One thing I get asked frequently is how did you become successful. Usually when people ask this they are looking for 1 answer, but the truth is there are a lot of factors that caused my success.
- Location – I live in Orange County California. It isn’t the silicon valley of the world, but there are a lot of big companies out here and a lot of rich people that can come in handy. Overall I am pretty central because I am 30 minutes away from Los Angeles and I am an hour flight from San Francisco.
- Speaking – when most people speak they tell the audience what they want to hear. When I speak I tell the audience the truth, whether they like it or not. By doing this you can gain the respect of thousands of people every year, as well as obtain paid contracts from a few of the conference attendees.
- Blogging – a great way to spread your knowledge to the masses is to give them advice. It is an easy thing to do if you have a blog. The key with blogging is to lay it all out there because sooner or later people are going to know what you know, so might as well be the first one to share the information and get credit for it.
- Networking – whether you are shy or not there is always a way to get to know more people. For me, I enjoy networking in person, but you can also network through the web. Knowing tons of people on a personal level is never a bad thing. It maybe time consuming at first, but it can be advantageous in the future. Just keep in mind, you need to network with the little guy and not just the big guy.
- Sucking up – some people like their ego being stroked, so I stroke it. By sucking up to certain individuals they will start liking you and many of their followers will also want to get to know you.
- Talking shit – just how sucking up works with some individuals, others may prefer it when people talk shit to them. I have done this multiple times in the past and it works well. If you think about all the big fish in the sea, too many people hit them up saying how great or cool they are. So I take the opposite approach by telling them how they suck and point out everything they are doing wrong. This may seem like a way to build enemies, but it is actually a great way to build friends.
- Age – I’m a 22-year-old kid and when I am the only young person in a room, I stand out. I use age to my advantage all the time, and if you are young like me I recommend doing the same. On the other hand if you are old, there is not much you can do to leverage your age other than to share your experiences.
- Risk taker – I have very little to lose, so I take risks whenever I can. I currently run a business, go to college, and still live at home. I have no personal expenses because of my parents, which means if I lose everything I can leech off my parents. You may not be able to do the same as me, but it doesn’t mean you can’t take risks. Take as much risk as you feel comfortable with or even better take a bit more than you feel comfortable with. Whatever you decide to do, just take on some risk.
Hopefully my experiences help you become more successful in life. Anyone else have any experiences they want to share?
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I always try and be the first to comment on your posts. I think it’s very important where you live, in terms of the people and businesses you surround yourself with. You want to work with people who are smarter than you, so you can learn.
Blogging is king for many reasons. I think that it attracts the right people to your personal brand, while repelling others.
Your commenting strategy is working well for you. I see your name everywhere on the web and more importantly everywhere in your vertical.
The more times you see someones name and face, the more you recollect them, especially if they have connected both to a concept.
Hey Neil,
Who says you’re successful, you cocky SOB…
Haha, is that enough sh!t talking for ya? Ok really, I think you’ve done a great job branding yourself and marketing yourself as an authority in the industry. Pretty cool tips – did you think of them after the fact or did you have this strategy laid out from the beginning?
I met you at Elite Retreat last week btw.
LOL, that is some good shit talking. I have had this strategy laid out from the beginning.
BTW, it was fun eating multiple desserts with you at Elite Retreat. I already miss the food.
I’d agree on location, and OC is a giant pool of money spending people. Being close to LAX certainly doesn’t hurt either.
The thing with location, is it all depends about the industry you are in. For me I could have potentially made more if I lived in New York City as a marketer.
But overall I like OC.
But then again there is more good looking girls in LA/OC. You did take that into consideration as well, didn’t you?
Other than the weather, that is probably the best part about LA/OC.
All the chicks in California are plastic. The chicks in NYC are real.
Not all, just the ones in the richer areas. There are many sections of the OC that aren’t filled with plastic. I think LA may even have more plastic than OC.
