The core principles that drive success in sales and business, according to Sean Mike

The core principles that drive success in sales and business, according to Sean Mike

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
All right, let's dive into the success principles

(00:02):
of Sean Mike.
Self-made, multi-millionaire entrepreneur.
We're talking bankruptcy to building a company
that brought in $752 million in revenue in just one year.
Pretty amazing.
Yeah, that's quite a journey.
It is, and to guide us, we've got excerpts
from his School of Hard Knocks YouTube interview.

(00:22):
Have you seen that?
Oh yeah, I have.
What makes Sean's story so interesting
is that it's not all about, you know,
like hitting some financial target.
It's really more about the journey, you know?
He didn't even really start out aiming for riches.
Like his drive came from wanting more out of life,
and I think that's pretty relatable.
Yeah, okay, let's unpack this wanting more idea.

(00:42):
He talks about his friends kind of questioning his ambition,
even like accusing him of thinking he was better than them.
Exactly, and that's where I think his perspective
gets really interesting.
He wasn't driven by ego, he just knew he wanted more
out of life, which a lot of people can relate to.
He credits a lot of his success to his work ethic.
Yeah, and he even has this great quote,

(01:03):
"'The greatest thing for your self-image by far is work.'"
Powerful statement.
Really flips the script on all those
manifest your best self mantras you hear.
I know, right?
Sean's approach is way more grounded.
It's about letting your accomplishments
build your confidence, not the other way around.
That's crucial in sales, because if you don't believe

(01:23):
in yourself, who will?
Totally, that brings us to another key principle, patience.
Sean's story is kind of like the opposite
of those get-rich-quick schemes you see everywhere nowadays.
Yeah, he's all about the long game,
building real wealth and equity, not chasing quick wins.
And honestly, most of us only see the highlight reels
of these successful people.

(01:44):
We don't see the years of grind that went into it.
Sean really emphasizes that.
Absolutely, and you know what?
He's also incredibly open about how his journey
was shaped by personal challenges.
I love that.
He even says that if he'd found success earlier in life
when he was struggling with addiction,
it might have been detrimental.
That vulnerability just makes him so relatable.
He does.

(02:04):
It just shows you success isn't a straight line.
Yeah.
There's no set timeline.
It's his story.
Let's talk about Sean's approach to selling.
He says it's not just about pushing products or services.
It's about selling yourself.
He goes beyond just the usual advice
and stresses the importance of being brutally honest

(02:25):
with clients.
He even talks about this whole interrogating reality
with them.
What does that even mean?
Really digging deep into their needs
and being honest with them.
So he's not afraid to have the tough conversations.
Get real.
Not at all.
He thinks it creates transparency, builds trust.
And this is what helped him land his first major insurance
deal.

(02:45):
He didn't even have some fancy presentation
or years of experience.
He sold his work ethic.
His commitment to going above and beyond.
Love it.
That's such a good point.
It's a good reminder that sometimes the most powerful
sales pitch is just being genuine
and just showing your dedication.
But even with the best work ethic,
you can't do everything yourself.

(03:05):
Sean had to learn that the hard way.
He talks about initially resisting delegation.
Oh, really?
He wanted to control every aspect of the business.
Oh, I get that.
But he eventually realized bringing in specialists
was key to scaling his businesses.
So he had to kind of let go of the reins a bit.
Yeah, it was a big turning point for him.
He talks about developing this three-legged stool approach.

(03:29):
A three-legged stool.
I like it.
Tell me more.
To decision making.
So every decision he makes has to benefit the client,
the employee, and the company.
I see.
This creates a win-win-win.
Yeah, it's finding that sweet spot where everybody benefits.
It's long-term sustainable growth.
Strong foundation.
And speaking of strong foundations,

(03:51):
Sean's journey is a great example
of how to embrace failure.
He doesn't shy away from it at all.
In fact, he actually considers his bankruptcy
his greatest lesson.
Wow.
He says it forced him to confront his weaknesses
and refine his approach.
He learned how to bounce back.
He learned to bounce back and rebuild.
So it's not about avoiding failure.
It's about how you respond.

