The Strangest Secret

A speech that changed my life forever.

It shaped the mindset I have today and helped me understand success in a way I never had before.

Here’s what I learned.

These lessons aren’t ranked—each one plays a crucial role.

I finally understood why I woke up at 5 AM every day. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but every early morning, every effort, was leading me toward my success.

Before, I used to wake up, make coffee, scroll the world wide web, and think about all the things I could do. But one day, I asked myself—why don’t I start trying some of those ideas? The answer? I was scared. I was comfortable where I was, and if I changed, I knew I’d be uncomfortable. But more than that, I was afraid of what others would think.

Yes. There it is.

I know you because I used to be just like you—scared of what others would think. It’ll take some time to get over that, and in the next few steps, you’ll learn how to face that fear, let go of your old self, and start.

Success isn’t the result of money—money is the result of success.

You cannot have things you’ve never had before until you become the person you’ve never been before. Read that again.

You have to change and become the person who can handle the things you want. There’s no shame in wanting nice things—maybe even expensive things—but are you the person capable of managing them? The money, the status, the power? Probably not. But you can be.

Success itself is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.

Success isn’t about making money. Success is having goals and working toward them. Others won’t see that as success—they’ll only see the money. That’s their definition because that’s what they’ve been conditioned to believe. But not you.

Success for you is building the life that aligns with your goals and your vision. Keep pressing forward. The book isn’t over until you are.

Goals!

Damn, it feels good to have a goal written down. It’s like writing a check from you, to you, by you, for you. And one day, you will cash it.

If you stick with it and keep progressing, you’ll cash in more than just money. You’ll know—without a doubt—that you’re actually living life on your terms. And that? That’s powerful.

Don’t fall for the doomer lifestyle. Work. Build. Create. Change your life into whatever the hell you want it to be. Disappear and come back if you have to—do whatever it takes.

Having your shit together is the biggest confidence booster in the world. Even the ones who hate on you? Deep down, they admire the doer.

The opposite of courage in our society isn’t cowardice—it’s conformity.

People move through life acting like everyone else, without ever questioning why.

Stop it. Get out of your own way. Be different. Go act on your ideas.

A lot of people I know have nicer cars than me—and they’ve had them for years. But that came with higher bills. Me? I don’t focus on having an expensive car. Maybe one day, but for now, my time and money go toward things that matter to me.

Don’t chase what isn’t meant for you. Your time will come when you’re ready to receive what you want.

We become what we think about.

Focus on fire, and soon enough, you’ll be burning with passion.

I mean it—get some fire in you. Think about who you want to become and start working on it. And work hard. It will require effort, but it will be worth it.

This won’t happen overnight. But over time, small, consistent changes will push you into becoming the person you want to be.

No one—and I mean no one—is going to work harder for you than you.

There were times in my life when people let me down, and I realized they didn’t have my best interests at heart. And that’s okay. It forced me to fully understand that statement: No one is going to work harder for you than you.

When my wife and I were trying to buy our first rental property, there was a mix-up with the city. They had zoned the property as a two-unit instead of a three-unit. My listing agent told me to sit tight and wait for the seller’s agent to “straighten it out.”

I hung up the phone and sat in silence for a moment.

How the hell was I supposed to call my wife and tell her this might not happen?

I couldn’t.

So, I went to the alderman's office. Brought donuts and coffee. Got the alderman’s office to listen. Explained how the paperwork must have been confused.

They agreed to look into it.

Later, at the final walkthrough, the listing agent said, “I don’t think you’ll get that letter from the city in two days. That’s impossible.”

I told him, “They will call me and tell me I got it.”

And sure enough, to my surprise, they called and said exactly that—“You got it.”

Final Thoughts

This speech changed my life because it opened my eyes to what success really means.

It’s not about luck. It’s not about waiting for someone to come save you.

It’s about taking ownership.

• Setting goals and working toward them every single day.

• Overcoming fear and embracing the challenges ahead.

• Becoming the person who can handle the success you desire.

So now, it’s your turn.

Go listen to The Strangest Secret. Take notes. Apply what you learn.

And most importantly—take action.

Check out my other videos, read my content, listen to my voice—and then, go create.

See you in the next one.

Check out the speech here - https://www.nightingale.com/articles/the-strangest-secret/ 

Here's one with Evan Carmichael and Diana Nightingale