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What It Takes to Be the Best
& How I’m Striving to Get Better Every Single Day

“Who here thinks they’re the best player on the team? Raise your hand.”
I seem to recall a scene from an episode of NFL Network’s A Football Life a few years ago in which retired, Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk (at least I believe it was him) addressed a group of young college athletes by asking them the above question.
Barely a hand went up, to which Marshall (or Mr. Faulk, as I do not yet personally know the man) followed up by saying “okay then, if it’s not you, then who? Who do you think is the best player on the team?”
Confused, yet wondering what the catch was (pun intended because football), the players smiled and looked around at one another; but before anybody could muster up an answer, Mr. Faulk dropped his truth bomb:
“If YOU don’t think you’re the best player on the team, you’ll never BE the best player on the team.”
He went on to say that when playing football, at any level, if he ever asked himself that question and the answer was not “I am” then it was time to hang up the cleats and move onto something else. And while I’m merely trying to recall all this from memory, that idea really stuck with me.
It’s a matter of confidence, self-esteem even, and it comes from the same place as famous quotes like “If you believe it you can do it.” The point is to have a winner’s mentality. To believe in yourself above all others. And if you think about it, that’s what gives people the courage to pursue things all the time — against the wishes of their parents, their teachers, and friends — and it’s the same idea that gave any early entrepreneur permission to disrupt a popular theory/notion/idea (like the world being flat) or entire industry (like renting a house on AirBnB).
When I signed up to be an entrepreneur, I knew what it was going to take, because I’ve seen and studied those who came before me. I’ve spent the last decade learning from and working with what will end up being one of the all-time greats in Gary V. And now it’s my turn to try and be that, too.
It’s something I take very seriously. You only get one life, so live it to the fullest, tell your story, inspire others, and create your legacy.

When I was in school, I never thought I’d one day be a writer. In fact, I hated English. It was my least favorite subject. But, while growing up within the creative department of a digital agency, that was the path I recognized would most cater to both my strengths and, if you can believe it, overall creativity and happiness.
Then, something funny happened: I got good at it.
Now, here I am, talking to the masses via the written word. It’s something I’ve come to enjoy, but also, something I feel is necessary in order to communicate my ideas to the world and advance my personal brand.
Do I think I’m the best writer in the world? Yes, yes I do. I think I’m the best writer you’ve never heard of, because if I don’t believe it, how can I expect you to?
This article is more for myself than anybody else, and I’m taking it as a personal challenge to not only continue to get better, but to hone my skills, day in and day out, and provide value to the world. It’s a serious mentality to have, but as an entrepreneur, it’s a serious mentality I have to have in order to produce something great each and every day and believe in myself and what I’m trying to achieve.