(04:11):
Exactly.
It's about seeing setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.
He's got this advice for navigating challenges.
Focus on what you can control, seek mentorship,
and be solution-oriented.
That's great advice.
Don't dwell on the problems.
Focus on finding solutions.
Absolutely.
Now, I want to touch on something Sean says
that's often a touchy subject.

(04:32):
OK.
Breaking the cycle of poverty.
He challenges the idea that the rich get richer
and the poor get poorer.
Right.
He sees that as a limiting belief.
He argues anyone can break free.
And his weapon of choice, sales.
So he sees sales as a way to level the playing field.
Yeah.
He says capitalism thrives on fear,

(04:52):
but it's often unfounded.
It's about recognizing that abundance
is possible for anyone with the right mindset and actions.
Like his story.
Exactly.
He came from poverty, but achieved success
through hard work, determination, and mastering
the art of selling.
OK.
So we talked about self-belief, importance of hard work,
and patience.
What else does Sean see as a key difference in mindset

(05:16):
between those who achieve success and those who don't?
He talks about this contrast between how the middle class
and the wealthy view money.
The middle class is often focused
on getting a good job, saving diligently, avoiding debt.
Right, which that sounds pretty responsible.
It is.
But he contrasts that with the mindset of the wealthy,
who tend to embrace leverage and see debt as a tool

(05:38):
to accelerate growth.
That's a pretty different way of looking at it.
Can you give us an example of how Sean used this?
Sure.
So he talks about using hard money
to fund his real estate projects, which
is higher interest rates.
But it allowed him to capitalize on opportunities
that traditional banks wouldn't touch.
So he was willing to take a risk.
He was willing to take a calculated risk.

(05:58):
He encourages people to challenge their learned
behaviors about money and get comfortable with using
debt strategically.
So it's not just about being reckless.
It's about being smart.
It's understanding calculated risks are often
necessary for big rewards.
And sometimes the traditional path,
it's not the only path to success.
That is a powerful message.

(06:19):
So what's the key takeaway for someone trying to build wealth?
His advice is to challenge your assumptions,
understand the power of money, and be willing to step outside
your comfort zone.
Embrace opportunities.
Take calculated risks.
To achieve.
To achieve your financial goals.
But remember, not reckless spending, not getting into debt,

(06:39):
you can't handle.
Be smart about it.
Be smart about it.
Right.
OK, great advice from Sean Mike.
Let's take a quick break, and we'll be right back with more.
Exactly.
It's about being strategic with your finances.
Makes sense.
Now let's go back to something we talked about earlier.
Sean's emphasis on building a strong team.
What advice does he have?
He uses this analogy about entrepreneurs

(07:00):
trying to wear too many hats.
He says it's like trying to be a chef, a waiter,
and a dishwasher.
All at the same time.
All at the same time.
You might be able to do it for a while,
but you're going to burn out, and the quality
is going to suffer.
So what's the solution?
What does he say?
Delegate.
Sean stresses the importance of bringing in specialists,
people who are experts in the areas.

(07:21):
He learned that letting go of control, trusting others,
it was essential for growth.
I feel like that's hard for a lot of entrepreneurs.
It is.
To let go of that control.
It's a real struggle.
But Sean's point is that you need to recognize
your strengths and weaknesses.
You need to be good at everything.
Trying to do so is going to hold you back.

(07:42):
So it's about building a team that complements you,
that fills in those gaps.
Exactly.
Creating a team where everyone can play their strengths,
contribute their expertise.
And he ties this back to his three-legged stool approach.
Every decision should benefit the client, the employee,
and the company.
That win-win-win.
That win-win-win.
So it's not just about delegating tasks.

(08:04):
It's about delegating in a way that
aligns with your values and vision.
Strategic delegation.
Strategic delegation.
Yeah.
OK.
Now let's talk about setbacks.
Sean's very open about his own experiences.
Oh, yeah.
Even viewing his bankruptcy as a turning point in his life.
How does he see that as a positive?
He calls it his greatest lesson.

(08:25):
Wow.
He says it forced him to confront weaknesses,
refine his approach, and really get a deeper understanding
of managing risk.
Interesting.
He believes he wouldn't be where he is today without it.
So it's like reframing failure as a learning experience.
Exactly.
It's not letting it define you.
It's about using those lessons to grow.

