I recently had the pleasure of talking to Rafael Eliassen who has built multiple 7-figure businesses and is a worldwide motivational speaker. For Eliassen, success didn’t come easy. After dropping out of school, Eliassen became a janitor and he soon became anxious and depressed from his job. That is when he decided to stop feeling sorry for himself and do something about his situation. He completely re-invented who he was as a person and changed his mindset. Now, he speaks on stage and his speeches are heard and seen by millions worldwide.
Here is what I got from the interview.
I know this is not an easy job. What drives you?
The love for it. There is nothing like watching someone else have a breakthrough, and when you are able to create that for them, there is absolutely nothing more fulfilling than that.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? What lesson did you learn from them?
Too many to count, I’ve had such incredible mentors and coaches, and without them, I would never have made progress, especially at such an accelerated rate. I have been hiring life-changing coaches and consultants ever since I started, and I continue to do this because it is the fastest way to grow.
One of my greatest lessons was about resourcefulness, learning that if you truly want something there is always a way.
How do you push through your worst times?
I embrace them, I’m not trying to skip through the bad stuff. I enjoy the contrast of challenges, as they make breakthroughs shine even brighter.