📘 Summary of 101 Crucial Lessons They Don’t Teach You in Business School
Imagine getting mentored by a battle-tested CEO, MBA professor, and venture capitalist—all in under 3 hours. That’s what this book delivers. Chris Haroun strips away theory and buzzwords to hand you the real-world truths of business success—stuff no textbook dares to mention.
This book isn’t about graphs or jargon. It’s a field manual for your career, packed with 101 razor-sharp lessons drawn from the boardrooms of Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and Fortune 500 giants. From landing your dream job without a résumé to avoiding career-killing mistakes, Haroun covers it all with honesty, humor, and a massive dose of practicality.
The core message?
👉 Relationships > Credentials
👉 Integrity > Intelligence
👉 Execution > Ideas
Each lesson is built like a power-packed nugget—complete with a mini-story, a mindset shift, clear instructions, and action steps you can apply immediately.
You’ll learn:
✅ How to build unshakable confidence (even if you’re new or nervous)
✅ How to master the politics of the workplace (without becoming a snake)
✅ Why most advice is garbage—and how to filter the good from the bad
✅ How to raise your profile, get promoted, and think like a CEO
✅ The daily habits that separate ultra-successful people from everyone else
Who is it for?
Aspiring entrepreneurs, career climbers, job hunters, or anyone tired of spinning their wheels in the corporate world.
In short, if you’re ready to stop memorizing and start mastering business—and life—this book is your ultimate shortcut.
👤 About the Author
Chris Haroun is an award-winning MBA professor, venture capitalist, and former Goldman Sachs investment banker. He’s taught over 1.5 million students worldwide through his best-selling business courses on platforms like Udemy and YouTube. Known for blending practical experience with engaging teaching, Chris draws from his career in top-tier finance and Silicon Valley startups to empower others with real-world business wisdom. He’s also the founder of Haroun Education Ventures, a mission-driven platform that aims to democratize business education. Chris holds an MBA from Columbia University and is a firm believer that success is about relationships, not résumés.
Let me Explain it Chapter by Chapter for you…
🔹 Section 1: Relationships Are More Important Than Product Knowledge
✅ Lesson 1: Steve Jobs’ Winning Strategy – Ask and You Shall Receive
📖 Mini-story:
At just 12, Steve Jobs cold-called HP co-founder Bill Hewlett for spare parts. Not only did he get the parts, he landed a summer job!
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Most people never ask for help—they assume rejection. But asking, sincerely and often, opens doors.
✅ Instructions:
- Use LinkedIn Premium to reach out to professionals with shared backgrounds.
- Keep messages short, warm, and personal (e.g., “We both went to XYZ school; can we grab coffee?”).
- Ask—don’t wait!
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Draft a LinkedIn message today to someone you admire.
- Set a goal: reach out to 3–5 people weekly.
✅ Lesson 2: How to Get a Job Without Sending a Resume
📖 Mini-story:
Chris asks his MBA students if they’d do 20 informational meetings to land their dream job. They all agree—but few actually do it.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Jobs aren’t won with resumes. They’re won through relationships.
✅ Instructions:
- Don’t apply blindly. Set up informational interviews via LinkedIn.
- Talk about shared interests first, job second.
- Ask if/when the company is hiring, and follow up.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Set up 20 informational interviews in 1 month.
- Practice warm, casual conversations.
- Track who you talk to and follow up.
✅ Lesson 3: Business is About People, Not Just What You Know
📖 Mini-story:
On joining a new company, Chris booked a coffee meeting daily—even with assistants. They knew how the firm worked better than most!
🧠 Mindset Shift:
The fastest way to succeed is by understanding people, not processes.
✅ Instructions:
- Meet colleagues from all departments, regardless of title.
- Learn the culture.
- Build early relationships—they’re harder to form later.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Make a “get-to-know” list for your workplace.
- Schedule 1 coffee/lunch per week for your first 3 months.
✅ Lesson 4: Treat People Like Celebrities, and Celebrities Like People
📖 Mini-story:
President Bush, Chris learns, was effective because he made everyone feel important—like celebrities.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Everyone wants to feel seen and appreciated. Lead with that.
✅ Instructions:
- Ask personal questions before diving into business.
- Smile. Use names often. Show curiosity.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Open meetings with “How was your weekend?”
- Memorize 1–2 personal facts about each colleague.
✅ Lesson 5: Meet People, Have Fun, and Learn
📖 Mini-story:
When Chris joined Goldman Sachs, he set 3 goals: meet, have fun, and learn. This mindset made him confident and connected.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Work should be energizing, not just transactional.
✅ Instructions:
- Approach every new job with curiosity and openness.
- Laugh. Connect. Explore.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Set daily or weekly learning goals.
- Make work social—without compromising productivity.
✅ Lesson 6: Practice Sincere Gratitude
📖 Mini-story:
Chris explains how handwritten thank-you notes made him unforgettable after meetings.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Gratitude isn’t weak—it’s a power move in a world of indifference.
✅ Instructions:
- Use “please” and “thank you” in emails.
