(0:00 - 0:11)
You must only work with serious people. That's right, you need to work exclusively with serious people. I'm talking about your clients.

(0:11 - 0:32)
I'm talking about your team members, your employees. I'm especially talking about your strategic alliance partners. If you wanna find out what it takes to be recognized as a serious person, you've gotta join me for this edition of The Inside BS Show.

(0:34 - 0:54)
Hey now, I'm Dave Lorenzo, I'm the Godfather of Growth and welcome to today's edition of The Inside BS Show. We're diving into a topic today that will transform your business and your life. And that's my guideline to only work with serious people.

(0:54 - 1:15)
You should only be working with serious people. If you've been burned by a bad business relationship or wasted time with someone who didn't share your vision, today's show is the show for you. So what do I mean by serious people? Well, these are the folks who are going to move the needle.

(1:15 - 1:35)
They get things done. They're the key to your success. And over the last 30 years, I've identified five qualities that define serious people and that separate them from the pretenders who try to break into your business life every day.

(1:35 - 1:52)
So let's break it down. Number one, the first quality that serious people possess is having an external orientation. Serious people understand that business is not a zero-sum game.

(1:52 - 2:07)
They know that when you win, they win. And these are people who lead with value. They build strong relationships because their first instinct is to help others succeed.

(2:08 - 2:17)
They want you to succeed. And they see collaboration as a path to success. Yes, they want to win.

(2:17 - 2:40)
They absolutely want to win, but they want to win with you, not over you. They're looking to win by enabling the success of others. Quality number two that you'll find only in serious people is emotional maturity.

(2:41 - 2:49)
Business is full of distractions. There are petty issues. I mean, small disagreements, ego-driven conflicts.

(2:50 - 3:02)
These things can derail even the best opportunities. Serious people find a way to rise above that noise. They don't get caught up in office politics.

(3:02 - 3:13)
They don't let bruised egos dictate their decisions. They're not consistently looking for revenge. They keep their eyes on the prize.

(3:14 - 3:35)
They're focused on results. They want the end goal, and that is their focus. If something that is petty stands in the way, they will find a way to resolve it quickly, and they will do it in the most efficient way possible.

(3:36 - 4:00)
They are not going to become derailed by jealousy, by greed, by envy. They're not going to be distracted by the guilt that someone else decides they want to foist upon them. They have a way to rise above these things and to focus on the end goal.

(4:02 - 4:13)
Quality number three is the courage to be disliked. This one is huge. Serious people know who they are and they know what they stand for.

(4:13 - 4:23)
They have opinions, and they stick to them. They don't bend in the breeze. They don't chase the approval of other people.

(4:24 - 4:57)
They are comfortable with the idea that not everyone will like them, and that's okay. Their foundation is one of values, and they're values with which they've been raised, both personally and in the business world, and those values stem from their unshakable beliefs. Rest assured, if you're a part of their team, they view you as sharing the values that they share.

(4:58 - 5:27)
They view you as someone who's integral not only to their success, but to the common good, to the success of the team overall, and those values built on the foundation of unshakable beliefs, that's what gives them the courage to be disliked. They are well-grounded, and they are self-confident. They are also acutely self-aware.

(5:27 - 5:50)
They know who they are, they know the values they possess, and they're not going to be shaken from them. Number four, serious people make fact-based decisions. We all have gut instincts, and sometimes they can serve us well, but serious people prioritize facts.

(5:50 - 6:08)
They gather data, they analyze a situation, and they make informed decisions. They do this very quickly and in a very focused way. They act in the best interests of their clients, their partners, and their businesses, and they don't guess, they know.

(6:09 - 6:49)
Being able to assimilate and analyze facts quickly and make solid decisions with 80% accuracy is the hallmark of a serious person. Whether there's a crisis, or whether it's the purchase of a piece of equipment, whether it's an investment, or whether it's connecting with a new business partnership, serious people gather the facts, they analyze them, and they're decisive and ready to move forward based on those facts. Number five, confidence in leadership and decisiveness.

(6:49 - 7:04)
When you work with a serious person, you feel their quiet confidence. You know they have what it takes to win, and they make decisions quickly, and they stand by them. They inspire other people with their actions.

(7:04 - 7:31)
They don't second-guess every move or hesitate when the moment calls for action. They lead from the front, and these people are the first ones to do the things they ask others to do. They are the people who've been there and done that, and they command the respect of others because they have walked the walk.

(7:32 - 7:56)
These five qualities, external orientation, emotional maturity, the courage to be disliked, fact-based decision-making, and confidence and decisiveness in leadership, these things set serious people apart. When you surround yourself with people like this, everything changes. Your business grows faster.

(7:56 - 8:06)
Your work becomes more enjoyable. You achieve results you never thought possible. So here's my challenge to you.

(8:07 - 8:11)
Take a look around you. Look at your clients. Look at your team members.

(8:12 - 8:22)
Look at the people who work with you, the people who work for you. Look at your strategic alliance partners. Look at the people you've attracted into your life.

(8:23 - 8:43)
Are these people serious people? If not, it's time to make a change. Life is too short, and your goals are too important to waste time with anyone else. Thanks for joining me today on this edition of the Inside BS Show.

(8:43 - 8:53)
If you found this valuable, be sure and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Our show only grows when you share it with other business owners and entrepreneurs. Subscribe to the show.

(8:53 - 9:09)
Follow us on your favorite place to get your podcast information. I'm Dave Lorenzo, and I will see you tomorrow right back here at 6 a.m., and until then, here's hoping you make a great living and live a great life.