(08:45):
OK, so what advice does he have practically
for dealing with tough times?
He keeps it simple.
OK.
Focus on what you can control.
Seek mentorship from people who have been there.
And be solution-oriented.
Don't dwell.
Don't dwell on the problems.
Just find ways to move forward.
That's good.
Now Sean also talks about the gap
between the rich and the poor.
And that's saying the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

(09:07):
He argues that that's a limiting belief.
That's perpetuated by fear.
He says anyone can break free from that cycle.
And he points to sales as that equalizer.
Sales being the way to financial freedom.
He does.
He says capitalism thrives on fear.
But that fear is often unfounded.
OK.
Abundance is possible if you have

(09:27):
the right mindset and actions.
His own story shows this.
Coming from poverty, achieving success through hard work,
determination, and a focus on sales.
It's inspiring to hear him challenge those beliefs.
It is.
Now earlier, you mentioned a difference
in mindset between the middle class and the wealthy.
Can you talk about that a little bit more?

(09:49):
The middle class often prioritizes
getting a good job, saving diligently, avoiding debt.
That sounds pretty responsible.
It is.
But it contrasts with the mindset of the wealthy,
who tend to embrace leverage and view debt as a tool for growth.
It does sound a little riskier.
It can be.
Yeah.
But it's all about knowing how to use it strategically.
When he used hard money to fund his real estate projects,

(10:11):
it's borrowing at higher interest rates.
But it allowed him to take advantage
of opportunities traditional banks wouldn't even consider.
So it's about being creative, going outside the box a little.
It's about challenging those learned behaviors about money.
Understanding that sometimes you need to take
calculated risks for growth.
OK.
Yeah.
Now I know Sean emphasizes mentorship.

(10:34):
Yes.
Surrounding yourself with people who can guide you.
Absolutely.
What does he say about that?
He believes learning from those who have already
achieved what you want can really
help you grow and avoid common pitfalls.
So it's about seeking out that guidance.
It is.
He sees mentorship as crucial to his success
and encourages everyone to find mentors.

(10:54):
Let's shift gears a bit and talk about high stakes negotiations.
OK.
Sean's clearly been involved in some big deals in his career.
He has.
And he offers some great tips for navigating those high pressure
situations.
Like what does he say?
He emphasizes preparation.
Like really researching your counterparts,
understanding their objectives, and having a clear sense
of your own goals.
So don't just go in there and wing it.

(11:16):
Exactly.
He says negotiation isn't about winning or losing.
It's about finding solutions that benefit everyone.
Like the win-win.
Like the win-win we talked about earlier.
He also talks about understanding leverage,
building rapport, and being willing to adapt and consider
alternative solutions.

(11:36):
So you have to be flexible.
You do.
Effective negotiation often involves
like reading body language, managing emotions,
communicating clearly, and being open to compromise.
Now building a successful brand is another big part
of Sean's story.
Yes.
What does he say about that?
He says you have to build brands that resonate
with the target audience.
It's all about authenticity, building

(11:57):
a brand that reflects your values and what makes you unique,
creating an experience that goes beyond just products.
One that creates emotion, fosters loyalty.
So it's like making a connection.
It is.
He talks about building a community
of passionate advocates who believe in your brand.
And consistency is important.
Yeah, consistency is important.
It takes time and consistent effort to build a strong brand.

(12:19):
You have to deliver on promises, keep your message consistent,
and stay true to your identity.
Right.
Building trust and credibility over time.
That's it.
Now innovation, that's so important these days.
Huge.
Especially with the world changing so quickly.
What does Sean say about innovation?
He believes in challenging assumptions.
OK.
Constantly seeking ways to improve.

(12:40):
He encourages a culture of curiosity and experimentation.
So it's about always looking to improve.
It is.
You got to embrace the growth mindset.
He sees failure as a learning opportunity.
So test new ideas and push the boundaries.
I love that.
OK, customer relationships.
Obviously very important for success.
Oh, absolutely crucial.
What does Sean say about this?
He places a huge emphasis on building and nurturing

(13:02):
those relationships.
Go above and beyond.
They exceed expectations, demonstrate your commitment
to their satisfaction.
It's more than just making a sale, it sounds like.
It's way more.
He sees customers as partners.
Interesting.
He recognizes that their success is linked to his success.
You got to view them as valuable assets,
contributing to the long term growth.