- Send handwritten notes after key meetings.
- Avoid robotic sign-offs (“Regards”).
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Buy a thank-you card pack.
- Send 1 genuine note this week.
✅ Lesson 7: Your Alma Matters
📖 Mini-story:
HP’s founders got their big break through their Disney alumni connection. School ties can be golden!
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Your school network is more valuable than your degree.
✅ Instructions:
- Use LinkedIn to find alumni in your area or industry.
- Attend alumni events or start one.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Write to 3 alumni this month.
- Volunteer at a university event.
✅ Lesson 8: Post-Meeting Networking Best Practice
📖 Mini-story:
Chris shares that after every meeting, he adds the person to LinkedIn—with a personal note to recall the interaction.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Networking doesn’t end with the handshake—it begins there.
✅ Instructions:
- Add contacts right after meeting.
- In LinkedIn’s note field, jot private details (meeting context, key points).
- Avoid connecting with people you haven’t met yet.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Review your recent meetings. Add missing LinkedIn connections.
- Organize your network using LinkedIn notes.
🔹 Section 2: Be Long Term Greedy
Use These Crucial Long-Term Strategies and Watch Your Net Worth Soar
✅ Lesson 9: The Longer the View, the Wiser the Intention
📖 Mini-story:
At Columbia, Chris watched Warren Buffett turn down a student’s pitch in under a minute—not because the company was bad, but because Buffett couldn’t predict its relevance in 5–10 years. Six months later, that company went bankrupt.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Short-term wins may feel good, but long-term strategy creates true wealth.
✅ Instructions:
- Before investing time, money, or effort, ask: “Will this still matter in 5 years?”
- Avoid chasing trends—invest in relevance.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Write a 5-year vision for any major decision.
- Stop checking short-term results obsessively—track progress quarterly or annually.
✅ Lesson 10: Learn, Earn, Return
📖 Mini-story:
Chris serves on the board of LEMO Foundation, which mentors underprivileged youth. Its motto: “Don’t expect to accomplish your goals unless you help others accomplish theirs.”
🧠 Mindset Shift:
The path to fulfillment isn’t just climbing—it’s lifting others as you rise.
✅ Instructions:
- Mentor people regularly.
- Reflect on who helped you, and pay it forward.
- Use teaching as a way to reinforce your learning.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Volunteer for a cause aligned with your skills.
- Identify one person you can mentor this quarter.
✅ Lesson 11: The Harder You Work, the Luckier You Get
📖 Mini-story:
Chris compares goal-setting to climbing a mountain: You start out full of energy, then lose sight of the summit midway. That’s not a failure—it’s proximity.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
When things feel hardest, you’re often closest to breakthrough.
✅ Instructions:
- Keep going even when you feel stalled.
- Know that discipline beats excitement in the long run.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Break big goals into weekly milestones.
- Create a “Why I started” reminder on your phone or desk.
✅ Lesson 12: The Most Important Investment You Will Ever Make
📖 Mini-story:
Chris urges readers not to be frugal when it comes to books, podcasts, or courses. He consumes online education even on a stationary bike.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
You are your #1 asset. Feed your mind relentlessly.
✅ Instructions:
- Invest in courses, coaching, and books even if it feels expensive.
- Read biographies of successful people—success leaves clues.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Subscribe to one new podcast or course platform (like Udemy).
- Allocate a learning budget every month.
✅ Lesson 13: Learn What Not to Do
📖 Mini-story:
An Accenture partner once called Chris “incompetent” for not knowing how to print a report. The insult crushed his morale—but became a lifelong lesson on how not to lead.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Bad bosses teach you just as much as great ones—if you pay attention.
✅ Instructions:
- Study leaders around you: note what inspires or demotivates others.
- Adopt the best. Avoid the worst. Learn even from pain.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Journal leadership dos and don’ts from your own experience.
- When you’re in charge, review your “never do this” list.
🔹 Section 3: Avoid Burnout
Avoid These Crucial Land Mines and Save Your Career (and Your Life)
✅ Lesson 14: What to Do the Second You Return from Vacation
📖 Mini-story:
Chris once ignored advice from a Manulife client to book his next vacation as soon as he returned from one. He kept grinding—and burned out hard. It took months to recover.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Rest isn’t optional—it’s strategic. Burnout costs more than breaks ever will.
✅ Instructions:
- As soon as you return from a break, open your calendar and book the next one (6 months ahead).
- Take regular weekends off—your future self depends on it.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Block your next vacation date right now.
- Create a system: every 6 months, recharge intentionally.
✅ Lesson 15: Stress Will Kill You – Don’t Be the Gazelle!
📖 Mini-story:
When a gazelle is chased by a lion, its whole system shuts down except for survival. Humans react the same way under workplace stress—immune and reproductive systems go offline.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Chronic stress is silent sabotage. See stress as a challenge—not a threat.
✅ Instructions:
- Reframe your thinking: turn anxiety into action.
- Build rest into your daily rhythm.
- Practice calm under pressure through breathing, mindfulness, or walks.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Take short breaks throughout the day.
