Surrounded by Greatness: What I've Learned from High Achievers

I've had the fortune of being in the proximity of some truly exceptional people. At AppSumo, I get to see founders Chad and Noah in action daily. My brother built his own company from scratch, and my cousin sold his startup to Samsung for a nice sum. I've made a few observations in my time around them, they are as follows.

Their Success Is Not Accidental

What stands out immediately is that none of their achievements happened by chance. Each of them works incredibly hard - not just occasionally, but consistently, day after day. They genuinely love what they do - whether that be creating products, playing with the latest tech, satisfying customers, or all of the above. The work might be challenging, sometimes straight up boring, but their love for their craft keeps them engaged and moving forward.

I've also noticed that none of them found success overnight. They've been in their respective games for years, more often decades, persistently building, learning, and growing. They are the embodiment of putting in the 10,000 hours.

Success Is Achievable

Perhaps the most powerful revelation from being around these high achievers is recognizing that while they're extraordinary, they're also human. What they've accomplished is actually achievable. It requires work, effort, time, perseverance, desire, and hunger - but it's possible.

They apply themselves relentlessly. When something doesn't work, they try again with a new approach. They fail, just like everyone else, but they learn from those failures and recalibrate, ready to launch a new attack. They get up for it time and time again. Nothing superhuman about that.

The Ripple Effect of Greatness

Being surrounded by such accomplished individuals has created a magnetic effect - it makes me want to be around more people of this caliber. To aim to become a person like that myself. They inspire me to do more, try more, and believe in myself more.

There's something powerful about witnessing someone firsthand achieve something remarkable after years of work. It shifts your perception of what's possible for yourself. The ceiling rises, the fog clears, possibilites arise.

Final Thoughts

I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to observe these individuals up close, to learn from them, to work with them, and to absorb their mindsets. Their influence has permanently altered how I approach challenges, my work, and my life.

Here's to doing more. It's possible. For all of us.