Doin it big in Missouri son.. Get out here and see what it’s all about.
Great post though!
You should move out to California. You can do a lot more networking out here.
As for #8 – its a smart move, the more stuff you buy (house, porsche, 5k laptop) the more you owe people, giving you less flexibility. My parents would let me move in if I got screwed!
as fir #2 – Telling brutally honest truth is HUGE in my book, people can tell when they are always being told the good news, I think it build credibility and TRUST when you are willing to tell someone the unfiltered truth.
Too true. The things you own end up owning you.
Yea, I love being cheap.
Is this about being successful or well known? There is a difference. You can still be well know, but not have a clue as to what you are doing.
The post is about both. Maybe I should have picked a bitter post title.
Don’t forget about luck, Neil. You’ve mentioned it in the past, and I’m surprised you didn’t mention it again on this list. You’ve been pretty lucky in the past.
The harder you work the luckier you get I believe.
Thats a good catch! Luck is the biggest thing that made me successful.
As for hard work being related to luck, I think it is some what true, but not fully. I know a few people who have done well just because of luck and not hard work.
Neil,
Which do you prefer, being sucked up to or someone who talks shit? Will you be at the TechCrunch party tonight?
I prefer the talking shit version.
Where is the TechCrunch party? As for now, I am not going to it.
10. Sound like a douchbag.
I may sound like a douche bag, but hopefully my advice helps you grow and become more successful.
Trolls don’t have a say who is a douchbag.
someone’s feeling high and mighty today ;-P
All of the Quick Sprout readers make me feel high and mighty. Without you guys I would be no where.
Neil Patel, in da house.
Unique Blog Designs in da house.
Hollywood http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8875633169
Thanks for the link. Sadly I don’t think I can make it.
I have to finish my work this week because all of next week I am traveling. Have to fly to Europe, Seattle, San Francisco.
Here’s a new one:
Taking Shit.
I succeeded at my job by doing (and mastering) the work nobody else wanted to do, now they come to me for help and I’m the youngest Sr. Engineer in the company.
Never really thought about taking shit, but it seems like a good strategy. My only concern is that people may abuse it and not reward you for your efforts.
Maybe taking shit is not quite the right way to put it, or maybe it just really worked in my favor. The “shit” in this case was JavaScript and AJAX, when I started it the whole company hated it, now we can’t do a job without it. I really just filled a niche, but at the time it wasn’t a very desirable one.
Favors are always a smart thing to do. By helping others out, you can call for favors in return.
Just remember one of the essential tenets of Personal Branding…you need to be authentic and be able back this up…there is a lot of stuff here about what is on the outside…but what do I really get when I get you (apart form a 22 y.o who speaks shit and sucks up….and I have met plenty of those!)…great post
Valid point. If I wasn’t somewhat decent at what I do all of this stuff would not really help.
You need to have a strong product or no one will talk about it
Neil loling at the leech off your parents bit… i can totally picture you saying that
so if i go for broke but come up empty can I move in with them too
To go even one step further I still get money for food from my mom. Taco Bell adds up.
two words: DAY-UM
that is just wrong
It isn’t as bad as it sounds though. I also spend a decent amount of money on my parents each month. Such as I pay for their gas and get them gift cards to grocery stores.
Hey Neil – cool article bro. To me, #4, Networking hands down has to be my key to success.
I’m not smart
I’m not geeky
I’m not good looking (well a little bit at least)
I owe probably 98% of all my success because of my network, hands down. The other 2% is actually taking little steps of action and things happened.
Keep up the good work man and would love to hang out here more, so don’t block my IP…
what a crappy post. You don’t blog much but you say blogging is one reason you successfull.. Do you have any other blog?
I used to blog on pronetadvertising.com. It is a blog in the Technorati 100.
The blog is currently filled up with fluff just promoting other companies…
When Neil blogs, people listen and that is what counts.