- Replace “I’m stressed” with “I’m challenged—and I’m growing.”
✅ Lesson 16: When to Take a Day Off (Even if You’re Not Sick)
📖 Mini-story:
We all take sick days when our bodies break. But what about when our minds need rest? Chris warns that mental burnout leads to real, career-damaging mistakes.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Mental wellness is productivity. One off-day can save you weeks of underperformance.
✅ Instructions:
- When you feel overwhelmed or unproductive, take a “mental wellness day.”
- Use the time to reset—not to catch up.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Schedule 1 “reset day” every 3 months.
- On those days, unplug completely—don’t justify it.
✅ Lesson 17: The Ten Commandments
📖 Mini-story:
Chris shares how he never checks email on Sundays—his kids even hold him accountable. He learned the wisdom of Sabbath rest the hard way.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
One full day off per week isn’t laziness. It’s sustainable leadership.
✅ Instructions:
- Pick one day (like Sunday) where you absolutely disconnect from work.
- Train your team, family, and clients to respect this boundary.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Mark your weekly “no work” day on your calendar.
- Let your team or clients know about it—honor the commitment.
🧘♂️ Section Takeaway:
Burnout doesn’t just end careers—it steals life. Build rhythm, not resistance. Rest is your productivity amplifier.
🔹 Section 4: Create Off-the-Charts Confidence
Wear That Superman Cape!
✅ Lesson 18: There Are No Limits
📖 Mini-story:
Chris recalls that CEOs often start in the mailroom. Confidence—not credentials—propelled them.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Whatever goal you set—CEO, founder, innovator—you are the only real limit.
✅ Instructions:
- Repeat: “Whether or not I think I can—I’m right.”
- Dream 10 years ahead, not just 1. Think bigger.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Write your “impossible” goal. Stick it on your wall.
- Remind yourself weekly: “There are no limits except the ones I set.”
✅ Lesson 19: The Glass is Always Full
📖 Mini-story:
Faced with challenges, Chris reframes them as fuel. “Crisis = opportunity” became his business mantra.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Nothing is ever fully bad. There’s always value in adversity—if you look for it.
✅ Instructions:
- When problems arise, ask: “What’s the opportunity here?”
- Use setbacks as mental training for greatness.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Keep a challenge journal. Reframe each issue into a benefit.
- Practice optimism like a muscle.
✅ Lesson 20: Balanced Life = More Productive in Business
📖 Mini-story:
Chris exercises daily, plans tomorrow’s schedule tonight, and still finds time for family. Why? Because he prioritizes balance first.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Time is never the issue. Priorities are.
✅ Instructions:
- Schedule: family, health, rest, fun—before work.
- Plan tomorrow’s day tonight.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Use time-blocking on your calendar.
- Add “exercise” and “fun” to your task list.
✅ Lesson 21: You Are Never As Nervous As You Sound
📖 Mini-story:
Chris felt scared in early public talks but realized others didn’t notice. He learned to use nerves as energy.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
People don’t see your fear—they see your intention.
✅ Instructions:
- Visualize a past success to calm nerves.
- See nervousness as a performance enhancer, not a flaw.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Reframe anxiety into excitement before public speaking.
- Practice, then celebrate small speaking wins.
✅ Lesson 22: Avoid “Those” People
📖 Mini-story:
Chris explains how Richard Branson’s success stems partly from surrounding himself with relentlessly positive people.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Negativity is contagious. So is joy. Choose wisely.
✅ Instructions:
- Audit your circle: drop toxic, elevate positive.
- Find role models who radiate belief and joy.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- List 3 energy-giving people to spend more time with.
- Set boundaries with negative ones.
✅ Lesson 23: That Person Speaks “Gooder” Than Me!
📖 Mini-story:
Chris mocks “HBS” as “two-thirds BS.” Just because someone sounds smart doesn’t mean they are.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
Don’t be fooled by flashy talk. Your ideas and grit matter more than eloquence.
✅ Instructions:
- Focus on substance over style.
- Believe in your path—regardless of your vocabulary.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Speak from the heart, not a script.
- Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to others’ highlight reels.
✅ Lesson 24: Nobody is Smarter Than You
📖 Mini-story:
Chris quotes Steve Jobs: “Everything around you was built by people no smarter than you.” That changed his confidence forever.
🧠 Mindset Shift:
You belong in the room. You’re smart enough. Now act like it.
✅ Instructions:
- Watch Steve Jobs’ “Smarter Than You” talk.
- Own your voice. Speak up. Take risks.
🔑 Action Pointers:
- Write “Nobody is smarter than me” in your journal today.
- Act like a founder—even if you’re not one yet.
✅ Section 5: Ethics — Use It or Lose It
Crucial Ethics Lessons to Keep You Out of Trouble
Lesson 25: Transparency Builds Trust
📖 Mini-story: Chris discloses all risks to investors early—even if it means losing the deal.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Honesty builds long-term credibility, even if it costs in the short run.
