Success Is About Location. Are You In The Right Place?
We've all heard the phrase: "Location, location, location." In real estate, two nearly identical homes can have vastly different values based purely on where they are. A home in Palo Alto, California, has a median price of $3.5 million, while a similar home in Des Moines, Iowa, is around $215,000.
But here’s the thing—this principle applies to your success just as much as it does to real estate.
Once you have a clear vision of what you want in life, start thinking about your location. Where do the people who already have what you want spend their time? What events do they attend? What communities are they part of? What apps do they use? The more you immerse yourself in the right places, the more your mindset and habits start to align with success.
How the Right Location Changed My Life
Some of the most incredible experiences of my life happened simply because I put myself in the right place.
That Time I Played Pinball with James Brown
At 22 years old, I was an intern for a morning talk show called “Fox After Breakfast.” One day, they asked if anyone would come in at 5 AM to let people in for a sound check. I volunteered—what else was I going to do at 5 AM? Turns out, the person I let in was James Brown. I got to sit there as he performed directly to me. Then, we played pinball while we waited for the producers to arrive. He played pinball just like he performed. Grunting and yelling out “hit me” while he shuffled his feet. It was an amazing experience I will never forget. My location was everything.
From Answering Phones to Executive Producer
When Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was the biggest show on TV, I knew I wanted to be there. So I called someone I knew on the show and begged for a job. After asking multiple times, he helped to get me a job for one day as a fill-in to answer phones. That one day turned into one week, then one month. Eventually, I became the Executive Producer of the show. That never would have happened if I hadn't put myself in the right location.
Success Isn’t About Luck – It’s About Showing Up
People say success is about being in the right place at the right time. It’s not.
Success is about being in the right place all the time so that when the right moment comes, you’re already there. If you consistently put yourself in rooms filled with opportunities, people you can learn from, and potential clients, you will level up.
How to Use Location to Your Advantage
1. Find Role Models & Go Where They Go
Who already has the success you want? Figure out where they spend their time and go there. You’ll be exposed to the same information and opportunities they are.
2. Stay Up to Date on Industry News
Every industry has "trade secrets." Read industry blogs, listen to podcasts, and stay ahead of trends. Being informed makes networking easier and helps you spot opportunities others miss.
3. Attend Events
Conferences, networking meetups, and industry panels are goldmines. You never know who you’ll meet or what connections you’ll make.
4. Show Up Consistently
Most people already know where they should be spending their time, but they don’t follow through. If you want to find love, be active on dating apps. If you want to get healthy, go to the gym and read about nutrition. You have to GO in order to GROW.
The Bottom Line
Unlike real estate, you control your location when it comes to success. The question is:
Are you putting yourself in the places where success happens?
