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10 Raw and Truthful Lessons You Can Learn From Terry Crews

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Terry Crews has an incredible story. He grew up in an abusive household in a not so nice neighborhood where he found his sanctuary to be in the weight room which would then aid his performance on the football field for years to come, including the NFL.


After having been cut from the team, he worked as a security guard in LA where he would then land his first gig as an actor and propel him into fame.

Here are the 10 lessons we can learn from his road to success:

1. Do you as best as you can

That’s all you really can do even when nothing is going your way. It’s what you always have control over no matter what. There can never be regrets if you know you put in 100% and there was nothing more you could give. Terry Crews is a perfect example of this. He says how in every audition he’s focused on fully expressing his capabilities fully and doing it to the max. In interviews, he portrays such a full range of expression, intensity, and full presence that is unmatched by many.

 

2. Be too ignorant to quit

There is a certain naivety that comes with belief in oneself. When you believe that you are capable of doing something even though the world may tell you otherwise, then you are in a great position for achievement. There is nothing that can stop you because most of the time that challenges that face us are made up in our mind and bigger than they are in real life. Never give up in anything that you believe in and the best thing to believe in is yourself.

“If you believe in yourself and feel confident in yourself, you can do anything. I really believe that.” – Karlie Koss

3. Even when you think it’s over, it’s not over

Terry Crews gave it his everything, even in practice. The man basically put his heart and soul into his craft and left it all out on the field. Even with that, he was cut from the team. He goes into detail on how disappointed he was and he was already heading home, when something had happened to one of the players and he was called back on the team. If he had not shown his skill and drive through the massive action he took, his coaches would have let him go home.

 

4. Constantly improve

If you’ve seen this guy’s physique then you can see that the man has not given up on his goals. Most dream of having that ripped physique we all see on our Instagram feeds, few go ahead and achieve it, and even fewer keep it. What’s the difference between the three? The last person decided to keep improving and not get comfortable. Perhaps one of the most powerful question you can ask yourself is how you can make your today better than your yesterday.

 

5. Commitment

Make one choice that no matter what, you will finish what you started. That there is no way you are “going home” without a fight. Terry Crews was one of the last round picks and when he went to practice he knew that he wasn’t going home. That type of commitment makes it a must to achieve your goals rather than a “should” or “could”. When something is a “must” it gets done.

 

6. Gratitude is where your energy comes from

Being thankful is one of the most powerful exercises you can do. All the most successful people practice gratitude as a daily habit. It’s one of the most empowering habits you can take on because when done consistently, it will change your mental framework from a state of lack into that of abundance.

 

7. The first step to self-discipline is getting rid of self-pity

Self-discipline requires you to acknowledge the fact that you are responsible for the change in your life and that there is nothing to be sorry for. Then you must take the first steps to push your body and mind to achieve what it is you desire. He gives an example of NFL players and emphasizes his realization that they’re not self-disciplined but rather have been disciplined by their coaches. Once they stop football, their lives become a mess because they longer have that order and structure laid out for them.

 

8. Start where you are

You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great. Take the first steps no matter where that may be and start your way up. Growth is exponential, meaning that the start will always be the hardest but your progress will compound as the lessons you learn along the way build on each other and before you know it, you’ll be sprinting through results.

 

9. You can’t expect not to have consequences for your actions

Every action has a reaction. It’s the law of the universe. For every effect there is a cause so don’t be surprised when what you reap is directly proportionate to what you sowed a while back. On the flip side, if you work hard, it always pays off. There has never been a single time when someone has poured all their effort and spewed their heart and soul into a vision only to not receive any sort of reaction from the world. When you take massive action, the world has no choice but to pay attention.

“If you believe in yourself and feel confident in yourself, you can do anything. I really believe that.” – Sean Covey

10. Soak up any motivation you can find, like gravy

Constantly be trying to motivate and push yourself any way that you can. The biggest motivation is seeing someone who’s incredibly successful like Terry Crews and realizing you can achieve the same thing. Inspired action like that can take you a long way. It can increase your productivity and make you push harder when others pull to the curb to fight another day.

What lessons have you learned from Terry Crews career? Leave your thoughts below!
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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

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leadership tips for new CEO
Image Credit: Midjourney

When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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