Executive TLDR
Success is not a resource problem — it is a mindset problem.
“I’m too tired” is a normal mindset, not a winning one.
Delaying action destroys momentum and greatness.
Mental toughness separates average from elite.
Excellence begins when excuses end.
Video Summary
At an Empire Builders event within Primerica, Aderemi Dosunmu delivers a high-intensity message focused on mental toughness and personal accountability. His core argument is simple but confrontational: most people are not lacking talent, time, knowledge, or opportunity — they are lacking mindset. According to Aderemi, three lies consistently sabotage productivity and success.
The first lie is “I don’t have the resources.” He challenges the audience to examine the leaders they admire — RVPs, SVPs, SNSDs — and recognize that none of them started with abundant resources. What they started with was a decision. Resources are created by action, not the other way around. Waiting for perfect conditions is simply disguised hesitation.
The second lie is “I’m too tired.” Aderemi reframes fatigue as a universal condition, not a valid excuse. Everything around us — technology, buildings, systems — was built by someone who was tired but chose to push through anyway. He draws a sharp contrast between average individuals who constantly complain about exhaustion and high-level leaders who operate with urgency and discipline. Being tired is normal. Being committed despite tiredness is exceptional.
The third and most dangerous lie is “It can wait until tomorrow.” He describes this as the voice of delay — what he calls the “crybaby voice.” Unlike fear, which can trigger resistance, delay feels harmless. It whispers that you worked hard enough today and can finish tomorrow. But tomorrow is not promised, especially in the life insurance business. Postponement quietly erodes momentum and compounds mediocrity. Success is not destroyed by failure as much as it is by delay.
Throughout the message, Aderemi emphasizes that these internal narratives are what separate unrealized potential from excellence. If someone continues to repeat these three excuses, they will delay gratification, promotion, growth, and ultimately happiness. Excellence is not about new information; it is about eliminating self-deception and strengthening discipline.
His message is a call to self-confrontation: stop lying to yourself, build mental toughness, and act now.
Key Takeaways
Excuses are internal, not external.
Resources follow commitment, not the other way around.
Fatigue is universal; discipline is rare.
Delay is more dangerous than fear.
Mental toughness determines productivity.
High performers act despite discomfort.
Procrastination compounds mediocrity.
Leadership requires urgency.
Self-awareness exposes self-sabotage.
Excellence is a daily decision.
Action Steps
Identify which of the three lies you use most frequently.
Replace “I don’t have resources” with “How can I create resources?”
Act immediately on one task you have been postponing.
Shorten the gap between decision and execution.
Track how often you delay action during the week.
Build discipline by completing tasks even when tired.
Challenge negative self-talk daily.
Adopt urgency as a lifestyle.
FAQs
What are the three lies Aderemi identifies?
“I don’t have resources,” “I’m too tired,” and “It can wait until tomorrow.”
Why does he call delay the most dangerous lie?
Because it feels harmless while quietly destroying momentum.
Is lack of resources a valid excuse?
No. Leaders create resources through action.
How does fatigue relate to success?
Everyone is tired. The successful push through anyway.
What is the “crybaby voice”?
The internal voice that encourages delay instead of action.
What is the root issue behind lack of productivity?
Mindset, not ability.
Why is urgency important in life insurance?
Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
What separates average from elite performers?
Mental toughness and discipline.
Can talent replace discipline?
No. Without discipline, talent stalls.
What is the main message of the speech?
Stop making excuses and start executing immediately.
Glossary
Mental Toughness
The discipline to act despite discomfort, fatigue, or fear.
RVP (Regional Vice President)
A leadership level within Primerica representing independent hierarchy.
Delay Gratification
Postponing immediate comfort for long-term success.
Productivity
Consistent action aligned with meaningful goals.
Excuse Cycle
Repeated self-justifications that prevent forward progress.
Transcript:
Super. Shout out to Danielle and Key Auto and their empire Builders. Shout out To Chris a Chong and the A unit. But most of all, power builders. All right, let’s get to it real quick. Right? So what I want to talk about today, y’all, is mental toughness, right? Because there’s three lies that we, that kill Ox. Success and productivity, right? When it comes to our success, y’all, it’s not that we don’t know what we’re doing. I got you. All right. It’s not the lack of time. It’s not because you lack talent. It’s not because you lack the knowledge, the experience, right. The reality is the mindset issue. So lie number one. We tell ourselves, y’all, I don’t have the resources to get it done. Believe it or not, nobody has the resources to do anything. Great. Done. Nobody. Right? Unfortunately, this is the mindset.
The vast majority of the people that we know think about. Think about our friends. Think about the people around us. Oh, I can’t do that because I don’t have those resources. Excuse me, have you not met our RVP, SVP, SNSDs and whatnot? Have you not met our amazing leaders? They didn’t come here with the resources. What they came in was a mindset that this is where we’re going to do and get it done. Lie number two, that we tell ourselves, I’m too tired. I’m tired. I won’t go to sleep. I’m tired right now. But we have to remind ourselves, right? Every single thing that we have in our lives. This microphone, this projection, whatever your phone that you have, someone created that when they were tired. So who are you to say that you’re too tired to get it done?
Like you’re going to tell me you can’t go to RVP because you’re tired? Aren’t your kids tired of being broke? Aren’t your kids tired of hearing you say no all the time? I’m sorry. Listen, unless we get things done right away, we’re going to be tired in the grave. Listen, being tired is about being normal. Think about every normal person that you know in your life. They always say that they’re tired. But the great ones, like Chris Akong, they don’t get tIred. Harvey Grahalis, they don’t get tired. They tell me, I say, Chris, when you’re on the grind, how often do you sleep? He says about 4 hours. But a lot of us are saying, hey, I need 8 hours of beauty sleep. Y’all look in the mirror lately? I’m just saying, right?
And last but not least, lie number three, that we tell ourselves that stop our success, y’all, this can wait till tomorrow. Y’all know what I’m talking about. It could wait until tomorrow. This is the biggest lie and this is what stops us from growing. I have something that I say. It’s our crybaby voice. It’s in our head. It’s in our minds. And a cry baby voice, it doesn’t tell you that you’re going to fail. It doesn’t tell you that you’re not going to make it. What it tells you is we’re going to delay what’s going to come to you. It’s going to delay. Because think about it. If a crybaby voice tells you that you’re going to fail, you’re going to fight it. But if that voice inside your head say, hey, you know what? You worked a little bit hard today.
You’re tired today. You say you want to get out 100 codes in a base shop like no one else has had, okay? You’re going to stop. You don’t need to do that. But the great ones like Keith and Daniel, Oto, they understand. We can’t wait till tomorrow because tomorrow is not promised. We are in a life insurance business. I’m sorry. When is tomorrow? Granted, it’s not going to happen. So why I understand this, y’all, is that these three lies right here are the reason why a lot of us, and including myself, is not there yet. Because we keep telling ourselves the same exact thing. Now, if you are lying to yourself with these three lies, remember, the first one is, I don’t have the resource to get it done. The second is, I’m too tired to handle this.
And the third is it could wait till tomorrow. If you’re using any of these excuses in your business, you’re going to delay your gratification, your success, and you will never, ever realize your potential, your greatness and your happiness. Man, I did on time. I’m fired up. Let’s go.
