When I started in the industry, 40 hours a week was a bare minimum. Suddenly, it seems like 30-32 hours is the official part time company line. Statistically speaking, the people who are bringing in the real money aren’t working 40 hours a week. They’re working 10, 12, up to 14 hours a day for 7 days a week.

It wasn’t long before my dad told me it was time to get a real job. I got an interview with this lumber company, Stripling Blake. Finally got a job there, took about a month. My official first job with that company was called “yard dog.” I packed concrete, stacked wood. It took a strong back and a weak mind. I went from packing supplies to being the youngest outside salesman by the time I was 21. It’s okay to start at the bottom. What’s important is where you want to go and how hard you’re willing to work to get there. Look at where you are now, and then look at where you want to be. No matter how steep the climb, this journey doesn’t start with you lingering in bed. Shine your shoes, put on your try-hard pants, and get to work.

Some may think that having these secrets--this insider information increases their status or worth. No, it’s just dishonest. Anything not belonging to you, any great business idea shared with you is not yours to share. Over the last several decades, I’ve really learned to appreciate people who keep their mouths shut and the lost art of keeping my own mouth shut.

The early bird gets the worm. Punctuality is essential; it establishes a precedent of respect. I respect your time, ergo you should respect my time. With consistent punctuality, you create a routine geared for success. If I’ve gone to the trouble to attend or schedule a meeting and you can’t make it within fifteen minutes, I’m leaving. I don’t owe you any more than that. Most stores don’t open the door until their corporate prescribed time, not a minute before, rarely a minute after. Some businesses break the mold.

What sets apart you from the people who want what you have, is your ability to work hard and work smart. There isn’t a single self-made man out there who hasn’t pulled a series of all-nighters and made countless sacrifices while others slacked off so he could make it to where he is today. Everyone likes hearing these success stories of famous and powerful people, Elon Musk for example, but he didn’t happen overnight.

Hard work pays off, maybe it doesn’t always pay off fast, but in an instant oatmeal society, that hard work is worth more than the microwavable efforts of a rushed and botched job. With everyone going for the gravy but neglecting the biscuits, how you work can make the biggest difference in the world. My family didn’t have everything growing up, but my parents were very hard workers. We started working from a young age; I want to say about 9 years old.