Episode 17 - Featuring Tony Hoskins

Today I’m joined by one of my great friends of 35+ years, Tony Hoskins

A guy who is in my first book, (by his actual name), a college 

classmate and teammate of mine, a very successful entrepreneur 

and all-around good dude. One of my favorite things about

my longtime friend is that he adheres himself to a code.

The light above Tony’s head is NOT a halo, in case there’s a question 😊

Tony’s shares his inspiring story of where he started in this world, and where he is now. He lets us in on his earlier years, his upbringing, and how that’s shaped him throughout his life.

Going through the tough times to survive, put food on the table, trying new things. Is it a job, is it education?

Finally found a “home” in an industry that seemed to be a great fit, although there were definitely some hurdles to cross.

The challenge of finding the balance between making money and having a life. Not an easy journey. Is it worth it?

There are many parallels between Tony and I and how we grew up, which I think helps to cement our respect for each other. 

The entrepreneurial nature of commissioned sales. How can we evolve in our careers and move forward with our lives? How being left with no choice but to succeed can be a catalyst to success. Sink or swim is real.

Things we learned from our parents were powerful. Work ethic, responsibility, toughness can show up in our lives in various ways. 

How our relationship with our parents can change over time. 

Fulfillment in our lives and our careers is up to each individual. Definition of success can be different for everyone and certainly different from generation to generation.

What do we look for in hiring? What do we look for in people that we want to have working alongside us? How do we, as bosses or owners relate to the people we mean to lead? 

Teachable? Will they want to learn? Adaptable to change? Ambitious no matter where they came from? Character.

Gotta have the intestinal fortitude to do things we don’t necessarily want to do. It’s how we keep moving forward. Do scary stuff.

Victim mentality? Difficult to hear and difficult to watch. It is so important to put in the effort. It is crucial to try.

Definitions of success in different times in our lives.