John Lusher

The Danger of Being Successful  

By John Lusher | March 5, 2026 |

We just watched the Olympics — the best in the world. They’re already champions. Already proven. And yet they train like they have everything to prove. Why? Because they understand a truth most leaders forget: Past success is the fastest path to complacency. You’ve built revenue. You’ve built a reputation. You’ve built a team. But…

You Don’t Have a Talent Problem. You Have a Direction Problem.

By John Lusher | March 2, 2026 |

In the mid-2000s, I was lying in a hospital bed recovering from back surgery when a difficult question hit me: What haven’t I done with my life? And why? When you’re forced to slow down, clarity shows up. I realized that unrealized goals rarely come down to talent or opportunity. They come down to three…

Stop Improving. Start Defining Outcomes.

By John Lusher | February 24, 2026 |

Most professionals ask the wrong question. They ask: “How do I improve what I’m already doing?” High performers ask: “What outcome do I really want to achieve?” That shift changes everything. Because when you focus on activity, you stay busy. When you focus on outcomes, you become strategic. And here’s the real problem… We let…

The Question That Matters More Than AI Right Now

By John Lusher | January 28, 2026 |

Things like AI and other issues come second. The first question is: what do you want to achieve for yourself? If you are not happy with what you are achieving on an annual basis, what would make you happy? What would make you feel fulfilled? It has to be specific, and it has to be…

The Hidden Cost of Discounting

By John Lusher | January 21, 2026 |

Let’s talk about what’s happening in the market right now: tariffs, inflation, supply chain pressure, price. Customers are cautious. Decisions are slower. And suddenly everyone’s favorite strategy is discounting, because nothing says “premium solution” like dropping your price faster than your confidence.  Inside the company, it usually sounds like this: Sales says, “We’ve got to…

The Real Point Where Momentum Breaks Down (and Why Most Executives Miss It)

By John Lusher | January 14, 2026 |

Most people think velocity is blocked by outside forces—other people, missed signals, bad timing. The truth is far more uncomfortable…and far more powerful.  It turns out the biggest obstacle that gets in our way is internal, and it starts with the stories we create every day. Everything that someone says or does to you, you…

Every Word Matters: How Emotional Triggers Shape Success

By John Lusher | January 6, 2026 |

Every conversation you have is shaping a story in someone else’s mind—and if you are not aware of it, that story could be working against you. We are emotional creatures. Like a strength, it can help us—but if it is overused, it becomes a weakness. Anything you say to me or do to me, all…

Before You Finalize Your 2026 Plan, Watch This

By John Lusher | December 22, 2025 |

A quick question: have you ever shared what you thought was a brilliant idea, and the reaction you got back was a polite nod, crossed arms, or the classic, “Yeah, let’s think about it”? Same idea, same words, same logic and yet it landed with all the impact of a wet noodle. Here’s why. Have…

The Part of Storytelling Almost Everyone Leaves Out

By John Lusher | December 16, 2025 |

I became a speaker for the wrong reason. I figured if I could be on stage and slay my dragons by being proverbially naked in front of the audience, then I had made it and gotten rid of all my fears. That’s not true. That was being self-focused, and it didn’t help the audience. I…

The Science Behind Getting Prospects to Say Yes Faster

By John Lusher | December 11, 2025 |

Before you even introduce yourself, your prospect’s hormones have already voted on you. The question is: did you win? In the first few seconds of any interaction, their brain is quietly—but decisively—determining whether to trust you, engage with you, or shut down completely. And it all comes down to three key hormones neuroscience identifies: cortisol,…

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 Our Feelings Drive Our Actions

By John Lusher / September 26, 2025 /

Our feelings drive our actions. Think about it: you wake up in the morning, and you don’t feel like working out because you had a little too much wine the night before. What happens? You skip the workout. That’s the power of feelings—they drive what we do. The same principle applies in business. Our feelings…

What Apple’s iPhone Air Teaches Us About Velocity

By John Lusher / September 16, 2025 /

Apple just launched the iPhone Air—the thinnest iPhone ever. Which is great, except until you lose it between the couch cushions and need Find My iPhone just to finish a text. But here’s the bigger question: why would Apple risk redesigning its most profitable product to be thinner, lighter, and faster? The answer is simple:…

Timing is Everything

By John Lusher / September 11, 2025 /

I’m standing in Beaver Creek, Colorado, where they’re having an Oktoberfest on Labor Day weekend. Now, why would they have an Oktoberfest on Labor Day? It’s quite simple—it’s all about timing. The one thing that really screws up velocity is not knowing the exact timing of when to work on something. Without that, you waste…

The Hidden Secret to Exceeding Everyone’s Expectations 

By John Lusher / September 5, 2025 /

You know, people always ask me—they want to go faster. And I say, “If you just want to go faster, I can put you in a Ferrari, point you at a brick wall, and tell you to step on it.” That will get you faster results, but not the kind you want. It would be…

Driving Real Results—Not Just Speed—in Leadership

By John Lusher / August 27, 2025 /

Hey, Velocity Champions—it’s Ron Karr® coming at you, and I promise this video will move faster than your Wi-Fi on a Monday morning. Let’s talk about the Velocity Mindset—not just speed, but speed with direction. If you’re getting nowhere fast, congratulations: you’re officially on a hamster wheel. And unless your life goal is to break…

The Email I Wish I Hadn’t Sent (and the Lesson You Need to Hear)

By John Lusher / August 19, 2025 /

You ever have one of those weeks where you put all your energy into a big project—like a mailing blast about the Velocity Mindset®—and then, with the excitement of a kid launching a rocket, you hit send, only for the results to come crashing down like a soufflĂ© in an earthquake? Yeah, me too. So…

What Climbing a Mountain Taught Me About Winning in Business and Life

By John Lusher / August 12, 2025 /

Look at this beautiful view. I’m sitting on top of a mountain called the Airport Road Vortex, where you actually feel creativity and energy coming up. But to get here, you had to climb up a huge mountain, which for me was a challenge. You see, for the past 15 years, I’ve had a lot…

$250k For a Parking Space? Sales Lessons You Can’t Ignore.

By John Lusher / August 5, 2025 /

A parking space in New York City just sold for $250,000. Yes, you heard that right. Imagine realtors now selling standalone parking spaces and garages for the price of a house. What’s next? Open houses for parking spots? “Welcome to Spot 7B: exposed concrete, partial wall view, plenty of character.” But here’s the kicker—that $250,000…

The $200 Million Deal Almost Died—Until This One Question Saved It

By John Lusher / July 29, 2025 /

Welcome to part three of the $200,000,000, 10-year deal—the moment we had to go around the system and head straight to the economic buyer. We had already done a great needs assessment. We were innovative. And our client’s customer’s bid was written based on our client’s specs and innovative ideas. That gave their customer the…

How a 747 Question Led to the $200M, 10-Year Deal

By John Lusher / July 22, 2025 /

This is part two of breaking down the magical moments that led to a $200,000,000, 10-year deal. In part one, we talked about asking the right questions to uncover the right outcomes—shifting from chasing a low-bid win to securing a long-term strategic agreement. Now for magical moment number two. During a review meeting, the client’s…