Success strategies of top entrepreneurs have been living rent-free in my head for like four straight years now and honestly? Most days I still feel like I’m cosplaying as a real business owner while the algorithm and my anxiety take turns kicking me in the shins.
Right now I’m sitting in my apartment in the US (well… pretending I’m there while actually being glued to my laptop at 2 a.m.), empty Celsius can number three sweating next to me, AirPods in, listening to the same 2019 motivational playlist that’s probably embarrassed of me by now. And yeah — I’m still trying to reverse-engineer how the hell people like Sara Blakely, Alex Hormozi, and yes… fine… Mr. Musk actually get shit done.
Here’s the brutally honest list of success strategies of top entrepreneurs I’ve stolen, butchered, and occasionally accidentally used correctly.
1. Obsessive Focus (the kind that makes your friends worry)
Almost every top entrepreneur I’ve studied has this creepy level of single-minded focus.
I tried it. Last summer I decided I was going “all in” on my little side project. I told everyone I was going dark for 90 days. I even put an auto-reply that just said:
“Currently experiencing a temporary bout of ambition. Back never.”
Day 17 I was crying in my kitchen because I missed human touch and DoorDash guy started recognizing my voice. But the truth? Those 90 days were the most productive of my life. I shipped more in three months than the previous two years combined.
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Moral: You don’t need balance. You need violent obsession for short, deliberate seasons.
Great thread about this → Alex Hormozi – The Power of Obsession
2. Talk to Customers Like You’re Dating Them (awkward and often)
I used to be terrified of sales calls. Like, palms-sweaty-heart-pounding-can’t-breathe terrified.
Then I watched how April Dunford talks about positioning and how April herself just… asks people brutally honest questions.
So I started doing it.
First call: guy hung up on me. Second call: lady laughed and said “you’re adorable but no.” Third call: dude paid me $8k on the spot because I asked “what’s the most painful part of your week right now?” and just shut up for six straight minutes.
Turns out people love when you act like a curious friend instead of a desperate salesman.
3. The “One Big Bet” Philosophy (aka how I almost lost my savings)
Most top entrepreneurs don’t spread 17 small bets. They pick one ridiculous bet and go stupidly hard.
I read Will Smith’s book and the part where he talks about betting his entire acting career on becoming the biggest movie star… yeah that hit different.
So last year I did the dumb thing: I put 85% of my liquid cash into building one product I was obsessed with. Spoiler: it’s doing… okay. Not Lambo money. But it’s alive. It’s paying bills. And I learned more in 14 months than the previous decade.
And this one hits the “all eggs in one basket” vibe with a bold entrepreneurial twist:
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Sometimes success strategies of top entrepreneurs look like calculated insanity from the outside.
4. Ruthless Elimination (the part nobody wants to talk about)
You wanna know the real tea?
The biggest success strategy of top entrepreneurs isn’t adding more stuff. It’s deleting with prejudice.
I literally deleted:
- Twitter for 5 months (yes I relapsed)
- 3 coaching clients who were emotionally draining
- My entire “personal brand” content calendar that was exhausting me
- 2 friendships that felt like transactions
My revenue went up 3.2× in the following quarter. Coincidence? Maybe. But I doubt it.
Here’s a great breakdown of this mindset → Derek Sivers – Hell Yeah or No
Quick Reality Check List I Use Every Sunday Night
- What am I doing this week that actually moves the needle?
- Who am I doing it for? (Be honest — is it for clout or cash?)
- What would I be embarrassed NOT to finish by Friday?
- What can I kill with fire right now and feel relief instead of guilt?
I usually answer these while eating cold pizza on my couch. Very glamorous.
