This message had been adapted from a speech given by Art Williams, Founder of A.L. Willimas & Associates, at the Regent University Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship student classes on November 14, 2006. His book Coach is available on Amazon.com. 

I read this lesson given by Art Williams the other day and found it resonated with me strongly.  The title is How to be a “Two Percenter”, and while the title alone did not grab all of my attention, the message did.  Best of all if focuses on how to succeed as a leader and an entrepreneur. 

Over the past twelve years, I have started many small businesses.  Some of them more successful than the others, but in hindsight I can see that their success was directly proportional to the amount of effort I put into the process before, during, and after.  Like a mathematical equation Time X Effort = Amount of Success.  Mr. Williams explains that a “Two Percenter” is someone who has survived the initial pressures of starting a business and has succeeded.  In other words, out of every 100 people who start a business, Mr. Williams believes only 2 will succeed.  Why?  Because those two people are the only ones who did/will do what was necessary to succeed. 

A great example of a “Two Percenter” is a friend of mine, a ‘TwentySomething’ young man who runs two successful businesses – one is a multi-million dollar privately held company and the other a real estate company. He has a hand written note stuck to his bathroom mirror in his home.  It reads, “I will do today what others will not, so that I can enjoy tomorrow what others cannot.” I quickly added this quote to my inspiration board. 

Let’s get back to Art Williams’s speech on How to Succeed as a “Two Percenter” in life and in business.  “Winning in business is a 10-year or 20-year game, and most people fail because they keep changing.  They are always looking for a quicker way, an easier way, and a way with the smallest amount of hard work,” said Mr. Williams. The following are bulleted highlights of his most significant habits to succeed. 

1. Simplify the Complicated – Success is based on a leader’s ability to zero in on the important matters.  They spend 90% of their time on important things and 10% on the rest.
2. Stand for Something – You have to believe in something and then you have to do what is right.  This is the basis for building character.
3. Be a Great Encourager – Be slow to anger and quick to praise.  Mary Kay [Ash] said, “The only thing more powerful than money or sex is praise and recognition.”
4. Win with your Heart and not Your Head – You have to love what you do rather than do something simply for monetary gain.  A.L Williams & Associates did not just sell life insurance; they believed they were correcting an injustice.
5. Be so Motivated it is Ridiculous – Passion is the fuel for motivation.
6. Have a Positive Attitude – Almost everybody can be positive/excited for two or three months, a few can be positive/excited for a few years, but a winner [Two Percenter] will stay positive/excited forever.
7. Have a “Can Do” Attitude – The two worst words in the English language are –“ I Can’t”
8. Make a Commitment – You cannot just test the waters and stick a toe in it.  You have to jump in with both feet.
9. Be a Big Dreamer – Never give up your hopes and dreams – EVER!
10. Be a Master Motivator – Nothing motivates more than getting involved and leading by example.
11. Be Disciplined – Do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it.
12. Follow your Instincts – Follow your heart.

In summary, winners [Two Percenters] simply do it.  They will do today what others will not, so they can enjoy tomorrow what others cannot.

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