I believe that #2 is a big issue. I’ve been in business for as long as you have been alive – and truth is hard to come by. Sometimes business owners don’t like to hear the truth when you deliver it, but once they see the reality of it you become a hero.
Great quote on blogging. In fact, I added it to my favorite quote list.
http://danperry.com/wordpress/online-marketing-quotes/
I’m wondering what your suck up/talk shit ratio is by the way. I think it’s more that you’re genuine and that comes through. You like networking because you like people, period, not because you see it as a means to an end. And I’m usually the oldest in the room and I do leverage it by sucking up to kids like you, lol.
Not sure on the ratio, but I talk shit more often than sucking up.
As for the genuine part, you are correct. With anything you do, if you are not genuine, the results usually don’t term out as well.
Nice post Neil. I think you hit the nail on the head with all tghese. Especially the part about blogging. The one reason people like this blog so much is because you keep it real.
I hate reading personal blogs that are nothing more than someone trying to push offers or get you to click on ads.
In respect to networking, it is critical to be successful. All great points….
Thanks Jeremy. I think blogging is also one of the reasons you are successful. BTW, nice post on ways to increase your click-through ratio.
All are so true. I try to impart some of that knowledge onto the people that work for me, but they just don’t get it. You need to be honest in business, but it doesn’t hurt to stroke those egos that need it – I mean we ALL like it once in a while. You just need to be careful about how you do it because these type of tips can easily manipulate someone. The last thing you want is for the other party to feel that they’ve been manipulated by you…
Mo
Yea, you never want to manipulate. Sucking up a bit can be wise, but if the other party feels you are manipulating them, it will work against you.
Very impressive Neil. So when exactly you started and how come you got into social media ?
Finding clients is indeed a big thing and finding big clients is even a big thing.
How about covering a Post on it ?
Pushkar
I got into social media a few years ago when I saw how stories hitting the front page of Digg.com were getting tons of links. After a few days of investing it, I figured it out and started leveraging other social sites.
I’ll think about the finding clients post… The problem with this post topic is that there is no one answer. Maybe a list post could work.
nice blog b!tch……tell us something we don’t already know
Aronado
lol!
Hi Neil
Laura mentioned my book “8 To Be Great.†Congrats on reaching some success. The 8 things you mentioned may have helped you in small ways but I can tell you they’re not the big drivers for success. How do I know? Because I spent 10 years interviewing over 500 of the world’s most successful people in all fields (the Google Founders, Simpson’s creator Matt Groening, DNA discoverer James Watson, actor Russell Crowe, etc.) and then analyzed all the data to figure out what really leads to success. To see the top 8 success factors go to http://www.richardstjohn.com.
I’m not saying some of the things you mention didn’t help you in little ways, but they’re not the big things that lead to success. For example, a high proportion of successful people come from small towns and out-of-the-way places that are not centrally located. Warren Buffett became the world’s richest man by living in Omaha, not exactly a world center. Small towns have fewer distractions so it’s easier to focus – and focus is one of the really big success factors. Hope this helps. Here’s to your success!
Richard St. John
Thanks for the link Richard. I’ll check it out as well as your book.
I would sumarize this post almost by the last section: The key to success is taking risks, you can have the best connections inthe world or be the best speaker but if you don’t take risks you will never run the extra mile you need to be successful.
Also there are other good places to be apart from Orange County
Nice summary! There are so many people that are talented, but if they would just run that extra mile, they would be successful.
Location is important, but I do believe blogging that is authoritative does more than others. Although, the age advantage can not be ignored.
Blogging has helped a lot, but I think everything combined is what really caused me to be successful.
Telling it like it is will always be an admirable trait, as long as it’s tempered with tact. You can tell it like it is without offending people, which leads to another rule for attraction. People like to feel good about themselves (ego stroked as you mention).
If people feel better when they’re around you than when they’re not, they’ll want to be around you… you’ll attract people rather than repel them, and it’s just logical to assume some of the people you attract will help you directly and indirectly.