✅ Instructions: Disclose all product or service risks in the first 5 minutes of any meeting.
🔑 Action: Write out and rehearse your “honest risk” pitch for your next offer.
Lesson 26: Don’t Trust This Type of Person
📖 Mini-story: Chris avoids doing business with anyone who cheats on their spouse.
🧠 Mindset Shift: How someone treats their partner is how they’ll treat you.
✅ Instructions: Do reference checks thoroughly—especially informally.
🔑 Action: Look for “smoke” in background checks; trust your gut.
Lesson 27: How to Tell if Someone is Lying
📖 Mini-story: Former CIA/FBI agents trained Chris in lie detection at a hedge fund.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Physical cues reveal deception more than words do.
✅ Instructions: Watch for:
- Long answers to yes/no
- No eye contact
- Covering mouth
- Shaky feet
🔑 Action: Practice observing these cues in everyday conversations.
Lesson 28: How to Destroy Your Career in 30 Seconds
📖 Mini-story: Goldman Sachs fingerprinted Chris and warned: “Never get us on the front page of The Wall Street Journal.”
🧠 Mindset Shift: Your reputation is all you have.
✅ Instructions: Assume everything digital is permanent. Don’t send impulsive messages.
🔑 Action: Pause before posting, emailing, or texting in anger.
✅ Section 6: Every Battle is Won Before It Has Been Fought
Crucial Preparation Strategies
Lesson 29: Over Prepare for Everything
📖 Mini-story: Chris recorded 100+ mock interview answers to land jobs. A VC friend brought 3 term sheets to a Facebook meeting—and won.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Obsessive prep beats natural talent.
✅ Instructions: Out-prepare your competition. Anticipate every question.
🔑 Action: Spend 5× more time preparing than others typically do.
Lesson 30: The O’Hare Test
📖 Mini-story: Would you enjoy being stuck at the airport for 8 hours with this person?
🧠 Mindset Shift: Likability matters. People hire and promote those they like.
✅ Instructions: Listen more than you speak. Be interested, not interesting.
🔑 Action: Ask better questions. Build trust through presence.
Lesson 31: Don’t Take New Shortcuts When in a Hurry
📖 Mini-story: Rushing to meetings, Chris learned the hard way that “unfamiliar shortcuts” cause delays.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Reliability matters more than urgency.
✅ Instructions: Always leave early. Never risk your reputation.
🔑 Action: Plan time buffers for meetings and deadlines.
✅ Section 7: Goal Setting
Follow These Crucial Steps and Achieve Your Dreams
Lesson 32: Run to Your Fears
📖 Mini-story: Chris conquered his fear of public speaking by volunteering in prisons. A failed priest appearance forced him to deliver a 20-minute sermon to inmates—and he nailed it.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Fear points to growth. Lean in.
✅ Instructions: Do the thing that scares you—today.
🔑 Action: Write down your biggest professional fear. Take one action step toward it this week.
Lesson 33: Make a Gap Analysis
📖 Mini-story: Army officers couldn’t stop roadside bombs until they built mobile data centers—impossible? They did it anyway.
🧠 Mindset Shift: You don’t need to know how. You need to know what—then build the how.
✅ Instructions: Define your dream, list the skill/resource gaps, fill them.
🔑 Action: Build your goal + gap map. Make it visible.
Lesson 34: The Yale Goal Study
📖 Mini-story: Only 3% of Yale’s class of 1953 wrote down goals. Twenty years later, they had more wealth than the other 97% combined.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Written goals = power.
✅ Instructions: Write your goals daily or keep them in your wallet/phone.
🔑 Action: Write 3 long-term goals on a sticky note now.
Lesson 35: Should You Get a Graduate Degree?
📖 Mini-story: Chris says only get a graduate degree if it helps you change industries or accelerate growth.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Don’t chase letters—chase leverage.
✅ Instructions: Only pursue degrees that directly serve your dream.
🔑 Action: Map your end goal first—then decide on education.
Lesson 36: Push the Goal Post Out
📖 Mini-story: After achieving one goal, Chris always sets a bigger one.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Success is a moving target.
✅ Instructions: Celebrate wins—then stretch the vision.
🔑 Action: Set a “10× goal” that scares and excites you.
✅ Section 8: Happiness Is…
Find Joy to Fuel Success
Lesson 37: Don’t Have a Job. Have a Passion.
📖 Mini-story: Chris teaches: “Success doesn’t lead to happiness. Happiness leads to success.”
🧠 Mindset Shift: If you “have a job,” you’re doing it wrong.
✅ Instructions: Follow your passion—money follows mastery.
🔑 Action: Identify what activity you love so much, you’d do it for free.
Lesson 38: Laugh at Your Failures
📖 Mini-story: From Edison to Disney to Madonna, countless icons failed before succeeding.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Failure is your launchpad.
✅ Instructions: Reframe failures as plot twists—not defeats.
🔑 Action: Write your top 3 failures and what they taught you.
Lesson 39: Money ≠ Happiness
📖 Mini-story: A priest told Chris: “Your kids won’t remember your net worth—just whether you were a great father.”
