Jeffrey Hayzlett on Becoming a Bigger, Better Version of Yourself
One main contradiction in the business world is that while we’re constantly given advice on what we should do, how we should act and who we should be, we’re also told that we must be ourselves and blaze our own trail. If you’ve ever been confused at how to deal with these seemingly contradictory statements, Jeffrey Hayzlett’s new book, Think Big, Act Bigger: The Rewards of Being Relentless, is sure to be enlightening. In Jeffrey’s own words, the book is about “becoming a bigger, better version of yourself.” In a recent Smart Hustle interview, I talked to him about that concept.
About Jeffrey Hayzlett
Businessman Jeffrey Hayzlett has been talking the talk and walking the walk for decades. After 21 years at Hayzlett and Associates he moved on to become Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Kodak, a global leader in imaging products. In 2010, he left Kodak to pursue other accomplishments, including:
- Publishing two best-selling books: Running the Gauntlet: Essential Business Lessons to Lead, Drive Change and Grow Profits, and The Mirror Test: Is Your Business Really Breathing
- Radio hosting (All Business with Jeffery Hayzlett on CBS on-demand radio)
- Television hosting (C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett and Executive Perspectives on C-Suite TV).
The new book, Think Big, Act Bigger: The Rewards of Being Relentless, was released in September 2015 and is packed with ten core lessons for entrepreneurs.
On Being Relentless
To Jeffrey, the phrase, “People make their own luck,” is all about being relentless. When you act relentlessly you refuse to give in, steamrolling obstacles that cross your path. It’s about working hard and making things work for you, day in and day out.
In my interview with Jeffrey, we also asked him about the flip side of that coin – when do you know when to stop, when it’s not going to happen for you? There is not one answer to that question, but Jeffrey urges us all to consider our ‘condition for satisfaction.’ This is the amount of money or time you are willing to put in to make it work – what you’re willing to give before you come to the realization that not everyone feels the same way about this idea as I do. Obviously everyone has their own condition of satisfaction – some would give in before you do and some would keep going after you stop. The important point is that you work relentlessly until that condition of satisfaction is met or you find the success you were looking for.
Listen to my full live interview below:
On Being Yourself
Another point that Jeffry stresses is to do it your own way: “it doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong, it just means it’s your way. And we all have to find our way.” In his new book he urges us to think about who we are as leaders, define where we want to go, then do everything it takes to get there. This means being a little pigheaded or stubborn from time to time, because it’s all about doing it your way.
Since Think Big, Act Bigger is about being bold, we also asked him what advice he would give to introverts. For this, Jeffrey does not believe that ‘thinking big and acting bigger’ is incompatible with the introvert’s personality. Introverts should do it their way too, and just because their introverted doesn’t mean they can’t produce results. The quiet person can still make big things happen in their own way as long as they too act relentlessly.
A Bigger, Better Version of Yourself
It is here where we see how Jeffrey marries the contradictions we hear in the business world – being told what we should do while at the same time being told to be ourselves. There are ways to do things that will produce results, and it’s up to you to weigh this information and go forward by doing it your own way. For example, people have told Jeffrey that he should be selling things online, such as online courses, but he doesn’t like that. He prefers live audiences and the art of presentation, so he chooses to make his money as a speaker and television/radio host. Maybe in the future he’ll change his mind, but at every step of the way he is committed to doing it his own way.
In business, Jeffrey says it’s important to have self-confidence and walk with a little swagger, but also to understand humility. His book Think Big, Act Bigger: The Rewards of Being Relentless shares ten core business lessons that will challenge you to be a bigger and better version of yourself. It is about reframing your mind and changing your attitude so you gain the confidence to make your own bold business moves.
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