Networking is a big part of my success. Not only should you meet new people on a regular basis, but you want them to want to be around you.
this guy needs to move out of his house before he gives any advice on being successfull,u sound like a kid and u are one. you are a dummie, dont give advice. this is number 6 of your advice
I respect your opinion, but I feel that a lot of people have learned from my experiences. In many cases, what they learned has helped them become successful.
I think I just found my new favorite quote: I have very little to lose, so I take risks whenever I can.
I just realized that I stopped taking a lot of risks and that my growth has stalled. Not sure when I stopped, but I’m planning on starting to take risks again.
Best of luck on your risk taking. Keep in mind that it is a numbers game. The more risks you take, the greater chance that you will be successful.
ALL good points there
I would like to add some more/.. Spreading your knowledge is a very good thing. But you should not take the fun out of doing something of your own. So a little bit of advise is all that is required rather than elaborate step by step directions.
It is also good to leave a bit of mystery in the advice your share. Leave people wanting more.
I like the ideas.
One that stuck out to me was your last point. I totally agree that taking risks is a bid part of the process.
Good work.
Yea, if you don’t take risks how else would you expect to become successful?
Hey, it is nice to see people like you who got success so early in life, not just because of plain luck but from real hard work. Only 3 factors(location,age & risk taking at early age) can be suitable to you only, People who are not like you, can apply your other 6 factors in their life and get success. Even I am not so successful in life, so i am going to bookmark this page and read it whenever i get time or need some motivation
I do think luck had a lot to do with it, but the main thing that lead to my success was that I never gave up.
I think its very imp where you live, where u r surrounded by people and business.. You want to work with people who are smarter than you, so you can learn.
N Nice 2 see people like you who got success so early in life, not just because of luck but from real hard work..:)
Hard work was a part of it, but a lot was luck.
Surroundings are very important… I can’t stress that enough.
What a prick!
I probably am a prick, but I hope it helps people like you become more successful.
hi,
i am not success like you.i am doing blogging last one year.but i feel i learn more about internet which i can not learn last 20 years.blogging is very interesting way to learn different, different topic.and know many people in the world what they are doing.i need your advice.so keep it up.
bye
Everyone is successful in their own ways. Just keep on learning and you too will do well in life.
Network is a big part of success.
Pride comes to a fall, Arrogance is never pretty, Is this antagonistic enough you young whippersnapper. I have been successful and I have been a failure and kissing arse is never my idea of a pleasant time.
PS Success is a lot nicer than failure
Not all, just the ones in the richer areas. There are many sections of the OC that aren’t filled with plastic.
Speaking the Truth is so Good. Makes my heart go lighter.
The age part is what seems to lie with me. Well most of the times, being the youngest is helpful and the greatest advantage you have is that being young would get others advice you, you like it or not. And of those advices, you are surely going to benefit from few.
It’s really just a misconception…. age doesn’t have anything to do with it. Most millionaires become that after 40…obviously it applies to billionaires more so.
After reading what you wrote it seems more like “8 Reasons I think I am successful and others are not.” Success is a matter of opinion. Are you really successful if you have to live at home and depend on your parents if you don’t succeed in your risk taking? If you really want to be successful read, “8 To Be Great” by Richard St. John. It might give you some insight into why others are even more successful than you think you are right now at such a young age. I’m one of those “old” people sharing my wisdom. Success for me is not a destination, it is a journey of life long learning. I feel successful in my career, but that is only the beginning of a new success in my next adventure in life. If you really want to encourage others to be successful perhaps you could change your title to, “8 Reasons I feel Successful and So Can You!” At least then you wouldn’t be telling others you think you are more successful than they are.
I share this with you because I would like to help you be even more successful than you may be at this moment in your life.
Thanks for the advice! I will definitely check out the book.
As for the title, I don’t want to change it. The reason I picked the title is because it makes more of a statement which causes more people to read it and comment.