From $28,000 to $1.8M in 8 years. Here’s the exact blueprint (and the story!)
My first year speaking,
I made $1,750.
Across 3 speeches.
And you know what?
I was PUMPED.
Not because it was a big win.
But because I saw the first signs of this thing ‘working’.
It gave me a level of belief that I desperately needed.
It created a spark to commit.
Commit to building something real.
Not for the next year…
For the next decade.
In 2018, I remember thinking:
”By 2028, I will have figured this out.”
We are 2 years out from that and NEVER in my wildest dreams would I have believed that I had:
- Signed a major book deal
- Done 7 figures in speaking fees
- Worked with the biggest companies in the world
- Been featured by Harvard, Rolling Stone and Inc (WHAT?!)
And even though I believe we are JUST getting started,
I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been blessed with.
Now, for the good stuff:
Here’s EXACTLY how I did it:
1. Lengthened my commitment horizon.
Get over the 30 day challenges and commit to something for 300 days. You’d be surprised at how momentum can move mountains.
2. Said NO to everything aside from the ONE thing.
I had SO MANY opportunities to do other things. New businesses, investment opportunities, etc. But I didn’t let myself get distracted. Don’t be tempted by the shiny penny. Stay locked in to what you want to do. Everything else is a distraction.
3. Focused on getting 1% better a day.
Whether it was working on content, watching other speakers, reading books, building the website, I obsessed about incremental improvement. Something I still do to this day.
4. Surrounded myself with people that ‘made it’.
Cold DM’s. Emails. Personal Videos. Some worked. Some didn’t. I was ghosted quite a bit. But a few responded. And they are still friends to this day.
5. Leaned into my obsession.
Balance is a myth. If you want something, you need to act like it. Be unreasonably committed to making the thing work. Some people will say: “You should have more balance.” Eventually they’ll ask: “How’d you do it?”
Even though where I am today is surreal,
I feel like I am just starting.
Who knows where we’ll be in 2038.
But what I do know is that until then,
I’ll be here…
Doing the work.
Showing up every single day.
Enjoying every step of the way.
Enjoy the process.
Learn to love the GAME.
When you do, success becomes an inevitability.
Have an amazing week everyone!
Your friend,
Juan Bendana
Keynote Speaker | Author of Confident By Choice
0 comments