Kenneth Shamrock (born Kenneth Wayne Kilpatrick; February 11, 1964) is an American mixed martial artist, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Famer, and retired professional wrestler. He emerged as one of the biggest stars in the history of mixed martial arts, headlining over 15 main events and co-main events in the UFC and Pride Fighting Championships during the course of his career and set numerous pay-per-view records.

Shamrock is widely considered to be a legendary figure and icon in the sport of mixed martial arts. Shamrock was named The World’s Most Dangerous Man by ABC News in a special entitled “The World’s Most Dangerous Things” in the early part of his UFC career, a moniker which has stuck as his nickname.

Favorite Success Quote

“You have no idea what I’m willing to do to get where I’m going.”

Key Points

1. Be Willing to Do Whatever it Takes

If you want to truly succeed in the most competitive environments then you must cultivate a “Whatever it Takes” mentality.

This doesn’t mean that you are willing to engage in unethical or immoral activities, simply that you are willing to sacrifice, to hustle, and to grind your way through any challenge and any adversity.

For those of you who are content to be in second place (and there’s nothing wrong with that), doing whatever it takes isn’t truly necessary.

You can skate by, cut corners, take shortcuts, and still arrive at your destination.

But if you want to be the best, the top 1%, a leader, mover, and shaker in your industry, then you must show up early, stay late, and outwork all of your competition.

The price of admission is high, but the rewards are worth it.

2. You Have to Choose Yourself

In business and in life, most people wait to be called on.

Like a child being called on by the teacher instead of raising their hand, most people wait until life presents them with an opportunity or opens a door.

If you want to play the game of life in the top echelon of society, then you need to find opportunities and kick the doors down yourself.

Or as previous podcast guest James Altucher puts it, you must Choose Yourself.

No one is going to give you the freedom, the career, or the lifestyle that you desire.

If you are a man, then do what needs to be done and take it for yourself.

Take massive action, take huge initiative and do the work.

Because if you don’t… Someone else will.

3. If You Don’t Seize the Moment Someone Else Will

Life is competition.

Anyone who has even the most basic understanding of our species’ history and the story of evolution knows this.

Although we live in a world filled with abundance and a plethora of resources, we also live in a world filled with fierce competition.

And the most dangerous thing that you can do in your life, relationship, or career is to hesitate and allow someone else to seize your moment.

Think about how many times you saw that pretty girl, had that business idea or wanted to make that change but you didn’t. You hesitated, you waited, and you procrastinated.

But someone else didn’t.

Someone else went up and introduced himself, someone else set up their LLC and took action on their idea, someone else made the change, reaped the rewards and enjoyed the spoils of their labor… But you didn’t.

In each of our lives, we are presented with a small handful of pivotal moments where we must decide whether we will take action or not.

It is in these moments that your destiny is shaped.

Don’t allow someone else to shape it for you.

Take action, seize the moment, and live the life you’ve always dreamed of.

4. Find Your “Person” 

If you continue down your current trajectory of personal and professional development, sometime in the future, you will arrive at a place in your life where you are surrounded by “Yes Men.”

Your success and reputation will be so great that the people in your social circle will rarely tell you the truth and will, instead, try to tell you what they think you want to hear.

This is one of the most dangerous places any man can be.

You must find someone, whether a friend, relative, or coach who will tell you the truth all the time with compassion.

You need someone in your life who will tell you when you are messing up, when you are on the right track, and when you need to shut up and get things done.

Find your “Person” who will always be honest with you and you will find that your life will be a lot smoother and easier than it will when you operate on the opinions of impressed “friends”.

5. Slow Down and Be Patient 

Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

It seems like our instant gratification society has lost touch with the realities of life and, the simple truth is that life is meant to be lived and experienced.

Don’t be so eager to achieve great things that you forget to live your life and enjoy the journey.

Be patient and allow success to happen in its own time and its own way.