🧠 Mindset Shift: Measure wealth by relationships, not numbers.
✅ Instructions: Pursue purpose, not just pay.
🔑 Action: List 3 people you’d regret ignoring 10 years from now. Reconnect.
Lesson 40: Personal Gratitude and Happiness
📖 Mini-story: Chris teaches his kids to thank God for one new thing every night.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Gratitude shifts your state—instantly.
✅ Instructions: Practice daily gratitude. Make it specific.
🔑 Action: Write 3 new things you’re grateful for—every day for a week.
Lesson 41: All Your Wealth Can’t Buy You Health
📖 Mini-story: The Dalai Lama said: “Man sacrifices his health for money, then his money for health.”
🧠 Mindset Shift: No success is worth poor health.
✅ Instructions: Prioritize sleep, food, and movement. No excuses.
🔑 Action: Block 30 mins of daily exercise on your calendar.
Lesson 42: When to Change Careers
📖 Mini-story: Chris left hedge funds (despite the money) because it didn’t align with his values.
🧠 Mindset Shift: If you hate Mondays, it’s time to pivot.
✅ Instructions: Follow your energy. Start exploring what excites you.
🔑 Action: Set a 90-day experiment to explore a new career.
✅ Section 9: Legal Stuff Is Important
Protect Yourself and Your Family
Lesson 43: How to Protect Your Family
📖 Mini-story: Chris warns founders not to structure businesses as sole proprietorships.
🧠 Mindset Shift: A lawsuit could cost your home if you’re not protected.
✅ Instructions: Set up an LLC. Get legal documents in order.
🔑 Action: Review your business structure today.
Lesson 44: Seek Help from Outside Counsel
📖 Mini-story: Your employer’s lawyer isn’t your lawyer.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Contracts protect them, not you.
✅ Instructions: Always have legal documents reviewed independently.
🔑 Action: Build a relationship with a lawyer now—before you need one.
Lesson 45: Stay Out of Trouble
📖 Mini-story: Chris saw many careers crash from workplace dating drama or digital mistakes.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Boundaries = protection.
✅ Instructions: Avoid risky behavior. Be professional, always.
🔑 Action: Clean up your digital footprint today.
✅ Section 10: Management Best Practices
Lesson 46: Praise in Public, Criticize in Private
📖 Mini-story: CEO Godfrey Sullivan built a world-class culture using this one rule.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Public recognition boosts morale. Public criticism kills it.
✅ Instructions: Celebrate wins loudly. Handle issues quietly.
🔑 Action: Compliment 3 team members publicly this week.
Lesson 47: Be Unemotional in Business
📖 Mini-story: Top investors and execs stay even-keeled—always.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Emotions cloud judgment.
✅ Instructions: Breathe. Pause. Lead with logic.
🔑 Action: Respond to problems with questions—not reactions.
Lesson 48: Bet on the Jockey, Not the Horse
📖 Mini-story: Chris says great ideas are cheap. Great leaders are rare.
🧠 Mindset Shift: The who matters more than the what.
✅ Instructions: Invest in people, not just products.
🔑 Action: Evaluate teams as rigorously as markets.
Lesson 49: Hire Slowly, Fire Quickly
📖 Mini-story: Keeping one toxic employee too long can sink your whole team.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Culture > convenience.
✅ Instructions: Use unconventional reference checks. Fire fast if values don’t align.
🔑 Action: Refine your hiring and firing playbook.
Lesson 50: Touch Hand Only Once
📖 Mini-story: Chris learned to never touch the same task twice.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Multitasking creates mental clutter.
✅ Instructions: Handle small tasks immediately. Don’t reopen the same email 3 times.
🔑 Action: Use the “I do it now” mantra for quick tasks.
✅ Section 11: Navigating Corporate Politics — Swimming with Sharks
Crucial Lessons on Office Survival
Lesson 51: Keep That Letter in Your Drawer
📖 Mini-story: Chris’s father taught him to never send a letter written in anger. Let it sit. Reread it later.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Emotional reactions can destroy your reputation in seconds.
✅ Instructions: Draft, don’t send. Sleep on it.
🔑 Action: Make “Save as Draft” your default during emotional moments.
Lesson 52: Religion and Politics
📖 Mini-story: Chris warns that taking sides publicly may alienate half your audience—needlessly.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Silence can be strength.
✅ Instructions: Keep your views private unless relevant.
🔑 Action: Audit your online presence. Remove polarizing content.
Lesson 53: Unjustified Criticism Is a Disguised Compliment
📖 Mini-story: Chris learned that criticism increased as he became more successful. Now he sees it as flattery.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Criticism = proof you’re growing.
✅ Instructions: Smile when critics show up. You’re doing something right.
🔑 Action: Track negative comments. Use them as growth fuel.
Lesson 54: How to Talk Behind People’s Backs
📖 Mini-story: Chris’s rule: only say things behind someone’s back you’d say to their face.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Gossip kills culture—and trust.
✅ Instructions: Speak positively, or stay silent.
