What was the single biggest factor to my success?

What you can do today to level up your life and business?

The other day, I was on the phone with a body shop owner who asked me a question that caught me completely off guard. “Ryan, what was the single most important factor to your success in growing your shops?” I thought about his question and came to the conclusion that it was really all about the circle of seven. 

I started my first body shop at the age of seventeen, and at nineteen I met Zig Ziglar, who would become an important mentor for me. One of the things Ziggy used to tell me is that you become the sum of the seven people you associate with the most. If that’s true (and I believe it is) we all need to be paying attention to the people we surround ourselves with.

If your life is filled with people who are negative, lazy, and always see the glass as half empty, you'll start to feel that way too. You’ll get caught in an echo chamber of negativity that is extremely hard to escape. Luckily, the inverse is true as well. Surrounding yourself with people who are successful, driven, and pushing themselves to become better allows you to do the same. Their positive worldview and energy will fuel you. The more time you spend with people who believe in possibility, the less you will limit your own potential. 

Seeing through the Ceiling of Success

In his book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell talks about the law of the lid. We all bump up against that lid from time to time. It’s the ceiling that you just can’t seem to get past. A rule I try to follow in my own life is to spend time with people who are a level above me, people who have success or qualities that I aspire to, because these are the people who can help elevate that lid and lift the ceiling that is blocking my progress. 

Recently, I felt myself hitting that ceiling. I knew I had to do something to change that, and so I partnered with Dan Martell. If you happen to be familiar with Dan, you know he can make you believe that ceiling doesn’t exist at all. Partnering with someone like Dan has been an opportunity for me to soak up new knowledge and skills, and unlock another level of growth.

Cultivate your Community

So, where should you look for these standout go-getters who will encourage you to escalate? In our industry, a great place to start is 20 Groups. 20 Groups allows you to surround yourself with dynamic shops and leaders who might even be a level above where you are -- and that’s a good thing! For example, if you’re a small, independent shop, find a mid-size or larger independent shop to build a relationship with, and start working with the people who have been where you have been, and who are where you are going. 20 Groups has some excellent facilitators to look out for as well: Mike Anderson, Dave Luehr, and Kristin Felder are a few great ones who I personally recommend. These names are a great place to start if you are looking to get into a group and level up your business and yourself. 

But what if you have found the person or people you want to bring into your life, you just can’t afford them! If you’re looking to work with someone like a top tier business coach, they often charge a LOT. Now, I believe that the most important investment you can make for your business is investing in yourself, but if you’re not in a position to be able to afford hefty coaching fees, check out if they have books/ audiobooks available. This can still be a really valuable way to invest in educating yourself and can give you some new tools to help you level up. 

Key Takeaway

What do I hope you will take away from all this? And what have I found to be the number one key to success in my life and businesses?

Pay attention to the seven people you surround yourself with, and create a community that encourages you to grow by investing in yourself and your education.