Warning: ____ is NOT your friend.

Dear Andre, (2.8 Minute read)

Success is not your friend.

The more you succeed.

The more resilience you’ll need.

And if you don’t have resilience?

Success won’t just test you.

It will crush you.

Over the last 4 weeks we talked about making a great first impression.

Do you remember the 4 Keys to a great introduction?

1. Fun (memorable introduction)

2. Trust (Through High-Fives Hugs & Handshakes)

3. Respect (Living and expressing your values)

4. Turning the spotlight on the other person (asking about the other person)

Now, Andre, we talked about the surface level stuff.

That’s important. But now we’re going to go deeper. Buckle up buttercup.

The Secret to Sustainable Success

The weight of your character MUST be greater than the weight of your success.

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back. It’s about having the character to withstand the pressures of success.

And here’s the part nobody talks about. Resilience is made up of three things.

• Humility.

• Faithfulness.

• Gratitude.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to break these down. Today, we start with humility.

Why Humility is Your Foundation

Humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself. It’s about living in a way that shows you’re not above the little things.

It’s choosing to take out the garbage, even when you're busy. It’s unloading the dishwasher when you could be working. It’s serving the people around you because that’s who you are.

And here’s the crazy part. People want humble people to win.

Think about someone who’s arrogant. When they fail, no one is surprised. But when a humble person stumbles, people rally around them.

Humility works because you cared about people.

Sidenote: No one wants a humble person to fail. So when you fail (which you will) There will be people to pick you. That’s the biggest difference that humility will bring into your life.

The Next Level: Integrity

Humility leads to integrity. And integrity means being the same person in every room.

It’s easy to act one way at work and another way at home. It’s easy to shift your personality depending on who you’re around.

But real integrity means you don’t have to remember which version of yourself to be. You are whole. The same person everywhere.

Integrity is also built in the small things.

If you say you’ll be somewhere, be there. Not just when it’s convenient.

If you commit to something, follow through. Even when no one is watching.

If you promise to do something, keep your word. Even if it’s small.

For me, this means showing up on time. Keeping appointments. Not canceling last minute just because I don’t feel like going.

Because being late steals others time. Canceling last minute affects’ other people schedule.

Sidenote: This isn’t about being perfect. But andre, you want to become boring in how you follow through.

Why Courage Matters

Humility sets the foundation. then Integrity. But courage is what allows you to live out your values.

It’s one thing to know who you are. It’s another to stand by it when the pressure is on.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the absence of self.

When you make decisions based on what’s best for others, rather than what’s most comfortable for you, that’s courage. When you take a risk, not because it benefits you, but because it aligns with who you truly are, that’s courage.

For me, it was The $3692 Risk That taught me the meaning of courage. what was it?

Well, you’ll have to read about it. It was something I had dreamed of for seven years. And when I finally took the leap, I realized something.

People wanted me to win. That’s what humility, integrity, and courage do. They make people believe in you.

Your Challenge This Week

This week, I want you to focus on humility, integrity, and courage.

1. Humility: What’s a small act of service you can do today? Something that shows you’re not above the little things. (Taking out the garbage, unloading the dishwasher, cleaning things up, breaking down boxes)

2. Integrity: Are you on time for your commitments? Do you cancel plans last minute? Are you the same person in every room? (being late is stealing other people’s time)

3. Courage: What’s one thing you’ve been afraid to do? Take one step toward it. (courage isn’t a lack of fear, but a lack of self)

Success will test you. Make sure you have the resilience to withstand it.

Next week, we’ll talk about faithfulness.

Until then, keep building character that lasts.

Adios,
Daniel