Read about the different challenges I’ve had to face throughout my life and the mindset I had to develop to overcome them and eventually reach my goals.
March 3, 2022
Life for me has been tough. Those of you who know me know my story and the difficulties I’ve had to face. Those of you who don’t have probably seen a glimpse of it on my videos or maybe one of my podcasts
From an early age, I was put through the wringer. I was diagnosed with ADHD and told I would fail over and over. I actually failed first grade. I also failed ninth grade. Can you imagine the complex a kid gets having to go through that? I guess being told something enough times makes it your reality, which goes to show that what you believe, you become.
That’s also why I made it my goal to shift my way of thinking. Instead of allowing my shortcomings to hold me back, I started to believe that I could really be something. In a nutshell, I made my way to university, got on the dean’s list, was a two-time collegiate athlete, and graduated with honors. I told myself and my professors that I had a tough time with school but I was fully committed to passing. I showed up ten minutes early for every class and sat in the front row.
After years of putting in the work in school, I went on to become the number one sales rep for the largest pharmaceutical company—among many other things. Was it easy? No, but I made the decision to persevere and believe in myself. It sounds cheesy, but I truly did.
I kept that belief system alive during my entry into entrepreneurship. I spent hours in front of my computer while my significant other brought me water and dinner because I literally wouldn’t eat or drink all day. I didn’t have the time to sit and enjoy things with her, which was hard and goes to show how important it is to find a strong and supportive partner.
Friends and family who see the successful life I am now living have asked me what I would do differently if I could start over—if all that suffering and all those long hours in the office were worth it. My answer is always a resounding “Yes.”
However, there sure were times when I was in the thick of it and things were failing that I almost tapped out. The best thing about those times is I now know what to tell people to never do, which is to never give up. Some things were such a complete waste of money and time, but at least I can pay it forward and save my clients from making the same mistakes.
I didn’t have the luxury of coming from a rich family. I had no safety net. When I made a wrong decision or a wrong turn, I paid the price. I went through a lot of hardships, but it was all part of the journey.
Someone once told me that to become great, you must make mistakes. Moreover, you must learn from them and grow. The pricier the mistake, the bigger lesson you can learn. Lessons that are the most painful have the biggest impact. You can’t learn those lessons from a book or video.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned outside of the business world is that real character isn’t built when you’re at the top. It’s easy to have good character when you’re winning, but it’s a whole different ballgame to have character when you’re at the bottom. During my professional sports career and in my business life, it didn’t matter whether I was losing as an individual or as part of a team or going bankrupt in business. This is where my true character began.
I have started five businesses from scratch, and many of them have failed. However, I always come back and rise to whatever occasion life throws at me. I always find a way to make it work. Why? Because I made that decision. I have hardwired my brain to never give up. I have learned from my mistakes and have grown and excelled.
I don’t say this to brag. Because of my story, I am now able to serve people on a level that no other marketing, business, or high-ticket sales coach can. I don’t cushion things for people. What you see is what you get. I make people stop producing excuses and start producing results—plain and simple. This mentality is what makes people wealthy and happy. It’s what provides them with options on their path to success.
The pains I have endured have qualified me to give advice. It’s these hardships that have given me an insider’s edge on how to help like-minded individuals who, like me, are triangles that society wants to shove into a square hole.
And that’s really what this post is all about. I want you to stop forcing yourself to be a square! Embrace your unique thought process—shortcomings and all. You don’t have to live a life where you build someone else’s dream company. You have the option of building yours, so make the same promise to yourself. Put in the work. Don’t give up. Whatever success means to you, you can make it real.
Kayvon Kay
Kayvon has over two decades of experience working with high-level closers and perfecting his sales methodologies. He has earned the title of Canada’s #1 pharmaceutical sales representative and continues to share his expertise as a keynote speaker and through his multi-million-dollar coaching program.
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