🔑 Action: Praise one colleague behind their back every week.
Lesson 55: Observe Before Making Your Move
📖 Mini-story: On starting a new job, Chris always observes power dynamics before jumping in.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Patience reveals the real game.
✅ Instructions: Study first. Act later.
🔑 Action: Create a “politics map” of your company’s influence circles.
Lesson 56: The Army Promotes You Because of This
📖 Mini-story: The military rewards team players—not individual stars.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Help others succeed to advance faster yourself.
✅ Instructions: Be a force multiplier for your team.
🔑 Action: Mentor someone in your department starting today.
Lesson 57: Why Face Time Matters
📖 Mini-story: Like it or not, showing up matters—especially in big companies.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Visibility creates opportunity.
✅ Instructions: Be present, early, and engaged.
🔑 Action: Arrive 15 mins early for key meetings this month.
Lesson 58: D.T.A. – Don’t Trust Anybody?
📖 Mini-story: Chris learned that sometimes the people who act nice can turn quickly under pressure.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Trust slowly. Verify often.
✅ Instructions: Protect your work. Keep documentation.
🔑 Action: Avoid oversharing until trust is earned.
Lesson 59: Donald Trump’s Networking Lesson
📖 Mini-story: Trump taught that any press is good press—as long as you control the story.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Build your own brand before others do it for you.
✅ Instructions: Use media strategically to position yourself.
🔑 Action: Write one public post or article showcasing your expertise.
Lesson 60: Ask “How Am I Doing?” Often
📖 Mini-story: Chris regularly asks peers and mentors for feedback—and grows faster than others.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Feedback is a gift.
✅ Instructions: Seek it. Receive it. Apply it.
🔑 Action: Ask one colleague and one friend: “What’s one thing I can do better?”
Lesson 61: The Only Way to Get Promoted or a Raise
📖 Mini-story: Most people wait to be noticed. Chris teaches: if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Your advancement is your responsibility.
✅ Instructions: Document your wins. Make the ask.
🔑 Action: Set a date to present your value to your manager.
Lesson 62: There Is a Plan B Before You Quit
📖 Mini-story: Chris warns not to quit in frustration—always have a plan first.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Don’t jump. Strategically leap.
✅ Instructions: Build your exit path before making the move.
🔑 Action: Start networking and skill-building quietly.
Lesson 63: Avoid This at All Costs
📖 Mini-story: Complaining in public ruined several careers Chris witnessed.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Venting is natural—but not strategic.
✅ Instructions: Keep grievances private or constructive.
🔑 Action: If tempted to complain, write it privately first.
Lesson 64: Don’t Go Over Your Boss’ Head
📖 Mini-story: Chris saw employees lose jobs just for skipping hierarchy.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Respect the chain—even if it’s flawed.
✅ Instructions: Keep your manager in the loop.
🔑 Action: Double-check your communication flows before going to upper levels.
Lesson 65: Be a Nice Dumb Guy
📖 Mini-story: Chris learned to let others underestimate him—it was a secret advantage.
🧠 Mindset Shift: You don’t need to prove your intelligence—let results speak.
✅ Instructions: Lead with humility. Let others shine.
🔑 Action: Ask more questions than you answer this week.
Lesson 66: Never Complain
📖 Mini-story: Chris cites successful people who never complain—just adapt.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Complaining gives away power.
✅ Instructions: Replace complaints with action steps.
🔑 Action: Track complaints and reframe them into solutions.
✅ Section 12: Only Take Advice from Successful People
Lesson 67: You Need Yodas!
📖 Mini-story: Chris found mentors for every stage of his career—and still does.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Mentors collapse decades into days.
✅ Instructions: Seek mentors who’ve done what you want to do.
🔑 Action: Reach out to one potential mentor this week.
Lesson 68: Follow These Peeps
📖 Mini-story: Chris urges reading bios of great entrepreneurs.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Success leaves footprints.
✅ Instructions: Learn from the best. Copy strategies, not just motivation.
🔑 Action: Pick a successful figure. Read or watch a deep-dive this month.
Lesson 69: I’ve Never Met a Successful Person With…
📖 Mini-story: Chris noticed every successful person he knows reads constantly.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Readers are leaders.
✅ Instructions: Make reading a daily habit.
🔑 Action: Set a 10-page-per-day goal.
Lesson 70: Follow the Smart Money
📖 Mini-story: Chris always tracks what the most successful investors are doing—not what they’re saying.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Actions over opinions.
✅ Instructions: Analyze smart investors’ actual portfolio moves.
🔑 Action: Research one VC or hedge fund strategy this weekend.
✅ Section 13: Only the Paranoid Survive
Lesson 71: Hit This Key and Lose Your Job
📖 Mini-story: Chris warns of careless replies or “reply all” disasters.
🧠 Mindset Shift: One click can kill a career.
✅ Instructions: Pause before sending anything controversial.
🔑 Action: Re-read emails before sending. Avoid emotional tone.
