One of the biggest shifts I’ve experienced since stepping into entrepreneurship is realizing that mindset isn’t just part of success—it’s the foundation of it. It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day tasks, the to-do lists, and the pressure to “get it right.” But as I’ve learned from building my own brand and speaking with people like Jeff Hayzlett, thinking bigger isn’t a luxury. It’s a requirement.
During our conversation on The Beyond Impact Podcast, Jeff shared stories from his career that took him from rural South Dakota to boardrooms around the world. His message was simple: success begins when you expand what you believe is possible.
“I literally can see Iowa from my house,” Jeff said. “And I thought I was a big deal in Sioux Falls. Then I realized, I can do this in Chicago. Then I figured out I can do this in London. I can do this in Tokyo.”
That shift—from local thinking to global strategy—is what separates the dreamers from the doers.
Start Small, Think Big
You don’t need to have a billion-dollar business to start thinking like someone who does. What you need is vision. You need to know what you’re building, why it matters, and who you’re building it for.
Jeff built his first million-dollar business by the time he was 26. But he didn’t stop there. “No matter how big you are,” he told me, “there’s always someone bigger. The only difference between Main Street and Wall Street is the number of zeros.”
That line stuck with me. It reminded me that growth isn’t about waiting until you’re ready. It’s about getting in motion, staying curious, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to level up.
Growth Comes from Purpose
What surprised me most in our conversation was how much Jeff tied his business success to purpose. “We focus on mission,” he said. “Even if that means giving up margin.”
He wasn’t just throwing around buzzwords. He meant it. At C-Suite Network, the decisions are mission-first, profit-second. That approach has allowed them to operate with half the staff but double the revenue they had just two years ago.
Think big, act bigger doesn’t mean taking wild risks or chasing status. It means staying grounded in your values while aiming higher than you thought possible.
You Can’t Scale What You Don’t Believe In
One of my favorite takeaways from our talk was this: your mindset will always show up in your results. If you think small, you build small. If you operate from fear, you make safe, forgettable decisions. But if you see opportunity in discomfort—if you’re willing to stretch—then everything changes.
It doesn’t matter if you’re building a podcast, a coaching practice, or a tech company. The same rule applies. You have to think like the version of yourself who already built it. What decisions would that person make? What would they say no to? What would they invest in?
That’s where growth begins.
Hear the Full Conversation with Jeff Hayzlett
Jeff’s journey from a small-town entrepreneur to a global business strategist is packed with valuable insights—especially for those ready to level up their mindset and strategy.
You don’t have to wait for permission to think bigger. The opportunity is already here. The question is—how big are you willing to act?
