177: Learning from Warren Buffett and Donald Trump to Find Success, with Troy McClain

The Lion's Den For Business Men

Do you want a Warren Buffet-sized bank account?

Well, Buffett once told today’s guest a key to make it happen.

If your definition of success has anything to do with money, you’ve already failed. Warren Buffett

Although success has nothing to do with money, money is the byproduct of being successful, Buffett went on to tell my guest, Troy McClain.

Troy is the CEO of AXS Consulting and the McClain Companies. He got his business start by becoming a finalist on President Donald Trump’s The Apprentice in 2004. The reality TV show pitted businesspeople against each other for the privilege of running one of Trump’s companies with a $250,000 annual salary.

Even being the only contestant who lacked education beyond a high school diploma, Troy managed to become a finalist before hearing “You’re fired” because of his educational shortcomings.

That time with Trump was the first of many audiences that Troy found with successful men he wanted to follow. In this episode, you’ll also listen to Troy McClain tell his story of meeting Warren Buffett via private jet and another successful businessman via tow truck (the story’s even better than it sounds!)

You’ll also hear some memorable one-liners his “Ma” gifted him when she wasn’t working as a bouncer or a trucker – or otherwise “between success cycles.”

In short, you’ll hear the incredible lengths Troy McClain went to get in front of successful men he wanted to learn from.

If you want to learn how to get mentorship from successful businessmen, this episode’s for you.

If you want to see how to follow the success of others, this episode’s for you.

And, if you just like awesome stories of hard work and sacrifice to get the job done, this episode’s for you, too.

Click play in the player above to get started.

“Success leaves tracks. All you have to do is follow the tracks from the big Lions.” Troy McClain

Listen to this episode to hear Dr. John Johnson talk about setting priorities and more:

• How Troy managed to get a Ph.D. with only a high school diploma.
• Leveraging a loss on Donald Trump’s The Apprentice to jumpstart a career anyway.
• What you can learn from having a “Ma” who’s a bouncer.
• Putting the “fun” in “dysfunctional.”
• Moving from fisticuffs to business fights.
• Becoming the bar instead of raising it.
• The true meaning of “grit.”
• Seeing opportunities instead of obstacles.
• Why you should look at failures as the time between success cycles.

Books and resources mentioned in this episode:

• “Think and Grow Rich,” by Napoleon Hill
• “As a Man Thinketh,” by James Allen
• “Man’s Search for Meaning,” by Viktor Frankl

How to contact Troy McClain:

You can get in touch with Troy through his website or by email.

Do this next to learn how to follow success tracks:

Success is a mindset you can learn, and it’s not just about money. Warren Buffett is right about that.

At Rusty Lion Academy, my business partner Bill and I offer free 30-minute Freedom Breakthrough Sessions that will help you think more like a billionaire.

In this free video conference session, you’ll find yourself face-to-face on video with Bill or me. We’ll help you follow the successful paths others have built, all without hitting some of the pitfalls we went through.

Click here to get started.