Lesson 72: Let This Secret Out and You’re Done
📖 Mini-story: Confidential leaks destroy careers—and lawsuits follow.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Be a vault, not a sieve.
✅ Instructions: Keep private info private—even with friends.
🔑 Action: Never forward sensitive documents.
Lesson 73: Disaster Recovery — Your Personal Backup Plan
📖 Mini-story: Chris recommends backing up all contacts and professional data regularly.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Plan for worst-case scenarios—before they arrive.
✅ Instructions: Use cloud backups. Have a job loss plan.
🔑 Action: Export your LinkedIn contacts monthly.
Lesson 74: Question Motives
📖 Mini-story: Chris reminds us that in business, not everyone wants you to succeed.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Trust is earned—not assumed.
✅ Instructions: Ask: “What’s their agenda?”
🔑 Action: Before taking advice, assess their incentives.
✅ Section 14: Risk Taking
Lesson 75: Fail Fast and Early
📖 Mini-story: Chris believes early failure teaches lessons that last a lifetime.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Risk young. Regret later is worse.
✅ Instructions: Start that side hustle or project now.
🔑 Action: Pick one “risky” idea to explore this month.
Lesson 76: O.P.M. (Other People’s Money)
📖 Mini-story: Entrepreneurs often grow by learning how to pitch and protect capital wisely.
🧠 Mindset Shift: You don’t have to start rich—but you must be resourceful.
✅ Instructions: Learn to raise money or partner.
🔑 Action: Read one book on pitching or funding this quarter.
Lesson 77: Don’t Invest if the Founders Have Left
📖 Mini-story: Chris has lost money investing in startups whose founders jumped ship.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Founders are the soul of the business.
✅ Instructions: Only back companies with committed leadership.
🔑 Action: Check founder history before joining or funding a startup.
✅ Section 15: Sales Best Practices
Crucial Sales Skills You’ll Use in Every Career
Lesson 78: Sales = Passion
📖 Mini-story: Chris says the best salespeople don’t “sell” — they share their excitement. He cites Steve Jobs’ iPhone launch as a masterclass in passion-based persuasion.
🧠 Mindset Shift: If you’re not enthusiastic, why should they be?
✅ Instructions: Sell with heart. Don’t fake it — believe it.
🔑 Action: Record yourself pitching your idea. Do you sound excited? If not, fix it.
Lesson 79: ABC = Always Be Cool
📖 Mini-story: Unlike the old “Always Be Closing,” Chris says cool confidence — not desperation — wins deals.
🧠 Mindset Shift: People buy from calm confidence, not pressure.
✅ Instructions: Be relaxed. Don’t push. Ask questions and listen.
🔑 Action: Practice “calm confidence” tone in your next pitch call.
Lesson 80: Sell the Problem, Not the Product
📖 Mini-story: Chris teaches how to focus on pain points, not product features. “Make them feel the pain,” he says, “then offer the cure.”
🧠 Mindset Shift: No pain = no sale.
✅ Instructions: Ask problem-based questions first. Let them talk.
🔑 Action: Script 3 customer pain points and lead with them in your pitch.
Lesson 81: Sell Yourself First
📖 Mini-story: Chris learned in hedge funds that investors decide in the first 5 minutes — not based on numbers, but on trust.
🧠 Mindset Shift: People buy you before they buy your offer.
✅ Instructions: Build rapport first. Show integrity.
🔑 Action: Practice storytelling your “why” before diving into your “what.”
Lesson 82: Start with the Heart
📖 Mini-story: Before pitching, Chris asks about family, weekend plans, or passions. It disarms the prospect.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Warmth opens wallets.
✅ Instructions: Build human connection before talking business.
🔑 Action: Begin every sales convo with a genuine personal question.
Lesson 83: Listen 2x More Than You Talk
📖 Mini-story: Chris noticed top salespeople speak less than 30% of the time.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Listening uncovers buying signals.
✅ Instructions: Ask open-ended questions. Take notes. Let silence sit.
🔑 Action: In your next meeting, aim to speak only 1/3 of the time.
Lesson 84: Don’t Be a Used Car Salesperson
📖 Mini-story: Chris avoids scripts and pressure. He focuses on serving, not selling.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Selling is helping — not manipulating.
✅ Instructions: Focus on what’s right for the buyer.
🔑 Action: Eliminate pushy phrases like “act now” from your pitch.
Lesson 85: Ask This Question
📖 Mini-story: Chris’s favorite closing question:
“Do you see any risks in moving forward?”
🧠 Mindset Shift: Great closers overcome objections, not force decisions.
✅ Instructions: Surface hesitations early — and solve them.
🔑 Action: Practice using this question in your next deal conversation.
Lesson 86: “I’ll Think About It” = No
📖 Mini-story: Chris teaches that polite rejections waste your time.
🧠 Mindset Shift: “Maybe” often means “no” — move on.
✅ Instructions: Ask for honest answers. Don’t chase ghosts.
🔑 Action: Set a rule: 2 follow-ups, then move on if unresponsive.