(13:23):
Building relationships based on trust.
Trust and mutual respect.
OK.
Now, continuous learning.
Yeah.
So important for growth, both personally and professionally.
Sean's a huge advocate for lifelong learning,
always looking for new information and experiences.
So what are some of the things he says about that?
He talks about the growth mindset,
embracing challenges as opportunities,

(13:45):
and recognizing that self-improvement is a journey.
It never ends.
He encourages you to cultivate that thirst for knowledge
and engage in activities that push you.
So you got to challenge yourself.
You got to keep pushing.
OK, good.
We've talked a lot about the business side of things.
But leadership, that's another big part of Sean's story.
Right.
He has a lot to say about leadership.

(14:05):
What does he say?
What makes a good leader?
Authenticity, leading by example,
demonstrating a genuine commitment
to your team members' well-being.
It's more than just telling people what to do, right?
It's so much more.
He talks about creating a leadership style that
is both supportive and challenging.
That's a good balance.
Empowering your team members while holding them

(14:27):
accountable for results.
And clear communication.
Setting expectations, providing feedback,
fostering open dialogue.
So it's a transparent environment.
Exactly.
Respectful.
It is.
Now, before we finish up this part of our deep dive,
I want to talk about vision and mission.
Very important.
Absolutely foundational.
Sean emphasizes defining your purpose, your why,

(14:51):
crafting a vision statement that captures
the essence of what you're trying to achieve.
Think beyond just the profits.
Create a company that makes the difference, solves a problem,
contributes to the greater good.
So it's about having a purpose.
It's about building a business that aligns with your values.
Something you can be passionate about.
And communicating that vision to everyone.

(15:12):
Exactly.
Create alignment, making sure everyone understands
the goals and the values.
Sean's journey has been full of highs and lows.
He's faced obstacles, but always bounces back.
He's resilient.
His story really shows the power of hard work, determination,
and belief in yourself.
It does.
Success is not the destination.
It's the journey.

(15:33):
It's a journey.
A path to your goals is rarely a straight line.
Embrace the ups and downs.
Learn from everything and never give up.
It's been a journey.
Exploring Sean's insights, going from bankruptcy
to building a multimillion dollar empire.
Oh, yeah.
Really shows you the power of perseverance
and adapting to all the curveballs
that life throws at you.

(15:54):
His journey's got so many valuable lessons for anyone,
whether you're running a business
or just trying to achieve something.
We've covered so much.
We have.
Self-belief, hard work, sales, building a team.
Right.
Even Sean's approach to finance his debt,
which is really different.
It is.
It's really refreshing.
You know, one thing that struck me was his emphasis

(16:14):
on asking questions, seeking guidance.
I agree.
He's always learning and pushing himself to grow.
Yeah, he doesn't act like he knows everything.
He's looking for new perspectives and insights.
Right, which you don't always see from someone so successful.
Exactly.
It's a good reminder that we all need mentorship and guidance
no matter where we are.
Absolutely.
So if you could sit down with Sean Mike, just you and him.

(16:35):
Oh, wow.
And ask him one question about business or success.
That is a tough one.
That would it be.
Hmm.
You know, he covered so much in this interview,
but maybe I'd ask about the biggest turning point.
OK.
What was that one decision or moment that
really changed his path?
Wow, that's a good question.
I think his answer to that would be so valuable.

(16:56):
It would remind us that even the most successful people face
those crossroads that shape their destinies.
Well, that brings us to the end of our deep dive
into Sean Mike's principles.
Wow, time flies.
It really does.
Think about what resonated most with you.
Yeah, what are you going to take away?
What can you apply to your own life and goals?

(17:18):
Sean's story is a great reminder that success is a journey.
It's not the destination.
Keep learning, keep adapting, and keep striving.
Don't give up.
Great advice.
Yes.
Keep asking questions.
Keep learning.
And never stop believing in yourself.
Thanks for listening, everyone.
Until next time.