideposts. They’ve been reminders during hard seasons, mantras during long days, and strategies when I’ve needed clarity or courage.
In a world full of noise, these are the kind of thoughts worth listening to.
If one of these ideas resonates with you, write it down. Put it on a sticky note. Tape it to your mirror. And if it helps? Pass it on.
As always, thank you for watching, listening, and being part of this journey. You can catch more DMJ 1 on 1 episodes on the blog—and I’d love to hear what life lessons have stuck with you.
Until next time—keep learning, keep showing up, and keep delivering marketing joy.
As always, if you need help with branded merch, marketing strategy, or creative ideas to grow your brand, let’s talk. We’d love to help you. Head here to get the book “Hit The TARGET” for FREE! This will help you dial in your marketing for better results.