Lesson 87: Don’t Sell to Broke People
📖 Mini-story: Chris once tried selling to a client who couldn’t afford the service. It wasted everyone’s time.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Qualify leads early. No budget = no deal.
✅ Instructions: Ask about timelines, budget, and decision-makers early.
🔑 Action: Use a sales qualification checklist in your prospecting.
Lesson 88: Don’t Be Too Friendly During Negotiations
📖 Mini-story: Chris lost leverage early in his career by becoming too emotionally involved with clients.
🧠 Mindset Shift: You can be friendly — but stay strategic.
✅ Instructions: Know when to switch from rapport to terms.
🔑 Action: Use silence confidently during tough negotiations.
Lesson 89: Think with Your Head, Not Your Heart
📖 Mini-story: Chris passed on emotional investment deals and saved millions.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Emotions cloud judgment. Use logic to evaluate opportunities.
✅ Instructions: Use a checklist or decision framework for major decisions.
🔑 Action: Create a “logic filter” before saying yes to any business deal.
✅ Section 16: Think Different
Master Your Mind. Own Your Results.
Lesson 90: Think Like a Child
📖 Mini-story: Chris observes that kids aren’t afraid to ask “why?” or take risks. Adults are taught to fear failure.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Curiosity > conformity. Rediscover your boldness.
✅ Instructions: Ask naïve questions. Challenge the obvious.
🔑 Action: Write down 3 “child-like” questions about your work or industry.
Lesson 91: Ignore Most Advice
📖 Mini-story: Chris warns that most advice comes from people projecting their own limitations.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Filter advice. Not all opinions matter.
✅ Instructions: Ask yourself: “Is this person successful in the area they’re advising me on?”
🔑 Action: Stop seeking validation from those who haven’t done what you want to do.
Lesson 92: Don’t Care What People Think
📖 Mini-story: Chris shares that the most successful people in history were often ridiculed — until they succeeded.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Opinions don’t pay bills. Truth and action do.
✅ Instructions: Measure yourself by your own goals, not others’ approval.
🔑 Action: Write: “What would I do if I didn’t care what people thought?” — then go do it.
Lesson 93: You’re Incredibly Unique
📖 Mini-story: Chris says no one else has your DNA, your life story, or your lens. That’s your power.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Stop trying to fit in. Start standing out.
✅ Instructions: Use your uniqueness as a brand advantage.
🔑 Action: List 5 traits or experiences that make your journey one-of-a-kind.
Lesson 94: Build Your Brand
📖 Mini-story: Chris built his education brand from scratch by simply sharing what he knew — and people came.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Your brand is your digital handshake.
✅ Instructions: Be visible. Consistent. Authentic.
🔑 Action: Start posting weekly on LinkedIn or YouTube about your expertise.
Lesson 95: Dress for Success
📖 Mini-story: Chris shares how first impressions are formed in 3 seconds. Fair or not, appearance influences perception.
🧠 Mindset Shift: You don’t have to wear a suit — just dress with intention.
✅ Instructions: Know your audience and dress one notch above expectation.
🔑 Action: Upgrade one element of your work wardrobe this week.
✅ Section 17: You Be You
Your Greatest Power Is Authenticity
Lesson 96: Confidence ≠ Arrogance
📖 Mini-story: Chris notes that true confidence uplifts others; arrogance diminishes them.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Lead with humility and strength.
✅ Instructions: Be self-assured, not self-centered.
🔑 Action: Compliment someone else’s strengths every day.
Lesson 97: Laugh at Yourself
📖 Mini-story: Chris shares how self-deprecating humor disarms people and builds connection instantly.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Perfection isn’t relatable. Vulnerability is.
✅ Instructions: Own your quirks and flaws openly.
🔑 Action: In your next presentation or convo, share a silly mistake or story.
Lesson 98: You Do You
📖 Mini-story: Chris turned down big paydays in finance to teach online — because that made him feel alive.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Success = alignment, not applause.
✅ Instructions: Choose authenticity over acceptance.
🔑 Action: Revisit your life goals. Are they truly yours?
Lesson 99: If You Don’t Love Yourself…
📖 Mini-story: Chris reminds us that self-respect is the root of all healthy relationships and success.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Self-love is not ego — it’s emotional stability.
✅ Instructions: Treat yourself with compassion, like a friend.
🔑 Action: Write yourself a gratitude letter. List 5 things you love about who you are.
Lesson 100: Give, and You Will Receive
📖 Mini-story: Chris cites countless moments where generosity created unexpected returns — relationships, deals, joy.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Giving isn’t charity. It’s strategy for abundance.
✅ Instructions: Be a connector. A mentor. A helper — without expecting anything back.
🔑 Action: Help one person this week with no strings attached.
Lesson 101: Make It Fun!
📖 Mini-story: Chris says if you’re not enjoying the journey, you’ll hate the destination.
🧠 Mindset Shift: Fun fuels greatness.
✅ Instructions: Infuse joy into your routine. Laugh. Celebrate.
🔑 Action: Schedule one “just-for-fun” moment in your week — and protect it fiercely.