Crazy John’s Founder on Principles of Success and Happiness

Golden rules for success: Always have humility, be ruthless with your business strategy, but not with individuals, and never ever give up taking risks and learn from your mistakes. In what became one of his final interviews before his death, Crazy John’s founder John Ihan sat with Reuben Buchanan to discuss what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, and how he did it.

Always have Humility

John’s principle of humility keeps you aware of your weaknesses, and leaves room for constant growth and learning

Humility helps you acknowledge your vulnerability to bias and keeps you open to feedback on your blind spots and habits
Research shows that leaders with awareness of bias combined with high levels of humility can increase employees feeling of inclusion up to 25%.

Always give back to community

Being a compassionate person and helping others can help solve some of society’s biggest problems.

Find a way that you can share your unique talents or time with a local shelter, an elderly home or at children’s school.

Whatever you do pick, do something you love and never give up

You don’t need a perfect plan

Sometimes you just need to give it a try, let go, and see what happens
In the end, don’t work for the money – it’s about challenges and success

Be Compassionate

People always remember those who patiently showed them compassion, in their time of distress.

Self-compassionate would mean that you develop a healthy behavior, and take care of your basic needs like good uninterrupted sleep, exercise, and stress avoidance.

Takes Risks and Learn from your Mistakes

Challenge yourself to take a risk each day, do something new or differently, anything that pushes you out of your comfort zone

Ensure that risk you take is calculated and not too much risk and you get anxious
Too little and you become bored
You need to know your physical or emotional limitations and consciously push past them
Mistakes are important, recognize them and learn from them